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"This is the first time in U.S. history that the majority voted to strip the rights of a minority. Who will be next?" asked Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center CEO Lori Jean, who also credited young people as the driving force of the movement, saying "We now pass the torch to you!" The protests, organized via the website www.jointheimpact.com, spread through sites like Facebook, Myspace & Twitter. Many of you sent in photos, videos and stories of the day. After the jump, we present some of these snapshots from across the country. You may want to grab a hankie. |
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Columbus Circle in New York City was filled with chants of "Gay, Straight, Black, White, Marriage is a Civil Right!" as thousands of protesters came out in opposition to California's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California last week. The event was the largest protest outside of California so far and shows how quickly and rapidly organized opposition to Prop 8. has sprung up across the country. |
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As inspiration/throw-down for tonight's protest in New York City at 6:30 pm, by the Manhattan Mormon Temple (125 Columbus Ave at 65th Street), we're including a map of Saturday's Los Angeles protest route– and the equivalent distance overlaid on Manhattan. We sent you to Greenpoint, because we have a secret kielbasa agenda. |
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"Obama caused Prop. 8 to pass!": With black folks coming out in huge numbers to support Barack Obama, enough Black people voted to pass the proposition, goes this argument. The problem is that there just aren't that many black people to have changed the outcome one way or another. In California, blacks are the only ethnic group to be declining in population. |
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In what more than one protester has described as "the second Stonewall", Californians across the state have taken to the streets in spontaneous demonstrations to protest the passage of Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling in May that allowed it. Here's a brief rundown of the past five days: Day One (Nov. 5th): While the rest of the world celebrated the election of Barack Obama, opponents of Proposition 8 gathered in gay enclaves like West Hollywood and San Francisco to hold impromptu rallies. In Los Angeles, a group of approximately 1,500 people, mostly younger, left the rally while it was still ongoing and marched up to Sunset Boulevard, forcing street closures. Police managed to divide the group, keeping 2/3 within West Hollywood. The remaining group marched to the CNN building in Hollywood and then up to Hollywood & Highland, L.A.'s version of Times Square, where police barricading the group from entering the intersection. A tense standoff ensued, with some protesters breaking through the police lines and two being beaten by the police with billy clubs. In all, four separate groups, about 3,000 people total, marched throughout Hollywood, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood throughout the night, with protesters holding a sit down protest at Sunset and La Cienega til 2:30am. Seven people were arrested. |
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Rather than work within "unjust" nuptial laws, the 300 year old Newington Green Unitarian Church has suspended all official weddings until gay people are given equal treatment. They will, instead, offer blessing for straight and gay couples who have gone through a civil ceremony. Said Minister Andrew Pakula: When we realized the extent of the injustice in the existing civil partnership law which completely prohibits any connection between religion and civil partnerships, we decided it just wasn't something we could take part in. Pakula also said that his church is doing its part in combating more exclusive, dominating churches: "…We feel it is our duty to stand up on the other side. We are standing on the side of love here and that is our stance." |
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A First!
Great! Now Alexeyev just needs to tackle those slander charges for last year's political outing. |
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Folks in California may get a glimpse of self-proclaimed "lesbian soccer mom" Jennifer Schumaker, as she walks her way up from San Diego to San Francisco for her "Walk For Togetherness," to raise awareness for the LGBT struggle for equality.
Apparently you can call her at (760) 877-4396–did she really put her phone number on the internet?–and of course we will be calling her twenty times a day, although we promise we'll be really nice. We totally dig Miss Jennifer, and believe her message is quite clever. If you see her, say hi, give her a bottle of water, whatever. You can also go to her website and make donations to the walk, or read her blog. |