As time approaches for the Pride Charlotte, I really hope that we don't get the side affects of being named third. Mainly in the form of protestors that attend the Pride festival just try to force their beliefs and views down everyones throats. This is one of the reasons I signed up to be a Partner in Peace.
Partners in Peace are volunteers wearing bright color vests with lovely rainbow flags that are spread out throughout the Pride festival to provide a buffer for peace wherever protestors may be voicing unwelcome proclamations. We are not there to counter protest. We hope to diffuse confrontations before they can cause any disturbance of the festival. We will encourage festival goers to ignore the protestors, and not engage in arguments with them. If someone is being harassed then we will peacefully step in being careful not to provoke either side.
I think this will be a real challenge for me in many ways. I think the thing I will have to remind myself many times on the day of Pride is that the protestors are scared. They are scared of what they do not understand, and of what they think to be an affront to their religion. Most of these people that are standing on the street corner would NEVER dream of acting this way any other time. These are our neighbors, pta moms, and even teachers. While I don't have to agree in their beliefs I will have to remember they have the right to believe them.
You know someday I'd like to meet the person that first coined the childhood phrase "sticks and stones may hurt me but words never will". I'm telling you, words are powerful, and can be as damaging as a sword in many ways. I hope some day these protestors look at what they are doing in this way. I hope they see that while they believe one thing hiding behind their religion in order to do violence (yeah i believe the verbal attacks are violent) is wrong and is not what I've ever intturpeted any religious faith to promote.
Until then, we will be needed...the PIP squad :)
