SAME SEX PDA
With heterosexual couples being considered the societal "norm"in many areas around the world, PDAs are often considered acceptable and wouldn't draw negative attention when they perform them.
For same sex couples, unfortunately, the same cannot be said. According to Reactions (2019), homosexual couples commonly refrain from showing affection in public. Wanting to perform PDAs more, same sex couples say that they feel judged when doing so. The journal also reports that, "In gay couples specifically, relationships that include showing affection are reported to be significantly more satisfying and likely to last compared to gay couples in relationships who do not showcase their affection.” (P. 35)
MISBELIEF
Reactions (2019) also notes a common misconception about the America's negative perception about homosexuality being tied to age. (with younger people being more accepting of the community). However, they found a study that says "religiosity and identifying as a political conservative remain the strongest influences to views on sexual minorities, as opposed to age." (P. 35 - 36)
Take for example Christian Minard, a graduate student at Southwestern Christian University. Upon them catching wind of her marriage with her girlfriend, Minard was expelled via a letter sent from the religious school (shown below).
Based on a survey covering fifteen school divisions across Canada, researchers found that a majority of the non-LGBTQ students found homophobic and transphobic comments “upsetting” (with 58.3% agreeing as such compared to LGBTQ students’ 85.8%). Researchers came to the conclusion that this distress felt by heterosexual students ultimately ruins the school climate as these comments are an assault on human dignity. (Grace 2010)
SAME SEX KISSING AMONGST HETEROSEXUAL MALES
As previously established, PDAs aren't only performed by romantic couples. A Mixed-Method Study… (2018) noticed an interesting trend involving heterosexual men kissing each other in public, whilst still keeping their heterosexual identity. Focusing on the US, the journal also cites the UK and Australia as having similar trends.
Following a series of surveys and 75 interviews, researchers found that 38% of the 442 college attending, straight men reported having kissed a man on the cheek and 9% on the lips. A prior UK study concluded that homosocial kissing occurred more in men who were a) part of a fraternity or all-male competitive sport, b) had positive attitudes toward gay people, or c) consumed alcohol.
SAME SEX KISSING... (CONT.)
Of the participants in the 2018 study, 74% of them reported at least some degree of positive attitudes toward gay men; with an average of over four gay friends and 80% of participants having at least one gay friend. Researchers found that, generally, the more gay friends the men had, the more positive they felt towards gay men. Interviews showed that men saw their kissing of other men as nonsexual; ultimately seeing it as a way to express affection to a close friend.
This form of friendly gesturing can be seen in Criminal Minds (circa season 7, episode 13 - True Genius) [see below]. SPOILER ALERT - After surprising one the FBI agents, Dr. Spencer Reid, with a birthday celebration at work, Agent David Rossi gives his coworker two kisses on the cheek. For Rossi, kissing his comrade wouldn't be out of the norm as it is fairly normal in his Italian family.