Until The Fat Drag Queen Sings: Prop. 8 Battle Continues
By Zamná Ávila
Following the historic 2008 elections, thousands of people on Nov. 5 took to the streets in several cities throughout the nation. Nas news organizations around the world covered protests of the passage of Proposition 8, a statewide ballot that denies same-sex couples the right to wed. A common roar affirmed: “No more Mr. (Miss) Nice Gay,” as gays, lesbians, heterosexuals, bisexuals and transgender people united in the fight for equality.
In West Hollywood, protestors surpassed 1,000 people. Approximately People peppered the night with signs, candles and the occasional car horn in support of the protestors who gathered in front of Hot Java, a popular coffeehouse in Long Beach.
The impromptu rally was started by three people who called and text messaged their friends that afternoon. Within half an hour, the number of people who joined grew exponentially.
“[This protest] is about visibility,” said Ján Montoya of Long Beach. “[Proponents of the measure] were expecting us to give up and roll over, but no: the fight has just begun.”
In the weeks that followed, men, women and children of diverse backgrounds and from across the country held signs that read, “Separate but Equal the Sequel,” while chanting in huge choruses, “What do we want? Equal rights! When do we want it? Now!”
A Los Angeles-based “No on 8”protest was estimated to have nearly 10,000 supporters.
Most of these protests were the product of grassroots groups that used blogs, social-networking sites and text messaging to spread the word and organize. The use of new media and technology helped organizers, such as Long Beach resident Tom Crowe, coordinate a Nov. 7 march that drew more than 2,000 marriage-rights supporters from the community and surrounding cities.
“Our march was one of the most [impacting ones] because no one expected us,” said Chris LaRue, political co-chair of the Long Beach Human Rights Campaign’s steering committee.
African-American protester Marella Wilson said the protests were signs of hope and pronouncement that the battle for equality is far from over. The proof is in the election of President-Elect Barack Obama, she said.
“Look at me,” Wilson said, alluding to her race. “I saw what happens with the accumulation of civil rights. We thought this day was never going to happen in our lifetime.”
Civil rights groups also moved quickly to challenge Proposition 8, asking the California Supreme Court to strike down the latest attempt to ban same-sex marriage in the state, arguing that the measure violates the equal protection of gay and lesbian couples.
The court agreed to take the case, which likely will be heard in March 2009.
Complacency is not an option, said Crowe during a community meeting attended by about 40 people at Hot Java in Long Beach.
“Just because [the validity of Prop.8 is] going to the courts, it doesn’t mean [fighting for equal rights] can stop,” he said. “We need to continue.”
While the courts wait to hear the case, nearly 18,000 same-sex couples who have married since June are in limbo about the status of their marriages, and marriage licenses to same-sex couples who wish to wed are denied until the matter is resolved.
Still, forging forward is an individual battle in a cornucopia of belief systems among LGBT and supporting members.
Organizer Brian Frederick said he’s torn between safely rallying people and cooperating with local authorities to ensure peaceful protests. At a Nov. 16 silent protest at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Long Beach, Frederick advised Long Beach police of his plan to lead the protest and officials contacted the Mormon church to tell them what hours the protest would occur.
At the urging of Mormon church President Thomas Monson, the religious group contributed more than $15 million to fund the initiative and advertising.
“I’m not sure that I want to work so closely with the police when planning to protest,” Frederick said. “I don’t need them to be the mediator. We need to mobilize quickly and go protest.”
Others at the meeting stressed the importance of writing letters to federal, state and local government representatives, especially handwritten letters, which are highly regarded by politicians: Each handwritten letter equals approximately 25 people, they said.
“When we write a letter to Congress, it’s got [to make an impact],” said LaRue. “We are trying to rally the community to make a united front here in Long Beach.
Participants even suggested scheduling letter-writing parties.
“Don’t be afraid to write a letter about how this ballot measure made you feel,” Crowe said. “Humanize it, talk about how it made you feel, how it affected a friend of yours or how it’s going to affect your family.”
Long Beach resident Laura Django said activists also should emulate other civil rights’ movement strategies, such as boycotting.
“We should take a page out of the Latinos’ [playbook] and have [a day without] gays on Dec. 10,” Django said. “We have to control the rhetoric. Our message is equality.”
Some also proposed campaigning at the dinner table and educating friends and family about the importance of fighting for equal rights.
“The holidays are good times to have conversations,” said participant Marie Cartier. “It is the personal conversations that are the most effective.”
Promoting the importance of equal rights to marry especially is crucial in communities that are not as gay friendly as Long Beach, said participant Brett Barris.
“We need to roll up our sleeves and go into these neighborhoods where they need to be educated, not only the ones that are already on our side,” Barris said.
These undertakings take many forms. Whether through armchair activism — sending e-mails and disseminating information about protests and participation opportunities — or by rallying, boycotting, writing letters to representatives, making phone calls or fundraising, the LGBT community no longer can afford to be a spectator, Crowe added.
“Every last one of you is an activist,” he said. “We are really a family and we need to take care of ourselves.”