Images Still Coming in From L.A.

You keep sending -- and we are happily still posting -- images that continue to inspire us. Thanks to Max for this batch from the Los Angeles protest on Saturday the 15th.

Erie, Penn. Shows Up in the Rain

On Saturday, November 15, residents of Erie and the surrounding area took part in a nationwide event protesting the recently voted on Proposition 8 in California, which removed the rights of same sex couples to marry. For more info, check out http://www.eriegaynews.com. Photos by Deb Spilko.

Janice Hanusik and Laurie Finch holding banner of LBT Women of Erie

Lucian and Gene

Tim Dahle and Alina. Alina made many of the colorful signs held in this rally, including this one.

Colleen and Erin with signs

Seattle Rallies for Marriage Equality

The massive protest rally and march for marriage equality in Seattle began Saturday morning with a moment of silence at 11 a.m. to observe the "extinguishment of our freedom to marry in California." An impassioned lineup of speakers followed, including Washington State senator Ed Murray, state senator Joe McDermott, King County executive Ron Sims, and Seattle mayor Greg Nickels.

Nickels told the crowd he declared November 15 "Marriage Equality Day in Seattle."

"The challenge is to march by the thousands, not just here but in Olympia. Are you willing to do that?" Murray asked those gathered at Volunteer Park. "Are you willing to doorbell in suburbia and rural Washington and seek the friendship of African-American evangelicals and Catholics and Mormons? If you are willing to do that, you will achieve equality."

Charlene Strong, whose partner, Kate Fleming, died as the result of a flash flood several years ago, spoke to the crowd about the anguish she felt at being refused entry into the hospital room where the love of her life lay dying. Her partner's death pushed Charlene Strong to become a passionate activist for LGBT civil rights and she played an instrumental figure in the fight for domestic partnership rights in Washington State.

"I sat in a funeral home trying to make my wife’s funeral arrangements and was told that I didn’t count," Strong said. "But something changed in me and I hope today something changes in you -- equality is not multiple choice. It is not up to someone else to decide that another person should be denied equality."

Seattle police estimate that close to 6,000 people marched from Volunteer Park in the Capitol Hill neighborhood to Westlake Center in the heart of downtown Seattle as part of the protest. Chanting "Yes, we can" and "What do we want? Equal rights! When do we want them? Now!" and waving a forest of signs -- many featuring quotes from such luminaries as Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi -- participants maintained an attitude of exuberant determination throughout the march. No violence or arrests were reported, though some marchers did engage in heated verbal exchanges with antigay counterprotesters outside Westlake Center.

The peaceful nature of the march fit exactly into Seattle blogger Amy Balliett's hopes for the day. Balliett was the initial force behind the organization of the marriage equality national day of protest, spearheading the movement through the website she helped launch, JoinTheImpact.com. "If we can move anybody past anger and have a respectful conversation, then you can plant the seed of change," Balliett said.

Balliett and her partner were married on August 9 in Seattle and legalized their marriage in California in October. She and her wife are now part of the 18,000 couples who were wed in that state waiting to see if the passage of Proposition 8 will nullify their marriages. (L. A. Vess) Photos by Chris S. Witwer

 

A Personal Story From the Austin Rally

In May, California's supreme court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage, and when the ruling was implemented 30 days later, people like Jeff Lutes and Gary Stein exchanged vows and signed a marriage license.

"There was something about looking into this man's eyes that I've loved for 11 years, and exchanging vows with him that was incredibly moving," Lutes said.

The couple married on a California beach with their three adopted children at their side.

"Our kids were thrilled that we got married, and it was really important to us and our family," Stein said.
But on November 4, Election Day, the state's voters approved Proposition 8, to once again enforce the ban on gay marriage.

"That was like a punch in the stomach. I felt like I was shut out from happiness," Lutes said.

Lutes, Stein, and thousands of other supporters of same-sex marriage nationwide took the the streets, signs and flags in hand to protest Saturday, including 3,000 at Austin City Hall.

Lutes and Stein, whose union is now on limbo, told their story at the Austin rally.

The Reverend Jim Rigby of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin said the happiness of people like Lutes and Stein should have been protected.

"That's what the Constitution is all about--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," Rigby said. "We don't put that up for vote for anyone."

Rigby's support for gay marriage is at odds with the rest of the Presbyterian Church. It's also at odds with most Texans. In 2005, every county except Travis voted to ban same-sex marriages in the state. But Rigby remains hopeful.

"Texans are live-and-let-live conservatives, and things like inalienable rights are very important to us," he said. "Things like not judging, not picking on people are very conservative values, so this is something Texans should applaud."

After hearing Lutes and Stein's story, about 3,000 people applauded, but that's only a fraction of the state's population. To win in Texas, this family will have to change the mind of an army, but it's a challenge they vow to push forward.

"We're going to keep pushing and talking and fighting and loving people who misunderstand us, until we get fairness and equality," Lutes said. (Report by Heidi Zhou)

 

A Walk Through Williamsburg

How'd you like to protest through scenic Williamsburg, Virginia? Though organizers expected to get maybe 50 people to attend their rally on Saturday, more than 150 showed up, thanks in large part to Facebook and help from the College of William and Mary Lambda Alliance.

From Hawaii to Alaska

Through sun and snow, LGBT's turned out to rally over the weekend. Check out these pics we just got from Fairbanks, Alaska and, from a decidedly more sunny climate... Honolulu, Hawaii.

Music City USA Raises Its Voice for Marriage Equality

This picture of the Nashville protest doesn't do it justice. There
were over 200 people in attendance. Shortly after the picture was
taken, the rally turned into an impromptu march down Broadway (the
main strip of downtown Nashville). It was amazing! We had a lot more
supportive honks than negative responses.

Ashton Kutcher Gets Emotional About Prop. 8

OK, so it doesn't really surprise us that Ashton Kutcher is against Prop. 8. It just sort of seems to go with his whole vibe. But the fact that he got so passionate about that fact that Americans are ever voting on civil rights took us off guard. Check out Ashton getting right down to the heart of why Prop. 8 is so wrong on Friday's Real Time with Bill Maher.

Conservative Idaho Falls Brings Out the Protesters

Even a small town like Idaho Falls, population just under 50,000, managed to rally support for a protest. Nearly 100 people took to the streets in support of gay rights... including one person who used a car to bring more people in on the action.

Houston Comes Out Loud and Strong

The Lone Star State's largest and most vibrant LGBT community showed up almost 1,000 strong Saturday  amid the glass-and-steel towers of downtown Houston to protest California voters' unfortunate decision to deprive their fellow gay and lesbian citizens' of the right to marry. The protesters' sense of solidarity with their California brethren, as well as gays and lesbians in Florida, Arizona, and Arkansas where equally hateful antigay amendments were passed, was palpable as speakers vowed to continue the fight for equality. Photos provided by Josh Verde.