It was all planned for Thursday August 20.The two men had called in family from afar, rented tux’s, booked a spot at The W and invited all their friends from high and low to join them. It was to be their marriage ceremony, held at The County Clerk’s Office, followed by a huge Mexican wedding.

The day that Prop 8 was found unconstitutional and marriage was again a possibility in California, had been an emotional one for them, as for many other gay and lesbian couples in the state. These two men could not wait to make their love and relationship official. Therefore when the Prop 8 news broke they had immediately called the County Clerk’s Office and got virtually the first gay marriage appointment in San Diego. They buzzed with excitement like most couples about to tie the knot, but after waiting so long for their rights and the rights of all gays and lesbians, this marriage meant more. When news of the unexpected stay came, all their hopes and dreams were shattered, like so many thousands of other couples. The thought that this process could be tied up for years to come only made matters worse.

They held each other tight and cried, while somewhere else the proponents of Prop 8 celebrated. These two men represent so many loving couples. Two people who are loving, warm, compassionate, caring and now very angry. This is their story and the story of many other gay and lesbian Californians. Jonathan Salcido-Minor and Adrian Rodriguez thank you for sharing your story with us.

GLT: What was the first thing that you two did when you heard the news about Prop 8?

JSM/AR: We were jumping up and down with excitement. There were a lot of tears and I could not believe we might actually be this close to getting our rights. So we called to make an appointment as soon as we could and received the first one at 8:00 a.m. Thursday August 19. Lisa Sanders and her wife were right after ours. I thought after all the work and struggling we had finally won our rights. After the date was confirmed, we started planning, calling all our friends and family. Next, we used the money we had put away to get all the things you need for a big Mexican style wedding.

GLT: When you heard that the stay was upheld and that you two would no longer have the chance to get married what was going through your minds?

JSM/AR: It definitely hurt and there were a lot of mixed emotions. We were embarrassed that we had all our friends and family here, some of whom had to fly in at the last minute and all for nothing. Then it turned into anger and rage at the injustice. We felt, how could you take this away from us again and how can that be legal when it was found unconstitutional in the first place. We wondered how could this possibly happen to us and to the other gays and lesbians who had planned on getting married like we did. We also lost a lot of money in the process, but that is not nearly as bad as losing our rights, hopes and dreams all over again. We were planning on changing our names so that we had the same last name and that is all gone now, too.

GLT: Now that it has been a few days what are your feelings about it?

JSM/AR: I am really angry. I feel that with every election that is won on the backs of the GLBT community we then get run over. For what, politics! Is there someone else who could run the country better than Obama? I don’t know, but he promised to protect our rights and he isn’t. The White House says congratulations and then does nothing. Then you look at our Governor and Attorney General that are Republican and they have lent more support. So I am sick of waiting and dragging out our rights for another year. It is really upsetting. It is like you have the rights but you cannot get married. It should never be up for popular vote, the constitution is there to protect the minority. So we are deeply upset and are sick of this. It’s bullshit.

GLT: Are you both activists and has this pushed you into becoming more involved?

JSM/AR: We both are. I have been a long time activist (AR) and Jonathan has become more active as time has gone on. We are really furious now, so yes it has pushed us to become more involved and not in a passive way. I am sick of asking for my rights, and it is our time in history. It is our struggle and this has got to stop happening. GLBT should not be walked all over.

GLT: What message would you like to get out to the community?

JSM/AR: Stand up for yourselves and do not accept this. We will not go along with it. There is hope, but we all need to come together as a community. We need to become more involved and fight harder, even though we shouldn’t have to. Let’s face it, life is short and we are not going to be here forever. So let’s act up and obtain our rights. You do not have to lie down and take this shit. There should be protests in the streets, and really there has been nothing. You have to keep faith, hope and your head up. However it also takes action.