Though various hug-a-minority days spawned from the event-creation whims of Facebook users are meant to literally bring people together, some recent made-up holidays have divided the Internet masses.
More than 224,000 virtual guests RSVP'd to Friday's Hug a Jew Day and more than 97,000 Facebook users confirmed their participation in Saturday's Hug a Gay Day. The objective for the events, their creators say, is to offer a real-life embrace to minority groups.
"The Hug a Gay Day event is something that I hope will be seen as a moment in time where we can all stop for just a second in our busy, stressful lives, and enjoy the company and the closeness of those people who we enjoy, love, and cherish," event creator Jeronmie Williams, 31, said. "This event will be a huge success if even one person who might otherwise feel segregated or marginalized has someone walk up to them and say 'Hey, it's hug a gay day. Come get some love.'"
Williams said, in jest, that the holiday coincided with Groundhog Day because if "a gay man or woman sees their shadow on Groundhog Day, that means an extra three months of bad fashion."
Yeshiva Atlanta High School junior Nadav Karon said he created the Hug a Jew Day event to correspond with his birthday and bring people together at the United Synagogue Youth International Convention, which took place over the weekend.
"There are so many 'Hug a Blank' days on Facebook." Karon said. "I've never seen a hug a Jew day . . . We deserve a day to be celebrated."
Both positive and negative responses have met the events posted on the social networking site.
Williams said he has received hateful messages from homophobes, as well as gays and lesbians who think the event makes a mockery of gay rights and alienates the gay population.
Karon said he has also received some anti-Semitic remarks.
"I am horrified by what some people have said," Karon said. "It's just for fun. It shouldn't be taken so seriously."
Boston University Hillel House Student Board President and College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Jonathan Yudin said he appreciates the days of affection.
"I love it. I think it's a great idea," Yudin said. "It's a good way to show that we love each other."
While the events are meant to bring people together, BU Hug Don't Hate founder and President Sidney Efromovich said he believes they promote segregation.
"Do bisexuals and transvestites not get hugs on Hug a Gay Day?" Efromovich, a CAS junior said. "Divisions are superficial; we are all people. How about a hug everyone day?"
Even though the Facebook events had many confirmed guests, some students said they were unaware the events were taking place.
"I didn't even know it was Hug a Jew day," College of Communication sophomore Ashley Lewis said on Friday. "It's a good concept, but it's not going to solve anything."
Lewis, who said she is Jewish, was not planning on participating in the day's hugs.
"If someone hugs me, I'll hug them back, but I'm not going to initiate it," she said.
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