Sending a message that the fight isn’t over

SUPPORTERS OF equal marriage rights set December 10 as a "Day without a Gay" in the latest action in the series of protests since the passage of California's Proposition 8 same-sex marriage ban and other anti-gay ballot measures.

Taking a page from the May Day immigrant rights protests, same-sex marriage supporters encouraged people to "call in gay," and instead devote their work time to service.

Organizers in some cities also called for rallies where people could unite and send the message that the fight is not over until full rights for gay couples across the U.S. are won.

In San Francisco, in the largest demonstration, 500 people participated in a rally and march, with the crowd chanting "Gay, straight, Black, white--marriage is a civil right," as marchers traveled from 24th and Mission Streets to the city's LGBT Community Center.

Though the demonstration brought out a smaller number than recent demonstrations, the spirit of the crowd was high, and the protest brought longtime and new activists together.

One participant, Adrienne, stated, "While people were celebrating on the streets on Election Night, I was crying because, with the passing of Proposition 8, it opened the doors to bigotry."

Renee, an immigrant rights organizer, called for unity between gays and Latinos, declaring, "Wouldn't it be amazing if gays and Latinos called into work together? We would shut everything down!"

As activists marched through the streets, supporters--including a church youth group--cheered the march on.

The energy of the crowd didn't dissipate on reaching the LGBT Center. Marchers continued on to Harvey Milk Plaza, located in the city's Castro District. Once there, speakers insisted that the fight is just beginning, and we have to continue to organize until marriage rights for gays are recognized at the state and national level.

In Los Angeles, 100 people gathered in West Hollywood. At the site of the demonstrations that began the day following the approval of Proposition 8, protesters were still angry and energized to continue the struggle for same-sex marriage and rights for LGBT people.

The crowd held signs and chanted "Gay, straight, Black, white--marriage is a civil right" and "Stop the hate, repeal eight." The crowd then quieted as a litany was read of incidents of men, women and children who had been killed or injured because of their LGBT identity (real or perceived). "Listing these atrocities out loud shows that it's not just some abstract issue of marriage or religion--homophobia kills real people," said one young protester.

The previous weekend, two town hall meetings sponsored by different organizations were held around Los Angeles. These meetings served as a way for ordinary people to air frustration at the establishment LGBT rights organizations that failed miserably in their campaign against Prop 8, and as organizing centers to fight for the repeal of Prop 8 and to demand for equality of LGBT people.

Organizers hope to map out strategy and plan coordinated actions between the dozens of groups that have sprung up in January.

In Chicago, approximately 200 protesters marched outside of the Cook County Building as part of the "Day without a Gay" protest.

"We don't have the same rights, and it's unjust," Michael Wright, a school administrator who had taken the day off work, told the Chicago Tribune. "It's just time [for change]. It's really basic human rights."

Holding rainbow flags and signs, protesters streamed into the building and entered the County Marriage License Bureau. While much of the crowd chanted, "What do we want? Equal right! When do we want it? Now!" several same-sex couples approached the clerks and asked to be allowed to fill out a marriage application and issued a marriage license.

Clerks refused to fulfill the requests, citing state law, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

After protesters were turned away, many marched several blocks to the Bank of America Building to join a protest taking place to demand justice for laid-off workers at Republic Windows & Doors who were sitting in at their factory demanding back pay and benefits after being abruptly laid off.