Monday, November 17, 2008

What do we want?

San Francisco Nov. 15 Protest
Hey, how was your weekend? Anything interesting happen, like – oh, I don't know – say a national protest involving thousands and thousands of people from coast to coast (and in other countries, too) who peacefully but forcefully asserted their personhood and demanded their rights? I don't know how your experience was, but I'm going to guess invigorating. That's how it felt to me in San Francisco. I can't be the only one who is fighting the urge to keep screaming “Equal rights!,” “Now!” It felt great to be a part of something bigger than your own life. Plus, who doesn't like to stop traffic now and then? And, best of all, it's not over. The organizers of Join the Impact are still working, as are countless others, to fight for our rights. So, today in celebration of what was a truly a grassroots success, please feel free to share your stories in the comments section. If you want, email me a photo of your protest (include the location) and I'll make a photo quilt of them all to post later tonight.

San Francisco Nov. 15 ProtestSan Francisco Nov. 15 ProtestSan Francisco Nov. 15 ProtestSan Francisco Nov. 15 Protest

p.s. What protest would be complete without the naked guy? (Though, sadly, no naked gals.)

San Francisco Nov. 15 Protest

UPDATE: This is what 1 million gays (and lovely straight friends) who are tired of not being equal looks like. [Click to enlarge.]

[Hat tip, Amy, Cynthia, Sarah, Maria, Amanda, Maureen, citizen spot, Julia, Leesh and Stephanie!]

p.s. I am, however, miffed that no one sent me a photo of the Naked Gal in Seattle. Share, people, share!
p.p.s. Wait, I think I found her. Oh, Seattle, you're funny.
p.p.p.s. Well, if you can't see the photo please enjoy the video instead. I need to get to Seattle more often. Seriously.

27 comments:

00 said...

No naked women???

Anonymous said...

My partner and I took our two kids to the protest in Minneapolis. It was freezing cold but that's not the only thing that gave me chills :)

Hoot said...

A lot of media outlets have spun this as, "protests by gay people." I actually kow a lot of straight people who are participating, as well. It makes me think of the adage that, 'when only some of us are free, none of us are free.'

Anonymous said...

I was out in Chicago - it was so great to see how supportive everyone was when we ended up walking up onto the Magnificent Mile. Everytime a random group of shoppers started cheering or cabbies honked in support, I regained a little bit of faith that marriage isn't such a distant dream...even in IL.

Anonymous said...

I went to the protest in Raleigh, NC. It was incredible! It even took a kind of symbolic turn, because as we started the march, a torrential rain began to fall and pelt us. But did that stop us? Not even close! It was amazing to see how excited and dedicated people were. And when we got to the Governor's Mansion we raised the rainbow flag on the flag post outside his house, an act which garnered the loudest cheers of the day. And then, just as we wound our way back to City Hall, as we reached the end of our journey, the sun came out, and shined beautifully for the rest of the day. :)

The rally was invigorating, unifying, and heartening, and I cannot WAIT until the next one! Dec. 10 (Day Without a Gay), here I come!!! (Even if you can't leave work, at www.daywithoutagay.org they have other ways in which you can contribute to the effort. Everyone join in! It's going to be eye-opening!)

Anonymous said...

I was also in San Francisco! So, so invigorating and empowering. The best part? Going through the Stockton Tunnel and stopping traffic! I saw a woman on the 30 in the tunnel, eyes welling with tears, scramble off the bus and join the march. So touching. And emerging from the other end, out of the dark tunnel and into Chinatown, turning around and seeing everyone behind me pouring out of the tunnel with their chants and cheers, felt really symbolic. Gay pride, y'all.

Maybe it takes this kind of unsettling setback for us to feel this energy. Maybe it's not *such* a bad thing that now we're really banding together and saying, this is unacceptable and we're not going to take this lying down. That rally and march on Saturday here in San Francisco, the city felt like the most important day of my life.

I'll be posting my own pictures and thoughts on my blog this evening when I'm home from work!. I love the idea of a patchwork photoquilt!!!

Anonymous said...

I was in Minneapolis as well. Cooooold, but the very cockles of my heart were warmed by the moving and powerful speeches and the number of straight people standing side-by-side with us queers (including one of my colleagues, which I would never have expected). It was a great moment.

Anonymous said...

I wanna see a picture of yourself with a placard!

Anonymous said...

The protest in Chicago was wonderful!! Even give the high 30's temps and lightly falling snow. I have a post up on my blog with photos:

http://kiwi-grrl.livejournal.com/

Check out the top entry.

The fact that this was repeated by a million people all over the country with a week or organising is incredible!!!

K.N.M. said...

I protested in Cleveland. It was cold, wet, windy, and necessary. Passing cars gave us support via horns as we stood shoulder to shoulder (literally) demanding equality for all (and warmth).

Unknown said...

Now I can say that I'm happy to be Spanish... I can get married if I want! ¡Olé!

Ben Varkentine said...

The naked gal was in Seattle...

Amanda said...

I got to college at Ithaca College in Ithaca,NY. We share the town with Cornell and both schools, as well as the extremely gay/liberal town came out Saturday to protest in "the commons" It was a great, invigorating experience.

Amanda

Anonymous said...

I' m italian, I'm a lesbian and I have NO rights.
I loved the euopean pride on Madrid two years ago.and I loved Cheuca a beautiful reality!
NO on Prop 8 and no discrimination

PS: sorry for my English

Jareb said...

I went to the protest at Sacramento and it was beautiful. It was extremely heartening to see so many people of different religions, ethnicities, ages, orientation, and gender come together united for one common purpose: Equality. Now. The entire atmosphere was full life, excitement, purpose, and hope. This is only the beginning.

Anonymous said...

My partner and I were out in Santa Cruz, CA. Our fave chant was the group of baby dykes shouting: "What do we want? Wedding cake! When do we want it? NOW!"

Anonymous said...

Hi I was at Oakland's rally. Best sign: Stop putting your religious lifestyle choices on others.
Best speech 8 year old son of two gays moms talking about " when I was little I thought all families were like mine then I went to school and found out about all kinds of families. Sometimes kids say stuff about gay people but that's because they are listening to adults who don't know anything about gay families. I'm glad my mom is helping to teach people that all families are OK". ( not an exact quote - but incredibly touching speech) And great crowd - full of love and power.

gowened said...

"The naked gal was in Seattle..."

Boy, was she. Reason 4,367 why Seattle is just more awesome than anywhere else.

It's really funny... all the lesbians who were at the rally that I've talked to since, the first question they asked was "Did you see the naked chick?"

Emma said...

My best shot from the Austin rally:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmaline/3039994391/

elliB said...

I marched and screamed myself city here in Chicago. We were even in a large group on Michigan Ave that crashed a wedding party taking pictures! (Dont worry, they thought it was great!) It was chilly but I layered on my gay clothes and dranks some Starbucks (someone forgot to warn the poor baristas in the 8 surrounding Starbucks location that we would be taking over...). Some of the signs I enjoyed were 'Keep your Gospels off my Gonads' and the dude with 'I dreamed of my wedding dress too' :) Not to mention all the kids and straight people there, shows how this really affects everyone!

DawgDyke said...

As a Canadian I can say I'm proud of gay Americans ... stay strong; some day you will have the right to marry.

Anonymous said...

This is for your collection of pics of that day...

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=b3THAZjDxeA

I hope you like it...

Anonymous said...

I still cannot see naked Seattle woman! Have to have an account with Flickr and be logged in...otherwise, nope. :(

Anonymous said...

missiz me--
awesome video!

Anonymous said...

wow, i couldn't imagine..
they did..(-O-);;;

i was so rush to finish
some work..(-_-);;
just excuse..

your blog looks good, ds.
have a good week,
and see you!

thank you for your post.

Aaron B. Brown said...

PHOTOS Prop 8 Protest St. Louis, MO (11-15-08)

meagandominguez said...

oh the video and pic are so great. i am the naked girl. i havent been able to find anything in years. thank you!