A youth missionary group from Hillside Christian Church form a prayer circle as Ally Rogers, 18, rallies on the corner of Jefferson and Lincoln streets for Proposition 8, a measure to ban gay marriage
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008 – Napa Valley Register Local News
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2008/10/19/news/local/doc48fabf72721a7667463313.txt
By KERANA TODOROV – Register Staff Writer
With the November elections around the corner, activist on both sides of the same-sex marriage issue rallied in Napa Saturday.
Supporters and opponents of Prop. 8 — a measure that would prohibit same-sex couples to marry — stopped by the Lincoln Avenue and Jefferson Street intersection Saturday to weigh on the statewide measure. Prop. 8 supporters received permission from the Napa Valley Unified School District to have the rally on a grassy corner on district property, walking distance from NVUSD’s administration offices.
Organizers estimated between 150 and 200 people came throughout the afternoon to lend support to Prop. 8 and Prop. 4 — a law that would require doctors to notify a parent of a minor who wants an abortion.
Carol Whichard, who organized the “No on Prop 8” rally, said about 100 Napans came to the counter protest held on the sidewalk — off district property.
While Prop. 8 proponents said they only want to make sure that marriage is a legal union between a man and a woman, opponents at the rally said Prop. 8 is discriminatory, unconstitutional and the arguments misleading.
Debbie Dornaus, who organized the pro Prop. 8 rally with members from a dozen Napa churches, said church members need to take a stand for what they believe in.
“It’s time for us not to be afraid anymore,” the businesswoman said.
Monica Sanchez, a pastor at the Church of the Nazarene, said she supports Prop. 4 because of her faith and because she wants to remain involved in her daughters’ lives.
As he held a pro-Prop. 8 sign, Bill Johnson, a Mormon church member, said that he feels like “marriage should stay between a man and a woman.”
But after the rally, Josie Jenkins of Napa, said domestic partnership simply does not grant the same equal rights as legal marriage.
And people agree with us,” she said.
“We need to have equality,” said counter-protester Elizabeth Campbell-Wright, as she helped carry a “Vote ‘No’ on Prop. 8” sign.
Saturday’s pro Prop. 8 and Prop. 4 speakers included Eduardo Verastegui, the Los Angeles-based Mexican movie star of “Bella,” an award-winning 2007 film that tells the story of a young woman facing a pregnancy crisis.
Verastegui was in Napa for a book signing of “Behind Bella: The Amazing Stories of ‘Bella’ and the Lives it’s Changed,” a book on the real-life experiences of the people involved in the film.
Whichard organized the counter-rally after she learned that the Prop. 8 supporters had received permission to rally on district property.
That angered her, she said.
Having the rally on district property will increase the likelihood of accepting the view from the “Yes on 8” campaign that schools will promote gay marriage, the counter-rally flyer said.
NVUSD Superintendent John Glaser wrote Friday in a letter to the Register that the district did approve the use of the front lawn under the State Education Code.
“It is the District’s practice to allow such groups the same after-school access to school facilities as is given to other community organizations for similar purposes,” Glaser wrote.
“By providing access to the facilities for these purposes, the District does not express support or opposition to the views of the groups using the facilities. The District remains neutral on Proposition 8 and on all other ballot initiatives during this election season,” Glaser wrote.
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