Sacramento's gay pride fest celebrates marriage ruling

By Wesley DeBerry - wdeberry@sacbee.com

Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, June 22, 2008
Story appeared in METRO section, Page B3

Print | E-Mail | | |

Pride Festival video

The recent decision to legalize gay marriage in California was a common theme for celebration at Saturday's Gay Pride Parade and Festival in Sacramento's Southside Park.

"I'm thrilled," Inga Olson said. "I wanted to make a sign that said 'Thanks, California.' "

For some couples, the festival served as a perfect place for a wedding.

"We were thinking it would be very interesting to celebrate (marriage) with other gay and lesbian people," River Mika Coyote said moments before marrying her partner of 10 years, Susan Mika Coyote.

About 4,000 tickets were sold for the festival, its organizers said.

While the celebration was vibrant in the park, protesters were out in force just across the way at Sixth and T streets.

Don Grundmann, who carried two protest signs, said, "We are created beings. God can change us back into what he wants us to be."

On the other side of the street, Gay Pride supporters held signs of their own.

Dan Metzger bore a sign about the Satender Singh case. A jury deadlocked over whether Singh's killing was a hate crime prompted by the belief he was gay.

He said the protesters were entitled to their opinion, but added, "I resent them coming here and telling me what my rights are."

In the middle of the street, police on horseback ensured the two groups stayed separated.

Other than police requesting that the protesters stop using microphones to amplify their message, the day ended without incident.

"I think everyone in our community expects them to be there," Bonnie Osborn, co-chairwoman of Sacramento Pride 2008, said about the protesters.

"We don't want to take away their rights, we just want them to do it in a lawful and peaceful manner."

To ensure safety at the festival, Sacramento Pride worked closely with police. "Volunteer team leaders" had radios to dispatch the police in case of a problem.

Sacramento Pride also hired a private security force of off-duty Sacramento police officers to patrol the festival.

With security in place, the celebrants did not hesitate to express themselves.

For Denny Wiegle, 63, and partner Jesse Adams, 64, the festival is a breath of fresh air."

"We grew up in a time when you had to hide it," Wiegle said. "It feels good to be able to walk down the street and say you're gay and not have to worry about it."

Rey Bonilla-McIntyre and Scott Bonilla- McIntyre were the first to tie the knot at the festival.

"Before they passed the law, we just considered ourselves married," Rey Bonilla-McIntyre said.

About the writer:

Call The Bee's Wesley DeBerry, (916) 321-1058.

Recommend this story at Yahoo! Buzz:

Tom Smith, left, and Dennis Siedlecki, at his side, do the dos-a-dos with the Capital City Squares, a gay and lesbian folk dancing group, at Saturday's Gay Pride Festival in Sacramento's Southside Park. Lezlie Sterling / lsterling@sacbee.com

Click on photo to enlarge

The Sacramento Bee Unique content, exceptional value. SUBSCRIBE NOW!