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I hate protestors. To me, standing on the corner of a street holding a sign with radical text plastered across a piece of paper accomplishes nothing. Am I going to change my views from one to another because your sign says my morals are wrong? No. If anything, it only fuels the fire inside me to continue to believe in what I find true.

I went to see The Full Monty at the Omaha Community Playhouse this past Friday. As soon as I got out of my car a Christian protestor was standing outside, megaphone in hand, telling all the ticket holders to "turn away from the sin." I looked at him, smiled and walked through the glass doors.

Honestly, what do people like him expect us to do? Turn away and get back into our cars because they told us that we were being sinful?

Give me a break. What gives this man the right to tell me what is right and wrong? He told us that we should have spent the $35 used to buy tickets to feed starving children. Then again, instead of standing outside yelling uneducated hate towards respectful people, this man could have used the money spent on that megaphone, the poster board and, more importantly, the time he is wasting by standing outside on these starving children he so passionately speaks of.

I'm constantly fighting for my personal human rights. I'm gay. I want to get married. I want to adopt children. Two things that I can't do right now. Sure, I could stand outside on the corner of 72nd and Dodge with a poster in my hand saying "support the gays," but nothing would be accomplished. I would get the occasional supporter, but me standing outside with a sign isn't going to persuade people who are already against me to start supporting my cause.

There are other ways. I write for a gay news magazine informing our community on advancements in human rights; a friend of mine volunteers at a 24-hour help line for troubled youth; my mom and dad pray and show love and support to their families on a daily basis. We are all accomplishing things and fighting for things we believe in, in our own ways. And we aren't using poster board, standing outside or wasting our breath yelling for support.

The man who stands outside of the Planned Parenthood building on 46th and Dodge streets accomplishes nothing. He holds a cross and a poster with mutilated dead babies. Young girls who enter the building in search of a shoulder to cry on are instilled with shame.

The women who were standing on 72nd and Dodge this past Saturday with signs saying "close our borders" accomplished nothing. Although immigrants who crossed the borders in hopes of a better life are also filled with shame.

We all have certain beliefs that make us unique. I look forward to one day walking down 72nd and Dodge streets, past the protestors, holding my husband's hand without any fear of second glances.

Would that be considered a protest in itself? Perhaps. But think of how much more that would accomplish. Maybe the old couple driving past me will have never seen two gay men holding hands. We will look normal, and even happy. Maybe we will have our children sitting on our shoulders. The children will look happy, too. A protest in itself, and no poster or megaphone required.

Silence truly can be the best tool. Don't throw your beliefs in my face. I respect them, but I don't necessarily agree with them. The Christian standing outside the playhouse disagreed with me going to the play; well, I disagree with some of his beliefs. However, I am not going to stand in front of his church yelling words of hate. I respect his beliefs. I just don't want to hear them.

So grab your poster and pen and protest if you must. I will continue to drive by you and sympathize for the time you are wasting. While you're standing outside, I'll be inside silently fighting for my rights and making progress everyday, which in turn will potentially give you more things to protest against.

Protest that.

Send questions and comments to mmcmanus@mail.unomaha.edu

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