Although I won’t go into the justice, or otherwise, of their cause, I think The Impact should take a look at what Anonymous has done to protest the Church of Scientology. Whatever you think of their methods or target, they managed one thing that we badly need: they made protests fun. Large numbers of people are fired up over prop 8 and the others, but that anger will fade as life gets back into its normal groove. To keep this momentum going, we should make protesting fun.

Here are some ideas around fun, visibility, flash-mob technology, and interacting with the intended audience face to face. They require little money or organisational prowess: you don’t need anyone’s permission to start a protest. Just do it.

Coming out. This is dead simple, you don’t need a big group or any signs, and you’ll probably reach more people per head than if you did a big march or sidewalk type protest. Agree to go where people gather, like a shopping mall. Don’t gather or meet up and move in one big clump, mix in with the shopper crowd. At the agreed time, start coming out to people. Go up to them, and say: “Hello madam, my name is Joe Bloggs, and I’m gay.” “Hello, we’re Adam and Steve and we’re married.” Shake their hand. Go to the next person. Introduce yourself to them. Don’t get drawn into a discussion. Don’t have a shouting match. If they get angry, just let them be. Keep it up for maybe 20 minutes or so. Have a meet up afterwards in a bar or something.

Kiss in. Similar, but a little more confrontational. The point of this is to expose as many eyeballs as possible to the horrifying sight of people kissing. Take a hint from psychology: the way to treat phobias is exposure to the object of fear. So treat the homophobia of your neighbours by exposing them to your love. Stick together for safety and support. Get a small group of couples and go to a shopping mall or some other place where children and parents go. Spread out. Don’t let on to what you’re doing, the surprise is half the fun. At the pre-agreed time, turn to each other, hug, kiss, and tell each other you love you. Don’t cross the line into lewd behaviour, just make it absolutely clear that you’re a couple. Bring some friends with cameras to get people’s reactions. Don’t let it last more than a minute. Leave. Put the results up on YouTube.

If you’re still angry at Mormons and you’re up for something a little more complicated, try some street theatre. Dress up as Mormons and walk the streets reminding people to behave (dress properly, walk properly, not hold hands unless they’re married, walk on the pavement, etc.) Move down the street, challenging people about their dress, their hair, their weight, whatever is even remotely improper or unusual about them. Don’t get drawn into discussions. If they answer your questions, ignore them. If they get angry, apologise and act all huffy that they’d dare to attack you when you’re only doing your civil duty to make sure everything is proper. Make your way towards some kind of landmark or square, and there, make a statement about how the Mormons idea of right and proper is now law, and what will they go after next, etc. Don’t make fun of Mormon religious teachings. Shooting fish in a barrel is too easy and will only invite backlash.

Street preachers. Anyone can stand at a street corner and preach the Gospel or whatever, right? So why don’t the gays stand on street corners and preach the gay? Make up a bogus religion that preaches the spiritual benefits of homosexuality (see Plato). Have a stooge show up if you gather a crowd so you can stage a conversion. Be visible. Be funny. Make people notice you’re there, and you’re gay, and the “recruitment” argument is redinculous.

For all these kinds of actions, you can prepare some fliers or cards, stating your position and the reason for your protest in a few bullet points, with reference to a website if you have one. You don’t have to explain everything, but people should know why you’re there. The haters would like nothing better than for all the queer people to go back home, do their jobs, and be invisible like usual. We can’t afford that anymore. Remind them we’re still here. Daily.

This post was brought to you by Captain Jack and is free of any copyright restrictions. Steal, adjust, repost, use, and do it. For the love of love, DO IT.

We’ll see where California places civil rights in its own legal hierarchy. Allowing 8 to stand allows for repeal of ANYTHING California might do better than the Feds (air quality). Again, don’t think this is so limited, or that it’s over.

A 20 point margin against gay marriage shifting to a 4 point margin in less than a decade? That is ENORMOUS progress, a huge gain in support for gay marriage, and a whole sector of the public that the religious right has lost.

Yes, we have to keep pressing on legislators and hopefully the judicial system fall down on our side. But the struggle wouldn’t have been over even if we had won the ballot. It’s a long time from being over. But let’s take a moment to acknowledge the progress when it’s right in front of our faces.

I would say to those who oppose gay marriage, ‘Enjoy your superficial victory on November 4th. Because it’s not going to last. The tide has turned. You’ve lost. You just don’t know it yet.’

Keep us informed about your plan to ban religion, okay?

Sincerely,

James

OUTSIDE of the marriage debate I had already made the defeat of religion in our society one of my main political goals. Religion is evil. It negates science and curtails free thought that has allowed us to flourish as a race.

We are not the first generation to struggle with the oppression of religion. In the 16th century we had the Rennaissance. I wonder if people think about that word..the rebirth..the rebirth of what? REASONED THINKING. Yes, the arts, humanity, but also humanism and reason. It was a direct movement AGAINST the church. Lorenzo D’Medici was likely athiest and certainly deist and a leader of this movement.

Then you have in the late 17th century and into the 18th century the French led enlightenment. Similar word…enlightenment from religion. Decartes (sorry for spelling) and many other famous french philosphers ascribed to this movement and it was an ATHEIST movement.

So I will not accept pleas to leave religion alone! Religion is an evil force in our society and equal marriage fight or not, I put it at the top of my list of political goals.

And I do so without apology. Many will say what about the “good” religions?….what about the UU’s or Anglicans or Presbytarians.
Well, my answer is they are simply fooling themselves, trying to deny the evils of religion and creating a watered down cult to be more “accepting” to the people who don’t accept outright bigotry and hate speak. As with other fringe elements, these groups are irrelevant to the global struggle against the religion. The true power is held by the authoritarian and hate mongering sects and they will pull it all down with them.

So that’s my idea, as unpopular as it might be. Ban religion.