About 300 people protested President George W. Bush's recent call for an amendment to the Constitution that would ban gay marriage at a mass rally Thursday in downtown Phoenix.
The protesters carried signs that read "Give us our chance at your 50 percent divorce-rate club," "Save our Constitution" and "I am an American, too," as they listened to speeches from government leaders in front of the House of Representatives building between Washington and Roosevelt streets near 17th Avenue.
ASU biology junior David Encizo said he has been fighting for same-sex marriage ever since he came out in high school.
"This is awesome," he said during the rally. "This is the biggest gay rally in Arizona and people are feeling affected."
The rally was sponsored by the Arizona Human Rights Fund, the Human Rights Campaign, the Arizona Log Cabin Republicans and the Arizona Stonewall Democrats.
Sam Holdren, a political science senior, helped publicize the event.
"It sends a strong message to those that oppose it ... that people feel different," he said at the rally. "The Republicans and conservatives that are controlling the state are not representing the entire population. Hate isn't going to be accepted anymore in this state."
Holdren said efforts on ASU's campus are making a lot of progress, but support is lacking in the state.
Arizona State Rep. Tom Prezelski, D-Mesa, attended the rally to show his support for gay rights and disapproval of Bush's stance on gay marriage.
"I'm glad the nation's at peace and there's no crime," he said to the laughing crowd. "Because if that wasn't the case, then we would not be in a position to debate this right now."
State Rep. Ted Downing, D-Fountain Hills, also said he would vote against an amendment to ban gay marriage.
The crowd's message was mostly of love and equal rights, and the protest was met with no visible opposition.
"The whole purpose was to signify we want equal rights in marriage and equality in general," said Kurt Sischo, an undeclared ASU junior. "I'm so happy so many people came out to speak."
Reach the reporter at lindsay.butler@asu.edu.
