Drag Queens halt traffic
Drag Queens halt traffic
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#1Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/1/11 at 7:20pm
Drag queen activists in six-inch stilettos ground Midtown traffic to a halt Tuesday morning during a rally where they demanded the passage of a marriage equality bill in New York.
"I am somebody, I demand full equality!" the protesters chanted at about 8:30 a.m.
At least a dozen protesters unfurled a 75-foot yellow banner reading "NY Demands Marriage Equality Now!" across Sixth Avenue at West 42nd Street, stopping traffic for about seven minutes.
"We’re sick and tired of waiting and we’re not going to wait anymore," said Natasha Dillon, 26, the founding member of Queer Rising, which organized the protest. "We have to take this into our own hands."
Upper West Side drag queen Honey LaBronx, who wore a curled auburn wig and sparkly purple eye shadow, said she was nervous about the prospect of being arrested for the first time. LaBronx, whose real name is Ben Strothmann, said this was one concrete action she could take in support of the gay marriage cause.
"I’m hoping they can see how serious we are about this," LaBronx said, before the group marched from Grand Central Terminal.
After about seven minutes on the street, police arrived, handcuffed the protesters and loaded them into a van. Eight people were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, police said.
Dillon, who was among those taken away in cuffs, said that the group is planning a similar act on the first of every month until Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs a bill legalizing gay marriage in the state, which he has pledged to do.
Commuters seemed patient despite the inconvenience. Not a single horn was heard honking as they were delayed.
And the protesters seemed pleased, too.
"Anyone who gets arrested in heels is bad ass!" said East Village resident William Berger, 50.
Gay Marriage Rally
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
Updated On: 3/2/11 at 07:20 PM
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#2Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/1/11 at 7:24pm
...is that 'EugLoven' in the photos?!?!
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
#2Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/1/11 at 10:44pm
Looks like him!
Doesn't Ben Strothmann write for BWW? He's mentioned in the article.
I hung out with Cheyenne Jackson in his dressing room waayyyyyy before he tickled D2. "unleash the girly"
Our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we touch.
Puppies are babies in fur coats.
Tinfoil...The Terrorizing Terminator
#3Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/2/11 at 12:00amI don't think that's him. I just met him for the first time 3 weeks ago in a theater lobby. Seems he is taller.
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#4Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/2/11 at 2:16am
It's him alright. This article confirms:
http://www.fabulousapple.com/2011/03/new-york-gay-activist-arrested-in-act-of-civil-disobedience/#more-507
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#5Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/2/11 at 11:02am
Yay Eug! I heard about this when I arrived at work, apparently it had just happened outside our doors.
I have to admit, that I still hate using the word "queer" in any way...but that doesnt take away from their courage.
"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
#6Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/2/11 at 11:22amThose are some brave girls!
I know you.
I know you.
I know you.
#7Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/3/11 at 12:41am
Hi guys
Yep, that was me and 7 other activists from Queer Rising (I'm a founding member since 2009).
CBS-2 provided great aerial coverage and focused more on us as "activists" and less as "some drag queens in the street." We had a team of 3 gay men, 3 drag queens, 2 lesbians (holding the banner) in addition to 2 straights and 7 other gay men on the sidewalk.
VIDEO HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RE60ZFUm50
Yes, Ben Strothmann (aka Honey LaBronx) used to be a BWW contributing photographer and participated yesterday
More actions to come... this was just the beginning
If you ever want to take part in our actions, even as a passive participant (aka no arrest) contact me or visit QueerRising.com for information
@DoodleNYC: We/I find nothing derogatory in the use of the word "queer." It is a perfectly acceptable identifier, and part of the LGBTQI acronym. Queer is often a fantastic word to use as an umbrella term for anyone other-than-straight. Think of it as what "Ms." does for "Mrs." and "Miss." If you want to look at it as empowerment/disempowerment, that's fair too.
Updated On: 3/3/11 at 12:41 AM
#8Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/3/11 at 8:05amDid ya get arrested?
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert
#9Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/3/11 at 11:56am
Eug...I respectfully disagree about the word queer and do not want to derail this thread.
You should be very proud...I'm very proud of you!
"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS
#10Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/3/11 at 1:15pmOh gawd, I feel bad. I stood and talked to Eug in the lobby before seeing "The Milkman..." and didn't recognoze him in the pic!
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#11Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/3/11 at 3:12pm
I recognized him!
Great job!!!
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
#12Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/5/11 at 4:27pm@singtopher: Yes, myself and the other 7 activists were arrested... and released after only 30-minutes. NYPD was surprisingly very cooperative.
#13Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/5/11 at 5:15pmGood to hear that. I assume the charges/fines aren't major.
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert
#14Drag Queens halt traffic
Posted: 3/5/11 at 5:39pm
It was a court desk appearance (best thing we could ask for!)
Our attorney will hopefully have it filed as an A.C.D. (which is like a little slap on the wrist and wiped from your record after 6-months)
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