Reflections on this weekend’s protest
It was a windy day yesterday as Atlantans gathered at the Capitol for the worldwide protest against California’s Prop 8 and similar legislation that would limit family-building to a heterosexual privilege. Fortunately for me, I really like the wind. I was proud to stand up in the bluster with the 1500 or so people who gathered there in support of equality. I was happy to be able to share sign-making supplies with people who wanted to hold their message high. I was moved by the outflowing of support not only from the quickly-mustered LGBTQ community itself, but also from the many equal-rights supporters outside that community.
The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus sang an excellent opening piece, and a number of speakers shared their unique views with the gathered crowd. Those diverse voices shared some common threads, though: The gay rights movement has made a lot of progress since its inception several decades ago. Its support base both inside the LGBTQ community and outside it continues to grow steadily to face increasing legislative setbacks. These setbacks demand action, and supporters want to act.
Some anti-gay bloggers dismiss the protests as irrelevant: They already won the Prop 8 vote, after all, and with this year’s additions they’ve refused equal marriage rights in something like thirty states. Protests, they say, are just hot air. We should all just shut up and be glad they haven’t taken away any more, they seem to imply.
Protests, however, can be much more than hot air. An effective protest can be the wind that whips up a firestorm. At the Atlanta protest, there were gusts of action. Speakers reminded people to get out and vote in the December 2nd runoff elections, where each vote means so much more due to lowered turnout expectations. They pointed people toward local organizations like Georgia Equality where supporters could devote time and money to the cause. Smaller organizations passed out flyers advertising discussion groups and other grassroots causes. Old flames whipped up in the gusts, and some new sparks crackled.
It was a windy day yesterday in Atlanta. I like the wind.
(LJ Spellchecker Genius of the Day: bloggers -> blowers)