It would have been hard to miss them if you drove along Aspen’s Main Street on Saturday at around noon. About two-dozen protesters gathered on all four corners at the intersection of Main and Mill streets to demonstrate their disapproval of Proposition 8, a California state ballot proposition that amended the state constitution to restrict the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman. The recent vote, passed in California on Election Day, overrode law that recognized same-sex marriage in California as a fundamental right.

“The same time Californians elected an African-American to the highest office in the land, they passed a very hateful resolution to deny gays basic rights,” said protest organizer Bryan Gonzales of Aspen. More than 40 people, both gay and straight, gathered at 11:30 a.m. to march through the downtown core to demonstrate their disapproval of the new amendment. Even though the proposition legally affects only those gay couples recently married in California, the Aspen protesters thought it necessary to show their solidarity with Californians.

“Although it may seem that we’re preaching to the choir in this liberal mountain town, it’s great that we see this local support and we realize that we are contributing to a national effort,” Gonzales said. In fact Aspen’s demonstration was one of many grassroots efforts to take issue with the new code. Civil demonstrations occurred in cities spanning the nation from San Francisco to Boston and Austin to Minneapolis.

Despite Aspen’s status as a small liberal mountain town, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, participants in the protest felt that they had a responsibility to join the national grassroots effort.

“Awareness is always the first step in change, so I think that it’s important that these people are trying to bring this issue before the public,” said Jeff, a straight supporter choosing to identify himself only by his first name.

Car drivers honked and waved in support as they passed through the intersection where the protesters gathered.

“I believe that everybody should have the right to matrimony because love is love, regardless of whether or not it’s gay or straight love,” said Margaret Mali as she passed by a protester on the crosswalk.

“The government doesn’t have the right to tell people what to do with their personal relationships,” said Cale Mitchell, of Carbondale, as he watched from the sidewalk. “It goes against everything this country stands for.”
zach@aspendailynews.com