Gay Marriage Protests

Protesters have taken to the streets in California after Proposition 8, the referendum to ban gay marriage, was passed by 52.1% of voters. In May of 2008, gay marriage was legalized in California and over 18,000 couples were married.Sky News: Gay Marriage: Protests In Los Angeles, California... (November 6, 2008)

Some are starting to call for boycotts of tourist locations in Utah due to the contribution from some Mormon organizations in support of Prop 8. Utah brings in roughly $6 billion a year through tourism, including ski locations and the Sundance Film Festival. Activists are also asking for movie producers to pull their films from the festival.MercuryNews.com: Angry Prop 8 opponents urge boycott of Utah ... (November 7, 2008)

Members of the Mormon church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, contributed to the Proposition 8 campaign. Although the state of California does not keep track of the donations by religious groups, opponents claim they donated over $20 million to the cause of banning same-sex unions. The Los Angeles Times reported that contributions also came from the Catholic Church and several evangelical groups.Los Angeles Times: Prop 8 Protesters Target Mormon Temple in Westwood (November 7, 2008) Gay-rights activists blame the Morman church in particular because their leaders are said to have strongly urged church members to donate to the cause.Los Angeles Times: Prop 8 Protesters Target Mormon Temple in Westwood (November 7, 2008)

Among those who wed in California were Ellen DeGeneres and her long-time companion Portia de Rossi. On her television show, DeGeneres said the ruling was as if "we had taken a giant step toward equality," referring to the election of Barack Obama, but with the passage of Proposition 8, "we took a giant step away."Sky News: Gay Marriage: Protests In Los Angeles, California... (November 6, 2008)

Singer Melissa Etheridge posted a blog on The Daily Beast on November 6, 2008, in protest of the passing of Proposition 8. In the blog, Etheridge, who is wed to Tammy Lynn Michaels, explains, "Since [Tammy] and I are not allowed the same right under the state constitution as any other citizen, [I] am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen." She went on to say that there is "a lot I can do with the extra half a million dollars that I will be keeping instead of handing it over to the state of California."The Daily Beast: Melissa Etheridge Blog Post (November 6, 2008)