Prop 8 Vote Prompts Protests and Petitions

by Jarrett Martineau | November 6, 2008 at 01:27 pm

3122 views | 12 Recommendations | 17 comments

After Proposition 8 was passed on Tuesday, the reinstatement of California's ban on same-sex marriage prompted widespread protests and outrage from those who had hoped to defeat the ban.

For ongoing coverage of this issue, please see NowPublic's Proposition 8 Scan and featured coverage.

As many as 10,000 protesters encircled a Mormon Temple in Los Angeles on Thursday, as supporters of same-sex marriage continue to be outraged over the passage of Proposition 8.

An estimated 10,000 marchers descended on Westwood last hour to protest the passage of Proposition 8, leading to a bust of outrage large enough to encircle the Mormon Temple on Santa Monica Blvd. before overtaking the thoroughfare itself. Streaming live footage from KNBC features a mostly peaceful protest to date, with only minor incursions resulting in a driveway shout-down and a bit of get-the-homos-off-my-lawn resistance from cops nudging marchers off a sliver of LDS property. The crowd spilled onto Santa Monica around 3:15, shutting down westbound traffic en route to Westwood Blvd.

Huge protests overwhelmed police in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento on Wednesday as thousands of same-sex marriage supporters took to the streets in defence of the cause.

Los Angeles Police Department officials say they are preparing for another major Proposition 8 protest in Westwood today at the landmark Los Angeles California Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Westwood.

Department officials say they won't be so caught off-guard again, as they were last night, when they were required to call a tactical alert after a few members of the mostly peaceful crowd got out of hand. The protest is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. off Santa Monica Boulevard.

Students across California also staged rallies, vigils, and protests in response to the Proposition 8 decision.

While things got violent in Los Angeles and Sacramento when more than a thousand people gathered to protest the passage of Proposition 8, a gay marriage ban in California, students across the state also held their own rallies and vigils Wednesday, a day after the controversial ballot initiative passed.

More than 100 Stanford students—holding "No on 8" signs converted to now read "I am a second-class citizen"—staged an impromptu rally around 1 p.m. yesterday, clogging an already congested intersection on campus and forcing traffic to come to a halt, the Stanford Daily reports.

Small protests were held at UC-Berkeley and Sacramento State, and Cal Poly students gathered with the San Luis Obispo community in a vigil over the new law. As one Sacramento State student put it, "I just watched it all shatter last night."

And while students, protesters and police clash, online reaction is reaching a fever pitch.

A new online petition to 'Re-open Proposition 8 for California' is being widely circulated on Twitter and has surpassed 243,000 signatures by Thursday morning.

Civil rights groups have also jumped in to challenge the outcome of the Prop 8 vote in court.

Civil rights groups moved quickly today to challenge Proposition 8, asking the California Supreme Court to strike down the latest attempt to ban same-sex marriage across the state.

While refusing to concede that the ballot measure has passed, gay marriage supporters nevertheless filed a petition with the state's high court in the event the current vote holds and Proposition 8 amends the California constitution to once again outlaw marriage for gay and lesbian couples.

San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera also filed an identical legal challenge in the state Supreme Court, joined by Santa Clara County and the Los Angeles city attorney. San Francisco city officials, who pushed to overturn California's gay marriage laws in the previous court fight, argue that Proposition 8 violates the equal protection rights of gay and lesbian couples.

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Outraged bloggers are demanding that they be able to question those who voted 'Yes' on Prop 8 about their reasons for doing so.

It wasn’t just Christians who voted to ban gay marriage in California, but no doubt the measure would’ve failed without their support. Ditto to the Mormons.
There are so many questions I want to ask those people who voted in favor of Proposition 8 and as a result banned gay marriages in California:

How is your marriage any more secure now that homosexual marriages in your state are broken?

What do you say to the children of gay parents who question why their mommies or daddies can’t be married?

Can I vote on the legality of your marriage?

Indeed, that final question seems to be ringing out the loudest in this debate: why should the majority be able to vote on the legal rights of a minority group?

As tensions flare over this highly divisive issue, many supporters of same-sex marriage have alleged that the Prop 8 'Yes' vote was achieved, primarily, as a result of financial and political support from the Mormon church. Some have gone so far as to set up a website audaciously declaring "Mormons Stole Our Rights".

Although no exact figures have been released, of the $74 million total spending on both sides of the initiative, the Mormon Church is confirmed to have spent at least $9 million in support of the ban — but church officials were quick to state that the ban "should not be portrayed as a 'Mormon issue' ".

The campaign manager for the group advocating passage of Proposition-8, which would ban gay marriage in California, says members of the Mormon church have donated about nine-million dollars so far to help pass the initiative. That's about 40-percent of the total amount raised since July. Leaders of the church have encouraged members to do what they can to support Prop-8. While churches cannot take a stand on political candidates without affecting their tax status, they are allowed to address ballot issues. A spokesperson for the Mormon church in Sacramento told the "Sacramento Bee" the proposed ban on gay marriage should not be portrayed as a "Mormon issue." Other religious groups have also contributed to support Prop-8. The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, has donated more than one-million dollars.

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Jordan Yerman

at 13:43 on November 6th, 2008

I'm surprised that there weren't more protests to Prop 8 being added to the ballot in the first place- surely there's a case to be argued that the measure violates existing civil rights.

(I don't live in California anymore, so maybe there were more protests that I just didn't hear about- someone please correct me if I'm wrong)

Rhonda J Mangus

at 15:49 on November 6th, 2008

Thanks for this story, Jarrett. I'm glad to read that an on-line petition has been started to re-open Proposition 8.

Jarrett Martineau

at 16:03 on November 6th, 2008

Thanks Rhonda. The numbers are climbing rapidly: since posting the story a couple of hours ago the votes are already well over 145,000 and climbing! That said, it is an online petition, so one has to wonder about its potential efficacy -- but people are looking for any means of express their dismay about the vote.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 16:17 on November 6th, 2008

You are very welcome, Jarrett. I did visit the petition -- the numbers certainly are climbing rapidly. I'm not sure myself about its "potential efficacy" -- I can only say that this is an unfortunate situation.

Ginger Jones (not verified)

at 22:09 on November 6th, 2008

I AM OUTRAGED by the following posts by Gays-Lesbians:

“I just watched that African American "pastor" tell Gay people to 'suck it up'. He is a piece of trash.”

“The only people who voted for prop 8 are either uneducated blacks and latinos, or religious nut job republicans. “

I am an educated african-american, I voted No on Prop 8, BUT I will never again support Gay marriage given your racism!!

Susan Webb (not verified)

at 09:43 on November 8th, 2008

I'm sorry you were hurt by those remarks, but two wrongs don't make a right, Ginger.

If I changed my position on issues based on comments made by a few of its supporters,(remember, there's a fringe element in any movement) I wouldn't have any issues left to support.

Civil rights were pioneered by women and African Americans. We need to carry this torch for lesbians and gays, as well. Let's continue to fight oppression, together. And never mind what a few misguided souls might say... We shall overcome.

Joe Smith (not verified)

at 22:23 on November 6th, 2008

The biggest debate re: Prop 8 seems to be about what tangibly would happen if it did or did not pass. The British press painted a pretty fascinating picture of the direction in which allowing gay marriage would lead us.

http://irrationalpublicradio.com/pe6.html

adiosmuchacho (not verified)

at 01:36 on November 7th, 2008

don't fight hate with hate!

http://kiitm.blogspot.com/

Coffee On Ice

at 02:15 on November 7th, 2008

November 3rd, 2008 - Orange, CA

Coffee On Ice has contributed a photo to this story.

Katalina33 (not verified)

at 19:41 on November 7th, 2008

Answering the poster as to why those who voted yes on 8:

Most of my relatives live in So. Calif. They are Catholic, non-denominational, non-churchgoers, all ages, and of sound mind. They also voted yes on 8. Their marriages are sound. The only ones without a spouse are widowed.

Why yes on 8? They understand that marriage is a covenant, a vow, between one man and one woman. Two of the same sex, or more, is plain unnatural--defies nature, defies logic.

They understand that children of all ages need A father, A mother. For those children being raised by a single parent (like my niece), the children's grandfather is the father figure and does a wonderful job at being grandpa. For those who don't go to church, they view so-called "gay marriage" as unnatural, not watching out for the best interests of the children, and a mockery of traditional marriage.

While I was recently in SoCal, I found my mother's measure on 8 sign stolen after less than 24 hrs. up. A nearby volunteer gave me three more, and I had to nail them high up on the trees, wired down, and with bells so that removal would be dangerous and noisy, and probably painful. To go on my mother's property, or anyone's property, business, or church is out of line. In regards to private property and/or to steal THEIR signs, it's against the law. Did you get that??

Who is intolerant? The egg is on the face of those who want to shove their immoral lifestyle in the face of common sense, morality, and civility. What you do is your business. If you insist on pretend marriages, you can go to Massachusetts. We've known for years that your goals are to "normalize" the abhorrent lifestyle, and gain acceptance in all quarters. It isn't going to happen. Groups like Exodus International can assist those who want to escape the lifestyle.

They are not hateful, fascist, or homophobic. Many are ex-gays who know the route out of a destructive lifestyle. Their motive is to help, nurture, and assist in the healing process to those gays who feel trapped and can't find the way out.

Ailana Holland (not verified)

at 20:39 on November 9th, 2008

I get the feeling you think being gay is a choice....

Only bisexuals have a choice in their orientation. No true born-straight person could ever go gay if they wanted to. If you think you're orientation was a choice, then hello... you're bi! If you're bi, stop the hate, not everyone is priviledged to have a choice like you.... but most likely you're just a dumb hetero that hasn't connected the dots.

Roaming (not verified)

at 23:42 on November 7th, 2008

Hey Joe: that is a parody, not meant to be serious. "Irrational Public Radio: a public radio parody program". Do you know what a parody is?

Arcturus (not verified)

at 01:50 on November 8th, 2008

California already voted on the definition of marriage with Proposition 22 back in 2000. It wasn't until 4 judges in San Francisco overturned the result of a democratic election just because they disagreed with the opinion of a majority of citizens. Proposition 8 was not just about restoring legislation which should never have been overturned in the first place but also about protecting everyone's right to exercise their voice & have that voice respected rather than be ruled by judicial decree. Both the people & the Judiciary expect an independent & impartial legal system, free from any interference or meddling from politicians yet time and time again judges refuse to afford the Government (and by extension the people themselves) the same courtesy & by this the people should be outraged.

Twice now Californians have said that in their state, marriage is between a man & a woman. California already has the Domestic Partner law which already affords same sex couples many legal rights "http://www.kinseylaw.com/clientserv2/famlawservices/domesticpartner/domesticpartnerdisso.html"

The funny thing about democracy is that everyone believes in the right to participate in the democratic process until the day that same process is responsible for something they disagree with, then it's an "infringement on my civil rights" & "we have to start a petition to get this overturned". I ask though, what right does anyone now have to seek to overturn the voice of the majority of the people? Either you agree with the democratic process or or you do not. If you don't like it then exercise your democratic right to leave the country & live somewhere like Saudi Arabia. Maybe then you'll actually appreciate that while you may not always agree with the results, those who don't get to participate in democracy have it a hell of a lot worse than we do.

Arcturus (not verified)

at 01:54 on November 8th, 2008

California already voted on the definition of marriage with Proposition 22 back in 2000. It wasn't until 4 judges in San Francisco earlier this year overturned the result of a democratic election just because they disagreed with the opinion of a majority of citizens. Proposition 8 was not just about restoring legislation which should never have been overturned in the first place but also about protecting everyone's right to exercise their voice & have that voice respected rather than be ruled by judicial decree. Both the people & the Judiciary expect an independent & impartial legal system, free from any interference or meddling from politicians yet time and time again judges refuse to afford the Government (and by extension the people themselves) the same courtesy & by this the people should be outraged.

The funny thing about democracy is that everyone believes in the right to participate in the democratic process until the day that same process is responsible for something they disagree with, then the whiners start with "it's an infringement on my civil rights" & "we have to start a petition to get this overturned". I ask though, what right does anyone now have to seek to overturn the voice of the majority of the people? Either you agree with the democratic process or you do not. If you don't like it then exercise your democratic right to leave the country & live somewhere like Saudi Arabia. Maybe then you'll actually appreciate that while you may not always agree with the results, those who don't get to participate in democracy have it a hell of a lot worse than we do.

efrain (not verified)

at 23:59 on November 12th, 2008

many of you gay people need to understand that your messing up merriage for everyone who actully care about marriage. when i get married i want people to know that i married a women not a man. that's what merriage is, man and a women getting together. gays don't respect me or anyone if they want to take something i belive in and mess it up. so gay people get something and make it your own. don't take what i have, and try to steal it.