Monday, November 03, 2008

I Can See Better By Candlelight

Last night was the candlelight vigil to suppot LGBT individuals and families. With all that's going on with regards to our local predominant faith, Proposition 8, and our community, it was a needed event.

Before the vigil, we broke bread with some of those who came to support us. There was my parents, my aunt, my sister, and niece (and their dates and spouses). I was specifically touched to be joined by a family of four from our boy's school. It's one thing to have inclusion and acceptance in their school; it's another thing to have active support like that. (If you saw Rob talking to a handsome guy who wasn't me, no worries; it was the dad of this family:-))

We met more friends and family at the rally. It was raining off and on and I was surporised by the significant turn out.

We were also pleased to meet a bunch of fellow blogger there. And okay, I was 5 minuets late to the meeting spot because dinner went long, but where were you, Edgy? I'm beginning to think you're an elaborate webbot or something.

It was a pleasure meeting all of those never met before and still a pleasure to see familiar faces :-). I wish we could have talked more, but I spent the evening chasing children and going between family and friends. Altogether, our kids had to go pee 5 times in that hour! I hardly got to hear any of the talks. That'll teach us about not keeping an eye on the drink consumption at dinner, right?
Still, that really wasn't the point for me; I know the issues. I know why we were all there, what the LDS church thinks, and why we disagree and want to support the LGBT community.

I really just needed to chase my children around a crowd of people who we could count on, people who want a society were families are welcome and the Golden Rule applies. I needed to see that here, in Utah. I needed to be around a crowd that was missing that terrifying ability to "lovingly" damage their neighbors and even their children for religion. I needed to see many people here aren't so willing to pick up the infinite ego by proxy of believing they are doing and know, by book or leadership, what omnipotence and omniscience say is best for another man's family.

Too often I wake too early by the notion that I can't stop those who would turn love into a weapon, ignore evidence and even their conscience, and use strong faith for their excuse--so many people in history have been powerless to stop much worse being done to them under those banners. I worry at those times that I'm not able to protect my family, because there is no good defense from "God says so"; that's why it's used. But last night I got to see hard evidence that many others will have our back, and we have theirs.

And it worked. Yesterday, thinking of the polls and the possibilities and the precedence of taking rights away from us as a group, I was becoming more and more stressed. I walked into dinner last night feeling worried, but went home from the vigil relaxed, and sure the arc will bend towards justice for our families too, some day, even if not Tuesday (VOTE!).

After the talks by the Mormon mothers who put on the event, we all walked around the block in solidarity (funny how such ritual helps so much). We walked a bit, but this is what the view of that looked like while trying to find a restroom for Brian across the street :-):

9 comments:

B.G. Christensen said...

I'm beginning to think you're an elaborate webbot or something.

Oh. Have I not told you?

Queers United said...

It looks like it was a really nice turnout. See, you have some pro-equality Utah folks. In due time my friend.

Scott said...

Sarah and I have never done anything like that before. It was fun, and our daughter enjoyed it, too.

We would like to have been able to meet more bloggers, but we did meet a few, which was great. (Scot: your boys are even cuter in person than they are in blog posts).

It was a very therapeutic experience. Just what I needed after a nervous morning and intense afternoon.

Guy said...

Wonderful, thanks for the great report! Such a wonderful event.

I heard on the great KUTV news coverage that they're going to do it tonight in PROVO. I'm not sure where or when, but hope lots more than two show up!

Craig said...

Nice try ben.

I was most struck by the scene of hundreds of people, gay and straight, all standing together, hugging and often kissing, and I thought, "why in the world do they want to destroy this? Is this really what they're afraid of?"

Like you Scot, I really needed to be among so many people who regardless of their sexual orientation, were humans first, and among whom I felt totally myself.

BigRedHammer said...

I was there as well. It was a beautiful event and very touching. Knowing there are mothers and fathers out there who love us unconditionally and only want our happiness makes me proud of who I am. This is the kind of community spirit we need to build.

Anonymous said...

Isn't is great to occasionally be in the company of those who just get it!? I wish I could have joined you there.

Christian said...

I am sad to have missed it. I have an excuse, as always, and it's because of Dec—he's a wuss and wouldn't go out in the weather. True, I might have gone on my own, but we had the kids, and I try to spend the time with them when we have them.

I need to come up with some way to dispel this notion that I'm an elaborate webbot. Though Sam wouldn't mind trading me. I guess she doesn't like being TB's alter ego. :)

Scot said...

Mr. Fob "Oh. Have I not told you?"

I knew it!

q.u.: "See, you have some pro-equality Utah folks."

We do. Some days it's just hard, you know? Don't let me fool you; Utah has many great people contained within.

It was so nice to meet you, your wife and child, Scott. I wish we had more time to chat, but I was all over the place.

"Scot: your boys are even cuter in person than they are in blog posts"

Thank you. We believe that :-).

Guy: "I heard on the great KUTV news coverage that they're going to do it tonight in PROVO. "

I missed out on that one; I'll have to look it up.

Craig: "why in the world do they want to destroy this? Is this really what they're afraid of?"

Cooties? 7 years of bad luck? Heck if I know.

Hi there bigredhammer, and welcome!

Anonymous "I wish I could have joined you there."

Hey, I saw many anonymous people there :-). It was heartening and many were there for many people who could not be.

"I have an excuse, as always, and it's because of Dec—he's a wuss and wouldn't go out in the weather. "

Yes, I'm sure rain could short circuit a web bot. You almost passed the Turing test, but I'm onto you.