I just got home from the NYC pro-equality protest

[Chovexani]

It was amazing...the weather was unbelievably shitty today (cold, and rainy) but at such short notice people came out in droves. Every media outlet imaginable was there, all the local news stations, I saw a CNN truck too. We gathered in front of the Stonewall Inn, people had handmade banners and lots of creative signs. My favorite was "I'm so pissed I can't even be witty" and the short and to the point "Fuck Prop 8". I met our former NYC Consumer Advocate Mark Green, who shook my hand. I told him I am a queer black woman that was out there to show we exist.

And boy do we. I saw people literally from all walks of life, every color, every religion and no religion represented. I saw businessmen in three-piece suits and genderqueer kids with feather boas. Goth kids, punk kids and old married queens. There were several couples who were married in CA and Canada (remember those marriages are legal in NY state, we recognize marriages from other places). One of them had their marriage license blown up and was carrying it as a sign, another had their wedding photo as their sign. Then there were just the couples holding hands and smiling.

The best, most heartening part though? The sheer number of supportive bystanders. Black, white, young old, honking horns and cheering as we marched through the street. An elderly woman gave us peace signs from her balcony. During the rally at Union Square, while our openly gay city council Speaker Christine Quinn was speaking, people unfurled a "Marriage Equality in New York" banner in the goddamn Filene's Basement window across the street of all places.

I am sorry I could not take pictures, as my camera phone lost juice pretty quick. But I'm sure LionessPriyanka or someone will have them (I'm sorry I missed you guys, I couldn't find you in the crowd!). All in all it was just worth it to be out there as a community speaking out. We found out they're organizing a march October 10th in DC for repeal of DOMA and full marriage rights on the federal level. The way people are pumped and busting their asses leaves me feeling completely hopeful that NY will be the next state where marriage equality happens.

[Neecy]

1. very nice report, thank you!

[Starry Messenger]

2. That just made me cry again.

What a wonderful description of it all Chovexani. I can practically hear it. :)

[Chovexani]

3. It was amazing

And you know it wasn't just people carrying on in the street with no focus.

That's not how we roll in NYC. We were ORGANIZING even as we marched. I signed petitions, signed up for another protest in Queens next weekend. I gave what little bit of money I could spare to Marriage Equality NY and got a button and a t-shirt.

People were exchanging numbers, networking, one guy was even looking up State Senate districts on his iPhone to give to people so we would know who to call.

[aquart]

4. Filene's ain't no fools.

[Chovexani]

6. I dunno if they were employees or what

But everyone cheered.

This city is just damn totally behind us, it's so amazing to see the support. People were waving and giving us thumbs up from passing buses even. So were the tourists on the double deckers.

[billyoc]

19. Those tour guides are good TWU members. They know to whip up the crowd when they pass a rally.

:)

[Chovexani]

22. Haha awesome

Love my union people. :)

[imdjh]

5. I hope you don't mind me piggy backing. I went to the protest in Kenneth City Florida

There were only about 20 people there, but they were there. The sky was threatening, but there was a nice breeze. Kenneth City is a municipality in Pinellas County, which most people wouldn't know wasn't part of St Petersburg. A lot of people would think it was rednecky, some might think this particular neighborhood to be trashy. It's actually just a blue collar mixed use area where tradesmen aren't ashamed to park their trucks in front of their houses or work out of their garages.

The LGBT folks were standing on 66Th street, which I actually expected to be very busy, but it wasn't. I don't live up there, so visits are rare, which meant that I noticed how hard this area is being hit by the recession. KFC is closed. Sherwin Williams is closed. Two big box stores are gone. The Shell station is closed. The pawn shop was closed. Two of the three corner stores in the neighborhood behind this are closed. The gay bar is hanging on, I don't know how.

it was a low key protest, about 20 folks waving signs and flags on the main drag. Two women came out of the used car dealership, employees, on their way home. They made what I interpreted as faggy gestures to each other with regard to the protestors. But there were no nasty remarks from the cars passing on 66th street. Many cars and everyone on a scooter gave a friendly honk. No middle fingers were extended that I could see.

Sometimes people say things about Florida that makes me think they have never been here. They have an idea about the South in general and Florida in particular that we're stuck in the 1930's. A Ford F350 dually from the block behind the protest pulled up to the intersection, and asked them what they were doing. A woman explained to him. He gave her a big thumbs up and honked his horn as he drove away. His son was in the passenger seat.

Then it rained, and folks went inside or left.

[Chovexani]

9. No apologies needed

Thanks for sharing. I have a lot of respect for people brave enough to get out and protest in places like that, it's one thing to do it in NYC but in Florida? Pretty cool.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

7. i was marshalling the rally!

[Chovexani]

10. You are too tiny!

I was playing Where's Waldo the whole time. You need a red and white hat. :rofl: :hug:

[billyoc]

20. Oh, I didn't see you. I had a hardhat on.

[billyoc]

8. Oh, hell, I was walking around thinking "hmm, what would Chovexani look like, sounds Romanian".

:rofl:

[Chovexani]

11. LOL!

I left the goth gear at home cause I was too lazy, today I was just rocking the generic NY butch dyke in my Yankees hoodie and combat boots.

I'm glad you made it though even if I could see you...I couldn't believe how many people showed up with how shitty it was outside.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

18. did you see me? i was marshalling the back/right of the rally?

and jumping up and down, since i am so tiny

[Chovexani]

21. Ah no wonder I didn't see you

I was sort of in the middle-front and to the left.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

12. Proud to K&R this

If I didn't have an appointment tonight, I would have gone in.

[Jamastiene]

13. K&R

[bluedawg12]

14. Thank you! K&R!

[Starbucks Anarchist]

15. I was hoping to meet you there.

I met Pri, Lisa, Johnny and Jack there, though. Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera, but it was an impressive turnout.

[Chovexani]

16. I am bummed that I didn't get to

Hopefully we will be meeting up for a victory march or something next time.

[DarkTirade]

17. I think the fact that there was a crowd so big that you couldn't find the people you knew there

is probably a good sign. :)

[jonnyblitz]

23. sorry i missed you! we left Pri at Stonewall Inn because she was

a marshall and had to report for duty. jackbeck and I then went to Madashellnewyorker's apartment because he lives right there and got him and his friend who lives in the same building, we went back to the stonewall inn area and then Jackbeck hooked up with his husband Jon and we lost them and the next thing I know I was outside of Mamouns eating falafal chatting with this nice girl who was with a friend of Madashellnewyorker's friend. :crazy:

anyway it was a huge event, people where everywhere. the streets were filled and people were hanging out the windows. :thumbsup:

I love our straight allies. :loveya:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

24. I was thinking about Mamoun's today

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it into the city.

[jonnyblitz]

29. I love Mamouns. there is even one in New Haven , CT!

How far away do you two live from NYC, btw. I was wondering that the other day...

and speaking of Middle Eastern food. I used to eat at at a middle eastern food chain called Moaz when i visited my sister when she lived in Amsterdam and get falafal there and now I see they have them in NYC!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

34. It's about an hour by train

[Chovexani]

25. You hung out with MAHNY and had falafel

SO JEALOUS

We do have some kick ass straight allies though.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

26. MAHNY is even hotter these days.

:)

[Chovexani]

28. I haven't seen him in a dog's age

We really need to have another meetup at some point

[jonnyblitz]

30. he is now sporting a mohawk! I am the tame looking one now.

all beige and shit...

[jonnyblitz]

31. I PM'd you my cell phone number. you coulda called.

*flings hands on hips* :P

[La Lioness Priyanka]

33. she would have NO luck calling you. lisa & i both tried.

:P

[La Lioness Priyanka]

27. you missed starbucks anarchist too. lisa joined us as well and a few other friends of mine

:hi:

[jonnyblitz]

32. I am sorry I missed them. I got to a point to where i just needed

to sleep after the long weekend of moving. It was hell for me to drive the short distance from the metro-north station in New Haven to where I live near the casinos I was so exhausted. My sister found me on the couch passed out with the laptop in my lap at 7am when she got home from work and I slept until 2pm this afternoon. My lower back is killing me. :crazy:

[JackBeck]

35. Some pics from the march and rally:

Are you on FaceBook? I've got more with johnnyblitz, MAHNY, Starbucks Anarchist, Lioness and Rockit...

I wish we had a chance to meet. I've admired for quite some time a lot of what you have previously posted.

[Chovexani]

38. Check your PMs

[JackBeck]

40. Got it. n/t

[cboy4]

36. ...

:thumbsup:

[xchrom]

37. kicking with love. nt

[mitchtv]

39. Sometimes I miss my home town

like now

[Chovexani]

41. We miss you too

:hug:

Here's a blog I found with some photos:

http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2009/05/photos-from-anti-prop-8-rally-and-march.html

[mitchtv]

42. Is the march in Queens going to be in Jackson Heights

by any chance?

[Chovexani]

43. Nope

Astoria IIRC. The State Senator that represents that area, as well as Woodside is voting no on our marriage equality bill and the rally is meant to pressure him into doing the right thing.

I still get to Jackson Heights every now and then, my friends and I love digging through the bins of cheap Bollywood DVDs and hitting the all you can eat lunch at the Jackson Diner. :) I haven't been over there since I moved back from Arizona last year.