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Mike Dowling, a minister at the San Francisco House of Prayer arrived early to statehouse on Thursday, broke out a guitar and quietly sang, walked and prayed.
"Just wanted to be here to bring the peace of the Lord to all this," he said.
Which he did by walking and singing as a crowd of dozens grew to hundreds and the relatively quiet morning erupted into angry verbal confrontations between supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage prior to the state Supreme Court's hearing.
"it calms things down a bit," Dowling said, with a touch of irony, as behind him others sang about the need for love above the angry rebuke of bullhorn touting zealots.
"Two immovable sides shouting at each other with no hope of listening," he said with a wry smile. Dowling, who said he personally opposes same-sex marriage, said his purpose differed from the others gathered. "Much of this is for the benefit of the news cameras. I just want to bring the presence of the Lord to this whole thing."
If it worked, it wasn't exactly obvious as people stood face to face, white-hot anger evident over a clash of ideals hopelessly in opposition to the other.
Despite being called "babies sucking on their pacifiers" and "sinners who will be condemned by God," the vast majority of the same-sex marriage supporters refused to fire back. Most sang or chanted over the preaching coming from the bullhorn.
Though some held large signs that said, "Homo Sex is Wrong," and other derogatory messages, others showed support for "traditional marriage" more respectfully. Corrine Malloy brought children from her church in Valencia, Calif. to stand with a "Yes on 8" sign on the courthouse steps.
"In our church we feel God has a design for the family, and it involves one man and one woman," she said. "It's the best way."
Jack Ryder, who showed up early to attend the hearing in person said that way didn't work for him and many others. He grew up in a religious home and nearly married a woman because that was expected of him, he said. The woman knew he was gay, but was willing to marry him anyway. She and her Mormon husband, he said, donated $50,000 toward the No on 8 campaign.
"They understand I simply want to be married someday," Ryder said.
Despite the angry confrontations, many on both sides preferred to show support without clashing with those they disagree with.
"I just don't believe in separate rights for different people," Paul Jansen said. "It's inevitable this is going to happen. I just hope it happens today," he said.
For more stories on this topic:
A Republican Examiner's point of view.
Gay legislators offer encouragement to supporters.
Rallies clash as court hearing opens.
Eve of Justice rally.
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