Asshole from Texas attempts to bully LGBT folks during Pridefest in Anchorage. Update!

Courtesy of ADN:  

A fight broke out at the Alaska PrideFest event on Saturday involving anti-gay protesters brandishing a megaphone, police said. 

The altercation began near the Delaney Park Strip in downtown Anchorage and involved PrideFest participants and protesters, police said. One of the protesters identified himself to an ADN photographer as David Grisham of Repent Amarillo, a Texas Christian and political organization. 

Police estimated about 20 people were involved. They said officers intervened before anybody was hurt.

According to the article the incident only involved some pushing and shoving. (And undoubtedly some name calling). Afterwards the police stayed to keep the peace until the event was over.

I have to say that I am proud of our LGBT community for standing up for themselves, I only wish I could have been there to help.

I know that guy with the flaming red doo. He is friends with my daughter, and I met him during the Democratic caucus this year. (Yes, he was a Bernie supporter.) (Update: Okay that is apparently NOT the same guy I met during the Dem caucus, and my daughter does not know him. Seriously how many people in town have that hair color?)

By the way Southern Christians were part of the Summer of Hate back in 2009, when they were mobilized by Jerry Prevo and brought in from Wasilla to protest against a ballot measure to protect gays in the workplace here in Anchorage.

They won that time, but since then the laws and attitudes have changed and our LGBT community feels much safer.

Apparently that still does not mean that some asshole from Texas cannot fly up here in an attempt to spoil their day of celebration however.

Which is sad.

A Late Post about Pridefest and a Personal Story About the Cost of Advocacy.

Last weekend was the end of Pridefest.

Sadly I was a little busy and missed out on most of the activities.  However I did manage to get out to the Delaney Park Strip downtown on Saturday in time to see our brave Democrats come out in support of diversity in our great city. 

I saw gubernatorial candidates Ethan Berkowitz and Hollis French, as well as candidate for Lt. Governor Diane Benson. And I watched  as Anchorage Assembly member (and personal hero of mine) Harriet Drummond read out loud a Resolution welcoming Pridefest to Anchorage that was just passed by the Assembly earlier that week.

There were a few speeches of support given by the candidates and then Mark Begich's (super cute)spokesperson Susanne Fleek read President Obama's proclamation from 2009 declaring the month of June Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.

I walked around and visited some booths, bought a little food, watched a couple of dance exhibitions put on by some of  our local transexuals, and then wandered back to my car and headed home.  All in all it was pretty tame as far as I was concerned. There wasn't even anything as controversial as the "Drill, Baby Drill...Just don't Spill" condoms that were offered by the Log Cabin Republicans in Minneapolis, except for possibly a booth displaying t-shirts with naughty words on them that was sponsored by a local sex shop called the Castle Megastore.

To be honest, though it was enjoyable, I did not exactly find the experience blog worthy.  That is until recently.

You see apparently my visit to the Pridefest caught the attention of one of my clients.  This person started to ask me questions about my involvement with the gay community and wanted to know why I advocated for "that sort of thing" especially since I am not gay. I gladly explained that I supported a lot of groups in the city including the NAACP even though I am not black, STAR even though am not a woman who has been raped, The Brother Francis Shelter even though I am not homeless, and the gay community in Alaska, even though I am a raging heterosexual.

I further explained my experiences with the "Summer of Hate" last year and how I helped to get the word out and organize the people who argued FOR the protection of the LGBT community.  Wrong thing to say.

As it turns out this person is NOT comfortable with the homosexual community having equal rights and is very unhappy to learn about my advocacy. And based on that has told me that my services are no longer required.  Just like that.

You could have knocked me over with a feathered boa.

Now don't worry about me I have other job prospects, but damn I have NEVER personally experienced that kind of prejudice in my city before. And the amazing thing is I AM NOT EVEN GAY! This is what can happen just for supporting gay rights, imagine how much worse it must be for those in the LGBT community  who are confronted with this kind of hate on a constant basis.

Now this is just one person, and certainly not indicative of how the vast majority of citizens view our LGBT friends, but still it certainly does go to prove that we have a long way to go in this town before people will completely accept those who may look, love, or live in manner that is different from their own.

But know this, all that this little experience of mine has done is make me more determined than ever to support our LGBT community moving forward.  And hopefully some day we will see a day when finally EVERYBODY will be accepted for who they are without having to hide it from those around them or feel shame because of who they love.