The Gay Liberation Network ( GLN ) , headed by Andy Thayer, protested the "Americans for 'Truth' About Homosexuality" ( AFTAH ) annual banquet Nov. 13. The event was held at the Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights.
AFTAH, led by Executive Director Peter LaBarbera, is classified as a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and LaBarbera has been quoted as supporting Uganda's "kill the gays" bill. LaBarbera has also been a driving force to get anti-gay referenda on Illinois' ballot for many years.
Thayer told Windy City Times that the protest was to "call out the bigotry and hatred" that still exists in all corners of America. He said that direct action protest is still necessary especially after the recent election results, inaction by the Obama Administration regarding Don't Ask, Don't Tell and initiatives like Proposition 8 in California.
Dave, a dinner attendee, stayed outside for a while to talk to the protestors. He told Windy City Times that he came to the dinner "to understand homosexual behavior." Dave then said "sex outside of marriage is wrong" and noted, without being asked, that he has never been married but has sexual feelings, even though he said he does not act on them.
The protest lasted slightly more than an hour, with about 50 people from all age groups holding pro-equality signs, waving rainbow flags, banging a drum, marching and chanting slogans. Only a handful of people were seen walking into the building during the protest and the parking lot to the academy was only about one-quarter full. Many other drivers honked their horns in solidarity with the protestors.
Police were present but stayed on the sidelines, except for one incident where a local resident complained about the noise. They told her that unless she had a court order the protest could continue. She left the scene yelling at everyone present when she could not comply.
Thayer and Roger Fraser, a GLN member who lives in the area, spoke to the crowd at the close of the protest. Fraser invoked the Spartacus speech from history when everyone got up and said "I am Spartacus." As Fraser was speaking a woman came out of the building to shout at the protestors. When her shouts were ignored, she seemed startled and went back into the facility. Following the speeches the protestors gathered their signs and flags and left the area.