Loading...
Loading...
On-Air Promo Creative 115x175
|| News ||
Page 1 of 1

After Ruling, Party Scene in West Hollywood

News 2008-05-17 After Ruling, Party Scene in West Hollywood Following Thursday's supreme court ruling for same-sex marriage, gays and allies eat cake and pledge to love, honor,



A celebratory crowd in West Hollywood spilled out of the city's bars and coffeeshops and into the street on Thursday to celebrate the end of California's same-sex marriage ban. Friends and families, couples and singles both gay and straight, flocked to a rally planned by the organizations behind the legal win. Standing under an arrangement of flowers and flanked by wedding cakes, the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center's CEO, Lorri L. Jean, cheered the victory. "Today, the California supreme court said, 'Let them eat cake,'" she crowed.

Lori Jean speaking West Hollywood x395 (Quinn) | Advocate.com

With dozens of TV crews gathered and a news helicopter buzzing above a-closed-to-traffic San Vicente Boulevard, attendees strained to hear the advocates' speeches and see over the cameras, signs, and wedding veils. A kid-friendly crowd—many children were propped on shoulders—listened intently and smiled with satisfaction. Emotion was bubbling over.

Speakers, including West Hollywood mayor Jeffrey Prang, warned the crowd of the right-wing effort to put a initiative on the November ballot that could constitutionally ban same-sex marriage in the state. Volunteers passed around pamphlets warning people about the ballot initiative and how to take action against it. The activism didn't dampen most spirits, though.

West Hollywood celebrates CA marriage decision x395 (Quinn) | Advocate.com

"I've been waiting 24 years to make this proposal," Lambda Legal senior counsel Jenny Pizer said before asking her partner, Doreena Wong, to marry her.

The mood was joyous if somewhat sober, as if the crowd—which filled almost two huge city blocks—was in disbelief.

Equality California's board vice president, Cary Davidson, said he planned to propose to his partner of 18 years. "If he'll marry me, we will be treated equally under California law."

After cake was served on the speakers stage, attendees on the street were handed their own slice of cake. As the sun set over the visible Hollywood Hills, a relaxed block party scene took over.

West Hollywood celebrates CA marriage decision, sunset x395 (Quinn) | Advocate.com

By the time she wrapped up her hosting duties, Jean told the crowd she and her partner were taking advantage of the historic ruling: "We're getting hitched too!" (Shana Naomi Krochmal and Neal Broverman, The Advocate)

Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Twitter. Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Facebook. Page 1 of 1
Reader Comments
  • Name: Lesbian for Life
    Date posted: 5/18/2008 4:53:00 PM
    Hometown: where ever my MacBook Pro be

    Comment:

    it is time for rich hollywood, hello ELLEN, OPRAH, STUDIO HEADS, u know who u are ...to put their money on the line. this law will have a huge domino effect. don't let our human rights die here we have come to far. we do depend on the those who have made millions more, including our straight friends, to give to ensure that our message for a basic human right to love legally is heard. we are nearing the finish line ! Let's do it !

  • Name: brian
    Date posted: 5/17/2008 9:40:00 AM
    Hometown: heavener

    Comment:

    when od us okie qweers get to get married?



More Online Only
  • Art Slideshow Flag Artist Spotlight: Que Duong

    A fortune-teller told Que Duong's mother he would amount to nothing — which is why he gives everything he has to each photo he takes.

  • Music Thicke and Juicy

    Sexy soul singer Robin Thicke opens up about his Precious wife, homophobia in the music industry, and the gay men who’ve shaped his life and love since childhood. 

  • Internet Herman on Why He Wants to Stop H8

    Fitness trainer, Real World alum, and marriage equality advocate Scott Herman took some time between crunches to tell The Advocate that his concern for gay rights isn't manufactured, and he doesn't mind men checking him out.

  • News Celebration of Courage Not So Courageous

    Advocate contributor Michael Lucas says the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission needs to be doing more to stop violence against gays and lesbians in countries "oppressed by Islam."

  • Commentary The Truth Behind Her Name Was Steven

    Advocate contributor Eden Lane says CNN's Her Name Was Steven will help raise the visibility of trans people on TV, but the most compelling part of Susan Stanton's journey was left to a title card at the end of the film.

  • Television Laverne, Surely

    I Want to Work for Diddy alum Laverne Cox leads a trio of transgender ladies in VH1’s Transform Me, a new makeover show that flatters her hooker-heavy résumé.

  • Music Cherie’s Jubilee

    With The Runaways, the new film about her life with Joan Jett, pioneering rock star Cherie Currie is enjoying a renaissance ... with a little help from Dakota Fanning.

  • Activism Sex-Ed Student Turns Teen Activist

    When sex education classes at Danny Sparks's high school failed to address the issues important to him, he took matters into his own hands ... and became an activist in the process.

  • Photography Slideshow Flag Artist Spotlight: Ryan Colford

    From his "candy shoppe" line — sweet treats made oh-so sexy — to his black and white studies of the male form, photographer Ryan Colford exposes the beauty of the male body.

  • Commentary What Massa Could Learn From Ashburn

    COMMENTARY: Matthew S. Bajko says Republican California state senator Roy Ashburn deserves praise for coming out of the closet despite his antigay voting record. Now, if only former congressman Eric Massa would follow his lead.

  • Music The Truth About Tracy and Kim

    Don’t be tardy for this party! DJ Tracy Young comes clean — mostly — about her rumored lesbian relationship with Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak.

  • News Video Content Flag Kids Say the Darndest Things

    Micah Schraft and his boyfriend, John, were filming Micah's family at Thanksgiving when the 5-year-old son of a family friend wanted to know if the two were husbands. The result is a video you have to see. 

  • Commentary The Importance of Being Counted

    With benefits from boosting hate-crimes and marriage equality laws to simply letting legislators know gay Americans indeed exist, the 2010 Census is a chance to stand up and be counted.

1037 COVER X135 | ADVOCATE.COM