Fury in Frisco

Supporters of gay marriage remain shocked over the gay marriage vote on Tuesday. How does a state vote for the Democrats so reliably and then pass Proposition 8?

Thousands of demonstrators marched down Market Street in San Francisco on Friday night to protest the passage earlier this week of Proposition 8, which effectively bans same-sex marriage in California.

The march began around 5:30 p.m., as the group worked its way west toward its final destination of Dolores Park. A large group remained around Ninth and Market streets, holding signs, chanting and jamming traffic. About a dozen Muni buses were stuck in the traffic mess.

The social conservative minority communities, who support Dems but not gay marriage, offer much of the explanation.

"Our rights have been taken away," said Debra Walker, a lesbian who has lived in San Francisco since 1981. She is a member of the city's building inspection commission and is the past president of the Harvey Milk Club.

"I came here because of the welcoming way of San Francisco. It is so troubling that in 2008, this would pass. The fear campaign was unconscionable."

Walker stood holding a banner across Market Street and said she was prepared to be arrested.

"A little traffic stoppage is mild compared to having rights taken away from you," she said.

There were no reports of arrests in connection with the demonstration.

The crowd shouted chants such as "Our rights" and "We will not be quiet."

It's ironic that liberal minorities, who have seen fights over equal rights in the their histories, aren't buying the gay marriage is a human right argument.

One of the organizers of the demonstration, Ryan Kerian, 28, a gay lawyer and San Francisco resident, said the rally was designed to "show that we won't be silent.

"We've had rights stripped away from us," he said. "We aren't going to give up and go away."

The crowd was ethnically mixed, but two African American men infuriated many demonstrators by loudly arguing in favor of Prop. 8. They were berated repeatedly by opponents of the proposition, but spent more than 90 minutes arguing about the Bible.

"It is not discrimination," said Chauncey Killens, who said he represented a small congregation in Prunedale (Monterey County). He carried a sign reading, "Yes on Prop 8. Protect marriage."

The presence of the two men from Prunedale was deeply offensive to many of the demonstration participants, said Jeffrey Lebin, 52, of San Jose. "To have the lack of support from the black community is very painful to us. Fifty years from now, I think the black community will be ashamed that they didn't support us."

Uriah Findley, 27, who is straight and was born and raised in conservative Orange County, said he believes that Prop. 8 will be a fleeting event in California history.

"This is their last hurrah," he said. "Proposition 8 is the last gasp of a dying way of thinking."

He said religion has no place in laws.

"As far as I'm concerned, this isn't something that ever should have been voted on," he said.

Strange Bedfellows

Minorities, who are vital to the ability of Democrats being able to win elections, aren't necessarily on board with all of the liberal agenda. Take a look at Proposition 8, the gay marriage ban passed by California voters on Tuesday as they were, again, voting overwhelmingly for a Democrat in the presidential race.

Exit poll data showed seven in 10 black voters and more than half of Latino voters backed the ballot initiative, while whites and Asians were split.

Which begs the question, are they social conservatives? Or are they just pro-marriage?

Though blacks and Latinos combined make up less than one-third of California's electorate, their opposition to same-sex marriage appeared to tip the balance. Both groups decisively backed Obama regardless of their position on the initiative.

As is true with most issues, Barack remains half-way out of the closet on gay marriage.

Obama has said he is not in favor of gay marriage but supports civil unions. The president-elect opposed Proposition 8.

Figure 8

On a night when liberals posted big victories, and in which California went for Obama 61% to 37%, Question 8 appears to be a winner in a close race in California. The measure would re-ban gay marriage.

A measure to once again ban gay marriage in California led Tuesday, throwing into doubt the unions of an estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who wed during the last 4 1/2 months.

As the measure, the most divisive and emotionally fraught on the state ballot this year, took a lead in early returns, supporters gathered at a hotel ballroom in Sacramento and cheered.

"We caused Californians to rethink this issue," Proposition 8 strategist Jeff Flint said.

Early in the campaign, he noted, polls showed the measure trailing by 17 points.

"I think the voters were thinking, well, if it makes them happy, why shouldn't we let gay couples get married. And I think we made them realize that there are broader implications to society and particularly the children when you make that fundamental change that's at the core of how society is organized, which is marriage," he said.

Which is a reminder that things aren't all black and white.