Walking:Holding

It’s difficult to overstate the brilliance of Rosana Cade’s exquisitely simple, radically generous one-on-one walking tour. The premise—participants holding hands with a series of volunteers of different ages, genders, disability statuses, races and sexualities on a short stroll through the streets—invites reflection on how we read people in public and how we understand ourselves in different environments, as well as the fundamental importance of human connection.

As a queer person, I’ve often been afraid to hold hands. I’ve always had a certain awareness of how welcoming and safe a space is – a sixth sense for danger that will be familiar to anyone in a non-heterosexual relationship. I’m also just not much of a hand-holder – blame the fear of sweaty palms, the awkwardness of squeezing past people on a narrow pavement, and the vulnerability that can come with sustained physical contact.  

Any nerves quickly dissipated as I met my first partner. Participants are welcome to chat with their companions, or to simply enjoy the silence. On my trip through the Leith streets near Forest Fringe, I did a mixture of both – hand in hand around car parks, playgrounds and supermarkets. Without any pressure, I found myself in a series of surprisingly open and revealing conversations. One of my partners—who has agoraphobia—admitted that every time he holds someone’s hand for this project, he feels a little bit braver. Thanks to this experience, I’m feeling bolder and more connected too.