TOAO
05-24-2010, 12:53 PM
Welcome to California
Gay-rights activists try to humanize same-sex marriage
SANTA ANA – A few dozen gay-rights activists hoped to put a personal face on the issue of same-sex marriage Sunday, taking their cause to the streets throughout the county.
The men and women canvassed neighborhoods in Santa Ana, Fullerton and Mission Viejo as part of Harvey Milk Day, a tribute to San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the state. He served 11 months in office before he and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in 1978 by a former supervisor.
The activists – along with others who spent the weekend rallying and canvassing neighborhoods from San Francisco to Los Angeles – focused on cities where in 2008 a majority of residents voted in favor of Proposition 8, which defined marriage as being between a man and woman.
Prop. 8 was approved by 52 percent of voters statewide. It sparked heavy debate throughout the county as people on both sides rallied at busy intersections leading up to the election. A majority of Orange County cities – with the exception of Irvine, Costa Mesa, Aliso Viejo and Laguna Beach – supported the measure.
"The reason I do this is to create a society of inclusion, not of hate and segregation," said Elizabeth Aversa, a field manager with Equality California, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization that sponsored the event along with other groups.
Aversa, a Yorba Linda native and lesbian who began volunteering in summer 2008, said such events give volunteers a chance to talk to people face-to-face about their struggles and feelings about the marriage ban.
Yumi Hirata, 25, of Tustin, a coach and volunteer at Equality California, and Cate Gary, 29, of Dana Point, went door-to-door on Grant Street in Santa Ana to talk to residents.
Reaction varied somewhat in the Santa Ana neighborhood, but no one's mind was changed, the activists said. In some cases, residents said religious beliefs and the position that marriage should be between a man and a woman prohibited them from supporting same-sex marriage.
Hirata said one resident, a 69-year-old woman, spoke to her through a screened door and said she couldn't support same-sex marriages because of her Catholic faith. She added that she had some gay and lesbian friends but had never talked to them about the issue, according to Hirata.
In response to Hirata disclosing she is a lesbian, the woman responded, "Oh, I'm sorry," recalled Hirata.
Resident Nhim Mao told Gary he did not support same-sex marriage and said he was concerned about exposing the issue to children. Nhim also questioned how a gay couple could produce a child together.
Despite the push-back, Hirata said she will continue the conversations.
"My job is to help them understand," she said. "I finally feel empowered and I look forward to talking to people."
They come to my house, they're getting sprayed with the hose. Just like the Mormons & jehova people.
Gay-rights activists try to humanize same-sex marriage
SANTA ANA – A few dozen gay-rights activists hoped to put a personal face on the issue of same-sex marriage Sunday, taking their cause to the streets throughout the county.
The men and women canvassed neighborhoods in Santa Ana, Fullerton and Mission Viejo as part of Harvey Milk Day, a tribute to San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the state. He served 11 months in office before he and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in 1978 by a former supervisor.
The activists – along with others who spent the weekend rallying and canvassing neighborhoods from San Francisco to Los Angeles – focused on cities where in 2008 a majority of residents voted in favor of Proposition 8, which defined marriage as being between a man and woman.
Prop. 8 was approved by 52 percent of voters statewide. It sparked heavy debate throughout the county as people on both sides rallied at busy intersections leading up to the election. A majority of Orange County cities – with the exception of Irvine, Costa Mesa, Aliso Viejo and Laguna Beach – supported the measure.
"The reason I do this is to create a society of inclusion, not of hate and segregation," said Elizabeth Aversa, a field manager with Equality California, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization that sponsored the event along with other groups.
Aversa, a Yorba Linda native and lesbian who began volunteering in summer 2008, said such events give volunteers a chance to talk to people face-to-face about their struggles and feelings about the marriage ban.
Yumi Hirata, 25, of Tustin, a coach and volunteer at Equality California, and Cate Gary, 29, of Dana Point, went door-to-door on Grant Street in Santa Ana to talk to residents.
Reaction varied somewhat in the Santa Ana neighborhood, but no one's mind was changed, the activists said. In some cases, residents said religious beliefs and the position that marriage should be between a man and a woman prohibited them from supporting same-sex marriage.
Hirata said one resident, a 69-year-old woman, spoke to her through a screened door and said she couldn't support same-sex marriages because of her Catholic faith. She added that she had some gay and lesbian friends but had never talked to them about the issue, according to Hirata.
In response to Hirata disclosing she is a lesbian, the woman responded, "Oh, I'm sorry," recalled Hirata.
Resident Nhim Mao told Gary he did not support same-sex marriage and said he was concerned about exposing the issue to children. Nhim also questioned how a gay couple could produce a child together.
Despite the push-back, Hirata said she will continue the conversations.
"My job is to help them understand," she said. "I finally feel empowered and I look forward to talking to people."
They come to my house, they're getting sprayed with the hose. Just like the Mormons & jehova people.