 |
| Brad Clark, the Executive Director of One Colorado, begins the kick-off rally with a motivational speech. |
We got off to a later start today, and began our activities
with a trip to Same Café for lunch. Same Café provides quite a unique dining
experience, which was immensely enjoyed by all of our group members. This is
due largely to the fact that Same Café offers a very unique means of paying for
meals. Patrons can either give donations, or they can volunteer an hour of
their time in exchange for a meal. This payment strategy is meant to even the
playing field and create a sense of equality, despite one’s life circumstance
or current financial background. While we dined at Same Café, we were in the
company of a beautifully diverse group of people, from seemingly all walks of
life. At the table next to us sat two business men, who appeared to be enjoying
a quick lunch break, before heading back to work. At a table in front of us, there
sat a group of individuals who appeared to be down on their luck financially,
but nonetheless filled with love and appreciation for one another. In tune with
Same Café’s message of equality, both of these groups were given an identical
meal and dining experience, despite the apparent differences in their current
financial situations. After enjoying a delicious and eye-opening lunch, we
headed off to the One Colorado office. Today, in the Colorado legislature, the
bill was introduced that, if passed, would legalize same-sex Civil Unions in
Colorado. The final decisions regarding this bill will likely not be reached
until May. As a result, One Colorado will be devoting the next several months towards
gaining enough support and maintaining enough enthusiasm to pass the bill, and
sign it into law. To kick off this momentous undertaking, One Colorado employees
organized a rally in Colorado Springs. We spent several hours in the office
today, after our lunch, making signs and organizing materials for this kick-off
event. The location of this rally, Colorado Springs, is incredibly significant,
as Colorado Springs is an incredibly conservative area of the state. Colorado
Springs is also home to Focus on the Family, a mega-church that often works
against the LGBT community. By holding the rally in Colorado Springs, the One
Colorado employees were essentially standing up to this conservative opposition,
and proudly declaring the fact that they fully intend to fight for LGBT equality.
Our group was fortunate enough to tag along and attend the rally. We were also able
to assist in setting up before the rally began, and tearing down once it had
reached its conclusion. The rally itself was nothing short of inspirational. It
was attended by nearly one hundred LGBT Coloradans and their allies. Similar to
the diners at Same Café, the One Colorado rally was also attended by a wide
variety of individuals. We were lucky enough to sit behind a beautiful family
with several energetic children and adorable babies. The ages of those in
attendance ranged from newborn infants, to those well into old age. There was
also a diverse mix of families, couples, friends, and single individuals. Needless
to say, it was magnificent to see the diversity present in the LGBT and ally
community. The individuals in attendance, ourselves included, were treated to five
wonderful speeches, given by a diverse group of individuals. The speeches began
with a minister who openly identifies as part of the LGBT community. The
speeches continued with a native Coloradan, who spoke passionately about herself
and her partner. These were followed by the mother of two boys, one of whom is
gay, the other straight. This courageous woman expressed dismay over the fact
that her sons were given unequal protection under the law, due solely to their
sexual orientations. The evening was concluded by a representative from the
NAACP. This woman gave a passionate speech that inspired and roused all in
attendance. She reminded us all that patience and persistence were vital in the
fight to forward LGBT equality. She reminded Colorado that the LGBT community
is here, present, and proud. Finally, she reminded the state that the LGBT
community is knocking, and knocking loudly, and will never go silent.
No comments:
Post a Comment