We had our Prop 8 rally in Detroit today. Brett Beckerson, Youth Initiatives Coordinator with Triangle Foudation, and Bashar Makhay, from Affirmations, were the local organizers, in the broader nationwide rally - JoinTheImpact.com -- started in an email exchange between a handful of friends (no, you're never to small to make a difference). They did an amazing job. Brett led us, he encouraged us, he chanted for us (I wonder how his voice survived).
We had approximately 200 people show up. This is significant for a couple of reasons. First, it's a Saturday. Second -- this was *DETROIT*, and NOT Ann Arbor where you expect the queers to rally. Third, and most significant, it was cold. And windy. And raining. A steady rain fell during the entire 90 minute march, demonstration, and speechifying. Still, people stayed.
The police were there, but gave us no hassle -- beyond an occasional screech to clear the crosswalk so that cars could get through. We had so many people there, that we couldn't all cross the street duing a walk cycle!
After we marched -- to chants of "2 4 6 8 Love does not discriminate!"; "Gay Straight Black White - Marriage is a CIVIL right"; and "What do we want? EQUALITY When do we want it? NOW!" -- we held a rally in front of the "Spirit of Detroit" statue at City Hall. Everyone that wanted to speak got a chance.
Jan Stevenson and Susan were there -- 14 years together, and owners/publishers of Between the Lines, our LGBT friendly newspaper; Leslie Ann Thompson, Exec. Director of Affirmations, and her wife were there and eloquently reminded us of the money that Michigan is losing to Canada (just across the river from where we stood) as we trek across the border to exchange our vows. She called on those that were married in Canada (such as Mary and me) or elsewhere to come forward and put a face on the discrimination. Jim Rasor and his partner of 5 years was there. Jim reminded us all to be out and proud and to report incidents of discrimination -- despite the laws against our families there still are things we can do to protect ourselves. I saw Carrie Copeland there. I saw my friend Andrew Hinkle there. Ric Beatitie was there. I think I even spotted Leo Romo So many that I knew; so many more that I did not know. Many more people spoke. Veterans spoke, ministers and preachers spoke, straight allies spoke. Partners that had been together for decades spoke.
And we stood there in the rain, wind, and cold and cheered. We cheered for the love we have for each other, we cheered for the community we developed, we cheered for the possibility that one day our opposition would see that they had nothing to fear in granting us our civil rights. We cheered for the courage each person showed.
Our time will come.
We had approximately 200 people show up. This is significant for a couple of reasons. First, it's a Saturday. Second -- this was *DETROIT*, and NOT Ann Arbor where you expect the queers to rally. Third, and most significant, it was cold. And windy. And raining. A steady rain fell during the entire 90 minute march, demonstration, and speechifying. Still, people stayed.
The police were there, but gave us no hassle -- beyond an occasional screech to clear the crosswalk so that cars could get through. We had so many people there, that we couldn't all cross the street duing a walk cycle!
After we marched -- to chants of "2 4 6 8 Love does not discriminate!"; "Gay Straight Black White - Marriage is a CIVIL right"; and "What do we want? EQUALITY When do we want it? NOW!" -- we held a rally in front of the "Spirit of Detroit" statue at City Hall. Everyone that wanted to speak got a chance.
Jan Stevenson and Susan were there -- 14 years together, and owners/publishers of Between the Lines, our LGBT friendly newspaper; Leslie Ann Thompson, Exec. Director of Affirmations, and her wife were there and eloquently reminded us of the money that Michigan is losing to Canada (just across the river from where we stood) as we trek across the border to exchange our vows. She called on those that were married in Canada (such as Mary and me) or elsewhere to come forward and put a face on the discrimination. Jim Rasor and his partner of 5 years was there. Jim reminded us all to be out and proud and to report incidents of discrimination -- despite the laws against our families there still are things we can do to protect ourselves. I saw Carrie Copeland there. I saw my friend Andrew Hinkle there. Ric Beatitie was there. I think I even spotted Leo Romo So many that I knew; so many more that I did not know. Many more people spoke. Veterans spoke, ministers and preachers spoke, straight allies spoke. Partners that had been together for decades spoke.
And we stood there in the rain, wind, and cold and cheered. We cheered for the love we have for each other, we cheered for the community we developed, we cheered for the possibility that one day our opposition would see that they had nothing to fear in granting us our civil rights. We cheered for the courage each person showed.
Our time will come.
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