Equality Torch Relay Attacker Arrested in Lemon Grove, CA

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sydwillgetmarried
June 07, 2009

Carrying the torch for gay marriage Supporters fan out around the county By Jeanette Steele, Union-Tribune Staff Writer A handful of marriage equality torches were carried on foot, in cars and eve...

Carrying the torch for gay marriage
Supporters fan out around the county
By Jeanette Steele, Union-Tribune Staff Writer

A handful of marriage equality torches were carried on foot, in cars and even on a unicycle to city halls around the county yesterday by people protesting Proposition 8, the November state ballot initiative that stripped gays and lesbians of the right to marry.

In a twist on protesting, organizers mobilized about 140 residents in far-flung corners of the county to walk their own streets carrying a torch as a symbol of the cause. The torch's flames were actually pieces of shaped metal.

An attack on the event organizer in Lemon Grove, which resulted in the arrest of an Oceanside man, was the only interruption of what was a relatively peaceful event.

The whole point is to get outside of people's comfort zones and raise awareness, said Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego Pride, the gay-rights group that launched the event. When people start to see gays and lesbians living in their own neighborhood, they change their opinion.

Saddled on her motorcycle, south San Diego resident Silvia Gonzalez escorted one of five torches that passed from city to city yesterday. Gonzalez joined a procession that started in Imperial Beach at dawn and moved through Chula Vista and National City before traveling to Coronado by ferry.

I'm happy to be doing something in the South Bay, said Gonzalez, who is married to her spouse, Carolyn, in the eyes of her church but not the law. I'm used to doing things where we have more of our supporters.

Jett Ford of Chula Vista rumbled alongside. She and Gonzalez said they experienced only positive reactions from bystanders along the route something Ford didn't expect so far from the traditionally gay-friendly neighborhoods of Hillcrest and central San Diego.

I'm a little surprised, Ford said. The gay community isn't as visible here as in other places but I love it.

DeHarte didn't have the same luck in Lemon Grove, where a man approached and slapped him in the face a few times as deHarte stood next to the city's landmark lemon statue on Broadway, near a San Diego Trolley stop.

DeHarte, who was carrying a large rainbow flag, wasn't hurt but filed a report with the Sheriff's Department. A KUSI cameraman caught the incident on tape.

That just reinforces why we have to get out here, deHarte said.

Deputies arrested the assault suspect on an outstanding warrant for weapons possession, trespassing and violating a restraining order, sheriff's Sgt. Greg Hampton said. The suspect was expected to face a misdemeanor hate crime battery charge in connection with the Lemon Grove attack, Hampton said.

The daylong relay ended with a rally at the County Administration Center in downtown San Diego. Along the way, a small ceremony sometimes accompanied the handoff from one bearer to the next.

Lemon Grove Councilman George Gastil spoke at one such ceremony a few moments after deHarte was slapped. Gastil said that despite being Obama country, Lemon Grove voted strongly for Proposition 8 in November.

I am giving you an assignment, he told the small group traveling with the torch. Reach out to your friends and neighbors and get those conversations going.

North Park resident Chuck Stemke, who carried the torch through part of Lemon Grove, said he hopes being out in the public will help the growing movement for a 2010 ballot measure that would reverse Proposition 8.

It's what everyone is looking to, Stemke said.

http://sandiegopride.org/

Category: Nonprofits & Activism

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12novideo (3 months ago) Show Hide

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LOL!!

geomike99 (5 months ago) Show Hide

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This Juliani Grandi link is much more entertaining than the "Equality Torch Relay" video.

geomike99 (5 months ago) Show Hide

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lol

designlogicorg (5 months ago) Show Hide

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This is the state of the world it seems, Violence is becoming the norm in a nation that is stressed.

This will not stop us from being proud though. Walk through the streets of this city to be who you are.

GreyfoxRaposa (5 months ago) Show Hide

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"Christ's love" caught in camera.=P

MAdk1p (5 months ago) Show Hide

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its black people's fault prop 8 passed, a majority of white people in CA are for gay marriage. prolly has to do with low IQ of blacks which is 85 on average compared to 100 for white people.

katie220 (5 months ago) Show Hide

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no..didn't you see the first guy who ran relay in el cajon was a nice looking black man?

gameshowguy2000 (4 months ago) Show Hide

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I would not blame it on black or white people..I would blame it on the people who think that gay marriage is "something that God would not want".

As far as I know, what God WOULD want is for us to "love thy neighbor as thyself."

It seems the Prop 8 supporters, as well as the organizations supporting it (American Family Association, Focus on the Family, etc.) have forgotten those important words, if you ask me.

shamantrainer (4 months ago) Show Hide

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no god hates fags, read the book

ItsCoreyLynxxYall (5 months ago) Show Hide

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That would depend on what you consider to be "black". As far as I'm concerned there is only 1 race on this planet and that is called human. To stereotype a group of people as you have makes you no better than the kind of people who attack gays.

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Equality Torch Relay Attacker Arrested in Lemon Grove, CA

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