Opponents of Proposition 8 gathered together and waved candles to demonstrate against the measure at a candlelight vigil yesterday.
The measure appeared to have passed Tuesday to define marriage in the California Constitution as between one man and one woman, after a contentious $70 million dollar campaign was waged by both supporters and opponents of the measure.
Over 100 opponents showed up at the San Luis Obispo Mission Plaza, some carrying signs, others wearing homemade shirts, to show support for each other, and against the proposition. Organizers handed out candles, and the crowd gathered silently on the mission steps to console one another and plan their next moves.
“The fight isn’t over. There are still 3 million votes to be counted,” said speaker David Kilburn. “There are groups ready to file suit under the equal protection clause.”
Susan Precht, a pastor for the community church in Atascadero, said she was grateful to be in the company of those who understood “what it feels like to be so sad in my soul.”
Over 10 speeches were given, including one by Associated Students Inc. president Angela Kramer, who spoke of her experience coming out to her family and how they eventually came to accept it.
“This is a separate but equal situation and we shouldn’t have to take it anymore,” she said.
The speeches were interrupted when a passing man shouted, “homosexuality is an abomination,” but the message didn’t phase the crowd, who continued with their evening.
Biology senior David Hansen, opponent of the measure and member of the Cal Poly Democrats said it was important for him to come out and show his support, though he just arrived back in San Luis Obispo from Las Vegas, where he had been campaigning for Barack Obama.
Business senior Megan Farrell said she came because she thinks it is important to “keep on fighting.”
Opponents of the measure had different viewpoints.
Business senior Rachel Gochenour said “I’m glad Prop 8 passed, not because I judge people on what they do, I think they should have all of the same rights, but religiously, marriage is between a man and a woman and I don’t think we should go against God’s plan.”
Nicole Ghidinelli, agricultural business sophomore and member of the Cal Poly College Republicans, agreed. “I feel marriage is more reserved for a man and woman who want to start a family, and by nature, a man and man and a woman and woman cannot reproduce together,” she said. “I want to get married and I feel this is kind of taking away my rights to marry someone I love, since its meant to be between a man and woman.”
Though Proposition 8 appeared to havepassed with 52.5 percent of the vote in California, Cal Poly voted overwhelmingly against it, by 70.6%.
Ghidenellis thinks that this can partially be attributed to Kramer.
“We’re getting to be a pretty liberal campus,” she said. “We used to be known as one of the more conservative campuses, but obviously our ASI president is openly a lesbian and that has empowered a lot of people to come out and be supportive.”
Kramer says she admires Cal Poly students for voting against Proposition 8.
“I’m very proud of Cal Poly students for standing up against this separate but equal mentality,” she said.
She expressed sadness and disbelief at the passage of the measure. “How do you look someone in the face and say that they lack value, that their love lacks value, that they can’t love a child? How are we at that point in society?”