I’m back. I didn’t get sucked into the engines even once.
Yesterday morning CFI demonstrated in front of the Ugandan High Commission in Ottawa to protest the Kill the Gays bill. Vyckie and I went too. Kevin Smith, the director of CFI Canada, used Twitter to summon media attention, and took pictures. He gave me permission to post them.
That’s Seanna in the purple coat. She’s the Director of CFI Ottawa, which is an unpaid position – a volunteer position, but that word suggests to me a not quite real job, and that certainly doesn’t fit. The guy tweeting on her right is Michael Payton, and I’m hiding behind him.
Kill the bill, kill the bill, kill the bill.
Kevin told me that one of the cops at the demo is on the LGBT panel of the RCMP. Yesss!
Support CFI Canada. They’re doing good work.
michaeld says
As to the news coverage it did make the news on Metro today (free newspaper in town). http://metronews.ca/news/ottawa/463384/lgbt-community-protests-kill-the-gays-bill-at-uganda-high-commission/
and there’s more photo’s at demotix including some of Ophelia. http://www.demotix.com/news/1652781/protest-uganda-gay-rights-ottawa/all-media
There’s also one where I look far too happy >.> . Sorry I’ll try to be more outraged in the future.
Rodney Nelson says
Congratulations.
Ophelia Benson says
You had that slyly amused look every time I saw you, Michael! Must be your default face position.
veronicaabbass says
“I’m hiding behind him.”
Oh, why did you hide Ophelia? Thank you for being there. I know the members of CFI were thrilled to have you join them.
Ophelia Benson says
Hahaha I didn’t Veronica, I just meant I happen to be behind Michael in that particular shot. I’m totally visible in lots of others!
AJ Milne says
michaeld/#1
Heh. There’s a few like that. Guess I should be grateful for my slightly blank/neutral thing… I can just say it’s ‘contemplative’.
(/As opposed to ‘tired’. Which, okay, is probably more what the thing was. Anyway.)
michaeld says
I have to admit part of it was I was feeling a bit nervous and self conscious which tends to end in nervous laughter (which I suppose is better then the alternatives?). Then again it was a good cause, and I do enjoy long walks (even if we weren’t going anywhere). I was also amused with Kevin Brown’s (I think?) ability to keep doing little variations on the little chanty slogans and such. So I can’t say there wasn’t stuff to like either…
Martha says
Ophelia, you should definitely use the picture of you in profile, carrying your sign. It’s a great picture.
Eamon Knight says
Also in Xtra:
http://www.xtra.ca/blog/ottawa/post/2012/12/03/Ugandan-kill-the-gays-bill-met-with-protest.aspx
(I see a few pix of me in the demotix gallery. No, I’m not going to say which ones).
Ophelia Benson says
Well I know which ones, because I saw them too, but your secret is safe with me.