Gay rights activists are organizing a nationwide string of kissing demonstrations in response to the treatment of gay couples in Utah and Texas who tangled with security guards or police after kissing in public.

The Great Nationwide Kiss-In is scheduled for Aug. 15. Events are planned for at least seven cities, including Boston, New York, Houston, Portland, Ore., and three California cities -- Irvine, San Diego and San Francisco.

A Web page and Facebook page promoting the demonstrations says more events are in the works.

A pair of bloggers, David Badash, of New York, and David Mailloux, of Boston, are behind the plans, along with the organization Join the Impact.

They say the events are not a protest against those who oppose gay rights. But they say people should be allowed to freely express their affection.

In Utah, the incident at which the kissing demonstration is aimed began when an LDS Church security guard earlier this month detained a gay couple on Salt Lake City's Main Street Plaza after observing the pair "kissing and hugging," according to a police report.

Derek Jones and Matt Aune were cited for trespassing after refusing to leave. The incident led to two kiss-in protests against the church in Salt Lake City and a third in San Diego.

Aune has said the couple's display of affection was modest, but officials with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns the plaza, have characterized it differently.

In a statement last week, a church spokeswoman Kim Farah said there was "much more involved" than a "simple kiss on the cheek." It said the two men "engaged in passionate kissing, groping, profane and lewd language, and had obviously been using alcohol."

Jones and Aune face an arraignment Thursday in Salt Lake City's municipal court.