What’s your favourite story that someone has sent you? ‘Showing love is important because love is fundamentally human.’ ‘Is it safe to tell others I’m married to a man? A kiss is powerful because it’s one of the simplest ways to display your love for someone. Is it safe to hold hands down the street here? When traveling, gay couples have to make sure what their “limits” are. ‘In some parts of the world it can even mean death. If a man kisses his boyfriend or husband in public, even if it was on his cheek for a second, they will get glances. ‘If a husband kisses his wife in public, no one will bat their eye. What makes a kiss between two men so powerful for you? ‘From there it grew into a celebration about the human body I want to live in a world where everyone loves their genitals.’ Showing love is important because love is fundamentally human ‘In an age where sending unsolicited dick pics is rampant, my penis drawings are commentary on social media like Tinder and Grindr. ‘The main difference between these two projects is the intention behind them. It took years of restless nights and listening to Lady Gaga to finally realize there wasn’t anything to fix. ‘I convinced myself I was sick in the head for wanting to hold another boy’s hand. ‘Same-sex marriage was only legalized four years ago in the United States, and although we’ve made great progress, I grew up telling myself I was broken. Hillis: ‘Because too many people hear the word gay and think perversion. GSN: Why did you decide to go for this kissing project? Gay Star News caught up with Hillis to find out about the project. You might remember Hillis from his project to draw over 1000 penises he got sent on Grindr and other places. The 100 kisses is now part of the open gallery at the Kamerick Art Building at his university.īut this is not his only project. Studying to be an art educator at the University of Northern Iowa, he reached out to social media for the project. That is why student artist Tyler Hillis, 23, decided to draw 100 gay couples kissing. Same-sex couples kissing is so normal, but it’s also a political statement. For too many, the idea of seeing a gay couple kissing in public is still alien to them.