October 2009

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Sshh! Saturdays

The founder of A Day In Hand, David Watkins, explains a new initiative to encourage LGBT people worldwide to take responsibility for their own equality.

A Day In Hand held the first-ever international same-sex hand holding (Sshh!) Saturday on 26 September, 2009, when same-sex couples and friends all over the world were encouraged to hold hands in public to support the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans (LGBT) people. Sshh! Saturdays – the most hopeful monthly event since payday! – will occur on the last Saturday of every month, and will be 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 Western cities will eventually become regarded as an important time when numerous same-sex couples can feel confident in holding hands and being themselves.

Where? Anywhere outside. Your area of the world.

When? The first international Same-sex hand holding (Sshh) Saturday was held on Saturday, 26 September, 2009.

What? 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 it to us here.

Who? The population (gay or straight, all faiths, genders, races, abilities, single or in a relationship). Celebrities Brian Paddick and Boy George, author Paul Burston, MEP Michael Cashman, Mayor Boris Johnson and activists Peter Tatchell and Cleve Jones (Harvey Milk’s aide) have already endorsed the A Day In Hand campaign and many more will be holding hands too! Please email info@adayinhand.com if you would like to be a part of it.

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.”

The first Sshh! Saturday was dedicated in memoriam of the recent shootings at a Tel Aviv gay and lesbian centre and the ongoing atrocities being committed to LGBT people in Iraq.

• Sshh! Saturdays are easily conducted 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 us 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.

• Watkins adds “Same-sex hand holding (Sshh!) is a silent revolution for LGBT people, because nothing needs to be said: no bold speeches, no reactive arguments, no war of words. Each LGBT person has the power to change the hearts and minds of people in their local community quietly, subtly, by simply holding hands publicly and owning their space. However, hand holding is a simple powerful gesture that can happen anywhere, at any time.”
   

• In areas of the world where it is impossible for LGBT people 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 us here.

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 goodbye 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. It was launched on 17 May this year and is 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 Sshh! Saturdays 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.