Petrelis Files

Picketing at HRC's Clothing Outlet in SF

The weather and air-quality in San Francisco today couldn't be more terrific. The morning fog is gone, the temperature is pleasant and there's strong breeze blowing. Factors that I thought would keep the number of protesters at the pro-tranny and HRC-accountability action at the Human Rights Campaign's store down to one or two.

But over the course of an hour, more than twenty protesters showed up to distribute flyers, offer rainbow stickers and leis, and engage Castro District shoppers and residents in conversation about changes needed at HRC. I snapped a few photos, which I share here, with commentary, of course. And excerpts from the tranny press release sent out earlier this week follow the pics.

Today's fun-filled political action was a small preview of the important anti-HRC demonstration that happens on July 26 outside the Westin St. Francis hotel. I'll be there, along with a lot more people than the handful at this afternoon's picket. Join the fun on July 26 and hold HRC accountable!

Part of the colorful, in more ways than one, crew of picketers. On the left, in blue shirt, is tranny and labor activist Robert Haaland. Fourth from the left is John Newsome, gay and anti-racist organizer of today's action. I don't know the IDs of anyone else in this line-up.

Even Robert's dog wanted to be in the pics!

Dressed in blue and gold, aw, just like the HRC equal logo, is a store employee, talking to two muscle bear members of HRC. Notice the same color scheme of the plates, bowls and napkins. Those HRC queens can be too much with the
party decorations, girlfriend!

Just what I've never wanted: Faded underwear with the damn HRC logo sewn in the waistband, right above the hole where a cock would piss from. Cock-hound brothers, would you agree with me that the one area gay men are certainly not equal is in
the meat department?

Snippets from the press release:

We Declare Independence from the Human Rights Campaign!

Next Saturday, July 12 @ noon, the San Francisco LGBT community will celebrate its Independence from the Human Rights Campaign by re-introducing the rainbow flag, created right here in San Francisco thirty years ago, as a symbol of LGBT liberation. Rainbow flag stickers will be provided to any and all who want them -- particularly former HRC members looking to cover up HRC bumper stickers.

The Independence day event is in response to HRC's ongoing refusal to support federal legislation that actually protects all LGBT people from employment discrimination.

According to Wikipedia, "The LGBT rainbow flag or Gay pride flag is a symbol of LGBT pride and LGBT social movements in use since the 1970s. The colors reflect the diversity of the LGBT community, and the flag is often used as a symbol of gay pride in LGBT rights marches. It originated in the United States, but is now used worldwide ... After the November 27, 1978, assassination of openly gay San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk, demand for the rainbow flag greatly increased ..."

By contrast, sometime during the early 1990s, HRC introduced its own, purely-domestic, impostor flag, two gold bars -- symbolizing wealth? We're not sure.