I am involved in some political organizations both in my town and regionally.  One person involved in our local group is now the leader of an LGBT caucus.  The caucus had its first event yesterday.  It was in town so hubby and I walked down, since the weather was so nice.  The restaurant is in an old train station and you get to the other side of the tracks via an underground tunnel.  We come to the end of the tunnel and there is a policeman coming out of the restaurant's foyer into the tunnel.  We say our hello's and go upstairs to the shindig. We figured the cop was there to say "hi" to someone he knew who worked there.  We were way off.

It turns out the police department thought it would be a good idea to have police presence at the event for protection.  As a volunteers in the town, hubby and I have been to many dinners and parties held by organizations here.  There was never a need for police presence.  Until now.  This was an LGBT event.  Held in a conservative town in a conservative county.  When we moved here, there was a second floor apartment above a store on Main Street that had a confederate flag in the window.  We now have a gay mayor and a gay alderman.  Need I say more?

So while we were being social and meeting and talking to people, the need for protection left my brain.  The event was so nice.  The food was good, the vibe was friendly.  In addition, the event raised a ton of money for the caucus and the work they plan on doing.

Then we left and there was the cop, at the door, protecting us.  Protecting us from the types of people that have been given free reign to express and act upon years of built up hatred toward people who have never done a thing to hurt them.  Let me be clear, the police presence had nothing to do with the couple of legislators there to speak.  It was obvious that this kind of gathering could be a target for someone who hates this population and those of us who support them.

I am getting very emotionally and physically tired of dealing with the way things are right now.  I am supposed to let my students and GSA kids know things will be OK, but I am lying through my teeth.