Sunday's nightclub massacre in Orlando has left the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community feeling understandably shaken. Despite an outpouring of global support, the loss of those 49 victims is still deeply felt with each passing day.
In a grisly reminder that homophobia still exists in the U.S. a year after marriage equality became legal, gunman Omar Mateen allegedly planned the attack after being angered by the sight of two men kissing.
"We are devastated. We are terrified. We are in mourning," HuffPost Voices Editorial Director Noah Michelson wrote. "But we arenβt alone and we must not let anything stop us from continuing our fight to be heard, to be seen, to be respected and to be free."
In keeping with that mindset, The Huffington Post asked its readers to share photos of themselves kissing their same-sex partners -- or those who they found hot, smart or kind -- on Twitter with the hashtag #KeepKissing. In doing so, HuffPost hopes to encourage the world, especially those in the queer community, to stand unafraid in the face of hate.
Below are 43 of our favorite submissions.
#KeepKissing @huffpostqueer pic.twitter.com/OCHjYAtm0P
— Cole (@ceefuego) June 14, 2016
#KeepKissing Love love love love. JB pic.twitter.com/8IAMArTlZW
— John Barrowman MBE (@Team_Barrowman) June 13, 2016
@huffpostqueer #KeepKissing pic.twitter.com/cNnuBxtAe6
— Ryan (@AGPBRPN) June 14, 2016
Imma #keepkissing my wife π pic.twitter.com/yiP9N0GqSV
— breyton (@katefiigs) June 14, 2016
No matter how much our community has been threatened, we will continue to stay strong. #KeepKissing
— flower goddess//nsfr (@simplynautica) June 13, 2016
ππππβ€οΈ pic.twitter.com/Upuau0P9hM
Wedding day. April 11 2014. #keepkissing @huffpostqueer pic.twitter.com/ZKclRRH5Vx
— Taz Thornton (@TazThornton) June 13, 2016
Still here, still queer. #KeepKissing #LoveTrumpsHate pic.twitter.com/XmW97HoYTG
— Jacob A. Taylor (@jat91390) June 14, 2016
My heart goes out to all who have suffered due to the Orlando shootings. So sad. #LoveWins #KeepKissing #LoveIsLove pic.twitter.com/cLPe9a7hh7
— Sasha Grace Jones (@SashaGraceJones) June 14, 2016
@huffpostqueer #keepkissing pic.twitter.com/TvCCvS71fC
— Jeff Robertson (@MRJDavis84) June 14, 2016
#keepkissing #weareorlando pic.twitter.com/UO30QXPhuM
— dgos (@darcygosek) June 14, 2016
I'll #keepkissing forever because kissing IS RAD pic.twitter.com/onTSH0RE35
— Jamie Feldman (@RealGirlProject) June 14, 2016
#KEEPKISSING pic.twitter.com/vRvkzZN3qk
— david thomas (@dthomasbsr) June 14, 2016
Homophobes will never keep us down. #keepkissing #LoveWins pic.twitter.com/UvrdUG3OQT
— erika&frida (@erikaandfrida) June 14, 2016
@huffpostqueer #KeepKissing My wife and I on our wedding day! pic.twitter.com/iXzds9hVL1
— Seth Rome (@SethRome) June 14, 2016
On our wedding day 9.14.2012 #KeepKissing (the toddler at the table next to ours @TatteBakery clapped for us <3) pic.twitter.com/ilsTQpAMZ1
— AnnaClutterbuck-Cook (@feministlib) June 14, 2016
nothing is going to stop us #keepkissing pic.twitter.com/14RqwVozIY
— joe erbentraut (@robojojo) June 14, 2016
#KeepKissing cause #loveislove & who i kiss & who i'm in love with doesn't invalidate me. be proudπππ @huffpostqueer pic.twitter.com/g6Pn6fQ4IV
— cass β (@fortheloveofCAB) June 14, 2016
#KeepKissing especially in gay clubs. β€οΈππππ pic.twitter.com/WkLXGQPMgc
— johnny karate (@joeyvarghiani) June 13, 2016
My girlfriend and I #loveislove #keepkissing pic.twitter.com/YaJrwId0NB
— γ (@izzybella_11) June 13, 2016
@HuffingtonPost @huffpostqueer @HuffPostPol On top of Yosemite Falls with my boyfriend. #keepkissing pic.twitter.com/h3Hq2vK8O5
— John Swan (@ProfSwan) June 13, 2016
After our goodbye kiss- I thought to myself- I've never been so proud to love someone in my entire life #keepkissing pic.twitter.com/lKYtFuVylE
— Madison Clark (@MadisonSClark) June 13, 2016
#keepkissing because hatred will never make us afraid of who we are and who we love pic.twitter.com/MZMToafM7Q
— eliza (@peaceloveeliza) June 13, 2016
We took this just after we were called disgusting for kissing... But we will always #keepkissing @huffpostqueer β€ pic.twitter.com/Bo4j9DsOPa
— Anna (@AnnaJoy_) June 13, 2016
My absolute everything. #KeepKissing pic.twitter.com/zA4TwzjHCw
— Emily (@EmmieLou731) June 13, 2016
We love being gay fuck yourself homophobes #KeepKissing pic.twitter.com/ICxmnkQ4FB
— ProudGay Indian beta (@slayersins) June 14, 2016
@huffpostqueer #keepkissing pic.twitter.com/Qq7lB6yT80
— brooke β (@crxticaI) June 14, 2016
#keepkissing pic.twitter.com/Gr0f7EwHAQ
— alison zack (@alisonzack) June 14, 2016
Gonna #keepkissing forever. pic.twitter.com/25lLZGDIHw
— Maria (@maryhary) June 14, 2016
#keepkissing @huffpostqueer β€οΈππππ #WeStandWithYouOrlando pic.twitter.com/e7yVWj57FR
— Bayΰ₯ (@baysocrayy) June 14, 2016
"We want to show the world that we stand together unafraid in the face of hate." #KeepKissing @huffpostqueer pic.twitter.com/AiqldCz3Lf
— Bridget Woznica (@BridgetWoznica) June 14, 2016
#keepkissing because love is all you need! @huffpostqueer #LGBTQ #unity #family #pride pic.twitter.com/5Qfz0fCBFQ
— T.A. (@Tianararr) June 14, 2016
@c_wong79 @Sixty5Media Thank you Curtis #KeepKissing pic.twitter.com/KcdZqPirpC
— Alicia Champion (@AliciaChampion) June 13, 2016
#KeepKissing #OrlandoStrong @huffpostqueer @JessicahRauch pic.twitter.com/ZMmQvJ52lq
— Kate Wehby (@katewehby) June 14, 2016
@huffpostqueer #KeepKissing pic.twitter.com/Iox5MSegU2
— Paul Quinn (@RealPaulQuinn) June 14, 2016
#KeepKissing pic.twitter.com/Btnewm2bNc
— Nicole Panyard (@love_punches) June 14, 2016
@huffpostqueer
— Hannah Witt (@hannah_w14) June 14, 2016
Love is love is love β€οΈππππ#KeepKissing pic.twitter.com/xNPGuWq7Z8
#KeepKissing pic.twitter.com/PvjtS8SSfv
— Laura Leigh Abby (@lauraleighabby) June 14, 2016
#KeepKissing #loveislove #lovewins pic.twitter.com/HUS3Wv5stl
— Katie (@katiellvxx) June 14, 2016
#KeepKissing pic.twitter.com/zgqDoCkKNh
— Matt (@salsapockbill24) June 14, 2016
#KeepKissing pic.twitter.com/s6k9FfXLnW
— Terzi YamaΔΔ± (@barbarosansalfn) June 14, 2016
@huffpostqueer #KeepKissing pic.twitter.com/1ToIAjAo9i
— Friends call me Dom (@Duke_Silverback) June 14, 2016
@c_wong79 #keepkissing pic.twitter.com/thcKCOlPNq
— Eli Lieb (@elilieb) June 13, 2016
Want to submit a photo and show support but don't want to use your Twitter account?
Submit a photo and message using the button below, and we'll add it to this page and our partners at LifePosts will tweet it out with the #keepkissing hashtag.
Donate to Orlando here: