Originally unveiled on the wall of the Prince Albert Pub in Brighton, Kissing Coppers portrays two British policemen kissing. The two officers are painted in black and white – both shown in full uniform with evident handcuffs and a baton around their respective belts. Oftentimes a crucial component of Banksy’s work is its strategic location – as it adds context to the message. Kissing Coppers mural was created in Brighton, which is a lively neighborhood, and has been referred to as the LGBT Capital of the UK. The city is home to the UK’s largest pride celebration each year and has a rich history with the LGBTQ community dating as far back as the Napoleonic Wars in 1803. The visual representation became a cultural staple of the city and its unique population.Unfortunately due to repeated vandalism, the evocative piece received considerable damage. These attacks were indicative of the country’s attitude toward homosexuality at the time with London police reporting a 28% increase in homophobic hate crimes over the previous four years as of 2011. The owner of the pub decided to have the piece removed and transferred to canvas, replacing it with a replica in 2008 and ultimately made the decision to sell the original at an auction in 2014, where it sold for $575,000. There was considerable backlash resulting from the sale. Many argued against the Pub’s decision advocating that the removal of Kissing Coppers was not only a devastating loss for the vibrant community of Brighton, but also a hypocrisy to the purpose of street art. There was also outrage over the privatization of Banksy’s work – which was deliberately meant for the masses.