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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Gay rights activists are organizing a nationwide string of kissing demonstrations in response to the treatment of gay couples in Utah and Texas who tangled with security guards or police after kissing in public.
The Great Nationwide Kiss-In is scheduled for Aug. 15. Events are planned for at least seven cities, including Boston, New York, Houston, Portland, Ore., and three California cities -- Irvine, San Diego and San Francisco.
A Web page and Facebook page promoting the demonstrations says more events are in the works.
A pair of bloggers, David Badash, of New York, and David Mailloux, of Boston, are behind the plans, along with the organization Join the Impact.
They say the events are not a protest against those who oppose gay rights. But they say people should be allowed to freely express their affection.
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(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
