Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD) President Neil Giuliano has cautioned people
protesting the loss of gay marriage in California, where voters
approved a constitutional ban on gay marriage. Florida and Arizona
voters also agreed to forbid gay marriage on November 4.
In California, however, voters not only
banned gay marriage, they also reversed a California Supreme Court
ruling issued in May that allowed gay marriages to begin. That
ruling was based on the equal protection clause of the California
constitution. On November 4, voters decided to alter the
constitution, leaving 18,000 gay marriages hanging by a thread.
Anger that had been simmering for
months on the Internet over the notion that it is fair or democratic
to revoke rights granted by the constitution and sanctioned by the
California Supreme Court quickly boiled over onto the streets of
California and Utah. A grassroots movement patched together from
Facebook and MySpace pages delivered thousands of gay youths to city
halls and church steps, stunning veteran gay activists.
Gay marriage proponents blame the loss
of gay marriage on the meddling of the Mormon Church, whose members
were strongly encouraged to give of their time and donate money.
Many of the protests occurred outside
of Mormon Temples. For example, a large demonstration took place in
New York City outside the Manhattan Mormon Temple near the Lincoln
Center on Wednesday.
Gay marriage foes have failed on at
least one count: Silencing gay marriage backers. In fact, their win
has become a boon to gay rights activists who have struggled for
years to find an issue that would resonate with gay youth. Problem
solved.
In an interview with OUTTAKEOnline CEO
Charlotte Robinson, Giuliano said calling the protests the second
Stonewall was “too strong” a statement to make and cautioned the
protesters about their message.
“I think it is important that people
are exercising their right to demonstrate and protest,” the former
Tempe, Arizona mayor said. “But I think we do have to be careful
and protest on the content of what happened in the election and the
fact that it was funded primarily through a church's communication
effort without commenting on that church's beliefs and that church's
right to have those beliefs within their religious doctrine.”
“It's wrong that the churches got as
engaged as they did, that doesn't mean the churches don't have a
right to believe whatever they believe, but their behavior was
wrong.”
Hear the complete audio interview at
OUTTAKEOnline.com.