Same-sex displays of affection cap Coming Out Week

Same-sex couples holding hands and kissing in the Pit drew claps and cheers from onlookers during lunch Friday.

About 30 students made a circle in the middle of the Pit, holding each other's hands, and started kissing their same-sex partners and straight allies.

Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and queer-identified individuals congregated in the Pit to celebrate all sexualities and to draw attention to what they said is the double standard that exists regarding homosexuals making out publicly.

This Flaunt Your Sexuality Kiss-in, organized by the Committee for a Queerer Carolina, was one of the many events of the group's Coming Out Week. The week was designed to laud sexual diversity and encourage its visibility.

Senior Jermaine Caldwell, a member of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender-Straight Alliance, took part in the event and wore a blue T-shirt that read: "Carolina Fags ... Best in the world."

"I just want to be supportive of Coming Out Week and supportive of sexual diversity," he said. "I think it's a very visible way to get our message out."

Sophomore Jeffrey Cash, a participant in the event, said he was glad to express affection openly.

"I feel extremely liberated, feel free," he said. "I'm able to make out with someone, another man, and be fine with it."

The men participating in the kiss-in far outnumbered the number of female participants.

Junior Kaitlyn Goodnight, one of the few women who kissed along with the other couples, said she thought homosexual women are too shy to come out and should be encouraged more to do so.

"There are far too many gay boys on campus," she said.

Participants and passers-by said they thought the event had significant value in creating a safe environment for LGBTQ students.

"It was good to see that there were no boos and nobody saying, 'Oh, gross,'" said senior Matt Cunningham.

Some people, however, were still uncomfortable with the public display of affection.

"I saw three guys making out," said sophomore Liz Shook. "I thought it was strange, in the middle of the Pit. It's good that they came out, but they could have done it in a better way."

Sophomore Win Chesson, who organized the kiss-in, said the event surpassed his expectations.

"The number of people that participated were phenomenal," he said. "The whole idea is to be visible and draw attention to the double standard that there is when people are making out in public."

When the event was being planned, he said, some homosexuals said they weren't comfortable with public displays of affection, even when they involved heterosexuals.

Chesson said that was the attitude he wanted to change, adding that he wants the world to stop distinguishing between what is right for heterosexuals and what is right for homosexuals.

"We're not done shocking the bourgeois until they're done being shocked," Goodnight said.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.