Gay Activist Glitters Homophobic General Mills Protest: VIDEO
Andrew Parrish, spokesman for the anti-gay group Minnesota for Marriage posted this video of a gay activist glittering a crowd protesting General Mills over the company's support for marriage equality. The video's description — and the related headline from the equally homophobic National Organization for Marriage — presents the group as victims, particularly the seniors and children.
"Minnesota for Marriage peacfully [sic] demonstrating outside General Mills then these kids showed up. Some of the kids were as young as three and some of the seniors as old as 85 plays victim," it reads, conveniently ignoring the fact that the activist is himself a kid: I'd estimate 16 or so.
Watch the video AFTER THE JUMP.
(via JMG)
Just to be clear, the first two "Rick" posts in this thread were from a different Rick than me, the "famous" Rick.
That said, this kid is GREAT. Not backing down from straight men when they get in his face, despite being by himself. Standing up for himself and being a man, despite barely being past puberty.
Some of you could learn from it.
And I certainly would agree with the other Rick about hitting it, although his sexiness has more to do with his attitude and behavior than with shear physical attractiveness.
Posted by: Rick | Jul 3, 2012 7:46:11 PM
Kudos to the guy for doing this -- takes a lot of guts. But it shows that this isnt' about "marriage" at all -- its about hating gays.
Show those kids that gays are just fun people!
Posted by: Randy | Jul 3, 2012 7:48:17 PM
I don't think glitter-bombing anyone- save Santorum on certain occasions- is a good idea. This kid definitely deserves props for being brave and trying to get a point across, but the means was faulty. A lot of times being yourself- (hopefully a civil, kind, engaging person) -can reach people better and underscore our message of equality.
We can't give them any excuses to say that they're the victims, and we're the loud-mouth, crass jerks.
Perhaps doing signs, engaging those people- definitely no shouting or language, would've made a better point- not necessarily to them, but to the few people who could be watching and could become allies.
Posted by: scott | Jul 3, 2012 8:29:55 PM
Kryolan sells a glitter spray and BRANDEL is one that is safe to be sprayed on bodies and clothes and washes out easy. You know what to do.
Posted by: Dave | Jul 3, 2012 8:54:15 PM
He is a child and he acted like a child. He accomplished nothing positive for gay rights. I was disappointed that one of the grandmothers or grandfathers in the crowd didn't try to call him aside and talk to him in a caring way. He may not have been responsive to them, but they should have tried.
Posted by: andrew | Jul 4, 2012 4:32:17 AM
"Gay activist glitters homophobic General Mills protest" Does this young teen really qualify as a "gay activist"? Are these people necessarily "homophobic" because they oppose same sex marriage? I answer no to both questions. The idea of same sex marriage or its increasing popularity is really only a few decades old. Not everyone adjusts to social change at the same speed. Absolutely we should continue to push for marriage equality, but we should not write off all of our opponents as homophobic.
Posted by: andrew | Jul 4, 2012 4:50:42 AM
They need to get glittered, the oldest ones were in their 80's!!!
Posted by: Jeffrey | Jul 4, 2012 7:23:04 AM
rock on, kiddo! :D
Posted by: LittleKiwi | Jul 4, 2012 12:46:01 PM
Don't think glitter bombing helps our cause at all. Using any sort of physical intimidation is just not the way to go about it. I support him standing up for himself/us, but this was not the right way to go about it.
Posted by: Chad | Jul 4, 2012 1:07:52 PM
Clutch my pearls and find the fainting couch.
Posted by: Michael | Jul 4, 2012 1:38:27 PM
"Absolutely we should continue to push for marriage equality, but we should not write off all of our opponents as homophobic."
Andrew, thank you for echoing what I've been saying here for months. Some opponents of marriage equality are quietly rethinking their position. Let's make the swtich as easy as possible for them.
Posted by: Mary | Jul 4, 2012 4:23:26 PM
A question for all who are cheering this young man on: how many people ever changed their position on a political issue because they were glitter-bombed? If I had ever been glitter-bombed I'd like to think it wouldn't have changed my evolution toward a pro-equality stance. But it might have at least delayed it somewhat. I would have been infuriated and felt impotent because I didn't have any glitter to use to "bomb" this man back with.
Posted by: Mary | Jul 4, 2012 4:28:07 PM
Like many forms of protest, or counter protest, the goal of the glitter bomb is not try to change the stance of the person on the receiving the end, but rather to publicize and demean that person. It is certainly one of the gentler methods for doing this and I wish we were doing that sort of thing twenty years ago when my husband and I were marching for the right to simply march. More than anything else this episode, especially considering the age of the bomber, illustrates the inanity of the protestors as they feel abused by glitter, but have no problem attacking us on many fronts. I for one would like to see more glitter. Remember it was the most outrageous of us that really sparked the changes we see around vis-a-vis Stonewall and ACTUP.
Posted by: PatricknChuck | Jul 4, 2012 4:58:19 PM
The would be child molesters on this site who talk about "hitting it" because he has a nice ass may want to check out his age if they have any moral standards or fear of prison. I am talking to the RICKS.
Posted by: andrew | Jul 4, 2012 11:11:24 PM
@ Hugh: do you care how old he is? Or are you amoral?
Posted by: andrew | Jul 4, 2012 11:13:11 PM
This is a hoot, a total brat letting the old farts know that he doesn't give a shi* about their stuffy little world of mistaken morals. They all look so brainlessly immobile compared to their great grandkid right there laughing in their withered faces. Love him. Forget them.
Posted by: UFFDA | Jul 4, 2012 11:29:55 PM
He is not a "total brat" nor are they "old farts". They are all people struggling with major social change. Only a moron like UFFDA would offer that empty headed analysis.
Posted by: andrew | Jul 4, 2012 11:36:03 PM