Eideard

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Gay rights activists are planning a homosexual kissing protest in front of Pope Benedict XVI when he visits Barcelona this weekend.

Organisers plan for same-sex couples to gather and kiss in a so-called flashmob protest when the Pope arrives to consecrate the city’s Sagrada Familia church and celebrate mass in Spain on November 7.

“We are hoping for a crowd of people of the same sex who will kiss each other for two minutes in front of the Pope,” said Marylene Carole, one of the organisers.

“After two minutes, the flashmob will finish and each participant will leave as if nothing happened,” she said.

The organisers, a group of half a dozen friends who say they are not affiliated to any association, are inviting people via Facebook, Twitter, and a blog to take part…

“The reason is to show our unhappiness with an institution which for a long time has been against the sexual and emotional rights of many people who do not practice exclusively reproductive sex or people who do not love each other in the way that the institution thinks is right,” Ms Carole said.

The idea for the protest was completely spontaneous, Mr Perez said. He added that the idea was to make a symbolic and completely peaceful protest.

Rock the Pope!