.... in Seattle.
last week, a lesbian complained that an usher at Safeco Field asked her to stop kissing her date because it was making another fan uncomfortable.The incident has exploded on local TV, on talk radio and in the blogosphere and has touched off a debate over public displays of affection in generally gay-friendly Seattle.
...
As the Mariners played the Boston Red Sox on May 26, Sirbrina Guerrero and her date were approached in the third inning by an usher who told them their kissing was inappropriate, Guerrero said.The usher, Guerrero said, told them he had received a complaint from a woman nearby who said that there were kids in the crowd of nearly 36,000 and that parents would have to explain why two women were kissing.
Hmmm, that's a tough one. How about "Well, maybe they are in love...." (Even if it is just as likely that they are actually in lust ... who could know?)
Humanities & Social Science
Comments
I'm going for, "Why not?"
Posted by: Stephanie Z | June 5, 2008 2:35 PM
I don't mind heterosexuals as long as they act queer in public. ;)
Posted by: LightningRose | June 5, 2008 2:47 PM
I think we have another tee shirt slogan here....
Posted by: Greg Laden | June 5, 2008 3:13 PM
I'm from around Seattle. I'm not too surprised, since the surrounding counties are often very right-wing. They go to Seattle for the professional sports, and aren't really representative of the general population there.
Posted by: Chaz | June 5, 2008 3:14 PM
Hell I live in Indianapolis and even in the city my partner and I have to scan the local surrounds before partaking in any public display of affection. The scorn runs like water the moment a gay couple affirms their human sensibilities. And I'll be the first to admit it's much worse for gay men.
Posted by: Miss Agent Girl | June 5, 2008 3:31 PM
TTIUWOP
Oh, wait. Wrong blog. Wrong etiquette.
[Emily Latella] Never mind. [/Emily Latella]
Posted by: Russell | June 5, 2008 3:55 PM
TTIUWOP
Oh, wait. Wrong blog. Wrong etiquette.
[Emily Latella] Never mind. [/Emily Latella]
Posted by: Russell | June 5, 2008 3:57 PM
personally I don't really care who's doing what to whom, but you know, depending on the manner in which they were kissing, I would have objected if it had been any couple, heterosexual or otherwise.
what happens if you object to hyper-overt PDAs in general? I find them annoying, as they are really great examples of people not caring that there are other people around them. something I generally object to... like drivers on phones.
Posted by: peter | June 5, 2008 4:16 PM
LightningRose FTW
Posted by: JanieBelle | June 5, 2008 4:17 PM
Next thing you know, people will be kissing their DOGS at ball games! And society will crumble!
Posted by: Zach Miller | June 5, 2008 4:28 PM
I have to second what Chaz said. Washington is a liberal "blue" state only because the majority of its largest county votes that way. Seattle is home to the DI as well as the Reverend Hutcherson - don't let the granola fool you.
Posted by: PuckishOne | June 5, 2008 4:58 PM
I have to second what Chaz said. Washington is a liberal "blue" state only because the majority of its largest county votes that way. Seattle is home to the DI as well as the Reverend Hutcherson - don't let the granola fool you.
Posted by: PuckishOne | June 5, 2008 5:00 PM
Argh - sorry for the double-post.
Posted by: PuckishOne | June 5, 2008 5:06 PM
And their siblings, Zach! INCEST IS NEXT!!!!oneone!!
I wonder what would happen if someone bitched about those moronic "John 3:16" signs.
"Excuse me Miss Usherlady? Those people over there are pushing pro-ignorance sentiments with those Bible signs. How am I supposed to explain that to my school-aged children? I thought this was a family event!!"
Posted by: JanieBelle | June 5, 2008 5:38 PM
By "uncomfortable", this fan clearly means "aroused".
Posted by: Blake Stacey | June 5, 2008 7:41 PM
What about gay men kissing in public?
Posted by: Joel | June 5, 2008 8:21 PM
Well, I'm all for it, but I can't say as my motives are pure.
Posted by: Stephanie Z | June 5, 2008 9:06 PM
What about gay men kissing in public?
I cringe at the reaction that would cause at an Indianapolis Colts game. Tony Dungee, the Colts coach for Christ, would probably stop the game mid-play and start a prayer circle around the offenders.
Posted by: Miss Agent Girl | June 5, 2008 10:14 PM
I really hate how right-wingers always use children to justify whatever behavior they're objecting to. They don't want their children exposed to anything they disagree with and they assume that other people should just accept their twisted child-rearing attitudes. And I also hate how right-wingers' reactions to incidents like this have contributed to the US's unhealthy "no public displays of affection" climate.
Posted by: deang | June 5, 2008 10:15 PM
I really hate how right-wingers always use children to justify whatever behavior they're objecting to
Excellent point.
Posted by: Joel | June 6, 2008 8:12 AM
I second Joel
Posted by: Greg Laden | June 6, 2008 8:31 AM
Oh boo hoo, random social conservative parents, you have to allow your children to know that homosexuals exist. I know that reality isn't very nice to your beliefs, but really now....
Posted by: Shirakawasuna | June 6, 2008 9:27 AM
Thirded... ed. ...eh, me too.
Using kids like weapons is heinous.
Posted by: JanieBelle | June 6, 2008 10:38 AM
what happens if you object to hyper-overt PDAs in general? I find them annoying, as they are really great examples of people not caring that there are other people around them. something I generally object to... like drivers on phones.
Speaking of PDA's and drivers on phones, I can't stand PDA's in public... especially that RIM blackberry, do your RIM-ing in private I say.
Posted by: AlbanianTodd | June 6, 2008 10:42 AM
AlbanianTodd,
FYI, PDA = "Public Display of Affection" OK? ;-)
sorry, I'm usually better about defining TLAs.
Posted by: peter | June 6, 2008 11:04 AM
peter, as a big fan of PDAs, I think you're SOL (couldn't resist). If I want to hold my sweetie's hand while walking to work and exchange smooches at the corner where we part, what does it hurt? The only thing that makes me remotely uncomfortable about it is that I have friends who can't do the same thing without reprisals.
Frankly, I think we could use more public modeling of affectionate behavior. Love, lust and friendship aren't supposed to be stoic, and I see no reason they should be hidden away. We see plently of the more dramatic, less pleasant sorts of behavior modeled publicly. Why not affection?
Posted by: Stephanie Z | June 6, 2008 11:35 AM
AlbanianTodd, if you intended the double entendre in the last few lines, then I heartily thank you for my biggest laugh of the day!! Considering how attached some people are to their crackberries, that was brilliant.
Posted by: Constance Reader | June 6, 2008 3:59 PM
I think we have another t-shirt slogan here....
IIRC it is a t-shirt slogan, someone on the non-prophets described seeing one.
Posted by: ihedenius | June 8, 2008 2:03 AM