Now personally I simply cannot defend the actions of that shirtless guy who sucker punched that "preacher," nor do I defend those that joined in the melee. (The reference by the reporter to "pack mentality" seems to be a reasonable explanation for why a peaceful group of demonstrators would suddenly turn violent.)
However, and I am NOT making any excuses for the violence, but I also think that purposefully showing up at an event full of people who are finally feeling accepted by their fellow citizens, with signs that tell them they are going to hell, is an incredibly provocative and hateful thing to do.
So on the one hand I can totally understand the emotion that one might feel toward those "loving" Christian preachers, but as I said I cannot condone the violent response.
Of course as you can imagine the Right Wing is thrilled to have this example to prove their point.
I think it is worth noting that it is an incredibly rare occurrence for gays, and their supporters, to be the perpetrators of violence, rather than then the victims of violence.
Gryphen,
ReplyDeleteAll of what you say is true, however, if a couple of gay protestors showed up at a gathering of anti-gay "christians," I doubt you would say it was "...an incredibly provocative and hateful thing to do. "
The ministers are expressing their beliefs and should have just been ignored. I hope this isn't a trend on behalf of the LGBT community. As for the homophobes, well it's SOP, isn't it?
The Very Public, Very Desperate Crumbling Of The Anti-Gay Right
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-mcgonnigal/the-very-public-very-desp_b_3546707.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices
WATCH: Shocking Video Appears To Show Men Assaulting LGBT Subway Passenger
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/03/men-harass-lgbt-passengers-new-york-pride_n_3541432.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices
...On June 16, 2013 -- Father's Day -- after several months of fighting every urge to protect my children, I told them I am gay. Why Father's Day? Timing, the possibility that they might hear it from someone else, an upcoming family trip back to the U.S., other reasons too numerous to list. But frankly, one of the primary reasons is that Father's Day is the day to be a father. I wanted the kids to know that no matter what happens, I am still their father. I am the same man that I was before Father's Day, and I will be the same man tomorrow. I'm their father, and we are still a family. Even if the relationship between Mom and Dad is changing, we will always be a family. Sounds good, right? Those are all the right things to say. But maybe all I was saying was that dad is now weird and won't be around the house as much as he used to be. How would the kids respond?
ReplyDeleteBefore telling them, I spent some time in London and came back on the train on Father's Day, frequently tearing up and getting concerned or bewildered glances from my fellow passengers. I hadn't slept much the night before and had a pit of deep anxiety in my stomach.
I returned home to three excited children, happy to see me and so eager to show me the things they had made me for Father's Day. One by one, they read their homemade cards and showed me their drawings. I could not fight my tears as they showered me with affection. One of my daughters made me a card telling me that I am her hero. Any father would be choked up by all that praise, but that emotion was mixed with genuine fear that what I would tell them later in the night might change their sentiment.
We did our traditional Father's Day hike in the woods and came home to eat dinner. My wife and I had talked about this moment for so long; I couldn't believe it was really happening. We told them that we wanted to have a family talk, so the kids gathered together on the sofa, my wife next to them and I on the floor in front of them. I started talking about how much their mother and I love them and explained that nothing will change the fact that we are a family. They already knew that we were considering divorce and had been waiting for a final answer. I told them that there were many reasons that Mom and Dad's relationship needed to change, and that one of those reasons was something about me. I described how, as a kid, I always wanted to be normal. I wanted to fit in and be like everyone else, but I was not; there was something about me that made me feel like I didn't belong. However, I didn't tell anyone, because I was afraid. I was afraid that I might be gay.
I tried to keep it together while I spoke, but I couldn't help but cry. I told them that I had lived all these years afraid, afraid of who I am. Then I said that I was afraid that they would no longer see me as their hero. My youngest daughter quickly rebuked me, saying that I still am her hero. With that, I really sobbed. My middle daughter instantly jumped up and sat next to me. Putting her arm around me, she said, "I think you're a bigger hero for telling us. You don't need to be afraid anymore." Nine years old and with more wisdom than most grownups. She was joined by my 7-year-old daughter and my 12-year-old son. My wife and my children, wrapping their arms around me like a protective cocoon, allowed me to transform into something else. They told me that they are not embarrassed of me, that this is how God made me, and that they love me.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-hoelterhoff/unlikely-hero_b_3537452.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices
+1
DeleteOne brave hero and a great family!
'The Boxtrolls' Trailer, New Animated Film By Laika, Features Gay Parents (VIDEO)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/03/the-boxtrolls-trailer-laika-gay-parents_n_3540489.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices
Looks like a winner!
DeleteJust another example of the right promoting a theme that only they would buy into, converting NO ONE.
ReplyDeleteYou know, like: "Sarah Palin is an energy expert" or "Rand Paul is a certified ophthalmologist" or "the [insert latest paranoid non-scandal here] is worse than Watergate!".
It's weird when you think about how the entire history of the human race has been defined by the stupid shit people with Conservative Brain Disorder have decided is true,ultimately being overcome by people with actual functioning brains proving that they're not.
The Earth is flat
The universe orbits the Earth
the Earth is 6,000 years old
Pot makes you kill people
the government has been infiltrated by Communists
Comic Books make you kill people
Liberace is straight
Rock n' Roll will make you kill yourself and others
Gay can be cured
Videogames will make you kill people
The government has been infiltrated by Muslims
Blahblahblah etc.
Liberace is GAY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
DeleteDang! Mark's story really made me cry in compassion. It sounds like he has a great family - wife and kids - who will always be with him even though their family will change. I hope this remains true. If so, both he and his wife are heroes for keeping it together for the kids - and themselves. Love it.
ReplyDeleteRather than either "side" working their hardest to be upstanding members of the community, and realize that other opinions can be valid for their life experiences, and point of view, it seems that most people refuse to listen to anyone else, and refuse to allow any other point of view to be expressed. I am horrified by both "sides". Kids can get along, and play together without fighting, most of the time, until they're old enough to understand that people can't be different.
ReplyDeleteBefore anyone points a finger at one group of people being more guilty of this, that will prove my point. "THEY started it", "THEY looked at me!"
Well done. Just sayin'.
I agree, nothing comes from violence, but the "preacher"'s words ARE just as hurtful. I've been to pride events in my area, and like clockwork, they show up and try to provoke scenes like this with cameras shooting to use as propaganda material.
ReplyDeleteWhy do the preachers keep at it? I haven't seen any examples of people changing their sexual preferences because of some dude with a "repent or go to hell" sign.
Maybe the offending (and offensive) preachers been inspired by the Westboro KS Gang. They've certainly gotten away with vicious harassment of innocently assembled groups of mourners for years now. Unfortunately even the US Supreme Court came to their defense.
DeleteChurch leaders in the US need to understand that shoving their beliefs down the throats of everyone is simply not allowed. No where in our system of laws is it allowed. I bet those meddling preachers would scream very quickly something about their right to free speech while they're obstructing the rights of others to assemble peacefully if a policeman came along and told them to leave those assembled alone.
There are anti-gay fundamentalist fake-Christian groups that have almost hijacked the public access television channel where I live. They come on television with their videos and charts and lies and go on and on and on. All in the name of religion and protecting the world from sin. One of the reasons that I avoid the network.
Costa Rican Legislature Legalizes Gay Marriage… By Accident
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mediaite.com/online/costa-rican-legislature-legalizes-gay-marriage-by-accident/
It doesn't matter how often your group has been physically attacked by the other. If you are interested in seeing your group's agenda progress you should jump in to stop violence against people against your cause when you see it.
ReplyDeleteThe moral high ground is at stake.
Lock up that guy that threw the sucker-punch.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cowardly asshole.
The appropriate response to an idiot with a sign is to make your own sign.
I found myself rooting on the kids who had simply had enough of the asshole barging into their midst--obviously LOOKING for a fight.
ReplyDeleteI WANTED to be as "Jesus like" as possible back in the hippie days--it was after all, part of our unspoken "creed," to love everyone.
Being HUMAN, however, once in a while I got pushed over the edge. Guys half my size would spit on me, and mock me for being a peace freak. They were so surprised when I'd straightarm them in the nose, leaving them sitting on their asses, whimpering like spoiled little brats.
There was no "law" they should've counted upon, decreeing that hippies HAD to take whatever grief they wanted to deliver. Same goes for those who either are gay, or feel the need to defend those who are.