Background: On June 04, 2013, Mayor Virginia Gurolla of Porterville, issued a proclamation recognizing the month of June as GayPride Month in Porterville.
Now, for those unaware: "'Porterville has a long history of anti-LGBT issues – from being the only city in the state to pass a resolution in support of Proposition 8 to openly ill treatment & harassment of LGBT community members and even public statements by city leaders condemning LGBT persons. We anticipated some opposition, but this seemed to be a moment of triumph. The proclamation was signed, it was a done deal, and finally, there seemed to be an opportunity for inclusiveness and healing in this very torn and divided town."
Then, A July 16th the City Council members voted to rescind the proclamation. When the vote passed, in act of civil disobedience, Jennifer McGuire, a housewife and local equality activist was arrested with 2 other activists, who voiced their disdain at the actions of the City Council. Here is original story CHAOS ERUPTS AS GAYS ARRESTED WHEN PORTERVILLE VOTES TO RESCIND PRIDE PROCLAMATION
However according to her, in today's chapter of the 'Porterville Saga', she was not the bravest person in the room, by far.
THE BRAVEST PERSON IN THE ROOM
By Jennifer McGuire, July 19, 2013.
I don’t know his name. I don’t know his background. I don’t know his story. I do know he was the bravest person in the room.
The room is the City Council chambers of Porterville, on July 16, 2013, and it’s standing room only. There’s a feeling of tension that is palpable.
He is 17. He is very cute. He is wearing a rainbow bracelet shaped like a bow tie. I want to hug him. He is gay. I know he is gay because he stood up during oral communications and came out. He came out for the first time in public. He came out to the community in which he lives. He came out, unintentionally, to his family. He stood in front of a room full of people, half of which were expounding hatred and lies; in front of the council, of which 3 members were openly ridiculing his personhood; in front of news cameras and journalists and law enforcement and, thankfully, the part of the audience who were his friends and supporters of LGBTQ persons, and he came out. He shared his fear and frustration and heartbreak of being a gay teen in Porterville. He shared his story of harassment, of being bullied, of being afraid to walk down the street and of a system that wouldn’t (not “couldn’t”) protect him in the places he should feel safest – in school, in church, at home, in his community.
ONE BRAVE TEEN COMES OUT IN THE FACE OF PORTERVILLE’S HOMOPHOBIA
But on this night ...He shared his determination to leave, to never return to the place that was supposed to be home.
She goes on to note: "Realistically I know that in today’s two second headline world that Porterville is already an “old” news story, but it was, and is, a story. Thousands of people all over the country have now heard of Porterville and were outraged by the actions of the city council. And maybe one LGBTQ person in a “Porterville” somewhere else will know that as hard as it is and as painful as it is, there is love and support and acceptance, and many, many people are working and standing and screaming for them and with them, and maybe that will help them change their “Porterville.”BUT for the HERO of Porterville she adds:
''And maybe, just maybe, one kid in one “Porterville” understands that she/he is not alone, that there are people paying attention and willing to even get arrested for their right to exist, for their dignity, for their rights, and maybe, just maybe, they will not give up. And maybe, we can start seeing real change so being from a “Porterville” is not a bad thing. And for that, I am proud.
The heroes of this story are not those of us who got arrested, but the young man who came out, and I hope he knows I am proud to stand with him, and I am proud to stand up for him. The heroes are the local LGBTQ community members who have been waging this fight day in and day out for years. For him, and for them, I could not remain seated, I could not remain silent."
Excerpted with permission from blogger Melanie N.