The peaceful protest was organised on social media in response to a viral video showing two gay men being forced from a park in Colombia’s capital city Bogotá by a group of angry bigots.
The women can be heard shouting at the couple “in this neighbourhood, we don’t allow sex in the park, especially not in front of children”.
One of the men asked “what sex” the mob was talking about as the pair only kissed, the BBC reported.
The women insulted the couple with one saying they would “lynch” the pair if they didn’t leave. Another woman was filmed chasing after the men and appeared to try to hit them with a broomstick.
Nos vemos mañana a alas 11am en Cl 49a #69-05 bogota. Vamos a besarnos todes como forma de protesta PACÍFICA 🍕BESATÓN A LA NAPOLITANA🍕 ¡únete y comparte! Gracias 🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/S0ym1yHnxA
— Juan Pablo Jaramillo (@Juanjaramilloe) July 30, 2022
Hundreds of queer people staged a “besatón”, or a “kiss-a-thon”, in the same park on Sunday (31 July) to support for the LGBTQ+ community and show they weren’t going to be intimidated by the hateful incident.
People waved kaleidoscopic flags, danced, chanted and played joyful music to celebrate the strength of the LGBTQ+ community. Some people held signs reading “kisses are signs of affection, not a crime” while another sign declared: “We want to be able to kiss without being monitored.”
👉🏾 Por darse un beso en un parque, les pegaron con un palo a una pareja de chicos en Bogotá. La respuesta siempre será más besos, más amor. pic.twitter.com/gB9YgUqi59
— Sentiido (@Sentiido) July 31, 2022
Hoy combatimos la violencia y sus formas con arte y cultura🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️.
Pedimos justicia y acciones oportunas en cada caso de LGBTIQfobia en el país. Lucharemos hasta que no haya ni un caso más.#NoNosQuitaránLosColores 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
¡Gracias @misslesleywolf! pic.twitter.com/YaDUllBkuH— Luis Carlos Leal A🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (@LuisCarlosLealA) July 31, 2022
Las expresiones de amor, como darse un beso en espacio público no es un delito, la homofobia si es un delito‼️
A palo sacaron a 2 hombres q se besaban en el parque el Salitre d Bogotá, hoy la población LGTBIQ llenó d color arcoiris ese parque e hizo besatón. Muak tené tú beso 💋 pic.twitter.com/LJXSotaV6O
— Mayte Misas Tique 🏳️🌈 (@maytemisast) July 31, 2022
Saquen palos, no hay miedo… besaton Bogotá pic.twitter.com/WwXFILkDKQ
— Ñañe (@AngelJBiosca) July 31, 2022
¡Gracias! pic.twitter.com/SfnVn4i1H2
— La Señora 🐺 (@misslesleywolf) July 31, 2022
Hoy en el Salitre dijimos que no nos van a seguir intimidando. Vamos a seguir amando y viviendo en libertad así les incomode 🏳️🌈👬🏻💓#Besaton pic.twitter.com/ZmiRhQz8Eo
— ℭ𝔞𝔪𝔦𝔩𝔬🏹 (@Camilejo03) August 1, 2022
Felices y agradecidxs con la comunidad en el día de ayer con el #Besaton contra la LGBTQIfobia. Hermosa tarde llena de arte y expresión.
En palabras de @juantarquino @misslesleywolf: "No será la última vez que ocurra un acto de violencia así, y para la próxima, allí estaremos". pic.twitter.com/Yi6uOYX9Kc— Incluvision TV (@IncluvisionTV) August 1, 2022
Colombia legalised same-sex marriage in 2016 and same-sex parents have equal rights to adoption as their straight counterparts. Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is prohibited in the country.
Despite being more liberal than many other countries in South America, the LGBTQ+ community still faces many incidents of discrimination in Colombia.
Crowds of same-sex couples previously staged a besatón outside the upscale shopping mall in Bogotá in 2019 to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ rights in the South American country.
The demonstration came after another gay couple reported they were harassed by a man at the Andino shopping centre, the Associated Press reported. The man was said to have pushed the couple and screamed profanities at them just because they were hugging and holding hands.
The couple called the police about the enraged bigot, but they were instead fined for indecent exposure.