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 "Saying We Believe in Equal Rights."
Summary:
Meeting a gruff security officer. Despite beliefs about the sinfulness of homosexuality and even radical "gay agendas," almost all of us agree, we believe in Equal Rights.
Excerpt from Straight Into Gay America.
“The damn liberals are killing this country,” spits the security guard at Providence Hospital.
I’ve gotten up from a nap on my way to Springfield, having enjoyed the shade of a large maple tree on the lawn of Providence Hospital. A security van has pulled up next to me.
“You all right?” asks the guard in the passenger seat.
“Yes.”
“What is that thing?” asks the driver.
“A unicycle.”
“What are you doing here?” The driver is a short, squat man.
“Unicycling from Burlington to Baltimore,” I watch his amazement. He turns off the engine and the two men step out to question me further.
“I’m collecting stories about gay and lesbian life in the United States today,” I tell them. “Anything to share?”
The passenger shakes his head, “Not a thing. I’m not political. I don’t vote.” He is a tall man without a chin; he appears to be in his fifties.
“What about you?” I ask the driver. He’s older, looking near retirement. His face is red like mine.
“Nothing to say,” but something in his voice betrays his dismissal. I follow up and ask what he thinks about the marriage law passed last year in Massachusetts.
“One man and one woman. Homosexuals shouldn’t marry. That’s biblical.”
And then he starts his politics. “Gays are everywhere now, all over the media. They’re in everyone’s face.” For fifteen minutes I listen to this security guard, venting with loud emotion, his face color heading toward burgundy. Topics covered:
- Damn Democrats—who never allow a real discussion of the issues. Just one damn side to them.
- Damn Liberal Media—who never show both sides of the story. I used to vote Democrat, but I’ll never do that again in my life.
- Damn war protestors—who don’t respect our soldiers. My brother got no respect after Vietnam.
- Damn University professors—roper, doper, diaper liberal professors, teaching communism.
- Damn immigrants— bringing drugs into this country. We’re losing our country to foreigners.
- Damn welfare—people don’t have to work anymore. We need to get rid of welfare, make people work.
- Damn Kennedy family—they’re the worst part of living in Massachusetts.
Standing with these two men, asking questions and listening, I tell the venting guard about Greg and Willie from the Moose Meadow Lodge and the list of rights they now enjoy because of their civil union. "Should they," I ask Burgundy Face, "have the right to visit each other in the hospital, have the right to pass on their inheritance like a couple in a heterosexual marriage?"
With what he’s said so far, I expect my question will push Burgundy Face toward deeper shades of purple. Instead, he shocks me.
"Yes," he says starting to turn beautiful like my four friends from the sidewalk last night.
I mention how Willy told me of 1,138 federal laws that benefit married men and women, which gay or lesbian couples don't have access to. I ask if gay and lesbian people should have these rights, too.
"Yes," he says again, "I just don't want them dominating the media. I don’t want them getting in the way of my life. If they don’t bother me, I won’t bother them."
“Thanks,” I say, “thanks for your story.” A moment later I’m pedaling away, trying to understand these words I’ve heard. Hatred spewing from every orifice of his body, this disgruntled guard still has a yes in him for equal rights. |
