Repeal Prop 8 - Candle Vigil and Rally (City Hall, San Francisco)

A candle vigil and rally in support of marriage equality and voting No on Prop 8, held on the evening of Wednesday, November 5, 2008, in front of City Hall in San Francisco. Thousands of people attended the rally, holding lighted candles, to hear a number of speakers and sing a few songs.

The video was shown on CNN after I uploaded it onto their iReport website.

No matter what you personally believe about marriage, our Constitution should never discriminate.

Video: Sean Chapin

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• marriage
• equality
• no
• on
• prop
• love
• freedom
• hope
• yes
• we
• can

[buddyboy55]

The people have spoken. Respect it. This is still a democracy - get used to it.

If it had gone the other way, the homosexuals would be demanding that everyone respect the vote.

Homosexuals are supposed to be so "tolerant," but I guess that doesn't apply to the voting public when they have a different opinion than theirs.

[SeanChapin1]

buddyboy55, a couple of things:

1) The USA is a democracy, but it is also governed foremost by our federal and state constitutions, and in California, any amendments that make sweeping changes to the state constitution are regarded as revisions and follow a more stringent approval process, including ratification by a 2/3 vote from both state legislative house before it goes through the initiative process. (con't.)

[SeanChapin1]

(con't.) Proposition 8 is being argued as a revision, as the measure exceeds the legal scope of a ballot initiative by allowing a majority to restrict a minority group's rights, and that it violates the constitutional separation of powers by limiting judicial authority. This is a very serious matter, and it is with utmost respect to our constitutions and our government structure that prop 8 is legally challenged, as no one will ever "get used to" suppressing minority rights in our country.

[SeanChapin1]

2) The voting process is and should be a highly respected process. However, regardless of the outcome of the Prop 8 vote, I wholeheartedly question the existence of a ballot initiative that takes away fundamental legal rights of a minority group and sets a dangerous, un-American precedence in our government. If an interracial marriage ban was put to a public vote decades ago, it would have passed, and we all know that banning interracial marriage is unconstitutional.

[SeanChapin1]

3) I believe that there is tolerance among everyone irrespective of sexual orientation when it comes to respecting everyone's beliefs and views of marriage. However, I wonder if people truly understand that there is deep pain felt by the gay community from having their (and my) legal rights taken away from them because of their minority status. This kind of discrimination should never be tolerated or accepted, and many of us are taking action to fight this discrimination until it's overturned.

[mahoshojo03]

I guess you're right. Sorry, I got too carried away by from my anger at injustice. I'm a straight person, but I am just utterly disgusted by prop 8's passage. Anyways, I'll be careful not to promote hatred next time. Thanks for reminding me!

[karloispinoy]

I'm scared. Yes I'm scared, but does that mean I'll stop advocating for out rights?! No. Thank you for posting up this video, I have had the awful feeling that our community has given up after Prop 8 Passed, but in actually, we're stonger than before!

[buzzer932000]

A nation has been inspired. We have been inspired. We must stand up for our rights, for they are not just "gay" rights. They are civil rights. We Can no longer sit by. It is time that we try. Yes it is time that we try to gain "our" freedom, "our" Equality We must now fight, throughout day and throughout night It is time to stand. No, it is a time to March. Let freedom ring. Let love reign supreme.

[mahoshojo03]

Good News! As of November 19, 2008, in a 6-1 vote, the California Supreme Court has finally agreed to review Proposition 8's legality. The verdict shall be delivered 4 months from now, on March 2009!

I am sure that the judges will strike down Prop 8! If they supported it in the first place, they would've just turned away the lawsuits, but in this case, they didn't! Farewell, Prop 8! Equality and Righteousness shall prevail!

I can feel it! Marriage equality is finally coming!

[johnPhilos]

No to H8ers

[miasil]

<333 love is love

[Ke11z]

beautiful. keep fighting, we will prevail and we will win. PEACE and LOVE is all we want. =]