I've heard that the floats have rubber tires and they move quite slowly...
Posted on 12/29/2013 3:23:28 AM PST by markomalley
A San Diego woman Thursday called for a boycott of the Rose Parade because two Los Angeles men will be married atop a float themed “Love is the Best Protection.” The cake-shaped float is sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and is the group’s third entry in the New Year’s parade.
Karen Grube, of San Diego, said the Tournament of Roses should remove the AHF float from the parade. She has also called on corporate sponsors to remove their support of the parade if the wedding goes on as planned. And, she has set up a Facebook page seeking support for her cause.
“Gay marriage is illegal in over 30 states, why would they promote something that is blatantly illegal?” Grube said. “That’s just stupid.”
The 2014 Rose Parade is the first where gay marriage has been legal in California, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that deemed Proposition 8 unconstitutional.
Grube also said she didn’t think the Tournament should be involved in a group’s “political agenda.”
“It used to be a family thing, to get up on New Year’s Day morning and watch the parade,” she said. “It no longer is.”
Danny Leclair said the negative reaction over the planned wedding to his long-time partner Aubrey Loots has not diminished his enthusiasm for his special day.
“It’s something that they don’t understand and so I expected it,” he said. “We’re not dissuaded or upset or concerned. We’re simply acknowledging it.”
While Leclair describes some of the negative comments he has read as “heinous,” others he says, are “people taking a stand for something they believe in.”
“There’s a lot of people who think we’re doing this as a political statement,” he said. “It couldn’t be further from the truth. Our stance is love is love and love will save lives.”
Leclair said he hopes his wedding, which will be broadcast around the world to an estimated 68 million people, will show people that gay marriage isn’t something to fear.
Ralph E. Shaffer, a professor emeritus of history at Cal Poly Pomona, had a different opinion.
He said the wedding is an “in your face” act that might only harden people’s views towards gays.
“The problem is going to be the wedding kiss,” Shaffer said, adding that the couple will likely kiss several times during the parade as would be expected for a couple on their wedding day. “I don’t know what the response is going to be,” he said.
AHF President Michael Weinstein said the boycotters should respect, “the law of the land” and denied the non-profit organization was making a political statement.
“There are as many opinions in the world as there are people, but our motivation is to validate the love that exists between same-sex couples and what we believe is the importance of validating these relationships in terms of protecting, particularly gay men from HIV and other STDs,” he said. “We think the more we promote stable, long-term relationships, the better it will be.”
In a prepared statement, TofR officials said they welcomed the entry — and the wedding.
“Like all of our sponsors and float designers, AHF continues to help make the Rose Parade a premier event through original and creative expressions that connect to parade themes — as this float does,” the statement read.
Grube said her call for a parade boycott has nothing to with religious convictions.
She said she does not agree with having any marriage — gay or straight — celebrated during the parade.
In recent days several area residents have expressed similar sentiments. Michael E. Thornton, a retired disabled veteran, said he will not be watching due to religious beliefs.
“Celebrating this ungodly activity is repugnant to me spiritually and I will not support this practice financially by viewing the parade,” he wrote in an email to this newspaper.
I usually take down the outside Christmas decorations during the parade if the weather is nice. Heck, this year I’ll take ‘em down if it’s raining.
Hallmark wouldn’t care even if they knew. They sell cards specifically for queers now
The prancing elites are all black! Where’s the diversity?
“They wouldn’t let an NRA float in because it might upset their tender sensibilities”
Who knew. Thanks for the info. Sort of puts everything in perspective. Most of the big parades have been in the PC camp for quite some time but we all ignored it because of the beautiful spectacle and the good floats, now the only thing that floats is...
nevermind.
Yes, of course. I don’t think any gay guy would phrase it that way.
New HIV mutant untreatable strain evolving as the 2014 Rose Bowl Parade crosses the threshold.
-— Too busy patting themselves on the back for having real jobs while Rome burns -—
Do you think a fan of Bouguereau, Gainsborough, or DaVinci is going to get a job as a museum curator?
We will have to found our own museums. Beck is heading in that direction.
Homo marriage will let the homo. revel in the happiness of divorce. They are nuts..
Sacks of dog poop?
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