Storm Aborts Pope's Antigay Speech

Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.

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Trudy Ring

August 21 2011 2:30 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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Pope Benedict XVI had to cut short a speech asserting the primacy of heterosexual marriage as a severe thunderstorm hit Madrid Saturday night, Agence France-Presse reports.

Strong winds and sheets of rain hit the air base where he was speaking, blowing off his skullcap, shaking the stage, and knocking over at least one tent.

About 1.5 million people had gathered to hear the speech, in which the pope proclaimed that marriage is solely a union between a man and a woman and cannot be dissolved. "The Lord calls many people to marriage, in which a man and a woman, in becoming one flesh, find fulfillment in a profound life of communion," he said. Vatican officials said the full text of Benedict's speech would be released in writing.

Gays and lesbians in Spain, where same-sex marriage is legal, have been angered by the pope's visit. Police foiled protesters' plans to stage a gay couples' kiss-in Thursday, although at least one couple managed a kiss in front as the pope's vehicle went by.