Across borders, queer migrants and people living with HIV are turning visibility into activism. The International HIV Kiss-In, also known as Besoton Sidoso Internacional, is a community-led demonstration that uses intimacy, kisses, affection, and open celebration of sexuality, to challenge stigma, advance human rights, and highlight the experiences of marginalized communities.
The event is a demonstration that defies expectations. Instead of protest signs or speeches, the focus is on presence: queer migrants, activists, and people living with HIV coming together to declare their existence, their agency, and their right to love and be loved.
Leading With Lived Experience
MPact Global, the organization behind the Kiss-In, emphasizes that queer migrants themselves guide how the event unfolds. The organization provides resources, networks, and a platform, but the voices of those most affected lead the narrative.
“Queer migrants determine the risks and safety they are most comfortable with,” says Alex Garner, senior director of strategic initiatives and communications at MPact. “We amplify their voices and support them when they cannot speak out.”
This approach ensures that activism is not imposed, it is lived, chosen, and deeply personal.
Challenging Stigma Through Visibility
One of the central goals of the Kiss-In is to dismantle misconceptions about HIV-positive queer migrants. Many people assume these communities are passive or voiceless, but the demonstration proves otherwise.
“They have a voice and choose how to use it,” Garner says. “Some are politically vocal, while others assert visibility through personal expression. They show that they are complex human beings, including their sexuality.”
By turning public displays of affection into activism, the event asserts that sexuality and desire are not shameful, they are powerful tools for reclaiming agency.
The Reality Inside Detention
The Kiss-In also draws attention to the harsh conditions faced by LGBTQ migrants living with HIV, particularly those in detention. Garner explains that medical neglect and denial of basic health care are systemic issues.
“People in detention are denied access to healthcare, including HIV treatment,” he says. “They are vulnerable to violence, harassment, and assault. Their needs are often ignored.”
He stresses that meaningful change begins with decriminalizing migration, treating migrants as human beings with rights rather than criminals.
Joy as Resistance
The Kiss-In celebrates joy as a revolutionary act. By reclaiming pleasure and visibility in the face of stigma, queer migrants living with HIV demonstrate resilience and courage.
“Joy is an act of rebellion,” Garner says. “Prioritizing sexuality and visibility in hostile environments is a declaration of humanity.”
Art, affection, and public expression become forms of storytelling that amplify advocacy, giving faces and narratives to communities often rendered invisible.
Fearless Visibility and the Next Generation
For Garner, fearlessness is central to the movement. Seeing people declare their queer or HIV-positive identities publicly is a source of hope.
“When people choose to be visible, they accept the risks for the benefit of future generations,” he says. “The next generation of activists doesn’t need to live in fear. They can build on the progress made while being bold, joyful, and unapologetic.”
Social media extends this visibility globally, allowing individuals who cannot attend in person to share their own stories and affirm the lives of queer migrants and people living with HIV around the world.
Changing the Conversation
The Kiss-In and Besoton Sidoso Internacional exemplify how activism can combine visibility, joy, and community leadership to advance human rights. By turning intimacy into protest, queer migrants and HIV activists challenge stigma, inspire solidarity, and ensure that the fight for justice remains vibrant, inclusive, and global.
“Courage is hope in action,” Garner says. “When people show who they are despite risks, it demonstrates the value of every life. That courage is how real change begins.”
