Lez Keep It Real

Remember the “fag bug?”
Here’s an update from Erin Davies herself:

Last weekend, fagbug was in her first pride parades, Syracuse (my hometown) and Albany (where I live now). My mom, sister, niece and girlfriend marched with me at Syracuse Pride.

As we were lining up to be in the parade everyone that was involved noticed my car and had a dialogue about it. It’s interesting to see how gay people respond in a gay setting versus the general public outside of a gay setting. Because I was at a gay pride event people seem to wonder if it’s a real thing or not.

In the general public when I’m getting gas or groceries no one seems to question it. They take it for face value. Someone spray painted my car. The morning I went to get ready for Albany Pride, I went to my car and received my 6th note on my car. It read, “I saw what someone did to your car a week or so ago and it really made me sad. I think hate like that hurts everyone whether they be gay or straight or other. I would like you to know that there are good people out there. Please have a night out on me. It’s not much but I hope it helps. ~A neighbor”

This neighbor left me two free tickets to an independent movie theatre as well as a $10 gift certificate to the cafe next door. Although one person did something hurtful, this whole experience has been so positive to realize how many more good people there are in the world.Albany pride was very emotional beginning with getting this letter on my dash to start it all off. I feel I’ve gotten both positive and negative support in Albany in general and even within my own friend group. Some people are 100% behind me others are 0%. Because of making this so public I am opening myself up to all types of critique. Given that I’ve received some negative feedback in my own hometown, it was emotional to drive my car in the parade. I didn’t expect it but toward the end I just started balling my eyes out. I got a ton of support from everyone on the parade route and it just sort of made everything come out. I felt like what I was doing was really big even for myself, to get negative feedback and still be driving my car around.

It’s really hard day to day, and I am always vulnerable with it. I don’t think I had ever just cried about what actually happened, but being in the Albany parade, where it happened, and where I’m receiving a lot of criticism, made it all gush out. Every emotional I felt about it came out. I wiped my tears and kept driving and tried to smile and wave to everyone. I was so please to see all the support I had as a whole. So many people came to my booth and hugged me and shook my hand. I even met the mayor of Albany and the Chief of Police who are going to help catch the person who did it.

Erin Davies will be checking in weekly to let us us know where the “fag bug” is going on its cross-country journey, and what she’s been up to along the way. Keep a look out to see where the “fag bug” has been spotted next!

Erin Davies, fag bug, hate crime, fag bug campaign, activism on wheels