I walked past two guys holding hands a while back and they were both staring at me as if expecting a reaction. I didn't have any reaction though because I didn't care.

When I see it, I smile. Happy couples are a good thing.

gays r not accepted in society

ppl r slow in a smaller city usually. in a big city no one cares usually

Any happy couple is something to rejoice about with all of the turmoil and hate in our world. Congrats to you and have a wonderful anniversery night out!!! :)

Unfortunately, there are people that stereotypes relationships. This is a fact that will not change dramatically any time soon, so... "Happy Anniversary!" to you and your boyfriend; and, remember that everyone has the right to live the way that brings the most happiness and the most possitiveness in their life.

The best way I feel I can answer this is to ask another question: How can ANY gay or lesbian couple openly express their homosexuality in public and NOT expect some kind of reaction similar to what you described? Just because homsexual behavior is more out in the open nowadays and homosexuals are gaining equal recognition and rights in the eyes of the law does NOT mean that everybody automatically accepts or condones homosexuals or homosexual behavior overnight. This is an unrealistic and unreasonable expectation. In fact, I daresay that public displays of homosexual behavior will ALWAYS result in some form of public reaction, to one extent or another, for decades at least. This will vary according to the surrounding community and will generally decrease eventually, with time, but it will ALWAYS be there. People's appearances, life styles, sex, race, religious practices and so forth that deviate from the accepted social 'norm' of the communities involved have been drawing similar public reactions for thousands of years. Why should homosexuals be any different? ESPECIALLY when you compare your relatively recent emergence into public life with those thousands of years for others? When I think of your question in this light, it makes me think of you as a petty, ego-centric individual whom I group with, say, the kid who shaves half his head, dyes the other half bright pink, tattoos his face, pierces his lips, tongue, and eyebrows, and then gets indignant if I stare at him in disbelief! You do these things, which you KNOW will attract attention, and then get indignant about it when you get a reaction. Well, in the immortal words of my ever-wise wife: GET OVER IT! Personally, if you choose to live a homosexual lifestyle that is your business. As long as you follow the same general rules concerning public behavior that I would expect from any heterosexual couple, fine. You swap spit in public, my reaction is the same: get a room. You want to hold hands? Fine, have at it. You want to engage me in conversation? OK, fine with me. Join the military to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic? More power to you. Someone attacks you because you're "queer' or 'gay'? I'll step up in your defense like I would anybody else. But I (and most all people in this country) was raised in a different time and with a different set of values that does NOT accept homosexual behavior as normal. So if I act stunned, it's because I am! But that still doesn't alter my belief that you may do as you wish, subject to the same social limitations I put on everybody else. So, by all means, enjoy your chosen lifestyle to the fullest. And I honestly wish you and your partner the best. But stop acting like I am obligated to change my beliefs and values just because I am shocked to see homosexual behavior displayed in public. I'm entitled to my opinions just as you are and as long as I don't allow them to interfere with your right to live your chosen life style: GET OVER IT!.

I say who cares what others say or think! I have quite a few gay friends and couples. I think their love is beautiful. It is a shame that society is so sheltered. But it is the same for a black man and a white woman, or any other interracial relationship. Speaking as a woman who had never really dated her own race, I really could care less what others think, as long as my s/o treats me right and we are happy together. I can only hope that one day society opens their eyes and accepts the different relationships that people have. I also hope that more states accept gay marriages, like in California. I'm sure people will DR me but I don't care, if you do you are probably one of the sheltered persons in society.

I think two guys holding hands is the most beautiful thing i've seen relationship-wise in the world. I've grown up in a texas-like homophobic household but i've always respected LGBT rights. I think growing up in my household the way i have has made me that much more acceptive of those rights. The first time i really saw a gay couple was in Washington, D.C. I was going on a tour of the white house and a gay couple, holding hands walked past me and had to part to get past me. (we were in a hallway in the east wing) I was just cemented, i couldn't hold back the emotion, it was like watching your first sunset or something like that. I walked past and looked back and at that moment one of the guys looked back at me and winked lol. I felt like such an idiot to actually give homophobic ppl the benefit of the doubt.

I stare at everyone, you're not special.

Unfortunately, even in this day and age when people are more open and accepting, there are still a lot of bigots out there. I live in a big city with a large LGBT community, but my partner and I don't hold hands in public or any other pda's (except perhaps at Pride fest). People still act shocked to see inter-racial couples, even though it's very common as well (my step-sister has a black boyfriend and 2 bi-racial kids, and my brother has a Filipino wife). If a straight couple does anything more than hold hands or a quick little kiss (like, practically having sex with each other in public...which I see a lot with teenagers), I'm usually going to think "get a room" myself. It's unfortunately the way things still are....

I think it depends on where you live. Where I live there are alot of rednecks and old time traditional people, though we have a population of 150,000 in our inner city I have never even met an openly gay man or woman. Maybe some are just curious about how gay couples act, if they are like hetero couples. Maybe they aren't even staring for that reason. Whatever the reason at least they don't insult you, I have heard of that happening to gay couples often.

Everyones going to have their own opinions on everything in life. Opinions are like ***holes, everyones got one... lol If you and your partner are happy then dont let what other ppl think or say bother you. If what you do offends them then they need to chill and relax. People are with who they are happy with and love. If you dont know them then dont let it bother you. Me and my girlfriend get wierd looks all the time. More then half the time its guys starin at her lol but the other half its ppl like "omg how is she with that guy?!?!" im 6'7 shes 5'0 lol i know whats running through their heads.... lol and what probably popped up into yours lol but like i said, dont let what ppl think or say bother you. Everyones got a right to their own opinion, dont let it change who you are and who your happy with.

Stop being a drama queen. Just be happy. The odds are you are drawing the looks because you are looking for a reaction. It happens alot to those who are new."I have many gay friends". Some get past it in a couple of years others hold on to it. Let go. You’re nothing new, gays and lesbians have been around almost as long as heterosexual couples. Find your identity elsewhere.

mMm...I wouldn't say that they are sheltered. If they were too sheltered, they wouldn't be out and about seeing these things......right? So, maybe it's just the fact that they're beliefs are different and that they don't know how to hold in their reactions when seeing the two of you.

It's because you are new and exciting!!!

I'm so sorry that this is your experience. I don't know what the big deal is to other people... it's not like you are trying to hold THEIR hands. Maybe it's because I have gay friends (males) that I only see a couple holding hands. I don't even think about it. I understand where you are coming from though. I can give a short (peck) kiss to a guy in public and no one says anything about it, but a gay couple can't do that without calling attention to themselves in most places. Have you guys ever considered moving to P-Town (Provincetown, Ma.)? It's very gay and super friendly. You won't be forced to worry about what others think if you want to hold your bf's hand or give him a short kiss hello or goodbye, or a hug, etc. I'm heterosexual and "Gay" in P-Town means HAPPY, because people are free to be themselves there and are accepted for who they are. I like it there, can you tell--it's a really nice place. I wish you the best and have a really happy anniversary! :D

I have no issues whatsoever with a gay couple be it 2 males or 2 females holding hands and being affectionate . My problem comes in when they are practically sucking each others tonsils out and being all grabby and touchy in places that should only be grabbed and touched in the privacy of your own bedroom. Make no mistake this is not a problem that includes gays only. I also find it totally disgusting and unacceptable when it is a heterosexual couple doing it. Some PDA'S ore just meant to be shown in the privacy of your bedroom and not out in the open for the whole world to see.