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Image makers say gays who wed in San Francisco in 2004 were more likely to have done so on the spur of the moment. But images from the 2008 ceremonies were better controlled by gay rights groups. (2004 photo by the San Jose Mercury News, Karen T. Borchers/AP)
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HOME > NEWS > NATIONAL NEWS
By: CHRIS JOHNSON COMMENTS
 
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going on and having no question about the legality of these licenses.”
Pinello said he could not see how it would be possible for gay advocacy groups to communicate guidance “under the counter” to tone down the weddings to the thousands of couples getting married. Nor could gay groups require couples to agree to this guidance, he said.
Similar accusations are being made about how conservative groups are influencing people who oppose same-sex marriage.
Stern said conservative groups are telling protesters at the weddings to “tone down the rhetoric” and not appear too angry or call gay people “devils.”
“It’s my understanding that conservatives have sent out messages to their followers to keep their comments as mild as possible,” he said.
Luna said the protesters in California did not have a significant impact.
There were protests happening in California June 16, he said, but conservative groups led “a very concerted effort to pull those people back.”
On June 17, when most of the marriages kicked off, there were almost no protesters, Luna said.
“For them to have people out there screaming and holding signs … was not a positive thing for their side,” Luna said, “so there was pretty much an ‘all-points bulletin’ put out to the religious right to say pull back our protesters and don’t have people out there protesting with signs.”
Protectmarriage.com, a major conservative group opposing same-sex marriage in California, did not respond to requests for comment.
Same-sex weddings taking place in California are inspiring a number of different reactions from religious leaders and groups across the United States.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Mormon Church, has come out against the marriages and is urging followers in that state to support the amendment banning same-sex marriage.
In a June 20 letter to members, the First Presidency of the Mormon Church states that its “teachings and position on this moral issue are unequivocal.”
“Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and the formation of families is central to the Creator’s plan for His children,” the letter states. “Children are entitled to be born within this bond of marriage.”
The First Presidency states that the Church will participate in the coalition of supporting the ballot initiative. Church leaders in California will provide information about how follo
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