May 03, 2004
The Anti-Anti-Gay Rally
At age twenty-three, I finally went to my first protest.
And possibly my only one. But only time will tell.
Anyway, I made good on my earlier promise to go rally at the entrance to SafeCo Field on Saturday... and why? Well, because the May Day for Marriage organizers brought in a sh*tload of good citizens from Eastern Washington to "defend the sanctity of marriage."
So, I figured I should go down there, hold hands with Zach, and reallygive them something to be rage and beat their chests over.
Our protest (the anti-anti-gay rally?) was of a decent size... smatterings of gay couples from the Seattle-Tacoma-Olympia area, local gay activists, a marching band, my state representative, families, students, PFLAG, and so forth. Zach and I met up with some of his co-workers in the International District/Chinatown and marched over to SafeCo... where the police had the anti-anti-gay protesters partitioned off from SafeCo's main entrance, so the anti-gays could enter through a narrow passage... cops on one side, SafeCo bricks on the other. The anti-gays appeared to be Evangelical families and older couples. Most ignored us - stared right through us. Some yelled back. I was condemned to burn no less than three times (and I wasn't even yelling or anything), called "lewd" once, and appealed to with the whole "not-in-front-of-the-children" bit at least eight times. Some of the anti-gays just looked at us, shook their heads in an "Isn't-that-pitiful" gesture reminiscent of my mammaw, and kept on marching into SafeCo.
A sign had been thrust in my hand: "Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged." In fact, the anit-anti-gays were swimming in signs. Some of my favorites:
--Homophobes are just jealous 'cause they can't get laid.
--Want to save marriage? Then END DIVORCE.
--How does my marriage interfere with yours?
--Look at me. I am your son.
--Queer Eye for the Stupid Guy. [under a pic of President George W. Bush]
--Four balls and two rings is a good thing.
Gays galore shouting at Young Lifers (for some reason, in college, I began to call persons of highly Evangelical beliefs Young Lifers... don't ask me why... I'm still trying to figure this one out). Even though there were thousands of Young Lifers, and only hundreds of us, I still felt... well... uplifted. Hopeful. Just seeing people out in force - couples (gay and straight) and families (gay and straight) of all ages, compositions, etc. [Well, and cute guys galore, of course!] I held my stupid sign, got yelled at, wore a baseball cap (rare event), occasionally yelled back, smiled a lot, wrote my name in chalk, got sunburned on my neck, and felt like I was a part of something. It was... cool!
Some snaps:
Do this... don't do that! Can't you read the sign?!
Don't squint too hard... I'm definitely wearing a paleontology t-shirt. I completely skipped the grooming. Great way to look cool, ass.
(But at least the fellow behind me in the sunglasses is cute.)
I think the "bad ass" look works so great for you. Much more attractive than the "i am cool cause i am wearing sunglasses and starring at your nice ass pic" :-P
Posted by: sam's lover boy at May 11, 2004 12:21 AMPlease meditate on the cross and find your solace there... after facing my own same-sex attractions, I have found freedom at the foot of the Jesus' sacrifice. I cannot answer for God, I'll let Him do that for Himself, but I will pray that through the thousands of voices shouting at you that you will hear Love. I found nothing but pain and hurt in sodomy, but have found true love and acceptance at that cross. I hope nothing less for you.
Posted by: Matthew at May 4, 2004 07:52 PMYou guys rock! And you're so cute. Ugh. I'm so glad you guys went, it was probably just what you needed to bite back ;-)
Posted by: sam at May 3, 2004 11:59 PM