Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Marriage Equality Backers Protest at Oakland Temple

November 2008

About 400 assembled Nov. 9 outside Oakland's Mormon Temple, forcing Highway Patrol officers to temporarily close two Highway 13 ramps to protect the marchers. The loud and peaceful protest included dozens of gay and lesbian couples whose marriages are in limbo. They said they wanted to openly display their anguish to people who pushed to ban same-sex marriage.

Inside the gates of the huge temple, church officials asked protesters to accept the will of the voters. But the anger over Prop. 8 only seems to be growing. “I don't think people thought it was going to pass,” said Carrie Blanche, 52, an Alameda schoolteacher who got married Oct. 29.

Blanche and others said they were focusing anger on the church because of its endorsement of Prop. 8 and the subsequent rush of campaign donations by members. Some of those who gathered advocated for a boycott of travel to Utah, the home of the Mormon church, and of Mormon-owned businesses.

Tim DeBenedictis, a protest organizer from San Francisco, said the actions were warranted, even though he noted that some Mormons support same-sex marriage and not all Utah residents are church members. “To affect large social change, you have to make difficult decisions,” he said.

The LDS Church moved some of its services to other locations Sunday because of the protest.