Protests follow ban on same-sex marriage

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Gay rights activists say a number of protests are occurring in California in opposition of a new ban on same-sex marriage statewide.

Evan Wolfson, Freedom to Marry executive director, said many gay rights supporters are frustrated regarding the ban that was passed as Proposition 8 on Election Day and have begun speaking out about its possible discriminatory effects, the Los Angeles Times said Thursday.

"The protests are an important vehicle for expressing a community's feelings and I applaud that," AIDS Healthcare Foundation President Michael Weinstein said.

"Too many of us … gay and not gay, didn't get engaged enough in the conversations … about the real harm that discrimination inflicts."

Other same-sex marriage supporters have filed lawsuits in an attempt to have Proposition 8 overturned by the state's court system, the Times said.

Meanwhile, University of California, Berkeley political science Professor Bruce Cain warns that those taking part in the ongoing protests must be careful not to alienate the members of the public whose support they are attempting to earn.