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MORE INFO Click here to view videos from the protest and candlelight vigil held in Atlanta last weekend.
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Nov 21, 2008  |  By: DYANA BAGBY  | COMMENTS |   |  

At the same time that a crowd of 1,500  thronged Georgia’s State Capitol Nov. 15 as part of a national day of protest for marriage equality, a much smaller group of about 300 gathered at the renowned arch at the University of Georgia in Athens to do the same.

And as the UGA protesters held signs stating “Love does not discriminate” and shouted chants for marriage equality, a bride and her bridesmaids attempted to have photographs made under the same symbolic arch before a wedding at the university’s chapel.

The sense of irony was not lost on the gay students, faculty members and allies who joined in the protest, said Corey Johnson, assistant professor in UGA’s Department of Counseling & Human Development Services.

The bride “was a bit upset and distressed, but the protesters were gracious and moved out of the way so the pictures could be made,” he said.

After photos were made, the marriage equality protesters took back their place under the landmark that designates the cusp of UGA and downtown Athens. And those attending the wedding were forced to file through the chanting crowd.

“It was interesting to see and hear the commentary as people walked by,” said Johnson, who held a sign that read “Second class citizen.”

“Some of them were very supportive and gave us high-fives, others just looked shocked. This is a very visible spot and we got lots of support,” he added. “To gather like this was really affirming, especially in a small community.”

In Atlanta, any irony was overshadowed by sheer numbers as hundreds turned out for the grassroots protests, sparked by California voters approving Proposition 8, which halts gay marriages in the state by amending the state constitution.

An estimated crowd of 1,500 attended a 1:30 p.m. rally at the Georgia Capitol,  while a candlelight vigil later that evening attracted approximately 1,000 people to the heavily gay corner of 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue. Longtime activists said the crowds were the largest they had seen at a protest for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in the city.

“I am so proud to see everyone of you out here,” said transgender activist Monica Helms. “Tens of thousands of LGBT people across the country at this very second are gathered at their town halls, Capitols — they are everywhere, we are everywhere. We will be equal. Can we be equal? Yes we can,” she said to the cheering crowd.

“But this isn’t the only place to gather. We will gather inside the Capitol. We will be everywhere. This is a moment in history. We will tell them this was a day that will rival Stonewall. This is our time. This is the 21st century. We will have equality. We will always remember this day and pass it onto our children and we will be equal.”

‘WAKE-UP’ CALL

State Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates), the only openly gay state legislator, warned the crowd that while the gay marriage ban in California was a devastating blow, a measure passed in Arkansas that bans gay people from adopting or becoming foster parents must be a wake-up call to Georgians as the General Assembly convenes in January.

“You need to wake up now. The nation changed, but we did not,” she said. “There may be a ballot fight here. They going to try to take our kids next. We’re not going to let them. This is only an indication of the fight to come.

“You hear me, Sonny?” she shouted at the Capitol building. “We’re coming back. We’re not going to lose this time.”

Kathy Kelly, executive director of MEGA Family Project, urged the crowd — many of whom had never come out to a protest — to become involved with local and state organizations that are currently fighting for gay equality in Georgia.

“It is so hard to get our community charged up, and we are charged up today,” she said. “For me, election night was so powerful. I felt so much hope that this country is going into a new direction and this president is going to help us get equal rights.”

Kelly said she was devastated upon hearing about the passage of Prop. 8, the Arkansas adoption ban, and bans on gay marriage in Arizona and Florida. But these defeats brought with them a silver lining, she said.

“We should thank the right wing for getting us fired up. I kept wondering, ‘What will it take?’ Apparently this is what it will take. I have no doubt we will win marriage equality across this nation in my lifetime,” she said. “Don’t ...