Rallies Against Hate Across the World

Across the United States, and around the world, rallies were held to protest the passage of Proposition Eight in California on Nov. 4. There are some phenomenal pictures out there, from protests all over the United States, as well as some that I could track down from the protest in Toronto. The site with the most pictures is Towleroad, and the pictures from Toronto can be found at This. That. No Other.

The numbers for turnout are absolutely remarkable. The Los Angeles crowd was reported at 30-40,000, and the San Diego crowd was reported at 25,000. This moment may mark a new revitalization in the campaign for equal rights for LBGT folks in the United States, and may mark the point at which the momentum moved from the bigots and haters to the supporters of equality.

In Canada, it is easy to be complacent, to think that because the battle for marriage equality was won here those who support equality here can rest. But it's not true. On the day that the Conservative Party held the plenary session of their policy convention, we have to remember that there are still those in Canada that would roll back equal rights, and that they form the government.

The object lesson of Proposition Eight is that while rights can be won, the bigots will not rest until they find a way to take them away. That means that those of us who support equality can't become complacent. We have to remain on watch until the bigots either see the error of their ways, or die off.

Being angry is good, being angry is healthy. But being angry alone is not enough. In the words of Solidarity Forever, and as equality supporters in the United States are showing, what is necessary is to organize and fight.

Good on everyone who came out to protest, and hopefully this is the beginning of a new, strong, movement for full and equal citizenship for all.

Days Remaining in Bush Presidency: 65