Across U.S., Thousands Protest Gay Ban

Advocates March Following Passage Of Calif.'s Prop. 8 Rescinding Rights Of Same-Sex Marriage

(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."

Connecticut, which began same-sex weddings this past week, and Massachusetts are the only two states that allow gay marriage. The other 48 states do not, and 30 of them have taken the extra step of approving constitutional amendments. A few states allow civil unions or domestic partnerships that grant some rights of marriage.

Protests following the vote on Proposition 8 in California, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman, have sometimes been angry and even violent, and demonstrators have targeted faiths that supported the ban, including the Mormon Church.

However, representatives of Join the Impact, which organized Saturday's demonstrations, asked supporters to be respectful and refrain from attacking other groups during the rallies.

Seattle blogger Amy Balliett, who started the planning for the protests when she set up a Web page three days after the California vote, said persuasion is impossible without civility.

"If we can move anybody past anger and have a respectful conversation, then you can plant the seed of change," she said.

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.

"We need to show the world when one thing happens to one of us, it happens to all of us," she said.

The protests were widely reported to be peaceful, and the mood in Boston was generally upbeat, with attendees dancing to the song "Respect." Signs cast the fight for gay marriage as the new civil rights movement, including one that read "Gay is the new black."

But anger over the ban and its backers was evident at the protests.

One sign in Chicago, where several thousand people gathered, read: "Catholic Fascists Stay Out of Politics."

"I just found out that my state doesn't really think I'm a person," said Rose Aplustill, 21, a Boston University student from Los Osos, Calif., who was one of thousands at the Boston rally.

In San Francisco (left), demonstrators took shots at some religious groups that supported the ban, including a sign aimed at the Mormon Church and its abandoned practice of polygamy that read: "You have three wives; I want one husband."

Chris Norberg, who married his partner in June, also referred to the racial divisions that arose after exit polls found that majorities of blacks and Hispanics supported the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

"They voted against us," Norberg said.

In Salt Lake City, where demonstrators gathered just blocks from the headquarters of the Mormon Church, one sign pictured the city's temple with a line adapted from former Republican vice president candidate Sarah Palin: "I can see discrimination from my house."

More than 500 demonstrators in Washington marched from the U.S. Capitol through the city carrying signs and chanting "One, two, three, four, love is what we're fighting for!"

A public plaza at the foot of New York's Brooklyn Bridge was packed by a cheering crowd of thousands, including people who waved rainbow flags and wore pink buttons that said "I do."

Protests were low-key in North Dakota, where people lined a bridge in Fargo carrying signs and flags.

Mike Bernard, who was in the crowd of hundreds at City Hall in Baltimore, said Proposition 8 could end up being a good thing for gay rights advocates.

"It was a swift kick in the rear end," he said.

In Los Angeles, protesters gathered near City Hall before marching through downtown. Police said 10,000 to 12,000 people demonstrated.

Supporters of traditional marriage said the rallies may have generated publicity but ultimately made no difference.

"They had everything in the world going for them this year, and they couldn't win," said Frank Schubert, co-manager of the Yes on 8 campaign in California. "I don't think they're going to be any more successful in 2010 or 2012."

In Chicago, Keith Smith, 42, a postal worker, and his partner, Terry Romo, 34, a Wal-Mart store manager, had photos of a commitment ceremony they held, though gay marriage is not legal in Illinois.

"We're not going to wait for no law," Smith said. "But time's going to be on our side and it's going to change."

[ffoulkes-2009]

It is my OPINION, ffoulkes, that you are merely playing with semantics and coming to conclusions based on misinformation and religious beliefs that are espoused by uneducated buffoons of a religious system that lacks the ability to interpret and understand its own scriptural text. Why don''''t you say something original based on real and solid information rather than spouting off the same useless rhetoric that we''''ve ALL heard before and has no bearing in religion? Show me legitimate reasons as to why same-*** marriage should not be allowed. Perhaps, in another time, you''''d have dozens of slaves, of whom you''''d beat daily for kicks and giggles; along with a wife whom you married for economical reasons, not love, and is fearful of speaking her mind, lest she be punished for expressing her individuality.

Posted by queryme at 07:54 AM : Nov 18, 2008
_______________________________
You are entitled to your OPINION as am I. MY opinion differs from yours. You have no way of proving your opinion is the correct one as I have no way of proving mine is.

You have quite some hostility toward those who don''t agree with you and always blame religion. You are the one pulling from the past postings to make your points. I would never have owned slaves, and frankly that is an ENTIRELY different type of situation.. apples to oranges.

[ffoulkes-2009]

Yeah, "opinion", like: blacks shouldn''''t be allowed to sit in the front of the bus. My OPINION is that Jews shouldn''''t be allowed to own property in the US. My OPINION is that women should never make more than 50% of what men make for the same job. Yeah, MY OPINION all right, and a BIGOT is still a BIGOT - and that''''s YOU you ignorant coward.

Posted by ThinTheHerd2 at 05:33 AM : Nov 18, 2008
_________________________________________
Sorry...seems like you have too much hatred in you to see the truth in this matter. Perhaps you should go to a doctor. I hear prozac is good for what ails you.

[barbaram99]

They have the same rights as me and ye. They don''t get my vote. Marriage for bringing children into the would. It is not for same gender. I don''t hate them. What is this nation coming to.

[queryme]

It is my OPINION, ffoulkes, that you are merely playing with semantics and coming to conclusions based on misinformation and religious beliefs that are espoused by uneducated buffoons of a religious system that lacks the ability to interpret and understand its own scriptural text. Why don''t you say something original based on real and solid information rather than spouting off the same useless rhetoric that we''ve ALL heard before and has no bearing in government? Show me legitimate reasons as to why same-*** marriage should not be allowed. Perhaps, in another time, you''d have dozens of slaves, of whom you''d beat daily for kicks and giggles; along with a wife whom you married for economical reasons, not love, and is fearful of speaking her mind, lest she be punished for expressing her individuality.

[queryme]

It is my OPINION, ffoulkes, that you are merely playing with semantics and coming to conclusions based on misinformation and religious beliefs that are espoused by uneducated buffoons of a religious system that lacks the ability to interpret and understand its own scriptural text. Why don''t you say something original based on real and solid information rather than spouting off the same useless rhetoric that we''ve ALL heard before and has no bearing in government? Show me legitimate reasons as to why same-*** marriage should not be allowed. Perhaps, in another time, you''d have dozens of slaves, of whom you''d beat daily for kicks and giggles; along with a wife whom you married for economical reasons, not love, and is fearful of speaking her mind, lest she be punished for expressing her individuality.

[queryme]

It is my OPINION, ffoulkes, that you are merely playing with semantics and coming to conclusions based on misinformation and religious beliefs that are espoused by uneducated buffoons of a religious system that lacks the ability to interpret and understand its own scriptural text. Why don''t you say something original based on real and solid information rather than spouting off the same useless rhetoric that we''ve ALL heard before and has no bearing in government? Show me legitimate reasons as to why same-*** marriage should not be allowed. Perhaps, in another time, you''d have dozens of slaves, of whom you''d beat daily for kicks and giggles; along with a wife whom you married for economical reasons, not love, and is fearful of speaking her mind, lest she be punished for expressing her individuality.

[queryme]

It is my OPINION, ffoulkes, that you are merely playing with semantics and coming to conclusions based on misinformation and religious beliefs that are espoused by uneducated buffoons of a religious system that lacks the ability to interpret and understand its own scriptural text. Why don''t you say something original based on real and solid information rather than spouting off the same useless rhetoric that we''ve ALL heard before and has no bearing in government? Show me legitimate reasons as to why same-*** marriage should not be allowed. Perhaps, in another time, you''d have dozens of slaves, of whom you''d beat daily for kicks and giggles; along with a wife whom you married for economical reasons, not love, and is fearful of speaking her mind, lest she be punished for expressing her individuality.

[queryme]

It is my OPINION, ffoulkes, that you are merely playing with semantics and coming to conclusions based on misinformation and religious beliefs that are espoused by uneducated buffoons of a religious system that lacks the ability to interpret and understand its own scriptural text. Why don''t you say something original based on real and solid information rather than spouting off the same useless rhetoric that we''ve ALL heard before and has no bearing in government? Show me legitimate reasons as to why same-*** marriage should not be allowed. Perhaps, in another time, you''d have dozens of slaves, of whom you''d beat daily for kicks and giggles; along with a wife whom you married for economical reasons, not love, and is fearful of speaking her mind, lest she be punished for expressing her individuality.

[queryme]

It is my OPINION, ffoulkes, that you are merely playing with semantics and coming to conclusions based on misinformation and religious beliefs that are espoused by uneducated buffoons of a religious system that lacks the ability to interpret and understand its own scriptural text. Why don''t you say something original based on real and solid information rather than spouting off the same useless rhetoric that we''ve ALL heard before and has no bearing in government? Show me legitimate reasons as to why same-*** marriage should not be allowed. Perhaps, in another time, you''d have dozens of slaves, of whom you''d beat daily for kicks and giggles; along with a wife whom you married for economical reasons, not love, and is fearful of speaking her mind, lest she be punished for expressing her individuality.

[queryme]

It is my OPINION, ffoulkes, that you are merely playing with semantics and coming to conclusions based on misinformation and religious beliefs that are espoused by uneducated buffoons of a religious system that lacks the ability to interpret and understand its own scriptural text. Why don''t you say something original based on real and solid information rather than spouting off the same useless rhetoric that we''ve ALL heard before and has no bearing in religion? Show me legitimate reasons as to why same-*** marriage should not be allowed. Perhaps, in another time, you''d have dozens of slaves, of whom you''d beat daily for kicks and giggles; along with a wife whom you married for economical reasons, not love, and is fearful of speaking her mind, lest she be punished for expressing her individuality.

[ffoulkes-2009]

I believe that denying a group of people equal rights under the law based on your dislike for them is the essence of bigotry. You may criticize them all you like, but the minute you deny them equal rights, you become a bigot, plain and simple. Remember, gay people aren''''t trying to take away your right to marry, it is you who is trying to take away their rights. In my book, that makes you the bigot.

Posted by RationalTalk at 11:59 PM : Nov 17, 2008
________________________________
Frankly I doubt anyone on this board actually voted yes OR no on this proposition. I live in a different state, so I personally didn''t vote, thus I denied no one anything.

All I see are people expressing their opinions here...not denying anyone''s rights. I think you should really work on that bigotry...it doesn''t look good on you.

[rationaltalk]

First...who are YOU to decide who is a ''''bigot''''? The definition is someone who has strong opinions on politics, religion or ethnicity and refuses to accept different views. This really sounds like Gay s. YOUR opinion is the only one that is ''''RIGHT'''', and everyone else is hateful, fearful, and/or bigoted.

Look at the mirror and see the true bigot on this board.

Posted by ffoulkes at 11:48 PM : Nov 17, 2008

I believe that denying a group of people equal rights under the law based on your dislike for them is the essence of bigotry. You may criticize them all you like, but the minute you deny them equal rights, you become a bigot, plain and simple. Remember, gay people aren''t trying to take away your right to marry, it is you who is trying to take away their rights. In my book, that makes you the bigot.

[ffoulkes-2009]

By Randolph E. Schmid
updated 4:40 p.m. CT, Mon., Nov. 17, 2008

WASHINGTON - A stone-age burial in central Germany has yielded the earliest evidence of people living together as a family.

The 4,600-year-old grave contained the remains of a man, woman and two youngsters, and DNA analysis shows they were a mother, father and their children.

"Their unity in death suggests unity in life," researchers said in Tuesday''s edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

See how far back this has been the traditional view of what a marriage is? Why change it and add to our nation''s ever increasing pile of immorality?

[ffoulkes-2009]

I don''''t think, in this case, calling a bigot a bigot is over the top. Fear and hatred prevailed in California.

Posted by RationalTalk at 11:11 AM : Nov 17, 2008
________________________________________
First...who are YOU to decide who is a ''bigot''? The definition is someone who has strong opinions on politics, religion or ethnicity and refuses to accept different views. This really sounds like Gay s. YOUR opinion is the only one that is ''RIGHT'', and everyone else is hateful, fearful, and/or bigoted.

Look at the mirror and see the true bigot on this board.

[ffoulkes-2009]

Or, you could say, "Treat me as you would have me treat you, and we will get along fine;

Posted by RationalTalk at 10:50 AM : Nov 17, 2008
____________________________________________
I would REALLY rather you NOT treat me as you want to be treated, thank you. I DON''T swing both ways...

[ffoulkes-2009]

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Posted by RationalTalk at 10:48 AM : Nov 17, 2008
__________________________________________
Is this that Creator you people all want to deny exists or that if the Creator does exist has no place at all in anything to do with the rules we live by?

[ffoulkes-2009]

That''''s exactly why the Muslims became so rigid and inflexible in their ways and beliefs too: they don''''t want things to ever change either. They will literally kill anybody, even friends or family members, that don''''t comply with the "accepted way" of thinking and behaving.

I always assumed that here in America we were smart enough to accept inevitable change, and adapt to it, hopefully in good ways.

Posted by skysoldier75 at 09:24 AM : Nov 17, 2008
______________________________________
Change for the sake of change is not necissarily a good thing.

[guysdigdirt]

Gay Marriage is not about marriage. It is about shoving your way of life down the throats of others. 60% of the 19-29 year old voters voted against Prop 8. That just goes to prove if you shove something down someone''s throat long enough some will swallow.

It was never about marriage.

[guysdigdirt]

Teaching our children about gay marriage is a waste of taxpayers money and a waste of time. Special education teachers should be working harder to get the kids caught up to peer grades, not teaching sexx to these little ones who are already challenged enough. Regular ed kids need to learn about how to make a living. Teaching sexx to kids under age 12 is stupid. Ban the subject of marriage in schools altogether!!! That is the job of parents. You want marriage in schools then bring back prayer in schools. Marriage is a sacred union (religious) so you want seperation of church and state, ban the topic of marriage in schools PERIOD. Make it illegal. Just like prayer is banned.
Posted by mustang4mom

Well put, but too many teachers want "Suprise Gay Day" for kindergartners.

[guysdigdirt]

Wait a minute. I''''m not saying that you are a polygamist, but the Mormon church condoned polygamy for a long time before it was outlawed. Furthermore, there have been a lot of Mormon polygamists on the run from the law lately so while it may not be officially condoned, you have to admit that it hasn''''t exactly been stamped out. Besides, what do religious folks care if g ay folks get married? How does it affect you?
Posted by Insurgeon1

Mormons were polygamists, when they were persecuted and the men killed. There were too many women and children with no man to help. So the men were asked to take on more women and children to support. Just because it brings a perverted picture to your mind does not mean it was.

If you think marriage is no big deal and others should not care if there are same-sexx marriages, then it must not be a big deal to you so why do you want to be married?