As we were walking around downtown Denver yesterday, we ran into a couple of protests that were worth sharing.
First was the group of Hillary Supporters walking around with huge pro-Hillary banners and chanting, "Elected not selected." The crowd wasn't that large, but they were attracting quite a bit of attention.
More on the Hillary protest and the anti-gay protest below the fold.
My partner Jerame, Indiana delegate Lori Morris, and I were on our way to the Big Tent when we ran into the group of Hillary supporters.
Since both Jerame and Lori were pledged to Clinton, it obviously grabbed their attention. While neither of them plan on wreaking havoc at the convention, they're both still miffed about the treatment Hillary supporters have received.
There has been quite a bit of grumbling from the other Clinton supporters too. Several Clinton delegates have reported being strong armed into quieting their complaints about Barack Obama and being told they will fall in line - or else. As a blogger who uses language to persuade people, I have to say that telling (mostly) female supporters to fall in line and follow the man is not a winning strategy.
For example, about a dozen sources from Indiana mentioned Rep Baron Hill's loud and grating speech from the Indiana delegate breakfast. While I didn't attend (I'm not a delegate) all sources said he literally shouted at them, "We must get Hillary Clinton to release her delegates." While folks went into the breakfast briefing in high spirits, Clinton won Indiana and most of the people in the room were Clintonistas who left the meeting very angry. As one highly placed Democrat told me yesterday, "Baron Hill stepped on his dick in there. It was just embarrassing and didn't help Barack at all."
The other protest I saw was the anti-gay homophobes who were picketing on the 16th Street thoroughfare downtown. By the time I arrived on the scene, a mob of convention goers had surrounded the handful of protesters.
About a half dozen police officers in riot gear stood guard nearby in case things turned violent, but passers-by mostly just jeered at the homophobes. It was heartening to see so many straight people stop and look on in disgust as these bigots displayed "God's love." (For a loving God, he sure as hell has some angry believers.)
"You deserve to go to hell." What a way to sway people. I'm seeing some similarities between the anti-Hillary and anti-gay nuts. There's nothing wrong with having your own opinion, but when you start to shove it down other people's throats they have a tendency to reject the message.
For daily queer commentary, and gobs and gobs of Denver coverage, visit the Bilerico Project.
This post was by Bilerico Project publisher Bil Browning.