11-09-2008, 11:47 PM
Andrew McLemore
Published: Saturday November 8, 2008
Tens of thousands of gay rights supporters protested on Saturday the passage in California of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
Protesters took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the outcome of Proposition 8, waving rainbow flags and signs for "equal rights."
Up to 10,000 demonstrated in San Diego alone, though police said the protests were peaceful and that there were no arrests or problems, NBC News reported.
In San Francisco, more than 2,000 protesters disrupted traffic on streets Friday night, trying to prove that the fight over the definition of marriage is not done, Mercury News reported.
"We are protesting the fact that our rights are being taken away from us," said Denise Fordham of San Francisco.
More than 2,000 people protested outside the headquarters of the Mormon church Friday night for the organization's heavy support for Proposition 8, the Associated Press reported.
"With the L.D.S. churchââ¬â¢s vast involvement in the passage of Proposition 8, we are seeing a repeat of a tragic and deplorable history," a former Salt Lake City mayor, Rocky Anderson, said.
Proposition 8 overturned a California Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that legalized gay marriage within the state, allowing thousands of gay couples to marry. Those marriages are now void.
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed an appeal with the California Supreme Court to overturn the ballot measure, arguing that gay marriage is a constitutional right, which should never have been put to a popular vote in the first place.
But the California Supreme Court said, "We're not going to hear that right now."
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Prop_8_ign..._1108.html
Thousands protest Mormon involvement with Prop 8
Andrew McLemore
Published: Saturday November 8, 2008
SALT LAKE CITY -- More than 2,000 people protested outside the headquarters of the Mormon church Friday night for the organization's heavy support for Proposition 8, the Associated Press reported.
The proposal was passed by a thin margin Tuesday and adds an amendment to the California constitution banning gay marriage. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encouraged members to donate money and time to aggressively pushing the passage of Proposition 8.
"Separate church and state," or "I didn't vote on your marriage," protesters said as they marched around the headquarters.
Many held signs with messages including "Mormons: Once persecuted, now persecutors," "Proud of my two moms" and "Protect traditional marriage. Ban divorce."
The measure overturned a California Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that legalized gay marriage within the state, allowing thousands of gay couples to marry.
The fight surrounding the definition of marriage was the most expensive in the country with both sides raising $70 million, CBS reported in a video available below.
Although the Mormon church does not officially endorse political leaders or parties, it speaks out on moral issues important to the church's beliefs.
"With the L.D.S. churchââ¬â¢s vast involvement in the passage of Proposition 8, we are seeing a repeat of a tragic and deplorable history," a former Salt Lake City mayor, Rocky Anderson, said.
Church officials said they were "disturbed" that the Mormon church is being "singled out for speaking up as part of its democratic right in a free election," said LDS spokesman Scott Trotter earlier Friday.
Trotter said millions of people of all creeds and backgrounds voted for Proposition 8 that were not being criticized by the gay rights movement.
The African-American community, which saw the election of the first black president Tuesday, voted overwhelmingly for the measure, CBS News reported.
But activists remained livid that the measure was passed and were intent on blaming the Mormon establishment.
"The main focus is going to be going after the Utah brand," John Aravosis, an influential Washington, D.C.-based blogger, told the Associated Press. "We're going to destroy the Utah brand. It is a hate state."
Another protest against Proposition 8 drew up to 10,000 in San Diego on Saturday, as gay rights activists hit the streets in a peaceful, 90-minute demonstration.
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Thousands_..._1108.html
Published: Saturday November 8, 2008
Tens of thousands of gay rights supporters protested on Saturday the passage in California of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
Protesters took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the outcome of Proposition 8, waving rainbow flags and signs for "equal rights."
Up to 10,000 demonstrated in San Diego alone, though police said the protests were peaceful and that there were no arrests or problems, NBC News reported.
In San Francisco, more than 2,000 protesters disrupted traffic on streets Friday night, trying to prove that the fight over the definition of marriage is not done, Mercury News reported.
"We are protesting the fact that our rights are being taken away from us," said Denise Fordham of San Francisco.
More than 2,000 people protested outside the headquarters of the Mormon church Friday night for the organization's heavy support for Proposition 8, the Associated Press reported.
"With the L.D.S. churchââ¬â¢s vast involvement in the passage of Proposition 8, we are seeing a repeat of a tragic and deplorable history," a former Salt Lake City mayor, Rocky Anderson, said.
Proposition 8 overturned a California Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that legalized gay marriage within the state, allowing thousands of gay couples to marry. Those marriages are now void.
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed an appeal with the California Supreme Court to overturn the ballot measure, arguing that gay marriage is a constitutional right, which should never have been put to a popular vote in the first place.
But the California Supreme Court said, "We're not going to hear that right now."
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Prop_8_ign..._1108.html
Thousands protest Mormon involvement with Prop 8
Andrew McLemore
Published: Saturday November 8, 2008
SALT LAKE CITY -- More than 2,000 people protested outside the headquarters of the Mormon church Friday night for the organization's heavy support for Proposition 8, the Associated Press reported.
The proposal was passed by a thin margin Tuesday and adds an amendment to the California constitution banning gay marriage. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encouraged members to donate money and time to aggressively pushing the passage of Proposition 8.
"Separate church and state," or "I didn't vote on your marriage," protesters said as they marched around the headquarters.
Many held signs with messages including "Mormons: Once persecuted, now persecutors," "Proud of my two moms" and "Protect traditional marriage. Ban divorce."
The measure overturned a California Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that legalized gay marriage within the state, allowing thousands of gay couples to marry.
The fight surrounding the definition of marriage was the most expensive in the country with both sides raising $70 million, CBS reported in a video available below.
Although the Mormon church does not officially endorse political leaders or parties, it speaks out on moral issues important to the church's beliefs.
"With the L.D.S. churchââ¬â¢s vast involvement in the passage of Proposition 8, we are seeing a repeat of a tragic and deplorable history," a former Salt Lake City mayor, Rocky Anderson, said.
Church officials said they were "disturbed" that the Mormon church is being "singled out for speaking up as part of its democratic right in a free election," said LDS spokesman Scott Trotter earlier Friday.
Trotter said millions of people of all creeds and backgrounds voted for Proposition 8 that were not being criticized by the gay rights movement.
The African-American community, which saw the election of the first black president Tuesday, voted overwhelmingly for the measure, CBS News reported.
But activists remained livid that the measure was passed and were intent on blaming the Mormon establishment.
"The main focus is going to be going after the Utah brand," John Aravosis, an influential Washington, D.C.-based blogger, told the Associated Press. "We're going to destroy the Utah brand. It is a hate state."
Another protest against Proposition 8 drew up to 10,000 in San Diego on Saturday, as gay rights activists hit the streets in a peaceful, 90-minute demonstration.
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Thousands_..._1108.html
