A vital aspect of romantic relationships is kissing. When two people develop a strong attraction, they bind their lips together and remain in that position for a few seconds to half a minute.
But did you know that kissing can last a lot longer than that? By longer, I mean more than a day.
Welcome back to Secluded Rainbows, a biweekly column that publishes stories every other Tuesday. In each story, I discuss an LGBTQIA+ book that’s currently being banned or challenged. In this issue, I’m highlighting David Levithan’s “Two Boys Kissing.”
Published on Aug. 27, 2013, “Two Boys Kissing” follows Harry and Craig, two 17-year-old boys who take part in a kissing marathon, an event where couples compete to see which one holds the longest kiss.
The kissing marathon takes place on Harry and Craig’s high school lawn, and is supported by their principal, Harry’s parents and their friends. During the event, Harry and Craig kiss for 32 hours, setting a new Guinness World Record.
“Two Boys Kissing” mainly focuses on Harry and Craig. However, it features other characters: a hate crime victim named Tariq, a transgender boy Avery and a couple, Neil and Peter. These characters also participate in the kissing marathon.
What makes the novel unique is that it’s based on true events. According to a 2013 interview that Entertainment Weekly conducted with Levithan, one of his fans held a kissing marathon.
“He and his friend had, as a way of protesting marriage inequality and promoting equality in general, done this feat where they had broken the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous kiss,” Levithan said. “They kissed for over 33 hours on the campus of their college.”
The event propelled Levithan to write “Two Boys Kissing,” which also explores the generation that lived through the AIDS pandemic.
“Two Boys Kissing” symbolizes unity and strength. Throughout the novel, Harry and Craig fight sleep deprivation and dehydration while striving to break the record. I see this as a very powerful message that relates to the LGBTQIA+ community’s resilience. For centuries, same-sex couples have dealt with oppression and the inability to express their identity. Harry and Craig’s world-record kiss demonstrates that same-sex couples can create everlasting love despite hardship.
Another thing Levithan’s novel represents is support. In the story, Tariq admits that the kissing marathon provides him with a sense of belonging and the ability to be himself. This is important to him because he’s experienced constant homophobia.
The novel places a focal point on queer teenagers. According to the book’s description and reviews, “Two boys Kissing” portrays the gay experience, and it supports teenagers who are exploring their sexuality while “dealing with universal questions of love, identity and belonging.”
“Two Boys Kissing” received praise from numerous people and companies. Publishers Weekly called it “a landmark achievement” that helped create “a haven for queer youth.” Meanwhile, The Bulletin said it “would be a particularly stellar choice for a multi-generational LGBTQ-focused book club.”
Besides praise, “Two Boys Kissing” received formal recognition, including the Lambda Literary Award in 2013. The Lambda Literary Award is given to the best LGBTQIA+ novel each year, according to Lambda Literary’s website.
“Two Kissing Boys” was one of the American Library Association’s best books for young adults in 2014, and it received the Children’s Book Committee at Bank Street College Children’s Book of the Year Award that same year.
While “Two Kissing Boys” is highly acclaimed as an exceptional novel with an inspiring plot, it’s been frequently challenged. It’s number 18 on the 2010-2019 top 100 most challenged books list. Furthermore, it was the eleventh most challenged book in 2018, the fifth most challenged book in 2016 and the tenth most challenged book in 2015.
The novel’s been commonly challenged because it includes sexually explicit LGBTQIA+ content and a cover that shows two boys kissing each other.
“Two Boys Kissing” has been banned in a few states. It was banned in Florida, Texas and Pennsylvania in 2023, according to Harper’s Bazaar,
The novel is no stranger to court, either. It was challenged in PEN America v. Escambia County School District (2024). The case emerged from a lawsuit arguing that the banning of books related to race and LGBTQIA+ themes is a violation of free speech and equal protection under the law. Judge T. Kent Wetherall of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida heard oral arguments from the case in Jan. 2024 and dismissed the case.
There’s no bigger disgrace than banning a book like “Two Boys Kissing.” The novel illustrates that gay people can exhibit robust force and overcome any obstacle thrown in their path. It inspires queer audiences to not give up and believe that anything is possible.
Banning “Two Boys Kissing” will hurt queer audiences, causing them to miss out on learning about resilience. They’ll also miss out on learning through the story about successfully protesting homophobia.