Long Beach Vigil Marks Gay Marriage Court Hearings

In honor of the U.S. Supreme Court hearing arguments from both sides of Prop. 8, supporters of gay marriage rights will meet for a candlelight vigil outside Long Beach City Hall at 6 p.m.

Calling the case before the high court "historic," vigil organizer and local community activist Brad Shore said the gathering is meant to be a "dignified way to honor this moment."

Attendees need to bring their own candles he said, adding that speakers will include Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster and openly gay City Council members Gerrie Schipske and Robert Garcia. At least one member of the clergy who supports the right for same-sex marriage also will attend, Shore said Tuesday.

Orange County had its own event set in Santa Ana. No anti-gay marriage events were publicized but Randy Thomasson of SaveCalifornia.com was not immediately returned.

While it is difficult to count the exact size of Long Beach's gay population, one yardstick often cited is 10% of the general public, said Shore, adding that estimates based on social services demands and Gay Pride Festival attendance may put the number as high as 75,000. The weekend Gay Pride Festival each May is attended at 100,000 people, second only to the April Grand Prix.

Nobody disputes gay rights being of strong interest in Long Beach, where the mayor and others marked the Supreme Court's two-day hearings raised the gay pride flag at Long Beach City Hall Tuesday morning to mark the Prop.8 evolution.

Prop. 8 was enacted by voters in 2008 but was deemed unconstitutional last year by a federal appeals court, which found the initiative was at odds with U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment guaranteeing equal protection under the law. The Supreme Court heard arguments on the issue today, but a decision likely won't be issued until June.

--City News Service contributed to this report