Sunset Junction Rally

At brunch yesterday, I asked PeterPhillip** if he was going to go to the Prop 8 rally in Silverlake.

PeterPhillip said, "I don't know how I feel about rallies..."

To which I responded, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

To which he replied, "Well...didn't they already vote? Isn't it over?"

.....at the time I think I just glowered at him.

But now what I have to say is:

No. PETER. (in the most condescending voice possible)

It's not over. It's never over.

If historically, people just sat around and did nothing and were content with the status quo, where would we be today?

Our country would still be segregated. We would still be BRITISH. (Well, white people would still be British. I would probably be out building a railroad somewhere. Or enslaved by some traveling circus.)

............

I've been going to a couple rallies lately. But I'm hardly an activist.

When people chant, I usually just pump my fist and mouth the words because I think most of the chants are kind of stupid. (e.g. "2-4-6-8!!! Separate-the-church-and-state!!!!") But the way I feel about rallies is that, well, the more-proactive gays are helping to organize these things which are attempt to defend my basic human rights......so the least I can do is show up, deal with a little bit of traffic, and be another body or voice in the crowd. Going to a rally is like the absolute minimum amount of effort you can put into the fight for equality. And it's much more fun and easy than phone banking.

This way also...50 years from now when my grandkids ask me about what I was doing back when we were still fighting for our marriage rights I can actually say I was present at those rallies and that they were amazing. And uplifting. And kind of fun.

It's better than saying I was home playing video games and nibbling on carrots...

............................

I don't mean to single Peter out. This really is just directed to all apathetic gays.

............................

So anyway...we went to a rally at Sunset Junction in Silverlake last night.





I think it might have been the biggest one yet.




Emily went the nice route and lit a peaceful little candle...



While Marcus got me a really awesome sign:



Everyone loved the sign and I was making new friends within minutes.



The rally turned into a march.



It was kind of like Aids Walk, but with signs. And anger.



There were a lot of great signs:











I think my favorite sign, which I couldn't get a good shot of, was one that read, "If you voted Yes on 8, you took away my civil rights. Enjoy the traffic MOTHERFUCKER!"

Lots of spelling errors though. Eek.




We marched for miles and miles.



Lots of spectators cheered us from their balconies.






We randomly bumped into several friends and a few celebs, including Laura's cousin Ryan, Jesse (my fellow 6'7" giant), ZachQuinto (Sylar on Heroes), one of the models from Manhunt (the TV show, not the super gay website), and Brian.



And then at a certain point, we came up against a police barricade.



They wouldn't let us through. So we sat.





But then they threatened to arrest us.



So........... we went to CherryPop.





I love having a fellow tall.



**Peter's real name is Phillip but ever since he became our new roommate we decided that he looks more like a "Peter" and thus have been calling him "Peter" and it kind of stuck. Sorry Phillip!