Same-sex hand holding) Sshh! Saturdays
Last Saturday of every month
starting: Saturday 26th September 2009
This is the beginning of the end for homophobia. You are about to become a part of the biggest gay revolution since hot cave men and women started to dance around club FIRE.
*You can take part in this event *wherever* you are in the world. You can be gay or straight. This is an inclusive campaign*
A Day In Hand announces the first ever international Same-sex hand holding (Sshh!) Saturday on September 26th 2009. On this day, same-sex couples and friends all over the world are encouraged to hold hands in public to support the visibility of Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans (LGBT) people. Sshh! Saturdays will occur on the last Saturday of every month, publicised by A Day In Hand. This is a revolutionary way of encouraging and inspiring LGBT people to take responsibility for their equality and live their lives without fear or restraint. Sshh! Saturdays in major cities will eventually become regarded as an important time when numerous same-sex couples can feel confident in holding hands and be themselves.
This is silent revolution. Nothing needs to be said! Just hold hands. Same-sex hand holding! (Sshh!)
Where?
When?
• The first international Sshh! Saturday will be September 26th.
What?
• On Saturday September 26th we are asking people to find someone of the same gender, and hold their hand in public. It may be for only 1 min or for the whole day! We would love people to have their photo taken holding hands and upload it to our website by sending to yourstories@adayinhand.com.
Who?
• The population (gay or straight, all faiths, genders, races, abilities, single or in a relationship). Celebrities Brian Paddick (below) and Boy George, author Paul Burston, MEP Michael Cashman, Mayor Boris Johnson and activists Peter Tatchell & Cleve Jones (Harvey Milk’s aide) have already endorsed the A Day In Hand campaign and many more will be holding hands on the first Sshh! Saturday.
You can be gay or straight, committed or single, just...
1) Find someone's hand of the same gender
2) Take them outside on Sat 26th September
3) Send your pictures to yourstories@adayinhand.com
Brian Paddick and his partner Peter Belsvik, hold hands for A Day In Hand
Why?
• A Day In Hand founder, David Watkins says, “Sshh! Saturdays aim to ultimately create safer spaces for LGBT people. As the idea of Sshh! Saturdays grow in popularity and spread across the world, the last Saturday of every month will become a day of support for LGBT people who want to show their commitment in public. Many years ago in the UK, LGBT people knew that the last carriage of every train would be populated by members of the queer community. Today, A Day In Hand wants people to feel the same sense of support in public spaces on the last Saturday of every month.”
• Sshh! Saturdays are easily organised wherever you are. They are not prides or rallies. It only requires 2 people of the same sex to hold hands to make a Sshh! Saturday. The images sent to yourstories@adayinhand.com will be spread throughout the world via our website.Visibility of same-sex love is particularly important so that LGBT people become part of the cultural fabric of people’s lives.
• In areas of the world where it is impossible for LGBT to hold hands publicly, we call on people to send messages of support to our website on Sshh! Saturdays, and send in their photos of them holding hands, in public or private to yourstories@adayinhand.com
• ‘Sshh! Saturday 26th Sept’ will be in memoriam of the recent Tel Aviv shootings at a Gay & Lesbian centre and the ongoing atrocities being committed to LGBT people in Iraq.
You expect me to hold hands in MY area?
We’re not asking people to ignore survival instincts that say “this is not safe, I shouldn’t be doing this”. We are asking people to think about public displays of affection in more creative, less obtrusive ways. If you can’t hold hands in your immediate area, how about resting your head on your partner’s shoulder at the cinema, or kissing them good-bye in the car? We have to start expressing our love in the mainstream. If you find it difficult to hold hands down your local street, find a location or area where you can hold hands comfortably, perhaps in the aisle of your supermarket or in your local park. Even for only a few minutes, the experience is liberating! So far the campaign has highlighted the positive reaction to same-sex hand holding in many major Western cities. See our recent relay walk through London.
What is A Day In Hand?
A Day in Hand heralds a revolutionary way of making the world a more liveable place: a revolution in which anybody, on any day, can be a part of. The campaign is designed to promote equality of respect for people who wish to hold hands with someone of the same gender in public. We launched on May 17th this year and are
now featured in over 20 countries worldwide. How? By holding hands we visibly challenge stereotypes and show we love and commit like everyone else. Anybody can take the day in hand. Events like these remind people that each individual has the power to change the cultural zeitgeist. Holding hands with your partner or your friend, where you can, is about being true to yourself and to those you love.
How can I get involved? – (see contact info below) + useful links:
1. Register with our website
2. Send your public same-sex hand holding photos with a description to yourstories@adayinhand.com
3. A Day In Hand's Facebook, Twitter and Flickr sites here
Contact
David Watkins (A Day In Hand founder) info@adayinhand.com
Available for A Day In Hand interviews & feature writing. +44 (0) 7931 461810
Note to Editors
Please register at http://www.adayinhand.com for further updates. Photographs available. Feel free to use any images from the website as long as they are featured as part of A Day in Hand campaign and the relevant photographer is credited. Print copies of many of these images are available. Email info@adayinhand.com
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