The Manhattan Project
Morning Roundup: Second Helpings Edition
Compromise Uncertain on Same-Sex Marriage Law
Fire at 17th and L NW Forces Evacuations
Sculpture Garden Ice-Skating Rink Remains Closed
Written by DCist Contributor Shauna Miller
Gay rights supporters gathered near the White House Saturday as part of simultaneous nationwide demonstrations against recently passed ballot measures limiting marriage and adoption rights for gays and lesbians, including California's Proposition 8.
The G20 Summit was also taking place nearby, and with it came Metro and street closings and marathon motorcades that held up the afternoon march for about an hour.
But despite delays and an unrelenting drizzle, marchers assembled at the Reflecting Pool and made their way to 17th Street, where they were greeted by honks of support from southbound cars. Organizers estimated the crowd at about 5,000 people.
A rainbow emerged briefly from clouds over the Washington Monument, and cheers broke out through the crowd.
Handmade signs wilted in the rain, many referencing the civil rights struggles of the 1960s.
"Was 'separate but equal' good enough for your family, President Obama?" read one.
Arlington couple Wayne and Ted, who were married in September in Sonoma County, Calif., carried a laminated copy of their marriage certificate. Together for 25 years, they said a domestic partnership did not carry the same social or legal meaning as a marriage.
"It's about being kept at the back of the bus," said Wayne. "OK, so we can ride the bus, but it's not equal. Come on. We all know that."
Saturday's march was organized over just a few days by a handful of people, most of whom had only just met online.
Kellan Baker said he signed on as the march's main organizer last Sunday through Join the Impact's web site. He had four working days to obtain needed permits and police protection.
"I'm winging it," he said. "It has grown up very quickly. The internet has been a very useful tool."
He said organizers spread the word through Facebook and activist email lists. As of Friday night, more than 2,500 people had RSVP'd via Facebook.
Baker said a demonstration in the nation's capital was necessary to send a message to the executive branch about the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA. He said the march's intent was not to push a marriage measure in D.C. but to bring attention to how Prop 8 affects a range of groups.
A bisexual man in a relationship with a woman, Baker said, "I don't feel safe if everyone can't enjoy these rights. Or that rights that existed were taken away from people."
The passage of Prop 8 and similar measures in Arizona and Florida have led many gay-rights advocates to be cautious about how best to prepare for and respond to such measures.
Michael Crawford, chair of the advocacy group D.C. for Marriage, said he hoped the protest would mobilize supporters to find out how to affect change on "a unified and smart strategy for achieving marriage equality."
"There are two major political concerns in D.C. regarding marriage: the potential for a ballot measure and Congressional intervention," Crawford said.
"If a marriage bill were to be introduced and passed by the City Council, we would most likely face both challenges," he said.
Crawford said local advocates currently are aiming to gain recognition for marriages performed legally in other jurisdictions as domestic partnerships here in the District in order to build legal precedent.
He emphasized that advocates for marriage rights need to build a unified front.
"After tasting blood in California, anti-gay extremists will be launching anti-gay efforts in other states, and we want to make sure that we in D.C. are in fighting shape," he said.
On local LGBT events and opinion site The New Gay, contentious discussions about assimilation, organizing and the role of race and religion on Prop 8 have been going on since the measure passed.
"The response has been all over the map," said Michael Eichler, co-founder of The New Gay. "Many people are looking to direct their ire somewhere. The more rational heads are suggesting that we step back, take a collective deep breath, and create alliances with straight community groups who could potentially help support marriage equality."
Eichler advocated neighborhood marches and outreach within communities, and said The New Gay is planning community forums on race, homophobia and identity.
He said that the D.C. protest "might be a good starting point for invigorating individual queer people, but it won't be much of a starting point for changing policy at a national level. "
At the end of the march route, protesters filed into a muddy Lafayette Park. The feel shifted from a formal protest to a grassroots community rally. There were no big-name speakers, no podiums – just several people yelling through bullhorns at once and passing them through the crowd.
A counselor spoke of a Florida client whose bereavement benefits are now in question following the death of his female domestic partner.
"These measures do not only affect gay people," he said.
This sentiment ran though many of the testimonies. Several straight couples and parents of gay children called for heterosexuals to support equality in marriage.
"We will remember not only the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends," said one speaker, quoting Martin Luther King Jr.
March organizer Travis Ballie encouraged protesters to join organized efforts following the march.
"We have to re-commit to our community. We can't have our numbers turn out only after the fact," he told the crowd. "This might be an issue in D.C. in just two months. Please contact a local group to get involved."
As the speeches wrapped up and the rain returned, the park started to empty. A group of women marched arm in arm towards warmth.
"What do we want?" "Food!" "When do we want it?" "Now!"
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there is some bizarre bokeh going on in some of those photos.
I wish heterosexual divorce was outlawed.
We must preserve the sanctity of marriage at all costs.
I love the "single & bitter" sign, that's great.
"There are two major political concerns in D.C. regarding marriage: the potential for a ballot measure and Congressional intervention," Crawford said.
"If a marriage bill were to be introduced and passed by the City Council, we would most likely face both challenges," he said.
Umm, there's probably a good reason why DC has never actually had a ballot initiative or referendum. According to the DC code you need signatures from 5% of registered voters (~15,000). Plus you need to have at least 5% from 5 different wards; so you couldn't run up the score in one or two wards. That's a pretty high hurdle.
Moreover, I suspect that a gay marriage ban would not pass even if it were the very first ballot measure DC has ever had.
So between him calling it "the City Council" and his apparent lack of knowledge regarding DC ballot measures, I suspect he's not that in tune with local politics.
Of course he's right about Congressional meddling, but I think it's doubtful this Congress would thwart the Council on gay marriage. Too bad we just failed to elect a councilmember who would actually fight for marriage equality in favor of an empty crony suit.
@reid There was a ballot initiative scare a few years ago, which mobilized enough activists to set up the infrastructure needed to fight any future ballot initiatives, so we're well on the way to defending against such a beast here. But don't underestimate the power of churches in this city to get the voters out to vote against gay marriage (the big lesson from Prop h8). It'll be an uphill battle if it gets on the books, though the council might well do what it seems to always do with inititive results it doesn't like - just overturn them the next chance it gets (e.g., term limits).
THe problem with churches in DC getting out the vote is that their parishoners all live in MD. Time and again in recent years the churches' ABRA (alcohol license) protests have been dismissed because they couldn't provide an actual resident to file thier protest papers. But we cannot be complacent in assuming anything. I will say that *so many* of the honks and thumbs ups this weekend at the protest were african american men and women. It made me happy (but not in a gay way).
Also, on the Church thing: Even if they had a solid base of support in Wards 5-8, they'd still need to get 5% of the signatures from at least two of Wards one through four. That's a tall, tall order.
I should clarify, to my understanding, DC has never had a ballot initiative on any topic, whatsoever. Through all the crap of the 80s and 90s, never did a movement organize enough to even get a question on the ballot. That indicates to me that it's just about impossible.
Let's put it this way: do you think there's a stronger movement to ban gay marriage than there is to overrule Fenty's school takeover? I doubt it, yet the Save Our Schools coalition never came close to putting the takeover issue on the ballot, and I doubt it was from lack of wanting it.
I think it's good that they're prepared for it, but I just don't think it's a viable threat, certainly not on par with Congressional meddling or court challenge under DOMA.
Greeper:
I saw the same thing - looks of black people giving the thumbs up from their autos. That made me happy, in a gay way.
The march itself was overwhelming white, and very young, at least in my section. That sortof made me sad.
Sadder still was that the lesbians could out chant all us gay men. The supportive honking was pretty cool. One driver did flip us the bird as we crossed the street, but I think that was because we were holding up traffic.
Not bad turnout considering the abysmal weather.
Thanks so much for the info about the protest! Too Shy to Stop photographer Shaun Bell captured some really great photos. You can view his photo essay here.
That was way more than a drizzle!
Sure it's off topic, but McGillicuddy is right-on. I also noticed the really bizarre bokeh in the photos.