Sea of Red

May 02, 2009 22:30

Taken when people were still filing in to the hearing on the Marriage Equality Bill. The supporters wore red.


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maine, marriage equality

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Comments 8

hogwartshoney May 3 2009, 02:55:08 UTC
Y'know, if there weren't quite so many white people in the crowd, I'd say that was a gathering of Trinis at a sporting event! ;o)

Nice.

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islandsmoke May 3 2009, 02:59:10 UTC
Lol! And this is only about a third of the seats.

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busaikko May 3 2009, 03:04:38 UTC
That's quite the visual aid! *looks for you in crowd* (What does the red symbolise? Is it Valentine's red-rose-love red? Or am I missing something? *often misses things*)

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islandsmoke May 3 2009, 03:20:27 UTC
I was on the opposite side, but much further down. The one in the red shirt, between the people in the red shirts.

Don't think the red had any special meaning. Probably chosen because it's so visible and a lot of people would have it handy. Something like blue or green comes in so many shades, it wouldn't have the same unity. It was, as you say, a visual aid, not just for the opposition and the committee, (and ourselves) but for all the news cameras as well. It also had the affect of building camaraderie. I talked to a number of strangers who were very friendly - not the way folks would be at a concert or other large event - all because were were wearing red. We were a team.

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busaikko May 3 2009, 03:27:01 UTC
I thought that was you, in the red shirt, behind the guy in the red shirt! *g*

And I would imagine that the media coverage was excellent, as you've described how civilised the talks were. The wearin'o'th'red really is a powerful image (the picture reminds me for some reason of a church choir: the raised arms and red tunics, probably *g*)

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islandsmoke May 3 2009, 03:40:43 UTC
Yup, that's me. ;)

I think some of those tunics were plastic ponchos. It was raining. There was good coverage, and I was proud of the fact that 'the right', who often say that it's the gays and gay supporters who are intolerant and hate-filled 'cause they call the wingers asshats, had nothing to complain about. If a speaker was spouting bullshit and lies, people just stood up and turned their backs. That was it. The speaker couldn't see them as the podium faced the committee, but the committee certainly could. When the person finished, the opposition clapped, and the supporters sat down. Quietly. It was pretty awesome.

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snegurochka_lee May 3 2009, 14:47:16 UTC
Oh wow! From your last post, I was picturing a community hall or something! This is amazing. :)

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islandsmoke May 3 2009, 15:29:27 UTC
And that's only about a third of it. Four.Thousand.People. At least. They were going to have it at a high school, but realized it wouldn't be big enough. They started filling the room with the top rows and ends taped off, but had to open up all the seating. And it filled! It really was cool; all those people taking time off during the week to be there. Go Maine!

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