I never have a second thought about holding Dan's handing walking in the street. I put my arms around him all the time. I've done it everywhere we've been: New York, Mexico, Puerto Rico, LA, Atlanta, Maine. Everywhere. Blade Senior Editor Chris Crain did it in the gay-friendly Netherlands and got beaten up for it.
From the picture (snapped by fellow Window Media magnate William Waybourn), it was a heavy price to pay for holding his boyfriend's hand. But, it won't stop me from doing it, and I hope it doesn't stop Chris. Some may say "he got what he deserved" because he stood his ground when two men spat on him. No one ever deserves to by physically attacked. Ever. And especially not for standing up for your own integrity.
I've done some seemingly stupid things on the street, standing up to people who verbally attacked me. Once I even stopped a car of guys on Santa Monica Blvd. yelling "faggot" at me and a couple friends. But, I've always been peaceful in my response. As Gandhi said, "We will not strike a blow, but we will receive them." And with every blow, we show our attackers that we are stronger than they are and that we will not go away.
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