The intersection of University and Fifth in Hillcrest before the rally
Last night’s candlelight rally against Proposition 8 in San Diego was like nothing I’ve seen in years. I have to admit I was hoping for hundreds of people to hit the streets for equality, fairness and the most fundamental of human rights — the right to marry the one you love. I thought I’d be able to get a few decent shots of Mayor Sanders and local gay politicos at the San Diego LGBT Community Center, but I couldn’t get near the place, because the streets were jammed. The police estimated the size of the crowd at 3000, but other estimates run as high as 10,000 — according to veteran reporter Rex Wockner. Whatever the actual number, for a mile long stretch of University Avenue last night, the sidewalks were so filled with opponents of Prop 8 that it was nearly impossible to move.
It was an evening of peace, good cheer and determination. The No-on-Prop-8 demonstrators, of every race, age, faith and non-faith, and sexual orientation, were nothing less than fabulous!
Here’s a small collection of photos from last night. California voters take note: these are your neighbors, your coworkers, your family and friends; and many of these people are the citizens whose basic right to marry will be taken away if Proposition 8 isn’t defeated this coming Tuesday.
Click for Printable Version
http://christians-against-prop8.tumblr.com/
My boyfriend and I drove down from Escondido to support our friends, neighbors and co-worker’s right to get married in CA. The candle light vigil was an amazing event, filled with respect and love of diversity. We were so happy to be standing with our community, proud that we are in favor of love not hate – equality not discrimination.
Vote NO on Prop 8!!!
I just have to say that if Prop 8 doesn’t pass then several of my unalienable rights that are stated in the Bill of Rights that this Nation was partly founded upon will be alienated. Freedom to allow kids to be born into and live in a home where Traditional love abounds, that is to say between a Man and a Woman. I would like to make myself clear, I am not anti-homosexuals. They have their rights as much as I do. They can fully exercise those rights RIGHT NOW. If this Proposition doesn’t pass, we allow homosexual marriage, it will allow Homosexual behavior to be taught in PUBLIC schools and become common place. Marriage has been and forevermore should be known as between a Man and a Woman. Allow me to illustrate my point.
The definition of marriage for eons of time has been defined as only between a man and a woman; just the same way that a Peanut Butter and Jelly (PB and J) sandwich(marriage) has to have both PB and J(man and woman) to be a PB and J sandwich(marriage). It can not have just Peanut Butter or Jelly (man and man or woman and woman) and be a PB and J sandwich (marriage) it is still a sandwich (i.e. civil union or domestic partnerships) just not a PB and J sandwich(marriage).
“We Fight Not For Glory, Not For Riches, Not For Honor; We Fight Only And Alone For Freedom, Which No Good Man Surrenders, Save With His Life.” ~ Winston Churchill ~
Don’t lie texas. You have absolutely nothing to lose. We have everything to lose. We lose our families.
Texas, absolutely no right of yours is at risk. You can still bring children into your family, however you personally define family.
You’ve illustrated your point, so allow me to delineate mine.
The definition of marriage has evolved over many thousands of years. At one point it was defined as between one man and many women. The Bible is sometimes, in Judaism, Islam and Christianity, referred to as the Book of of Abraham. Abraham had two wives, one of whom was his niece. Solomon, frequently touted as the wisest of the wise, had 700 wives.
Ergo, to bray that “marriage has always been between one man and one woman” is an historically false assertion.
Throughout history, and in the Bible, there have been countless permutations of the definition of marriage. For centuries loveless marriages were arranged for social or political gain, or to perpetuate the bloodline — Lott’s daughters tricked their father into inseminating them to perpetuate his seed. In the old Testament, women were regarded as chattel to be used, discarded or killed as their husbands saw fit.
The appropriate age of the bride has also frequently changed. Muhammad had 13 wives and loved to brag that he could service the lot every single night. The youngest of these, and his favorite, was 9 years old. The Bible and the history of Western Civilization are filled with accounts of child brides forced to submit to their husband’s desires.
At one time, marriages between black slaves were forbidden. It was up to their master to breed them. The Bible has much to say about the treatment of slaves because, as far as the Old Testament goes, God approves of and defines the institution of slavery. Emancipation and the end of slavery didn’t begin in America; it began with secular enlightenment in Western Europe.
Later marriages between mixed-race couples were legally forbidden in the United States of America. It took activist judges to strike that abomination down, because the will of the people (the majority) was perfectly fine with that brand of discrimination.
Today many marriages no longer involve the blessing of either state or church, because many couples are enlightened enough to feel that neither church nor state should have any say in whom they’re allowed to love — nor how.
As California law currently exists, civil marriages are permitted between mixed-sex couples and same-sex couples. Proposition 8 would take away the right of civil marriage for a single class of loving couples. That right is what is at risk when discrimination is written in the Constitution.
Every parent in the State of California has the right to opt their child out of any class without penalty to their child. If they disagree with the teaching of Evolution, they can keep Johnnie out of his Biology class. If they disagree with René Descartes, they can keep Heather out of Geometry. Public schools are called “public” because it is the parents, at the local school district level, who control what is taught. If you’re genuinely concerned about what is taught in your local school, start attending school board meetings, but don’t disingenuously repeat the lie that marriage equality will automatically lead to the teaching of tolerance for marriage equality in your local school.
Texas, you also, are mindlessly wrong on a host of points you raise. Aside from the stupid inaccurate talking points that the Yes campaign is feeding into your mouth, I would appreciate if you can (read) simply look at the SC ruling and tell me what rights we do have that are equal to a hetero seeking marriage (before the ruling, that is).
“They have their rights as much as I do. They can fully exercise those rights RIGHT NOW. If this Proposition doesn’t pass, we allow homosexual marriage, it will allow Homosexual behavior to be taught in PUBLIC schools and become common place. Marriage has been and forevermore should be known as between a Man and a Woman. Allow me to illustrate my point.”
what is homosexual behavior that will be taught in schools? You denigrate me as a person when you say I engage in a certain “behavior” when my orientation is the basis of who I am as a person – that is a strong, masculine, hockey loving, football playing faggot who could most likely kick your ass – but I digress…
be honest, you’re problem is not with marriage rights – it is with homophobia!
saturday november 8th. equal rights march in hillcrest. start on 1st street and university. we will protest prop 8. start time NOON.
Thanks Amy!