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Loading ...Gay protests continue in Los Angeles
11.07.2008 10:26am EST
Read 365gay’s first-hand account of the protests.
(Los Angeles, California) Outside the gates of a Mormon temple, Kai Cross joined more than 2,000 gay-rights advocates in a chorus of criticism of the church’s role in a new statewide ban on same-sex marriage.Once a devout Mormon who graduated from Brigham Young University, the 41-year-old Cross was disowned by his family and his church after he was outed as a gay man in 2001.
“They are on the losing side of history,” Cross said Thursday of the church’s opposition to gay marriage. Cross and other protesters blame leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for encouraging Mormons to funnel millions of dollars into television ads and mailings in favor of Proposition 8.
The ballot measure passed Tuesday, which was sponsored by a coalition of religious and social conservative groups, amends the California Constitution to define marriage as a heterosexual act. It overrides a state Supreme Court ruling that briefly gave same-sex couples the right to wed.
The protest came amid questions about whether attempts to overturn the prohibition can succeed and whether the 18,000 same-sex marriages performed in California over the past four months are in any danger.
For Cody Krebs, 27, four months was not enough time to fulfill his “intense hope” to marry one day; he and his boyfriend have been together for little more than a year, so they aren’t ready to wed.
On Thursday, Krebs dodged eggs hurled at protesters from an apartment building. He said he’d seen worse growing up in Salt Lake City.
“It’s important to come out like this because it gets the gay community into the public eye,” Krebs said. “I feel like this has started a lot of conversations that had to get started.”
The demonstration began outside the temple in the Westwood section of Los Angeles and noisily spilled through the western side of the city, with chants of “Separate church and state” and “What do we want? Equal rights.” Some protesters waved signs saying “No on H8″ or “I didn’t vote against your marriage,” and many equated the issue with the civil rights struggle.
Two people were arrested after a confrontation between the crowd and an occupant of a pickup truck that had a banner supporting Proposition 8. One demonstrator ended up with a bloody nose in the fracas. Seven arrests occurred during Los Angeles-area street marches late Wednesday.
The temple protest was organized by the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. Its chief executive, Lorri Jean, announced a Web-based effort dubbed InvalidateProp8.org to raise money to fight the constitutional amendment.
Gay-marriage proponents filed three court challenges Wednesday against the ban. The lawsuits raise a rare legal argument: that the ballot measure was actually a dramatic revision of the California Constitution rather than a simple amendment. A constitutional revision must first pass the Legislature before going to the voters.
Andrew Pugno, attorney for the groups that sponsored the amendment, called the lawsuits “frivolous and regrettable.”
“It is time that the opponents of traditional marriage respect the voters’ decision,” he said.
The high court has not said when it will act. State officials said the ban on gay marriage took effect the morning after the election.
“We don’t consider it a `Hail Mary’ at all,” said Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “You simply can’t so something like this – take away a fundamental right at the ballot.”
With many gay newlyweds worried about what the amendment does to their vows, California Attorney General Jerry Brown said he believes those marriages are still valid. But he is also preparing to defend that position in court.
The amendment does not explicitly say whether it applies to those already married. Legal experts said unless there is explicit language, laws are not normally applied retroactively.
“Otherwise a Pandora’s Box of chaos is opened,” said Stanford University law school professor Jane Schacter. Still, Schacter cautioned that the question of retroactivity “is not a slam dunk.”
An employer, for instance, could deny medical benefits to an employee’s same-sex spouse. The worker could then sue the employer, giving rise to a case that could determine the validity of the 18,000 marriages.
Supporters of the ban said they will not seek to invalidate the marriages already performed and will leave any legal challenges to others.
A 2003 California law already gives gays registered as domestic partners nearly all the state rights and responsibilities of married couples when it comes to such things as taxes, estate planning and medical decisions. That law is still in effect.
I AM SO PROUD OF THESE PROTESTERS!! I WISH I WAS IN CA! WE MUST DO MORE THAN JUST CRY IN OUR LATTE’S AND WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO START A LAWSUIT THAT WILL TAKE US ANOTHER TWO TO FOUR YEARS TO SEE RIGHTS. GO PROTEST! NOT ONLY THE MORMONS, BUT THE BLACK CHURCHES THAT TOOK THIS YES H8 OVER THE TOP!!!
As a very old gay senior, let me tell you that the fight for our rights must come from the gay community itself! I tried all the “nice” things in life! nice in the workplace, to neighbours, etc., etc., when your back is turned, they stab! Please, please keep up the demonstrations; “they” must know, that we’ve had enough!! “They” must see who we are!!
http://www.mormonsstoleourrights.com/#petition – Petition to tax the Mormon Church
It is time to take a page out of the very people who turned their backs on gays and lesbians…….
To Quote Malcolm X: “BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!”
Thank you, blacksteel…signed and passed it on! If I can’t hollagram to all the protests, this is the very least I can do. I feel so lost here in FL. I may be flying to CA shortly. I want to JOIN YOU ALL AND FIGHT! You’re right, take a page from the ones who REALLY CHANGED THINGS!! ARGH!
(I am one of those 18,000 couples, BTW)
DOWN WITH THEOCRACY! THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS A THEOCRACY.
If Obama does not throw us some really great and wonderful judges to help us on our way, then I am out of this country in an instant. In the “words” similar to those of Ms. Obama,
“I have never been so ashamed of my country. I have never felt so betrayed and so victimized by its people. I am heartbroken that they have chosen:
1.) hatred over love.
2.) evil over good.
3.) selfishness over charity.
4.) meanness over kindness.
5.) greed over generosity.
6.) bigotry over tolerance.
7.) ignorance over edification.
8.) power over care.
9.) racism over acceptance.
10.) theocracy over democracy.
11.) prejudice over justice.
And I shall never more help any other minority in any way until they come to their senses and post a big broad apology to our community all over the media, in large type that even the BLIND can see.
The injustice we have been dealt is so sickening that I really never want to look upon anyone from the United States ever again.
I surely will call out those I see names that will make them ashamed, and VERY publicly ashamed. I recommend we do this to all, and say it with a big grin and smile, in a kind voice. They need to be embarrassed by their voting actions, VERY EMBARASSED! This dose of their own medicine needs to be given daily to all who need it, and that is more than a majority of the people with which we interact.
Please join me in this campaign!
It’s always a dangerous thing when the rights of some citizens are put up to vote by others.
Imagine if the rights of African-Americans were put up for popular vote in Alabama, or of Mexican-Americans in, say, Idaho, or Jews in Utah or Mormons in Tennessee.
Next year marks the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall. I wasn’t alive to march then – but I am angry as hell and want to march now!!! It is past time that we took to the streets again – bless the NCLR for putting this protest together…so when are we going to do this on a national scale and stop wishing for them to give us our rights but start DEMANDING IT?!?!?!
I agree wholeheartedly with commenters who are urging protest – we need to be loud, and angry and persistent. I also think we need to start a movement that will hit homophobic states in the pocketbook. Boycott California products and do not vacation in that state until equality is guaranteed to its gay citizens. Email Ahnold and tell him you and your family will not be coming to CA until the laws change. Imagine the impact on the CA economy if everyone who is gay or loves someone gay stopped spending their $$ in CA – the threat of this might make CA think twice – we are a financial powerhouse and need to use this might. The propensity for our community to vacation in spots where local queer folk are oppressed, imprisoned, denied basic rights needs to stop! You can contact him at:http://gov.ca.gov/interact
He’s already received one letter to this end today – lets make it thousands of letters.
Well- folks- hopefully this will give you some insight. I was born in SLC in 1953- threw the mormon religion in the trash at 15- 20 years later had to do some serious spiritual work to get out of a depression cause mainly by the abuse I experienced growing up as a faggot in a small mormon community- and as I’ve heard blacks say about the election of Obama- (I never thought it would happen in my lifetime) the discussion we’re now having about our civil rights I never thought would happen in my lifetime. And yet it has.
I moved to Colorado in 1979- and in 1992- when the country elected Bill Clinton- Colorado also passed Amendment 2- a blatant discriminatory action against homosexuals. We were both elated and extremely discouraged. As you may all know- Colorado became the hate state- and many folks from across the country boycotted us for many years. California? I call on the total cessation of gay travel to California for the foreseeable future. I call on all peoples everywhere to boycott visiting California and purchasing anything from California- wherever possible. I must say that the boycott of Colorado did affect the gay community- too- but how well it affected the larger community was stunning. For the most part here in Denver we are now recognized for our contributions and welcomed. Of course- a few years back- the Ted Haggard Affect helped Coloradoans vote to keep us second-class citizens- as apparently Newsome’s position may have played a part there- but he’s still right. It will happen. We will become equal at some point in the not too distant future.
My roommate- on the night of the Amendment 2 vote- was so pissed off (and inebriated) that he personally called every baptist church in town and let them hear his opinion about things! So don’t just check in with the mormons- but get on those black baptists too! Truly- being gay- it’s always been impossible for me to be racist- but right now- my opinion of discriminated against black christians voting to legalize discrimination against gay people- well- I’ll likely never lift a finger to help your sorry asses again!
In the long run- California now has the set-up to take this all the way to the Supreme court. So get busy and do something about it. With Obama elected- the SC will likely be friendlier to us- once the case gets there and yes- it will take a few more years. I especially liked the letter posted on this website about the social contract aspect and think that it- in fact is what is needed. Marriage is a social contract. Either make it legal for all- OR ABOLISH ALL SUCH CONTRACTS.
For all you gay (ex)mormons out there- having a true spiritual experience without the need for a silly religion is way possible at this time on Earth. I got there. Anyone can. Lose your religion and find your own inner direct connection to the Divine. It only awaits your doing your own work.
And- please- do everything you can to bring down the tax-exempt status of the mormon church. jbwilcox@jbrucewilcox.com
I am a native Floridian and am so disgusted with my state, country, and self at allowing someone to vote on my rights without being far more vocal than I have been. Although coverage of Florida has been less than that of California, our amendment is certainly the most damning of our lifestyle forbidding unions or anything equitable to marriage. My one hope for all of this is that maybe we (the gay community) will begin to come together and remember that we are united by hatred against us and can not put each other down for many of the same things the hetero world puts us down for. This is a time that we must be as Harry Hay says Radically Gay, heck with str8 acting. Be Queer and Proud. We will prove to be the last big civil rights movement, and it will take action and education on our parts.
WHY NOT PLAN TO VISIT THESE SAME BLACK AND MORMON CHURCHES THIS SUNDAY AND TELL EVERYONE WHAT THEY DID AND HOW YOU ALL FEEL. GO EN MASS-STRENGTH IN NUMBERS WILL SURELY MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE !! GO FOR IT !!NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY DID.
“Supporters of the ban said they will not seek to invalidate the marriages already performed and will leave any legal challenges to others.”
That doesn’t make any sense. What happen to all the reasons why Prop 8 should pass, like in the commercials?
I guess it’s ok to teach children about the current gay marriages that remain legal then? lol
It just shows how these people really didn’t care about the reasons in their commercials at all which is why they are now not pursuing the current marriages. They just wanted to get gay marriages banned and that was it because they hate homosexuality.
And another thing: these Yes on Prop 8 people, are they ok with children being taught about domestic partnerships since they haven’t moved to ban it?
I want to see a commercial of a little girl coming home telling her mommy that she can have a domestic partnership with a princess.
Or kids having a field trip to witness a domestic partnership ceremony.
Apparently anti-gay marriage parents are ok with this since they aren’t having panick attacks about it like gay marriage.
It’s time that we take this where it belongs to the church doorsteps and make our gov. truely seperate church and state no this mamby pamby way they have of doing things in this country those people should NEVER have been able to donate money towards a cause such as this in the first place. I am not from Cal. but my partner and i are in utter amazement at the cruelty of it it’s time this country is run by absolutly everyone not just religion and maybe i should not be telling my children to be tolerant of everyone but get in their religion lovin face and make them feel as small as we do and that goes ALL minorities that i have taught my children to tolerate and accept
I completely disagree with calls to boycott California. Remember that 48% of the public voted for us–the highest level in any state that voted on anti-gay ballot initiatives ever. Also, despite the loss of marriage, California remains one of just eight states nationwide that grant same-sex couples the same legal rights as marriage (through civil unions or domestic partnerships). Although the passage of Prop. 8 was a painful setback, don’t lose sight of the bigger picture in California.