Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis quit the Church of Scientology in protest this week over what he calls the organization's "gay-bashing."Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis quit the Church of Scientology in protest this week... more
Maine activists have been working hard for five years to pass gay marriage, but events in the last few days now point to what should be an historic victory on November 3rd. With only 19 days left, what I'm seeing from the "Yes on 1" campaign reminds me of where "No on 8" was at this point last year - outgunned by the opposition, unable to control the message and at a loss about what to do. If Question 1 passes, it will be our fault for not having done more. But if Question 1 fails, those of us who get involved will have made historyMaine activists have been working hard for five years to pass gay marriage, but events... more
What's the next move in the struggle for marriage equality in California? What lessons can be learned from the election which saw the passage of Prop 8?
LGBT political activists and their straight allies gathered at the USC campus over the weekend of September 12-13, 2009 to learn campaign skills and strategies for success.
Keynote speaker was CHRISTINE PELOSI, who's book "Campaign Boot Camp" was used to structure the weekend's events. REVEREND ERIC LEE of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference addressed the difference between the LGBT civil rights struggle and that of African-Americans in the previous century.
The weekend was put on by OUT West Coalition - OUTWestCoalition.org
Reporting, video and podcast by Mike Skiff for ThirdRailMedia.comWhat's the next move in the struggle for marriage equality in California? What... more
Efforts are being led by many grassroots organizers to mobilize for this October's upcoming National Equality March called by gay rights activist Cleve Jones, following the California Supreme Court ruling to uphold Proposition 8. Visibility from the queer community and its supporters is crucial to turning the tide of this civil rights movement for equality. Make sure to check out the map to see who to get in touch with about getting involved and finding transportation to DC. It is time to hold Obama accountable for his promises to repeal DOMA and Don't Ask, Don't Tell!Efforts are being led by many grassroots organizers to mobilize for this October's... more
There is a schism in California between Equality California and the popular will of the people which is supported by the Courage Campaign. Equality California put out a big press release yesterday claiming the challenge to proposition 8 (the constitutional amendment which stripped away marriage equality in California) would not be until 2012. They claimed it would take that long to persuade 3% of California voters that equality is a good thing. Prop 8 only passed by a 2.5% margin in 2008. They also do not think they can raise enough money to make a go of it in 2010. Equality California was responsible for the highly criticized campaign that lost in 2008.
Enter Courage Campaign, an allied progressive grass roots campaign managed by Rick Jacobs. Their hundreds of thousands of supporters are pushing for a challenge to prop 8 in 2010. They are raising hundreds of thousands of dollars not only for California, but also for the fight in Maine to protect that state from a pending constitutional amendment supported by the same foes that sponsored prop 8. (In Maine support the No on 1 Campaign.) They polled their supporters several months ago and over 80% of the people did not want to wait until 2012.
Voter turn out is better during Presidential election years. The last prop 8 campaign cost each side approximately $40 Million, so fund raising is an issue. However, the GOP never misses an opportunity to turn gay bashing into votes as we can see in Iowa's governor race right now. As progressives do we want to put California's electoral votes on the line by placing a proposition on the ballot that is sure to motivate the teabaggers to turn out in droves? Is it fair to make people wait almost 4 years to restore their rights? Do we really want the same team that lost in 2008 to make any more important decisions on behalf of the LGBT community?
Or is Equality California right, the timing is just way off and we should just wait. After all same sex couples in California do enjoy a very strong domestic partnership program. A federal lawsuit challenging proposition 8 is working its way through the courts that could overturn the ban and open the door for all same sex couples to marry in all 50 states. $40 Million could go a long way in states that have no formal legal protection for same sex couples, such as the 30 other states that have constitutional amendments banning same sex marriage equality.
I'm afraid I have more questions than answers, but that seems to the common theme in the LGBT community right now. With so much at stake, no one wants to make a bad decision. But frankly, what do we have to lose that we haven't already?There is a schism in California between Equality California and the popular will of... more
A friend of mine recently wrote me to ask my opinion about Section 297.5 of the California Family Code that grants all the rights and responsibilities of marriage to same sex couples and what is the big deal about Proposition 8 in California. Below is what I wrote him in response. I would love to hear your comments about the issue of marriage. What is Marriage? Now? In History? What makes a family?
Here is what I wrote to my friend:
What most gay people want is Federal Marriage Equality. The LGBT community is split on whether or not to call it Marriage, Same Sex Unions, Civil Unions or Domestic Partnerships. Personally I don't care what they call it so long as the rights are equal as far as both State and Federal law are concerned.
However, there are those in the LGBT community that will not be satisfied unless it is called Marriage and it is recognized by all 50 States and the Federal Government. Some of the vocal activists are actually working for the opposition but their job is to make the other side seem utterly rediculous and to influence the position of swing voters. But that is another story entirely.
I did a paper on Marriage for my Sociology, Anthropology, and Writing classes and I had to study the definition of marriage now, in the recent past, and throughout history. What I discovered is that marriage has meant many different things at different times. What constituted a kinship family tie and the motivation for creating unions has also changed throughout time and in different parts of the world. There has not been ONE version of marriage that has remained constant over the entire world. Of course many people are ethnocentric or plain self centered and don't have an awareness radius of more than 5 feet around them. So these people, who lack much awareness of the bigger picture, assume that whatever is currently their definition must be THE DEFINITION now and for all time. These ignorant people aren't to blame, they are products of the education system they were immersed in and the cultural systems they were immersed in as well.
Since the days that Empires came into existence, marriage within the boundaries of an Empire such as the Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, or Early American (when women didn't have any rights to vote or own property) marriage was a way of conveying wealth and ensuring succession of power and land rights etc. Marriage was a financial contract and the consolidation of the wealth of two families.
In other parts of the world, no empire, marriage has been more fluid and varied. For example, in Island nations of the Pacific, marriage rights and property ownership was vested in the woman. She selected her husband she owned the property. Where as in Native American tribes of North America, marriage/kinship was between a brother and sister as the core group, while the brother chose the father of the baby, the parents were the brother and sister, the father of the child had no parental rights. Other North American tribes had various versions of what constituted a couple and many made accomodations for people they considered "third sex" or "two sexed". Some people have concluded that this was talking about gays or intersexed/hermaphrodite individuals. In most tribal cultures, these people were considered especially blessed by the spirits or gods because of their differences to the majority. And in some places there are formal contracts for marriage whereas in other parts there are informal contracts made on a word; a promise. Does a piece of paper make a marriage?
Well in America today, marriage is still about economics and raising families, only attitudes have changed such that people of same sex can have children either through in vitro or donated sperm or ova. They can form informal families without a paper, but the sticky thing becomes when there is an issue that involves either Federal or State law. It has been proven time and again that no state is under obligation to honor the laws of other stA friend of mine recently wrote me to ask my opinion about Section 297.5 of the... more
In a great move for companies Montblanc and Dunder Mifflin, opponents to the passage of Maine's same-sex marriage law have gathered the necessary 55,087 signatures required to put a repeal up for a statewide vote. The marriage equality bill, signed in May by Gov. John Baldacci, has not yet gone into effect; that is to come in September. But the law will be put on hold once the signatures collected by Stand for Marriage Maine — the organization led by Mark Mutty that spearheaded the signature drive — are certified. As Gilly would say: sorry.
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Please share your thoughts fellow Currenteers. Is this fair? Should a group who has just won rights be denied them before they are even enacted? Does the majority have the power (and right) to deny liberties from a minority?In a great move for companies Montblanc and Dunder Mifflin, opponents to the passage... more
On Sunday (06-28-09) was the 36th Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade.
The gay community gathered on a joyful march along Market Street in the spirit of its celebration theme: "In order to form a more perfect union…"
Mayor Gavin Newson e other local authorities participated on this event to show their support and commitment to preserve everyone's civil rights.
This event that usually attracts a joyful crowd this year seemed to have motivated everyone to come out. It felt like the rainbow was attracting everyone to show their support to marriage and family equality.
Prop. 8 gave the gay community a sense of union that is beyond the aspect of civil union. It made us realize that denying lawful recognition to longtime commitment among same gender couples affects the lives of their children as well.
The thought that children of same sex gender grew up by under the social stigma of their illegitimacy status, it's enough reason to recognize that Prop. 8 is extremely unfair!
Meanwhile, gays everywhere shall stand up and keep on shouting out loud: "homophobia got to go!"On Sunday (06-28-09) was the 36th Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade.
The gay... more
This week on infoMania The Real Housewives of New Jersey say goodbye in style, Heidi and Spencer just wont go away, home shopping networks are booming, Bryan explains why gays should abandon their quest for marriage rights, Sergio looks at the hottest music videos on YouTube, and as the world welcomes the new iPhone, Ben revisits his favorite iPhone apps.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at http://current.com/infomania/ or on Current TV. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at http://infomaniafacebook.com.This week on infoMania The Real Housewives of New Jersey say goodbye in style, Heidi... more
Meet in the Middle drew thousands of equal rights supporters to Fresno California this weekend. People came from all over the state to begin a conversation with the most conservative district in the state, where 70% of the voters oppose equality. Cleve Jones led the march from Selma County to Fresno using the slain Harvey Milk's bullhorn. Cleve Jones has called for a national march in Washington DC the weekend of October 10 - 11.Meet in the Middle drew thousands of equal rights supporters to Fresno California this... more
“Mad World” is a short film by Evanoah Sea, with music provided by Adam Lambert. The film documents the San Diego Civil Rights March that took place on May 26th, 2009. “We are all tied together in a single garment of destiny….I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be,” said Coretta Scott King, quoting her late husband, Martin Luther King Jr. “I’ve always felt that homophobic attitudes and policies were unjust and unworthy of a free society and must be opposed by all Americans who believe in democracy.”
Includes a number of color photographs and the short film, “Mad World.”Mad World: A Single Garment of Destiny
“Mad World” is a short film by Evanoah... more
This is an excellent short film about the impact of prop 8 and the possible implications for all of us despite sexual orientation and gender identity.This is an excellent short film about the impact of prop 8 and the possible... more
Traditional gay rights groups are concerned the Supreme Court is not ready to hear this case. They are afraid they could rule against equality setting a long lasting precedence that could set the movement back decades.
Theodore B. Olson and David Boies, who represented opposing sides in the 2000 Bush v. Gore election challenge believe that waiting is no longer an option.
"There will be many people who will think this is not the time to go to federal," Olson said Wednesday at a news conference in Los Angeles. "Both David and I have studied the court for more years than probably either one of us would like to admit. We think we know what we are doing."
Boies agreed: "Reasonable minds can differ, but when you have people being denied civil rights today, I think it is impossible as lawyers and as an American to say 'No, you have to wait, now is not the right time.' I think if we had done that in prior civil rights battles, we would not be where we are."
Edit: Changed image to embedded video of Press Conference announcing the case.Against the warnings of the ACLU and Lambda Legal, two high powered lawyers filed a... more
The call has been made and the ball is rolling. There will be a march in Washington DC for full federal equality for gays and lesbians October 10 - 11, 2009.The call has been made and the ball is rolling. There will be a march in Washington... more
Yesterday over 100 cities throughout the country held rallies to support marriage equality and oppose the California Supreme Court's ruling upholding proposition 8. The story does not end there. Acts of civil disobedience are planned for the next several days. A rally is planned outside a democratic fundraiser at the Beverly Hills Hilton where President Obama will speak. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=99571489016
This weekend thousands will march from Selma to Fresno California, a city where the majority opposed equality. Meet in the middle attendees will march over 12 miles through "unfriendly" territory.
If you want to share specific details of events that you know about or you have photos from yesterday, please share them here.Yesterday over 100 cities throughout the country held rallies to support marriage... more
California’s Supreme Court, in a decision yesterday, upheld Prop 8 and a ban on same sex marriage. At the same time, a host of states (Iowa, Vermont, and Maine) have legalized gay marriage in recent months. What’s next for the LGBT movement? Richard Kim of the Nation, Joel Silberman, Jewelle Gomez of the Horizon Foundation, and New York Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell discuss the California ruling and the gay rights movement.
Catch the live stream at 12 noon eastern at www.grittv.org. You can also see the full program tonight on Free Speech TV (Dish Ch 9415) or at our website.California’s Supreme Court, in a decision yesterday, upheld Prop 8 and a ban on same... more
California's highest court on Tuesday upheld the state's gay-marriage ban but allowed existing same-sex marriages to stand.
The California Supreme Court handed down its decision in a series of lawsuits seeking to overturn November's Proposition 8. Gay-rights advocates maintain the ballot measure so dramatically revised the state constitution's equal protection clause that it needed the Legislature's approval before it could be put to voters.
The seven-member court upheld the initiative as a constitutional expression of the electorate's will, but also decided to sustain the marriages of an estimated 18,000 gay couples who wed before the measure passed with 52 percent of the vote.California's highest court on Tuesday upheld the state's gay-marriage ban but allowed... more
The Supreme Court of California has announced it will be making its decision regarding the legality of the 2008 election that passed Proposition 8 into the CA Constitution, eliminating the rights of same sex couples to marry.
The decision will be handed down on Tuesday, May 26th,
That night, thousands around California will gather to celebrate or rally for marriage equality. http://dayofdecision.com/
The following Saturday (May 30th) the plan is for all of them to congregate in Fresno, CA for Meet in the Middle for Equality. http://www.meetinthemiddle4equality.com/
The local religious organizations will follow suit on Sunday at an event called "Still standing in the middle for marriage" http://www.standinginthemiddleformarriage.com/The Supreme Court of California has announced it will be making its decision regarding... more
The court announced moments ago that it will rule on proposition 8 on Tuesday, May 26 at 10:00 AM. Day of Decision rallies are planned throughout the country to either celebrate or protest the decision. www.dayofdecision.comThe court announced moments ago that it will rule on proposition 8 on Tuesday, May 26... more
