This Queer Teen’s Explanation of Why We All Stare at Same-Sex Couples Goes Viral

Home>
Love>
This Queer Teen’s Explanation of Why We All Stare at Same-Sex Couples Goes Viral
This Queer Teen’s Explanation of Why We All Stare at Same-Sex Couples Goes Viral
They're not homophobic stares. In fact, it's the opposite. 
By Zachary ZaneOctober 05 2017 / 2:55 PM
Zachary Zane
Zachary Zane is a Brooklyn-based sex and dating expert, columnist, activist, and author of 'Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto' and co-author of 'Men’s Health: Best. Sex. Ever.'
 See Full Bio 
Trending Stories
It’s National PrEP Day! Learn the latest about HIV prevention
Heated Rivalry episode 3 guide: Actors, characters, and gay storylines
Trans pastor says she’s ‘surrounded by loving kindness’ after coming out to New York congregation
'Blue Film' director Elliot Tuttle on 'breaking down' archetypes and confronting audiences
Trans National Guard employee in Illinois sues Trump over restroom ban
Amazing People of 2025: Javier Muñoz
HIV-positive men stage 'Kiss-In' protest at U.S.-Mexico border
Messenger RNA could be the key to an HIV vaccine — but government cuts pose a threat
What the AIDS crisis stole from Black gay men
Heated Rivalry actors' sexuality questions? Not on Jacob Tierney's watch
Violet Chachki is 'reclaiming her own masculinity' in Nasty Pig campaign
Charlie Kirk’s widow set to join out CBS News chief Bari Weiss for televised town hall
Open the drag vaults! Meet the queens of RuPaul's Drag Race season 18
Transgender Army vet running for state delegate in red Maryland district is all about showing up
Ruben Gallego’s leaked texts mocking Democrats’ looks & masculinity intensify temperament concerns
Recommended Stories for You
“So much life to live”: Eric Nieves on thriving with HIV
'The Abandons' stars Gillian Anderson & Lena Headey want to make lesbian fans proud
This heavenly hotel in the heart of Hell's Kitchen is the perfect oasis
Cis men love top surgery—it should be available for all
UNITY at Sphere is the perfect Las Vegas attraction for gay tourists
When love sinks, set sail for the Hudson Navigator
Cis men love top surgery—it should be available for all
More than a month: Prioritizing LGBTQ+ health year-round
Explore the camp, parties, and parade of Provincetown Carnival 2025
A gay solo traveler goes bear-hunting in Barcelona
Queer dating app cliches and why we're as predictable as straight people
Denver LGBTQ+ youth center closed indefinitely after burglar steals nearly $10K
Andrew Christian closes iconic gay underwear brand: 'We made people feel seen'
Top 10 LGBTQ+ beach towns perfect for Pride and summer fun
Years before Stonewall, a cafeteria riot became a breakthrough for trans rights
The lab coat just got queer
“I am the steward of my ship”: John Gibson rewrites his HIV narrative
Tucker Carlson and Milo Yiannopoulos spend two hours spewing homophobia and pseudo-science
Tig Notaro is working on a 'hot lesbian action' movie with Zack Snyder
The Talk: Beyond the exam room
Marriage equality will be banned in these 31 states if Obergefell is overturned
The Talk: Owning your voice
'Vanderpump Rules' new SUR-vers go viral for their OnlyFans accounts & hot shirtless pics
What is a Jubilee? These Catholics just became the first LGBTQ+ people to participate
Malta is the secret Pride destination where gays are going wild
Twitter is freaking out over how perfectly Kait, a queer teenager, summed up why we all stare at same-sex couples holding hands in public.
None
 — taehyung pls come back (@taehyung pls come back)
        1506615590
Other Twitter users commented on her sentiment, hoping that same-sex couples know that these stares are ones of appreciation and love, rather than homophobia and disgust.
\u201c@itzzkait @kolsvein I need this on a shirt.  I stare because I love it and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy to see. I hope I never scared anyone\u201d
 — Fun Lovin Otter (@Fun Lovin Otter)
        1506688297
\u201c@itzzkait Is like I keep staring because how cute they are and then they catch me and stop holding hands, and Im like fuck nonononono!\u201d
 — Xana Prudencio\ud83c\udf31 (@Xana Prudencio\ud83c\udf31)
        1506698259
\u201c@itzzkait Same here but my problem is I look like the demographic that is homophobic \ud83d\ude15.\u201d
 — Maggie - whatever \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa\ud83d\udc99\ud83c\udf31vegan (@Maggie - whatever \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa\ud83d\udc99\ud83c\udf31vegan)
        1506574435
\u201c@itzzkait i try not to stare but i'm so proud.\u201d
 — jen (@jen)
        1506680675
We say, "Yay!" for adorable same-sex couples holding hands in public!

        
        FROM OUR SPONSORS
        
    

        
        The Latest
        
    
TV
        'Heated Rivalry' introduced Scott and Kip's love story — but here's what you missed from the book
    
Ariel Messman-Rucker
Dec 05, 2025
News
        'Finding Prince Charming's Chad Spodick dies at 42
    
Mey Rude
Dec 05, 2025
News
        Women gamers boycott global esports tournament over trans ban
    
Mey Rude
Dec 05, 2025
TV
        'Heated Rivalry' episode 3 drives gay fans wild and breaks the internet — again
    
Ariel Messman-Rucker
Dec 05, 2025
Watch Now: Pride Today

        
        More For You
        
    
Celebrities
        'The Upshaws' star Jermelle Simon is engaged to Obio Jones: 'I got on one knee and boom!'
    
Ariel Messman-Rucker
May 20 2025 / 1:14 PM
From left: Jermelle Simon and Obio Jones

        Michael Mattes/Shutterstock; Joy Malone/Getty Images
    
Having someone slide into your DMs usually leads to something casual, but for The Upshaws actor Jermelle Simon, it ended in a wedding proposal.
In an exclusive interview with People, Simon and content creator Obio Jones opened up about their “surprise” engagement on April 25, which they celebrated surrounded by family. 
Keep ReadingShow less

        
        Most Popular
        
    
Celebrities
        Adult film star Scott Finn dies at age 27
    
Ariel Messman-Rucker
Dec 03, 2025
TV
        All 7 sex scenes on 'Heated Rivalry' (so far), ranked
    
Pride Staff
Dec 01, 2025
Celebrities
        Gavin Croghan strips down to tight white briefs in sexy new photoshoot
    
Ricky Cornish
Dec 04, 2025
Movies
        35 all-time greatest lesbian sex scenes in movies & where to stream them
    
Preston Max Allen And Tracy E. Gilchrist
Pride Staff
Dec 13, 2024
TV
        12 gay sex scenes from the 'Heated Rivalry' book that we're dying to see in the show
    
Ariel Messman-Rucker
Nov 24, 2025
TV
        'Heated Rivalry' star Hudson Williams' nasty back arch is breaking the internet
    
Ariel Messman-Rucker
Dec 02, 2025
Sign Me Up!
Get a roundup of the best in LGBTQ+ culture delivered to your inbox weekly.
Enter your email
Dating
        Queer Joy Alert: This TikTok star helps LGBTQ+ singles find love — and chaos — online
    
Ariel Messman-Rucker
May 15 2025 / 1:55 PM
TikTok creator Josselyn Morris and her livestreamed speed dating show.

        Footage still via TikTok @Josselynmorris; Courtesy of Josselyn Morris
    
Queer joy is a radical act, so join us each week for more stories that uplift, resist, and shine. For more stories on Queer Joy, click here.
While people everywhere are becoming disillusioned with dating apps and are desperately seeking new ways to find love and connection, one TikToker is forging a new path for her LGBTQ+ Gen Z peers.
Keep ReadingShow less
Sports
        These 11 lesbian and sapphic athletes prove love is real with their sweet wedding photos
    
Ariel Messman-Rucker
May 10 2025 / 4:00 AM
Lesbian and sapphic athlete couples Anna Petrakova and Candace Parker, as well as Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley with a queer wedding cake in the middle.

        Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for adidas; shutterstock creative; Ethan Miller/Getty Images
    
Keep ReadingShow less
Sports
        Lesbian soccer stars Kristie Mewis and Sam Kerr are officially moms & share first family photo
    
Ariel Messman-Rucker
May 08 2025 / 1:24 PM
Chelsea's Sam Kerr (left) poses with girlfriend Gotham FC's Kristie Mewis after victory in the Vitality Women's FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on May 15, 2022.

        John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images
    
The queer soccer fam just got a little bigger as star players Kristie Mewis and Sam Kerr just announced the birth of their baby!
Last November, Mewis, a U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team midfielder, and Kerr, Chelsea striker and Australian national team captain, told the world they were expecting a baby in 2025. Now, the baby has finally arrived, and the happy couple announced the news on social media.
Keep ReadingShow less
Celebrities
        11 famous lesbian and WLW couples making us believe in love in 2025
    
Ariel Messman-Rucker
April 22 2025 / 3:03 PM
From left: Reneé Rapp and Towa Bird; Kristen Stewart and Dylan Meyer; Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker

        Olivia Wong/FilmMagic; P. Lehman/Future Publishing via Getty Images; David Livingston/WireImage
    
Keep ReadingShow less
Load More

Latest Stories

Sign Me Up!

This Queer Teen’s Explanation of Why We All Stare at Same-Sex Couples Goes Viral

They're not homophobic stares. In fact, it's the opposite.

Trending Stories

It’s National PrEP Day! Learn the latest about HIV prevention

Heated Rivalry episode 3 guide: Actors, characters, and gay storylines

Trans pastor says she’s ‘surrounded by loving kindness’ after coming out to New York congregation

'Blue Film' director Elliot Tuttle on 'breaking down' archetypes and confronting audiences

Trans National Guard employee in Illinois sues Trump over restroom ban

Amazing People of 2025: Javier Muñoz

HIV-positive men stage 'Kiss-In' protest at U.S.-Mexico border

Messenger RNA could be the key to an HIV vaccine — but government cuts pose a threat

What the AIDS crisis stole from Black gay men

Heated Rivalry actors' sexuality questions? Not on Jacob Tierney's watch

Violet Chachki is 'reclaiming her own masculinity' in Nasty Pig campaign

Charlie Kirk’s widow set to join out CBS News chief Bari Weiss for televised town hall

Open the drag vaults! Meet the queens of RuPaul's Drag Race season 18

Transgender Army vet running for state delegate in red Maryland district is all about showing up

Ruben Gallego’s leaked texts mocking Democrats’ looks & masculinity intensify temperament concerns

Recommended Stories for You

“So much life to live”: Eric Nieves on thriving with HIV

'The Abandons' stars Gillian Anderson & Lena Headey want to make lesbian fans proud

This heavenly hotel in the heart of Hell's Kitchen is the perfect oasis

Cis men love top surgery—it should be available for all

UNITY at Sphere is the perfect Las Vegas attraction for gay tourists

When love sinks, set sail for the Hudson Navigator

Cis men love top surgery—it should be available for all

More than a month: Prioritizing LGBTQ+ health year-round

Explore the camp, parties, and parade of Provincetown Carnival 2025

A gay solo traveler goes bear-hunting in Barcelona

Queer dating app cliches and why we're as predictable as straight people

Denver LGBTQ+ youth center closed indefinitely after burglar steals nearly $10K

Andrew Christian closes iconic gay underwear brand: 'We made people feel seen'

Top 10 LGBTQ+ beach towns perfect for Pride and summer fun

Years before Stonewall, a cafeteria riot became a breakthrough for trans rights

The lab coat just got queer

“I am the steward of my ship”: John Gibson rewrites his HIV narrative

Tucker Carlson and Milo Yiannopoulos spend two hours spewing homophobia and pseudo-science

Tig Notaro is working on a 'hot lesbian action' movie with Zack Snyder

The Talk: Beyond the exam room

Marriage equality will be banned in these 31 states if Obergefell is overturned

The Talk: Owning your voice

'Vanderpump Rules' new SUR-vers go viral for their OnlyFans accounts & hot shirtless pics

What is a Jubilee? These Catholics just became the first LGBTQ+ people to participate

Malta is the secret Pride destination where gays are going wild

FROM OUR SPONSORS

The Latest

More For You

Most Popular

Sign Me Up!

Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley

Anya Packer and Madison Packer

Anna Petrakova and Candace Parker

Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey

Tziarra King and Jess Fishlock

Meghan Duggan and Gillian Apps

Tierna Davidson and Alison Jahansouz

Emily van Egmond and Kat Thompson

Chloe Logarzo and McKenzie Berryhill

Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor

Amanda Chidester and Anissa Urtez

Sapphic love is alive and well in 2025!

KStew marries the love of her life Dylan Meyer

Gabby Windey and Robby Hoffman tie the knot...twice!

Gymnast Jade Carey hard launches girlfriend Aimee Sinacola

Chlöe Grace Moretz and Kate Harrison get engaged

St. Vincent gets married to her wife Leah

Jenna Jameson makes her love Instagram official

Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker are in love

Jodie Foster thanks the love of her life Alexandra Hedison

'Love on the Spectrum's Pari and Tina share their love story — and first kiss

Reneé Rapp and Towa Bird being adorable in suits

Shyanne Sellers and Faith Masonius get engaged