Yesterday at noon, a group of UW students could be seen in Red Square with bright-red lip marks on their cheeks ­— the product of a “Kiss-In” (similar to a “sit-in”) which was organized by the UW Students Organizing for LGBT Equality (S.O.L.E.) to raise awareness for gay rights and to gather during the voting-results period for Referendum 71.

“We wanted a way to get out to students that S.O.L.E. exists, and to show people we care about our community,” said sophomore and member of S.O.L.E. Mario Lemafa. “We also wanted to show the different spectrums of love out there and just to put a face on the people on campus that support equal rights.”

During the event, members handed out “Approve Ref. 71” flyers while offering free kisses on the cheek as well as candy kisses. Many people approached the booth interested in Referendum 71 results.

“What really made 71 meaningful to me, though, is that my brother came out last week,” participant and senior Michael McCurdy said. “So I’m supportive of 71 and gay marriage. I’ve heard about the club before, and I’ve been involved, but, if anything, it just solidified it [and] made it more personal.”

One of the main administrators of the event, freshman Emily Juhre, said Referendum 71 was the main reason for the Kiss-In.

“We were just frustrated that there wasn’t any activism going on on campus,” she said. “We decided to create a new club to promote Referendum 71, and we hope to promote other issues in the future.”

These other issues concerning gay rights include the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law and the Defense of Marriage Act, which S.O.L.E. hopes are repealed.

“I don’t think [UW students] realize how serious of an issue this is,” Juhre said. “They already have these benefits and don’t know what it feels like to feel vulnerable and not have them.”

One of the main misconceptions about organizations like S.O.L.E. is that all of the people that participate have to be homosexual.

“To relate it to the civil-rights movement in the ’60s, it’s not like everyone that supported it were blacks — it’s not like that’s what mattered, it just mattered that everyone was equal,” McCurdy said. “And that’s the foundation. It doesn’t matter who identifies as what; you should all be whatever you want.”

Reach contributing writer Kristin Steenbeeke at news@dailyuw.com.