If you took away the signs, it could have been a church picnic
November 16th, 2008 by Lorna Bracewell in Lorna Bracewell
This past Saturday I was the guerilla sound girl at St. Petersburg’s instantiation of the Join the Impact National Day of Action for GLBTQ Rights at Mirror Lake Park. If you were there, perhaps you saw me frantically running extension cords through the sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist church across the street from the rally. (The City of St. Pete wouldn’t hook us up with power for the PA so the Unitarians picked up the slack). Or maybe you were one of the hundreds I inconvenienced by blocking off an entire street with my wimpy little PT Cruiser and my big freakin’ attitude. (If you were, I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to drive over my mic cables. I need those!)
Whether our paths crossed or not, if you were there, you witnessed quite a spectacle: Karen Doering, former senior counsel for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, kicked off the event with an impassioned, and by impassioned I mean I couldn’t keep her mic channel from redlining, enumeration of all the totally unfair aspects of Florida’s Amendment 2 and California’s Proposition 8.
The high point of the rally for me was a statement read by Yasmine Jones, a 19 year old African American lesbian who spoke of being raised on her grandmother’s stories of the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. She was taught and she truly believed that she was the heir of that legacy. November 4th, 2008 changed all of that. On that day, when most Americans were celebrating the election of our first black president, young Yasmine was watching anti-gay ballot initiatives all across the country undermine the equal citizenship that her Grandmother had struggled so hard to one day bequeath to her. (If a story like Yasmine’s doesn’t get you riled up, you should really start checking your pants pockets and digging through your sofa because you’ve lost your soul.)
While these speakers were undoubtedly compelling, what struck me most about Saturday’s event was the complete and utter ordinariness of the people who attended it. If you took away the signs that said hilarious and incisive things like “Gay is the new black” or “Can I vote on your marriage now?” it could have been a church picnic. This group did not conform to any of the classic gay stereotypes. No one sported assless leather chaps. No camouflage clad lesbians carried signs decrying marriage as just another instrument of patriarchal domination. There was nary a public sex act. To be perfectly honest, I did a quick scan of the hundred or so people congregated around the sound board and I didn’t even see a Birkenstok!
What I did see was a bunch of regular people gathered together to petition their community and their government to give them a way to love, honor and cherish the person of their choosing as long as they both shall live. There was nothing radical, liberal or non-traditional about them. In fact, when a self-described “revolutionary socialist” grabbed the mic for a moment and attempted to instigate the chant “Gay and straight, black and white, workers of the world unite,” this old fashioned and, dare I say, socially conservative crowd became palpably uncomfortable. They clearly were not interested in social and political upheaval. All they seemed to want was an opportunity to lead mundane and predictable lives in the context of our culture’s traditional institutions.
I really wish the folks who voted “Yes 2 Marriage” on November 4th could have been at the “Shame on 2!” rally at Mirror Lake Park on November 15th. I think they’d have found that they have a lot in common with their big gay opposition: family values, love of country and now, thanks to Amendment 2 and Proposition 8, profound political energy and engagement.
November 16th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I looked for you when I saw this on the news. Didn’t see you. Love your blog.
November 16th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I was hoping to make it there — with video camera, but a client for whom I’m making some software training videos ran late in getting me some copy and logos and such, so I ended up making money instead. Oh, well. There will be many more protests and gatherings for many worthy causes, and I’m sure this one was documented well without my puny efforts, anyway.
November 16th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Though I will summon the wrath of blog commentators through this note, I will offer a different perspective.
Why have marriage at all? Is it the vows given in front of friends and family that bind lives or the high price of divorce lawyers and split assets? Is it the death benefits? Insurance pay offs? Is it social obligation or civil duty? Rearing of offspring (natural, artificial, or adopted)?
From a equal protection perspective I understand why Amendment 2 is appalling. It spits in the face of the principles of Loving v. Virginia and the 5th, 13th, 14th, and 19th Amendments. It churns the deep history of racism and bigotry that this country and human anthropology is famous. It divides and casts different groups that are unique. I get that part of it.
But from a practical understanding, why do any of us, gay, straight, bored, in love, cynical, or romantic need the “scared institution of marriage” to feel validated. No one is stopping two people from loving each other in the way that feels natural. There are no gestapo special police squads sequestering and torturing individuals because of the way they look or choices they make, or rings they wear on their fingers. Perhaps this is why a political rally of content and committed individuals did not chant like those who suffered under Jim Crow, slavery, and oppression that is hopefully forever relegated to history books and speeches.
Amendment 2 must be struck down. Committed gay individuals should be allowed to partake in the ritual of marriage. But congering the spirit of Dr. King for every notion of discrimination minimizes the suffering of young Yasmine’s grandmother. Don’t turn the civil rights movement into a cliche.
November 16th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Lorna, You added the touch of class. Great job. When I first heard the title of this blog I thought….Oh someone complaining that the rally was too lame. LOL
November 17th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
i loved the rally and am so glad i got a chance to speak. personally i dont c y bringing up MLK would make the civil rights movement a cliche. he was out there fighting for equal rights for everyone and until he have that we have not realized his dream. my grandmother feels the same way discrimination is discrimination. my grandmother’s suffering cannot be minimized by comparing this to that era of time. it just shows that we as a country still have work to do.
November 25th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
I just have to tell you that I helped to organize and lead our Join the Impact rally in Detroit. It rained a very cold rain that day, all day. Despite that, we had 200+ LGBT citizens and allies show up and speak their piece. Again, all too normal! :)
I am one of those married lesbians (Canada is just a short drive!) who, my own marriage notwithstanding believes that marriage IS just another form of domination by the patriarchy.
Nevertheless, if our government is going to dole out benefits and responsibilities on the basis of it, we should ALL be able to choose our participation.
I am proud to say that my straight daughter also marched in protest of Prop 2/8 where she lives in Tallahassee.
Great job! Keep up the good work.