Tampa/St. Petersburg - Separate rallies on both sides of Tampa Bay on Saturday, Nov. 15, coincided with similar gatherings around the country to protest amendments banning same-sex marriage in Florida and California. Joe Chillura Courthouse Square in Tampa saw nearly 150 demonstrators, and Mirror Lake Park in St. Pete hosted approximately 200.
"This shameful Amendment 2 passed because 62% of your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers voted to deny us rights," said Karen Doering, a GLBT activist with the Pinellas County ACLU. "Shame on them, and shame on us for not educating them when we had the opportunity. But that is changing—starting here, today, right now, we will no longer be silent."
The St. Petersburg rally featured several speakers, including Gaye Bosley-Mitchell of Trinity United Church of Christ, who reassured the crowd that many "rabid Christians" like herself are determined to fight for GLBT equality.
Tampa’s rally featured guest speaker City Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena.
"Changes to Hillsborough County are in the works," Saul-Sena told the crowd. She went on to praise the positive changes that Tampa has made over the years, including adding domestic partnership protections for city employees.
Both Tampa Bay rallies were part of the National Day of Action. Future rallies on both sides of the Bay are in the planning stages. Several people are planning to protest Governor Charlie Crist’s Friday, Dec. 12, wedding at the First Methodist Church of St. Petersburg. Crist will marry fiancée Carole Rome in a "traditional" ceremony. Protesters plan to meet near the church around 6 p.m.
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