Campaign idea against bigots?

[Meldread]

You know, reading another post about an idea a small group of activists had in another state, it left me wondering if we could employ a new type of tactic...

Basically, what they did they went around in public places and placed things with a sticker on it that said "Heterosexuals Only", to mimic the discrimination of past civil rights movements. This is an image the religious right is trying REALLY, REALLY hard to shrug off. They are putting a lot of effort into making things look like they aren't taking rights away from us, that we are equal citizens, that we want "special rights" and the like.

Well, let me know what you guys think of this tactic. Let's say, we went under cover and went around pretending that we were one of them. We met people in Church parking lots and the like after it ends and hand out certain stickers and signs designed to show their "pro-family" agenda.

However, they would obviously be rooted to get the attention of the majority of the public. In essence, it'd be screwing up the Religious Right's campaign to make things look good.

Imagine a bumper sticker that said things like, "Heterosexuals Only" and has a picture of the state on it. Or a bumper sticker that says, "No Tears for Queers" and the like. Something to invoke a nauseating feeling from sane Americans by showing them that these people are total pricks.

In essence, we'd be setting them up to look bad by shining a bright light on their true feelings and intentions.

[MikeStl]

1. interesting

I think if done right this could get a lot of people to think. The stickers in public places if an interesting idea. As far as bumper stickers, I wouldn't put one like that on my car because I would be afraid too much of upsetting other gay or fair minded people with it.

[Meldread]

2. Well, I don't mean OUR cars.

I mean their cars. That way people can ask them or confront them about it. The goal is to basically not get caught doing it, but to make them think this is something FotF or AFA is supporting. The best thing that could happen would be for them to be offended by the Bumper Stickers, and then we could engage them with their own rhetoric, "Well, you should really read James Dobson's book. Maybe then you'll be ready to stop supporting the homosexual agenda."

Basically, either force them to take our bait or engage them with their own rhetoric and force them to think about it so that they will challenge others in their fold.

[DarkTirade]

4. Unfortunately, putting a sticker on their car

could get us in trouble for vandalism.
However everywhere else should be open game. >:)

[Meldread]

5. I wasn't suggesting to do it against their will.

I was suggesting to go under cover, as one of them, and encourage them to put the stickers on their cars themselves. Like waiting in Church Parking Lots on Sundays and meeting people as they leave, handing out the bumper stickers and pretending to be part of a "Christian Pro-Family Group". If they share anti-gay beliefs they'll likely take the bumper sticker with enthusiasm and not even catch on to that they are being used as tools. If they are fence sitters they might find it offensive, in which case we can throw their own rhetoric back at them, telling them that they are only buying into the "pro-Homosexual Agenda".

It's an effort to engage the fence sitters, not to reform those who already hold strong anti-gay beliefs. It's an effort to cut into the propaganda being spread around by the Republicans and Religious Right who are saying that they are not taking away our civil rights and that this is nothing like past civil rights fights.

Imagine, for a moment, that a fence sitter is driving down the road and they saw a bumper sticker that said, "No Tears for Queers: Ban Gay Marriage" or "Welcome to <Insert State>: Heterosexuals Only". They'd see it as discrimination.

We have to remember that the majority of people support us having rights - the majority of people support Civil Unions. The only reason most people are against gay marriage is because they are under the impression that gay marriage would force Churches to marry gay people. That's propaganda that the Religious Right has successfully put out there - effectively blurring the line between Civil and Religious Marriage. They are painting themselves as victims, and us as the bad guys attacking them when we all know that isn't the case.

[DarkTirade]

8. Ah. Well in that case, lemme whore out a link of mine to you.

http://www.cafepress.com/marriagefork/

I made that a while ago, but haven't been able to find anyplace within my budget to advertise it. :)

[NMMNG]

3. What a delightfully evil idea

:evilgrin:

They spend so much time demonizing us, let's throw it back at them.

[foreigncorrespondent]

6. Nice idea!

But getting the gay community off its ass to do this?

[Xeric]

7. my 2 cents

I've come to the conclusion that campaigns against the bigots aren't too successful, not that they should not be attempted. In talking and listening to the average American, I've found that those who have a negative opinion of gays won't be changed by such campaigns. They feel that their beliefs are being threatened and they simply are not going to give up their pre-conceived notions. Being in your face with them only further justifies their beliefs. We have to realize this is a generational battle and there is no quick media solution.

The only way to really change people's attitudes is if there is a person that they know or are related to that makes it personal.
That's why it's important that gay people come out to their families, friends and neighbors. When they see real people that they care about who are gay then maybe, just maybe they begin to see beyond the stereotypes pushed by the churches and the demogogues.

I think its also important to realize that the radical right often works in our favor. When people see the idiocy of the Fred Phelp's etc. then they have a reason not to associate themselves with that. If gays confront the radical bigots then it becomes more of a situation where the average guy might just decide to hell with both sides.

[sui generis]

9. great idea

an outline of a happy gay family with a red circle/slash around it and one for each of the kids.

I like that "heterosexuals only" idea though. I know of several places in Dallas, let me hint and see if anyone can figure it out: Bob's Steak and Chophouse on Lemmon, where you could probably put a sticker on the front door of the restaurant, the valet, the host, and the bathrooms.

They should be in the public parks, the rec centers, the polling locations, babtist churches.

I think there are enough decent people who would be disturbed to see it, and to make it newsworthy, and enough bigots to think that it was about time someone came out and said it.