Open Forum: V-Day, Queerdom, and You...

Valentine's Day rolls along every year and most people love it or hate it depending on their marital status and whether they are content with their partner(s). For the heterosexual majority Valentine's Day means a possible romantic escapade and gift sharing with your partner. V-Day however can take on a whole new meaning for gay people whose love and affections are not as well embraced by society. Queer couples can either hide in their places or venture out with their lover(s).

Whether single or partnered does Valentine's Day inadvertently become an activist calendar day for you? What implications does V-Day hold over queer couples and what is its broader impact on the LGBTQ community?

Queer Kiss-Ins Around the World to Mark Valentine's Day

A campaign to counter homophobia is hitting the streets this Valentine's weekend across the globe. The Kiss-In International movement is encouraging same-sex couples to display their affection in public by kissing their loved ones.

The listing is provided by Kiss-In and translated by Google translator. The following locations will have demonstrations:

FRANCE

- ANGERS, To Angers, February 13, 2010 at 16h, Mondain Chanlouineau place before the mall Fleur d'Eau, in extension of the Rue Saint-Laud.

- AUXERRE, At Auxerre, February 14, 2010 at 16h, Place de l'Hotel de Ville.
Contact : Mickael Lequeux.

- BORDEAUX, In BORDEAUX, February 14, 2010 at 16h, before the mirror of water.
Contact : Adrien Louis (adrien.louis1@gmail.com), et Wake Up !

- CAEN, To Caen, February 13, 2010 at 16h, in front of City Hall.
Contact : Alice Bébin.

- GAP , To GAP, February 14, 2010 at 14h, up Alsace-Lorraine.
Contact : Eloïse Fillacier (spero-patronum.x@hotmail.fr).

- LILLE, To LILLE, February 14, 2010 at 16h, before the Opera.
Contact : Fanny Vlérick (serial-aka-fanny@hotmail.com).

- LYON, In Lyon, February 14, 2010 at 16h, up Compost.
Contact : Fabrice Marcellin (contact@gayinlyon.com).
- MARSEILLE, Marseille, February 14, 2010 at 14h Place Estrangin-prefecture.
Contact : Rémi de St-Régis.

- MONTPELLIER, In Montpellier, February 13, 2010 at 18h, Place de la Comedie.

- NICE, To NICE, February 14, 2010 at 13:00, Cours Saleya (between civet and the Three Devils).
Contact : Paul-Antoine Desanti.

- PARIS, In PARIS, February 14, 2010 at 14h, Place Saint Michel.
Contact : Arthur Vauthier.

- POITIER, At Poitiers, February 14, 2010 at 14h, Place d'Armes.
Contact : Gaelle Decombes.

- RENNES, To Rennes, February 14, 2010 at 14h, Esplanade Charles de Gaulle - Allied Courses.
Contact : Elouan Bochet (loulouboch@hotmail.fr).

- TOULON, In TOULON, February 14, 2010 at 14h, Liberty Square.
Contact : Fanny Legoupil (fanny_renard@hotmail.fr).

- TOULOUSE, To Toulouse, February 14, 2010 at 16h, went to President Franklin Roosevelt (opposite Asda).
Contact : Nicole Dupré de Boulois.

AUSTRALIA

- SYDNEY, To SYDNEY, February 14 at 13h, Taylor Square.
Contact : Damien Robert.

BELGIUM

- BRUXELLES, In BRUSSELS, February 14, 2010 at 14h, on the Grand Place.
Contact : Jeremy Leclere et Jeremy de Boeck.

- LIEGE, In LIEGE, February 14, 2010 at 14h, Place Saint Lambert.
Contact : Ulrick Sinkowich.

MEXICO

- MERIDA, Merida, February 28, 2010 at 16h, Plaza Grande.
Contact : Memo Macas McNally.

PERU

- LIMA, To Lima, February 14, 2010 at 16h, Plaza San Miguel.
Contact : Jorge Alberto Chavez Reyes.

SWITZERLAND

- GENEVE, To GENEVA, February 12, 2010 at 18h, Gare Cornavin, Great Hall. Contact : Daniel Ventoso.

VENEZUELA

- CARACAS, In Caracas, February 14 at 16h, Plaza Venezuela.

Happy Valentines Day!

To all of our queer and allied readers, have a very happy Valentine's day. May your lives be enriched by love and happiness regardless of the gender you choose.

For LGBT couples, check out the Gay and Lesbian Couples Network to find groups and chapters in your state that bring together LGBT couples for networking, socializing, and political efforts.

For those of you flying solo but looking to meet your queer soulmate check out a listing of LGBT social networking/dating sites.

Watch "Fidelity" and Sign a Letter to California Supreme Court

The Courage Campaign is asking us to tell the Supreme Court to invalidate Prop 8, reject Ken Starr's case, and let loving, committed couples marry.

DEADLINE: Valentine's Day.



Sign the letter to the California Supreme Court.

Valetines Day Kiss-In Protest at LA City Hall

Roots of Equality is organizing a kiss-in protest for Valentine's Day, February 14th in front of the Los Angeles City Hall at 2pm. (On the steps of LA City Hall: Between 1st and Temple on Spring (200 N Spring St.)

As quoted from their site: "They took away our rights, they made us second class citizens, and now they’re trying to take away the marriages we already legally obtained. Well F that. Show them that no matter what they do to us, we are and will continue to love."

RSVP on Facebook at the Kiss In! event.

Can you help Roots of Equality with the Kiss In! LA protest? Interested in organizing one at your city hall? Email at RootsofEquality@gmail.com.

Crossposted via Unite The Fight.