Nancy Jennings, a professor at Cuyamaca College spoke at one of the torch relay points.

     Outside El Cajon’s city hall, Parker urged people to unite and inspire change. The California Supreme Court ruling overturning Proposition 8 and banning new gay marriages “will not stand,” she predicted, comparing the gay rights movement to the struggle for women’s suffrage and abolition of slavery.
     “We are all human beings,” said Parker, who is heterosexual but believes in equality for all individuals. “Let us raise our flags, our torches, and our voices for marriage equality.”
     Nancy Jennings, a professor at Cuyamaca College, also spoke at the El Cajon rally. “I care about this because it matters,” said Jennings, who added that she has a gay family member. “If the majority can vote rights away from a minority, we should all be concerned.”
     Gay marriage, which is now legal in six states, is opposed by conservatives and some religious groups who believe a traditional marriage should be reserved for unions between men and women.
     But Jennings argued that the prohibition on gay marriage violates the 14th amendment to the Constitution, which declares that no state shall make or abridge a law that denies rights or equal protections to citizens. Courts have previously invalidated a ban on marriages by prison inmates, she observed.
     “Any two people, even murderers and rapists, can marry — except for two gay people,” noted Jennings. The battle is about more than the word “marriage” she said, noting that without full marriage rights, a gay or lesbian partner may be denied hospital visitation rights, the right to inherit property, or custody rights to children if a partner dies. One federal study identified 1,138 federal benefits to marriage, she said.
     Romer de los Santos II, secretary of San Diego Pride, spoke at all four city halls in East County.
     “Our hope is that the equality torch will continue to burn in your hearts and inspire you to reach out to your neighbors,” he said.
     Other speakers included Lemon Grove Councilmember George Gastil, Chris Ward, chief of staff for Assemblyman Marty Block, and historian Elle Van Dermark.
     The event was mostly peaceful, with the exception of a few disparaging remarks and the assault on deHarte, which was filmed by KUSI TV. “He was standing next to the large Lemon when he was hit in the face by an outraged individual,” Parker said.
     Marchers ended the event at the County Administration Building, where San Diego Councilman Todd Gloria spoke and 12 torches were united in a circle and lifted high, symbolizing participants’ hopes for future equality.


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