Candlelight vigils tonight to protest Proposition 8

Gay-marriage supporters are planning candlelight vigils tonight throughout the state and nation. Southern Californians are gathering at locations including Hollywood United Methodist Church, Valencia Town Center Mall and near the happiest place on Earth -- outside a Disneyland parking lot.

On a "Light Up the Night-Orange County" Facebook page (sign-in required), event organizers list the location as 1565 S. Disneyland Drive. The page also explains appropriate behavior for attendees:

• Do not block traffic or entrances. Sit on benches, and anywhere available.
• Have a candle and a shirt that says "second-class citizen."
• Don't chant, don't argue, just sit.

Those in attendance will have plenty to contemplate as they stare into their candles, as the vigils come one day after California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown asked the state Supreme Court to invalidate the voter-approved ban on gay marriage.

-- Jason Song

Updated, 12:30 p.m.: An earlier headline on this post incorrectly described the vigils as being for supporters, not opponents, of Proposition 8.

Comments

[Cary Brazeman]

The timing of "Light Up the Night" couldn't be better ... Go Jerry Brown!!!

Cary Brazeman
UnitedAgainstH8.org

[mkriley]

The struggle for civil rights is universal. Sadly, as often times such struggles become, the "suspect class" (I hate that phrase) is marginalized. In the instant matter, the proponents of Prop 8 played their opposition like the proverbial fiddle. Their opposition took the bait...hook, line and sinker. Same Sex Marriage (SSM), to its proponents, was by designed meant to attack the majority and when you're under attack, you circle the wagons as the majority did. This was predictable.

The opposition mounted as 2 front attack of its own employing the "good cop, bad cop" routine. On one front they employed protest, anger, while on another front employing a public relations campaign to make gays and lesbians "just like us". It was a gallant effort. It almost worked. But the bottom line is it didn't and now it lies in the trash heap of the California Supreme Court. All that money, down the drain. What went wrong? What lessons could be learned?

To the proponents, there is little, if any lessons except to say their program worked. Nuff said. But to the opponents, there is much to say. To far too many in opposition of Prop 8, they never identified with the global issue of civil rights. This is evident by the loss at the ballot box by African Americans. You would think this simple fact alone would suffice to prove this point. Yet, the opposition is still in denial. They are too introspective and cannot see the forest from the trees. As long as they make this a "gays only" issue, they will repeat the history of the emancipation of African Americans in society. Lincoln may have freed the slaves with his pen and sword, but it took another 100 plus years for the civil rights to follow. It still is going on.

If the opponents of Prop 8 want to succeed, they must first heed the words of the late Harvey Milk and expand their horizons to include the world community at large. Milk often warned his followers not to make issues "gays only" because it was sure to fail, alienate and polarize. He was right.

Watching the debate I couldn't help but reflect upon several landmark cases: Scot v. Sanford, and Brown v. Board of Education. Why are these cases important? Because they address what an inalienable right is in our society, and, more importantly, point out that the Declaration of Independence is really part of our Constitution...and has been so since the end of the Civil War.

Separate but equal is not equal. All "men" are created equal. That phrase and the terms "inalienable rights" are found only in the Declaration. Yet, incredibly, ask any law professor and they will tell you the Declaration is "not law" but merely a "good idea" to paraphrase my research.

Perhaps the opponents of Prop 8 should take a page from Abraham Lincoln and promote the "reconstitution" of the nation to include the Declaration of Independence officially into our Constitution. During yesterday's Supreme Court oral arguments, this question was the proverbial 500 lb elephant in the room. Why the Declaration is "radioactive" is beyond my pay grade. But, listening to Ken Starr, I could only think of the defense in Dred Scott v. Sanford, arguing State;s rights.

Do we really want to repeat the Civil War? If not, perhaps it is time to take the singular issue of SSM and address the foundation (or lack thereof) for the assertion of this equal right. The Declaration of Independence.

Thank you.