Castro District reacts to Prop 8 ruling

SAN FRANCISCO

MOST POPULAR: Video, stories and more
SIGN-UP: Get breaking news sent to you

For a brief period, the large rainbow flag on Market Street was taken down. What has become the symbol of the Castro District carries a single black stripe -- a sign of mourning for this community.

"In California here, we should be very embarrassed. I really think we should be because everybody considers California as one of the more progressive states of the United States, if not the most, and here we are taking a step backwards. It doesn't make any sense," said Emilie Krustapentus.

Krustapentus and Yvonne Duncan are Bay Area residents but hail from two states that now recognize same-sex marriage.

"I'm from Iowa and she's from Massachusetts. So maybe we should have stayed there, but we would not have met each other," said Duncan.

Most people in the Castro District see the ruling as unfair.

"How can you say that California doesn't recognize same-sex marriage except for 18,000 of them?" said Castro District resident Jim Setta.

Following Tuesday's court decision, only two protesters stood on the corner of Market and Castro. Earlier, about 150 people left St. Francis Lutheran Church to march toward Civic Center.

"The vigil today was to cross our fingers, pray for good luck, hope the court rules in our favor, and also to prepare ourselves spiritually to engage in civil disobedience today to protest if Proposition 8 is upheld," said community activist Danielle Askini.

Ron Overmann says civil unrest only hurts their cause.

"They're alienating our friends and adding support to our enemies," said Overmann. "I think that's just a mistake. I think we have to have a positive campaign."

The positive campaign starts Tuesday night at the MLK Memorial at Yerba Buena Gardens.

       Today's latest headlines | ABC7 News on your phone
Follow us on Twitter | Fan us on Facebook | Get our free widget

Copyright © 2024 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.