Listen to this articleThis Saturday, Nov. 15 Utahns of all sexual orientations, gender identities and religious affiliations who oppose Proposition 8 are invited to meet at the City and County Building (451 S State St) from 11:30—2:30 p.m.
Named “Join the Impact Salt Lake City,” this peaceful demonstration will be one of 80 taking place simultaneously in cities across 49 U.S. states. The demonstration’s goal, organizer Elaine Ball wrote on her blog theotherweblog.blogspot.com, is to show “solidarity with couples and families everywhere who’s [sic] rights are being taken away in states throughout our nation.”
“This is not what America is about. America is about Equality for all!” Ball said. “We the people means ALL the people, and we ALL deserve absolutely equal rights.”
After securing the permit for the demonstration on Nov. 12, Ball wrote that the event’s key note speaker will be Jeff Key, a former Marine and Iraq War veteran who was discharged from the United States Marine Corps after coming out on CNN. The subject of the Showtime documentary Semper Fi: One Marine’s Journey, Key is also the author and performer of the one man play The Eyes of Babylon, which chronicles his experiences in and disillusionment with the Iraq War.
Other speakers will include Eric Ethington who will read his recently published letter “Dear Utah” (which can be read on his blog at ethingtoneric.wordpress.com). Utahns of all sexual orientations are also invited to share personal experiences of how anti-gay marriage legislation affects their lives. Ball also said that a number of Salt Lake City religious and community leaders would be in attendance to show “their support as well for love and equality, marriage rights for all, and true family values.” Members of the Utah State Legislature and other government officials have also been invited.
After the main program, participants will march around Library Square and the City and County Building, much as they did during the Nov. 7 demonstration at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ office building.
On Saturday evening from 6:00—8:00 p.m. a candle light vigil will be held at the State Capitol Building. Here participants will use 10,000 candles to spell out “Equality” on the capitol lawn.
The Utah Pride Center and the University of Utah’s LGBT Resource Center are currently collecting tea lights and small Dixie cups to protect the grounds from wax drippings. Bring candles and cups to the Center at 355 N 300 W or the LGBT Resource Center on the University of Utah Campus’s Olpin Student Union Building (4th Floor).
A Facebook event for the vigil is located at tinyurl.com/6bnu49. The event for the demonstration is located at tinyurl.com/5vg5xq.
