Coronado Rallies Around Gays Harassed During Wedding

The residents of Coronado, California, are rallying around a gay couple whose wedding was interrupted by a hateful rant during their service at Coronado's Centennial Park in mid-August.

ABC 10 News reports that Arizona men Oscar De Las Salas and his partner of seven years, Gary Jackson, were in the middle of their nuptials this August when an anonymous heckler on the balcony of some high-end condos began shouting homophobic slurs like, "Go home, homos," and "Go home, fags."

"He really wanted to humiliate the people there. He said, 'go home fags,'" said wedding musician David De Alva. Whenever De Alva looked up, he said the balconies appeared empty. But throughout the service, the slurs kept coming, reported Bilreco.

De Las Salas said that the shouting continued as the couple recited their vows, and that "everyone stopped and turned" because it was so ugly and distracting. A victim of childhood bullying, he told KGTV's Michael Chen that even as he married his husband, he was afraid for his life.

"It was a moment of fear," De Las Salas said. "I'm thinking, 'God forbid this person has a gun and decides to open fire.'"

The couple says they have received apologies from the city of Coronado and the condo complex, but adds that their wedding day memories will forever be tainted by the anonymous coward's cruelty.

"He took from me, my husband, and my guests a moment of joy, a simple moment of joy," De Las Salas said.

The Coronado police contacted De Las Salas to get his account of the situation and file a police report, and detectives tell ABC 10 News that they are investigating whether this was a case of free speech, or threatening hate speech.

De Las Salas said he just wants to know who this anonymous coward was, saying, "I want to expose this person to the public, so people know this is not okay."

In the meantime, Coronado residents have stepped up to the plate to let the two men know that this behavior is not what their town is all about. Among the 2,000 emails of support De Las Salas received was one from local viewer Alisa Kerr and her friends, who wrote to the station to let him know that they'd love to throw the couple a vow renewal party.

"We wanted to make it right," Kerr told 10News. "We didn't want that to be a reflection of Coronado. We take a lot of pride in being helpful, kind, generous and accepting. Let's celebrate their love and show them people are one thing that makes Coronado a special place to be."

Kerr said she's solicited the assistance of Loews Coronado, along with several bands and restaurants. A wedding planner has also volunteered her services.

"Oh my god," said De Las Salas, choking back tears. "We will definitely be there. This offer shows there are many, many kind people in Coronado... that value equality."