The assorted bloggers decided to take on the throng of protestors outside the Greater Exodus Baptist Church around 5:30 this afternoon, so the four of us trekked across the street in the 30-degree weather to talk to all five of them. Actually, when we started, only three protestors stood across the street from the church, but two more joined in once we got there.

Stacy and Sparkle got photos and LaShawn got audio of the casual interviews, while I just more or less chatted with them. They represented no organization, just themselves, although they had laser-print signs that they obviously made at home. The first three all seemed very young, and two of them had little to say about the event other than they "hated those people" (the Christians, not specifically the GEBC). One of them appeared somewhat passionate about his protest, but he still mostly talked in slogans. His sign read "Want a Theocracy? GO TO IRAN!" and like Joey Steele earlier today, he somehow equated Christians giving their opinion on politics to an impending theocracy.

The two newcomers turned out to be a gay couple in their thirties that wanted to protest against Bush's anti-gay policies. They turned out to be much more lucid about their intent, as well as their chances of changing anything with this event. I spoke at length with one of the two men, who lamented the poor turnout for any kind of protest and wondered where the Alito opposition went tonight. Gay marriage was his partner's main cause, and I found out that Pennsylvania does not allow for domestic partnerships, either. According to the two men, Ed Rendell pushed partnerships through as mayor of Philadelphia but has apparently refused to stand up for them statewide now that he's governor. I'm about as tepid as can be on gay marriage -- I don't oppose it as long as it becomes law through non-judicial means -- but domestic partnerships should present few issues for conservatives who believe in freedom to enter into contractual relationships.

Fortunately, when we returned, Charmaine Yoest brought in hot coffee from a local Dunkin' Donuts. Man, it's cold out there.

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