Gay Activists March in Calif. Ahead of Showdown

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Gay activists march in Calif. ahead of showdown
By LISA LEFF (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
March 05, 2009 11:35 AM EST
SAN FRANCISCO - Advocates on both sides of the gay marriage issue demonstrated outside California's highest court Thursday before justices heard arguments on lawsuits seeking to overturn the state's ban on same-sex nuptials. Supporters of gay marriage carried rainbow flags and banners that urged the overturning of voter-approved Proposition 8, which took away the right of gay men and lesbians to wed.

Nearby, opponents of the unions held yellow signs left over from last year's campaign that said "Yes on 8." Others said, "A moral wrong cannot be a civil right."

- snip -

Fewer than two dozen people who waited in line early Thursday were able to get a seats in the courtroom for the three-hour hearing. Gay rights groups also rented out a nearby auditorium and a big screen television for the outdoor plaza. "It's important to show the Supreme Court justices history is on our side," said Paul Sousa, 22, of Boston, who flew to San Francisco on Wednesday to be close to the action. "Courts often can be a couple steps ahead of the curve on civil rights issues. We just have to help them get there."

The ballot initiative, which passed with 52 percent of the vote in November, changed the California Constitution to trump last year's 4-3 Supreme Court decision that held that denying same-sex couples the right to wed was an unconstitutional civil rights violation.

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[Ian David]

1. Misleading headline: Should be "Human Rights Activists" not "Gay Activists." n/t

[Cha]

2. Rec'd~ Sean Penn had

something to say about this in his Oscar Acceptance speech.. He asked the audience if they saw the "hate signs" as they drove by to the theater(protesting the movie "Milk") and they could do something about that when the next vote came up, they could all get out and vote for Equal Rights..paraphrasing here.

It would seem to me the next time people are going to be more galvinized and not let the Morman Church get away with their crap.