Same-sex couples are being encouraged to hold hands in public as part of a new campaign.

The "A Day in Hand" campaign wants people to upload pictures of same-sex hand-holding to their website, to help spread the word and raise awareness. Human rights activists Peter Tatchell and Cleve Jones, who was also aide to Harvey Milk have offered support, while I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here star Brian Paddick appears in a photo shoot for the campaign.The photos are being used to create a same-sex love map of the world.

London is currently the same-sex hand-holding hotspot of the world, with more couples in the city uploading their photos than anywhere else. People across the UK are invited to get involved and send in their photos.

 

David Watkins, the group's founder, said, "Hand holding is a simple, liberating gesture that is essential to our communities' health, visibility, and respect."Organisers are encouraging straight people to get involved in the project too. David Watkins said, "We want straight people to hold hands with someone of the same gender in public, and describe how it made them feel.  This is an inclusive event and involving straight people will support a wider understanding of this issue. You don't have to be gay to object to homophobia and inequality. Hand-holding crosses gender, age, orientation and geographical borders.

 

The campaign will officially launch on May 17 at XXL Club, London Bridge, on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO). Hand-holding photos will be on sale and also displayed in a gallery.

Visit www.adayinhand.com for more information.