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News & ArtsMonday, October 12, 2009
Homo Scenes From Yesterday's Gay Rights March
Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 8:10 AM
Most featuring Radical Women, the Socialist Alternative, and that socialist radical Jamie Pedersen...
1
So was the march taken over by the radical left, or was that film just edited to make it appear that way?
I think I will start having to wear a copy Atlas Shrugs or The Fountainhead on a chain around my neck next protest I attend!
I think I will start having to wear a copy Atlas Shrugs or The Fountainhead on a chain around my neck next protest I attend!
2
Every single socialist organization in Seattle was there in force. I was standing with McGinn's daughter when a guy came up to her offering her a newspaper, then asked her for a dollar when she accepted it. She's about 10 or so.
All the organizers I could see behind the stage came from a socialist group. They were running the show yesterday.
And I thought it was a sad showing of their organizational skills. The pre-rally ran far too long and people were talking about leaving if they didn't march soon.
All the organizers I could see behind the stage came from a socialist group. They were running the show yesterday.
And I thought it was a sad showing of their organizational skills. The pre-rally ran far too long and people were talking about leaving if they didn't march soon.
3
Well maybe the socialists did some of the organizing and leg work for this march so lets give them credit. As far as I am concerned the radical left is just as welcome to be part of the equal rights movement ans anybody else.
5
We left after the fourth lesbian angst poem was read. After an hour and 45 minutes of waiting to march, a crappy singer, an angry Puerto Rican lesbian who quoted from a book of love letters, and quavering voiced angst poetry no one in our group had the energy to march any longer. Seriously, what the crap did any of that have to do with Ref. 71? My partner and I would have loved to speak about how much more money we have to pay a month for health insurance than a married couple, or how unsexy spending hours and hours going over, word by word, a mortgage contract just to make sure that there would be no hidden mess for the other if something happened to one of us.
6
The march didn't get a lot of coverage in the MSM and, as a participant, I am beginning to think that is probably not such a bad thing. The pre-march rally was excruciating and probably caused a great many people to leave in boredom and disgust. As the rally ground on, my thoughts turned nostalgic as I remembered a time, when the world was young, before the rally began. Only Jamie Pedersen was to the point - which is that we need to focus, front and center, on getting Referendum 71 approved. Everyone else was there to flog their own personal and political agendas as in "but enough about all of you, now for another poem about me" (I paraphrase). But lessons learned, I am going to do a little more research beforehand the next time I am asked to get into the streets and give up a perfectly gorgeous Sunday afternoon and three hours of my life that I will never get back.
7
Jamie looks more matronly every day. You just know he's got a Talbots charge in his wallet somewhere.
8
@6 I was there, too, and had a very different experience. It wasn't excruciating at all, but very joyous and inspiring. I'm glad I flew out to be there!
9
It's clear to me now, NONE of those marchers appear to be upset, angry, mad. In fact very much the opposite. Costumes, unicycle rider, make up, chanting, happy people all. Is it any wonder they're not taken seriously.
A few dozen nut cases screamed, ranted, got very mad about Health Care and the federal Government shook to it core.
Time to rethink tactics? Don't know but it's worth consideration.
A few dozen nut cases screamed, ranted, got very mad about Health Care and the federal Government shook to it core.
Time to rethink tactics? Don't know but it's worth consideration.
10
@1: No, silly, logic and reason have no place at a protest. If your stance can't be summed up in a catchy rhyming chant and shouted at passers-by, we want no part of it.
The same thing happened at Denver's Prop. 8 protest march last year. Hours of speeching, preaching, and random musical performances, so that by the time the actual marching got underway, most of the participants were bored and pissed off. It may just be me, but I don't really think preaching to the choir (of protesters) is an effective means of furthering progressive ideas. The folks who organize these things should really stop trying to give every single local activist a soapbox, at the expense of alienating their supporters.
The same thing happened at Denver's Prop. 8 protest march last year. Hours of speeching, preaching, and random musical performances, so that by the time the actual marching got underway, most of the participants were bored and pissed off. It may just be me, but I don't really think preaching to the choir (of protesters) is an effective means of furthering progressive ideas. The folks who organize these things should really stop trying to give every single local activist a soapbox, at the expense of alienating their supporters.
11
This is wonderful.
Of course, it accomplished exactly nothing.
If you want change, you know what you have to do.
Of course, it accomplished exactly nothing.
If you want change, you know what you have to do.
13
The true measure if whether this rally was a success or a flop is whether the participants think they've done enough and can now go home satisfied, or whether they're now dedicated to making sure Referendum 71 gets approved.
Time to sign up for a phone bank or a door-knocking session at Approve71.org. Time to talke to EVERYONE you know and be sure they understand that if they don't mail back that ballot with "approved" marked, 12,000 domestic partners will lose 250 legal rights that the legislature has already given them. Approve71.org
Time to sign up for a phone bank or a door-knocking session at Approve71.org. Time to talke to EVERYONE you know and be sure they understand that if they don't mail back that ballot with "approved" marked, 12,000 domestic partners will lose 250 legal rights that the legislature has already given them. Approve71.org
14
No, not vote from the rooftops, but go doorbell people, ask personally everyone you know to vote, and help make that happen.
Parades are nice. But they accomplish little.
They're better to celebrate winning - doing stuff like Lurleen mentions.
Parades are nice. But they accomplish little.
They're better to celebrate winning - doing stuff like Lurleen mentions.
15
I'm phone banking tonight from 6PM to 9PM at 720 7th Ave (7th and Cherry) for Approve 71.
Care to join me?
Care to join me?
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