"One of the things about the gay and lesbian community is we're known for our outrageousness, our flamboyance," said West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran, who is president of the board of directors of Equality California, an organization pushing for same-sex marriage. "But we're under this incredible political pressure not to have those portrayals" right now.
Keeping celebrations tame may be tough, he said. "It's a micro-manager's nightmare. There's no way to control everything. All we can do is remind people that it is really important."
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday, June 19, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 37 words Type of Material: Correction
Wedding ceremonies: An article in Tuesday's Section A about how both sides on gay marriage are trying to shape public opinion misspelled the name of Eric Jaye, an advisor to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, as Jay.
Political analysts said the anti-same-sex marriage side also needs to manage its image by downplaying its fringe elements.
"Whatever side becomes divisive about this, it is to their detriment," said political consultant Rob Stutzman, who managed the winning 2000 gay marriage initiative. "These campaigns should be seeking to run their messaging as mainstream as possible."
In that vein, Jeff Flint, a spokesman and strategist for the campaign to amend the Constitution, said the campaign would not focus on individual marriages, but on the broader idea that marriage should be defined as only between a man and a woman.
"We don't need to complicate it with other peripheral issues like what is going to happen [this] week," he said.
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jessica.garrison@latimes.com
Times staff writers Tony Perry, Carla Hall and John Glionna contributed to this report.
