Contributors

Friday, June 11, 2010

Happy to be Wrong

Rainbow flag flapping in the wind with blue <span class=

There are some days, like today, when I am just happy to be wrong. Actually, happy is too light of a word. Giddy...yeah, that's it. I'm giddy...and filled with a whole bunch of snuggly warmth. Why?

Apparently, the shit kickers and hillbillies are starting to warm up to the fags.

Honestly, I thought it would never happen but today's column in the Strib has proved me wrong.

Some rural communities are rolling out the welcome mats for their GLBT residents and visitors. It started a few years ago in Pine City (pop. 3,400) -- with East Central Minnesota Pride -- but other Minnesota communities are getting on the bandwagon.

And to think just six years ago, we had such vitriol and hatred towards the gay and lesbian community on a national level. I thought it would take decades to even begin to get to this point. I was wrong.

But today, more and more rural communities are holding their own events to build social capital among the otherwise isolated. Perhaps it has something to do with support at the national level. President Obama, for instance, proclaimed June to be GLBT Pride Month in the United States for the first time since Bill Clinton was in office.

My guy did that? I didn't even know. Cool.

West Central Minnesota Pride was started in 2009 because no other organization existed in the area surrounding Willmar specifically for the GLBT community. Brainerd held its first-annual GLBT pride picnic last year as well. The event was hosted by the Lakes Area Diversity Council, although the Brainerd area had several other support groups -- such as the Brainerd High School Gay-Straight Alliance, the Staples High School Gay-Straight Alliance, OutFront MN, the Central Lakes College Rainbow Coalition, Brainerd's GLBT Equality Coalition and the Rainbow Health Initiative -- to help with the cause.

There's a Brainered GSA? And a Brainerd GLBT? Brainered? FUCKING BRAINERD!!? The Lord works in mysterious ways.

"I feel that the value of pride has a deeper impact in rural Minnesota than it has in bigger cities, because we're less tolerated," said Paul Wilkins, president of the East Central Men's Circle, one of the organizations behind East Central Minnesota Pride. "If one loses the meaning behind pride, I'd encourage them to visit one of these rural prides to understand their value."

Amen, Paul. I suppose I need to start qualifying my usual derision directed at hillbillies. Sure, it will be extra work for me to check and see if they have a GLBT in a deep red county but I don't care. It's magnificently worth it.

And, as always, I'm warm, giddy and happy to be wrong.


11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Midwesterners are hillbillies and shitkickers? Hmm....

This retired at 40, Desert Storm medalled, Licensed Nuclear Reactor Operator, Porsche driving, Iowa boy says fuck you.

True story: In my graduating class was a homosexual male. I knew him since kindergarten. He had a big 'coming out of his closet' announcement at the ten year reunion. Nobody cared. We had known his orientation since puberty. I can't think of any of my friends; or even my uncountable acquaintances who really give a shit regarding orientation. Other than really appreciating lesbians of course.

It's mildly amusing to hear about your giddiness when people are finally as tolerant as you. Especially those intolerant "shit kickers and hillbillies" that you cannot tolerate.

Do you even appreciate the delicious irony that should be coming at the expense of your supra-inflated ego?

dw

Mark Ward said...

In this case, I have no problem with my ego taking a hit. It's good for the soul.

Actually, my ego took a hit in regards to Iowa as well. I used to rip Iowa all the time for a variety of reasons which culminated in one too many holiday meals hearing about how niggers need to know their place.

But then Iowa elected President Obama in the first primary, passed gay marriage and is now the leading producer of wind turbines in the world. So, another blow to my ego that I'm happy to take!

Anonymous said...

In other words, it's not racism when Mark does it, it's only "ego".

dick nixon said...

What's racist about calling someone a hillbilly or shitkicker?

Anonymous said...

What's racist about calling someone a hillbilly or shitkicker?

Nothing at all. In other words, it's exactly as racist as being against gay marriage (See 3 posts down from here.)

Sorry, I was using the same standards as our host. I apologize for neglecting to consider that you might not be intelligent enough to spot that.

Anonymous said...

Time for a new post re:

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/article/bp-oil-spill-gov-bobby-jindal-orders-national/story?id=10914348

If Gov. Jindal came on TV with a huge 'state's rights' themed speech, shouted out the 10th amendment, and blamed the Feds for preventing him from trying to save his state (true or not, that's not the point), this country may at least slow down its approach to the iceberg. I like a lot of things about this guy. Any bets on a presidential run in 2016....?

dw

Anonymous said...

Holy Crap! I just had a moment of clarity! The whole birther thing is actually a right wing conspiracy to prevent any criticism of President Jindal! He was (obviously) born in New Delhi, not Baton Rouge. Genius!

Just when I had given up on the Rupublican Party...

My suggestion for the 2012 Republican slogan?

We offend the US Constitution slightly less than them!

Oh, also post about Etheridge and the viral video of him. But, your assignment in creative writing is to imagine he is a Republican. C'mon, it'll be fun, and it'll sharpen your creativeness. It'll be like Tom Cruise inventing his obituary in Cocktail. It'll be like the 'Bobby's Dead' dream season on Dallas.

I guess I don't know what I meant by the Dallas thing, but seemed right when I started.

dw

Anonymous said...

Guess you caught me in a writing mood this week. Unfortunately, you must not be. Here's some ammo (pun intended):

I think the first step to addressing illegal immigration is to build a bullet-proof ten foot wall right on the AZ border. About 100 feet inside our border we build another wall 10 feet high. In between, we put motion tracking machine guns. Clearly marked and advertised with appropriate press releases and such. Border Patrol agents are responsible for tossing corpses back to the MX side and reloading the guns.

Got a problem with that?

dw

JR Ewing said...

Nobody messes with ol' JR.

jane said...

Please read my other comment on that other post about why there are no hillbillies around here.

And as for shit-kickers, well I don't even know what that means. So people like to kick shit. Big whup. Maybe they are just clearing the cow pies so they can play horseshoes. Geez.

Percival Q. Shitkicker said...

Thank you.