Hundreds participate in rally against Prop 8, ends peacefully

About 400 people marched through downtown Palm Springs this evening in protest against Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in California.

Things wrapped up peacefully.

“We don’t want to characterize everyone who voted ‘yes’ (on Prop 8) as a bigot,” said Terry Applegate, a local organizer with the “No on 8” campaign.

She added “Homophobia does not get erased (just) in a few months.”

Less than a week after a march against the recently passed measure took a hostile turn, about 30 Palm Springs police officers were at the scene to prevent a similar incident.

“We’re standing by and watching to make sure everything remains peaceful," Sgt. Mitch Spike said earlier this evening.

Palm Springs resident Phyllis Burgess, who was at the center of last week’s disturbance outside City Hall, also was at the scene and carried a cross.

Police escorted her and kept her away from the crowd.

“I have a right to be here," she said. "It’s not to antagonize, but it exposes where the hatred is.”

Just before 7 p.m., a man carrying a cross was standing across the street from Francis Stevens Park, from where the march began.

Several protesters booed him.

Police asked all participants to remove any stakes from their signs.

Last week, a candlelight service in front of City Hall drew more than 500 protesters and quickly got out of hand when Burgess marched a Styrofoam cross into the crowd. Demonstrators grabbed the cross from Phyllis Burgess and stomped it.

Police are investigating a possible assault.

Burgess, 69, has yet to press charges, Spike said.

Police Chief David Dominguez and Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet, who has condemned any violence associated with local protests, did not return messages requesting comment.

Organizers hope for a peaceful event tonight that opens up the dialogue between those who voted “yes” and “no” on Proposition 8, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

“I don't want a repeat of what happened on Friday,” said Palm Springs resident Vincent Corrales, who organized the event by sending out 1,200 e-mails.

“We have a right to be angry, but there's no need for violence.”

Last week's protest was the largest in the county since 52 percent of voters statewide approved Proposition 8. In Riverside County the measure passed with a greater margin - 64 percent.

Another protest is scheduled on the steps of city halls across the nation and in Palm Springs on Saturday.

Same-sex marriage is an issue that resonates with many, especially in the Palm Springs area, which boasts one of the largest gay populations per capita in the United States.

The amendment's passage has cast a cloud of uncertainty on the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who have tied the knot since June 17, the first day gays and lesbians could legally marry. Of those, about 1,200 couples have married in the Coachella Valley.