March

The protest march on Saturday was much different than I was expecting. There were very few people protesting against us, and from what I could see there weren’t any altercations between the opposing sides.
It is easy to criticize those who actually get out and make things happen. That being said, there was a lack (or an over-abundance) of planning. The actual rally part, where they had speakers and singers, took well over an hour and a half, maybe up to two hours. It was entirely too long. The public began to get restless. Some left, other’s began to chant, “March, March!” And, of course, old prissy queens got in fights with old bitter lesbians. I, being use to angry, fighting immature children, got in the middle and broke them up. It was disgusting seeing my own fight when the whole purpose was to come together against those who want to deny us. Overall, though, it was a whole lot more peaceful than I was worried it would be.
The actual march was fairly amazing. We marched all the way down (and back up) Sixteen Street Mall. We seemed to go on forever. I felt a huge swell of pride for my community as we walked along. No one dressed over the top or stupidly (like during Pride, and no one was overtly rude to the naysayers around us. We were simply normal, everyday people, of all races, who simply wanted the right to be treated as such. Of course there were a few people on the side of street who called out to us, telling us we were going to Hell (wow, never heard that before), yelling, ‘faggots’, and calling us other names. It, for some reason, seemed so much for offensive when such things were coming from African-American men. Weren’t they in a similar place half a century ago? (If you really want an ear-full, check out the comments on the news sites that reported this event—sickening.) However, most either watched us silently or applauded. I swear I saw a few cry. There were even these two beautiful high school girls (obviously straight) who were shopping at the mall. After a second’s hesitation, they joined hands, hopped in with us, and marched for several blocks.
Thank you to all of you who supported us, whether by attending, donation, or through positive thoughts and prayers.