I freaked out a couple homophobes (yes on h8'ers) yesterday

[keepCAblue]

In heavy traffic, I pulled behind a soccer mom in her big ol' minivan which sported a "Catholic Radio" bumper sticker on one side and a "Yes on Prop 8" bumper sticker on the other. So as we're waiting on the light to change, I stuck my cell phone out the window and began clicking away, taking pics of the back of her van and her bumper sticker. She was looking in the rearview, kids in the back seat started staring out the back window and soon her head is spinning around like a possessed demon, trying frantically to see behind her and WHY IS THAT PERSON TAKING PICTURES OF ME AND MY KIDS??? She starts cranking the steering wheel trying to maneuver her tank of a van into the right lane (which was, um, occupied by other cars). She practically took off the bumpers of two or three cars who didn't let her in before she finally "escaped" my camera's aim. She laid rubber in making her left turn.

Not long after, driving through a neighborhood where there are 3 or 4 "yes on 8" signs, I slowed in front of one that not only had a yard sign stuck in their weedy lawn, but also a BIG banner hanging inside their big front window. So as I slowed, I saw the denizen--a dumpy looking white hau frau--in her drive way. So out with the cell phone and I started clicking away. Mrs. humpty dumpty turned on her heels and practically lost her false teeth, her mouth fell open that much. So I smiled at her and drove off, leaving her agasp and wondering what the hell had just happened...

So today, it's Halloween and my same-sex spouse's office invites employees' kids to come into the office in their Halloween costumes to go trick or treating from cube to cube. This office of approximately 100 employees is roughly 98% republican (my spouse and one other woman being the only dems). My spouse and I do not have human children, just the four-legged variety. So I dressed up our 15 y.o. dog, Maggie, as was only fitting: A civil rights activist. So Maggie and I went cube to cube to visit all the republicans and to ask, not for candy, but for their "no" vote on Prop 8. We received many promises and learned that many who had already voted did in fact vote no. One man, a senior officer in the company and an ex-marine of extremely high ranking was among those who had already voted. In fact, before he turned in his mail-in ballot, he made a point to show my spouse his ballot--specifically his "no" vote on prop 8--before putting it in the envelope and sealing it.

There is hope. If this many republicans can step up and do the right thing, I believe we can beat this hateful piece of legislation. Tuesday night will be a long, long night for us all.

Below is my spouse and our old dog, Maggie, both hard at work:

[driver8]

1. Wonderful story and a great photo! Maggie looks like a sweetie!

I hope we DESTROY this hateful piece of legislation!!

[MikeE]

2. I love you!

That is so cool!

[succubus.blues]

3. What a great photo!!!

I hope prop 8 gets soundly defeated!! We already voted no by mail, but I have my NO ON 8 sign in our yard, and look forward to the trick or treaters coming with their parents tonight to see it.

[katandmoon]

4. I like the idea of taking Maggie to the office. But I think

You were an absolute irresponsible fool to pretend to take pictures of that woman's van while you were waiting at a traffic light, and freaking her out, while surrounded by other innocent bystanders in their vehicles.

You may not like her bumper sticker and I don't either for that matter. But like it or not, she had every right to display it on her car. How would you feel if you had a NO ON PROP 8 bumper sticker on your car and some rightwing asshole started snapping pictures of you while you were waiting at a traffic light?

[keepCAblue]

5. Wouldn't bother me at all...

In fact, I've had it happen in the past with regard to other bumpers stickers I've had on my car and I couldn't have cared less. There is no law against taking a pic with one's cell phone. Neither she nor her kids were visible in the photo, nor is her license number going to be published anywhere. It was entirely harmless unless one is a paranoid nutso.

Absolutely irresponsible? Give me an effing break.

[katandmoon]

7. Did you not read the part where she said the woman almost took the bumpers off some other cars

to get away from her? IMO it was fucking irresponsible, thoughtless, arrogant, and stupid.

[MNBrewer]

14. Wasn't it the irresponsibility of the driver who nearly took off the bumpers?

[Occulus]

16. Yeah that describes the driver with the kids quite well.

SURELY you weren't talking about the person with the camera.

That would be completely idiotic.

[Duncan Grant]

9. Wish I could have been in the car with you!

There's nothing irresponsible or foolish about you. Nothing. :applause:

[keepCAblue]

6. And by the way...

I DO have a NO ON PROP 8 bumper sticker on my car and I'm proud of the message it sends and if someone snaps a pic of it, fine by me. But with regards to the bigots supporting prop 8, if they're going to put a bumper sticker on their car that is inflammatory, divisive and hateful then they'd better be prepared for the consequences it might bring. Please, stop defending these bigots.

[katandmoon]

8. PLEASE. I'm not defending anybody. I'm saying when you are in traffic, keep your damn attention on

THAT. Don't be making actions when you are out in traffic that other drivers may consider threatening just to make a political point that will just make the target adhere even more to her prejudice. What's the fucking point? What if that woman in the van kept a loaded gun handy? It takes very little to set some people off. You ever hear of road rage?

I just shake my head read I read of people pulling potentially dangerous and unproductive stunts like this, even when I agree with their sentiments.

[keepCAblue]

15. Oh brother....

You sound like a the church lady from SNL of days of old. I took a fucking picture with my cell phone, period. I did not scream at her or threaten her. I was stopped at a red light and there was no traffic moving, so my action was in no way distracting to my driving. The actions on the part of the other driver, the van driver, were that of her own and she bears sole responsibility for her response.

Now, go take a valium and chill.

[LeftyMom]

10. There's no expectation of privacy in a public place

And the whole point of bumper stickers is to be looked at.

It's not the OP's fault that MinivanMom is a moron with no regard for the safety of her own children.

[The Brethren]

11. I don't see anything wrong with what she did.

It may mean a verbal and/or physical confrontation if the woman in the van had left her vehicle to approach her....which would also mean the driver of the van would be blocking traffic which is not legal in most places. Likewise, taking someone's picture in public...in or outside their car or the back of their cars, but it's legal depending on where you live.

Where I live for ex. you can not only take someone's picture in public, but you can also video tape them in public as long as you're not guilty of our stalking/harassment laws. I personally think laws should be more strict about taking pictures in public of people for ex., but I don't think any harm was intended, nor done in this case.

And for the record...I could careless what happens to any homophobic asshole, including those who have blatantly gone to gay events or places where they know a lot of gay people will be for ex. to videotape them to then later out whoever they can. Or just to intimidate people.

[plaintiff]

12. I'm giving you and Maggie a big hug!

:hug:
:D
:toast:

[Ellen Forradalom]

13. Dog is Love. Vote No on h8!

My dog Corbu at a No on 8 demonstration in Thousand Oaks, in the heart of Yes territory. 60 people showed up to say No on 8 and we got lots of honks, thumbs up, peace signs, waving arms and hoots and hollers!

[skypilot]

17. I guess I'm going to be in the minority here...

...but as I read your description of the first encounter, the first thing that crossed my mind was that she was afraid that someone was taking pictures of her children. As you can tell from my avatar, I don't agree with her on Prop 8 but it sounds to me as though she panicked at having a stranger in back of her snapping pictures of her vehicle and--for all she knew--her children whom you say were in the back seat.