A Prop 8 challenge for swankers

[Gemini Cricket]

I just got an email from Love Honor Cherish. They are conceding the passage of Prop 8.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Yes, most news sites have given it the check mark.

I didn't have time to print my sign up this morning. And I'm not dumb enough to use a company printer for that. It'll have to go up tomorrow.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

The Good news for 8 was in looking at the exit poll numbers - the No votes in the under 30 age group was overwhellming ... that demographic at least indicates to me that it's just a matter of time.

Um, except that the young grow old.


Young people do not automatically retain their optimism, peacefulness, love and good-heartedness. It evaporates in all too many people.


If that weren't the sad truth, the 80's would have been utopia when all the wonderful youth of the 60's grew to be the core of society. It didn't happen that way then, and it won't now.

[Gemini Cricket]

I received an email from my former boss at GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders) in Boston. I'd like to share it with everyone because it's hopeful.

Today is an extraordinary day for all Americans.
For LGBT Americans, it's a day when we embrace hope and change - and also re-charge for the work and challenges ahead.
For eight years, we've endured an administration that has been downright hostile to our community. President-elect Obama, in contrast has expressed support for many of our issues, and an openness to reconsider his position on others - namely, marriage equality.

Our wish list, of course, is long: there's the prospect of getting rid of discriminatory laws, like Don't Ask Don't Tell, and the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act". There's the prospect of enacting good laws, like an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Hate Crimes legislation, the Uniting American Families Act, and domestic partner benefits for federal workers. We expect the appointment of judges and justices who support civil rights and civil liberties as inherent in our constitution, and appointments of fair-minded people at all levels of the federal government.

None of this will happen without our community's unified efforts. While we believe we have a friend in the White House, our community must remain strong, focused, and disciplined in working with the new administration.

More great news came yesterday from Connecticut, where marriage equality is safe! Thanks to a strong and broad coalition working night and day, Connecticut's voters rejected a Constitutional Convention by a large margin. Anti-gay forces saw the convention as a way to strip our community of GLAD's historic win in Kerrigan & Mock v. Department of Public Health.
Now we can look forward to weddings, happiness, and security for the state's same-sex couples and their families, starting Wednesday, November 12. GLAD will continue our efforts to achieve the goal we have set of marriage equality for every state in New England by 2012.

Tempering these sweet victories are losses on initiated measures - in Florida and Arizona amending state constitutions to restrict marriage, in Arkansas to deny adoption rights, and of course California's apparent approval of a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality. There are provisional and absentee ballots still to be counted, but our opponents have maintained a consistent lead.

In California, our opponents relied on a $30 million campaign of deception, scare tactics, and false claims. That's not sour grapes; it was the reality of that hard-fought campaign. We thank Equality for All, the entire No On Prop 8 coalition, and the California families - gay and non-gay - who did so much to tell the truth in that campaign.

This apparent blow to California families and stain of discrimination now embedded in California's constitution shows that those who support equality and inclusion are not yet a majority. Our community gained a level of national unity and organization we've never seen before in this tough battle, but the fight in California and our nation is far from over.

We must keep bright the beacon of equality here in New England - as well as in other states, like New York and New Jersey, where we are closer to winning. The truth will win out. Equality will win out. We must all do the work necessary to make that day come soon.

Please savor these wins and the history of this day -and re-dedicate yourself to working impossibly hard for equality.


Sincerely,
Lee Swislow Executive Director

[Gemini Cricket]

Protest Rally Scheduled for Tonight

A protest rally has been scheduled for tonight (Wednesday) at 7 pm on San Vicente Blvd between West Hollywood Park and the Pacific Design Center - 647 N. San Vicente Blvd.
San Vicente Blvd, between Santa Monica Blvd and Melrose Avenue will be closed tonight starting at 6 pm. San Vicente south-bound traffic will be directed to make left or right at Santa Monica Blvd.

[Ghoulish Delight]

If you hear of any in OC, let us know.

[Gemini Cricket]

I wrote this last night and posted it to No on 8's Facebook page this morning.
It's a call to action. It's something not everyone will agree with me on, but I put it out there for people to see.
I think there is a lot of anger out there and I'd like to see that anger channeled into something productive and not destructive.

The news about Proposition 8 is not good.

A group of well-funded, small-minded people got together and wrote discrimination into California's Constitution. It is now in writing that your relationship and the commitment made by two loving people is not as important as others. It's law.

But my question to all those who supported the No on 8 Campaign is this: What are you going to do about that?

As a gay man who supports marriage equality, this is the third time I have lived through a lively discussion about same-sex marriage, once in Hawai'i in 1998, again in Boston when gay marriage was legalized and now in California where Prop 8 was passed by a slim majority. The faces were different but the hate was the same. There were people out there who believed that they owned the truth and wanted to define it for all of us. The reality is that despite the hate and lies that was spewed, they haven't taken away something important. They haven't taken away your self-pride and the love you feel for your husband, wife, or partner. That they can never take away.

But I ask again: What are you going to do about this display of hate directed at you and your family?

The answer is simple. There needs to be a call to action. We need to fight back. Take note of all of those organizations and business leaders who funded taking away your rights. You need to think twice before ever, ever giving your hard earned money or support to them.

If there is a "charitable" organization out there who funded Prop 8, do not donate to their cause. Find a like minded cause that also acknowledges and accepts you and fund them instead. For example: find out which hotel owner gave a lot of money to the Yes group and book another hotel instead on that vacation you're taking. Think to yourself, 'Hmm, do I really need to sign up for membership on the Mormon run site Ancestry.com?' The answer is no.

Channel the anger you're feeling today into action. Let your voice be heard in a peaceful manner. If these bigots won't listen to reason, then maybe they will listen to their falling profits when there's no money from the GLBT community and the GLBT-friendly community to support them.

Never help fund anyone who avidly fights to make you a second class citizen. Spend wisely, do your research.

Don't give up. This fight may be over but the battle has just begun and will end when all Americans are all equal under the law.

Brad

[Chernabog]

PROTEST DEMONSTRATION AGAINST PROP 8 TONIGHT AT 7PM AT SAN VICENTE AND MELROSE



SPREAD THE WORD WIDELY



OUR FIGHT FOR OUR EQUALITY, DIGNITY AND FULL CITIZENSHIP IS FAR FROM OVER



LET THIS DEFEAT ENERGIZE US TO TAKE ACTION - REACH OUT - BUILD STRENGTH ACROSS COMMUNITIES



WE CANNOT LAY DOWN IN DEFEAT - WE MUST STAND UP AND FIGHT


San Vicente Blvd, between Santa Monica Blvd and Melrose Avenue will be closed tonight starting at 6 pm. San Vicente south-bound traffic will be directed to make left or right at Santa Monica Blvd. Signs have already been posted to help divert traffic.

For more information about tonight's rally, please contact (323) 848-6460.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Protest Rally Scheduled for Tonight

Originally Posted by Chernabog

PROTEST DEMONSTRATION AGAINST PROP 8 TONIGHT AT 7PM AT SAN VICENTE AND MELROSE

Either of you planning on going? We could meet up. ... oh,

[Chernabog]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Either of you planning on going? We could meet up. ... oh,

Whats the oh for? BJ has to work, but I might go.