Protesters Call for the End Of Bigotry and Prop 8 to be Invalidated

For the second day, thousands of protesters expressed their anger and hurt at the historic passing of Prop 8 on 4 November 2008, the first time in California that the Constitution was changed to eliminate rights of Citizens.  Around 2pm, 6 November 2008, a press conference was held by leaders of No on Prop 8 / Equality for All at the Mormon Los Angeles Temple on Santa Monica Blvd, where outrage was voiced at the political work by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Speakers at the conference called upon the IRS to revoke the tax-exempt status of the Church, as IRS tax code prohibits tax-exempt organizations from engaging in activities, propaganda or influence on legislation.  A new website was launched by the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian center to invalidate Prop 8 and send a post card to the Church leadership to call upon them to fight religious bigotry in California.  Emotions were high as the LBGT community were angery that formerly oppressed minorities would become the instruments of discrimination, and the reality that in the 21st Century voters would succumb to hate and lies and approve a proposition to protect farm animals, while at the same time strip away the rights of fellow Citizens.

The crowd of a few thousand then marched several miles in West Los Angeles, to the Federal Building, back to the Mormon Temple, to Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, and back to the Mormon Temple.  The protest went on many hours, well into the night, and news reporters commented on the fervor and dedication of the protesters, as most modern protests last only a couple of hours.  See images of the protest in our Photo section.

In a parallel action, the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed a writ petition before the California Supreme Court on 5 November 2008 to invalidate Prop 8.

“We are saddened that the LDS Church and a majority of its members, with a history of non-traditional marriage and survival from persecution as a religious minority, would use the money, power and influence they have been blessed with to enflame hatred and bigotry to strip away the rights of LGBT citizens,” said Jessica Bair, HRC Governor and co-chair of the HRC Los Angeles Steering Committee. 

“We also regret the large numbers of African American and Latino voters who were swayed by lies about the impact of Prop 8 on families.  We are grateful to fair-minded African American, Latino and Asian Pacific Islander leaders and community members who do remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ HRC will continue the fight for Equality and we encourage all fair-minded Citizens to join us.”

Please also read the heart felt letter from HRC President Joe Solmonese on Prop 8, the past and the path forward!