Same-sex couples vent frustrations in protests

LOS ANGELES — California’s 36.5 million predominantly Democrat population has easily settled down with the new US president, but one remaining election battle still rages in streets, hallways and congregations: Proposition 8. Five days following the passage of Proposition 8 or the “California Marriage Protection Act," more than 20,000 protesters took to the streets of Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento to oppose the gay-marriage ban. Gay Filipino American bartender Romy Cooper, 27, holds aloft a placard that says, “Teach tolerance, not hate," beside his partner Erich Udell, 32, who carries a Martin Luther King Jr. poster with his famous quotation, “I have a dream, too." The couple, who wed late last month, joined demonstrators in Long Beach on Friday night, Nov 7. This rally led to 15 arrests. The most boisterous rally that was largely covered by local TV networks took place last weekend at the corner of Sunset and Santa Monica boulevards in Silver Lake where an estimated 12,500 marchers massed near the site of the former Black Cat bar, which the city recently designated a historic-cultural monument for its `60s role as home of the local gay rights movement. Pinay UCLA post-grad student Michelle Diaz, 31, a sympathizer of the protesters said, “I believe these citizens are out here not to try to overturn the people’s vote. They just want to show their frustration. This is a democratic country, they are just voicing their disappointment in a peaceful way." The street scenes articulated the racial and religious tensions that have surfaced since Tuesday’s vote threw out the legality of 18,000 marriages of gay and lesbian couples and shut down the option for any more. Meantime, at the largely liberal Unitarian Universalist Church in Long Beach, debate ensues among opponents of the same-sex marriage ban on the issue of a protest action at a local Mormon church. Gay-rights activists turned their campaign against the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints for its role in ushering in millions of dollars in contributions from its members for the successful campaign to defeat same-sex marriage rights. Proposition 8 opponents claim that members of the church had given more than $20 million to the Yes proponents. “I am saddened that we, No on 8 supporters, should now be sending a message of hate. I will not participate in the protest, but I hope that those of you who do will do it in a loving and respectful way," offers Grace Lorentzen. Shares Elizabeth Louros, “I think this protest and others like it are fueled by our need to do something after such a devastating loss. I agree that protesting at Mormon Churches or any other place of worship is targeting people that are not to blame. I plan on directing my energy towards making sure that the organizations taking legal action against Prop 8 are sufficiently funded." “This reminds me of the election machinations of a very powerful church in the Philippines," says Signal Hill resident Claire Mabenta, 52, a Catholic with a gay son, who also attends the UULB church. “But isn’t that a reality of politics? Why don’t we protest against billionaires who fund candidates that we didn’t vote for?" “I am very saddened by the results of Prop. 8 and the ugliness that was conducted before the decision. I, however, will not be joining in the protest. It does not feel right to me. I think that at a time when we are calling for unity and healing within ourselves so that we can work for peace, this is not a reaction that I find positive," says Eduarda Diaz-Schwarzbach. Carol Quinlan of Long Beach Area Peace Network and a staunch “No to Prop 8" organizer counters, “There is so much more to why the Mormon church got involved. They are trying to establish themselves as a political force, trying to link up with the right-wing fundamentalist Christians that dissed Mitt Romney in the primaries. Their agenda is to be united with the RWF Christians thus paving the way for Mitt to run in 2012. I believe they are anti same-sex marriage but they mainly wanted to make nice with the RWF Christians. Can you imagine them joining forces and becoming one big powerhouse?" From the looks of it, the issue is not about to die down soon. A 21-year old Filipino American CSULB student and a lesbian activist is not on speaking terms with her mother and “it’s all about the elections and Prop 8." “It’s not easy for my Mom to accept a black president although President Obama is actually of mixed race. She says she loves me and wants only good things for me. But I am gay and I am happy being one…" The issue of same-sex marriage shot to national attention in late spring after the Supreme Court voted 4-3 in favor of it. The decision is an offshoot of San Francisco’s unsuccessful effort in 2004 to allow gay marriage in the city, four years after Californians overwhelmingly banned gay marriage through a ballot measure. California, the most populous state in the country, has the most Roman Catholics, American Jewish and American Muslim population among US states. It also has a growing Hindu population, more Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than any state except Utah. More than half of the 4 million majority Catholic Filipino population in the US live in California. - Philippine News