RSS Subscribe
The weather was mild, but emotions ran high at today’s No on Prop 8 Portland rally, with several hundred queer and allied folks packed into the Portland State University area South Park Blocks. Just past the rush of produce peddlers at the Portland Saturday Market, a low roar occasionally burst into full cry as a conspicuously young and diverse group of grassroots GLBT activists blasted their message of same sex marriage equality out – bullhorn in hand - across the city.
“Now is not the time to play ‘I’m a bear, I’m a dyke, I’m a femme,’” shouted a young bearded man just as the rally began taking form, around eleven in the morning. “We have to stand together.”
The young man’s words were echoed by many of the community leaders, pastors and politicians who spoke at the morning’s rally, a grassroots effort called “Join the Impact” begun only one week ago by a Seattle blogger, and led locally by activist Lindsey Asher and Pride Northwest board president Debra Porta.
And who should appear, just as the fidgety rally crowd was getting warmed up, but Portland mayor Tom Potter, unannounced, hopping up to a park bench. A young man handed him a bullhorn, and the crowd went nuts. “We cannot stay home, we cannot stay silent, we cannot say that this is acceptable in the United States of America,” Potter said, to wild applause. “We will not be happy until all fifty states understand that equality means equality.”
For Dee and John Dudek, a heterosexual married couple in their late 50’s standing nearby, marriage equality is really a no-brainer in the fight for civil rights. “We have family and friends that are gay and lesbian,” Dee said, her face adorned with a tiny Human Rights Campaign sticker, as she stood with her husband on the PSU Park Blocks. “And I think they’re entitled to exactly the same rights that we are.”
That message was echoed in the sea of signs dotting the Park Blocks crowd: “We the people – that means ALL of us;” “My family loves your family,” “Equality is Patriotic” and “Give to every human being every right that you claim for yourself” among them. No Mormon-bashing or race-baiting signs showed up, though the deep divisions on same sex marriage equality along racial and religious lines were addressed by many of the morning’s speakers.
Betsy Kennworthy, a leader in Multnomah County’s Quaker community, sounded a note of hope and support from the Quakers, pleading to the crowd, “I want you to know that you are loved and cared for.” The Rev. Nathan Meckley, openly gay head pastor of Portland’s Metropolitan Community Church, also struck a conciliatory tone, asking the crowd to look past Yes and No Prop 8 divisions to find common ground “as neighbors.” He continued: “In our pain and our anger we should not build a fence – we should build a bridge.”
The rally’s hero’s welcome was saved for openly gay Portland mayor-elect Sam Adams, who roared onto the stage, bullhorn in hand, announcing he was “here to recruit you!” – and met with huge cheers and tear-streaked faces in the crowd.
“The issue at hand is about marriage, but it’s really about respect, and what happened in California and in other states, including our state, has to end now. The nation will be watching us, and in our anger it is important that we put it to good use. To get the basic rights we achieve is not only about today, gathering today in this great grass-roots effort – it’s about what we do from here on out.”
“It’s not enough – it is not enough,” he continued, the crowd rapt in attention. “We will not stop our work until there is legal, same-sex marriage in the state of Oregon!” At that, the crowd burst into cheers.
12 responses so far ↓
1 A Lewis // Nov 15, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I am so disappointed I wasn’t there…..was at work and thinking about the many, many rallies across the nation today. Thanks for the report.
2 Kristine S // Nov 15, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Just for a moment please – leave the subjects of gay and religion aside – to see this clearer.
It’s simple logic – they cannot legally define an object (marriage) as being based on two other objects (one man and one woman) that are NOT legally defined.
Now they HAVE to legally define “one man” vs “one woman” – or this law has nothing to stand on.
Opinions or assumptions of the definition of marriage is no longer acceptable in California – it’s been defined legally. Therefore – there can no longer be opinions or assumptions of the “one man and one woman” – that together make the legal definition of marriage. A birth certificate reflects a person’s gender – but that is based on opinion of common knowledge or appearance – just as the definition of marriage used to be.
Until we have that legal definition all we have to go on is the dictionary. Look it up. When I look up “man”, I see it’s defined as an “adult male human”. When I look up “male”, I see it’s defined as “an individual that produces small usually motile gametes (as spermatozoa or spermatozoids) which fertilize the eggs of a female”.
So according to proper definition – a guy in CA with no sperm cannot legally marry. He doesn’t qualify for the proper definition of a “man” as per the wording of prop 8 and a dictionary.
Laws have to be written carefully. “One man & one woman needs to be legally defined or this law has nothing to stand on. If I lived in California I would petition the courts for the legal definition of a man – for the purpose of obeying this law. Somebody in CA needs to do this. Let them debate what constitutes a gender.
I hear a man in Oregon is pregnant again. I don’t know what body part legally qualifies him as a man – but he has a uterus and is pregnant. Citizens need to know the exact legal definition of a man vs a woman – because this new law now exists.
It’s like a Pandora’s box has been opened and everyone is so busy arguing gay-rights vs religion that they haven’t stopped for a moment to look inside the box. Exactly what body parts are needed to qualify as a man for the purpose of marriage under this new law?
“One man and one woman” HAS to be legally defined for the purpose of obeying prop 8.
The bottom line is an issue of body-parts.
Spokane WA
3 olah michael canady // Nov 15, 2008 at 4:48 pm
what a great day all 4 hours of it! portland queers and freethinking portlanders you make me very proud. i love you all!
4 Sarah Bott // Nov 15, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Thanks to the organizers for pulling together the rally. It was really great to attend, and I was really really excited that it was the first rally of any kind that my 11-year old friend attended. It was very cool to see so many people young and old support the right for people to marry the partner of their choosing. I was proud to wave an American flag for the first time — maybe ever. Keep hope alive, friends. Change is afoot!
5 john t // Nov 15, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Compared to how big the crowds were at protests in other cities around the US, the turnout at Portland’s secluded little huddle this morning was really disappointing. We were outdone by Austin, Denver, Minneapolis, Cleveland, smaller California cities, cities in red states, cities with awful weather today. We’ve got a reputation to uphold, let’s do better next time!
6 Stephen Marc Beaudoin // Nov 15, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Hey John T and others – although lots of people grumbled about the location (too insular; too cramped) and the sound (nonexistent), there’s already talk of a Stop the H8 march sometime soon to build on the rally’s energy…
Where do you think this march should happen? Downtown/City Hall/Broadway? The Burnside Bridge?
7 Geoffrey // Nov 16, 2008 at 10:56 am
I believe prop 8 has energized the community and hope we continue to protest as we did during the AIDS/ACTUP period or Stonewall. I believe the more the country see us as human, the more difficult it is to deny us human rights. History is on our side, remember it was not so long ago that inter-racial marriage was illegal too. I think many things will change with Obama and a new congress, but only if we demand it nationwide. I am an ex-Oregonian, now an east coast resident, we have to work together sea to shining sea.
8 olah michael canady // Nov 16, 2008 at 3:05 pm
john t:
we may have been outnumbered by other cities but we WERE THERE. our voices added to the rest and even if our numbers weren’t bigger we have been heard. and we will continue to be heard. onward and upward!
stephen:
i like the symbology of marching over a bridge.
9 Kristine S // Nov 16, 2008 at 6:38 pm
They have legally defined “marriage” as being of two objects (“one man and one woman”) that have NOT been legally defined. This is a loophole opponents can use to battle prop 8 in the courtroom.
Don’t let prop 8 get away with assuming exactly what body parts legally qualifies someone as a ‘man’. Force them to follow thru with this law that legally defines marriage – or render it invalid.
Laws have to be written carefully or it’s a big mess until it’s invalidated.
Without a legal definition of exactly what body parts are needed to qualify as a ‘man’ – we only have the dictionary – which defines it as a sperm-producing human.
FORCE prop 8 supporters to obey exactly what they voted for. Guys with no sperm can no longer legally marry in CA as per wording of prop 8 and a dictionary. If they decide this new law goes retro – and they force all prior same-sex marriages as invalid – make sure they also invalidate all marriage’s that don’t include a sperm-producer.
This is not a joke – I’m very serious. Get a dictionary and see.
People in CA need to petition the court for the definition of “one man” vs “one woman” – and the courts HAVE to legally define them – because they are the very objects that make up the new legal definition of marriage. Don’t let prop 8 get to assume an opinion of what exactly “one man” is. If they can’t legally define “one man” vs “one woman” – they would have no choice but to invalidate prop8.
Remember – a birth certificate only reflects one’s gender that was an opinion based on appearance or common knowledge. That birth certificate reflection of gender is not a definition of gender. It is mearly a reflection.
We’ve always been able to assume the definition of a gender – just as we did with a definition of marriage. Don’ let them take away the right to an opinion on the definition of marriage and still allow them to assume an opinion on gender.
If the law defines “marriage” as being of “one man and one woman” – FORCE them to legally define it all. Force them to define “one man” vs “one woman” for the purpose of obeying this law. Let them debate what constitutes a gender. It would be an impossible debate and they’d have to invalidate prop8.
In the meantime – a dictionary says a man must be a sperm-producer.
10 Byron Beck // Nov 16, 2008 at 6:38 pm
“And who should appear, just as the fidgety rally crowd was getting warmed up, but Portland mayor Tom Potter, unannounced, hopping up to a park bench.”
That’s not exactly what happened. SMB’s reporting missed the fact that a lot of people had gathered as they were told, around 10:30 am. The bearded gent, he said he was part of a group called Bash Back, started to shout loudly about marching. Yes he did say, “Now is not the time to play ‘I’m a bear, I’m a dyke, I’m a femme,’” but he was also trying to stir up the crowd to move. Fact is, they couldn’t. The rally didn’t have a permit and the whole was bordering on chaos. I grabbed Lindsay (the organizer) and said “hey, Mayor Potter is right over there. Why don’t you have him talk?” It was at least an hour before the scheduled speakers, but Tom Potter gladly jumped up on the bench and started by saying “I am just the warm up act for Sam Adams.” That said, he said the right things, set the right tone, and kept the event from going south. He was great, as was Marty Davis when she spoke and everyone else, including married couples from Calif. and Oregon and Rev. Tara Wilkins. They weren’t supposed to speak, but they did. Everyone should have a voice in this cause.
Just thought you should know what really happened.
Byron
11 Seriously? // Nov 17, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Well thank god you were there to save the day Byron. What would we have done without you? Bitter much?
12 Byron Beck // Nov 17, 2008 at 9:34 pm
not bitter. just happy to be there. it was a great day.
Leave a Comment