Gay Marriage Rally Held Outside NYC Mormon Church

Rallies in support of gay marriage spread to New York City on Wednesday night, where hundreds of protesters gathered outside a Mormon temple to express their outrage at the church's support of Proposition 8, the recently-passed ballot measure banning such marriages in California.

According to the Associated Press:

Protesters lined both sides of an avenue outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints near Lincoln Center on Wednesday evening. Leaders of the Mormon church had encouraged their members to support passage of California's Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that overturned the California Supreme Court ruling in May legalizing same-sex marriage. The amendment passed 52 percent to 48 percent.

"Shame on you!" the large crowd chanted in a 1-2-3 syncopation while looking up at the temple.

Several protesters held signs asking "Did you cast a ballot or a stone?" while other signs read "Latter Day H8" and "Church of Mormon" with an X drawn over the second M to read "Moron"...

At the rally, some even called on President-elect Barack Obama to support gay marriage, which he said he doesn't support. Obama, who favors civil unions, opposed Proposition 8.

The rally was held several hours after Connecticut legally allowed same-sex couples the right to marry. Massachusetts is the only other state that allows gay marriage.

WATCH video of the event, from the New York Daily News:

Andrew Sullivan also has reports on the rally from this readers.

Comments

[Clarknt67]

AP initially described it as "hundreds" which was a vast underestimation.

Organizers say 15,000, which was not at all what I saw. Likely 5K-ish.

[elcojonu]

A question.
Why was the campaign for NO on 8 so disorganized and underfunded ?
California is an expensive and difficult state in which to campaign, everybody knows that.
If you wanna win, you've got to have your act together; don't you think.

[muscleboundH]

I am out here in L.A. and I have to say the NO on 8 side was VERY disorganized.

FOR EXAMPLE: I had signed up to volunteer on the streets giving out information etc. The ONLY place they EVER wanted to meet was in West Hollywood. It was preaching to the choir. WE should have been out in the suburbs and other parts of L.A. educating and offering information instead of within our own community.

Not once did I see a booth or table set up in a GAY nightclub etc. They should have been handing out NO on 8 bumper stickers and signs constantly. No one knew where to send money. No one knew how to get signs or information.

There was no effort to get the word out OUTSIDE of the tight knit gay communities.

I think if the high profile hollywood donors had not donated at the last minute we would have done worse. BUT imagine if they would have donated at the BEGINNING of the fight!

[deadelephant2]

Not true. I was helping at the Center in Long Beach and there was a MAJOR push with a LOT of volunteers organized and active handing out No on 8 cards at many places not only in that city but even in Orange County. I know, I sat and listened to one of the organizers talking to people on his cell phone about who was being sent into what areas. Long Beach had a pretty big rally against 8 at the park on Cherry, very well attended. No on 8 had a website with telephone numbers to call in many cities, and to get signs and bumper stickers. I picked up 10 signs from a friend in OC who was very involved in the campaign. The website and HRC clearly solicited donations; I gave a LOT of money to it so I know that's true because my credit card bills have come in.

[antaeus]

It wasn't underfunded. No on 8 had more money both from in and from outside of California.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-moneymap,0,2198220.htmlstory

Now if only we could bring your snarky tone to bear on bigots and change their minds.

[Eddie2275]

There were actually thousands there tonight. Not hundreds.

This is an issues of equality. We're all equal in this country, but gay people aren't being treated equally.

What the Mormons and The Knights of Columbus and everyone who supported this proposition did has a consequence.

[CraigLove]

A consequence, eh? People standing in the street yelling at an empty building must really make the Mormons tremble.

We need to hit them where it hurts: the pocketbook. If the Boy Scouts lost tax-exemption because of gay-discrimination, the Mormons should be next in line. Considering that LDS only denounced polygamy when the US Gov't threatened their tax status way back when, I'd say let's use the same tactic again. The Mormon Church loves its money so let's use their greed against them.

[NotesFromME]

The Boy Scouts are still tax exempt.

[BandsofBlack]

There are going to be protests across the country this Saturday, Nov. 15th.

Find one near you:

http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/?t=anon

[realityczech4u]

gee. I would but I'm gonn be out of town

[rzan1]

I live in Seattle. Thanks for the info.

[DMcD]

Seems quite odd that the Mormons , of all people , are the ones carrying the torch for traditional marriage here --- they have some pretty bizzarre ideas themselves , what with all their child-bride / polygamists practices and all. Doesn't seem that they have much room to talk.

[AllanF]

Uh...Don't look in our bedrooms..Look at the gays...Look over here...The old SHELL GAME....

[sclucie]

That is about as bigoted and inaccurate as calling gay people pedophiles. But it's acceptable, isn't it? I'm not Mormon - in fact, I was absolutely opposed to Prop 8. But since I have seen the Invasion ad and read countless bigoted and completely intolerant posts - I don't feel different about gay marriage - but I certainly feel differently about the gay community. You've become the people you most despise - bigoted, ignorant of people other than yourselves, and full of hate.

[emily00011]

Be careful there. Mormons *do* have some odd practices, and they should be preaching tolerance most of all.

The Mormons still *believe* in polygamy. They think God temporarily took it away from the earth and that it will be back when Jesus is, and that there will be polygamy in heaven. As far as 1800 marriages, Joseph Smith told members to marry multiple women, but many of those women were in fact already married, so it went far beyond just plain old polygamy. They don't have a clean history OR a clean future in regard to "traditional" marriage.

Utah which is run by Mormons, hardly goes after the polygamists. They look the other way for the most part, because it is still part of their beliefs.

[antaeus]

You are a moral relativist. On side is a cult that wears magic underwear and that wants to limit other people's freedom just so they can go to sleep dreaming of a gay-free world. On the other side are everyday people of all walks and colors who want to gain stability, health, and love.

We are not equal.

[rastignac]

I wonder whether you would be as sympathetic toward the Mormon church, or any other, if you and your own family were the target of their intolerance. Gay people simply wish to live their lives with rights equal to all other citizens. Gay people are not intolerant at all; we have no history of interfering in the private lives of others. However, every time we try to make inroads on our march to equality, religious organizations rise up and refer to us as sinners, immoral, disgusting. This has been going on for years. And when we rise up against that interference in our private lives and attack back, you call us bigoted and intolerant?

I do not know anything about you, but let's assume that you are married and heterosexual. Your marriage is a private matter and you are free to establish whatever rules you wish within that relationship. Some couples choose to have open marriages. It would certainly be within your right for you and your spouse to engage in sex with another couple if you wished. If you did so privately, within your own home, and a religious group started to picket outside your house and call you sinners, depraved and immoral trash, my guess is that you would be absolutely outraged by their intrusion in your private life.

Busybodies who intrude into other people's private lives deserve every bit of retaliation that comes their way.

[Larkinvos]

"Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?"

[realityczech4u]

just pull up you zipper. He'll move on to greener pastures.

[typhoon1999]

According to The Pew Forum, California is 36% Protestant, 31% Catholic, and 2% Mormon. Prop 8 was not passed entirely by Mormons, but gay rights supporters can use bigotry and prejudice best against them. It's really sad to see this because I'm starting to lose respect for the gay community. Using scare tactics and lies is wrong both when done to gays or by gays.

[SUIGENEROUSLA]

Half the money to support Yes on 8 came from the Mormon church............your respect? was your marriage dissolved by a vote this week? Mine was.

[typhoon1999]

Explain how you know what was Mormon money. I've seen 40% and 70%. It would be silly to cite some list of donors with guesses as to religous affiliations. My respect? Yeah, because sooner or later you'll need help nationally and your movement is turning off a lot of people who were passively accepting of gay rights.

[Manx]

Your denominational percentages are irrelevant. The Mormons put up $ 25 million to promote the passage of Prop. 8. The implication that Mormons are somehow a victim represents a skewed reality similar to Joseph Smith's.

[PlantGod72]

Grow up! The Mormon church and its members bankrolled the YES ON 8 campaign. They MADE themselves the target of scrutiny and must be accountable for their bigotry and blackmail in threatening to "expose" businesses and organizations that supported the defeat of Prop 8!

[bigtroubletrin]

gays use scare tactics? right...not the churches...noooo

[AllanF]

Yes, and they also bankrolled the stream of lies that were broadcast on the airwaves to deceive others into voting yes by practically saying that the gays would turn their kindergartners into homos...

[realityczech4u]

who financed the stream of lies that showed mormon 'enforcers' raiding the lesbian couple's home, rooting through their underwear drawer (nice touch) and confiscating their wedding rings and marriage license?

[Gifts]

I think the biggest problem with gay marriage, is creation, only a man and a women can create. I totally think that gays should enjoy all the legal rights of a union. I support gay unions. But the fact that a man and a women hold a different relationship, based in creation, makes them not equal. I also feel that gays don't listen to anyone who has a different opinion. I think the church should encourage gay couples to stay together and open their doors to bless gay unions and respect the right to privacy. I also think that many gays enjoy their religion and rely on their relgiion to get them through difficult times. I also don't think it is only those who are religious that believe marriage is a different relationship. What bothers me most is not gay marriage but the fact that society isn't allow to have a conversation on the teachings of creation, when we have the proof of the union of a man and a women that actually creates life. We are reduced to a discussion of evolution, as if every birth is proof of evolution? I think the goal should be to encourage acceptance of different relationships and the fact that in this world it can get pretty lonely. I try and respect all people.

[Adism]

Procreation might have been an argument 2000 years ago when there weren't that many people on the planet but to use that as an argument NOW when we have WAY too many people on this planet as it is is just ridiculous.

[wolverine442]

gay men and women still have the ability to procreate. I don't know where you are trying to go with this line of logic.

[wolverine442]

sorry...this was meant to be a direct reply to 'gifts' ... my bad

[dereksf]

Your argument that marriage should be reserved for couples that can pro-create only holds water if you truly believe that the infertile should not be allowed to marry.

[luvobama]

When was the last time you had to justify who you loved and how you choose to commit to him/her? What difference does it make to you who marries who? Why do you care what it is called? I know plenty of straight people who want to get married who also have no intention of having children. I am straight and I not only don't listen to people whose opinion is WRONG, I will call them out on it every single time. Civil Rights are not up for a vote. Be nice to other people.

[losangelian1]

Adoption. Surrogates. There is technology.

I'm heterosexual, and I didn't get married to have kids. I got married because I wanted to make my partnership official. This is an old argument.

[Gifts]

Creation an old argument, I certainly hope so, it goes back to the beginning of time for us as humans. If all the legal rights are the same as marriage and a union, all concerns would be covered. Men and Women together produce life, therefore, it is a completely different relationship it is not equal. It doesn't mean that men and women love each other more or they are better, it means they are different.

[Gifts]

Yes there is adoption, surrogates, and technology and that illustrates the facts that I am expressing that the relationships are different. Do you not acknowledge that creation can naturally only happen between a man and a women? It is not an argument, it is nature.

[KSD123]

You clearly don't respect LGBT people at all. The churches can keep their blessings. It's the courts that count.

[Gifts]

Well I do respect all people. I think that you misunderstood my point about the churches blessings. My point is that faith doesn't belong to the church and blessings should be offered to everyone and all loving relationships should be encouraged to be long lasting and kind. Courts and Churches can't make people love and accept each otther. I know gays that are very faithful and attend church and believe in God. Do you believe that all people that are against gay marriage or are religious hate gays? LGBT? what label is that?

[Osprey3]

For those of you who haven't seen Bill Maher's "Religulous," you might want to check it out. It very much bears on this subject.

[wolverine442]

a definite stocking stuffer this season for me!

[PeterTheChanter]

...guy with the sign shoulda added an "-s" on to "husband"

[wolverine442]

Thank You New York!!

If I've learned anything in this battle, It's that we all have a stake in civil rights.

[SUIGENEROUSLA]

if my existing civil rights can be taken away by a popular vote, then anyone's can...that's the huge danger.......

[SUIGENEROUSLA]

imagine if we had nationwide elections about freedom of religion