tagged w/ Equality California
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Jean Harris dies at 66; forceful gay-rights organizer
The longtime Democratic Party activist campaigned in favor of gay candidates, pushed California to expand domestic-partnership rights and helped block an Oregon bill that would ban talk of homosexuality in schools.
Jean Harris
Political activist Jean Harris was called “the lesbian Al Sharpton” for her colorful personality and confrontational style. (Denise Penn)
By Elaine Woo, Los Angeles Times
July 2, 2011
Jean Harris, a feisty advocate for gay and lesbian rights and longtime Democratic Party activist who helped elect openly gay candidates in California, has died. She was 66.
Harris, who had a number of serious health problems, was found June 25 in her Palm Springs home by her partner, Denise Penn. An autopsy to determine the cause of death is underway.
An Orange County native, Harris played a key role in mobilizing support for the so-called lavender sweep of 1990, when San Francisco voters elected two lesbian supervisors and a gay school board member.
She held prominent leadership posts in Democratic circles, including chief of staff to San Francisco Supervisor Harry Britt, who succeeded gay icon Harvey Milk after his assassination in 1978, and deputy to Mayor Frank Jordan after he took office in 1992.
Known as a savvy organizer, Harris became the founding director of Basic Rights Oregon, the state's largest gay-rights organization, in 1996. Under her guidance, the group collaborated with environmental, labor and abortion-rights groups to build a base of 125,000 gay and pro-gay voters that became a decisive force behind the defeat of a 2000 ballot measure to prevent discussions of homosexuality in Oregon schools.
Following the victory in Oregon, she returned to California to serve as executive director of the Alliance for Pride and Equality (now called Equality California), which became one of the state's most influential advocacy organizations for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals. In 2001 she worked with then-Assemblywoman Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) to pass AB 25, a landmark bill that granted domestic partners many of the same rights as married couples.
"Her legislative advocacy, grass-roots organizing and coalition building became the bedrock for the modern LGBT justice movement in California," Jim Carroll, interim executive director of Equality California, said in a statement this week.
Harris left the organization in 2003 to campaign for Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean. She later worked for former state Assembly Speakers Herb Wesson and Fabian Nuñez and former state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata.
Born in 1944, Harris grew up in Long Beach. She majored in history at Cal State Long Beach before enrolling in post-graduate courses at San Francisco State.
She worked her way through college climbing telephone poles for GTE, eventually rising into the management ranks. In 1971 she entered politics as a field organizer for Sen. George McGovern's presidential campaign. In later years she served as chair of the California Democratic Party's Lesbian/Gay Caucus and president of San Francisco's Harvey Milk Lesbian/Gay Democratic Club.
Once described as "the lesbian Al Sharpton" for her colorful personality and confrontational style, Harris was unabashed about her sexuality and political goals.
"She could be a pain," said John Burton, the former state legislator who chairs the California Democratic Party. "She'd push and sometimes people got upset with her, but she cared enough to not be nice in order to achieve the community's goals."
Harris favored men's clothing, telling authors Karen V. Hansen and Anita Ilta Garey that she wore ties "because I want every man who sees me to know … I'm after their power. … They know right up front, I'm a dyke, I'm tough, I'm here, I want to know exactly what's going on, and if you've got the power, I'm gonna try and take it from you."
In addition to Penn, her partner of 10 years, Harris is survived by her mother, a brother, a sister, four children and a granddaughter.
.Jean Harris dies at 66; forceful gay-rights organizer
The longtime Democratic Party... more
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NBC L.A....
California May Duplicate New Jersey's Bullying Bill
By MATT BAUME
Updated 2:02 PM PST, Mon, Jan 10, 2011
California may look to the east coast for guidance in handling schoolyard bullies.
New Jersey just signed a tough anti-bullying bill into law, responding to an epidemic of abuse that led to several high-profile suicides at the start of the school year.
It's an issue that disproportionately affects gay youth, and the cause has been taken up by many LGBT advocacy groups.
The bill had widespread support, and was signed by Republican Gov. Chris Christie last week in an unusual show of Republican support for LGBT concerns. Only a handful of conservatives opposed the measure.
Previous laws had been proven to be inadequate in dealing with bullying. The new regulations require stronger anti-bullying curricula, and creates a system to monitor and report incidents.
As the regulations take effect in New Jersey, other states are eager to duplicate the new laws. Assemblymember Tom Ammiano has been working on a California version that is basically a copy of New Jersey's law. In collaboration with Equality California, Ammiano expects to introduce that bill within the next few weeks.NBC L.A....
California May Duplicate New Jersey's Bullying Bill
By MATT... more
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NBC/Los Angeles
Noose Found at Orange County (California) Gay-Rights Organization
By ERIN RICHARDS
Updated 3:50 PM PDT, Fri, Oct 29, 2010
Equality California
A black noose was found on the front door of the Santa Ana chapter of gay-rights organization Equality California on Thursday in what some are calling a hate crime against supporters of gay marriage.
Employee Mel Distel was on her way to work at around 6 p.m. when she found the noose.
According to the Orange County Register, Distel called the police and now plans to file a formal complaint on their response after she said police dismissed the noose, saying, "Sometimes, you just have to live with being the victim."
Distel said finding the noose "was shocking," Distel told the Orange County Register. "It struck me as something that could escalate, something that was definitely meant to be hurtful."
"The dismissive and deeply offensive conduct of the police officer who responded to this incident is nothing short of appalling and sends the message that LGBT community members cannot rely on the police for protection against the kind of hatred and prejudice that can lead to violence," said Equality California director Geoff Kors in a statement.
Santa Ana Police are denying any negligence, telling the Register that they are treating the case as a possible terrorist threat and it has been assigned to investigators.
Volunteers were working in the office Thursday evening to make calls for Assembly candidate Melissa Fox's campaign. Fox, a gay marriage supporter, said in a statement that the noose was a "despicable and hateful act, clearly intended to threaten and intimidate Equality California and other supporters of marriage equality."
The Orange County and Long Beach chapter of the Anti-Defamation League also condemned the noose and alleged police dismissal.
"Our community and its policing agencies must treat such incidents seriously, and send a strong message that such attempts to intimidate an entire community will not be tolerated," said ADL Regional Director Kevin O'Grady. "Law enforcement should make every effort to …send a clear message that they will protect the gay and lesbian community."
Santa Ana police are now treating the incident as a hate crime.NBC/Los Angeles
Noose Found at Orange County (California) Gay-Rights Organization... more
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Federal Appeals Court Puts Same-Sex Marriages On Hold Indefinitely
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_KrNl-GdSDb4/SF_T82PjUSI/AAAAAAAAAcY/fecu5sd8RO4/s400/same-sex-marriage-062308.jpg
Breaking: Ninth Circuit Stays Prop. 8 Decision
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http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/08/federal-appeals-court-blocks-enforcement-of-prop-8-ruling.html
Los Angeles Times
Southern California -- this just in
No gay marriages in California before December, court rules
August 16, 2010 | 3:58 pm
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday agreed to keep same-sex marriages on hold until at least December.
In a brief order, a three-judge panel agreed to an expedited review of U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker's Aug. 4 ruling that overturned Proposition 8 as a violation of the federal Constitution.
The panel agreed to hold a hearing on the case during the week of Dec. 6 and ordered both sides to present arguments on whether the campaign for Proposition 8 has legal authority to appeal Walker's order.
Walker had declared Proposition 8's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, saying it violates gay men's and lesbians' rights to equal protection and due process.
The defendants in that case were Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, but they declined to defend the law. As the losing parties, they have the authority to appeal Walker's ruling. But they hailed Walker's decision and said they would not appeal.
A private group that opposes same-sex marriage, ProtectMarriage.com, defended Proposition 8 during the trial Walker held earlier this year. The group wants to appeal his ruling but may lack legal standing to do so.
-- Maura Dolan in San FranciscoFederal Appeals Court Puts Same-Sex Marriages On Hold Indefinitely... more
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It's very important that when you attend a political fundraiser, you gather at a place of incredible, filthy wealth. Which is how I found myself at the stunning Sowden House, a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Hollywood. The event was for marriage equality, but I had only one thing on my mind: MEET JOHNNY WEIR.
After about a half-hour of making conversation in a sea of botox, I looked up and saw something even more stunning than the house -- a gazelle in low heels, black leggings, a blazer and a Tiffany shopping bag. Johnny. He was standing about ten feet away, surrounded by friends. His lawyer, who I knew slightly, was with him.
So I snuck up next to his lawyer and begged, "Introduce me to Johnny." He made a very nice introduction and then Johnny looked at me and said, "That's SO gay! That's SO gay!" Wow. Cloud nine.
I wanted to make my time with him as efficient as possible, so I asked if he was in LA that often and could he come by Current sometime so we could do something together. "I'm in LA every so often. But you know me, girl, I'm everywhere." I normally wouldn’t love someone calling me "girl," but with Johnny, it felt right.
So here's a pic of Johnny and me.
I look like his lawyer-father in this picture. Which is fine. How can you look good next to all that beauty?
If you couldn't make it -- and let's face it, if everyone could come to these things they wouldn't be so special! -- you can watch Johnny's delightful and smart speech on YouTube:
Johnny might have been too polite to plug his show (until prompted repeatedly by his host), but I'm not! If somehow you haven't seen That's Gay: Johnny Weir, now's your chance:
It's very important that when you attend a political fundraiser, you gather at a... more
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Carrie Prejean lost the Miss USA beauty contest, according to Perez Hilton, for the ugly answer she gave him regarding same-sex marriage. This commentary looks examines the ugly intolerance and bigotry masquerading behind theology and superficially pretty face.Carrie Prejean lost the Miss USA beauty contest, according to Perez Hilton, for the... more
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Assebly Judiciary Committee Passes HR 5
As over 600 Californians came to Sacramento to talk to their legislators for EQCA's Lobby Day to Overurn 8, the Assembly Judiciary committee heard HR 5 (Ammiano), the Assembly resolution to overturn 8.
Watch the hearing to see the work EQCA and you make happen—hear the heartfelt personal stories told to the legislature and the testimony of our leaders—as well as what our opponents said to see what we are up against.
click the link aboveAssebly Judiciary Committee Passes HR 5
As over 600 Californians came to Sacramento... more
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