LGBTQ couples: Keep holding hands, even when it's uncomfortable, says ad

Public displays of affection aren't an easy thing for the LGBTQ community, even down to the simplest things such as holding hands.

That's the subject of a heartfelt ad by an Australian bank ANZ, which consists of various couples "letting go" when encountering the looks of other people in public.

Encouraging them to keep holding hands even when it feels uncomfortable to do so, the ad has an accompanying hashtag, #HoldTight.

And yes, while it might be just an ad, the campaign has inspired some people to do just that.

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"This highlights the daily pressures that the LGBTIQ community faces," Terese Casu, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO, said in a statement.

"It's a simple and loving gesture to hold your partner's hand, however for fear of discrimination, and experiences in violence and abuse -- the reality is that many in the community still don't feel safe. We love the awareness that ANZ is raising about this issue for the community."

The bank has long shown its support for the LGBTQ community, with its rebranded GAYTM automatic teller machines and glammed-up branches during Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

But the bank's also been accused of pinkwashing in previous years, with some community members saying they "cash in" on the rising support for marriage equality and LGBTQ rights.