When high school junior Makaila Ragan noticed two men waving anti-gay signs outside her mother's Oregon workplace, she decided to
do something about it.
"I was so irritated because I see them all around town and all they ever do is make people feel like crap about themselves,” said Ragan, a junior at Tillamook High School. The men were standing outside Eyes of Oregon, on 1st Street and Main Avenue, where her mother works. “I went inside and asked her and her boss if it would be all right if I made a poster that stands up for what I believe in,” she said. “They were totally all for it. So I made a sign that said, ‘I love Gays.’” The two men, said Makaila, began insulting her personally. “They were calling me names, and asking my mom questions, like, ‘How many times did you have to get an abortion before you were able to have your daughter?’ and saying, ‘You’re going to burn in hell right along with your daughter.’ The things they were saying were just awful, but I didn’t let them faze me.”
Makaila's one-person counter-protest was soon joined by many others and eventually more than 40 supporters had shown up to stand next to her with signs of their own. After more than six hours, the haters finally went home. Over on Facebook, Makaila has
vowed to return. Her mom says, "Makaila stood up. Boy, did she ever! Look what she did – wow! I’m so, so proud of her."
(Tipped by JMG reader Jay)Labels: Oregon, parenting, religion, wonderful
