Residents say city's support for Proposition 8 hurting them

Porterville, a small Central Valley town, was the only city in California to formally endorse Proposition 8, the measure that banned gay marriage in California.

But now, some residents want the City Council to reverse course, arguing the endorsement has inflamed tension in Porterville.

The mayor isn't backing down, and it's possible Porterville will take a stand if gay marriage supporters place a measure on the ballot attempting to repeal. According to ABC30, residents spoke out at a council meeting this week:

The Porterville City Council got an earful from residents who said the council's public support of Prop 8, hurt them. Jamie Garza and her wife say the council's action was like declaring open season on gays in Porterville. They suffered verbal assaults, and tire slashing. John Coffee and his husband said harassment and intimidation have increased because of the council's vote. Pediatrician, Dr. Katherine Hall said the council's action was psychologically damaging to young gay people who already feel alienated.

-- Shelby Grad

Comments

[Rob Rech]

When California voted the people of California voted against Porp 8 and if they were to repeal it or overturn it, that would be like spitting in the face of everyone who voted against it.

[Chris]

Why do heterosexuals treat THE VERY GAY AND LESBIAN CHILDREN THEY CREATED so very badly?

Why?

[Chris]

Why do Heterosexuals treat THE VERY GAY & LESBIAN CHILDREN THEY CREATED so very badly?

[jesse]

I say hit them where it hurts, move out and boycott porterville

[Paula]

That anyone cares if gays marry is a religious issue and their is a seperation. That's the problem with people, they have poor boundaries and put thier "beliefs" that they have no evidence for, onto others. That is not American. If churches refuse, they have that right, but others need to be able to marry.

[Daniel]

The rhetoric which relates opposition to same-sex marriage and hate crimes toward the LBGT community is dangerous. It lumps all people who supported Prop 8 or who oppose same-sex marriage in with vandals and people who are violent. The issue is not as black and white as the people quoted in this article would have you believe. At least the article should include statements from some people who supported Prop 8. It shouldn't be hard to find them. After all, over 52% of Californian voters supported the measure.

[Pete B]

NOTE TO SO-CALLED DR. HALL: What about the psychological damage to normal childred, being fed the homosexual agenda & doctrine?

[Juan]

Maybe the gay rights people should listen as well. They have alienated people of faith every chance they've gotten. Tolerance is a 2 way street!!!

[USABorn]

If the gay community would call their union something other than a "marriage", they would get support. I do not care if they have some ceremony with all the rights given to married couples. I am against "gay marriage" since it goes aginst mine and many others core beliefs in God. I do not expect anyone to care about my beliefs personally, but Christians have watched the morals of society slip away as we do our own thing and leave the Creator of everything out of our decision processes.
Call gay marriage a civil union or anything else than marriage. It is you right to live your own life, just call it something else.

[CJ in Texas]

I hope the residents form a recall committee and find a new Mayor. His/Her job is to provide a quality living environment for all residents. This endorsement of a state-wide measure offered nothing other than a political endorsement and provides no quality of living enhancement for Porterville.

[bird]

"If the gay community would call their union something other than a "marriage", they would get support. I do not care if they have some ceremony with all the rights given to married couples."

USABorn, are you a blind idiot or did your history teacher just decide not to teach you about that whole 'separate but equal' chapter of american history?

[Barry Caplan]

Shelby, I am the organizer of last night's group of City Council speakers in Porterville. I will be more that happy to provide you added background information and leads to additional stories in advance as they arise (and they will!). Please contact me via the email associated with this post and feel free to pass it around the newsroom.

[Zach]

Hey Juan, plenty of churches have gone on record opposing Prop 8. Their leaders have spoken at rallies and protests against it. "People of faith" are on both sides of the issue, it's a shame you don't respect those who disagree with you.

"Tolerance" doesn't mean people have to give up equal rights because others disagree with how the GOVERNMENT uses a word in providing those rights. USABorn should learn that lesson, too. It seems the most redundant political correctness to create a separate but equal institution merely to prevent someone from getting offended.

[jesus]

I am actually a resident and Porterville. I was at school for the past months at UCSC and I just found out about this today I was in shock when hearing the news it is really frustrating being here at times coming back from an extremely liberal community such as Santa Cruz to such a conservative community like Porterville is a very interesting experience I must say. To have a select few people make that decision overs people life is infuriating and disappointing and only shows the kind of change that needs to happen in this town.

[Ron]

Maybe the anti gay rights people should learn the difference between "tolerance and bigotry!

Tolerance is holding a different opinion and abiding by it.

Bigotry is Forcing your opinion upon everyone like prop 8 did.

[Andy D]

If marriage is defined as a union between any two persons and Deborah Fouts gets her way, I'll be able to marry a gay chimpanzee!

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/10/chimpanzees-not/#previouspost

How awesomely progressive is that!? Please people, be open minded.

[Steve Rogers]

We should celebrate that democracy works. The state voted to protect traditional values and make sure that an instution as sacred and ancient as marriage is protected. This is not discriminate against people based on race or religion. This simply says that if you have abnormal behaviors we aren't going to change marriage to accomidate those behaviors. Why do you have to make the majority of people unhappy to make yourselves happy.

[Porterville Nerd]

This is not the first time and it is not the last time we are shining a light on the hateful actions of the City Council. Read more on my blog posted below.

We ask each of you to find out the position of your own City Council folks and County Supervisors. Shine a light, expose their positions, up or down, and report back to me at my blog.

This way we all know exactly where we are starting from as we work to repeal Prop 8. Let me know if anyone weasels too.

Jesus, we especially need you to come back and speak, contact me via my blog and we will work it out. Bring your friends from Santa Cruz, I am ex-Bay Area. Let other folks you know of that are here and that are from here know what we are up to and up against.

[Bruce]

What's fair is fair.
End all marriage in California!
Civil unions for everyone!

[dt]

when will anti-gay marriage folks realize it's NOT ALL ABOUT THEM. Allowing gays to marry is not forcing anything on straights. YOUR marriage is exactly the same before and after gays were allowed to marry last year. It doesn't threaten your marriage. the idea that this somehow affects them is just the most narcissistic an selfish conceit I can imagine about this debate .

[Brock Neeley]

For those who think we in the LGBTQ community should call our marriages something else remember it is an issue of "KINSHIP".
There are only 3 legal ways to establish Kinship: by Marriage, Blood (birth) or adoption. Until the legal definition of Kinship is changed the only way to acquire the rights and responsibilities for same=sex couples is through Marriage.

[More Hateful Anti-SSM Agenda Items in Porterville]

More Anti-SSM Agenda Items in Porterville

At the next City Council Meeting, August 4th, former Mayor Hamilton will introduce another hate agenda item spurred only by his personal prejudice.

But already 3 Council members have indicated they are not interested, a major turn of events sine Brian Ward's unique-in-the-state Anti-Prop 8 resolution last September.

Please stay tuned....