A wise and rich LGBTQ+ ally once said, “Why are you mad / When you could be GLAAD?”
It doesn’t matter where you go to celebrate Pride. Unfortunately, there will always be protestors picketing our right to love who we love. What defines us more than their chants is how we react to them, but not everyone is on the same page….
In fact, gay comedian Sampson McCormick’s alleged interaction with a protestor at a Pride event had a lot of people on Gay Twitter X saying, “That’s not it….”
McCormick wrote that after seeing a man with a sign that said “Homosexuals end up in hellfire,” he went up to the protestor and “asked ‘is this how you pick up guys?'”
The two then proceeded to have “a very pleasant hour long conversation about our differences then hugged and took a photo.” The picture in question showed McCormick and the man smiling next to the sign, while McCormick’s rainbow-bearing tee was barely visible.
It did not take long for members of the LGBTQ+ community and fellow allies to rush in and let McCormick know this wasn’t quite the “flex” he thought it was.
We appreciate McCormick’s sense of humor. But not only did the protestor show no signs of remorse or growth in thought, he got free promotion!
ahh yes, so chill when someone has the “opinion” that all gay people are pedophiles who belong in hell
— charles r. davis (@charizardavis) October 17, 2023
You know the craziest part? He probably left this conversation thinking he got through to you. You think you softened his heart but all you did was harden his resolve. You’re on Twitter calling him pleasant and he’s at church calling you a faggot
— gregory 🏳️🌈 (@popLOCKEdropit) October 17, 2023
all that and he still didnt put the sign down
— taay. (@taayanthony) October 17, 2023
this dude 100% went to his friends and family talking about how he “converted a depraved homosexual” before hopping on Facebook to call queer people groomers and you’re on twitter talking about how lovely he is.
— oh no zach had a thought (@TheeAnxiousGay) October 17, 2023
It’s one thing to be friends with people who hold different beliefs and values…. That’s fine. But to pose and take a picture promoting his agenda crosses the line.
— PopVulture (@itsPopVulture) October 17, 2023
McCormick’s photo also prompted a conversation about whether there’s a right way to respond to anti-LGBTQ+ protestors at Pride events.
His post was in response to a video from non-binary social media personality Jerome Trammel, who told a protestor to “Get some p*ssy” rather than spend his Saturday hating on the LGBTQ+ community. (Which is a pretty good point, TBH!)
“During Pride in Atlanta, thought I was about to let him and his homophobia get a pass,” Trammel wrote. “Never NOT on my watch! 😂”
That being said, not everyone is going to feel comfortable addressing protestors as directly as Trammel –– or McCormick, with whatever he thought he did.
But there are certainly some best practices if you’re trying to block out the hate.
Case-and-point: Hacks actor and hottie Johnny Sibilly dropped it low and vogued in front of a group back in 2019.
At London Pride in 2022, the cast of Heartstopper danced in front of a group of protestors and blasted some Whitney Houston to drown out their noise. You can even spot Joe Locke iconically flipping them off while jumping up and down.
The cast of ‘Heartstopper’ dance in front of anti-LGBTQ+ protestors at London Pride.
— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 2, 2022
pic.twitter.com/EEtBIe5lyS
And in 2019, two gay men kissed outside of a UK production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show where a group was protesting the show’s queer themes.
“When we arrived there were a lot of people outside the theatre arguing a lot with the protestors,” one of the men told BBC. “The problem is you’re never going to get anywhere arguing with them.”
The smooch was a means of “turning a negative into a positive.”
At the end of the day, we’ll take a page from X user @cococakes82, who quoted James Baldwin: “We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.”
👏👏👏
mildredspierce
I know it’s a really hard habit to break and maybe it really does get easier with age, but stop giving a shit what others think. Be kind, caring and loving to those who matter to you. Pity those who are bound by religious indoctrination. They lack wisdom and insight. Only they can save themselves.
ZzBomb
I still find it extremely silly grown ass adults believe in imaginary things as if they were real. Even more silly when these same “adults” start wars over it too.
Fahd
The Baldwin quote says it all really.
If someone is so extreme in their hate or involvement with hate groups that they will “counter protest” at a Pride event, I think they are in too deep to make a quick change even with the best of talking-to’s. Bless those who want to try, but the article here highlights what can go wrong and the misunderstandings that no doubt will arise.
I liked the best practices highlighted here, but for less-creative types, better to spend time getting out the vote or lobbying your representatives than confronting the cultist haters.
Fname Optional Lname
It’s not about a difference of beliefs – it’s hatred, hatred that leads to violence and oppression. One should not engage with someone who contributes to the violence our community receives everyday. You don’t pat yourself on the back for having a civil conversation with someone whose sole purpose is to oppress your human rights. One does not pursue having a beer with a bigot for the sake of being able to say “Look, he talked to me and wasn’t a complete monster”. He is a monster and he is too far gone for growth or logic. The minute that man went home he walked upstairs from his basement apartment and told his mother that he had to shower cuz he might ben ‘sposed to the AIDS,.
Do better.
KissBananaPeels
Sampson did what was right for him…NOT the entire “community”
Kangol2
Sampson has also made problematic statements about trans people and while he thinks it’s a joke, his comments reinforce extremely dangerous attitudes, particularly toward Black trans women out there, who are the most likely to be killed in this society. I do wish Sampson would stick to his comedy–he can be quite funny and his films are funny too–his politics shade into the reactionary at times. Also, if someone wants to actively harm you or to make it possible for others to harm you, it’s not a debate or discussion.