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Oct 17, 2009 10:01 pm US/Central
Message Heard With Stockyards 'Kiss-In'
Selena Hernandez
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
It was a kissing controversy in the heart of Cowtown. Members of the Fort Worth Gay and Lesbian community made their message very public walking hand-in-hand, kissing in the middle of the Stockyards.
"This isn't a question of faith, but of equal rights under the law," Rick Vanderslice, "Kiss-in" participant said.
Under scrutiny and subjective stares they stood strong to their convictions.
"We knew that doing a kiss-in in such a conservative ara would get a big reaction and that was the point," Vanderslice said.
The gay community came to the Stockyards looking for acceptance and understanding.
"I would think not where there's younger children are at - it's hard for a parent to explain to," grandfather Martin Villareal said while taking in the unexpected sights at the Stockyards.
As the kiss-in participants embraced and openly showed their affection, others watched in disbelief and disapproval.
"I don't think this should be going on down here with the families and this place brings a lot of money to Fort Worth and to have it go down here hurts," visitor Jim West said.
Sharing affection in jopes of raising awareness - the gay community says it chose the Stockyards because they wanted people to accept them for who they are, and not pass judgment when they show their affection to their partners.
Yet, many in the community weren't comfortable with their very public message.
"We refuse to argue. We just know we're right and we just pray they'll see the light one day," Reverend Howard Carver of World Missionary Baptist Church said of his congregation's silent protest of the kiss-in.
The kiss-in was greeted with opposition from some, but nonetheless, the group says, productive in their efforts to gain favor in a sometimes unfavorable climate.
"The religious right is entitled to their opinion. But our point is we're entitled in our opinions and our equal rights and our marriage as well and that's the point of it," kiss-in participant Joe Remsak said.
The group originally wanted to establish a kissing booth in the Stockyards, but had to abandon that idea after learning they didn't have a proper permit to do so.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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