Prop 8 Continues to Stir Folks Up

Two stories today on the passions created by Proposition 8, the gay marriage amendment. First, from Wilmington, CA:

A Catholic church in Wilmington and some of its neighbors say the repeated disappearance of their "Yes on Prop. 8" lawn signs is about more than just the theft of plastic and wood.

"They're trespassing on my property, but also on my rights to express myself," said Patricia Sullivan, a resident in the 500 block of West Opp Street.

Nearly 40 placards showing support for the ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage have disappeared from the lawn surrounding a nearby church.

"We either find them down the alleyway or don't find them at all," said Rosa Rios, an administrative assistant at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

Both Sullivan and Rios said neighborhood signs related to other initiatives have been left alone.

"We definitely have a problem with that sign staying up," Rios added.

Sullivan said thieves earlier this month took the time to unwind wire she used to fasten her sign to her chain-link fence.

She replaced the sign, and it has withstood hijacking so far, but was torn in one attempt Sunday.

Sullivan said it's important to her to show her support for the measure she says will restore "dignity" to marriage.

And, from Torrance, a "Yes on 8" supporter makes an impression on a "No on 8" supporter:

A man wearing a "No on 8" button was beaten with a "Yes on 8" lawn sign in Torrance this week in what police characterized as a possible hate crime.

Joseph Storm, 23, is due in Torrance Superior Court today for arraignment on a felony charge of a hate crime assault and a misdemeanor count for interfering with another's exercise of civil rights, according to Deputy District Attorney Janet Wilson.

Wilson said the scuffle between two longtime acquaintances occurred about 2 a.m. Sunday in the 2000 block of 230th Street. Both men were outside, but it isn't clear why.

Storm and the 22-year-old victim, whom Wilson did not identify, have known each other since junior high school, she said.

"I don't think they had any problems in the past," Wilson said.

The men told police slightly different versions of what happened, Wilson said. Whether Proposition 8 - which would ban same-sex marriage in California - was at the center of the dispute is unclear.

The victim, whom Wilson described as openly gay, said, he was wearing a "No on Prop. 8" button when he encountered Storm.

Storm took a nearby "Yes on Prop. 8" lawn sign and knocked the victim down with it, then punched him in the face and choked him, Wilson said.

During the beating, Storm called the 22-year-old a derogatory name for homosexuals, Wilson said.

The victim was treated at a hospital, where he had an inch-long cut on his head, she added.

Storm, however, told officers after his Monday night arrest that he saw the victim hold up his middle finger toward the sign, then pull it out of the lawn and throw it in the street, Wilson said.

Storm said he didn't know what the sign said, but got angry because the other man was littering, which is why he assaulted him, Wilson added.

In the words of the immortal Rodney King, "c-c-c-c-can't we all just get along?"