Welcome to the Great Nationwide Kiss-in … San Diego Style
(all photos: Mike Tidmus, fair use encouraged)
Approximately sixty San Diego activists showed up just before High Noon today to kiss for equality on the doorstep of Doug Manchester’s Hyatt Grand Hotel. The event was part of the Great Nationwide Kiss-In, which might be more accurately referred to as the Great International Kiss-In, as similar events were reportedly happening outside the USA.
While the mood in Downtown San Diego was celebratory today, there is a serious reason for the gathering. Blogger David Badash, writing at The New Civil Rights Movement, shares the backstory:
2009 may be remembered as the year same-sex marriage took hold in the United States. Sadly, it may also be remembered as the year gay couples were repeatedly arrested – for kissing. Recently, three couples have been arrested by police after simply kissing in public. In December, two women in San Antonio, Texas, were arrested for “making out.” Then, in El Paso, Texas, on June 29, at a Chico’s Tacos restaurant two men were handcuffed and subsequently threatened with arrest by police after one kissed the other on the cheek. And most recently, in a well-publicized case, two men were detained by security guards of the Mormon Church, then arrested by police on July 10, yes, that’s right, for kissing.
As veteran San Diego activist Wendy Sue Biegeleisen noted, “We gather together to share an international expression of affection and love — the kiss.”
The climax of today’s action came when the kiss-in participants briefly, in the name of love and equality, invaded Doug Manchester’s Grand Hyatt lobby. Chants echoed loudly through the cavernous space as couples unabashedly kissed and loudly cheered each other on. Hotel security seemed to have no clue about how to react. Just as quickly, the group returned to the plaza outside the hotel to pose for a few photographs.
Speaking of photographs, here are a few pix of today’s event:
The crowd eventually swelled to a total of about sixty
Veteran activist Wendy Sue Biegeleisen eloquently reminded the rally
of the cultural importance of the kiss
31 years together and wasting no time getting into the action
Ben Cartwright’s partner is away serving in the US military, but Benny did a fabulous job as emcee for today’s event
Unable to kiss the man he loves today, Benny encouraged everyone
in attendance to get passionate … and they did!
Couple after couple testified about the need to be able
to publicly display their affection
Harvey Milk takes a swing at Papa Doug Manchester
Former San Diego City Council candidate, award-winning journalist and community leader Stephen Whitburn looks on
Public displays of affection are as American as the flag
Fred Karger of Californians Against Hate reminded the crowd why Doug Manchester’s Hyatt was the ideal venue for today’s rally. Manchester donated $125,000 to jump start California’s despicable Prop H8
With the Manchester Hyatt boycott now in its second year, Karger noted that the highly successful boycott has now gone global and asked that nobody cross the line around Manchester’s properties
Each photograph of a kissing couple at today’s kiss-in will generate five bucks for Marriage Equality USA. For details click here
The tireless Sara Beth Brooks is everywhere these days, but here she is, representing Join the Impact, onstage at today’s kiss-in
I found some shade and sat down to text some details to a friend, and, when I looked up, the group was heading into the lobby of the Manchester Grand Hyatt
Chanting and kissing inside the Hyatt’s lobby promptly ensued …
… and more kissing …
… as chanted slogans like “Don’t check in. Check out!” echoed through the cavernous space of the hotel lobby
Mission accomplished, the rally moved back outside into the sunshine
A final photo-op session featured couples who had spoken earlier
Click for Printable Version
I absolutely loved this. Thanks to everyone involved. It looks like you had a seriously stellar event. ;-)
p/s – I LOVED Sara Beth’s sunglasses… :-)
I am and have been “giddy” from this event today. Good tonic for the efforts we will undertake for the restoration of equality/choice as we repeal prop H8 in 2010.
Today’s Great National Kiss-In in San Diego was nothing less than amazing. It wasn’t thousands of people marching for our civil rights, but the passion, the warmth, the camaraderie, the commitment to equality did our city proud. Kudos to the event’s organizers and to all who showed up to take a stand for the dignity of our love.