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Loading ...Gay activists rally outside Mormon temple in NYC
11.13.2008 7:45am EST
(New York) Carrying signs reading “Love not H8″ and “Did you cast a ballot or a stone?”, a large crowd of gay-marriage supporters gathered outside a Mormon temple to protest the church’s endorsement of a same-sex marriage ban in California.
The rally Wednesday night outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple came hours after gay couples exchanged vows for the first time in Connecticut amid cheers and tears of joy.The milestone did not ease the sting of a major loss for gay-marriage supporters last week. Gay activists planned protests across the country over the vote that took away their right to wed in California.
In the Upper West Side of Manhattan, demonstrators chanted “Shame on you!” outside the temple. Leaders of the Mormon church had encouraged members to support passage of California’s Proposition 8, a referendum banning same-sex marriage.
“I’m fed up and disgusted with religious institutions taking political stances and calling them moral when it’s nothing but politics,” said Dennis Williams, 36. “Meanwhile they enjoy tax-free status while trying to deny me rights that should be mine at the state and federal level.”
Church spokesman Michael Otterson said that while citizens have the right to protest, he was “puzzled” and “disturbed” by the gathering since the majority of California’s voters had approved the amendment.
“This was a very broad-based coalition that defended traditional marriage in a free and democratic election,” Otterson said, referring to the numerous religious and social conservative groups that sponsored Proposition 8.
Organizers of the rally estimated at least 10,000 people participated. Police said they could not give a crowd estimate.
Gay-marriage advocates said they were planning nationwide demonstrations this weekend in more than 175 cities and outside the U.S. Capitol. A Seattle blogger was trying to organize simultaneous protests outside statehouses and city halls in every state Saturday.
Earlier in Connecticut, Jody Mock and Elizabeth Kerrigan emerged from Town Hall in West Hartford to the cheers of about 150 people and waved their marriage license high. The couple led the lawsuit that overturned the state law.
“We feel very fortunate to live in the state of Connecticut, where marriage equality is valued, and hopefully other states will also do what is fair,” Kerrigan said.
The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled on Oct. 10 that same-sex couples have the right to wed rather than accept a 2005 civil union law designed to give them the same rights as married couples. A lower-court judge entered a final order permitting same-sex marriage Wednesday morning. Massachusetts is the only other state that allows gay marriages.
Connecticut officials had no information Wednesday on how many marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples. According to the state public health department, 2,032 civil union licenses were issued between October 2005 and July 2008.
Like the highest courts in Connecticut and Massachusetts, the California Supreme Court ruled this spring that same-sex marriage is legal. After about 18,000 such unions were conducted in California, however, its voters last week approved Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment.
Gay rights groups said Wednesday they may ask California voters to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage if legal challenges to Proposition 8 are unsuccessful.
The California vote has sparked protests in several states, many targeting Mormon churches. Some have been vandalized.
Activists also are aiming boycotts and protests at businesses and individuals who contributed to the campaign to pass Proposition 8.
They must have been REALLY UPSET with the film “LATTER DAYS” !
If any of you kewt Mormon bois are thinking about setting foot on MY front porch, BE WARNED:
I HAVE A DILDO AND I KNOW HOW TO USE IT!
Bud Burgoon-Clark
San Diego CA USA
First the Mormon church is on record about plotting to make sure we do not get equal marriage and other rights, Then they systematically help to get gay marriage outlawed in most of the 50 states, Then they are the major $$$ force behind Prop 8. The Yes on 8 campain used mostly lies and fear about what might be taught in schools to win. And continued to do so even after the head of the whole state school system came out saying that prop 8 had nothing to do with schools. Then prop 8 passes by an narrow margin. Honestly how can they be puzzeled??? The whole church should loose its tax exempt status for meddling in other state’s politics.
Tom in Long Beach
Subject of same sex marriage
This comment came from Ellen’s Blog from my first comment about the subject
Comment by prettygirl 23 hours ago
I would just like to know why it is that 40 years ago gay people were still deeply in the closet. Now today they are freely out of the closet and are widely accepted. They have domestic partnership – and yet they are not satisfied – Marriage is a HOLY act of Love. Why do gay people want this when they know that it is not Gods will – he said it in his word? I guess my biggest question is why is it that there is no sciencetific evidence that shows that gay people are born that way, and because of that we can only assume that it is a choice that they made – there is a lot of money being spent on forcing the issue of marriage and basing it on discrimination. How can it be discrimination in the sense of civil rights when the only thing that’s different between a homosexual and a heterosexual is sexual orientation, and without sciencetific evidence to show that homosexuals are born that way – again we have to assume it is a choice – so since it is a choice – that means that if they choose to they could change the way they are. I say instead of spending so much money on trying to evade the holy union of marriage – they should ask for a domestic union to add any additional rights that domestic partnership does not offer – and I would also spend some money on research to prove that this is something they are born with – to put the myth to end for once and for all. Instead of forcing an issue why not make what you already have work for you – so we can all live in harmony.
This was my comment about the ban of Gay marriage in California
Comment by mary sullivan 23 hours ago
The person you love be the person you love You should not be force to marriage a person you really do not love
Why woman marriage a man why if you know you are a lesbian Why marriage a woman man if you know you
are a big flashing queen that like your wife’s wedding dress you want to wore white dress and let her wear the tux with tails.
For persons working to restate same sex marriage in the state of California . CNN polls stated that most Black Women voted for banning same sex marriage. This was the polls
By CNN or give to CNN by persons keeping trace of such things who voted for what.
My feeling is that the black women voters were not absolute sure what Proportion # whatever what this proportion would to the current law or laws. If you check or ask
People of that area were the voting was heavy against same sex marriage ban. I believe that Political signs were placed in the areas stating to vote YES for the law resenting the rights of American citizens in the State of California and heavy canvassing was done in those area were the heavy turnout of the votes against same sex marriages ban. And possible misleading information to those voters in those areas. Same sex couples should have the same rights in the provides for a woman and man being legally joined as a couple under the laws of this land. Same as any born American citizen can dream of having the highest job in this land. The representative of this Country that is why this country is still stands for today. Shaky under the current admiration, but this country can and will weather the economic and social changes.
Humanity can only survive on true. Bigotry is the highest form of Ignorance. Discrimination of gender, age, religion, sexual orination or appearance still goes on in this society. Bigotry is learned and taught behavior, a person is not born with this behavior.
Mary Sullivan
Former Co chair of KY Stonewall Democratic
Comment by mary sullivan 23 hours ago
To the pretty girl comment were you alive 40 years ago I was I knew who I was back then but you let people know gay bash or killed Gay bashing and killing is still alive An Indianapolis Gay couple in their 70’s
were harassed and violently kill for being a couple Please look it up Indiana Equality October 20, 2008
This happens to straight couples ,single people too It is usually involving money or a family member hates them enough to kill
them for the money or for hatred or if the person really sick for the sport of the kill no hunt just kill sick
so pretty girl that is why some stay in the closet and tells no one not even they families
I bet your family have some gay relatives they are afraid to come out to their family and you
happy holidays to your gay relations in your family pretty little girl You are computer shave
type into your computer gay hate crimes and tell me why The religious leaders of this country
the day after 9/11 Jerry Falwel and Pat Roberts who ran for president claim it was the gays blacks
the Jews and I can not remember who they all blamed the list was long. A terrorist terrorize what the
do not understand or hatred because they wished they could have the religious freedom HUMAN RIGHTS FREEDOM that United States offers They 9/11 Terrorist was educated in this country and their leaders too.
Comment by mary sullivan 23 hours ago
Marriage whether you call it Holy unite or marriage It is a contact between you and that person whether it be the same sex or not God you and the other person God may gay people too there was been a whole allot of money spent on gay bashing too I can only speak for my self and there is sciencetific to prove that chemical level of the brain Some religious leader want to be Hormone
patches on children because they are homosexual I would never gay bash a child I would never shame a child be cause they are different
For the scientific proof that homosexual are made by straight people. There is scientific proof. PBS has for a start a documentary on the development of babies.
And few other programs on the subject. 20/20 TV has some information on the subject. There are thousands of books, period ally, magazines and CD/ Video at
your local library or bookstore.
And Hello again Pretty girl these is what happens in the workplace, 2002 I how experienced sexually harassment in the workplace. I was unable to work in that field again. 2003 My roommate at the time was my ex girlfriend out me at work. I was working at the same place different shifts. Young black woman stated that I of making sexually advances at her. I did not know who this person was or what department she worked in. She worked the second shift the same as my ex girlfriend and I work the first shift different area of the department. My supervisor had to point her out to me. I stay clear of the woman and the department her work in. I got This company had in there their company Handbook has no discrimination for sexual orienation Fired in 2003 I gave them a reason to. I was unable to work in that field again. That a good reason not to date the people you work with. I date my ex before I work at the same company.
2005 I had the choose of being fired or quit I went to classes and took testing for my position The company I was work for claims
first I stole drugs I had receipts for everything I brought in that store
The department I work in some of the people were very homophobic
I had to listen to it, bite my lip and take it.
I had someone spit on my car everyday. Someday all my winds of my car had spit on them. Perfect strangler would walk up to me and say I hate you. Not all the time in the store. Someone vandalized by car steal hubcaps, I had to replace my windshield wipers 6 times $40 each time I had locking gas put on my car April 05,2005 Some male left his sperm calling card on my car with hand cream he used put under my car door handle. May 20,2005 Employee told me from one Christian to other, they are going to fire you. I took this to the store manager
He would not listen to me in the meeting or would not let me speak my union representative for the store
Just sat there and my supervisor just sat there and let the store manager Bash me trying to tell the truth. I had documented the harassments and left the sheet on his desk. And left the room and went back to work. I got a few threating phone call after that meeting at work.
May 31, 2005 they got rid of me. I take responsible for my actions that day. I was ware by them. I gave them a reason to. I try to get my job back with a person from the Union The store management and the Union man sat there joked around show me the video from that day. I went to a lawyer they would not help I had no money The company has a discrimination clause on sexual orination in their handbook The unemployment offices the store manager claimed he did not know I was gay , his two witnesses help gay bash me and one I heard got fired for stealing drugs I am not sure. I say away from that store It a major grocery chain in the state of Kentucky. The city I live in has a law on no discrimination because of sexual orination. It has no teeth to protect a homosexual. I took two years for the committee that forces that law. They just did nothing about. They kept put me off. I was harassed those two years at my other new job. People found me that I did not know and harassed some more.
They did not want me to live or stay in this state. They wanted to chase me out of town. I had people I did not know come up to and say the same crap to me I am still at the same company but I had to moved to different sites. I am unable to make money or pay my bills, the company I work for. I have been harassed , or maybe its me and it’s all in my head. This harassments never happen to me and I am just plum crazy now. Homosexual have rights like everyone else RIGHT Perfect Pretty Girl, but one they can not marry each other.
cm: I have two words for the Mormon Church – “[SCREW] YOU!”. Aside from making the nutjob catholics almost look sane, they have taken on a force they have seriously underestimated! YES, the battle lines have been drawn and if history proves ANYTHING – it’s that the GLBT community is a formidable force – because we represent EVERY other kind of person, all gender expressions, all races, all cultures, all ages… WE WILL NOT SIT SILENT AND ACCEPT 2ND CLASS CITIZENSHIP IN OUR OWN COUNTRY ANYMORE!
That may be true cm, but the reality is in how many MILLIONS of dollars funneled into California, in excess of 20 MILLION DOLLARS, from every MORMON Church/Member across the United States, of which those MILLIONS were used to pay for air time that was filled with outright lies and misrepresentations of the gay community. What you don’t seem to understand is that the damage of Prop 8 was NOT just the issue of ‘marriage’ and having our relationships LEGALLY recognized for OUR FAMILIES, but the fact that Prop 8 enshrined religious/biblical doctrine in our Constitution, AND REMOVED CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS OF GAY PEOPLE !!!
Not a single group in America ever got rights without “the weeping, wailing, hand-wringing and the gnashing of teeth.” Rights are taken, not given. The anger and the protesting is terrific and well-targeted (always follow the money trail–the voters are just pawns; it’s the money that buys influence). I hope that the movement doesn’t end with the protesting. It’s one step only in what needs to be a broad-based approach to equality.
I have to wonder how “puzzled” and “disturbed” Church spokesman Michael Otterson would be if a very broad-based coalition of numerous athiest $ agnostic and social progressive groups sponsored and passed, by a majority, a Proposition that defended and enforced any and/or all principle’s of athiest & agnostic faith ?… and since the majority of California’s voters are not Mormon, it would be perfectly acceptable to present a Proposition for the electorate to vote on, and perfectly acceptable if the outcome was for the ‘traditional’ athiest/agnostic values be forced upon the daily lives, and rights, of Mormon’s, and the Mormon faith… , via ‘a free and democratic election’ of course ! Absolutely ! Without coercion, lies, or bulls— propaganda… please ! These people make me ashamed to even admit that I am of the same human race !
there are plenty of GLBTs in California, many more than in some other states.
Since GLBTS in CA HAVE THE POWER OF NUMBERS, I trust they will rally together and WORK HARD toward the eventual overturning of the Prop 8 ban.
This injustice is here and it is real. But we can be adult about, stop “the weeping, wailing, hand-wringing and the gnashing of teeth” and work to overcome this draconian ripping away of equality and of civil rights.
cm said: Mormon churches, then protest every other denomination as well, because they didn’t do it alone.
Oh, never fear… there’s plenty of us who know WELL who our enemies are, and it ain’t JUST the Mormon Church — they’re just the *first* target of the backlash.
Stonewall —> White Nights —> Prop H8 Protests … there is a continuum, and the struggle goes on. We ain’t NEAR finished yet, cm.
Church spkesman Michael Otterson said that while citizens have the right to protest., he was “puzzled” and “disturbed” by the gathering since the majority of Californias voters had approved the amendment.
They will if you lie and scare them….
With a comment like this it’s no wonder we have the “Blind leading the Blind”
The lines in the Sand have been drawn; the fight now has come to the fore front; taxing of chruches and breaking the so called rule of churches must and can begin. No more morale speeches throught politics while living a tax free life; and yet I pay taxes.
Just like the after math of Stone Wall and the death of Harvey Milk we must come together as a community and not give up on this fight.
The time for Pleasantries is at an end!
Folks, please stop protesting against the Mormon Church and Utah. Mormon people MAY have supported Prop 8 or may not – but 52% of Californians >>>>DID<<<< support it. Put the blame where it should lay!
If you want to boycott something, boycott California. Boycott movies made in Cali, boycott Cali cheese and wine.
The Mormon vote in California is purportedly less than 3pct. If you’re going to protest Mormon churches, then protest every other denomination as well, because they didn’t do it alone.
That is AWESOME !!! It’s going to be fun this weekend. http://www.jointheimpact.com.
I was wondering if anyone knows the official estimate of the crowd size at last night’s protest in NYC. I asked two police officers who were working crowd control and both gave the same answer, which was above 5,000. But several people in the crowd were saying the estimate reached 10,000 people! I was there and it did seem like a massive amount of people. Any official estimates?
Here is a video I shot of the Prop 8 protest in NYC last night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxREtZGYdfE