Ugh.

[c9]

Looks like the circus is coming back to town!

Halifax local celebrity (Canadian almost-Idol) Gary Beals is taking part in an anti-gay rally in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, on March 5th -- the day before the March of Hearts on Parliament Hill in Ottawa! (www.marchofhearts.ca )

Aliant (the Atlantic Canada version of Bell) is currently running a half-dozen different television ads with Gary Beals teaching people how to use their cell phones. I just called Aliant to complain about using him in their commercials if he's going to be involved in this sort of anti-equality event.

I encourage other Atlantic Canadians (or everyone) to do the same if you agree. 1-800-222-7074 (you may need to be transferred if you don't have a cell phone, and they take your name and complaint and pass it on to a Manager).

I especially like that they're charging money for this event. More information from www.fotf.ca -- a horrid place, really.

"Marriage on the Rock Rally in Halifax

Dartmouth Sportsplex in Halifax will host a major rally for marriage on Friday, March 5th from 7:30 - 9:30 pm. Featured speakers include Dr. Darrel Reid (President of Focus on the Family Canada) and the Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast (Archbishop of Halifax). Music is by Gary Beals, noted Canadian recording artist. Tickets are $8.00 each. For more info, contact 865-1731."

Cameron MacLeod
Halifax
...I want to go protest, but it would just give me an ulcer.

Update:

I called the Dartmouth Sportsplex and bitched at their voicemail too! Man, I'm in a complaining mood today.

Comments

Re: how did you find out??

[c9.livejournal.com]

Two different references:

http://www.fotf.ca/familyfacts/tfn/2004/021004.html (bottom of page)

http://gatewayhalifax.com/what's%20happening.htm


I'll also include this email I sent, to someone who mentioned that it all looks very pro-marriage and religious, not anti-gay:

Rallies like this are always started, and promoted, as pro-marriage and pro-religious marriage and all sorts of positive things like that. But how many pro-marriage rallies were held before equal marriage became an issue in Canada? None. Now we're at one per month.

The whole thesis behind the rally is "Biblical marriage is right" -- which inevitably leads to "equal marriage for anybody else is wrong." Maybe they'll be nice about it, maybe they won't, but they are, clearly and inarguably, saying that I'm not allowed to get married cause I'm not good enough. Which is crap.

Re: how did you find out??

[nihilicious.livejournal.com]

I disagree with you. The messages involved in this issue are complex. Like it or not, you have more in common with the "pro-marriage, anti-gay" people than you think. You agree with them (at least to some extent) that marriage as an institution plays an important social role, which should be valued. You agree with them that the state has a legitimate interest in supporting the institution of marriage. You just disagree about gay marriage.

Mind you, that's a big difference.

But it's a different difference than someone like me, who is basically "anti-marriage, pro-gay". I'd find it hard to strike up a meaningful friendly conversation with anyone at that rally, unless it was about their right to free speech. Whereas you can sympathize with some of their values, and from there, might be able to find some common ground.

Re: how did you find out??

[c9.livejournal.com]

The issues are complex, I agree. And you're right, I'm closer to them than I would normally feel. But I think that may be a difference that only registers when you find someone who is anti-marriage -- because that allows you to see that the spectrum actually goes further than everyone else thinks. To me, the bad guys and the good guys (so to speak) seem much further apart, because I'm focused on such a small section of the possible opinions.

To be honest, I'm really up in the air about marriage sometimes. I see ceremonial commitment as emotionally valuable, and I see some legal relationship/welfare protection as valuable, but I don't really see much reason for the state to be in the marriage business. BUT, since I'm reasonably certain the government will never just drop out of the business altogether (here comes polygamy, run away, run away!), I am of the opinion that we should make sure that what they do offer is completely legal and secular.

Once we advance the government to that point, it's easier to talk about why they even are involved in the first place.