I was never comfortable holding hands or kissing in public, even in the Castro, and I wanted to be, but then I’ve always been fucked up about a lot of stuff.
The Pride Festival has ended here, I should go see if I can find any money before the street sweepers start.
You are right that it shouldn’t be a big deal, but it still is. I had some crap thrown my way in the past, a bit of it from my own family. It could have been worst, so I’m lucky.
That about sums up my thoughts when I read the OP.
Luckily they were outside… If they’d been inside holding hands in my way while they were shoving their way in to get free samples, I don’t think I would have been thinking how great it was! 
Wow, I’m amazed how many people seem to think it was creepy to say something… I guess I AM from a different generation… Considering the only thing anyone ever said to me when I was holding hands in public was “Stupid fa**ot!”…
Now get off of my Gay lawn!
If you think it’s still a mental disorder, show it scientifically, the same way they scientifically showed it wasn’t. Show the clinical data that shows that homosexuality leads to mental distress or causes action that harm one’s self or others. That’s the bare minimum to be a mental disorder.
Yes, they were influenced by society–in calling homosexuality a problem. Then they saw gay people could be as mentally healthy as anyone else, so they dropped it.
It’s also completely “untreatable,” and such treatments actually can lead to mental unwellness. Hence meaning you need to leave well enough alone and not try to “cure” it.
This idea that “mental disorder” means “things I think are crazy” is just bad psychology.
Finding it strange or offputting I get, but why would it be condescending? I can only imagine that if you add more to what the OP said.
Around the neighborhoods where I hang, same-sex hand holding is common. Everyone has been going around congratulating each other this weekend, so your comment would be nothing more than fitting right in!
Pride parade was today and it was spectacular. One of my workplaces had a float and lots of people, staff and volunteers, either rode it or walked with it today. Here’s an article with pics (general pics, not work) from Time Out Chicago.
When I think about it, the fact that those of us from a later generation wouldn’t feel the need to approach them is a good sign, it is evidence that we have come a long way and are headed in the right direction.
And anyway, If the worst thing that a same-sex couples have to put with is a well-meaning handshake and a verbal pat on the back…well, that’s hardly a bad world to live in is it?
Especially when it’s from another gay dude.
I’d argue it might be condescending if a straight person came up and said it. But another gay person? I think that’s just fine…
Around here (Albany NY) I see almost no gay couples holding hands. Lesbians galore. They are less shy, I guess? And of course generally lesbians are more accepted.
But we are a medium town with kind of a small town mentality. I hardly even see any interracial couples. I love going to Boston or NYC or Montreal and seeing all of the interracial couples, the gay couples, the lesbian couples. I don’t feel like an outlier with my (different race) SO there!