It's rule 47 in the handbook. Right after the description of the secret handshake.

DH and I hold hands all the time. We have been married for more than 10 years. I see as many straight as gay couples holding hands.

It just gets noticed more because it's different. Like when you're pregnant and you see pregnant women EVERYWHERE you look.

I'm straight and I don't like holding hands. I don't notice others doing it often either, gay or straight.

I am a lesbian, & we do not hold hands in public. I am more inclined to than my partner. Her take is that as much progress as we've made, there are still a group of people, who do still assault gay people. There's no shame in who we are, but it's not worth getting attacked over.

Coworker wouldn't happen to be a bit homophobic, would he?

I'm straight and DH and I hold hands all the time.

I rarely see anyone, gay straight or otherwise, holding hands anymore. It was never a thing for me and my DH personally, though we do once in a blue moon.

That's funny. Outside of clearly gay-friendly areas like Dupont Circle, I think homosexual couples are less likely to hold hands. There are still plenty of places and plenty of people who are gay-hostile and homosexual couples often avoid the attention. Unlike you, I frequently see heterosexual couples holding hands, and even more mature ones. We are in our 40's and have been married for 11 years and we still hold hands regularly, although less so now with young children as we often are holding their hands, but when we can, we do hold hands. If you go to the suburban malls, you'll see a wide variety of ages of heteosexual couples holding hands.

I hold hands with my husband all the time-- pretty much anytime we are walking anywhere and not holding anything else. I am a woman. I live on Capitol Hill where there are olenty if gay couples and I rarely see them holding hands. I agree with PP that this is a matter of your perception.

Speaking of selective attention--you really haven't heard of any of the numerous assaults in DC over the past couple years, including four in the last 2 weeks?

D.C. Police investigating attacks against gay and transgender victims

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/police-investigating-attacks-against-gay-and-transgender-victims/2013/06/28/85fa419a-df58-11e2-963a-72d740e88c12_story.html

Anonymous wrote:No, I think gay couples are less likely to hold hands/PDA, in part to avoid harrassment/physical attacks.

I think you don't realize how selective your attention is.

In urban areas like DC?

No, I think gay couples are less likely to hold hands/PDA, in part to avoid harrassment/physical attacks.

I think you don't realize how selective your attention is.

Anonymous wrote:The only couples I ever see holding hands or engaged in other PDA are usually very young, like teenagers. Both gay and straight. Just my observation.

Agree, but the teens are funny about hand holding now. They want the deniability of the relationship so they are quite discreet.
Now like when I grew up when you were "going steady" or "going together".

They just "hang out", tickle each other, punch, laugh, have fun. Keep it lighter.

The only couples I ever see holding hands or engaged in other PDA are usually very young, like teenagers. Both gay and straight. Just my observation.

Or have more PDAs?

Someone at work pointed out that he rarely sees heterosexual couples holding hands, and come to think of it, I rarely see it. But I do see many gay couples holding hands. I don't think that I take more notice because the couple is gay. Years ago at a picnic a co worker was holding her boyfriends hand and everyone found it to be strange.

I sometimes think that PDA went out in the 70s and the new sexual revolution is taking the same course, maybe in 20 years it will be rare to see anyone holding hands.

FWIW, I never felt comfortable with hand holding. Always felt as if I was wearing a "sold" sign.