Went to MA State House Re : Gay Marriage & was interviewed by Fox News

[Kathy in Cambridge]

I only hung out about an hour and a half, and there were quite a few people out in front of the State House and across the street. I was talking to one of the organizers, and apparently the fundies didn't bus their minions in today because there were only about a half dozen homophobes out there. Needless to say, they were drowned out by chants about Civil Rights, Separation of Church and State, and the omnipresent "hey hey ho ho homophobia has got to go". I hate "hey hey ho ho" chants with a passion. Someone was handing out buttons, and I took one with the "Jesus Was A Liberal" slogan.

Anyway, I was walking back toward Beacon Hill, past the local Fox News van and was stopped for a comment. I basically said that if we add an amendment that adds discrimination to our state constitution, we have taken a step back into the Dark Ages. This would go against precedence in our state, which has always been a place of tolerance (well, not always, but compared to the rest of the country, yes). I said I was Catholic, but my religion should be separate from law, and if my religion dictates a segment of the population should be discriminated against, then there's something wrong. I'm sure they'll edit it to a 5-second sound byte. So local Boston DUers, watch out for a cute blond chick on Fox 25 tonight!

Unfortunately, I had no opportunity to kick any freeper or fundie ass today. Mr. RR was happy he didn't have to bail me out of jail.

[waterman]

1. Too bad you weren't wearing your nice DU t-shirt, huh?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

3. It was 38 Degrees

too F***in' cold!

[Warpy]

2. I lived in Boston for many years

...and found it amazingly tolerant. Of course, any mild controversy would bring out the sour-faced true believers, thumbing their beads as they longed to be interviewed so they could scold the rest of us for following the man whose name they'd stolen instead of following Paul, the man who never met the titular focus of their religion.

I think most people in this country are yawning about this particular issue. There are a few who are fanatically against it, and a few who are equally fanatically for it. As a wedge issue, though, it's a big yawn.

Have fun watching yourself on Faux. If they show you at all, I'll bet they'll alter the tape in such a way that you'll come off as either loony or against gay marriage.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

4. They probably won't show me at all

because I'm too "conservative" looking. They'll pick someone who looks like a lefty to please their right-wing audience.

When and where did you live in Boston?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

5. KICK

[EDT]

6. Mass is tolerant as long as your every belief is liberal-

I'm for abortion, pro gay rights, (so far so good in Mass) but I've always always enjoyed hunting and target shooting, which in Massachusetts means a star you are required to sew on your sleeve to warn everyone who you are.

No real free states I can think of, you have to pick your poison...

[Kathy in Cambridge]

7. I know people who hunt-and there's a range about 10 miles from here

:shrug:

There's lots of hunting in Western Mass and Southern Mass because of the deer overpopulation. The only thing that's legislated is gun control-what you do with your guns is your business.

Most Massachusetts folks have an MYOB ethos-Mind Your Own Business. We're Cranky Yankees who don't like people telling us what to do.

[EDT]

8. I was ok with all the laws up until 98, then they started requiring

people in some selected towns have a doctor's note stating they're sane in order to renew every 4 years, and broadened the law to allow each town police chief to dictate laws as they personally saw fit. They also drafted an official list of which guns the state deemed safe, with no real logic to the list. Some genuinely dangerous guns are still ok.

I am a cranky yankee, but I don't like being assumed a criminal when only a few turkey might have a bone to pick with me.

Don't want to hijack your thread, just one of my pet peeves! (along with the aforementioned abortion and gay rights, which is why I read this thread originally!)

[Kathy in Cambridge]

9. Kick for the crowd today

:kick: