Sometimes, the best way to deal with homophobes is to show them what they’re missing.
When professional wrestler Anthony Bowens and his boyfriend, Michael Pavano, came across a group of anti-gay protestors, they opted to seize the opportunity to show their love can’t be broken down by hate. The two posed for a photo right in front of the protestors’ malicious signage, sharing a kiss.
“#Standup against hate,” Bowens wrote.
It wasn’t immediately clear why the homophobes, who carried signs like “Trump, Make America Great Again: Ban Homo Marriage” and “Homos Go To Hell. Repent. Obey Jesus,” were protesting this time, but it seems they always find some excuse to put their hostility on display.
But the world continues to pass them by, as evidenced by the support Bowens and Pavano received online.
\u201c@Thee_Punisher @michaelpavano @glaad @HRC Love this, thank you John\u201d— Anthony Bowens (@Anthony Bowens) 1638742911
\u201cJust a badass wrestling star, kissing his boyfriend in front of a bunch of bigots. \n\nLike your style, @Bowens_Official \ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffb\u201d— Jack Murley (@Jack Murley) 1638820041
\u201c@LewisTowers @Bowens_Official @michaelpavano @glaad @HRC He\u2019s just devastated he\u2019s not getting smooch from the hunks in front of him\u201d— Anthony Bowens (@Anthony Bowens) 1638742911
\u201clong live the love #LGBTQ \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Nikki&Briefanpage (@Nikki&Briefanpage) 1638831421
\u201cAbsolute legends! \n\nMad respect for @Bowens_Official and @michaelpavano! \u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Ace Trainer Liam (@Ace Trainer Liam) 1638795648
Despite the outpouring of praise for showing these protestors what love is really about, Bowens has previously spoken out about dealing with negativity online, and particularly homophobia.
“I get a lot of cool messages from people all over the world, thanking me for doing what I’m doing. Which reinforces the fact that it was a good decision to come out,” he told Fightful. “The negative being… I guess, really it’s only online. It’s a ridiculous stat but like 100% of all negativity has legitimately just come from either YouTube or Twitter comments.”
\u201cWith the stuff @michaelpavano & I get almost daily on @YouTube, I\u2019m glad there\u2019s someone like @guskenworthy who\u2019s at the forefront of everything to share this info. Homophobia is far from dead and our work to combat it is far from over. https://t.co/iebfa3IE9R\u201d— Anthony Bowens (@Anthony Bowens) 1519768521
Still, the athlete, who came out as bisexual in 2017 and gay in 2019, clearly knows how to deal with the real life trolls as well. So keep on protesting, homophobes, and the LGBTQ+ community will just keep repurposing your hate as a vaguely amusing backdrop for a photoshoot.
Injured UConn Huskies guard Azzi Fudd (left) and UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers look on as the team warms up prior to the women's college basketball game between Villanova Wildcats and UConn Huskies on January 29, 2023.M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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