Thousands march in San Francisco tonight.

[Duncan Grant]

Thousands of people head down Castro Street during a march and to protest the passage of Prop. 8 on Friday Nov. 7, 2008 in San Francisco, Calif. (Mike Kepka / The Chronicle)


Jeffrey Lowery and David Kramer, domestic partners from Fremont, Calif., hold candles in Dolores Park after joining thousand of people in a march through the Castro district to protest the passage of Prop. 8 in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday Nov. 7, 2008. (Mike Kepka / The Chronicle)

<snip>

"Our rights have been taken away," said Debra Walker, a lesbian who has lived in San Francisco since 1981. She is a member of the city's building inspection commission and is the past president of the Harvey Milk Club.

...

The crowd was ethnically mixed, but two African American men infuriated many in the crowd by loudly arguing in favor of Prop. 8. They were berated repeatedly by opponents of the proposition, but spent more than 90 minutes arguing about the Bible.

"It is not discrimination" said Chauncey Killens, who said he represented a small congregation in Prunedale (Monterey County). He carried a sign reading, "Yes on Prop 8. Protect marriage."

"The presence of the two men from Prunedale was deeply offensive to many of the demonstration participants," said Jeffrey Lebin, 52, of San Jose. "To have the lack of support from the black community is very painful to us. Fifty years from now, I think the black community will be ashamed that they didn't support us."

<snip>

More photos and story at SFGate.com

I was there with friends. Details and photos tomorrow. People are as pissed off here as they are at DU. :thumbsup:

[Maat]

1. I'm going to be in a march tomorrow ...

in San Diego!

I'm angry that certain ignorant asshats used our state constitution to enshrine bigotry and discrimation, rather than to protect fundamental rights .... as a constitution is supposed to do!

[Duncan Grant]

10. Can't wait to hear about it!

And thanks for doing that for me, too. :hi:

[Maat]

25. Thanks for that ..

:hi:

[jonnyblitz]

21. post about it if you will. I appreciate your efforts.

:hi:

[Maat]

24. Thanks, Jonny.

I just got back; oh, do my feet hurt! I'm awaiting some photos (I hope).

[roody]

2. There was a nice protest-vigil in Ukiah. Many young people.

The last "respectable" discrimination will soon fade away.

[Duncan Grant]

12. Ukiah! Right on.

:woohoo: We're you downtown?

(ot: I love Montgomery Grove out on Orr Springs Rd. That part of Northern California is especially beautiful.)

[jonnyblitz]

23. thanks!

:hi:

[thunder rising]

3. Shut the state down!! Really, nobody thinks there is any risk shitting on GLBT.

[Duncan Grant]

13. Agreed!

Turn I5 and 99 into a week long parking lot. :bounce:

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Castro St looks like there was really a great turnout....Wow.

[Duncan Grant]

14. The media under reported the numbers (surprise!).

The turnout was great and energized. :thumbsup:

[MaryBear]

5. Hey, 94114!

That is a lot of marchers! I'm glad you were able to be there.

When I think of people who oppose equal rights for same gender couples,

all I come up with is "Why are they so afraid?"

In the name of God and quoting the Bible they got it through with Lies and Distortions.



-mb

[Duncan Grant]

15. Hi MaryBear!

So wonderful see to someone with whom I've allied in the past! :)

I wish I knew how to reach the "Yes on 8" voters. I've tried everything from conversation/education to cultural competency -- you name it!

This bigotry is so rooted in ethnocentrism, sexism and gender that I can't get through. I'm open to any and all allies -- but all sides have to work on themselves.

Sometimes an "in your face" reaction is a good temporary strategy to get dialog going again. :hi:

[ClayZ]

6. Yes We Can!

K and R

[Duncan Grant]

16. And Will!

:thumbsup:

[alittlelark]

7. Glad to see those chosing to fight for their rights!

:hippie:

[Duncan Grant]

17. We're all in this together.

[diane in sf]

8. Thank you, from one 94114 to another...

[Duncan Grant]

18. Solidarity!

:hi:

[Duncan Grant]

9. My photos are blurry but here's something that will give you a sense of the crowd.

The real story here is that the "Gay Political Establishment" in San Francisco wasn't responsible for this protest march. The march was organized on Facebook. We should all love that.

A popular chant was, "Yes We Can". It didn't resonate for me but hey, different strokes for different folks. I'm more of a "Whose rights?!" -- "Our rights!" -- "Whose streets?!" -- "Our Streets!" kinda guy myself.

The march was supposed to end at Dolores Park but through some agitation (I share some small responsibility for that) we got them to stop dancing and start marching again.

We marched back to the Castro and down Market St. to Civic Center. After that, the small number who remained marched back to the Castro. I've never seen a march retrace it's steps three times. I think that speaks to people's passion about this injustice. Granted, the crowds did diminish slowly over the course of the night.

My favorite signs were: "No more Mr. Nice Gay" and "Equality Is Never A Threat".

Next time, I'd like to see us march at noon on a Wednesday over the Golden Gate Bridge but it's so hard to get time off from work to go protest. Damn the overlords! :)

As corny as this sounds, I thought of as many of your usernames as I could remember -- so that you could be there in spirit. And from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. you were in SF protesting for equality. :thumbsup:

[jesus_of_suburbia]

11. I wish I lived there so I could be there too.

[Duncan Grant]

19. I wish it were like this more often but it's not.

But when we're "on" -- we're on. :hi:

[bluedawg12]

20. Wishing you the best - the pics are great!

From - out of State but there in spirit.

[jonnyblitz]

22. thanks for this and the threads/pics yet to come.

I do appreciate it. :hug: :hi: