In the wake of historic SCOTUS decisions San Diegans rallied, marched and celebrated

BY WILL RODRIGUEZ-KENNEDY

SAN DIEGO — In the wake of two landmark decisions by the Supreme Court striking down the Defense of Marriage Act and ruling the people who brought the Proposition 8 case did not have standing, hundreds of jubilant community members gathered at the Hillcrest Pride Flag and the San Diego LGBT Community Center for a rally, march and community celebration.

For many attendees, like Cathy Hemphill, there was disbelief that this day would ever come.  “I didn’t think I’d live to see this but I’m glad I did,” Hemphill told San Diego LGBT Weekly.
“Since I’m one of the 18,000, DOMA was very important for me,” said David Warmoth referring to the approximately 18,000 couples who married in the 2008 window when marriage was briefly legal in California before the passage of Proposition 8. “I grew up in John Boehner’s district so it feels good to hand him a defeat.”

The crowd had many attendees from within the community but also in attendance were straight allies who equally saw this event as historic. Among them, Don Azul, a U.S. Army veteran, District 6 City Council candidate and recently elected chairman of the Board of Premlocare Intuitive.
“Finally, we can say we’re the freest nation on Earth,” said Azul. “We have ended a de facto second-class citizenship.”

Other attendees, while celebrating, acknowledged that there is more work to do.  “It’s amazing, I can’t even put words to it,” said Helen Leung a local Asian-American lesbian. “I’m excited, some of my family is excited but we still have a lot of work to do. As long as people can still be fired for their sexual orientation and as long we have issues with housing and other issues we aren’t done yet.”

Celebration organizers and rally speakers spoke of progress and work still to be done. Among the speakers were attorney Eric Alma Isaacson who specializes in LGBT issues, Cathy Cormack from Canvass for a Cause, Alvie Padilla a local transgender activist, Karen Guzman from San Diego DREAM Team and Rev. Gerald Green from Unity Fellowship. Karen Guzman asked for a moment of silence for ancestors who are no longer with us to share in the historic moment.

“There is still a lot to be done,” said Padilla. “Transgender people still can be fired legally. Take the energy from today, raise a fuss, celebrate and then put that energy in the struggle because we are winning!”
Some of the organizers were from organized labor and other communities such as the NAACP who expressed solidarity in the fight for equality and social justice.

One attendee noted the importance of the occasion personally but also how it will play in other issues facing the country.
“Personally I never thought, in my life, I would have the opportunity to marry who I love,” said Angel Godinez. “LGBT inclusion in comprehensive immigration reform was considered a road block to passage but this decision brings hope to me that we can pass comprehensive immigration reform that focuses on relationships, people and equality.”

The crowd, many of whom dressed in colorful attire waving gay flags and holding signs, was treated to a performance of “Freedom Is Coming” by the San Diego Women’s Chorus before marching down University Avenue, and then Harvey Milk Street to the San Diego LGBT Community Center. Protesters were notably missing.

At the San Diego LGBT Community Center a standing room only crowd gathered to celebrate the occasion with champagne, food and cake. Among the speakers were Dr. Delores Jacobs, the chief executive officer of the San Diego LGBT Community Center; California state Assemblymember and Majority Leader Toni Atkins; San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria and American Civil Liberty Union of San Diego and Imperial County Executive Director Kevin Keenan.

The crowd was treated to a performance of several songs by the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus including “We Shall Overcome” led by Artistic Director Gary Holt.

Carl DeMaio, an openly gay former City Councilmember, mayoral candidate and candidate for the 52^nd Congressional District joined the gathering with his partner San Diego Gay and Lesbian News publisher Johnathan Hale, but did not speak as some had anticipated.

For those who were seated a standing ovation was afforded Assemblymember Atkins who took the occasion to talk about her own experience with her partner Jennifer LeSar, but also to thank the governor and attorney general.
“I want to give special kudos to Gov. Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris for refusing to defend this odious proposition,” Atkins told the crowd. “If it was not for their stance, we would not have gotten this verdict.”
“This has always been about winning hearts and minds and you made it happen,” continued Atkins.

“Doesn’t it feel great to be equal?” said Council President Gloria who gave a fiery speech to the cheering crowd.
“Never again will we have our rights stolen from us at the ballot box. Never again will we have to spend $40 million of our money to defend our rights,” said Gloria.
Kevin Keenan charged with giving the legal analysis for the event fired up and joked with the crowd. Shouting “Hip hip!” as the crowd shouted “Hurray!” three times before asking, “Now who wants to hear a legal analysis?”
“I think the Supreme Court effectively created a no-fly zone for bigotry,” said Keenan. “They knocked down the big pieces so that we can fight the ground war.”
“We are guided by two Supreme Court decisions but also by two songs, one is “We Shall Overcome” and the other I will need your help with,” Keenan said as he closed his remarks and led the crowd in singing “This Land Is Your Land.”
As the crowd dispersed community members took to the restaurants and bars in Hillcrest. Lines were out the door at most of Hillcrest’s signature establishments as jubilant community members celebrated into the wee hours of the night.