Ratchick
Oct 23, 2005, 2:33 PM
Hello,
I was just curious. A couple of week ago was a comming out day celebration here in Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.
There was a huge Block party in our "Gayborhood". Wall to wall Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, transgendered and generally "Queer" folks. It happenes every year and increasingly on all the "Pride events" such as this we get these Christian Morons who protest us and try to "save" us with offensive signs and offensive jargons on thier bullhorns stating we are all going to hell and such.
They march THROUGH the block party screaming on thier bullhorns and raising thier giant signs of hate, all with an army of police surrounding them. At least 20-25 ARMED police. They interrupt performers on the main stage by blocking them with signs and screaming over the performers, push folks out of the way with the help of the police, and bully through a perdominately "Queer" event and quite frankly, interrupting a good time for all.
Now, I am the first one to believe everyone has a right to free speech/expression and express themselves. We should never tell anyone how or what to say. BUT, when does someone else's right to free speech/expression infrindge on someone else's right to free speech/expression? Why should I feel intimidated at an event expressly for GLBT people and thier comming-out by armed police and the hate this wack-o spews?
How is it the right of these 2-4 Christian radicals to have full police back-up to PUSH and shove thier way through the crowd and interrupt the performers right to speech on stage. And why do the police allow it? It is one thing to be 2-4 protesters standing there screaming on bullhorns with a huge sign. It is quite another to have an army of police surrounding you and helping you push your way through the crowd so you can block a stage and interrupt celebraties who have been kind enough to help us celabrate our comming-out. With out the HUGE police presence for these a-holes, they might of just packed-up and left.
1)Where was the GLBT protection FROM This guy?
2)Would I have gotten the same kind of police support if I had chosen to bullhorn a PUBLIC Chistain event? Doubtful.
A prime example is GAYDAY at the Phillies Baseball game. IN the parking lot Pride org. people were holding signs and showing support for Gay Pride, and were asked because it was a "Fmaily venue" and "private property" to put down the signs and not make a fuss, BUT the CHRISTIAN Right wingers were allowed to remain and shout thier hatred and keep thier signs up.
Interesting.
I have recieved a lot fo flack from my local Bisexual group, Bi-Unity, for having a problem with this radical Christain and his hordes being at the block party with such a police presence. Stating Free speech and all of that. But, I truely doubt that MY rights aren't as valued by the police/Govt. as this guys and don't believe the police should be allowed to help him accomplish his mission in such force.
How can we advance when our own people think this was okay?!?!?
Yes, he has a right to express his beliefs, but not at the cost of Me expressing mine.
I also have the right to get equal support should I decide to goto one of His public events and express mine. Wich as I have seen, esp. here in "The city of Brotherly Love" has not been shown to me.
Am I nuts?
Should I accept the city's support of people like this? Should I accpet the city's blatent bias for the Radical Christians?
Should I accept that MY right to free speech as a GLBT person is less valuable then that of a guy who doesn't even LIVE in this city?
Should I accept an ARMED Police presence that makes ME feel uncomfortable at MY own event?
What do you guys think?
Thank you and sorry this post is so long.
RC :2cents: :2cents: :2cents:
I was just curious. A couple of week ago was a comming out day celebration here in Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.
There was a huge Block party in our "Gayborhood". Wall to wall Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, transgendered and generally "Queer" folks. It happenes every year and increasingly on all the "Pride events" such as this we get these Christian Morons who protest us and try to "save" us with offensive signs and offensive jargons on thier bullhorns stating we are all going to hell and such.
They march THROUGH the block party screaming on thier bullhorns and raising thier giant signs of hate, all with an army of police surrounding them. At least 20-25 ARMED police. They interrupt performers on the main stage by blocking them with signs and screaming over the performers, push folks out of the way with the help of the police, and bully through a perdominately "Queer" event and quite frankly, interrupting a good time for all.
Now, I am the first one to believe everyone has a right to free speech/expression and express themselves. We should never tell anyone how or what to say. BUT, when does someone else's right to free speech/expression infrindge on someone else's right to free speech/expression? Why should I feel intimidated at an event expressly for GLBT people and thier comming-out by armed police and the hate this wack-o spews?
How is it the right of these 2-4 Christian radicals to have full police back-up to PUSH and shove thier way through the crowd and interrupt the performers right to speech on stage. And why do the police allow it? It is one thing to be 2-4 protesters standing there screaming on bullhorns with a huge sign. It is quite another to have an army of police surrounding you and helping you push your way through the crowd so you can block a stage and interrupt celebraties who have been kind enough to help us celabrate our comming-out. With out the HUGE police presence for these a-holes, they might of just packed-up and left.
1)Where was the GLBT protection FROM This guy?
2)Would I have gotten the same kind of police support if I had chosen to bullhorn a PUBLIC Chistain event? Doubtful.
A prime example is GAYDAY at the Phillies Baseball game. IN the parking lot Pride org. people were holding signs and showing support for Gay Pride, and were asked because it was a "Fmaily venue" and "private property" to put down the signs and not make a fuss, BUT the CHRISTIAN Right wingers were allowed to remain and shout thier hatred and keep thier signs up.
Interesting.
I have recieved a lot fo flack from my local Bisexual group, Bi-Unity, for having a problem with this radical Christain and his hordes being at the block party with such a police presence. Stating Free speech and all of that. But, I truely doubt that MY rights aren't as valued by the police/Govt. as this guys and don't believe the police should be allowed to help him accomplish his mission in such force.
How can we advance when our own people think this was okay?!?!?
Yes, he has a right to express his beliefs, but not at the cost of Me expressing mine.
I also have the right to get equal support should I decide to goto one of His public events and express mine. Wich as I have seen, esp. here in "The city of Brotherly Love" has not been shown to me.
Am I nuts?
Should I accept the city's support of people like this? Should I accpet the city's blatent bias for the Radical Christians?
Should I accept that MY right to free speech as a GLBT person is less valuable then that of a guy who doesn't even LIVE in this city?
Should I accept an ARMED Police presence that makes ME feel uncomfortable at MY own event?
What do you guys think?
Thank you and sorry this post is so long.
RC :2cents: :2cents: :2cents: