Last night thousands of protesters took to the streets of LA and Sacramento, CA (among other cities) to protest the passing of California Proposal 8. My friends and I joined the folks in West Hollywood while Pink reader Courtney participated with her friends in Sacramento. This fight for equal rights is not going to end any time soon. While the US made great strides in Tuesday’s election of Barack Obama as our new President, the passing of proposals in California, Arizona, Arkansas and Florida to strip away the rights of the GLBT community shows how much work we have yet to do in order to create a more perfect union and offer liberty and justice for all Americans. Here are some of photos my friends and I took at last night’s protest rally in West Hollywood:

Three groups have petitioned the California Supreme Court challenging the passage of Proposition 8, contending the ballot initiative banning gay and lesbian marriages was “improperly used.” Californians passed the measure 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent in Tuesday’s general election, countering a state Supreme Court ruling in May that said the state constitution guarantees gay and lesbian couples the right to marry. Passage of Proposition 8 sent protesters into the streets of Los Angeles on Wednesday. The three groups are asking for an immediate stay or an injunction to prevent the initiative from taking effect. They said “such radical changes” as outlawing gay marriage cannot be made by ballot initiative, but must, “at a minimum, go through the state legislature first.” The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights argued in papers filed with the high court that the ballot initiative process “was improperly used in an attempt to undo the constitution’s core commitment to equality for everyone.” It did that “by eliminating a fundamental right from just one group — lesbian and gay Californians,” the groups said in a written statement. The organizations filed the legal challenges on behalf of Equality California and six same-sex couples who did not marry before Tuesday’s election, but would like to be able to marry now. In a separate statement released Wednesday, the three groups stated their conviction, which is shared by California’s attorney general, that California must honor the marriages of the 18,000 lesbian and gay couples who have already married … About 750 to 1,000 protesters staged a half-hour sit-in outside CNN’s Los Angeles bureau on Sunset Boulevard. The demonstrators chanted slogans and banged on the building’s glass doors but then dispersed without incident. Hundreds also gathered on the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall, according to an AP report. Some held candles and carried signs that read, “We all deserve the freedom to marry.” Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres said she is “saddened beyond belief” over the proposed amendment. DeGeneres, who wed actress Portia de Rossi in August, said in a statement Wednesday to The AP that she, “like millions of Americans, felt like we had taken a giant step toward equality” by electing Barack Obama as president. DeGeneres says that with the passage of California’s Proposition 8, “we took a giant step away.”

Some celebs came out to the rally last night to show their support … including author Christopher Rice, actress Pauley Perrette, comedienne Wanda Sykes and, of course, my boy Lance Bass:

Pink reader Courtney sent in some photos from the peaceful candlelight vigil that took place in Sacramento, CA last night:

She writes: Last night I went out to support my gay friends at the vigil in Sacramento. I have to say, it was the most moving experience I’ve EVER had. The mood was bitter-sweet, yet hopeful, because this fight is very far from being over. The crowd of about 1,000 was very peaceful, and managed to scare away the 5 of 6 Yes on 8-ers that appeared across the street. The word is that another one is happening tonight at 7, so everyone come out!

Organizers in San Francisco, CA are planning a protest march in that city tomorrow night:

Please invite all of your friends. Make your own signs!
Date: Friday, November 7th.
Time: Gathering at 5:30, march will begin shortly after.
Place: From Civic Center (Market and 7th) to Dolores Park.

It is a scary prospect that some people believe that they can merely vote away the rights of a group of people just because they are the majority. Under those circumstances, any group of people could have their rights stripped away by a mere popular vote. Can you imagine what the outcry would be if Atheists banded together to vote away the rights of the religious? Proponents of the discrimination against the GLBT community may believe that they have won some battle by stripping away same-sex marriage rights — even tho their marriage rights were never in danger — but I know ABSOLUTELY that marriage equality will be enjoyed by all citizens of this country some day. It will happen. I know this because Justice demands that it will happen. Freedom from discrimination is not easily won … but it can and will be won. There is much work to be done but I am very much looking forward to the day when the same people who flooded the streets in protest last night will, once again, flood the streets in celebration of the vindication of their rights. It will happen.

Folks interested in learning more about the fight for marriage equality can find up-to-date info at MarriageEquality.org

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