Disabled Lovers Kiss the Awkward Away for International Kissing Day
Scope is celebrating International Kissing Day by releasing a heart-warming film of disabled people and their partners kissing to help break down barriers and challenge assumptions about disability.
The film, directed by Nabil and devised by creative agency Grey London, comes in response to Scope research showing that just 7% of people have been on a date with, or asked out, a disabled person.
The film stars real-life couples Ollie Hancock, who was born with the lower part of his right arm missing, and Jen Shersby; Diane Noella, who is visually impaired, and Anthony Pike; and Michael Buckley, who uses a wheelchair, and his wife Claire.
The three couples are seen passionately embracing to a soundtrack of Kiss My Name by Antony and the Johnsons.
Kiss is part of Scope’s national End the Awkward campaign, which is about challenging attitudes to disability and breaking down the awkwardness that too many people feel when talking to – or dating – a disabled person.
Claire and Michael, who is a wheelchair user, are featured sharing a passionate kiss outside a restaurant as she sits her husband’s lap.
Michael, who works as a presenter, says: “End the Awkward has an important message – some people don’t know how to handle some situations, treat or even speak to disabled people.
“The film shows we are just people too. Plus, having a toddler keeps my wife and I pretty busy so it was a great chance to have a kiss and a cuddle!”
Michael says early in his relationship with Claire, they were messing around and she pushed him in his chair into a lift. He grabbed the rails in the lift to stop himself, but she kept on pushing and he fell out of the chair.
“We had both had a couple of drinks and found it hilarious. The lift doors shut and we moved to the next floor, when they opened again the people waiting looked in horror at me on my back with my legs in the air and my wife pointing and laughing. Not one of them said a word or got in the lift. Awkward!”
