2-4-6-8! Time to Stop the Legihate!
It was all cheers for queers this weekend at City Hall.
By Ash Bell, 3:47PM, Mon. Nov. 17, 2008
OPEN IMAGE GALLERY
OK, so maybe I wasn't a cheerleader in high school, but about 2,000 of my nearest, dearest, and queerest and I got to practice our best rah-rah-rah at Austin City Hall this past Saturday at 12:30pm to protest the atrocity that is Prop 8 and take our place in a national, simultaneous, multi-city movement.
I've got to be honest; When I got there, I wasn't all cheer and sass. I am generally of the opinion that no one – gay, straight, bisexual, pansexual, transgendered, omnisexual, questioning or otherwise – should be "married" under the law. If we are going to say we have separation of church and state, why codify a religious institution into our laws? But listening to the powerful, heartwarming, and at times even comical speakers changed my opinion a bit.
We are on the boat we are on, and over 200 years of straight married people probably aren't going to wake up tomorrow and agree with my "marriage is a church thing" opinion. So, let's all be in the same boat where any two consenting adults have the same equal rights and responsibilities under the law.
By the way, I know that there are many many more queers and allies in the Austin-area than the 2,000 or so that showed today. For those of you that couldn't come out, I would like to share two things:
One of the most powerful things I came away with this weekend was the importance of being out to your family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and especially those that disagree with your beliefs. Educate yourself and be ready to answer people's bigoted statements with collected honesty and truth.
The second thing came from the mouth of the most eloquent, intelligent 10-year-olds I have ever heard; his name is Mason, and here's what he said: "Only 23% of families in America are a husband, wife, and children. My math teacher tells me that makes them a minority."
Everybody all together now:
1-2-3-4! I don't want to be single no more!
5-6-7-8! Step on up and be my mate!
(And click the link above the picture for a whole gallery from the day.)
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Election 2008, Gay Marriage, protest, Austin City Hall, cheer, queer, gay, lesbian, Join the Impact
