Though I still say, we have a double fight on our hands. The leaders of the No On 8 produced a totally lame campaign and did their best to not include any gay couples into the commercials to make it a personal thing. How much stronger and more powerful the commercials if people knew how much marriage means to us, the same way it means so much to them. But no. Seems like the No On 8 people were ashamed of Gay People and to keep us away. So we unfortunately have to fight for our rights both out in the public and amongst our own.

I feel compelled to say that at the San Francisco rally, a strong African American (both straight and gay) was felt.

That is so very encouraging. I wonder if it’s because The City is so very small geographically that everyone has to work together.

I hope that our communities in LA and other places in the state find a way to communicate better. I know many of the leaders in the African American community get it, but I fear we are not reaching the average person.

Maybe things are just different in San Francisco, but since Prop 8 passed, our marches and rallies have been extremely diverse, both racially, in gender, and (it must be said) many supportive straight allies.

I guess we’re just lucky that way?!

I attended the rally and march in Los Angeles and me and my friends were wondering why everyone was turning around. At the beginning, we were pretty much at the front of the line but as we came around back to City Hall we stopped to get water and a snack.

As we rejoined the march and walked down to Chinatown, we saw people walking back and so we were confused. And then we saw a gang of cop cars with their sirens blasting heading down toward the park and that’s when we decided that the march was probably over.

I thought it was a great success and I was touched by the reactions that we got from people (bystanders) after the march had ended and we headed back to Hollywood.

Also, listening to the politicians was nothing short of irritating. I appreciate their support, but they were missing the point. The most moving speech was from that one daughter (unfortunately I don’t recall her name) talking about how Prop 8 made her feel like she didn’t exist. When the mayor of West Hollywood started to go in to his long winded speech everyone chanted “March!” but he tried to talk over them until he gave up.

If all those politicians wanted to take credit for this, they really should have tried to actually make the protest worthy of it’s cause. They look just as ineffectual and flaccid as they did before November 4th. Preaching to the choir does not help. People at “the top” don’t seem to get it.

The park was so like the Twilight Zone episode, where evil Billy Mumy puts people in “the Cornfield.” That’s what I kept thinking: “Oh noes, they’re putting us in the Cornfield.” However, considering the city absorbed all the costs of the cops, the street closures, permits, portapotties, etc ::shrug:: Though I would have preferred a short walk to a closer location and no more speeches. But them I am a lazy thing, and at least there were places to grab water along the way–and wow, the organizers did pull off something really freaking HUGE and all the participants–especially the crowd–made it so loving and hopeful and moving and inspirational.

It was great to see you and everyone, all the many thousands of us all, gay and straight, united for a common and greater good.