Gay Marriage Supporters Plan Proposition 8 Protests For Saturday

From USA Today:

SAN FRANCISCO -- Thousands of gay-marriage supporters plan to take to the streets Saturday to protest gay-marriage bans in California, Arizona and Florida.

Protesters are focusing on California, where the state Supreme Court declared same-sex marriages legal in May before voters tossed them out Nov. 4.

California's Proposition 8, which passed 52.2% to 47.8%, "eliminates (the) right of same-sex couples to marry."

Proponents of same-sex marriage say its passage has only energized the gay rights movement. Activists are using a grass-roots network of websites, e-mails and text messages to coordinate protests in about 300 cities -- from Fayetteville, Ark., to Omaha.

Andrew Sullivan at The Atlantic says he will be covering the protests tomorrow.

Tomorrow, a virally-generated national day of protest across America is taking shape to protest the attack on the core civil rights of a small minority in California. It's a protest to demand equal treatment under the law for gay couples. It's a radical demand for a traditional institution and also a protest against those who seek to impose religious restrictions on civil law. It is a defense of both religious freedom and the freedom of those whom many (but not all) religions condemn.

The Dish will devote Saturday to covering the protests. Please send me stories, anecdotes, photographs, music, Youtubes, and graphics that reflect what's going on around the country. As on election day, we'll try and let you speak via this blog to the wider world, and convey a sense from the ground up of how people are feeling and arguing and acting.

Comments

[gayinmt]

My problem with the sanctity of marriage argument is that there is little sanctity left in hetero marriages anymore. Women marry men for money, men marry women to have a trophy wife and people get married because the woman got pregnant, even if they're not in love. I understand that not all marriages are like these, but these are still fact. So if there are two people that want to marry because they are truly in love and want to spend their lives together, isn't there some sanctity in that? These people need to realize that gay people are never going to just fade away. We've always been here and we'll always be here.

[conservativesoncrack]

Even if there were "sanctity" it is not something that can be written into law. Writting "sanctity" into law means we are legislating someone's particular religous view above others. It is unconstitutional at best.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

Time for the IRS to take a fresh look at churches, there is no guarantee in the Constitution to extend a church tax deduction. The change in the tax code is more recent than you think, and if church groups want to play, they should pay for the privilege. Right now any pastor with a mail order divinity degree is a recognized church, bullsh@#t.

[greeniefromOH]

You're so correct. "Sanctity" is one of those words better left defined by the Creator, not by mortals. A good marriage is going to survive regardless of bad ones... and bad ones will thrive until humanity evolves more.... end of story.

[liberaldemdave]

if religious groups want to "sanctify" marriage for religious reasons, why aren't they trying to get constitutional amendments to make all divorce that aren't due to adultery illegal... at least they have scriptural basis for that type of discrimination...

oh, wait...i forgot. this really has nothing to do with "religion", it's really about bigotry and hatred (seems this gay Christian remembers the Bible saying a few things about those things, too...)

[Strepsi]

Can we change this headline please to "Equal RIghts Supporters Plan Proposition 8 Protests For Saturday"

See the difference?

[Machun]

excellent point.

[AZDillinger]

It would be misleading since you are really just fighting for your right to gay marriage.

[conservativesoncrack]

Gay rights is nothing more than equal rights. So, no it is not at all misleading.

[jojizzle]

No, we are fighting for the SAME (aka EQUAL) rights as you have to marry whomever you want! See the difference?

[peacebypiece]

we are not fighting for gay marriage, but rather for marriage equalilty...EQUAL marriage rights for ALL people.

[dbushik]

Not at all. I don't want to get into the issue with people being intellectually lazy or logically challenged, but this was not a proposition to legalize gay marriage that was voted down. It was a proposition which, as stated plainly in it's wording, with the intent of singling out a particular group of people and expressly taking away their rights.

It matters who is on teh offense and who is on the defense. If I punch you in the nose, I'm in the wrong if I'm attacking you, but quick within my rights if I'm defending myself against your attack on me.

And please don't give me the defense of traditional marriage BS. This is only "defense" in the spirit the best defense being a good offense.

This is totally about supporting equal rights. People don't attack equality broadly, they have to pick out a group to descriminate against. That is why we are talking specifically about gay marriage.

Of course some people have a vested interest because they are gay and/or gay married, but I know that is not the case for myself at all. I'm outraged with this whole thing because it is about descrimination and because it is offends my belief in equal rights protection.

You can't be for equal rights..."except...". The people on the offense have chosen the battle ground. I can only defend where they attack.

[Steamboater]

WHen we're prevented from marrying, that helps the perception of us as beyond the norm and THAT is unacceptable. Heterosexuals should not have special rights. Everyone should have the same right to marry whoever they want.

[DMSmith]

BTW - My marriage has nothing to do with the sanctity of marriage. Your divorces and adultery DO!
Don't point fingers unless you're pure or we'll attack YOUR marriage.

[RobEric]

Slash from Guns'n'Roses makes a fierce prop 8 protest video with his wife!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bun4J3OhwQc

[BandsofBlack]

It's more than just those states. It's all across the country.

Check this website for a protest location near you:

http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/

[janinei]

Thank you, was just wondering where to go!

[Sparty1]

I'll be at the Dallas City Hall at 12:30 pm tomorrow to support my CA cousin and his partner and my gay friends, who may one day choose to marry.

This is coming from a happily married African-American woman, who's not afraid that the sanctity of marriage will erode if gays and Lesbians are allowed to wed. We've got to get past this type of discrimination. This is America.

[jojizzle]

Thank you, Sparty1! It's nice to see a voice of reason!

YOU are appreciated!

[SBrooksB]

Thanks, Sparty!

[AZDillinger]

Protesters should take Elton Johns Advice, regarding Prop 8....

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-11-12-elton-john_N.htm

[conservativesoncrack]

If the name is "civil unions" then all people that "tie the knot" in California will have to use the same term. Fine, but everyone uses the same term. Equal under the law...

[AZDillinger]

Ha ha No I don't think so... Its a way to find common ground... he's referring to gay people!

"I don't want to be married. I'm very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership," John says. "The word 'marriage,' I think, puts a lot of people off. - Elton John

[peacebypiece]

Elton John's opinion represents only Elton John's opinion. He is NOT a "gay people" spokesman.

[LexKitten]

Oh god, none of us (and by US I mean gays) elected this man to speak for us and just because he is gay doesn't mean we feel the need to follow it.

Thanks for trying to "speak our language"

[PatBurns]

Don't people who oppose gay sex know that the easiest way to stop it is to legalize gay marriage?

[AZDillinger]

Whats the big deal... the people voted... and they decided to pass Prop 8.. Get over it... this is what the majority of people want, better luck next time.

[MechaMike]

Its a big deal because pre-existing rights were taken away.

That is un-American and everyone should be outraged over this.

[conservativesoncrack]

So, your basic rights like freedom of religion and speech can be voted away by the majority? Is that what you are saying?

[bbc3341]

I did not support prop 8, but I don't agree with this line of thought. If marriage were a basic right, how could we forbid any marriage? If marriage were the equivalent to free speech and religious expression, how could we deny anyone the right to marry? If your argument is that the state should sanction ALL marriages of adults, then your argument makes sense. Is that what you're saying?

[arod72]

Clearly not a big deal for you so maybe you're the one who should get over it, get out of people's personal business and let others get on with theirs. If the majority of the people don't want gay marriage, don't get married to a person of the same gender. Simple as that. Not up to you to dictate other people's lives, especially when those archaic views are driven by religious beliefs.

[tjgsd]

Big deal? Yes it is a huge deal when rights are taken away from AMERICANS. Whatever happened to "We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created equal."? Maybe you need to get your head out of the sand and read the constitution. It was written to protect people from ignorant people like you.

[WildElf]

A slim majority voted to deny equal rights to a minority group. And you don't see the big deal in that? Are you familiar with America's treatment of blacks, Irish, Chinese, Catholics, Athiests, Japanese, Abolitionists, Native Americans, Evolutionists, and so on?

Hello, I'd like to welcome you to America where the founding principles are keeping the majority from steam rolling over minority groups with brute force majority votes, and that every case in history where the majority had their way to try and shut out a minority has ended in embarassment at best, and sandly in most cases, chronic economic and social problems still felt today.

Luckily the California constitution agrees that people's rights cannot simply be taken away by a popular vote, so hopefully the courts will rule against this embarassing use of the initiative system.

[kcflood]

Take to the streets! This is a movement

[conservativesoncrack]

I'll be there!

[BandsofBlack]

There's protest locations across the country. Here's where to be:

http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/

[LexKitten]

WOO! I'm representing in Portland OR tomorrow!

[worried1]

The issue is same sex marriage, not gay marriage.

Millions of gay people are married to people of the opposite sex, for various reasons and to varying degrees of success. The issue at stake is the ability for people of the same sex to marry each other- for various reasons and with varying degrees of success.

[RobHughey]

I'm glad I'm not the only one cringing at that headline.

[Steamboater]

It's Gay marriage. You put it in terms of "same sex marriage" and it scares the hell of too many people. Anything with "sex in it terrifies too many Americans in this still very puritan society. That's why the Family Research Council and other extremist right-wing homophobic groups never refer to us as Gays. They call us homosexuals, which is a clinical term defining the sexual only. Well, we're more than sexual beings and although I have sex some of the time, I'm GAY all of the time.

[aubrey8]

lighten up people, it's just not that important.

[SUIGENEROUSLA]

the next time your civil rights are voted on tell me that

[Edwood71]

ATTENTION "former" Mormons:
Are you tired of the religious right in this country getting involved in politics and dictating public policy?
Do you disagree with churches having tax-exempt status, but contributing their tax-free income to political campaigns?
Are you a “Mormon” by name and record only? Like I used to be?
One of the reasons the LDS church yields so much power, aside from the huge amount of money they have, is because of the size of their “membership.”
If you are a “Jack-Mormon” or you consider yourself a “non-Mormon,” but are still listed on their rolls, then you are part of the source of their political power.
I have decided, as my own personal protest against the Mormon Church’s intrusion into the political process and their lack of respect for the separation of church and state, to officially resign from their church.
I am not suggesting that you do the same, as this is a deeply personal decision that you must make for yourself.
However, I have heard the question, “How do I quit the church without getting excommunicated?” so many times that I am offering this information, just in case you want it.

http://www.mormonnomore.com

This website has all the information you need, if you choose to resign from the LDS church.

[Synoia]

Ah, then you'd agreed with 'Separate But Equal"?

[Starfield]

You married? If so, how would you feel if I voted to say you could not be?

[TheBlueArsenal]

I respectfully disagree. Prop 8 is outrageous. Who's next on their list? That's the question and the importance.

[Dehrenstein]

And don't forget the boycotts. We've taken names and now we're kicking ass!!!!

[janinei]

Where in SF? I would go!

[Machun]

Civic Center, 10:30AM to 12:30PM. See you there!

[kurtm]

Civic Center 10:30 AM

[senioradvocate]

I will definitely boycott supporters of Prop 8 ... I've been looking for a comprehensive list, but have not found one yet ... any links?

[AngryCitizen]

go to towelroad or ameriblog

[ramal]

Start with ALL Marriott owned hotels and Cinemark Theatres. Also, all tourism in the state of Utah.