High-powered legal eagle - Gloria Allred - stabbed her fingers in the air in the direction of a handful of religious fundamentalists from an open convertible and taunted them with cries of "Shame" as she celebrated gay pride in West Hollywood this afternoon.
Each year, at Santa Monica and La Cienega Boulevards, an irate band of "Jesus" freaks set up camp and insult the paraders as they glide by on festive rainbow-colored floats all decked out in their Sunday best touting their gay pride.
Normally, the LGBT community ignores the rag-tag band of hostile protesters.
However, this year their presence was a little more raucous and threatening.
In fact - sensing there may be trouble on the streets this year in the wake of the recent California Supreme Court ruling on "gay marriage" - the Sheriff's department wisely arranged for a "riot" squad to stand by in the shadows at a respectful distance to make the crowds feel a little safer, no doubt.
In spite of the fact the group claimed to practice the Christian ethic, they shouted vulgar remarks at the participants in the high-energy parade.
"You want it in the end. You'll get it in the end," one man crudely shouted.
Another hissed, "Go back to your trailer park."
When Ms. Allred gave the finger - so-to-speak - it incited them into a frenzy.
In fact, for the first time that I recall in years, a raft of shutterbugs actually paid attention to their diatribe. Like a pack of wolves, they trotted over to the Christian camp to snap the angry reactions to Allred's demeaning gestures up-close and capture their insulting picket signs on film.
One male couple strode over and plunked themselves down in front of the enemy trenches and started to kiss passionately - as if to say - fu** you.
Yeah, don't rain on our parade!
It appears that the issue of homosexuality - and in particular, the gay marriage ruling passed down in recent days from the California Supreme Court - has stirred up a hornet's nest and the mood is at a fever pitch.
Within days after the historic "order" was signed, sealed, and delivered up - the Religious Fundamentalists had gathered up a whopping glut of signatures - enough to secure an initiative on the fall election ballot.
And, just this past week, the busy little bees placed a full two-page ad in the local daily - the Los Angeles Times - denouncing the gay lifestyle, gay marriage, and the court.
Undoubtedly, the issue will be raging on for months.
We can only hold our collective breath.
And, urge that you get out the vote in November, of course.
West Hollywood Gay Pride 2008
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