2008.71.1

T-shirt, white, knitted of 100% cotton, short sleeves and no side seams. Printed in small type over the left front breast is "Vote No On Prop 8" in blue. The center of the "o" in "No" looks like a check space on a ballot and a lime green check mark is placed there. A Blue line is printed under "On Prop 8." Beneath that line, printed in lime green is "Equality For All." Printed in larger type and centered on the back is the same message, with the same layout. On the back, dropped a few inches below "Equality For All," is: "www.NoOnProp8.com printed in blue. The label at the nape is woven and reads: "Union Made, Union Made in the U.S.A., 100% Cotton, Large 34C." The back of the label reads: "Machine was warm in like colors; only non chlorine Bleach when needed; tumble dry medium; do not iron if decorated. RH #95024 ASI/30244, PPAI 213725 Sage63316. This garment is proudly manufactured in the U.S.A. by the Intl. Brotherhood of Teamster Union Members." Proposition 8 appears on the California State Ballot in the fall of 2008 and is intended, if passed, to deny marriage to same-sex couples. (A. Nilsen, 10/23/2008): This shirt was worn by Paul Nilsen (father of OMCA history researcher, Adam Nilsen) of Pleasant Hill to two "No on 8" demonstrations that took place on Saturday, October 18, 2008. The first was a demonstration in downtown Lafayette at the busy intersection of Mt. Diablo Boulevard and Moraga Road, in which a total of approximately 80 individuals assembled on all four corners. The entire Nilsen family (including Adam) and some friends attended. Paul, like many other demonstrators, held up a sign with a logo similar to that displayed on his T-shirt; other demonstrators carried large banners with similar messages, American flags, and handmade signs. The group received many enthusiastic honks of approval and thumbs up from drivers, and many demonstrators cheered whenever this happened. Several times, drivers rolled down their windows and cheered along with the demonstrators. Some people (seven or eight, observed by Adam) indicated disapproval: some scowled or shook their head, some gave thumbs down, and one old man wagged his finger angrily. The second event began shortly after; several of the demonstrators, including the Nilsens, drove to the St. Stephens Drive overcrossing over Highway 24, where they affixed the larger banners to face the freeway lanes going in both directions. They held the same signs that they had held at the previous demonstration as well. Demonstrators were told by the demonstration leaders to wave their signs and wave their arms at drivers below so that the group would be more eye-catching. At this location, more honks and thumbs-up were seen. Twice, when BART trains came in both directions under the overpass, demonstrators moved to a place where BART riders could see their signs; both times, the BART driver gave the train's horn a few taps. Paul and Adam, however, did count a total of 10 people who flipped off the demonstrators with their middle fingers. Paul wore this shirt the entire day, representing his support for his recently married gay son.

(A. Nilsen, 10/23/2008): By a California Supreme Court decision issued May 16, 2008, same-sex marriage became legal in California. The issuing of same-sex marriage licenses commenced on June 16, 2008. Months before this, opponents of same-sex marriage had circulated petitions for a measure that would amend California's constitution to limit marriage to heterosexual couples. This measure made it onto the ballot for the November 4, 2008 election as Proposition 8. State Attorney General Jerry Brown changed the title of Proposition 8 from "Limit on Marriage" to "Eliminates the Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry," generating criticism and a lawsuit by backers of the proposition. Proposition 8 generated heated debate between proponents and opponents.

Used: demonstration ~ Lafayette | Paul Nilsen