When California’s Proposition 8 was passed in November, 2008, it launched a tidal wave of reaction, producing a new stage in the movement for equal rights for LGBT people and a new generation of activists, known as "Stonewall 2.0." In California and throughout the country, people took to the streets almost immediately to express their anger at the continual side-lining of equal rights for LBGT persons, and frustration at the failure of a non-confrontational strategy to win lasting change. Even here in Rochester, 300 people stood in the cold and rain to stand in solidarity with their brothers and sisters on the west coast.

In the wake of the passage of Prop 8, and the decision of the California Supreme Court to uphold it last May, grass-roots networks began to form, presenting an alternative path to equality based upon mass action. Last summer, a call was made to converge on Washington, DC, in a show of strength, and to present our demand for no less than full equality to the seat of power. The Civil Rights Front (CRF) formed in response to that call, and were among the more than 200,000 present last October 11. For those of us able to participate, it was a life-changing experience. Since that time, CRF has continued to organize, looking for opportunities to work locally to advance the cause of federal equality.

Judge Von Walker has said that he will announce his verdict TODAY!!!! (AUG. 4) We don’t know when that will be, but we do know that we need to be prepared to make our voices heard whatever the outcome. To that end, the CRF is asking you to join us on the day Judge Walker announces his verdict, at 5:00pm at the Liberty Pole. We will stage a rally of either celebration or protest, and from there we will march to the Pride Statues in front of the Bachelor Forum.

Whatever the verdict, we can be assured that this case will be appealed, and it is likely to reach the US Supreme Court by the end of next year. As closing arguments wrapped up, Judge Walker asked the attorney for our side, "Do we have a political tide here that’s going to carry the Supreme Court?" We need to show him that we are not going to allow the Supreme Court, or anyone else, to stand between us and equality. We need to show him that we are that tide.

Written by Chelsea Miller, an organizer for the Rochester Civil Rights Front. To find out more about the organization for this action, you can visit the CRF website at http://civilrightsfront.wordpress.com, or follow them on Twitter at RochesterCRF. We will be updating these with information about the verdict as soon as we receive it