Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Missionaries for Equality: Robert Moore (right) and Dustin Lance Black met at the Meet in the Middle event held May 30 in Fresno, CA.

Mobilizing for Equality
An Affirmation leader gives a first-hand account of the aftermath of the recent decision by the California Supreme Court

by Robert Moore, director of Affirmation’s Young Adults Program

Send Robert an email
June 2009

This past month has been a very busy and emotional month of all Californians. As I am sure all you have heard by now, the California Supreme Court announced its decision to uphold Prop 8, which bans same-gender couples from having the right to marry.

The night before the decision was announced, George Cole and I attended an interfaith prayer service at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco to help guide the court to overturn Prop. 8. The next morning at 8:00 am we gathered again at St. Francis Lutheran Church for a prayer service for those who would be taking part in a non-violent civil disobedience act. After the prayer service, the clergy, the civil disobedience group, and a couple hundred community members marched down Market Street to the Supreme Court building. The march was lead by a sign stating “Faith Demands Justice.”

Once at the Courthouse, we waited til the decision was announced. Moments later, we found out that not-yet-married gay and lesbian couples were now third-class citizens (“third class,” not “second class,” since the 18,000 marriages that were performed before Nov. 4th are still valid.). Faith leaders led the group to the intersection of Grove and Van Ness St. While approaching the intersection, the civil disobedience group moved in and began to block the intersection. I am very proud to say that I was a part of this group. We were able to hold the intersection for about 5 hours. Around 11:45am the SFPD started arresting the group. In the end, 211 people were arrested and charged with Not Following an Officer and Jaywalking. Our court date is later this month, and we are very hopeful that all charges will be dropped and no fine will be charged.

This past Saturday, people all over California gathered in Fresno, CA for an event called Meet in the Middle (MITM). This community was ignored by the last campaign and voted around 70% for the ban on same gender marriage. MITM was kicked off by a symbolic march from Selma, CA, to Fresno. At the rally, I was honored to be in the VIP area where I was able to meet several TV stars and activists: Kyan Douglas (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy), Eric McCormack (Will & Grace), T.R. Knight (Grey's Anatomy), Daniel Choi (dismissed from the National Guard for being gay), and Christine Chavez (Caesar Chavez's granddaughter); and, of course, I was most excited to meet Dustin Lance Black. I was able to talk to Dustin about Affirmation and the work we are doing as an organization and about the Young Adults Program. I gave him my card, and he promised he personally would be in contact.

Also while at MITM, I was able to meet a lot of other faith leaders and talk about coalition building with interfaith organizations around California. I feel that this is vital if we want to grow Affirmation and reach out to local communities.

I would like to personally thank all of you who emotionally and physically supported me in the D-Day actions.

In Solidarity,

Robert Moore
Young Adults Program Director
youngadults

affirmation.org