First of all, this is my favorite Kiss Cam photo of all time. But if you’re not a Washington Nationals fan, and happen to be gay, then I can see how you would support the Pride St. Louis organization’s effort to get two guys on the Busch Stadium Kiss Cam on Saturday. The Cardinals agreed to partner with the gay group to hold an Out at the Ballpark day at Busch on Saturday, but the Kiss Cam initiative came later. It’s not known how Busch Stadium officials will respond.
So far, the closest we have in St. Louis to a gay Kiss Cam moment is Chris Carpenter kissing Jason LaRue on the cheek. Not exactly a turning point in gay civil rights.
From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Members of the group, which was organized by Ethan Barnett of Pride St. Louis, are hoping to get on the team’s “kiss cam,” to protest what they say is discrimination at sports venues against members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender) community.
They are not accusing the Cardinals of discrimating against gays and lesbians.
The idea for a kiss cam moment came about after Sunday’s Ram’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. During the game, the kiss cam focused on two men in Arizona jerseys who jeered at the camera and made expressions of distaste toward one another.
Some gays and lesbians who were at the game said it appeared that by having the kiss cam linger on the men – who seemed to them to be straight — there was an insinuation that the men were gay. The kiss cam catch was followed by hoots and derisive cheers from the audience.
“We always felt left out because the kiss cam always singles out heterosexual couples,” Harrison Roberts said today. Roberts is the manager of Just John’s on Manchester Avenue in The Grove, where the official after-party will be held on Saturday following the game.
“But after what happened at the Rams game, all the gay and lesbian fans that were there felt embarrassed and a little degraded,” he added.
“Why shouldn’t we be on the camera, too?”
There is nothing wrong or embarrassing about the love of a man for a man, or a man for a woman, or — my favorite — a woman for another woman. In fact, a nice big helping of the latter could dramatically increase attendance at Jaguars and Marlins games.
But what I’m sure would spook many franchises is the backlash from showing two guys on the Kiss Cam (if they’re not celebrities obviously doing it as a joke). I just don’t think society is that culturally evolved as of yet. But I’d be happy to be proven wrong.
But here’s another point to ponder: How is the camera operator supposed to know who is gay?
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Gays and lesbians want kiss cam parity [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
Gays, Lesbians Should Be Humiliated On Kiss-Cams, Too, So Says Gay Rights Group [Sportress of Blogitude]
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- stl85 - Sep 15, 2010 at 9:59 PM
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The event at Busch Stadium is called ‘Out at the Ballpark’. There will be 200 gays and lesbians in attendance in a resevered area of the stadium. I’m pretty sure the camera operator will be able to pick out quite a few couples!
Thank you so much for covering this story!
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- terry - Sep 16, 2010 at 7:34 AM
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someone PLEASE tell me this is a joke
PLEASE
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- Beavis - Sep 16, 2010 at 8:52 AM
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Nobody wants to see that. You don’t like the way you are treated at the ballpark? Stay home, princess.
These fruits are gonna ruin it for everybody.
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- Amanda - Sep 16, 2010 at 9:57 AM
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If you have an issue seeing 2 people kiss, then they should no show a man and a woman kiss. Why would you be for public affection for one group and not another unless you are a bigot. If YOU don;t like it, you should stay home!
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- chris - Sep 16, 2010 at 10:23 AM
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Is that Jackie Chan at the top left of the photo?
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- BC - Sep 16, 2010 at 12:15 PM
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Chris Carpenter is gay? Didn’t see that one coming.
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- Skids - Sep 17, 2010 at 9:37 AM
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Always demanding. Very intolerant. Always demanding what they want. If that’s what they want, fine, just don’t cram it down the rest of us, I don’t cram my life down theirs.
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- WhyOhWhy - Sep 18, 2010 at 1:24 AM
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Dear Skids — Do you really not understand why the GLBTQAA community is “always demanding of what they want”? It’s because they have been denied basic rights that every other American enjoys.
They can’t marry; they aren’t shown on network television in relationships that are as fleshed-out as heterosexual couples (when was the last time you saw two men or two women on NBC, CBS, ABC, or FOX in a loving, stable, sexual and otherwise affectionate relationship?); they aren’t even shown on something as seemingly insignificant as the beloved “kiss cam” without it being a joke.
And as far as having a lifestyle “crammed down” one’s throat, how would you feel if heterosexuality weren’t the norm, and all that you grew up with were images of homosexuality and the celebration of a male/male, female/female dynamic in every aspect of society?
Wouldn’t you speak up and ask for what every other American has a right to? Wouldn’t you eventually get tired of always being on the outside? Of always being told that you were less than everyone else?
If not, then you would deserve the disparity that thrives in this country when it comes to those who don’t fit the norm.
Let’s face it: America has a long way to go before non-heterosexuals are accepted, and if a small battle like the one waged over the kiss cam is won by them, then I say congratulations. It’s about time.
