Tens of thousands across America protest marriage ban

[PageOneQ]

Source: Reuters

Thousands of gay marriage advocates held boisterous rallies Saturday across the United States and abroad in a coordinated protest of California's vote this month to ban same-sex marriage.

In Manhattan, where some protesters were offering hula-hoop demonstrations, Sean Petersen, 21, a musician from Brooklyn, called the vote "mean-spirited and divisive."

In Chicago, Andy Thayer, a co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network, exhorted a crowd that had listened to a gay men's choir sing a peppy version of the hymn "Down by the Riverside" to follow through on the spirit of the protest.

Read more: http://pageoneq.com/news/2008/Tens_of_thousands_across_America_protest_marriage_1115.html

[WillParkinson]

1. Gay marriage advocates?

How about equal right advocates? Equal treatment? It's not just about marriage.

[Booster]

2. As a single person, I totally agree. How about we all get the

same benefits?

[yardwork]

4. I agree. I've got your back.

[CTyankee]

3. We MUST support our gay and lesbian friends in this struggle!

It is important in teaching about the equal protection of the laws clause of the 14th amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

OF COURSE, it is about equal rights. Don't you get it that it is a teachable moment?

[yardwork]

6. I think that's what the OP meant. Thank you for your support! It IS about equal rights.

[yardwork]

5. Why don't the media mention the votes in Arizona, Arkansas, and Florida too?

It's not just California, which actually has a civil union option for gay people. The vote in Florida on election day makes it impossible for gay people there to get married or have civil unions. The vote in Arkansas makes it impossible for any single people to adopt.

This is a lot bigger than just Proposition 8.

[AllyCat]

32. My question too YW. Why is it only CA??? So many states have

voted on these exclusionary hate bills.

[LiberalFighter]

7. Just think how much this would boost the economy if allowed to marry.

[zelta gaisma]

8. hell my TEN YEAR OLD daughter said ...

banning same-sex marriage was the stupidest idea ever. Who CARES who marries who? You don't like same sex marriage? Don't marry someone of your sex... simple huh?

[grantdevine]

9. Two questions here.....

1. What happens to gay marriages that already took place in California?

2. Can the California Supreme Court overturn the ballot decision, as the protesters are demanding? Is that a legal possibility?

Thx.

[AntiFascist]

10. The CA government is assuring us that existing marriages will not be affected...

and there are 3 lawsuits filed making a strong case for overturning the initiative, with a number of groups providing "friend of the court" documents providing additional legal arguments.

Civil rights groups have even filed a separate petition arguing that minority rights in general will be at risk if Prop 8 is allowed to stand:

http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/prop8.htm

[grantdevine]

11. Thanks! n/t

[LiberalFighter]

36. Businesses that rely on the marriage business should support this if they were smart.

[Mari333]

12. great video footage from san diego

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-148152

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Wow that is awesome

[sabra]

13. Across nation, gay advocates protest marriage ban

Source: AP

BOSTON (AP) — Gay rights supporters waving rainbow colors marched, chanted and danced in cities coast to coast Saturday to protest the vote that banned gay marriage in California and to urge supporters not to quit the fight for the right to wed.

Crowds gathered near public buildings in cities large and small, including Boston, San Francisco, Chicago and Fargo, to vent their frustrations, celebrate gay relationships and renew calls for change.

"Civil marriages are a civil right, and we're going to keep fighting until we get the rights we deserve as American citizens," said Karen Amico, one of several hundred protesters in Philadelphia, holding up a sign reading "Don't Spread H8".

"We are the American family, we live next door to you, we teach your children, we take care of your elderly," said Heather Baker a special education teacher from Boston who addressed the crowd at Boston's City Hall Plaza. "We need equal rights across the country."

...

Balliett said supporters in 300 cities in the U.S. and other countries were holding marches, and she estimated 1 million people would participate, based on responses at the Web sites her group set up.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hZmLBrL36NObNyMR0ghXN7vB5hYwD94FO8Q80

[liberalmuse]

14. I just got back from the rally in Seattle.

It was huge! Police say there were around 6,000 protestors, but it looked like there were more people than that. It was the largest protest/rally I've ever been to!

[ksimons]

15. kewl - !! nt

[2QT2BSTR8]

16. Stop the H8 Rally in Dallas, TX

Lots of pictures!


http://www.flickr.com/photos/tccturtle/

[Nikki Stone1]

17. Fantastic

I wish it didn't have to be done, but fantastic.

[Divine Discontent]

18. I did my best to attend one here in CA but I couldn't find the place very well

found 'em late! They were really nice and I'm sure they (and everyone else who marched/rallied) made us all proud.

Many different Yes We Did items in the Obama/Biden section www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[No Elephants]

19. It should have been millions of persons demonstrating.

[AllyCat]

30. It probably was, but our media has a history of under-reporting groups of people

at rallies for things the M$M otherwise support. Take the run-up to the Iraq War for example. They reported "scores of thousands" in Washington. Photos from that day showed crowds as far as the eye could see coming down every street.

Maybe it's not millions, but it's probably more than the media are reporting.

[machI]

20. Kicked and Recommended

[southern_belle]

22. k & r

[RedLetterRev]

23. Even in li'l-ole Greensboro

we had a good turnout. It wasn't just an LGBTQ thing -- it was a thoroughly diverse crowd. Quite a few hetero families showed up in support.

Everyone seemed to get it: if any right can be taken away from any group of people, any right could be taken away from everyone.

I really think that was the Dominionists' test: to see if they could successfully remove existing rights from any class of people. Once a precedent was set for removing civil rights, it gets easier and easier to remove rights until there are no rights left and the few can rule absolutely. They've had a long-standing, admitted goal of usurping the Constitution and those pesky civil rights are the biggest roadblocks.

Good battle fought, this time, but we must be vigilant every second. Evil never sleeps and you can betcherass they've already plotted the next way to repeal rights. They're going to have to be smacked down into non-existence.

[Seldona]

24. It was awesome to see.

I am glad the community has responded with such great action. I hope the lawsuits already underway will rectify this situation. They sure didn't waste any time! Good!

[NJCher]

27. I don't think those Prop 8 organizers anticipated this

It's backfiring. If these protests keep up, it can only build the gay/lesbian social activist/protest community and the result will be gay marriage everywhere.

I liked what Wanda Sykes said yesterday:

Sykes said in her speech that she believes passing Proposition 8 will ultimately backfire for those who are against gay marriage.

"They pissed off the wrong group of people," she told the crowd. "They have galvanized a community. We are so together now and we all want the same thing and we shouldn’t have to settle for less. Instead of having gay marriage in California, no, we’re gonna have gay marriage across the country."

And I love it that the lawsuits are already filed!!



Cher

[Seldona]

28. "They pissed off the wrong group of people,"

Damn straight. Pun intended. hehe

[mondo joe]

29. We need to resurrect that old DON'T TREAD ON ME flag. NT

[Lost River Ledger]

25. If Pat Robertson was right about New Orleans…….

Can we take the leap of faith that the Orange County, CA fires are god’s retribution for voting for Prop 8….good for the goose…then good for the gander….. :sarcasm:

[cooolandrew]

26. Way cool there is 53 percent of us, let's all work to get this wedge issue off the table.

[AllyCat]

31. Just curious...why are we only protesting CA??? There were 2 other states

that did the same thing this past election as well as many others in elections. Is it the way the language is written, momentum, both and more? Just wondering. If someone could point me to a thread, that would be fine too. I have not been on in several days. Thanks.

[Kerrytravelers]

34. I would think two things:

1. In California, the right to Marriage Equality was taken away after it was already granted. Not only was it denied, but it was actually taken away.

2. California is generally seen as a more liberal, progressive state and it is a trend-setter, so by the passage of h8, it sent a message to the rest of the country that if it can be done here, it can be done anywhere.


In the end, I think it is a rallying call. It isn't just about Prop 8, but for equality in general. However, Prop 8 rhymes with hate, and that makes for a more coherent chant and equation with bigotry and hate. It's a hook.

[mondo joe]

39. Because CA is the state where existing marriage law was overturned, mostly.

Also because CA is where we'd most expect to not have that loss.

Getting a taste of equality and losing it is even worse than not having it to begin with.

[Kajsa]

33. We had a great turnout here in Costa Mesa, yesterday.

Several hundred people showed up to line Bear Street at a major
intersection crossing South Coast Drive. Two large shopping plazas
converge there.

It was very peaceful, and the CM police just politely reminded a few
to stay out of the street ( safety).

We had families, singles, gays and straights,our kids and even a few
dogs who got lots of attention. :)

Photos from Flickr,

http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=34659189681&view=all

Contrary to the local news story, we had a LOT of support from passing
motorists and I remember ONE heckler in the several hours I was there.

The press seems to forget that a lot of Str8 against H8 demonstrators
were there, myself included.

A right was TAKEN AWAY from our fellow Californians for the first time
in the history of our State Constitution.

No, we aren't going to "accept it" and we aren't going away!

Here's the local news article- the photographer got everyone chanting
which occurred 10% of the time, it was over 90 degrees in the sun.

http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2008/11/16/topstory/dpt-protest111608.txt


btw,

breaking down the votes in OC, Costa Mesa( by a narrow margin) voted AGAINST
Prop. 8 as did Irvine, Aliso Viejo and Laguna Beach.

[ihavenobias]

40. Very cool n/t

[ohio2007]

35. If prop 8 result would have been the other way, I would guess nationwide protests would have

increased and the domino effect of trendy California would have been underway.

The state needs to define why marriage between a man and a woman is a hate crime against a minority without having religion enter the argument.


It seems the real stick is about religion. Hell, the mormons and muslims have views on the # of wives that a man is allowed.How about hindus and thier views on the US beef industry ?
Are they next to demand freedom to practice their beliefs ?



just saying,
Instead of protesters offering hula-hoop demonstrations in Manhatten,

let California vote on it again in a less confusing worded ballot on what the real rights being demanded.
Hell, anybody has the right to get divorced in the eyes of the church and state if things don't pan out.


http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a4a_1226822318

[Strathos]

37. I marched in Nashville

It was amazing. The feeling of togetherness by our gay community was heartwarming and goosepimple inducing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yamcOL7bkaw

[hunter]

38. Gay rights are YOUR rights.

If one group's civil rights can be taken away for reason of religion then ANY group's civil rights can be taken away. The supporters of Proposition 8 seek only one thing: to break down the barriers between church and state. They don't really give a damn about gay marriage or any other secular relationship, they only seek to increase the political power of their respective churches. They will break from the basic tenants of their own religious faith to accomplish this, and most particularly in the case of Christians, they will bear false witness against their neighbors.

Proposition 8 is a lie, a cheat, and a steal. It was passed by cynically inflaming the hatreds and fears of the ignorant; it is in no way an expression of love of neighbor or quiet faith.

If we allow any religion to violate the human rights of gay people, if we do not stand against legislation like Proposition 8, then the churches of tyranny will gain greater control of our government machinery and further violate the Constitutional rights of all people.

I marched with pride yesterday among my brothers and my sisters. I stand proudly against tyranny of any kind, most especially against the tyranny of hatred and fear, and the churches that exploit these hatreds and fear.

[indypaul]

41. This country had better start paying a little more attention

to what is happening in the boardrooms and less attention
to the the bedrooms if this current economic crisis is
ever going to be solved.

[Odin2005]

42. This will turn out to be very much a Pyrric victory for the Religious Right

They just stepped over the usually unspoken taboo in the libertarian-minded American psyche about taking away rights people already have, no matter what a particular person's views on same-sex unions are most Americans are disgusted by the idea of legislating away rights.