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11.11.2008 4:38pm EST
Do you have a story about getting married in Connecticut, marching down a street in Los Angeles, contacting your senator? Were you married in California and now confused about your rights? Would you like to share your experience with 365gay readers and 365gay news?
365gay would love your first-person, written accounts, video blogs, video, and pictures. Email them to 365gay.submissions@gmail.com.
I was at the Sacramento protest on Nov. 9th and was disappointed at the turn out. First, I have to ask, why are we only protesting nights and weekends? This is ridiculous. If these rights were really that important to us, then we should be out there during the weekdays. Now, getting back to my disappointment about the small turnout. Reports say that around 2000 to 2500 people showed up. That turn out should have been AT LEAST 5 times that much since it was on the weekends. It makes me feel (and i’m sure some watching on the news feel the same way) that we must not want it that much if we aren’t out there in the numbers we should be. I think the turn out in San Diego, which I read was about 10,000, should be replicated EVERYWHERE. If they can get that kind of attendance in a red county, we should be doing that everywhere else.
My husband and I were married on Jun 27th in San Francisco. We’re not exactly confused about our rights since we didn’t really expect any here in our home state of Illinois anyway, but it’s still an outrage.
Marriage equality is a huge issue in our lives because my husband is not a US citizen. I worry a lot about the fact that in the eyes of the federal government we are not a family and I can do nothing to keep him here in this country if anything were to happen.
This inequality must be addressed at the highest level of law.
To our LGBTQ and allied brothers and sisters:
This Saturday, the nation is making a scene. In cities all over the country, citizens are standing up to inequality. New York City must not only join in protest, but must also organize an event that matches the diversity and magnitude of our city.
The rally will take place at City Hall between 1:30-3:30 pm on Saturday, November 15th. Planning is currently underway by five unlikely, yet passionately committed individuals. However, we need your help. All necessary permits have been applied for; we have reached out to the local government and law enforcement to ensure a legal and safe demonstration; various media outlets will continue to be contacted over the next few days; and volunteers are being mobilized. The most visible and memorable elements of the protest—the speakers themselves—are still needed. This, hopefully, is where you and your contacts can help. We are looking for the following persons to share their thoughts, stories, speeches, and works of art:
Religious leaders who support marriage for two loving individuals
Civil rights lobbyists and law experts
Activists (prominent and obscure)
Authors, poets, spoken work artists, and musicians with messages of equality
Couples who have been affected by the California marriage repeal, or the other
discriminatory initiatives voted into law on November 4th
Politicians
LGBTQ and allied representatives from across the racial and cultural spectrum
The most precious thing besides love, is time (of which we don’t have much.) With less than a week to organize, we welcome any assistance, contact information, or advice you would be so gracious to provide. This is the greatest democratic struggle of our generation. Please, join the Impact by passing along this announcement to friends, family, and colleagues. And arrive on Saturday with the spiritual fire of a citizen wronged.
Yours in the pursuit of equality,
Impact NYC team:
Carrie Harrington, Dani Ryan, Heath Tucker, Shalini Shah, Evan Terry
impactnyc@gmail.com
Event info: Impact NYC
What: A peaceful protest against anti-gay rights legislation
Where: NYC City Hall
When: 1:30 pm-3:30pm Saturday, November 11, 2008
Find us on the following social network pages:
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=33598248873
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/theimpactinnyc
Ophidimancer Said:
My husband and I were married on Jun 27th in San Francisco. —
Well Ophidimancer, this goes a long way in explaining our differences on what constitutes real “equality”. I forget how young most of you probably are. Not to disparage your relationship in any way. But I’ve been with my partner for nearly 18 YEARS. When you’ve been in your marriage as long as Ive been in mine, then come back to me and talk to me about what constitutes marriage equality.
Hi Wayne, I’m sorry but not only are you not staying germane to the topic at hand, but you are also jumping to erroneous conclusions.
For the purposes of your ridiculous dick waving contest, you and your partner have 11 years on me and mine. It’s just that we only recently got married legally in San Francisco.
I was . . you know . . trying to contribute to the topic at hand.
As for everyone else reading this thread, I apologize for replying to Wayne, adding another non-contributing post, and fueling the ridiculous behavior. I will now stop.
To actually contribute to this thread, I will say that I am going to my local protest this Saturday.
As I recall You were the one who started this conversation, not me. You were reposting novel posts on the matter.
With your voice I hope you can feul the join the impact movement which is a scheduled nationwide protest. Please pass this on and join in. Their website says”
Let’s move as one full unit, on the same day, at the same hour, and
let’s show the United States of America that we too are UNITED CITIZENS
EQAUL IN MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AND DESERVING OF FULL EQUALITY UNDER THE
LAW!”
Fight the H8! Get active and show up!
More info including your localsites of protest can be found at
jointheimpact.com
Tiff
“Wayne” said: “Well Ophidimancer, this goes a long way in explaining our differences on what constitutes real ‘equality’. I forget how young most of you probably are.”
Funny, I had the impression all these weeks that “Wayne” was probably an adolescent. Just shows that you can’t always judge people by the things they say.
But, since “Wayne” believes that his 18 years with a partner qualifies as some kind of trump card on understanding the issue of marriage equality, then it seems very odd that he supported the McCain/Palin team that was not only against gay marriage, but also against virtually all other gay rights issues at the federal level. Very odd. Apparently 18 years is not enough time to truly understand who’s really against marriage equality – or, for that matter, every kind of equality.
By the way, in case another trump card is needed to be able to play in this discussion, my partner and I have been together for over 30 years.
I contacted Utah Tourism and received this reply Tuesday afternoon. Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much. I read the article in question, which was hardly the absolution he seemed to think it was. It looks to me like they realize they have a PR nightmare on their hands.
John Kyper
Roxbury, MA
—– Original Message —–
From: “Ryan Kirby”
To:
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 3:49 PM
Subject: RE: Comment about Utah.com
> Before you boycott a state that had no involvement in Prop 8, it might be
> wise to read this article from the San Francisco Chronicle.
> The State of Utah Had No involvement in Prop 8
> The LDS Church Based in Utah Contributed No Money to the Yes on Prop 8
> Campaign.
> It was members of the LDS church in California who contributed
> The Catholic Church had a much more significant role as far as votes for
> prop 8.
>
> http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/10/MNU1140AQQ.DTL&h
> w=Kuruvila&sn=001&sc=1000
>
> —–Original Message—–
> From: jkyper@gis.net [mailto:jkyper@gis.net]
> Sent: Friday, November 07, 2008 7:42 PM
> To: comments@utah.com
> Subject: Comment about Utah.com
>
> Submitted: November 07, 2008
>
> Name: John Kyper
> Email: jkyper@gis.net
>
> Comments
> Since most of the money used to destroy my right to marry came from Utah, I
> have canceled my plans to visit your state. May God have mercy on your
> souls–I cannot.
Keep sucking on my jock, Blacksteel. You are obsessed with me. I’ve got my own little cyber stalker. You would actually be creepy, if you weren’t so pathetic.
I was married on August 8, 2008 to my husband. When Prop 8 passed it was a huge blow to the both of us. Since I am/ was a Roman Catholic, I wrote very strongly worded letters of protest to my local Bishop, the Califorina Catholic Conference and the USCCB. My husband and I are doing everything we can to support the overturning of this hateful amendment.
My wife and I were married August 10th after 10 1/2 years together.
My husband and I were marriage on August 14 in San Francisco after 17 years together. We live in Illinois. Unfortunately, I have come to believe that those who oppose gay marriage and all gay rights for that matter do so out of fear and hatred of gays. I include the LDS and Catholic Churches in that group. There is no reasoning with them and they will always oppose our rights. Gays are the only group who rights are subject to will of the majority. To say we are sad and disappointed is an understatement.
Hey Russ,
Congratulations on getting married
Will you guys be at the Chicago rally on Saturday?