| I knew this protest was going to be big when I got to the MUNI station at Castro and it was overflowing with people. Being agoraphobic, I chose to walk to City Hall instead. Block by block, the crowd that I was walking with became bigger and bigger. As we approached Church Street, we were a full-on march. Cars driving along Market Street were honking and shouting words of support. I arrived at City Hall to find the entire mall filled with people. SF Police estimate the crowd at around 7,500. I think they're underestimating. Supervisor (and Assemblymember-elect) Tom Ammiano captivated the crowd with his wonderful, unique, and powerfully hilarious style. Assemblymember (and Senator-elect) Mark Leno never ceases to amaze me with the eloquence of his words. ("We don’t live in a theocracy. The genius of our constitution is that it allows freedom of all religions, but no holy book determines the law for others.") Senator Carole Migden delivered a fiery speech in which she proposed that Northern California form its own state (and elect her Governor). Unfortunately it took me awhile to make it to the stage, so I didn't get any pictures of the speeches. The entire mall was a sea of signs, some homemade, others more professional.My favorite: "We Can't All Marry Liza Minelli"  
One thing that was joyously missing were the crazy Fred Phelps protesters with their ridiculous signs. Good riddance. I found my friends Roger and Carl and they brought me over to their friends, including Armistead Maupin and his husband Christopher Turner. Armistead and Christopher were married by Mark Leno two weeks after Brian and I. It was touching to talk to both of them about our marriages while Mark delivered his rousing speech to the crowd.  San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting was there with his wife Susan and daughter Isabella (Susan and Isabella pictured below with the lovely Anna Damiani). Phil had just flown in from China and he put off sleeping so he could stand up for our rights. As our Recorder, Phil's signature appears on the marriage licenses (including my own) that have been issued to thousands of loving couples over the last six months. He and Susan (and Isabella too!) are fighting hard to protect these sacred unions.  Shortly after noon, the crowd began to march down Market Street toward the Castro. A baricade was set up a Church Street, so many of the protesters turned around and marched back down Market Street toward Union Square. According to the Chronicle, a small group of protesters were arrested when the blocked the freeway onramp at Octavia. A couple more pictures on the flip. The entire set of pictures is here. Anyone else with pics or stories of the SF Protest, please comment! |
