initiation
i just received my first public gay-bashing.
i have to say, it didn't feel too good.
i was on my way to the tanning salon, and i got cut off by this older lady in a pickup truck. she had a lovely bumper sticker that read "MARRIAGE = Man + Woman!" now, if she had a whole bunch of other bumper stickers, like a confederate flag, an anti-affirmative action message, and a national rifle association symbol, i might not have said anything. i would have just reminded myself that she was a fucking imbecile and told myself not to waste any time debating her stance on any issue whatsoever, since she's probably not intelligent enough to comprehend my point of view anyway.
but what bothered me was that this was the only bumper sticker on her vehicle. she must have reeeeeally wanted to get her point across that homosexual people don't deserve the right to marry. perturbing.
so anyway, i pulled into a parking spot to go tan, and she parked in the spot next to me. i waited for her to get out of her truck, and naturally, i spoke up. "that's an ugly bumper sticker you've got there," i said (not to imply that heterosexual marriage is ugly, of course). her reply: "oh yeah? you don't like that?! well you must be GAY!" ... "yeah, so what if i am?" ... "well then you're gonna burn in hell you fucking fag." .... *sigh* "yeah, ok." i knew i wasn't gonna get anywhere with her so i turned and walked away to go tan. and even though it was stooping to her level, i threw a middle finger up over my shoulder as i walked away just for good measure. her response: "FUCK YOU TOO, BITCH!"
now, i knew that speaking up to someone in a town like this would inevitably lead to this sort of response. i knew she'd tell me i was going to hell, in true christian spirit.
but, what i didn't expect was what she did after i walked away. as i walked down the sidewalk to the tanning salon, she just kept shouting from the other side of the street, following me down the block. shouting bitch, dyke, fag, burn in hell, god hates you, etc. she just kept shouting. i ignored her and just made my way down the block. these people on the street were all staring at me, but i didn't show any sign that she was bothering me. i walked into the tanning salon and when i was closing the door behind me i heard her shout "dyke" again, and the people inside the salon all looked up and then just stared at me and didn't say anything. awkward.
i kept my composure, though. i was absolutely FUMING inside, and i am ashamed to say that i actually felt embarrassed. not ashamed of myself or anything, but i dunno... i guess embarrassment is a natural response to being publicly ridiculed.
anyway, i just went on about my business and tried not to show any emotion.
but when i got back in my car to leave it was a different story. god i was SO angry i was just in tears. my heart was pounding so hard in my chest, and i even got a nosebleed when i went to nate's and told him about what happened. i really don't think i've ever felt so much anger in my entire life.
how can someone be so horrible and hateful?
i have to say, it didn't feel too good.
i was on my way to the tanning salon, and i got cut off by this older lady in a pickup truck. she had a lovely bumper sticker that read "MARRIAGE = Man + Woman!" now, if she had a whole bunch of other bumper stickers, like a confederate flag, an anti-affirmative action message, and a national rifle association symbol, i might not have said anything. i would have just reminded myself that she was a fucking imbecile and told myself not to waste any time debating her stance on any issue whatsoever, since she's probably not intelligent enough to comprehend my point of view anyway.
but what bothered me was that this was the only bumper sticker on her vehicle. she must have reeeeeally wanted to get her point across that homosexual people don't deserve the right to marry. perturbing.
so anyway, i pulled into a parking spot to go tan, and she parked in the spot next to me. i waited for her to get out of her truck, and naturally, i spoke up. "that's an ugly bumper sticker you've got there," i said (not to imply that heterosexual marriage is ugly, of course). her reply: "oh yeah? you don't like that?! well you must be GAY!" ... "yeah, so what if i am?" ... "well then you're gonna burn in hell you fucking fag." .... *sigh* "yeah, ok." i knew i wasn't gonna get anywhere with her so i turned and walked away to go tan. and even though it was stooping to her level, i threw a middle finger up over my shoulder as i walked away just for good measure. her response: "FUCK YOU TOO, BITCH!"
now, i knew that speaking up to someone in a town like this would inevitably lead to this sort of response. i knew she'd tell me i was going to hell, in true christian spirit.
but, what i didn't expect was what she did after i walked away. as i walked down the sidewalk to the tanning salon, she just kept shouting from the other side of the street, following me down the block. shouting bitch, dyke, fag, burn in hell, god hates you, etc. she just kept shouting. i ignored her and just made my way down the block. these people on the street were all staring at me, but i didn't show any sign that she was bothering me. i walked into the tanning salon and when i was closing the door behind me i heard her shout "dyke" again, and the people inside the salon all looked up and then just stared at me and didn't say anything. awkward.
i kept my composure, though. i was absolutely FUMING inside, and i am ashamed to say that i actually felt embarrassed. not ashamed of myself or anything, but i dunno... i guess embarrassment is a natural response to being publicly ridiculed.
anyway, i just went on about my business and tried not to show any emotion.
but when i got back in my car to leave it was a different story. god i was SO angry i was just in tears. my heart was pounding so hard in my chest, and i even got a nosebleed when i went to nate's and told him about what happened. i really don't think i've ever felt so much anger in my entire life.
how can someone be so horrible and hateful?