The survey was carried out by global non-profit Pride Wide and Barefoot Wine
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY BAREFOOT
A new survey by the new global non-profit Pride Wide and Barefoot Wine found that 85% of LGBTQIA people want to see more hand-holding in public. However, two-thirds of people surveyed had refrained from holding their partner’s hand in fear of a negative reaction.
In the Pride Wide survey of 1,063 UK LGBTQIA people, 84% said that being able to hold their partner’s hand gave them happiness. Not only that, but being able to see other LGBTQIA couples holding hands also made them feel joy.
Scott Nunn, co-founder and creative director of Pride Wide, said: “Hand-holding is as old as humanity itself and is something many people don’t think twice about. But a worrying number of LGBTQIA people sometimes have to question whether they should hold someone’s hand. Our survey gives new insights into why holding hands is so important and we will use the results to promote a Britain where everyone can hold hands with confidence.”
Four out of ten people said that they feel safer when they see other queer couples holding hands in the street. For 83% of the people surveyed, LGBTQIA couples holding hands was seen as a powerful act of visibility.
Psychosexual and relationship psychotherapist, Silva Neves, commented: “However, it’s important to bear in mind that, sadly, a lot of LGBTQIA+ couples do not feel safe holding hands everywhere. While holding hands in private homes and in safe LGBTQIA+ spaces does have positive physical and emotional benefits, it can have the reverse effect if not in a safe space.”
DIVA’s very own Char Bailey wrote a beautiful poem to go alongside this new study about the power of queer couples holding hands. “Your palms with their lines, and our fingertips entwined, like a cheat code to ease my mind, holding just feels right.”
Musician ROXXXAN also spoke about the importance of visibility. “As a masculine-presenting Black woman that works in the fashion industry as a model and in the male dominated music industry it’s really important for me to be as visible as I can with who I am and who I choose to love.”
“Holding hands for me is a silent and yet still such a loud bold statement. It says I love who I am, I accept who I am, I love who I love, and I am proud of how I live my life.”
If you’re looking for some extra warmth this winter, maybe try holding hands before you grab your gloves!
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