Protestors today staged a #BigKissIn across Sainsbury’s supermarkets in support of a lesbian couple who were asked to leave the shop over “being affectionate.”
The couple were asked to leave the shop after a fellow customer called their behaviour “disgusting”. Student Annabelle Paige, who was shopping with her girlfriend in the Brighton store, said she had shared a kiss on the cheek.
The supermarket’s reaction was met with anger by the LGBT community, who descended on the chain today for an in-store protest to kiss one another in solidarity with Ms Paige and her girlfriend.
.@sainsburys: “Live Well For Lez” 😀 #bigkissin pic.twitter.com/N3MePR8o0q
— Adam McGibbon (@AdamMcGibbon) October 15, 2014
Couples snapped pictures of themselves puckering up, posting the images to Twitter with the hashtag #BigKissIn. A couple wearing wedding outfits were also spotted amongst the crowd.
Incredible #Brighton protest against homophobia – proud to take part! #bigkissin pic.twitter.com/LGeW2oN33L
— Adam McGibbon (@AdamMcGibbon) October 15, 2014
A spokesperson for the supermarket said: ‘It is clear that Miss Paige and her partner were not behaving inappropriately and we are very sorry that they were treated in this way.’
Sainsbury’s has issued an apology for the incident, and have since offered to make a donation to a charity of Ms.Paige’s choice:
