Proposition 8 is no longer just a California issue. Its passage, the banning of same-sex marriage, immediately created waves of protests, the most significant of which occurred nationally on November 15, 2008.“I can’t believe we still have to protest this crap,” stated one of the signs.
This event, which turned out to be part of a nationwide fight for human rights, took place late morning in front of San Francisco City Hall. All across the United States demonstrations were occurring at the same time.
With a completely cloudless sky, the entire day was filled with sunshine.
"I guess God doesn't hate us that much, does she?" said Scott Brogan, who was the moderator and guide throughout the event.
The gathering was peaceful and included many inspiring speeches. Some were serious, angry, sad full of empathy; others were light, entertaining with a pinch of sarcasm. What they all had in common was the urgent call for equality and the same opportunities for all.
“Its not about sex, boys and girls, its about love,” said Supervisor Tom Ammiano,“Homophobia and racism and sexism, they all serve the same master, and its now time we bitch slap that master.”
Protesters carried a large variety of sings, which conveyed the urgency of this issue and its need to be solved. “Marriage rights now, no 2nd class citizens,” “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” "Str8 against H8," or “This is not about beliefs, this is about civil rights,” just to cite a few.
“The right wing says if you are queer you are sick, everybody on Monday call into work and say I can’t come in, I’m feeling a little queer,” said Ammiano during his entertaining speech.
Not only the gay community was present. A large amount of straight couples came along with their children to express their support as well. The crowd was quite diverse, comprised of people of different races, religions and gender preferences, merging all together, at least for that day.
The event went on longer than planned and ended with a march around the city, passing by the Castro.
If individual uniqueness, like the color of skin, cultural background or gender preferences could be celebrated, that would create a more positive way of living instead of pushing limits and punishments onto those with differences that they did not choose for themselves.
If we can figure out how to turn off the color-culture-gender switch in our minds, there wouldn’t be such a thing as Proposition 8, instead we would be able to use this energy on causes in places that are in desperate need of help and our attention.
