In the Aftermath of Prop 8, a Chance to "Join the Impact"

The passage of Proposition 8, which eliminated civil marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples in California, appears to have galvanized and invigorated the LGBTA community in a BIG way.

For instance, protests against various churches that funneled tens of millions of dollars into campaigns to support Proposition 8 continue throughout California and have extended beyond the state.

Individual contributors to the Yes on 8 campaign have been targeted too, including Scott Eckern, the artistic director of the California Music Theater. AmericaBlog.com is reporting that when word got out about Eckern’s contribution of $1000, Marc Shairman, composer of the musical Hairspray, pulled the rights from any of his shows being performed at Eckern’s theater. He’s also encouraging colleagues to do the same. A well-known musical actress is also urging her friends to boycott working at the California Music Theater.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times reports that Governor Arnold Shwarzenegger has expressed hope that Proposition 8 will be overturned by the California Supreme Court. Three lawsuits were filed on November 5, challenging the validity of Proposition 8 on the grounds that revoking the right of same sex couples to marry was a constitutional “revision” rather than an “amendment,” and therefore required the prior approval of 2/3 of each house of the California State Legislature.

Yet perhaps most significantly, a newly-formed, rapidly growing (and server crashing!) coalition called Join the Impact is organizing a national day of protest against Prop 8 for November 15.

Write the organizers:

We NEED to come together . . . We need to show this nation that we are ONE LOUD VOICE THAT DEMANDS TO BE HEARD! We need to be one organized unit. Our gay pride shouldn’t be something we celebrate one month out of the year. Our gratitude towards the ones who came before us shouldn’t be ignored and wasted away with one party after another. We beg to be given a right that requires responsibility and commitment, yet we, as one strong community, have not proven to this nation that we deserve to be taken seriously! The gay pride parade has become a great party, but it has lost the memory of Stonewall and therefore given the nation another reason to cast us aside as irresponsible. It’s time we come together for debate, for public recognition, and for LOVE! Let’s move as one full unit, on the same day, at the same hour, and let’s show the United States of America that we too are UNITED CITIZENS EQUAL IN MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AND DESERVING OF FULL EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW!

On the steps of your City Hall on November 15th at 10:30am PST / 1:30pm EST, our community WILL take to the streets and speak out against Proposition 8 and all of the other pro-equality losses that we have faced in our lifetimes, in our parents’ lifetimes, and for many generations before us.

For information about organizing a November 15 day of protest against Prop 8 in your city, click here.

For a list of local organizer contacts, click here.


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
The Real Sodomites: The Proponents of Proposition 8
Unrest in California Over Passing of Proposition 8
Reflections on the Passage of Proposition 8
Fr. Geoff Farrow on Proposition 8
A Mayor’s Change of Heart