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
Seattle's march for equality was an amazing, peaceful, and positive event. Organized by 21 year old Kyler, was one of the largest marches in the country saturday. Cheers to equality! We will have equality!
Posted by: Travis | November 18, 2008 at 12:08 AM
Can anyone say BAD JOURNALISM? Its obvious they were at the rally. did they somehow overlook the fact that Balliet had nothing to do with the success of the Seattle Rally? And that is was planned by 21 year old, Kyler Powell?
You should be giving credit to those who organized the rally.
Posted by: anonymous | December 06, 2008 at 02:56 AM
Can anyone say BAD JOURNALISM? Its obvious they were at the rally. did they somehow overlook the fact that Balliet had nothing to do with the success of the Seattle Rally? And that is was planned by 21 year old, Kyler Powell?
You should be giving credit to those who organized the rally.
Posted by: anonymous | December 06, 2008 at 02:56 AM
Can anyone say BAD JOURNALISM? Its obvious they were at the rally. did they somehow overlook the fact that Balliet had nothing to do with the success of the Seattle Rally? And that is was planned by 21 year old, Kyler Powell?
You should be giving credit to those who organized the rally.
Posted by: anonymous | December 06, 2008 at 02:56 AM
Can anyone say BAD JOURNALISM? Its obvious they were at the rally. did they somehow overlook the fact that Balliet had nothing to do with the success of the Seattle Rally? And that is was planned by 21 year old, Kyler Powell?
You should be giving credit to those who organized the rally.
Posted by: anonymous | December 06, 2008 at 02:57 AM
Can anyone say BAD JOURNALISM? Its obvious they were at the rally. did they somehow overlook the fact that Balliet had nothing to do with the success of the Seattle Rally? And that is was planned by 21 year old, Kyler Powell?
You should be giving credit to those who organized the rally.
Posted by: anonymous | December 06, 2008 at 02:57 AM