One-hundred thirty people, both from the gay community and straight allies gathered together in a peaceful protest on a beautiful warm Saturday afternoon in Wilmington, NC at the Federal Building in solidarity with the national protesting of Prop 8 passing in California at 1:30p EST on November 15th. Local organizers Kati Heffield and Mary Eller helped spread the word via social networking sites like Facebook that Wilmington would be represented as part of the estimated 300 cities taking part in the national protest.

MEDIA RELEASE

THOUSANDS EXPECTED TO ATTEND
PROTEST WEDNESDAY AT MORMON TEMPLE
ADJACENT TO MANHATTAN’S LINCOLN CENTER

DEMONSTRATORS WILL CONDEMN
THE LDS CHURCH’S LEAD ROLE IN
PASSAGE OF CALIFORNIA’S ANTI-GAY PROPOSITION 8

NEW YORK CITY (Nov. 11, 2008) — Several thousand human rights advocates will march on the Mormon Temple in a peaceful protest on Wednesday, November 12 at 6:30pm. Demonstrators will speak out against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for the active role it played in passing California’s Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that overturns a state Supreme Court decision in May which legalized same-sex unions.

The Manhattan New York Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is located at 125 Columbus Ave at 65th Street. The protest will run from 6:30pm to 8pm.

“Hatred has no place in society and it has no place in state constitutions,” said Corey Johnson, co-organizer of the protest. “Proposition 8 robs the LGBT community of its dignity and equality as American citizens. While human rights activists in California work to overturn this shameful amendment, we here in New York protest in solidarity with them, and we will work to ensure that a similar law never happens here.
”

LGBT activists and their allies will march in protest in front of the Mormon Temple, carrying signs and banners, including a 75 -foot banner declaring “God Loves Gay Marriage”. This was handsewn for the demonstration by veteran activist Gilbert Baker, the creator of the Rainbow Flag, which is the universal symbol of LGBT liberation.

The Manhattan demonstration follows on the heels of protests in California that begin last week after the passage of Prop. 8. Tens of thousands of people have marched in anger through San Francisco, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno, Salt Lake City, Dallas and Chicago, among other cities. A national day of protest is planned for Saturday, November 15, organized by Join the Impact.
For details on events across America, visit www. jointheimpact.com/.

It is estimated that members of the LDS Church contributed more than $20 million to ensure passage of Proposition 8, while Church leaders orchestrated a vicious propaganda campaign from the pulpit. The proposition passed narrowly with 52% of the vote, versus 48% against.

More than 18,000 gay and lesbian couples have tied the knot in California since June 17. New York State Gov. David Paterson issued a directive in May requiring state agencies to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. Paterson has said that if the Assembly and Senate pass legislation for gay marriage, he will sign it.