Dozens of gay-rights advocates staged a kiss-in June 4 inside a suburban restaurant.
The protest took place at the Alsip eatery La Fiesta Azteca. According to a Facebook post from activist couple Danny Hawkes, 19, and Frank Nielsen, 22, the kiss-in was an opportunity to "fight to end discrimination, to end homophobia, to teach these ignorant heterosexuals that just because your gay doesn't mean that you are not part of a family and finally to educate those who might not otherwise listen."
Nielsen told Windy City Times that when he and Hawkes kissed inside La Fiesta Azteca May 7, restaurant owner Jaime Esparza told them they had to stop. Esparza said he would have stopped any couple from kissing, according to ChicagoBreakingNews.com .
A friend who heard the story suggested he go meet Gay Liberation Network's ( GLN's ) Andy Thayer at International Day Against Homophobia. Nielsen told Thayer his story, and the two decided to organize the kiss-in.
Nielsen said he and Hawkes were waited on to order food; Esparza reportedly told other protesters that if they did not order, they would have to leave. So protesters began making noise that they wanted to be waited on ( and then eventually got to order drinks ) .
Nielsen told Windy City Times that after everyone paid and left, Esparza's son came out and tried to apologize to Nielsen on behalf of his dad. Nielsen said all he had wanted was his money back and an apology. The son offered him 20 dollars, but Nielsen refused it.
At the table where Nielsen and Hawkes sat, there was, a picture of a heterosexual couple about to kiss.
Thayer told Windy City Times that La Fiesta Azteca "had the opportunity to do the right thing, and we were more than willing to bury the hatchet, but they persisted in being not only homophobes but lawbreakers. I see Friday night's action as being much more important that one incident." He added that GLN is boycotting the eatery.
GLN's Bob Schwartz said, "We wanted to make a statement that if you discriminate against gay and lesbian people, there is going to be a price to pay."
Nielsen said, "Since the protest, I've been watching public displays of affection from straight people more closely. ... No one is outraged by love if it's between two straight people. And there shouldn't be a double standard."
Assistance: Andrew Davis