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Gay and straight citizens line Route 66 in front of city hall to protest the ban against gay marriages Saturday afternoon. - Ian Horvath/ The Lumberjack

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet flooded downtown Flagstaff; picket signs and rainbow flags were blowing in the wind, held high while chants and cheers for equal opportunity were recited.

On Saturday, Nov. 15 at 11:30 a.m. on the Flagstaff City Hall lawn, more than 130 people gathered to protest anti-gay rights legislation, joining in on the national event to support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality rights.

With Arizona’s passage of Prop 102 stating, “Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state,” community members arrived to protest the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Sarah Friedmann, team leader of Equality Arizona, said what happened on election day was not acceptable.

“I am excited to see Flagstaff support the LGBT community and participate in a national movement,” Friedmann said.

The equal rights protest was participated at a national level in response to anti-gay rights legislation passed in Arizona, California, Florida and Arkansas. More than 300 cities across the United States took part, including more than one million participants. Approximately 2,000 people protested the legislation in Phoenix and approximately 1,000 people protested in Tucson.

“This is the first time a national protest has been organized on GLBT,” Friedmann said. 

Native Flagstaff resident Brooke Hamilton, a senior at Sinagua High School, said she also attended the Tucson march on Nov. 14.

“We got a lot of cheers (and) a lot of support,” Hamilton said. “We never got any negative comments or anything while I was with it.”

In California, Prop 8 passed, barring same-sex couples from marriage and possibly anulling 18,000 same-sex marriages that took place during the five-month period in which it was legal. Arkansas’ adoption ban forbids unmarried couples from adopting children. Prop 2 in Florida defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman, effectively banning same-sex marriage. The protest outside of city hall advertised merchandise for sale — shirts, pins and bumper stickers — which promoted equality. The sidewalk was lined with first-time protesters, as well as veteran protesters, who assembled to voice their opinions on the passage of anti-gay rights legislation in four different states.

Joe Wegwert, NAU Assistant Professor, joins protestors on Saturday outside city hall fighting for gay rights. Wegwert hopes to start a class in the fall of 2009 on the equality and rights for the gay community. - Ian Horvath/ The Lumberjack

Liz Bauer, a Flagstaff resident who attended the March on Washington in 1987 to protest equal rights for the recognition of lesbian and gay relationships, said she thought the LGBT protest was a great idea.

“People ought to protest,” Bauer said. “It is horrible what happened with Prop 8 and Prop 102. It is unconstitutional and unfair.”

The protest was advertised mostly through Equality Arizona spreading the word through Facebook, with over 100 people who RSVPed online. Protesters were LGBT people and straight allies, including NAU faculty,  students, Flagstaff community members, newborns and pets.

Lisa Rayner, political chair of Equality Arizona, said she was upset with the decision made in California.

“There may have not been enough people out for election time to get rid of all these hateful propositions,” Rayner said. “I just think that people are tired of dealing with this.”

Rayner said she thinks the LGBT community is tired of dealing with decisions the state has made against their constitutional rights.

Carrying a sign in multi-colors reading, “Can I vote on your marriage?” Ami Buczek, a senior at Flagstaff High School, said this was her first protest for LGBT rights.

“I think it was wrong that Prop 102 passed,” Buczek said. “People have their right to marry someone of the same sex; don’t vote against someone who wants to do that.”

Signs that read “You can’t amend love,” “Respect every family,” and chants such as “Undo 102!” and “What do we want? Equal rights! When do we want them? Now!” generated feedback from numerous people driving passed in their cars. Protesters organized “the wave” and a group sang various songs together.

Most people honked to show their appreciation with a thumbs-up or a simple peace sign. The few negative comments were shown through a thumbs down or waving the Bible. 

Rebecca Small, a junior visual communications major, said she was happy to be part of the Flagstaff community showing support for LGBT citizens.

“I believe the turnout was more than wonderful,” Small said. “There was so much support from the drive-byers and everybody (who was) holding signs or even throwing up peace signs was smiling, having fun and doing something they felt was right.”

As the protest ended mid-afternoon, the remaining protesters, a group of  approximately 25 people, marched in the streets of downtown, through NAU’s campus and back to City Hall.

Greg Buczek, Ami Buczek’s father, stood next to his daughter during the protest.

“In 21 years, I still don’t get why gay marriage is a threat to my marriage,” Buczek said, referring to the argument for Yes on 102. “People say it’s a threat and I don’t understand it.”

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