About 100 people attended a rally at the Joe Chillura Courthouse Square downtown on May 26 to protest the California Supreme Court decision to uphold Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in that state.
COMPLETE ALBUM OF IMAGES FROM PROP 8 RALLY IN TAMPA!
Organizer Zeke Fread said he was happy with the turnout, although he would have liked to see the entire park filled with protestors.
“People aren’t as angry as they were after Amendment 2 and Proposition 8 passed in November,” he said, referring to the two bills banning same-sex marriage in Florida and California. “We had a park full of people after that. But I’m still proud of what we accomplished here today.”
People from throughout Tampa Bay gathered around the dome at the entrance to the park to listen to a throng of speakers, including members of Equality Florida, the Democratic Party and Tampa City Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena.
“I am pleased to be here with such a positive group,” Saul-Sena said. “I think that 2010 has a positive ring to it and we have time to change this state and this country. I think if Iowa can figure things out, California can figure things out and so can we here in Florida.”
Earlier this year Iowa legalized same-sex marriage, and several New England states followed suit soon after. Most recently, New Hampshire legalized same-sex marriage, making it the sixth state to do so.
“Like any public struggle, it takes a ridiculous amount of work to make change happen,” Saul-Sena said. “Equality is the next step and we work together as a community.”
The community, according to Sally Phillips with the GLBTA Democratic Caucus, has fought for equality since 1969 and has made major strides in four decades. But there is still work to do.
“We started this fight at the Stonewall Inn in New York and we demanded equal protection,” Phillips said. “Today we still don’t have that equal protection but we face a historical time and we need to be involved.”
Karen Doering, formerly with the National Center for Lesbian Rights and currently with the ACLU, also addresssed the crowd, saying there was no longer time to be silent in the fight.
“It is time to stand and say ‘No more’,” she said to cheers. “We have to stand up to our elected officials, we have to come out to our friends and families, and we have to demand full civil rights for LGBT people. Separate is never equal. Religious beliefs can never be used to deny civil rights.”
Tampa Bay was one of nearly 100 cities across the country to participate in the Prop 8 rally and it was the only city to do so in the Sunshine State. For Fread, that means that Tampa has a strong voice and supports LGBTs in California.
“We are all one community, no matter how far away we find ourselves,” Fread said. “There is strength in numbers and the LGBT community and our allies are stretched across the entire country. We have to support our brothers and sisters if we ever want to gain full equality.”
