Dems rejoice for Obama

President-elect Obama and No on Prop. 8 supporters owe a big thanks to the Laguna Beach Democratic Club.

The club took temporary occupancy of the old Coast Inn and provided a central location for Democrats to gather, volunteer their services and provide information on candidates and issues they supported.

“We have essentially been the No on 8 headquarters,” volunteer Max Brown said Tuesday night. “In the last two or three weeks, 90% of the people who came in were asking for No on 8 signs and bumper stickers. They came from San Diego to Long Beach, which were not organized and had no materials.”

The No on 8 materials included buttons with numbers on them: 4,10, 25 and even higher, identifying the years a gay couple had been together without legal recognition.

Supporters of Obama also found their way to Laguna.

Fran Chapman volunteered in Laguna because there was no Obama headquarters in her home town of Mission Viejo.

“The next closest was San Juan Capistrano,” Chapman said.

The Whelan family came from the other direction to volunteer for Obama, because there was no headquarters in Costa Mesa where they live.

Former Laguna Chamber of Commerce board member Bonnie MacMillan was impressed by the number of youngsters who crowed around the television set at the headquarters Tuesday night.

“It is so important to see young people involved,” MacMillan said. “The apathy we have seen for so many years has been so sad.”

Ten-year-old Molly Parsons was glued to the TV as early results were reported.

“I have been watching the debates and listening to the speeches and I think he would be the best president of the two candidates,” the young Laguna Niguel resident said.

Obama volunteer efforts were coordinated by Damon Halvorsen, regional coordinator.

“I’ve got about 40 here now,” Halvorsen said at 6 p.m.

Some of the volunteers were calling Laguna Beach registered Democratic Party voters who had not yet cast their ballots.

Others were calling voters in swing states, where the polls had not yet closed.

All of them were cheering as the results poured in and the headquarters exploded when Obama was declared the winner.

Prop. 8 loss disappoints

While the No on Prop. 8 campaign failed to halt the constitutional amendment, organizers were philosophical about the loss.

“I am very disappointed that equality lost yesterday,” said Laguna Beach resident Fred Karger, who led opposition efforts statewide. “However, the fact that 48% of California voters support same-sex marriage is incredible. We lost by 23 points on the exact same question just eight years ago. That is a 19-point turnaround.

“I hope that we can now qualify a constitutional amendment for the 2010 ballot to undo Prop. 8 and let same-sex couples marry again. We will also fight on the legal front and a legal challenge has already been filed.

“There are millions of people all across the United States today who are very angry that gays and lesbians in California had their constitutional rights taken away. There are rallies planned all over the state, and we will not rest until we have full equality.”

Lagunans Rik Lawrence and Kevin Scott, who were married after the state Supreme Court legalized the unions, said they were also heartened by the many “no” votes on the measure.

“We will join those tens of thousands who wish us well and believe we’re no threat to them or their children, then continue the fight for our right to live in peace among those who reject us,” Lawrence said.

BARBARA DIAMOND can be reached at (949) 494-4321 or coastlinepilot@latimes.com.