Bumping and Grinding

To the Editor:

I understand that by submitting this to HPR, I am preaching to the choir. I hope, though, that it encourages others who don’t normally to speak up when they witness an injustice.
On Tuesday night two young gay men at the Aquarium were asked to stop slow dancing. The reason, they were told, was “no PDA.”
One of their friends approached the employee to ask what happened. The employee said that even if it were a man and a woman he would have broken it up. On top of that he added “I have a gay son.” Well, Dick Cheney doesn’t support gay and lesbian marriages or civil unions, but he has a lesbian daughter. The latter does not justify his actions either.
Every other time I’ve been to Dempsey’s and the Aquarium, and even later that very night, there have been plenty of straight couples grinding on each other. Not even innocently slow dancing. Grinding. I would guarantee no straight couple has been asked to stop dancing together.
Is this really what we’ve come to in this day and age, Fargo-Moorhead? Does this city have any idea who greatly contributes to the thriving arts community and general economy of this city? Are we really so blind to the restrictions already placed on the GLBTQ community? It’s presently legal in 44 states, North Dakota included, to fire someone based on their sexual orientation (http://www.hrc.org/).
Until changes are made by our elected officials, which is up to the voice of the people, the least we can do is let the boys (and girls) dance.

-Georgia Hill
Fargo