There were approximately 3500 people at the marriage equality rally in Phoenix yesterday. And anyone who's done their share of protesting in Arizona can attest that it's amazing to get 100 people to show up for anything, let alone 1000. But 3500 is unheard of!
We saw families with strollers, gays and their dogs, bears, drag queens . . . and of course a lot of lovely lezzies! I even ran into TBP contributor Bobby Parker.
The crowd marched from Phoenix City Hall to the State Capitol building chanting, "Hey hey, ho ho, homophobia has got to go," with the occasional "el pueblo, unida, james sera vencido" thrown in for good measure. It was really exhilarating to see so many people in Phoenix turn out for LGBTQ equality.
I've got some great pictures after the jump.
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9 Comments
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Hey Serena,
I lived in AZ and 3500 IS awesome. 3500 people together in AZ and it wasn't sports related!!
A couple hundred in Boulder, haven't heard what the Denver crowd was like. They were very close in time so you couldn't double dip.
My partner and I took my 7 year old daughter and there were so many children running around to play with. I realized how many children this really does hurt.
One speaker yesterday said, "Same-sex marriage has already happened; it just hasn't happened yet."
I loved that!
Jadi | November 16, 2008 11:15 AM
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Hey Jadi, thanks for giving us the scoop on Colorado. I agree with you . . . it's pretty powerful to see all the kids at the protests, because it really makes the point that this is about family.
Serena Freewomyn | November 16, 2008 11:21 AM
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It was too cold in Des Moines for most of the children but the fact that nearly 200 showed up was astounding -- the biggest LGBTQQIA protest there ever and the largest of any protest of any population organized in under a week. As Chet Guinn, an elderly straight progressive attendee said, teeth chattering in the cold blowing snow, "Boy, to get a crowd like this on a day like this -- you people really ARE serious!"
Marla R. Stevens | November 16, 2008 11:42 AM
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I spent 45 years of my life in Arizona, and see this makes my heart soar.
I'm working on an article about Atlanta's two events. We had about the same numbers at both events, and I got to speak at the Capital Building. I have 81 photos, of which 10 to 15% of them are very interesting, and I have two videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WknXv8eO-7A and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upjik8bJONQ Also, my pastor, Paul Turner, was interviewed on Channel 2 News: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGGgpYDCNeE
MonicaHelms | November 16, 2008 1:15 PM
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We had 200 people participate in our rally up in Flagstaff, Arizona. Lot's of Northern Arizona university students, social justice activists, Equality Arizona volunteers, and more. We stood on the corner of Rt. 66 and Humphreys Ave. for more than two hours. It was a cold, windy day. We had a lot of fun.
Lisa Rayner | November 16, 2008 1:26 PM
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Serena, we saw each other and I didn't even think to place it in context, lol.
I have 2 hours of the event filmed and will be putting them up -- unedited for now, in all their horribly shot glory -- on you tube shortly.
we should connect in person as well.
btw, I was the tall sorta blond in white top, black skirt, and boots.
Filmed most of it from the foot, then went ahead of the march as it started.
And the cops on the scene were saying 4000 :)
dyssonance | November 16, 2008 2:18 PM
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3500 in Phoenix is amazing! It's so great to see Arizona queers being visible in the public sphere.
Paige Schilt | November 16, 2008 2:40 PM
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Paige, it was even better to see so many straight allies at the march!
Serena Freewomyn | November 16, 2008 2:43 PM
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That's an amazing amount of people in Phoenix!
Bil Browning | November 16, 2008 5:15 PM
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