"Get Up!, I've got a plan for us today"
That is the text I got Saturday morning from my dad at about 9:30am. I didn't want to get up because I'd had a late night but I decided wake up and see what his "plan" was. I've wrote alot lately about how confused I've been about prop 8 and the issue of gay marriage so I found it ironic that my dad's plan was to go to, and participate in, a gay rights rally. I had never been to a rally before, or protested anything in public in my life but my dad didn't want to go alone. He made a total of four signs for us to take to the rally earlier in the morning so by the time I rolled out of bed, put a hat on, and drove to his house we were ready to go, signs and all.
That is the text I got Saturday morning from my dad at about 9:30am. I didn't want to get up because I'd had a late night but I decided wake up and see what his "plan" was. I've wrote alot lately about how confused I've been about prop 8 and the issue of gay marriage so I found it ironic that my dad's plan was to go to, and participate in, a gay rights rally. I had never been to a rally before, or protested anything in public in my life but my dad didn't want to go alone. He made a total of four signs for us to take to the rally earlier in the morning so by the time I rolled out of bed, put a hat on, and drove to his house we were ready to go, signs and all.
As we pulled up to the City Hall building in downtown SLC the crowd was overwhelming. There were literally thousands of people with signs protesting prop 8 and protesting gay marriage. It was a battle ground. To be honest, I didn't want to be on one side or the other but I had my sign and went with it, trying to be objective. I have never seen so many people be so passionate in unison. The screaming, chanting, and arguments were everywhere from both sides. I heard things like,
"What do we want? EQUALITY! When do we want it? NOW!" and
"HOMOS GO TO HELL", over and over again.
The march was a total of four blocks around City Hall and Library Square with cars driving by either honking and waving or honking and flipping us off. It was obvious how much hate and frustration was felt by everyone involved. I never thought I'd see something like it in my life time, but I did and it was with my dad.
In the end, I'm happy I went (even though I was half asleep) and it opened my eyes to many things on both sides but the confusion is still in my heart. I can't seem to sort out my thoughts....
Me and my dad. I'm barely awake in this picture.
This is one of my dad's signs and was actually mentioned in the newspaper the next morning. This is also officially the picture that pops up on my phone when my dad calls me, hahahaha.
Here's the other side of the same sign. I thought my dad did a really good job drawing the fist.
Being in the middle of the whole thing gave me some anxiety but I was fine.
Marching down the streets...
1 comments:
Battleground is right. Sorry you had to be caught in the middle of it. :( It's too bad that people have to be so nasty and cruel.
Looks like you figured out the html thing :) It looks great! I could make a header for you if you wanted?
Post a Comment