West Hollywood, California (Thursday, May 21, 2009) - West Hollywood’s intersection of Santa Monica and San Vicente Boulevards has a long tradition of being the gay community’s gathering place, be it in celebration or protest. 
Sam Borelli serves on the West Hollywood Public Safety Commission and writes a blog called Walking WeHo. WeHo News. |
Most recently we gathered more than a few times to protest the passage of Proposition 8, which added discrimination to the California Constitution by denying same-sex couples their previously afforded legal right to marry.
Observers believe that the court will uphold the passage of Proposition 8, and we will again take to the streets of West Hollywood.
Unfortunately, there have been rumblings that otherwise responsible, level-headed folk are gearing up to throw bricks.
Protesters in West Hollywood on November 5, 2008, after Proposition 8 passed. Photo by WeHo News. |
Anything but non-violent demonstrations would be very bad turns on very many fronts. We have seen time after time a community in outrage destroy their own.
It’s happened here before.
Turning on West Hollywood is not a solution. Harming our businesses, putting our residents and visitors in harm’s way is not going to help. Forcing our Sheriff’s personnel to take drastic action against us only harms a relationship with a very good ally.
In November, 2008 our very own WeHo Sheriff’s personnel did an amazing job working with city staffers and community leaders to keep us safe and protected.
It was not our Sheriff’s that we saw the next day on the news swinging bats. In fact, over those following few weeks we really tapped out their resources with many protests starting elsewhere else and ending up here in West Hollywood.
Yes, if the CA Supreme Court upholds Prop 8 we will be angry. There is still anger in the community four months later.
I hear it, others do too, and yes, we need an outlet for that anger. But let’s not allow the outlet to be violent and self-destructive.
Protesters in West Hollywood on November 5, 2008, after Proposition 8 passed. Photo by WeHo News. |
Let’s gather, yell, scream, march, stomp our feet, and other forms of getting the anger out.
Then let us come together as a community and do what we need to do together to turn this tide around.
There have been groups that have sprung into action since Prop 8 passed.
The Courage Campaign and Equal Roots are just two that offer positive, action oriented activities and objectives to help our cause and move us forward.
Equality Central, formerly Equality Network, has been amazing at letting us know about the many events and activities in which to participate. Remember the press coverage?
Protesters in West Hollywood on November 5, 2008, after Proposition 8 passed. Photo by WeHo News. |
We have the opportunity to show the world that we can take what comes next.
All struggles like this have had setbacks, Women’s Suffrage and the African American Civil Rights Movement to name just a few.
It does not make it okay, but it should make us stronger, and more determined.
I do hope that we are able to celebrate but if not, let’s be together, be angry together, grieve together, and then move forward together without harming those that help us or are part of our struggle.
Together, we can make it happen wisely and, hopefully, peacefully.
Sam Borelli serves on the West Hollywood Public Safety Commission and writes a blog called Walking WeHo, from which this op-ed is republished with Mr. Borelli’s express permission.
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