Orlando - "They are fighting the tide of human history," said Jason Lambert of the Human Rights Campaign to a crowd of more than 1,000 gathered outside Orlando’s City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 15, rallying against Florida’s Amendment 2 and California’s Proposition 8. Both measures—which ban same-sex marriage—passed on Election Day.
The Orlando rally was part of a national effort to protest the new laws. CNN.com and MSNBC reported on rallies held in Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Palm Beach, New York City, Washington D.C., and even Fargo, North Dakota.
"It’s easy to legislate hate; it is impossible to deny love," said Stephanie Jones of Clermont about her commitment to partner Diane Iwanski. "We remain married in our minds and certainly in our hearts."
Out Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan spoke passionately about the Orlando City Council’s Oct. 7 vote to approve domestic partnership benefits for city employees.
"It just goes to show you not everybody is against us," Sheehan said.
Sheehan then spoke of Mark Bingham, an openly gay man who died on 9/11 trying to stop terrorists from crashing flight United 93 into a target.
"The terrible irony of the case of Mark Bingham is that by keeping the plane from crashing into the U.S. Capitol or the White House, he was saving the lives of the very people who would deny him his rights as a U.S. citizen—to love and marry the person of his choice."
At the rally, a handful of protesters holding "Yes on 2" signs positioned themselves on street corners across from City Hall. Rally participants surrounded the protesters with their own anti-Amendment 2 signs; this tactic effectively blocked the "Yes on 2" signs from the view of passing cars and pedestrians.
Future efforts will concentrate on challenging the amendments in state courts. Human Rights Campaign workers are coordinating with Equality Florida, the American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations to reverse the votes.
A new grassroots organization called Join the Impact spearheaded the rallies, and encourages people to protest as well as spread awareness. The group’s mission, according to its Web site, JoinTheImpact.com, is to have everyone inform 10 people about the effects of the newly passed measures. "If all of us work hard to positively affect 10 lives, we can change this entire nation!" the Web site reads.
The next protest Join the Impact plans is "Day Without a Gay" on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
"You are encouraged not to call in sick to work. You are encouraged to call in ‘gay’—and donate your time to service!" says the official event Web site, DayWithoutAGay.org. "On Dec. 10, 2008, the gay community will take a historic stance against hatred by donating love to a variety of different causes."
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