A Day in Hand - The Elvis Challenge

[RabbitWho]

www.adayinhand.com/

It's a website that aims to make same-sex hand holding acceptable.

The idea of the Elvis challenge is for everyone regardless of sexual orientation to understand this.
The idea is to walk a mile holding the hand of someone of the same sex as you.
www.adayinhand.com/news/theelvischallenge

The funny thing is that even thinking about doing the challenge fills me with terror and all kinds of horrible feelings. I can't imagine what it's like to feel that way every day and to be denied the basic ability to show affection for the person you love.
Anyone who can and wants to do the full challenge should, and email it to the website. And tell us here as well what it felt like and show us pictures.
If everyone on earth did it, we really could destroy the stigma and take back this one little right!

"...when you're trying just to be thought of as a human being, the smallest victories feel like huge ones."

However, I know for most of us where we live that could be the last mile we'd ever walk.
So my idea for our community is that those of us who can't take the challenge at least do a smaller safer version.

Get someone you know who'd like to help
go to a public place
hold hands
take a picture
post it here.

I think this will build our understanding of what it feels like to be part of any ostracized community.

Let's try and get at least 10 pictures before the 5th of May!

[Deleted]

I wouldn't be able to do that :s would feel way to weird..
And seriously, what the point of doing that if you're not sexually attracted to the same gender? I don't care if they walk hand in hand, great for them, I'm single they're not, I fail they win XD

[Yokailo]

Is this something for everyone, even if you're not homo or bisexual?
Because I'd love to make some of these pictures, just for the thrill of it. ^^

[RabbitWho]

Yup it's for everyone.

I wouldn't be able to do that :s would feel way to weird..
And seriously, what the point of doing that if you're not sexually attracted to the same gender? I don't care if they walk hand in hand, great for them, I'm single they're not, I fail they win XD

There's no point if you live in a culture where it's okay to hold hands with someone of the same gender in public. But if you live in a culture where it's frowned upon this is a show of solidarity and support and an exercise in exposing yourself to a kind of discrimination you might not normally have to worry about allowing you to feel what it's like to be in that situation.

[Johncoyne]

Girls can do it with no problem. Damn double standard.

[RabbitWho]

Girls can do it? Maybe where you live. Link arms yes, hold hands no.

[Johncoyne]

I've seen straight girls kiss each other in the hallways as friends which I think is great. It's seen as cool at my school. I wish it were the same for guys. If you think that's weird, it's because society has made you think that.

[chelseeyuh]

We're literally supposed to walk a mile?

I want to do this! I just don't know when I'd be around someone enough... >_> I have a 2 mile walk coming up on May 22, though.. Maybe I can do it then...

[RabbitWho]

Apr 5, 2010 20:11:11 GMT -5 @chelseeyuh said:

We're literally supposed to walk a mile?

I want to do this! I just don't know when I'd be around someone enough... >_> I have a 2 mile walk coming up on May 22, though.. Maybe I can do it then...

If you can walk a mile walk a mile Then you can email the website, or I'd say probably if you walk half a mile slowly that's as good as walking a mile at a regular pace, I'm not sure, I could ask them but they're probably very busy.

Less than a mile (or more) you can post the picture here, our project doesn''t necessitate a mile but theirs does. Ours is maybe "Take baby steps in my shoes"

[Deleted]

hmm, I'm bothered with the fact that I'd be so bothered with this :s seeing people walk hand in hand is no problem for me, but doing it myself... I don't know, it bugs me..

[RabbitWho]

That's okay It's the point of the problem I guess, it's one thing for those of us who are accepting to be accepting, it's another thing for us to face this kind of thing. Aside from the fact it makes me understand what they have to worry about more, I do not like the things that run through my own head; they show me that maybe I'm not as strong in the face of the majority as I thought.
If I really do know and feel that gay people are normal (and I swear I do) why should just holding hands in public cause any kind of self-consciousness?

We all used to do it when we were little kids, except one day one of the girls started calling us all lesbians and from that point on it's been stigmatised.. we must have been 6 or 7!

[Yokailo]

I saw this thread, and I loved it, but the walking a mile didn't really work out..
So we just made hand-in-hand pictures.
capturedmuse.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=8659711
I will add that none of these people are actually gay or bisexual- at least they haven't found out yet - but they all understood what the project was for and wanted to be involved, as long as their names weren't mentioned (more about privacy than about shame, I think).

I did notice that the girls didn't mind at all, whereas these boys are some of the coolest most emancipated guys I've ever met- we simply couldn't get more "masculine" (I think these boys are pretty cute, tbh, but hey, that's just me) boys to do this, because it would destroy their 'image'.
At least that's what I think was the reason not to do this.
I think this is worrying o.o

[click3tyclick]

Apr 6, 2010 15:04:51 GMT -5 Yokailo said:

I saw this thread, and I loved it, but the walking a mile didn't really work out..
So we just made hand-in-hand pictures.
capturedmuse.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=8659711
I will add that none of these people are actually gay or bisexual- at least they haven't found out yet - but they all understood what the project was for and wanted to be involved, as long as their names weren't mentioned (more about privacy than about shame, I think).

I did notice that the girls didn't mind at all, whereas these boys are some of the coolest most emancipated guys I've ever met- we simply couldn't get more "masculine" (I think these boys are pretty cute, tbh, but hey, that's just me) boys to do this, because it would destroy their 'image'.
At least that's what I think was the reason not to do this.
I think this is worrying o.o

There's this huge difference between two girls holding hands and two guys doing the same. For the same reason that most girls kiss each other and guys think it's ridiculous to kiss another guy.

[Johncoyne]

I would do it if I could put a sign on by shirt saying why I was doing it. I already get picked on enough.

[Yokailo]

Apr 6, 2010 15:07:53 GMT -5 @click3tyclick said:

Apr 6, 2010 15:04:51 GMT -5 Yokailo said:

I saw this thread, and I loved it, but the walking a mile didn't really work out..
So we just made hand-in-hand pictures.
capturedmuse.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=8659711
I will add that none of these people are actually gay or bisexual- at least they haven't found out yet - but they all understood what the project was for and wanted to be involved, as long as their names weren't mentioned (more about privacy than about shame, I think).

I did notice that the girls didn't mind at all, whereas these boys are some of the coolest most emancipated guys I've ever met- we simply couldn't get more "masculine" (I think these boys are pretty cute, tbh, but hey, that's just me) boys to do this, because it would destroy their 'image'.
At least that's what I think was the reason not to do this.
I think this is worrying o.o

There's this huge difference between two girls holding hands and two guys doing the same. For the same reason that most girls kiss each other and guys think it's ridiculous to kiss another guy.

What is this reason, then?
I do not kiss other girls, by the way, it's just not the way I am, but if you are asked to do it, why not? (this does not include french kissing/sexual acts, but that's probably pretty clear)

[RabbitWho]

That's fantastic! You're so excellent! Posting on this forum I run out of adjectives for you people but this is really something. 10 thumbs up! I feel so happy now, damn letters on a page! they can't express it! Well done!
You have great friends, tell them how great they are.



So that's 7 pictures we only need 10 more to reach the target!
Come on everyone ! Get to it!

[Johncoyne]

^ DOUBLE STANDARD.

[Yokailo]

I don't think the double standard should be there. o.o
Mehh. Never mind. I think I'm just not thinking like a boy. xDD

And thank you & you're welcome, Rebecca.
It was real good fun ^^
We are going to try to get some teachers into this as well, to sort of get a more 'mature' thing about this.. We haven't been able to catch anyone, though.

[RabbitWho]

Apr 6, 2010 15:07:53 GMT -5 @click3tyclick said:

Apr 6, 2010 15:04:51 GMT -5 Yokailo said:

I saw this thread, and I loved it, but the walking a mile didn't really work out..
So we just made hand-in-hand pictures.
capturedmuse.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=8659711
I will add that none of these people are actually gay or bisexual- at least they haven't found out yet - but they all understood what the project was for and wanted to be involved, as long as their names weren't mentioned (more about privacy than about shame, I think).

I did notice that the girls didn't mind at all, whereas these boys are some of the coolest most emancipated guys I've ever met- we simply couldn't get more "masculine" (I think these boys are pretty cute, tbh, but hey, that's just me) boys to do this, because it would destroy their 'image'.
At least that's what I think was the reason not to do this.
I think this is worrying o.o

There's this huge difference between two girls holding hands and two guys doing the same. For the same reason that most girls kiss each other and guys think it's ridiculous to kiss another guy.

Yeah but I think guys have created this problem for themselves,
For example girls had to fight tooth and nail to be allowed to wear pants, men would never even consider fighting for the right to wear dresses even though in some situations they would be more comfortable for them. The only people who will fight for it are people who are already rejected by the status quo and figure a little more can't hurt.

Apr 6, 2010 15:08:25 GMT -5 Johncoyne said:

I would do it if I could put a sign on by shirt saying why I was doing it. I already get picked on enough.

No one wants anyone to do anything that might put them in danger. You can support the cause in other ways, You can do this when you're 21!
I would never in a million years have tried something like this at your age. High school is the hardest stage you'll ever go through
(counting only external life stages and not internals stages such as greif, divorce, etc. which I hope you will be safe from )

[Johncoyne]

No. Worse. Junior High.