Spectators file into Supreme Court for historic Prop. 8 arguments

By Brian Bennett

March 26, 2013 12 AM PT

WASHINGTON – The rowdy crowd in front of the Supreme Court overflowed into the street as the last spectators filed in Monday morning to hear the arguments over Proposition 8, the initiative that banned same-sex marriage in California.

A boom box played “Party in the U.S.A.” sung by Miley Cyrus, and dozens of gay marriage supporters sang along and cheered. One woman held a sign that read: “Marriage equality makes us dance.”

Other protesters paraded through the street, corralled by dozens of police officers, waving signs reading “Kids do best with a mom and dad” and “Vote for holy matrimony.”

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More than 100 people waiting in line didn’t get seats to hear the whole argument. Those still in line, which snaked around the boxwood hedges in front of the court, still had hopes of being admitted in 3-minute shifts during the session.

Richard Wynder, 33, was disappointed to be left outside for the historic case. Wynder, an electrical engineer who grew up in Cypress in Orange County, is a supporter of Proposition 8 and thinks marriage should be clearly defined as being between a man and a woman.

“I’m afraid the Supreme Court will rule [against Proposition 8] and hurt the political process,” he said.

Wynder now lives in Aldie, Va., nearby and came to Capitol Hill before dawn Tuesday with his parents to “participate in history,” he said as he waited to see if he would get a glimpse inside.

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Sarah Masimore, 24, just missed being seated for the arguments, but she said she was happy to just take in the scene. Protesters whistled and led chants on bullhorns around her as the court opened.

Masimore, who is a lesbian and works for a social media website in San Francisco, flew to Washington on Friday with her partner Jessica Ayleward, to see the case.

“I want to be married someday,” Masimore said. “I wanted to be here.”