Saturday was Gay Pride in Phoenix, AZ, where not just the temperatures where running high. Queerty reader Mike Skiff of Third Rail Media reports that fundamentalist Christians were on hand to protest the event, with the usual “Jesus hates you” catcalls and placards.
While Pride goers gave as good as they got from the haters, it was a flash-mob performance of “Born This Way,” led by Queen B, that really silenced them. (The dance sequence begins around the 5:22 mark).
You’ll never change the minds of diehard bigots like these, but if you can shut them up for a while we’ll chalk that up as a win for our side!
Ogre Magi
What happened with the guy in rainbow suspenders at 4:41?
Max
Why is there an ad put up by http://www.traditionalvalues.us on the side of this page that says “Homosexual Sex Acts Taught In Elementary School? Say NO! Sign the Petition”?
Jonathonz
Those “christians” were real class acts. So christ-like.
tookietookie
I can’t look past the low production values.
kouros
jesus christ wtf, this is the gay community don’t we have the best performers, dancers, and singers?
Jonathan
What’s so terrible is that these peaceful marchers are still being assaulted by hate just behind them in the voices and signs of the anti-gay’s. This is shameful thing in America and drives gay hatred and bullying and homophobia along with, of course, the attendant gay bashing and suicides that result all too frequently. Imagine if those signs were instead targeting blacks or Jews in America celebrating either MLK’s birthday or, for example, a pro-Israel rally. It would be unthinkable today and yet here we are, in 2012, and these people, our people, are unable to celebrate their G-d given identities without being confronted by absolute, naked hate and done so loudly and publicly. Any gay person who votes Republican, as anti-gay a political I have seen in 45 years, shoudl be forced to go straight.
Red Meat
@Ogre Magi: I want to know too, and he started crying.
John K.
The only way to make them go away is to ignore them.
Ogre Magi
@Red Meat: Any body know?
Chris
Looks like fun. But the video didn’t show the Westboro people being stunned or silenced, just drowned out.
Getting into fights with them is a waste of time. Letting them “preach” helps us more than them 😛 .
Mike Skiff
@tookietookie: Hey TookieTookie – I need your help to get better as a photojournalist covering live breaking news. Can you please tell me what you wanted done differently and how you suggest to do those things? Thanks bud!
Mike Skiff
@Ogre Magi: Ogre Magi, I was told that the police cited several Pride people for hurling objects or spitting at the preachers, transgressing free speech protections. I didn’t witness what the guy in the yellow suspenders did. He acknowledges that it was a bonehead move. Hope this helps.
nameo
petty insults…is that how they spread their religion lol
sean
That so called Christian flung the most childish insults I’ve ever heard. He sounded like a grade school bully.
B
No. 11 · Mike Skiff wrote, “@tookietookie: … I need your help to get better as a photojournalist covering live breaking news.” Did you ever hear the joke about the guy who asked a musician how to get to Carnegie Hall? “Practice”.
Well….can’t offer any advise on on videos, but if you need practice and have a travel budget, don’t miss the opening of the film about Terrence McNally’s play Corpus Christi.
It will be shown Sunday April 29 at the Castro Theater. Christians have threatened to stage a protest. Meanwhile, a reliable source (one of them) told me that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will be out in force, either to “bless” the event or to counter protest as the need arises. If the Christians show up, they will meet their match.
Brad007
I love how the homophobe in the beginning is lecturing about the right way to live and he’s about 200lbs overweight and sweating while standing still.
Mike Skiff
@B: Thanks for getting back with me and the tip about about the screening of Corpus Christi at the Castro, TookieTookie!
Is it okay if I share with you that I’ve worked as a journalist/videographer with LAPD press badge for a decade? I work primarily in the LGBT news media, and we don’t do a lot of studio work. Often I am a one-man band without a sound guy. In fact, more and more, broadcast news is requiring their camera people to be a team of one. And I reflect on the footage I’ve seen shot during most protests and demonstrations, i.e. the Arab Springs protests – and it is happening so much in the moment that there is no time to mic people, turn on lights, set up the ideal shot, etc. Many photojournalists are happy to not get the shit beaten out of them in for the fact that they are the media, holding a camera. I’ve been violently assaulted on a couple of occasions working as a news cameraman.
Ken in LA
Is it still a ‘Flash Mob’ if the area is roped off and all of the participants are milling around inside waiting to start? I thought the point of Flash Mob was to surprise the general populace with magical wonder…
Brenda
I am of the opinion that the LGBT community should form our own committee and start targeting the religious events around the country with placards and insults just like they are doing. I’m getting a little tired of turning the other cheek.