To combat the unfortunate wave of homophobia in sports and the state of Russian LGBT rights ahead of the 2014 Olympics, GQ Germany has rounded up 13 heterosexual celebrities from a variety of industries to make out with each other in a new campaign called “Gentlemen against homophobia.”
This isn’t the first time two straight men have kissed for the benefit of homosexuals, and it hopefully won’t be the last. The editors of GQ are pushing the new campaign with the hashtag #Mundpropaganda (meaning “word of mouth”) to show, among other things, just how unremarkable and “mundane” a gay kiss can be.
“The intolerance that homosexuals are still fighting against is shocking,” said Editor-in-Chief José Redondo-Vega. “With #Mundpropaganda we wanted to give a clear sign in favor of a free society.” Or, as loosely translated from the pages themselves:
What is so special about a kiss? Nothing! Right. Nor how to have a belief in the free voicing one’s own opinion or it or just do not. But what is in one spot of the earth normality, is another criminal offense, is sometimes a danger to their own lives. Like a kiss. Between two men.
How about we take this to the next level?
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New meme, anyone?
Among the hunks sucking face for LGBT rights are German musician Herbert Grönemeyet, actors Ken Duken, Kostya Ullmann and August Diehl, members of German hip-hop group Fettes Brot, and beach volleyball Olympic champion Julius Brink. “Intolerance is not a state of mind,” they believe, “and certainly not for gentlemen.”
In a behind-the-scenes video, each man sounds off on the state of LGBT equality:
“This is not like tilting against windmills. Constant dripping wears the rock away. And the more people speak about it, the more tolerance will spread.” —Johannes Strate, Revolverhead
“If it’s true that 80% support what Putin said, then those people should maybe start to think for themselves and realize what this really means for the victims.” —Kostja Ullmann, actor
“Everybody has his own nature. That’s the message we want to spread. You can’t tell anyone who to love. This is why it’s important to take an unequivocal stand on this topic and take part in this campaign. I think sportsmen should also speak up against it. It’s important for the Russian people to know they are not alone.” —Herbert Gronemeyer, actor
“I think it’s important that people who are in the public eye say in some way or the other that certain views are not acceptable, no matter whether it’s right-wing extremism or homophobia.” —Jakob Sinn, Revolverhead
“As an artist, you often get the feeling that no matter how many smart lyrics you write and no matter how many smart interviews you give, there will always be some idiots who don’t get it. But I also believe that society can change.” —Dokter Renz, Fettes Brot
YesIDid
Wow. Ken and Kostja make one hot couple.
viveutvivas
I know their intentions may be good but isn’t this a bit like saying you want to support the rights of black people by putting on blackface?
yaoming
That was hot. Wish I knew who those guys were.
NoelG
@viveutvivas: No.
Teleny
@viveutvivas: yes. This is just kind of weird, buy there hearts are in the right place.
DuMaurier
I don’t know that I’d call it the equivalent of ‘blackface’ (maybe more like a whitebread guy thinking he’s hip hop) but I will say I don’t need straight people to ‘act’ gay to be authentic allies. Just be yourselves and that’s cool, because as an ally that’s your message for us too. But some of those pics are hot.
balehead
Kissing another man is not gay…shame on the gay separtists!!
Sebizzar
@viveutvivas: No. The point is that seeing 2 men share a kiss or be romantic with each other should not cause any hysteria to people and certainly not call for stupid laws to stop us.
jckfmsincty
Is any one of them Jewish?
Raphael
@viveutvivas: Yes. And @Teleny: I agree.
jimbryant
I honestly don’t see the point of this campaign. Locking lips is not what defines men with homosexual attractions.
Neb
@jckfmsincty: Wait, is this about religion?
I mean, sure, i kissing men is divine but does it matter what they believe in?
Why bother wondering? Love is Love!
And this campaign is beautiful, in more than one way!!!
milomorris
There is really nothing unremarkable, or mundane about any of these kisses. They are all laced with romance, which makes them special kisses. The last one in particular adds lust to the emotional charge.
Another thing that makes these kisses not unremarkable or mundane is the lack of context. The kisses stand alone. For them to be unremarkable or mundane, they need to be put in unremarkable or mundane contexts. And I think that while the producers say they want “unremarkable or mundane,” they know that this campaign is actually going to be provocative.
Additionally, I agree with DuMaurier: we don’t need straight allies to act gay. And while this is not the same as blackface, I as a black man would not want to see white folks acting black in order to fight racism.
I think this campaign will do very little to help normalize same-sex romantic expression. I don’t think that is going to happen until we see more media content (TV, movies, music videos, etc.) that depict kisses, etc, within the context of the everyday lives of sexual minorities. Then we’ll be getting somewhere.