[Thread] Really interesting moment from today that I just have to share from #RiseUpOct8:
During the bomb scare, they shoved everyone into one corner by Maryland Ave. A middle-aged guy started playing music from his phone, and I said "Hey! That's 'Tomorrow Never Knows'!"
During the bomb scare, they shoved everyone into one corner by Maryland Ave. A middle-aged guy started playing music from his phone, and I said "Hey! That's 'Tomorrow Never Knows'!"
I started small-talking him about the Beatles, the new Abbey Road cuts from Nigel Martin, how my mom would play Abbey Road growing up. He shared his own moments before I asked him where he was from.
"Oh, the Alliance Defending Freedom," he responded
"Oh, the Alliance Defending Freedom," he responded
Curious, I chatted a bit more--He was Bob, was in SCOTUS during the Masterpiece decision, found it odd how clerical the Court was. I noted I grew up Catholic--more Dorothy Day than Bill Donahue--so understood what a mass was.
Told him I was from @TransEquality then walked away.
Told him I was from @TransEquality then walked away.
Later, as I was holding a 10ft tall trans pride flag, he found me and gestured towards the Westboro folks, with there "God Hates Fags" signs and whatnot.
"I just want you to know," Bob from ADF told me. "We didn't invite them. They aren't with us."
"I just want you to know," Bob from ADF told me. "We didn't invite them. They aren't with us."
How revealing! The ADF was upset that the bigotry inspired, enabled, and emboldened by their own work was visible to all on their big day. How embarassing!
"Well, Bob," I said. "Sure seems like they think they're with you."
"Well, Bob," I said. "Sure seems like they think they're with you."
You might remember a moment from @AndrewGillum wherein he said he didn't think his opponent was a racist; he just thought the racists believed his opponent was a racist.
One is reasonably judged by the company he attracts. Westboro is the undiluted version of the ADF's very principles. Westboro says out loud what the ADF does in practice. They fight for a policy which punishes fags, silences fags, erases fags, under the basis that God Hates Fags.
There is no separating the blatant bigotry of Westboro and the polished legal work of the ADF. They have the same goals, the same effects, the same allies. The suit and tie worn by Bob and others is as much a trick to fool others as it is to fool themselves.
I push against the label "hate group" for the ADF because a "hate group" necessitates certain schema: Obscenity, shock tactics, violence. The ADF is actually more dangerous than a hate group because they seek the same ends with more polished, more "civil" means.
But that's a veneer, one well-calculated to manipulate a naive media and public. The Westboro Baptish Church is so maligned because they make no effort to hide their hate. The ADF is so respected because they make every effort to hide their hate.
I kinda felt sorry for Bob, there outside the ivory columns desperate to seem like a civil rights pioneer. All to be stained by manifestations of the very hatred he promotes, printed in 500pt font on brightly colored placards declaring "GOD STILL HATES FAGS"
Sorry the curtain was pulled away, Bob. Sorry your multi-million-dollar effort to abolish my humanity was laid bare by the worst elements of our society.
That said, Westboro will never be mistaken for being on my side. And that's a badge of honor I'll glady wear, Bob.
That said, Westboro will never be mistaken for being on my side. And that's a badge of honor I'll glady wear, Bob.
