Ban on Gay Marriage Protests Go Global
November 17, 2008
Millions worldwide march peacefully to end bigotry and discrimination.
The narrow passage of California Proposition 8, the same-sex marriage ban, has led to world-wide protests demanding an end to intolerance and unfairness against lesbians and gays. During Saturday´s "National Day of Protest" hundreds of thousands of Americans took to the streets in major cities across the United States. The protestors carried home-made signs, banners, and American flags while others held hands and chanted slogans demanding equality.
In May, the California Supreme Court ruled that banning same-sex marriages was unconstitutional. Since June 16 – the date the ruling took effect – over 18,000 same-sex couples have been married in the state. Connecticut recently began marrying same-sex couples while Massachusetts has allowed same-sex couples to marry since 2004.
Proposition 8 was written to revise the California State Constitution to "eliminate the right of same sex couples to marry." The measure passed by a slim majority of voters on November 5. Opponents of Proposition 8 say the measure passed because of wide-spread misinformation and lies about gay people, and add that Prop 8 is the first time that discrimination has been written into the State Constitution. Revisions to the California Constitution require approval of 2/3 of both the California State Senate and Assembly, as well as a 2/3 vote on Election Day. Proposition 8 fell far short of this requirement and supporters of marriage equality have now asked the courts to overturn the vote.
Efforts are already underway to place another proposition on the ballot to overturn Prop 8 should the courts fail to overturn the ban. Advocates of same-sex marriage say they will continue the fight until justice is achieved.
Many at the rallies expressed disappointment at voters over the measure. Across California, most of the protests drew large numbers. A protest in Sacramento drew 1,500 to the State Capitol Building, a crowd of 8,000 met at the City Center in San Francisco, and in Los Angeles police estimated 12,000 converged on City Hall. Even in smaller towns and neighborhoods, protestors took to the streets.
Proposition 8 was largely funded by over $30 million in contributions from Mormons outside of California – mostly in Utah. The throngs of marriage equality supporters marching on Saturday were met by handfuls of name-calling "Yes on Prop 8" supporters, including several carrying banners that read, "God Hates Fags" and "God Hates You." These were identified as the same groups of people that have picketed the funerals of gay American soldiers being buried in the U.S. after serving their country in Iraq. The harassing tactics by the "Yes on Prop 8" supporters have not gained much attention in the media. But even people who voted "Yes on Prop 8" admit that same-sex marriage will one day become a reality in California, citing the quickly increasing and significant acceptance of same-sex marriage since Proposition 22 passed only a few years ago. "It´s only a matter of time," they say.
The narrow passage of California Proposition 8, the same-sex marriage ban, has led to world-wide protests demanding an end to intolerance and unfairness against lesbians and gays. During Saturday´s "National Day of Protest" hundreds of thousands of Americans took to the streets in major cities across the United States. The protestors carried home-made signs, banners, and American flags while others held hands and chanted slogans demanding equality.
In May, the California Supreme Court ruled that banning same-sex marriages was unconstitutional. Since June 16 – the date the ruling took effect – over 18,000 same-sex couples have been married in the state. Connecticut recently began marrying same-sex couples while Massachusetts has allowed same-sex couples to marry since 2004.
Proposition 8 was written to revise the California State Constitution to "eliminate the right of same sex couples to marry." The measure passed by a slim majority of voters on November 5. Opponents of Proposition 8 say the measure passed because of wide-spread misinformation and lies about gay people, and add that Prop 8 is the first time that discrimination has been written into the State Constitution. Revisions to the California Constitution require approval of 2/3 of both the California State Senate and Assembly, as well as a 2/3 vote on Election Day. Proposition 8 fell far short of this requirement and supporters of marriage equality have now asked the courts to overturn the vote.
Efforts are already underway to place another proposition on the ballot to overturn Prop 8 should the courts fail to overturn the ban. Advocates of same-sex marriage say they will continue the fight until justice is achieved.
Many at the rallies expressed disappointment at voters over the measure. Across California, most of the protests drew large numbers. A protest in Sacramento drew 1,500 to the State Capitol Building, a crowd of 8,000 met at the City Center in San Francisco, and in Los Angeles police estimated 12,000 converged on City Hall. Even in smaller towns and neighborhoods, protestors took to the streets.
Proposition 8 was largely funded by over $30 million in contributions from Mormons outside of California – mostly in Utah. The throngs of marriage equality supporters marching on Saturday were met by handfuls of name-calling "Yes on Prop 8" supporters, including several carrying banners that read, "God Hates Fags" and "God Hates You." These were identified as the same groups of people that have picketed the funerals of gay American soldiers being buried in the U.S. after serving their country in Iraq. The harassing tactics by the "Yes on Prop 8" supporters have not gained much attention in the media. But even people who voted "Yes on Prop 8" admit that same-sex marriage will one day become a reality in California, citing the quickly increasing and significant acceptance of same-sex marriage since Proposition 22 passed only a few years ago. "It´s only a matter of time," they say.