The recent story out of El Paso about the five men thrown out of Chico's Tacos for a simple kiss has really struck a personal nerve. My boyfriend is originally from El Paso and we went to one of these taco shops when I was visiting him just a few weeks ago. Now, although we did not kiss, it is nonetheless hard for me to imagine that such a simple display of affection had the potential to ruin our night and make national headlines.
It is a complete embarrassment for El Paso that a loving gay couple cannot share a kiss without being threatened with arrest. What is even worse are some the comments that have been reading concerning this story. People are complaining left and right about how we are always pushing the "gay agenda" and that we make a big deal out of every little incident. Well, damn right we do and we are going to keep on doing it! I will speak up against every injustice I witness regardless of how small or seemingly insignificant, because I know that, next time, it could be me. I could have been the one thrown out of Chico's Tacos; I could have been one arrested for kissing my boyfriend on the cheek in Utah; and I could have been the one beaten half to death on Columbus Street in Boston! We make a big deal because, for us, it's personal and far too real to ignore.
So please, remain vocal, vigilant, and proud! Societies do not progress without criticism!
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While I wasn't there, I believe the gentlemen in question were coming from a bar and were feeling good. Perhaps it wasn't actually the kiss, but their conduct in general that was the problem. Again, I don't know, but sometimes alcohol and gays don't mix well. OK, alcohol and anybody; but then I don't drink.
ReplyDeleteI agree; however, with all the talk of Chico's being a family restaurant we have to understand that this happened at 1 am. I have been there at 1 am and I can tell you that 90% of the people in there are intoxicated. The issue here is not whether or not what they did was appropriate, it is how they were singled out for something that most other (straight) customers already do. Also, the police were poorly trained and threatened the men with arrest based on a law that was declared unconstitutional in 2003. Intoxicated or not, the men in question were victims of blatant bias and discrimination on the part of the security and law enforcement officers.
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