L'amour en Photos

France really needs this right now. The violent antigay protests throughout the country highlight either a serious societal homophobia or a craven scapegoating of LGBTs for other social difficulties (like unemployment). Never mind that the protests were conducted by shirtless young men wearing pink. Confusing.

Photographer Olivier Ciappa has launched a photo campaign aimed at combating homophobia and featuring well-known figures as "imaginary couples" in intimate postures. (Hat tip and a happy birthday to Boy George.)

French Olympic swimmers Florent Manaudou and Frederick Bousquet pose as a couple (in fact Bousquet is partners with Manadou's sister), as do actress Eva Longoria and Canadian-Italian-Belgian singer Lara Fabian, and actors Francois-Xavier Demaison and Antoine de Caunes. Their photos, and those of other models, are captioned, "A peaceful look on homosexuality."

Other subjects in his anti-homophobia campaign include actor Nicolas Duvauchelle, filmmakers Andre Techine, and Patrice Leconte, and politician Roselyne Bachelot holding up signs encouraging equality.

The images appear on his Facebook page and are on display city hall of the 10th arrondissement of Paris for a week as of June 13. Check out a few below.