HomeNewsLocalColumns

Gays and lesbians want kiss cam parity

Share |
Gays and lesbians want kiss cam parity
Font Size:
Default font size
Larger font size
  • Share
photo

KISS CAM CONUMDRUM: About 200 gay men and lesbians were planning to partner with the St. Louis Cardinals to hold an "OUT at the Ballpark" afternoon at Busch stadium on Saturday, hoping for nothing more than good weather and an inspiring performance from the Redbirds.

But now 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?"

Roberts said he sent the Cardinals an e-mail tonight asking them to allow members of the LGBT community to be caught kissing on the kiss cam.

 

Copyright 2012 STLtoday.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Print Email

Sponsored Links

Deb Peterson

Deb Peterson dishes the scoop on the rich, the famous, the power elite and the little guys. From charity balls and tony restaurants to neighborhood parties and hometown affairs, she's got the goods -- and the gossip -- on them all.

most popular