Gay hand-holding campaign celebrates first anniversary

A campaign to encourage LGBT people to hold hands in public will celebrate its first anniversary this month.

Sshh! Saturdays was launched a year ago by founder David Watkins, who encourages LGBT couples and friends to email in pictures of them holding hands in public.

The monthly event, part of a wider campaign called A Day in Hand, is designed to help same-sex couples feel comfortable showing affection in public, and to make LGBT people more visible.

Mr Watkins describes his campaign as a "silent revolution" to "show the world that same-sex love exists in all places and in all cultures".

In the last year, couples in more than 20 countries across the world have taken part and Mr Watkins was honoured with an award at Downing Street for his campaign last October.

He has also received support for the campaign from politicians such as as mayor of London Boris Johnson and Labour leadership contender David Miliband.

Mr Watkins told PinkNews.co.uk: "Sshh! Saturdays are important times to encourage LGBT people across the globe to hold hands to support visibility of same-sex love. Same-sex hand holding can increase self-esteem within relationships as well as empower LGBT people in their communities.

"Sshh! Saturdays. . . have created spaces for many LGBT people to see that the more ‘out’ they are, the easier being ‘out’ is.”

The next Sshh! Saturday will take place on Saturday September 25th and participants