Californian queers are still burning up over this week's passage of Proposition 8, which overturned gay marriage in the Golden State.

In addition to Wednesday's protests, die-hard activists are now turning their attention on the Church of Latter-day Saints, which played a pivotal role in rallying their troops behind the discriminatory ballot measure.

Crowds of gays gathered yesterday outside a Mormon temple in Westwood, California, where they brandished signs decrying the group's anti-gay lobbying. Then, as the sun went down, about 3,000 people flooded into the street and tangling traffic. Though the action was mostly peaceful, there were three arrests, according to the Associated Press.

In addition to these protests - and three lawsuits - gay marriage activists are also hoping to hit the Mormon church where it hurts: they've launched a petition to strip the group of their tax-exempt status. That status stipulates that religious groups not use their organization and power for political purposes.

To restore the right stolen from us, we must correct the amendment to California's constitution. To do this requires another statewide proposition. Yet how will we avoid another election season of deception, when the Mormon Church can pour limitless, tax-free money into advancing their platform?
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In this country, you can be a church. You can be a political action committee. You cannot be both. The Mormon Church stands in direct defiance of the spirit of our laws by actively campaigning to change California law.

You can be sure California hasn't heard the last of these cries - in fact, there are scores of protests planned for this weekend. We gays are tenacious - as we should be!

Thanks to reader Marco for these pictures!

Understandably upset over her fellow Californian's decision to prohibit gay marriage, aurally-inclined lesbian Melissa Etheridge has vowed to withhold the buckets of money the state would have reaped from her taxes. Writes Etheridge at the Daily Beast:

Okay. So Prop 8 passed. Alright, I get it. 51% of you think that I am a second class citizen. Alright then. So my wife, uh I mean, roommate? Girlfriend? Special lady friend? You are gonna have to help me here because I am not sure what to call her now.
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Okay, so I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen. I mean that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights, sounds sort of like that taxation without representation thing from the history books.

Okay, cool I don't mean to get too personal here but there is a lot I can do with the extra half a million dollars that I will be keeping instead of handing it over to the state of California. Oh, and I am sure Ellen will be a little excited to keep her bazillion bucks that she pays in taxes too. Wow, come to think of it, there are quite a few of us fortunate gay folks that will be having some extra cash this year. What recession? We're gay!

Oooo, California, Etheridge sure told you!

Ahhh!

Not content with trouncing gay rights in Arizona, California, Florida and 27 other states, right-wing organizations are looking to start up anti-gay initiatives elsewhere.

So says Christian Coalition for America president Roberta Combs:

The American people are proud of their fellow citizens in the states of California, Florida and Arizona for upholding traditional marriage between one man and one woman.

Christian Coalition of America will continue to fight to ensure that government serves to strengthen and preserve, rather than threaten, our families and our values.

Are we the only ones envisioning greedy, brain sucking zombies?

Gay activists aren't giving up on gay marriage, and neither is Barbara Boxer!

The California Senator promised supporters yesterday that the fight is not over:

Boxer said that despite fellow Democrat Barack Obama’s historic presidential win and gains in both the U.S. House and Senate for her party, Prop. 8 “put a damper effect” on her election night.
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“This is so not over,” Boxer said at a Wednesday press conference held jointly with California Democratic Party chairman Art Torres. “The fight for equality goes on and on. The fight for a more perfect union goes on and on.”

Boxer pointed out that all the votes still had to be counted. She also suggested the fight might go back to the courts.

“There may be some inconsistencies with our law and our constitution still, so there will be legal challenges that will move forward,” she said.

And, hopefully, so will gay rights.

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Speaking of legal protest, an estimated 5,000 people gathered in West Hollywood last night to oppose Proposition 8. Though they were meant to stay on the sidewalks, the crowd broke onto the street and snarled traffic, but remained mostly peaceful throughout. Police did arrest a few rogue activists, including one who jumped on a police car.

It wasn't just gays out on the street last night. Actress Rose McGowan made an appearance and Towleroad reports that Wanda Sykes came out to show some love. West Hollywood mayor Mayor Jeffrey Prang and a number of other politicians later took to a stage down the road and pledged their support to the movement. In addition, Councilman John Duran urged gays to work with other groups to achieve total unity. Sounds good to us!

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Alas, it looks like California will strip away the rights of gay men and women, and amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage. The latest poll results, with all but 5 percent of precincts reporting, show Proposition 8 passing by a margin of some 400,000 votes. Click below for a county-by-county view.

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As exciting as an Obama presidency may be, we're afraid we must bring you some bad news. Though it's not official, it looks as if California's same-sex marriages may be no more:

After an intense campaign that cost more than $75 million, California's voters were leaning ever closer early today to approving a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, dealing a huge blow to the gay rights movement and likely setting the stage for another round of court battles over the volatile issue.

While the Yes on 8 campaign claimed victory just before midnight, advocates of same-sex marriage were clinging to hopes that a surge of support from uncounted votes in coastal counties could still overcome the ban.

With 90.8 percent of the precincts reporting as of 4:25 a.m., Proposition 8 has 51.9 percent of the yes votes.

The ban would go into immediate effect and no doubt spark legal woes for the thousands of couples who married after the state's Supreme Court gave the green light this summer.

We'll keep you posted…

More Prop 8-related violence out of California, where a "No" activist allegedly punched an elderly "Yes" man and wife:

An elderly Carlsbad couple was punched by a neighbor during an angry confrontation over Proposition 8 yard signs.

Lt. Neil Galluci says 53-year-old Lawrence Pizzicara was arrested Monday night and booked for investigation of elder abuse and battery causing great bodily injury.

Investigators say the couple—a 76-year-old man and his 77 year-old wife—had placed a "Yes on Prop. 8" sign in their yard. Tuesday's ballot proposition would amend the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

The lieutenant says the couple's neighbor then allegedly placed a "No on Prop. 8" sign on the couple's property and a fight broke out.

Good gosh, we just want all this to be over!

Blue America PAC sent out this gay-baiting flier to Claremont, California, residents. Apparently they're hoping to use the Republican's "homosexual" rhetoric against incumbent Congressman David Dreier.

[via Claremont Insider]

So, how do queers who disagree with marriage tackle California's Proposition 8? "Internet celebrities" Greg and Chris explain it all…