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."

[rushman71]

We give you an inch, y''all go for a friggen yard!!! Enough!!!! Deal with it!!! Move on!!! And get the *** over it!!!

[niceface19]

This is not same *** marriage..one is always the wife, the other is the husband, though they look the same.

[miriambk]

As homosexuals, you have civil unions. If you feel that these aren''t legally adequate then there is your fight. Marriage is meant for one man and one woman.

[enoughya]

What a bunch of filthy, demented people these gay-loving sickos are. The fact that their anger and intolerance for the opinion of normal people is so blatantly on parade, suggests there is something really wrong with their stance. Maybe "in-your-face" tactics work amongst themselves, but among more civilized crowds their fetishes do not have any rational sway. Indeed, the most minimal of standards for a truly civilized society is marriage between a man and woman, as history itself amply confirms. I say shove these wierdos back in the closet, where they belong, lock it and throw away the key.

[niceface19]

Frank Schubert, co-manager of the Yes on 8 campaign in California.

this guy is a child molester.

[yeswedid]

Wow, I cannot believe the hate being spewed on this board! Why you posters don''t believe all people should be entitled to equal rights & happiness regardless to their sexual orientation is beyond my comprehension.

[miriambk]

Really, straight people are growing increasingly annoyed with the homosexual agenda and their attacks on decent society. People will tolerate a lot, but only to a point; keep it up, don''t be thankful for what you DO have, and soon you may find yourself without ANY legal rights as couples, and you will have lost the support of heterosexuals who will no longer condone downright disgraceful behavior, such as making threats, calling names, doing damage, hurting old ladies, ''blacklisting'' people and businesses and MOCKING churches and the faith that people have in God. Tread carefully. Your already shaky ground is close to crumbling to bits.

[mcdousu]

Gay couples should be allowed the exact same rights as straight couples. You do your thing and I''ll do mine and we should have the same rights to do so. And P.S., I''m straight.

[doorgunner3]

Few, even many conservatives, are arguing against homosexuals having the same basic partnership rights as married heterosexuals.

This is not a battle over rights. It is a battle over perceptions. When that battle is waged with blackmail, economic terrorism, restraint of free speech, blacklists and harrassment, it is not a fight that people of good will will support.

And so, it will not win.

You can''t sue your way to acceptance.

Not even in America.

[doorgunner3]

Friggin'''' hypocrites.

Posted by IwasHungry68


I find the racial epithets and race-hatred spewing from the No on 8 people to be the apex of hypocrisy.

These people are no more progressive than the Klan.

They have an objective. God help anyone -- anyone -- who gets in their way.

Embrace them.

Or else.

[doorgunner3]

Why you posters don''''t believe all people should be entitled to equal rights & happiness regardless to their sexual orientation is beyond my comprehension.

Posted by yeswedid

I do believe in this.

I don''t believe that a church should be sued for declining to marry same-*** couples.

I don''t believe people should be harrassed at places of worship.

I don''t believe that entire states should be subject to boycott.

I don''t believe in the race hatred coming from these agents of "tolerance."

[doorgunner3]

So there is g`a`y people, and then there are "normal" people?

Who made you the definitive expert on what "normal" is?

Posted by IwasHungry68

Normal is a setting on your dryer.

I decline to let anyone define it for me and I decline to define it for anyone else.

Let''s be clear: That is what these demonstrations are all about.

The redefinition of "normal."

[doorgunner3]

You strip them of their civil rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"

Posted by IwasHungry68

Please explaion how P8 removed any of these rights.

30 years ago, we all battled a proposition (I think it was 9) that would have prevented homosexuals from teaching in public schools.

That was a righteous fight.

This is just bullying by the hyper-privileged.

[doorgunner3]

Submit.

Or else.

We have a very strict, homogeneous version of diversity, and you WILL adopt it.

You WILL be diverse.

Just like everyone else.

Or else.

[doorgunner3]

What''''s wrong with "blacklists"? Isn''''t that a form of peaceful demonstration? Are you going to try and deny that basic right too?

Posted by IwasHungry68


Review history.

You are not on the side of civil rights.

You advocate the views of Joe McCarthy, HUAC and the domestic terrorists who ruined thousands of lives.

In one post you profess civil rights and blacklisting.

Incredible.

Peace and carry on.

I hope America is paying attention.

[doorgunner3]

Like me.

Love me.

Validate me.

Or else.

[miriambk]

People who voted no on 8 are beginning to open their eyes. Obnoxious insults and behaviors are both revolting and frightening; gay rights activists are stomping on what people believe to the very core of their beings. Again, tread carefully.

[myhog6]

Across America over 100 Milion voters celebrate that California passed Proposition 8.

Not it is their turn...

[myhog6]

Across America over 100 Milion voters celebrate that California passed Proposition 8.

Now it is their turn...

VOID the previous transmission. The CBS online real-time editors are working overtime on this one.

[doorgunner3]

And the church shouldn''''t use it''''s parishioners to enact their agenda of hate and intolerance, if they don''''t want to have their parishioners protested at their church.

Posted by IwasHungry68


You see, there''s your problem.

You find the exercise of civil rights like voting and speaking out on subjects of interest to be unacceptable.

You have a lot of "shoulds" for people.

I think you should leave them alone.

For the record, I think they should leave you alone, too. I think churches should be churches. If they want to venture into politics, they should be taxed -- and that includes the thousands of mainline churches which support homosexual marriage and other socially liberal causes.

Fair enough?

I doubt it.

Have a nice day.

[doorgunner3]

And the church shouldn''''t use it''''s parishioners to enact their agenda of hate and intolerance, if they don''''t want to have their parishioners protested at their church.

Posted by IwasHungry68


You see, there''s your problem.

You find the exercise of civil rights like voting and speaking out on subjects of interest to be unacceptable.

You have a lot of "shoulds" and "shouldn''ts" for people.

I think you "should" leave people alone.

For the record, I think they should leave you alone, too. I think churches should be churches. If they want to venture into politics, they should be taxed -- and that includes the thousands of mainline churches which support homosexual marriage and other socially liberal causes.

Fair enough?

I doubt it.

Have a nice day.

[miriambk]

But who are you to tell ANYONE what they should think, feel, or believe?

Posted by IwasHungry68 at 03:42 PM : Nov 16, 2008



Pot, meet kettle.

[indivthinker]

I am a moderate Christian, and I believe that Christians and religious people have failed to distinct that there are two kinds of partnerships that marriage entails: legal union and holy matrimony.

Legal union is the marriage which the state offers. It is a guarantee of the same LEGAL rights among two people, whether that be adoption rights, hospital visitation rights, etc. This is the stuff that the STATE provides its citizens. God is NOT a part of the state, and thus religious preference should be kept out of legal union. It is for that reason, gay marriage should be allowed.

However, as a Christian, I should NOT recognize the holiness of the matrimony between a gay or lesbian couple. In my opinion, it is immoral, and thus my views prevent me from accepting it as a RELIGIOUS union blessed by God. Because of that, the Church should not marry or bless these couples, and no marriage ceremonies should be allowed in a church.

In conclusion, the gay marriages should be recognized by our SECULAR government, but they should not be recognized as a holy union by the RELIGIOUS establishments.

[doorgunner3]

Explain how prop 8 denied them of their liberties?

Or their pursuit of happiness?

That is what the protests are all about!!



What rights would you have lost if prop 8 had failed to pass?

Posted by IwasHungry68


But you have done nothing to explain how these enumerated rights would be in any way affected by P8''s passage. Saying that "That''s what it''s all about" means nothing.

I didn''t vote for or against 8. I think it''s a travesty to spend so much money on an issue that is meaningless to most Americans.

I say a pox on both your houses.

I am offended by the wave of racist and fascistic terror released by the shrieking fetishistic social liberals on innocent Americans after a majority vote passed this law.

Don''t like it?

Vote against it.

Don''t come to my church and force your views on me, when really (and I mean this) I don''t give a rat''s arse about your issue.

Be free.

Grant the same right to me.

That''s what democracy is all about.

Or used to be.

[doorgunner3]

In conclusion, the gay marriages should be recognized by our SECULAR government, but they should not be recognized as a holy union by the RELIGIOUS establishments.

Posted by indivthinker


Pretty much sums up my view.

There are many liberal churches who will marry homosexuals.

Not enough!

ALL must marry them, or their "rights" have been stomped.

This is NOT about rights.

This is about the mass manipulation of the definition of normal behavior.

It will not be enough, in the near future, to simply tolerate diverse views.

Institutions will be forced by litigation, legislation and social terrorism to ENDORSE the views of "normal" that a certain stratum of society deems correct.

Goodbye, America.

We loved you once and true.

[miriambk]

I''m not trampling on anything.

[doorgunner3]

And peace to all.

Someday.

-- DG3

[agt-r]

Where is this country heading? It''s becoming a strange place to me... May God have mercy on us!

[Studley McNerd]

As a fair-minded heterosexual, I am disheartened that so many minority voters find it necessary for them to rescind the rights of another minority. In San Francisco, an overwhelming majority of Asians and Blacks voted for Prop. 8. This is a slap in the face to the aspirations of loving couples whose only offense is their attraction to another of their own ***. That religious bigots chose to vote according to the dictates of church dogma is not surprising. But for those with a real stake in civil rights issues to vote for Prop. 8 is not only shocking but insulting. Frankly, I''m ashamed of such people.

[Studley McNerd]

As a fair-minded heterosexual, I am disheartened that so many minority voters find it necessary for them to rescind the rights of another minority. In San Francisco, an overwhelming majority of Asians and Blacks voted for Prop. 8. This is a slap in the face to the aspirations of loving couples whose only offense is their attraction to another of their own ***. That religious bigots chose to vote according to the dictates of church dogma is not surprising. But for those with a real stake in civil rights issues to vote for Prop. 8 is not only shocking but insulting. Frankly, I''m ashamed of such people.

[indivthinker]

There are many liberal churches who will marry homosexuals.

Not enough!

ALL must marry them, or their "rights" have been stomped.

Posted by doorgunner3 at 03:49 PM : Nov 16, 2008

I don''t think we agree on this issue. I think that NO church pastors/priests should marry homosexual couples, nor should they have to even allow couples to be married at a church chapel. If homosexual couples want to be married (which they should be allowed to), they should do it outside of religious establishments. They should do it at a park, a rented ballroom, etc, but NOT at a religious establishment. It should be the right of the religious establishment to deny a homosexual couple the right to marry at a church. It is not discrimination. It is the privacy rights of a church and pastor to perform ceremonies for whom they want to.

[alanzs]

The world is looking at the US and is laughing at how old fashioned, prejudiced and ignorant you all must be. To discrimate against anyone is morally wrong. America always was a backwards country in many ways. Too bad the religious nuts always try to run the country.

[alanzs]

The world looks on in amazaement as the christains run America into the ground.
Discrimination is immoral. All the religious hate mongers should be ashamed.

[miriambk]

So you support g`a`y people being given freedoms and liberties that all straight people share?

Posted by IwasHungry68 at 03:57 PM : Nov 16, 2008



I already said you have civil unions, and be happy with that. I also said, if you feel that you do not have the same legal protections as straight, married couples then go and fight that fight.

[agt-r]

The vote is over and Proposition 8 won. That''s called democracy! It''s the same thing when we vote for one candidate and another wins. I''m not going to go protest because my candidate lost; I''ll support my president even if he wasn''t the best candidate or the winner. End of story. Hopefully, the majority of the population in this country will continue to believe that having *** with another person of the same *** is an abomination. It''s as bad as sleeping with another person who is not my spouse, or killing someone for any reason, or stealing from someone because I want what they have. Sorry, it''s wrong!

[miriambk]

"Everyone is worked up over a silly title and ritual."


Then what are you screaming about? If it means so little, then *** should be happy with what they''ve got in the form of civil unions.

[miriambk]

Once again, if you feel that you do not have the same protections as straight, married couples then go and fight that fight. Marriage is for heterosexuals.

[miriambk]

"Why should they "go and fight that fight", when they should be allowed the same RIGHT TO MARRY, that heterosexuals are?"

As I said before, keep it up and you will lose the support you are counting on from heterosexual voters, who are the majority. Maintain this attitude, and your over-inflated sense of entitlement is going to come back and bite you. People will tolerate things to a point, but the gay rights people are really pushing it with this; take your civil-unions and be happy. Stop pushing your ideas of ''tolerance'' on those of us who can smell *** miles away.

Now, enjoy the rest of the discussion; I have a Steeler/Chargers game to watch. God bless.

[charlieot]

Once again, if you feel that you do not have the same protections as straight, married couples then go and fight that fight. Marriage is for heterosexuals.

Posted by miriambk at 04:11 PM : Nov 16, 2008
+ report abuse

And TRIX are for kids??

[toolmangler-2009]

what percentage of our country is g@y? Is 1% going to tell 99% how to run the country? Just curiou....

[amrt5016]

The Colorado initiative to define an embryo as a ''person'' gives insight into the thinking of opponents of g@y marriage. They would rather extend civil rights to embryos, which still must navigate an uncertain path to viability, than recognize civil rights in g@ys. Their brains have got to have been scrambled. It''s obvious to many what''s caused it: Religion!

[sarah_lover]

The "heterosexuals" ARE NOT the majority.

They DO NOT have the right to determine which group gets "freedom" and which doesn''''t, they DO NOT have the right to determine which group gets "liberty" and which doesn''''t, AND most importantly, they DO NOT have the right to determine which group "deserves" protections guaranteed by the constitution and which do not.

Posted by IwasHungry68 at 04:35 PM : Nov 16, 2008
*****************************************************

I suppose you think you have the right to determine that right? Wrong, you bash our troops all the time and defend gayss rights, whats the matter with you Hungry? Are you gay or what?

[socialismsux]

These sicko Sodomites are showing the world what happens to a nation when you throw God out of the equation.

Sickos are crying about their so-called "right" to be married, failing to realize that they have more "rights" here in the United States of America than any other place on the planet. If they were living in an evil Sharia law Muslim country like Saudi Arabia or Iran they would be executed simply for being homosexual.

[socialismsux]

The "heterosexuals" ARE NOT the majority.
posted by IWasHungry68

-Man you are SO STUPID! You just keep getting worse and worse every day on these forums!!

[sarah_lover]

Some estimates have it at 12% of the population is g`a`y.

But that is irrelevant, because the g`a`y population of America, is NOT DENYING the heterosexual population of America, their basic civil rights, liberties and freedoms, by TELLING (ordering?) them what they can and cannot do, when they can do it, and who they can do it with.

Posted by IwasHungry68 at 04:38 PM : Nov 16, 2008
*****************************************************

Change your name to KNImTA( Know Nothing I"m Talking About). *** have the same rights and liberties of the rest of us. But marriage is for people of different gender. PERIOD.

If you care for the human civilization you shouldnt be supporting gayss.

A man who thinks he"s a woman and vice-versa has a serious mental illness and should receive free mental care provided by the government so they can find their real gender.

[socialismsux]

Sarah_Lover

hungry is simply such a miserable person that unless he gets "everything he wants" like a child in a toy store he will NEVER BE HAPPY. He''s like the little spoiled brat girl in the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie who keeps asking her rich father to give her everything with screeching whines.

hungry1968 has no firm foundation of anything in his life since he''s a militant atheist, therefore he spends EVERY SINGLE DAY of his existence whining and crying about how miserable his life is and trying to get people to listen to him cry and screech.

It gets very old, and he just keeps getting worse and worse every day on here.

He will simply NEVER LEARN that a country CANNOT SURVIVE if you continue to throw out moral codes and ethics.

It SIMPLY DOESN''T WORK THAT WAY.

But hungry would have it this way, because his goal is TOTAL ANARCHY with no rules, no laws, no principles, NOTHING.

He wants TOTAL CHAOS living in a world of MORAL RELATIVISM since he sees this world in GRAY and does not have any sense of black and white right vs wrong.

His entire existence, thanks to his belief in Charlie Darwin, is a MERE ACCIDENT of "natural selection". A mere product of pure chance.

This is why he is SO MISERABLE!

[niceface19]

I''m not gay but believe every one is equal, if they all pay tax.

[socialismsux]

Insurgeon1

-GROW A BRAIN


FREEDOM DOES NOT MEAN CHAOS. FREEDOM DOES NOT MEAN THROW OUT ALL MORAL PRINCIPLES AND ETHICS!

Freedom comes with morals and ethics!

Freedom DOES NOT MEAN CHANGING the definition of marriage like you militant Darwinists want to do, got it???

[sarah_lover]

He will simply NEVER LEARN that a country CANNOT SURVIVE if you continue to throw out moral codes and ethics.

It SIMPLY DOESN''''T WORK THAT WAY.

But hungry would have it this way, because his goal is TOTAL ANARCHY with no rules, no laws, no principles, NOTHING.

He wants TOTAL CHAOS living in a world of MORAL RELATIVISM since he sees this world in GRAY and does not have any sense of black and white right vs wrong.

His entire existence, thanks to his belief in Charlie Darwin, is a MERE ACCIDENT of "natural selection". A mere product of pure chance.

This is why he is SO MISERABLE!

Posted by SocialismSux at 04:45 PM : Nov 16, 2008
*******************************************************

I must agree with you. After reading Hungrys posts for over a year I realize that Hungry1968 is a lost soul. He defends everything thats wrong and criticizes everything thats right.

[socialismsux]

And according to your demented logic insurgeon1 48 STATES in our union are hateful since they believe marriage should remain, as it has for THOUSANDS OF YEARS between MAN AND WOMAN.

You are calling goodThose who believe in marriage between man and woman and the values of FAMILY)evil and you are calling those who want to destoy the sanctity of marriage and have the GOVERNMENT redefin it good.


You people are what''s wrong with this world! If you don''t get EVERYTHING you want (like an evil emperor or something) you cry foul and you start fighting morals and principles.

Don''t expect ANYONE to just lay down and hand you everything you want. That IS NOT HOW AMERICA IS SHAPED.