The impact

25,000 people in San Diego, which finished in a human rainbow flag. This was the biggest protest by far in any city in California--sleepy surfer-city San Diego! I can't convey to you how amazing it was to be part of this. We are hoarse from chanting. It was intense, and moving, and very very positive.

For you Episcopalians, the Episcopal Cathedral of San Diego hung a huge rainbow flag, and joined the marchers with a massive purple banner stating that all are loved by God. They had many marchers in distinctive purple tee-shirts.

There were straights and gays, families and single folks, kids and grandparents. One older couple stood on a street corner downtown, with signs that read "Christians support gay marriage". Marchers went to them and hugged them. Unlike previous marches, which have been in Hillcrest (San Diego's gay district), this one was right in the heart of the city: we marched down 6th Ave to Broadway, then up Pacific Coast Highway to the County Admin building. Drivers honked with approval. And as we made the turn onto PCH, one of the cruise ships at the Embarcadero a block in front of us blew its horn. I can't believe we got that route, through the middle of downtown! The march was so huge, that it shut down quite a bit of traffic. The police were very helpful and positive. (updated)

I was looking for some comments on Constitutional protection of the minority on the web. I found there remarks from the US State Dept website "Principles of Democracy". These are supposed to tell other countries what we stand for. Only right now, we don't. (updated again)

# Majority rule is a means for organizing government and deciding public issues; it is not another road to oppression. Just as no self-appointed group has the right to oppress others, so no majority, even in a democracy, should take away the basic rights and freedoms of a minority group or individual.
# Minorities -- whether as a result of ethnic background, religious belief, geographic location, income level, or simply as the losers in elections or political debate -- enjoy guaranteed basic human rights that no government, and no majority, elected or not, should remove.

# Minorities need to trust that the government will protect their rights and self-identity. Once this is accomplished, such groups can participate in, and contribute to their country's democratic institutions.
# Among the basic human rights that any democratic government must protect are freedom of speech and expression; freedom of religion and belief; due process and equal protection under the law; and freedom to organize, speak out, dissent, and participate fully in the public life of their society.

# Democracies understand that protecting the rights of minorities to uphold cultural identity, social practices, individual consciences, and religious activities is one of their primary tasks.

YES WE CAN.

Update 2: A screen shot from a Youtube video, with your very own St Paul's Cathedral on the streets with us.



Pictures 1 and 3, credit the San Diego Union Tribune. Picture 2, credit IT. IT, BP and friends were in the purple part of the flag.