One of the things with which we really need assistance is finding organizers for events in different parts of the country. We’ve heard from people in cities all over the country, but nothing has been made concrete in most of the locations. What we’re hearing is that the task of organizing by oneself is daunting, particularly since most folks who are interested have never planned such an event on their own.
I’ve heard from people who are trying to get Kiss-In events off the ground in Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Jose, and Orlando in particular; people in those cities really need the help. If you’re there, or near there, and you want to help plan something, contact me. I’ll get you in touch with those folks.
Just so you know, David Badash, Willow, and I spent a significant amount of time polishing up written guidance on how to plan the event. We’ve covered everything from finding a place, to publicity, to permits, to the planning stages, to suggestions for the event itself. Technically, it can be done with four to six people, although a couple more would be helpful. We’re even going to write the press releases for you, and we’ve explained how you’ll want to contact your local media, so you can alert them to what you’re doing.
If you want to see the written guidance we prepared, you can click here. It’s not difficult – a group of friends could do it together, and be successful.
A good friend of mine, Erin is going to create two promotional videos for us, but here’s something else we need. We need pictures. Instead of stealing pictures from all over the internet – which would be easy, but not cool – David Badash and I are asking our blog readers for their snapshots. Willow, David B, and I are also asking our Twitter and Facebook friends.
What sorts of pictures, you ask? Well, we’re looking for pictures of gay and straight couples kissing. They can be any race, any age. They can be kissing, or cuddling, or holding hands. It can be a little girl kissing a little boy on the cheek, or an elderly couple sitting on a park bench holding hands. It can be a gay couple kissing at a rally, or sneaking a moment in a coffee shop.
If you’re willing to share some photos of yourself, or photos you took of your friends, we would sincerely appreciate it. Part of the publicity of the events will be these promotional videos, and we want to be fair about where we obtain those photos. That’s why we’re asking all of you. If you have such photos, please send them to GreatNationwideKissIn@gmail.com.
Beyond the organization and coordination and publicity, we’re also looking to make sure we have participants in different cities and towns all over the country as well. Please head over to the Facebook group page and add yourself there. Start up discussions about different cities. And if it turns out that you’re in Topeka, and there are two other folks in Topeka who want to do a Kiss-In as well, maybe you can join forces and create your own event there.
At the end of the day, we’re not looking for everything to be perfectly organized, with massive crowds of thousands of people in each city, making out in random locations. If ten of you end up kissing and hugging in a park in the center of Pierre, South Dakota, then that’s awesome! If another dozen of you decide you’re going to smooch in a parking lot in Flagstaff, Arizona, then go for it!
Whatever you end up doing, though, tell us about it.
We plan on taking this to the national press – to exceptionally classy journalists like Rachel Maddow – and telling them that Kiss-In events are being planned in all these different cities. We want to share who or where you are and what you’re doing – with everybody. You – no matter where you are – would be part of a truly awesome coordination of affection throughout the United States.
Just to recap what I’ve been talking about:
1. We need organizers – anywhere you want to organize, however you want to organize. Just print out the guidance and get started. Just make sure you let us know, so we can help you tell everyone else where you are.
2. We need photos. Photos of kissing, hand-holding, hugging – affection between gay and straight couples of all shapes and sizes. They will be used in promotional videos that will simultaneously premiere here, and in David Badash’s blog, sometime on Monday. We’d love to see pictures of you in there. You probably would, too!
3. We need participants. And I guarantee that the personal thrill of participating in events like these is unparalleled. I really believe you would enjoy every minute of it.
And I know I’ve spoken a lot about this event here, but it’s a truly important event – to me, to David Badash, and to the countless people about whom we might never know, who have been harassed for just kissing their boyfriend or partner or girlfriend in a public place. It shouldn’t be happening. We’re trying to say that it’s all okay, that we’re okay.
We just need a little help from folks who believe in this message, and who want to step up and make magic happen on August 15. Thanks.
If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, I also posted about the Great Nationwide Kiss-In last week as well. If you’re on Facebook, you can head over to the Great Nationwide Kiss-In Facebook page, and you can also see the Boston event page over there as well.
One of the things with which we really need assistance is finding organizers for events in different parts of the country. We’ve heard from people in cities all over the country, but nothing has been made concrete in most of the locations. What we’re hearing is that the task of organizing by oneself is daunting, particularly since most folks who are interested have never planned such an event on their own.
I’ve heard from people who are trying to get Kiss-In events off the ground in Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Jose, and Orlando in particular; people in those cities really need the help. If you’re there, or near there, and you want to help plan something, contact me. I’ll get you in touch with those folks.
Just so you know, David Badash, Willow, and I spent a significant amount of time polishing up written guidance on how to plan the event. We’ve covered everything from finding a place, to publicity, to permits, to the planning stages, to suggestions for the event itself. Technically, it can be done with four to six people, although a couple more would be helpful. We’re even going to write the press releases for you, and we’ve explained how you’ll want to contact your local media, so you can alert them to what you’re doing.
If you want to see the written guidance we prepared, you can click here. It’s not difficult – a group of friends could do it together, and be successful.
A good friend of mine, Erin is going to create two promotional videos for us, but here’s something else we need. We need pictures. Instead of stealing pictures from all over the internet – which would be easy, but not cool – David Badash and I are asking our blog readers for their snapshots. Willow, David B, and I are also asking our Twitter and Facebook friends.
What sorts of pictures, you ask? Well, we’re looking for pictures of gay and straight couples kissing. They can be any race, any age. They can be kissing, or cuddling, or holding hands. It can be a little girl kissing a little boy on the cheek, or an elderly couple sitting on a park bench holding hands. It can be a gay couple kissing at a rally, or sneaking a moment in a coffee shop.
If you’re willing to share some photos of yourself, or photos you took of your friends, we would sincerely appreciate it. Part of the publicity of the events will be these promotional videos, and we want to be fair about where we obtain those photos. That’s why we’re asking all of you. If you have such photos, please send them to GreatNationwideKissIn@gmail.com.
Beyond the organization and coordination and publicity, we’re also looking to make sure we have participants in different cities and towns all over the country as well. Please head over to the Facebook group page and add yourself there. Start up discussions about different cities. And if it turns out that you’re in Topeka, and there are two other folks in Topeka who want to do a Kiss-In as well, maybe you can join forces and create your own event there.
At the end of the day, we’re not looking for everything to be perfectly organized, with massive crowds of thousands of people in each city, making out in random locations. If ten of you end up kissing and hugging in a park in the center of Pierre, South Dakota, then that’s awesome! If another dozen of you decide you’re going to smooch in a parking lot in Flagstaff, Arizona, then go for it!
Whatever you end up doing, though, tell us about it.
We plan on taking this to the national press – to exceptionally classy journalists like Rachel Maddow – and telling them that Kiss-In events are being planned in all these different cities. We want to share who or where you are and what you’re doing – with everybody. You – no matter where you are – would be part of a truly awesome coordination of affection throughout the United States.
Just to recap what I’ve been talking about:
1. We need organizers – anywhere you want to organize, however you want to organize. Just print out the guidance and get started. Just make sure you let us know, so we can help you tell everyone else where you are.
2. We need photos. Photos of kissing, hand-holding, hugging – affection between gay and straight couples of all shapes and sizes. They will be used in promotional videos that will simultaneously premiere here, and in David Badash’s blog, sometime on Monday. We’d love to see pictures of you in there.
You probably would, too!
3. We need participants. And I guarantee that the personal thrill of participating in events like these is unparalleled. I really believe you would enjoy every minute of it.
And I know I’ve spoken a lot about this event here, but it’s a truly important event – to me, to David Badash, and to the countless people about whom we might never know, who have been harassed for just kissing their boyfriend or partner or girlfriend in a public place. It shouldn’t be happening. We’re trying to say that it’s all okay, that we’re okay.
We just need a little help from folks who believe in this message, and who want to step up and make magic happen on August 15. Thanks.
Posted in commentary, news | Tags: activism, commentary, great nationwide kiss-in, news