Contrary to Evidence, I Don’t Have Jaundice

November 3, 2008

The yellow skin is merely the reflection of the umbrella which for the first hour in the pouring rain wouldn’t stay open because of the storm, hence the drowned rat look. I wasn’t actually going for that look, and I swear on nearly any other given day I look significantly better than this…blonder with less forehead.

To view the rest of my photos from some of the recent No on Prop visibility events I’ve attended just click on the waterlogged lesbian to your left.

Just a quick report on today’s event. It was located about a half mile from our house and so I walked there, arriving forty minutes early. No one else was there yet and so I stood alone at the traffic light at the end of the freeway overpass and held my sign high in the air. I’m not sure if cars honked because they’re voting NO on Prop 8 or because they simply took pity on how pathetic I must have appeared out there and gave me a mercy honk. I took them all gratefully whatever the reason. Yes, there were a few folks who felt compelled to roll their windows down and give a thumbs down or yell “YES on 8!” but I just smiled and waved at them enthusiastically like I was a big old goober. Far outnumbering them were the folks who honked and then flashed a big smile and a thumbs up, or took their hands off the window just long enough to clap for me. The support from drivers over the past few days has been uplifting but I’ll tell you, it’s kicked up to a whole other level of appreciation when you’re standing out there alone and they’re looking right at you in the eyes.

When the other volunteers started arriving, they showed up in droves! I did a quick count at one point and there were upwards of 80 people. We filled up all four corners of a major intersection and then spilled up and over onto the freeway overpass. Among the volunteers who stood in the rain waving signs were middle-aged straight couples, soccer moms with their kids, gay couples and single people of every age, and at least 30 teenagers who were, to say the least, enthusiastic! Jumping up and down, chanting “No to hate! No on 8!” and despite looking like a pack of wet puppies, seemed to be having a genuinely fun time that lifted everyone’s spirits and energized us all.

Listen, whatever happens here tomorrow with California’s Prop 8, Florida’s Amendment 2, Arizona’s Prop 102, or on any other challenges or setbacks we ever face as queers, don’t forget there are millions of people who stand with us. Contrary to how it might feel some days, everyone is not a chucklehead.

Tomorrow I’ll be working in front of one of the polling places from 7:00 a.m. through the end of the day. We have thousands of volunteers working at key polling locations throughout the state to try one last time to win more votes from the reported 3% undecided but also to be sure those who support equality for all vote correctly with a check mark next to the NO.

Oh, and this might be a rumor but I also heard there’s a presidential election taking place tomorrow too. Huh. What a coincidence.

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Posted in Marriage, News and Events, Storytelling