Did Gays Go too Far in Actions Against Woman?

A 69-yard-old woman who voted in favor of Prop 8 last Tuesday was the victim of aggression by gay and lesbian demonstrators last Friday during a rally against the proposition.

Phyllis Burgess appeared at the rally carrying a large, Styrofoam cross, stating her beliefs in traditional marriage. In only a few minutes, demonstrators circled the Palm Springs resident, yanked the cross from her hands and stepped on it.

In a comment to the Desert Sun newspaper, Burgess noted, “I guess I didn’t see the gravity of the whole thing and how it was being portrayed to the public. People are incensed. They seem to want some kind of justice.”

No word yet on whether or not Burgess will press any charges.

To see the video, visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6mMQwAEDC4

Gay Marraige Backers Applaud Brown's Move

The language involving the Prop 8 ballot for this fall has changed, leading to the filing of a lawsuit by prop supporters.

Attorney General Jerry Brown, who may have changed the wording in an effort to bring in more of the gay vote should he run for governor again in 2010, reworded the language of Prop 8, the proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage if a majority of voters cast a "yes" ballot.

The new language now states that Prop 8 would "eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry." Prop 8 supporters, who planned on filing a lawsuit to stop the wording change, said the new wording could "prejudice voters against the initiative."

Brown, however, said the change was needed to show the legalization of gay marriage prior to the November ballot.

When the proposition was submitted to the state, same-sex marriage was not yet allowed and was to be determined by the California Supreme Court justices, therefore the wording made sense. Now that it is legal, the wording had to be changed, according to Brown and supporters of gay marriage.

Gays Try to Turn Away Business at San Diego Hotel

People on both sides of the gay marriage rights issue turned out in downtown San Diego on Friday during a rally against the owner of the Manchester Grand Hyatt.

Owner Doug Manchester made a $125,000 contribution to support the Prop 8 measure on this November's ballot. That measure would make it only legal for men and women to marry in California. Earlier this year, a judge ruled that gay couples could legally marry in the state, which they began doing last month.

Gay and lesbian activists picketed in front of the hotel Friday afternoon, claiming Manchester and his hotel are not friendly to gays. On the flip side, a hotel spokesperson says the establishment is friendly to gays.

Supporters of Manchester's were also on hand to demonstrate their point of view.

Prop 8 garnered enough support and survived an attempt by gays to have it removed from the ballot, therefore letting California voters decide this fall.

Opponents of Gay Marriage Rally in San Diego

A crowd estimated at several hundred showed up on Monday at San Diego's Town and Country Hotel and Convention Center for a meeting and rally in support of a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. The San Diego Republican Party was the event organizer.

Proposition 8, titled the "Marriage Protection Act," is on the ballot this November. The measure would place wording in the state constitution stating that marriage is only recognized between a man and a woman in the state of California.

Proponents of marriage only between a man and a woman voted for such a law back in 2000 to the tune of 61 percent.

Earlier this year, however, California's Supreme Court voted by 4-3 to allow marraige between gays and lesbians. In doing so, California joined Massachusetts as the only states to back gay marriage.

For more information on supporting Prop 8, visit www.protectmarriage.com .