LB Gays Celebrate Day of Decision

By Leonardo Poareo

Gay marriage supporters gathered at Bixby Park, Long Beach.

Jubilation filled the air as hundreds of people assembled Aug. 4, for the “Day of Decision” rally at Bixby Park in Long Beach following the overturning of Proposition 8 by a federal judge.

For the gay community and its allies, Prop.8, which barred homosexuals from marrying each other, was a major obstacle. But instead of abandoning hope, activists chose to persist in their endeavor.

“This is a victory for everybody here, everybody that believes in love, everybody that believes in hope, everybody that believes that we have a better country, that we have a better state,” said Long Beach District 1 Councilman Robert Garcia, during a speech at the rally. “This is our day.”

The proposition was deemed unconstitutional by U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker, ruled that it “violates the federal constitutional protections of equal protection and due process,” said Peter Renn, a lawyer for Lambda Legal.

The proponents of same-sex marriage believe that those constitutional protections apply to everyone.

“Constitutional protections are for everyone, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered Americans- not just straight, not just white, not just whoever, but everyone,” said Eric Kenney of the Human Rights Campaign.

But those who oppose gay marriage think otherwise, so they’ll appeal the decision and the case will move to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Renn said.

Many of the people at the rally not only thought that the case would continue, but they believed that it would end up being decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“I definitely know this ruling will go up to the Supreme Court, and actually I would like it to-I would absolutely like it to,” Joyce Thomas, 50, said. “I think it’s a civil rights issue, it’s not an issue of what’s been accepted. Socially, historically, this is really a civil rights issue.”

As the fight for marriage equality moves beyond this case, marriage equality advocates will continue to be opposed by several religious groups.

Yet, not all religious groups concur with the opinion that marriage should be limited to opposite-sex couples. Some groups even are revolted by the actions of their peers who oppose same-sex marriage.

“A lot of people want to impose their will, like Sharia or Taliban Christians want to impose their laws on other people and I think that’s really horrible,” said Tom Crowe, a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach. “It’s really shameful the things that have been done in the name of religion from people who supposedly follow this itinerant preacher from Palestine 2000 years ago who made no comments about homosexuality. But they have to find reasons to justify their fears and prejudices,” he continued.

Crowe (pictured above with Gerrie Winters) also mentioned that the Los Angles Episcopal Church had recently ordained its first lesbian bishop. For these types of Christians, their religion is about inclusion and acceptance.

“God calls us to be inclusive in all creation, not just certain parts of creation,” Crowe said.

Yet this support means nothing if the proponents of marriage equality do not persist in their struggle and overcome obstacles. If they want to achieve their goal of marriage equality for all, they must endure hardship and forge ahead.

“A lot of people say it will happen-it doesn’t happen unless people work for it,” Leonard Baric, 39, said.

Not only must they work toward their goal, but they must also fight for it.

“Are you going to fight?” Garcia asked the crowd during his speech.

“Yes!” the crowd roared in reply.