stinglikeabee | (no subject)

Frustrated the opposition to California's Prop 8 was losing ground, today's rally at Downtown's Pershing Square aimed to reinvigorate. More than 200 people flocked to hoist signs and chant no on 8 slogans, and listen to speakers like Councilwoman Jan Perry and Chastity Bono.

Only a few blocks away, supporters of Prop 8 were bused in to gather in front of City Hall to insist marriage be only between a man and a woman.

I learnt about the rally quite late via LAist.com on Friday night. Immediately I sent an e-mail contacting Teresa, one of the organisers. Come Saturday morning a response arrived, telling me the day will start at 10am.

We had signs, markers, poster boards, and more. From then on it was just the matter of putting things up, passing out flyers, answering questions, and making sure the message was visible. We were told not to confront Prop 8 supporters if they came by, and luckily there weren't any ugly scenes.

This is Robin Tyler, one of the original plaintiff in the lawsuit against California, who made an excellently received speech.

A common thread throughout the speeches delivered? To defeat the proposition the combined efforts of everyone is needed to call, inform, and vote.

There was a great success story at the rally. One of the protesters carried a sign comparing the struggle for same-sex marriage to that of the civil rights movement. He was met with a black couple who wanted to know why he, as a gay white male, felt the comparison was apt. By the end of their discussion, the couple picked up No on Prop 8 signs and joined the line to protest :D

Also, my Socialist peeps showed up in solidarity. And I gotta tell you, Socialists don't fuck around. At any rally, they will simply show up and take over with their bullhorns and fancy chants. Though I was cool with them, there was a little tension when they led whatever was left of the rally on a march to City Hall. To purposely confront the Yes on 8 people.

Bad idea? In the end, almost everyone ended up at City Hall. The police had thoughtfully cordoned off a place for the protesters even though the march was unplanned, and were watching us with wary, if slightly bored looks. The Socialists were old hands at pumping up the crowd, and it all carried a sense of urgency against the few remaining haters. It nearly went pear-shaped when the leading Socialist called the Yes on 8 group 'fascist', and I had to explain I was a European Liberal and not *that* kind of a Socialist. But whatever, no one batted an eye. You crazy extremist leftys.

The police were incredibly supportive, without seeming to be favour one side. I was pleasantly surprised, and very impressed. None of them had a problem with where we were putting up signs. One actually came up to shake hands and in a friendly, approachable manner asked about our itinerary. Whatever the LAPD is doing in its sensitivity training, it's working. Don't change a thing! Plus, we were convinced the cops present are all against Prop 8. The city security detail too.

The weirdest part of the rally? When we stopped marching and stood outside an apartment building, cheering on a slowpoke supporter who was creating a sign on his four windows. He must have used more than 20 pieces of paper to create the 'piece', paying no attention to his audience who were fidgeting down on the pavement for about 20 minutes. We were absolutely dying from the tension, and would have left too had it not be for the completists in the group who kept calling us back. Our chants of 'HURRY UP! HURRY UP!' did nothing, although a lower level neighbour did display her own No on 8 sign soon after. The original poster kept at his turtle-like pace, forcing an unhappy someone to yell at the nascent message 'No On *horizontal line*' 'THIS BETTER NOT BE NO ON 7 OR SOMETHING!'

All in all, a very successful rally. But it's not over. There's still two days -- 48 hours in which to convince undecided voters and Prop 8 supporters to change their vote. If Prop 8 does not pass, it will serve as an inspiration to other states.

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I wish I could have gone to this protest/rally. It sounds like there was a lot of positive peaceful protest (besides people getting impatient with the slowpoke at the apartment *giggle*). I have been trying to convince both of my parents that denying gays the right to marry is just like blacks being denied 40+ years ago. I was able to convince my father and he voted NO on his absentee ballot (he showed it too me!) but I wasn't able to convince my mother. Still, I'm glad my dad understood what I was trying to say.

I don't want prop 8 to pass, as you said because it'll embolden other states.

Oh, and I love the protest sign that says "Love not 8."

My sentiments exactly.

I have been trying to convince both of my parents that denying gays the right to marry is just like blacks being denied 40+ years ago.

*nods* You know what made me sad? When Joe Biden said at the VP debate that the issue of same sex marriage was not a civil rights issue. I knew he had to say it but damn, that hurt. It clearly is an instance of separate, not equal.

And that's very cool that your father understood. We had a 70 year old voter come to the rally who was passionate in trying to get her peers to vote no. To her, it's a matter of equality.

And the person who made that 'Love not 8' poster was one of the original organisers. He held that baby up nearly the entire rally :D

Yeah, that really disappointed me too. Neither side was willing to take that "risk" to stand up for same sex marriages during that debate. Actually, Palin's stance nearly got her into trouble with all her talk about tolerance. It just sounded forced. I'm hoping CA will do the right thing!

I wish I could have gone!

HUGS!!!

Here's hoping for the best.

*hugs* It was really life-affirming to see the turnout and the minds we changed that day! Plus I met so many great people I normally wouldn't.

I totally have a good feeling for Tuesday, and can't wait to start grabbing the Yes on 8 signs on Wednesday mornings and reusing them into something less toxic.

I plucked two off the freeway this morning on my walk into work. What are you using yours for? I want to do something artsy with them, but I keep drawing a blank!

This is very unGandhi of me, but I'm going to stuff them with shipping material I'm recycling from work and turn them into punching bags :D

How about Yes on 8 doormats?

Ugh - who'd want to put them in front of their house though? :( I keep thinking I should be able to think of some great collage type idea, but I just look at 'em and become enraged.

This is true. Yeah, just looking at the 'Protect Marriage' slogan on a pamphlet someone left at the office made me mad enough to cut off the Yes on Prop 8 part and tear it into tiny pieces.

I'd probably end up handing them out to neighbours with dogs.

HUGS!

Please let me know if you are EVER in the Sacramento/Davis area and I will take you to Mishka's and buy you a great cup of coffee. :)

*waggles eyebrows* You are a bad influence. On the way home I grabbed a Yes on 8 sign, and stuck a No on 8 sign in it's place XD

*hugs* And if you're ever in LA, I'll buy you a lovely cup of addictive fair-trade coffee to go with a slice of vegan chocolate raspberry passionfruit cake :D

Droooool... @_@

Looks like a great turnout, hopefully a lot of minds were changed. I know I can't do a lot over here, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that the bill doesn't see the light of day.

I haven't been listening to the news across the pond for a while, but does it look like the public is just okay with civil unions and not marriage?

Well, I haven't heard any major grievences to be honest. But then, most people, including the tabloids, more often than not, refer to it as marriage and aside from calling it a "Civil Union" there really is no difference legally.

I imagine quite a few are but nothing that's made news. I could be wrong though.

What an awesome rally, I would have loved to have been there. And LOL @ the slowpoke.

I had a saddening conversation with my hairdresser. And even suggesting that even if she doesn't like the idea, why make someone else's life worse? didn't seem to sway her.

It was absolutely awesome! Once voters are able to put a face to those who will be affected if Prop 8 passes, they can be persuaded to vote no. My own best friend told me she would vote yes (!) and when I reminded her that her decision would hurt me, she decided to leave that prop alone. *sigh* It's better than yes, I suppose.

*sigh*

Man, these pics make me wish I lived in California so I could vote!

I can honestly say that I'll be watching election coverage on this issue just as anxiously as I am watching the presidential election stuff.

*crosses all my fingers and toes.*

Man, these pics make me wish I lived in California so I could vote!

Erm, vote on 8 - I am obviously voting here in Ohio. ;)