*Now with Video!!*
It is beyond words to me that a few mere decades ago it would be illegal for me to marry Gerard, not even mentioning countless other social injustices that took place here, in America, during our parents' generation. Now it's our time to decide if we want to perpetuate the same hate and fear targeted not toward a race, but to homosexuals. It is just beyond me that anyone would spend a minute of their time, or a dime of their hard earned money in these hard economic times, to help ensure that two loving, committed people cannot have their relationship recognized, and enjoy the same rights as the rest of us. My point of this blog, however, is not to rant on this topic exactly, as I could go on and on, but more to recant my amazing day yesterday at the protest against the passing of Proposition 8 at City Hall in San Francisco.
We started the day early- at 10:30 am. I arrived
early and a few thousand people were already there. I went by myself, but never had a passing moment of loneliness. The entire day, I felt I was in the presence of such a loving community, all bonded together by a mutual goal. The speeches we heard encouraged love and peace, and discouraged any hateful remarks against the other side- specifically Mormons. There were several signs present in the protest that had degrading remarks against this particular sect, but the ratios were small against all of the other signs from people just wanting to love who they love. Many people holding these anti-Mormon signs were even inspired to put them down as the speeches continued, which I think is just awesome. The last thing we need to do is fight hate with hate.
So, after the speeches a few thousand of my closest friends decided we'd all take a walk together down to the Castro. I guess I was kind of expecting a march of some nature, but certainly did not know what I had signed up for. We took over the streets. Completely. Cars weren't going anywhere... Luckily, most of the cars didn't seem to mind, and honked and yelled and whistled along with us. There was a minor incident when a car tried to drive through us and some guys started trying to attack the car with their signs, but thankfully that was reconciled quickly as we reminded the offenders that's not the message we're trying to spread. So we walked to Castro, and people were coming out of their apartments to join in. Our amazing percussionists kept our spirits up as we did a loop and then picked up shoppers along Union Square to march with us. Employees were in the storefront windows cheering us on. Men were losing their voices from
yelling the cheers so loudly, even through blowhorns. One guy was hobbling along with us in crutches, and another in a wheelchair because they knew this was too important to let their handicaps stop them. We walked through Chinatown- where voters largely voted in favor of taking their rights away. We walked up to Fisherman's Wharf and down Embarcadero. We marched in both directions on the road- past, through, and around lines of cars, and for the most part everyone just cheered us on. We walked well over 7 miles, and part of the crowd was still going when I called it quits to go home. I would have loved to keep going, but the ballet flats I was wearing were not exactly suitable for the occasion, my arms were freaking tired from sign- holding, my back was incredibly sunburned and I was damn thirsty. But I can't remember a time I've been so proud to walk in such company for such a meaningful cause. I'll never forget this day.
Here are three short videos I took of the march to show y'all the energy we had:
