Before Craig and Harry start their Big Kiss, Tariq brings them a bust of Walt Whitman and recites the poem “We Two Boys Together Clinging.” Whitman is a source of inspiration for the boys, particularly through this poem, in which the speaker seems to allude to a romantic encounter with another man. Whitman never publicly addressed his sexuality, but some scholars believe that his poetry alluded to him being gay or bisexual. Levithan and the gay characters in the book, both the voices from the past and the kids in the present, accept Whitman as an undoubtedly queer poet. The poem itself becomes a sort of rallying cry when the Big Kiss becomes tough for Harry and when it feels as if they won’t make it to the end. Tariq recites the poem, and the crowd turns it into a chant. 

The kiss itself becomes a symbol, representing different things to the different characters. For Neil and Paul, it represents love’s endurance against all odds. They watch the livestream together, and even take a shot at kissing for a length of time. For Avery, it represents defiantly being yourself in the midst of people telling you that you can’t.