Drag Queens Hold Kiss-In at Mexican Mall That Ousted Same-Sex Couple

Over 100 protesters staged a kiss-in at a Mexican mall where a security guard ejected a same-sex couple for kissing.

Regias del Drag, a drag organization, staged the demonstration Sunday at the Galerias Monterrey mall in Monterrey. Last Wednesday, patrons had complained about the smooching couple, resulting in their ousting.

Jorge Anguiano, one of the men, posted a Facebook video recounting the incident as well as footage of the guard explaining that he and his boyfriend had to leave as they were bothering patrons. Over 44,000 had viewed the clip at the time of this article's posting.

In response, Regias del Drag launched the Besoton vs Homofobia 2020 event, which pitted love against hatred. "The time has come to organize a kiss against homophobia," a translation of the Facebook event page stated. "Every act that wants to repress us is an opportunity to make us visible and show that we are not alone."

A Twitter user posted a video from the demonstration, where dozens could be seen marching through the mall holding hands, chanting pro-LGBTQ slogans, and waving rainbow flags and other symbols of LGBTQ identity. "Educating is the option. Nondiscrimination!" a translation of the caption read.

Another video from Ruben Maza, president of It Gets Better Mexico, shows the cheering crowd gathered in a circle while different pairs smooch in the center.

Kiss-ins are a time-honored tradition in the international LGBTQ community, which has employed them to raise visibility and fight discrimination in venues ranging from heavy metal concerts in Russia to a Spanish cathedral.

See more media from the Galerias Monterrey demonstration below, and find more images on the photographer Cristhian Cavazos's Twitter account.