Went with my lady to a taqueria after she had a long day working construction. The taco truck is outside a popular restaurant, and she asked to sit outside because she was dirty from work. Delightedly eating some delicious tacos with hot sauce and grilled green onion, we were having a good time. Out of the restaurant came a middle aged white man, who approached us and stood next to my girl. He started to try to impress her, asking if he could eat her jalapeño, to show how macho tough he is and that he likes Mexican food. He spoke some broken Spanish and explained that he is a lawyer for immigrant cases. Ooh isn’t he fancy? And I bet he thinks that every latino in the US needs saving.

I listened halfway as I continued to dig into my delicious tacos, covered in sauce and lemon juice. But then he reached over and touched her hair, saying how he liked women who work. He was picking out a clump of dried cement from her hair. She calmly but directly reacted by introducing me as her girlfriend. I said hello and thought that all was fine now that he knew to back off. But no, he sarcastically said, “Hello girlfriend,” and proceeded to continue to order a taco and a beer, not listening to the grillers who tried to tell him to order a drink inside.

Then he went in for a beer and came back out, and started chatting up my lady again. He asked about her school and work, and again reached for her hair. This time I was watching him and reached across to catch his hand and push it away telling him to back off. He said to me, “Oh yeah? Let me see you whip it out.” Ok, pause right there. What the fuck does this dumb ass think he is doing talking to me like that? If I were a man he would never had kept pushing in on her and he would not have talked to me like that. What a childish fool and a loser.

I had enough words for him to make him leave, and I never felt in danger. There were many people around all watching and listening, quite amused. He ordered his one taco to go, considering my hostility and I had to help the oblivious dumbass to understand to also pay for it inside. After he was gone I was saying aloud, just to myself and my partner what a pinche gringo de la mierda, pendejo maleducato he is. This means loosely that he is a fucking stupid American redneck, uneducated idiot. The grillers as well as the people around the grill waiting for food all were laughing and listening. One guy asked, “Pero señorita, pensé que tu fueras de aqui también?” Ma’am, I thought you also were from here?

I told them that yes I am from here but that I do not act like him and do not condone his behavior. It is appalling that a simple dinner with my girl had to become a defense of my relationship and gender and sexuality. Fuck y’all! And grow up! America is not gonna ever be great with fuckers like him around and this Great American Movement is only taking us backward. “F” for the American South and small-mindedness.