2,000 Gather in SF for Same-Sex Marriage Vigil

[Hissyspit]

Source: San Fransisco Chronicle

2,000 gather in SF for same-sex marriage vigil

Elizabeth Fernandez, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Despite the passage of Proposition 8, which alters the state constitution to prohibit same-sex couples from marrying, many of those attending the vigil said they were heartened by the vast show of support from the electorate - nearly 5 million people cast ballots opposing the measure.

"We are not sending up a white flag," said outgoing state Senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco). "It's a tough state, a conservative state, it's a big mother of a state - and we did brilliantly." Chanting "Marriage, equality, U.S.A.," rally participants said they will not be discouraged - and they will not back down.

But in the wake of a heartfelt defeat, it was impossible "not to feel like second class citizens," said Vandi Linstrot, standing with her spouse, Jami Matanky. The couple married in Oakland on June 17 - they've been together 24 years and have raised twin sons.

"California is saying that it is legal to disciminate against gays and lesbians," said Linstrot, 53, a business analyst. "Marriage is safe now? From what? I don't know why people feel threatened by us. Many thousands of gays and lesbians have gotten married in the last few months and what happened? Straight marriage continued. There was no great upheaval." The rally began in somber, quiet fashion - hundreds of early arrivals stood in silence on the steps of City Hall, breaking the twilight quiet only when a passing car honked in support.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/05/BAT413VCFF.DTL&type=politics&tsp=1

---

Coy Abellano is comforted by Erwin Barron as he cries outside City Hall where hundreds of people gather for a candlelight vigil in response to Proposition 8 in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008. (Lacy Atkins / The Chronicle)

[bluestateguy]

1. I think it;s time to collect signatures for a referendum to require Mormons to leave California

I mean, if civil rights are up for a majority vote, why not?

[MikeStl]

2. Sounds good to me

Just please don't send them here to Missouri, We got enough waste to deal with.

[Ian David]

6. We can't ban Mormons. But we CAN probably ban their magic underpants.

We could use Consumer Protection laws.

We could argue that the Mormon "Church" makes false marketing claims about their magic underpants.

If they can't wear their magic underpants in California, they'll have to leave on their own.

Maybe we could also ban the Catholic "Magic Cookies" as well.

[Duende azul]

8. at least ban their marriages....

[jwlashta]

3. It's disgusting...

that the rights of a minority are left to the whims of the tyranny of the majority. I thought the whole point of being a liberal democracy and having a constitution was to protect the rights of peoples regardless of what popular opinion holds. It's idiotic to base principles of morality and civil rights on popular opinion.

Let's take a vote and find out who like Gypsies. By the logic by which Prop.8 was given the light of day to be defeated, we should be able to exterminate any peoples that the majority deems "undesirable." (I am well aware of the hyperbole--but the truth is that if there were a proposition to ban black people from marrying, for example, there would be immense public outrage; perhaps inter-racial marriage would be a better example because I could see people still being upset by the thought).

[curse of greyface]

4. Why is the crowd so small????

I'm not trying to get flamed here but 2000 people seems almost an embarrassment. I would think the No on Prop 8 folks would be organizing much larger demonstrations.

[CatholicEdHead]

5. Some are shocked that it went through

and may other supporters are probably tired from the election itself.

[2Design]

7. sucks that so many want discrimination and voted for crap - unchristian