Thousands March for Right to Marry

Gay and straight, black and white, young and old came together yesterday in Federal Plaza to protest the passing of California’s Proposition 8, which amends California’s constitution banning any marriage that is not between a man and a woman. Reportedly, over 2,000 people gathered, banners and rainbow flags in hand before marching on City Hall and eventually to Michigan Avenue.

The rally had been organized over the internet by Join the Impact, and organizers are saying protests took place in over 300 cities yesterday, involving about 1 million people. Protests reached from New York to San Francisco, Corvallis, Oregon, to Fargo, North Dakota.

Many demonstrators directed their anger toward various faiths that supported the ban with volunteers and donations. But for the most part, their mood was jovial, singing along with the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus in a rendition of "Down by the Riverside."

Across the street from Federal Plaza, a small counter-protest formed with about a dozen supporters, including Peter LaBarbera, who said he'd like to see a measure like Proposition 8 pass in Illinois. [Trib, WBBM, S-T]

You can see the bulk of the speeches from yesterday's rally at Outworld.tv.