November 22nd, 2009
 

365Gay Agenda Blog

How are you involved? Let us know!

By Jennifer Vanasco 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.


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  • teri wolf Said: November 15th, 2008 at 1:03 am
    • Prop 8A:
      Fornication is a sin and fornicators should not be allowed to marry. Let’s start that petition. Let’s outlaw divorce, since children need a mother and a father.
      “I agree that adulterers and fornicators should not be allowed to marry or adopt children.”

  • Teri Wolf Said: November 15th, 2008 at 1:01 am
    • Prop 8A:
      Fornication is a sin and fornicators should not be allowed to marry. Let’s start THAT petition. Let’s outlaw divorce, since children need a mother and a father.
      “I agree that adulterers and fornicators should not be allowed to marry or adopt children.
      Teri Wolf Haskell, NJ

  • Crystal Marie Nunez Said: November 14th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
    • The week before election day my friends and i all protested outside our local Target on the street corner. We were out there everyday from 5-6pm with our home-made signs. We had tons of people in our conservative town honk at us with thumbs down. We got called fagot and queer. One man even tried to smoke us out with his truck’s exhaust fumes, but even this didn’t stop us. We shouted “no on 8! stop the hate!” and we got many people cheering us on. It was amazing!

      But then on Monday the 3rd, i was the first to get to the street corner and hold our spot while the others cam from school. I saw them with there ‘yes on 8′ signs, there was about 10 of them at first. But 10 to 1 are not good odds. i ran across the street to the other corner. It was me by myself for about a half hour. I’ve never felt so much hate and been so scared in my entire life. I cried and screamed “stop the hate!” as car past me ignoring me honking for them. Now their was at least 30 of them and they had a huge banner with them. The same banner that weeks ago marched down High Street during our city’s annual parade. finally after being on my own my friends joined me. I hugged them and felt better not being alone. Better out numbered then alone. So as time pasted or number increased we had about 30 to their 40-50(if you count their children). this went on from 4pm to 7pm. around 7 they packed it in and left, we all cheered for our small victory! We stayed for about an hour more then headed home.

      The day of the election I voted then went out to protest again with the youth of our city. (I should tell you the people protesting with me are all in high school and we also had a few from the local Junior College like me.) We protested at the usual spot the busy street corner by Target. then around 6:30-7ish we got a call saying that the yes on 8 banner and protesters were a street away from us. We all talked about it and decided to go and take an unused corner by them. we said to stick together knowing we’re out numbered and it was safer. Once we got there they had just packed it in, but they left their mark. 30 yes on 8 signs in the grass in front of the Rite Aid! I felt sick. we left the signs alone being peaceful and respectful but it made us all uneasy. One kid, a senior in high school, started to pull out the signs when he joined us. After talking (by talking i mean and argument) to one of the yes on 8 people left we put the signs back up just not as neat. Anyway we asked the Kid why he did it. He said that someone had broken his car window and spray painted ‘yes on 8′ on his car. We all felt sick and pissed off, but we remained a peaceful protest. Oh and i have to say after the “talk” with mister yes on 8 we had 2 cops watching us the whole night. well we finished up a little after that because the polls had closed. We all then met up at a friends house to watch history be made.

      All in all it was really fun to protest and i feel in this little conservative town we did change some vote and we had our voiced heard.

      oh and we’re all meeting up again this weekend Nov. 15 at city hall for the nationwide protest!

      We the Youth of America will not sit by as the rights of those we love and care for get taken away! WE HAVE A VOICE AND WE WILL BE HEARD!!!

  • Rick James Said: November 14th, 2008 at 11:31 am
    • Why isn’t anybody involved in Birmingham, Alabama for Saturday’s protest? The apathy of Alabama’s LGBT community drives me crasy!

  • Clint Barker Said: November 14th, 2008 at 6:40 am
    • I feel for my fellow gay and lesbian brother and sisters. I myself live (unfortunatly) in the buckle of the bible-belt in Oklahoma. I wish that I could help with all the protests around California, but my thoughts and prayers are with you all is this time of unwanted hate from other people. I used to live in Colorado when Ammendent 2 came down. I also remember the march on Washington in 1993, maybe its time that America sees how many of it’s people are not 2nd class citizens but more than that, WE ARE PEOPLE TOO.

  • Milton Machen Said: November 14th, 2008 at 1:43 am
    • Diego….I hear what you are saying! But as a black gay man myself, please tell me how on earth are black gays going to do anything if they refuse to stand up and be counted. I’m very much aware that discrimination does occur agmonst some white gays. That’s something we can dicuss later. It’s a fact that black gays in greaters numbers are not out here doing what is greatly needed. You can not blame that on white gays! We need “all” gays both young and old to come out and take a stand or else nothing is ever going to change. Where I live I can’t get my black gay brothers to do much of anything… Believe me I’m trying to change that…Don’t get me wrong I know where they are coming from! But the mindset of most of these individuals has to change!

  • Tommy Schroeder Said: November 14th, 2008 at 1:00 am
    • It is difficult for me to put any energy into the fight for Gay Marriage. I fought a tough legal battle in Federal Courts because I, a teacher, was fired for being gay. This after extreme harrassment and discrimination.
      I can do without the marriage license … I’m finding life quite difficult after losing my career, my benefits, and even my pension contributions. I will, no doubt, soon lose my home, too. I often think that true equality will come when we are protected in the workplace. I think maybe that should come first.
      It surprises me that many younger GLBT haven’t a clue as to what ENDA is, or what it can do for us.

  • heather gonzalez Said: November 13th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
    • im only 16 and this prop 8 has hit me hard. i have a fiance that im very much in love with. but now i cant even get married to her becauseit isnt allowed. we all were created equal i think we should be treated equally. it hurts that so many people are against it. i dont think they would like it if their rights wre taken from them. i just dont understand how its so wrong for the same sex to marry

  • Obama Said: November 13th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
    • Dave Wimberly Said: “I don’t visit this site to see childish arguments…” ////

      Hey, Dave no one is prying your eyes open with toothpicks and forcing you read anything you don’t like.

  • Amber Said: November 13th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
    • My Partner and I have been together for two wonderful years; she is in the military so we could not get married, but we watched many of our friends get married over the past few months. We volunteered long hours, my daughters and I stood on corners with signs; my Mom walk door to door, and my sisters and brothers pitch with NO ON 8!! In fact, my daughters and I were verbally attacked several times and almost physically attack a few times for expressing our support in peaceful demonstrations!

      When they announced the final count for Prop 8 it felt like my heart was ripped out! I saw my friends pour tears screaming “What about us! What about our Families!” We fought so hard; I felt like I let them down! I felt like I let our future generations down! If only I had done more!! We only lost by 4%. As reality set in I realized… 48% of people stood with us and that was more then we had in 2000! We may have lost the fight but we will win the war! But we have to fight just as hard if not harder for our rights!

      The four goals I would like to see:
      1. A federal law banning Anti-Gay or discriminatory legislation!
      2. Reversal of all the Anti-Gay bans passed in the US!
      3. Federal legislation mandating the influence of religious organizations on ANY form of government.
      4. A Federal law protecting LBGT people in the military allowing them to serve openly and allowing their Partners to receive the same respect and benefits heterosexual couple receive!

  • Dave Wimberly Said: November 13th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
    • I thought this blog was moderated? I don’t visit this site to see childish arguments between two posters who aren’t even discussing the topic at hand.

      Moderator??????

  • Barb Said: November 13th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
    • My wife and I married in San Francisco during the “renegade” 2004 marriages, only to have it annulled that same year. We married again the second week of June 2008, LEGALLY. It was an amazing experience and the long-term gay couples I encouraged to marry before November have all been astounded by how much it means and how much support they have gotten. We have all made our lives as outlaws in the past, but I like having “in laws!” My wife and I have been together 13 years and intend to spend our lives together; nothing they do can change how we feel. We deserve the same rights; equality is no longer optional. The gay youth is waking up; we have been working on ours (and yours) civil rights for decades, in many, many ways. It is great to see the people taking to the streets; keep it up! This is our time. California suffers from discrimination when we should be leading the way. Let’s take it back! And then, the nation. I have no patience for any argument to the contrary; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

  • diego Said: November 12th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
    • Impact NYC team:
      Carrie Harrington, Dani Ryan, Heath Tucker, Shalini Shah, Evan Terry

      It is very nice that you are putting together this protest in my home town of nyc. but in your list of people that should attend, i noticed that you did not include gays of colour. Now, I understand that to the whites on this board, we dont count for much outside of the bedroom but I and my partner are lawyers, civil right and gay rights advocates and on the boards of 5 gay/lesbian organizations including 2 for gays of colour, and we have a legal NY domestic partnership as well as being high in the NY political arena.

      With what we have read, you are now where I said you would be last week. In need of gays of colour, still here on earth with you, if you like it or not. Of course, we now see how much you dont.

      A statement against racist post and actions at rallies would go a long way in gaining support from our communities. If you think you need us.

  • Eric of Reno NV Said: November 12th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
    • On the topic how are you involved. My life partner and I were wed in S.F. on June 27,2008
      We have been together 6 years we met in 2002. BUT I feel it’s necessary to mention that he and I BOTH had prior long term marriages. My partner divorced /ended his 11 year marriage they wed in 1991 but grew apart fell out of love. It happens just like straight marriages. I was married for 14 years. I married my late partner in S.F. in 1984 at the MCC by Rev. James Sandmire I was 22 years old he was 25. (We met in 83) WAY before this was a political issue and when the GAY community thought it was a silly thing to do! My partner passed in 1998. I built a mausoleum in his memory, but I digress,
      My point being that as far as being involved both my partner and I have been and still are involved in the marriage cause because it means allot to us. In our HEARTS! If you combine the years we were in prior marriages and include the 6 years of our relationship that’s 31 years. But ya know what it does not matter how long you’ve been in love as long as you know how long love can last! Thank God LOVE doesn’t need a certificate or a license!
      Just to hearts!

      Now what I would like to see in mt lifetime for ALL the years,Loves and tears we have invested in marriage is the right to file joint income taxes and have ALL the same rights of all married couples. To this it doesn’t matter if protests have 5 or 5,000 people show up it is the principle.It doesn’t matter what you call it marriage, union, sanctuary, etc. Just quit calling it same sex it is really SAME GENDER! I have spent all my adult life being an example on how 2 people of the same gender in love deserves to have the rights and also take responsibility for our lives starting with just 2 people saying “I DO”
      I have been to so many protests in my life and will continue to go even if it’s just me and the man I love alone at an alter saying I DO! I just hope to see in my life time a federal law or constitutional protection for the commitment 2 people make to each other.
      That’s how we have been and STILL are involved!

  • KevinF Said: November 12th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
    • My husband and I have been together for 15 years and married in SF on July 14th. Being from NH we decided to marry anywhere we could (Mass at the time would not allow us to marry, and have since changed their ruling) and CT just passed today.. way to go CT!

      We were in CA last week and anxiously awaited the returns of the presidential and prop 8 votes.

      While we were thrilled over the presidential results, we were equally sickened by the results of prop 8. We were in San Diego for the protest march and were glad to see the large turnout; however, we couldn’t help but wonder if this had taken place before the election would results have been different?

 
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