I love Wanda Sykes! I am so glad that she came out AND with a vengeance! This is totally inspiring and I think she hit the nail on the head when she said that Prop 8 pissed off a bunch of people and it helped to unite our community. I couldn’t agree more Wanda!
With love,
Tammy
While Californians anxiously await a ruling from their state Supreme Court deciding whether or not the recent ballot initiative to end same-sex marriage rights will be upheld, gay couples in Connecticut tied the knot this week in the state’s first same-sex ceremonies.
“Today, Connecticut sends a message of hope and inspiration to lesbian and gay people throughout this country who simply want to be treated as equals by their government,” said Ben Klein, the lead attorney for Jennifer Vickery and Peg Oliveira. Their success in the CT Supreme Court resulted in the pair being the first couple to wed when the final ruling became effective last Wednesday.
Local wedding businesses have already seen an uptick and the state will also most likely benefit from destination wedding dollars as out-of-state couples travel there to legally wed. One study showed that California’s same-sex weddings would pump $684 million into the state’s economy over three years ($64 million in tax revenues alone) and create thousands of new jobs; unless the CA Suprreme Court overturns Proposition 8, Connecticut and Massachusetts may be the only ones to reap the abundance that gay wedding dollars will bring.
Unlike California, Connecticut does not have a ballot initiative process; those who wish to oppose the ruling will have to pursue their case either through the legislature or the courts. Those who claim that the majority of Connecticuters oppose gay marriage and the “democratic process” is being undermined by judicial fiat need to go back and read their history books; the gay struggle for equal rights typifies previous struggles in our democratic society, where the electorate’s power is balanced by the courts’ ability to protect the interests of minority groups despite popular sentiment (the “tyranny of the majority,” as deTocqueville aptlly put it.) Indeed, many feel that the loss of marriage equality in California has actually ignited a stronger, more vocal marriage equality movement–as nationwide demonstrations this past weekend indicate–and it is certain that all branches of government will be deliberating on this flashpoint issue in the near future.
Here in California gay marriage is still in limbo, though word is that a ruling on Prop 8 is expected soon. In the meantime, we’d like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to those same-sex couples who are tying the knot out there in CT, and our equally sincere thanks to the gay and straight allies who support them all over the country. We invite those who do not share these sentiments to watch or read MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann’s commentary on the gay marriage issue, which may provide some food for thought.
In the meantime, we here in California harbor hope that marriage equality will be restored and our own state Supreme Court will–once again–stand up for fairness, civil rights, and the majority of love.
Until next time, and sweet and long life to you all.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sunday said he will not join legislative Democrats in a court fight against Proposition 8, but believes the court ultimately should and will uphold gay marriage in California.
“I think that the Supreme Court was right by saying (a gay marriage ban) was unconstitutional and that everyone should have the right,” Schwarzenegger said. “So the Supreme Court, you know, I think ought to go and look at that again.
“And we’ll go back to the same decision . . . I think they will. And I think the important thing now is to resolve this issue in that way.”
He added that “for me, marriage is between a man and a woman, but I don’t want to ever force my will on anyone.”
Meanwhile, the governor said he would consult with Attorney General Jerry Brown over the legal issues involved in upholding those gay marriages already performed in California.
© The Calgary Herald 2008
Protesters have massed outside Mormon temples nationwide. For every donation to a fund to overturn Proposition 8, a postcard is sent to the president of the Mormon Church. Supporters of gay marriage have proposed a boycott of Utah businesses, and someone burned a Book of Mormon outside a temple near Denver.
“It’s disconcerting to Latter-day Saints that Mormonism is still the religious tradition that everybody loves to hate,” said Melissa Proctor, who teaches at Harvard Divinity School.
The piece is from Keith Olberman on MSNBC the other night and it runs just over 6 minutes. I think he did a pretty good job for someone who has no vested interest in the issue.
Much love,
Tammy
Join the Impact - Protest Prop 8 on November 15th!
This is a NATIONWIDE PROTEST/MOVEMENT | Fight H8 - http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/?t=anon
Event Info Type: Causes - Protest
Network: Global
Time and Place Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008
Time: 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Location: Nationwide
Street: Your City Hall - Check the Site for Locations- http://jointheimpact.com/
DescriptionTHIS IS A NATIONWIDE EVENT - ALL US STATES HAVE AT LEAST 1 PROTEST LOCATION!
http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/?t=anon for Locations
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Be part of the next Civil Rights Movement - Be part of history - Join the National Protest / March for Equality on November 15th!
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WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Now is your chance to be a “community organizer”! Go to the website and post if you are willing to volunteer to help get out the word in your city. We need 3 or 4 dedicated volunteers in each town to contact the clubs and organizations in your area and to print/distribute flyers to get a turnout in your town.
This is not a California issue. This is an issue of equality across America. Stand up and make your voice heard. Visit the website www.jointheimpact.com.
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SATURDAY NOV 15TH -
10:30AM WEST COAST
11:30AM MOUNTIAN TIME ZONE
12:30PM CENTRAL TIME ZONE
1:30PM EAST COAST
PRINT OUT THE SIGNS - TAKE THEM TO THE PROTEST
Prop 8 Protest: A Call to the LGBTQ Community, Friends, & Family
I’m sure all would agree that with the election of Barack Obama, this week has been one of amazing wins in the world of equality! Still, Tuesday night was a bitter-sweet celebration. We came together to witness the first black man who will become our president, yet watched in sadness as Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, and California all voted down equal rights for all citizens. Pundits and bloggers alike have put their focus on Proposition 8, trying hard to find an explanation for the anti-gay wins in the face of a huge swell of support for equality elsewhere. Some have blamed the voters, others blame religious groups, and even others blame the LGBTQ community for not being able to mobilize on a larger enough scale. And you know what? There is truth in each argument.
As a community, we have to admit to the fact that we are polarized in various ways. Honestly, I’m not sure what community isn’t and I believe that our polarization is proof to our humanity - we are no different than anyone else, regardless of color, creed, or sexual orientation. Still, our polarization has hindered us from mobilizing as one strong voice. We all come together in the month of June to celebrate Gay Pride, but few of us are even aware of why Gay Pride exists. Gay Pride is a celebration to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Many say that the Gay Rights Movement began in 1969, which means that we are still a young movement and have accomplished a great deal in such a short amount of time. The generation that fought for us in 1969 deserves our gratitude and respect. This is a generation of amazing people who fought for our ability to hold hands in the street, to speak out against hate, to dance to our own “thumpa thump”, witness television shows with a queer cast, and come together in the streets celebrating for an entire month! This is the generation that opened the doors for us to even have a conversation about gay marriage, and this is the generation that deserves our help and our voices now. On June 27th, 1969, this generation came together in protest, jumping from closets, taking to the streets, and mobilizing in ways this country had never seen before! And what happened? The country was forced to respond. The Queer identity was forced onto the front pages and coffee tables of people’s worlds and people had to once and for all accept that we are human too!
Now, almost 40 years later we NEED to come together again. We need to show this nation that we are ONE LOUD VOICE THAT DEMANDS TO BE HEARD! We need to be one organized unit. Our gay pride shouldn’t be something we celebrate one month out of the year. Our gratitude towards the ones who came before us shouldn’t be ignored and wasted away with one party after another. We beg to be given a right that requires responsibility and commitment, yet we, as one strong community, have not proven to this nation that we deserve to be taken seriously! The gay pride parade has become a great party, but it has lost the memory of Stonewall and therefor given the nation another reason to cast us aside as irresponsible. It’s time we come together for debate, for public recognition, and for LOVE! Let’s move as one full unit, on the same day, at the same hour, and let’s show the United States of America that we too are UNITED CITIZENS EQUAL IN MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AND DESERVING OF FULL EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW!
On the steps of your City Hall on November 15th at 10:30am PST / 1:30pm EST, our community WILL take to the streets and speak out against Proposition 8 and all of the other pro-equality losses that we have faced in our lifetimes, in our parents’ lifetimes, and for many generations before us. WE CAN’T DO THIS ALONE! WE NEED YOUR HELP! We need organizers in every major city to work with us and get out the protest! I know you’re all tired from all of the work you’ve done for this great election year, but I’m asking for one more push! Let the country hear our voices together. Let them see that we are a strong, adamant, and powerful community that deserves equal rights, and CAN’T BE DEFEATED!
Send this post to everyone! We have one week and must react to the pro-hate votes cast against us! Let’s help our LGBTQ friends, families, neighbors, and each other to IMPACT this country with a demand for our basic human rights! Join the cause, join the voice, and JOIN THE IMPACT!
November 15th
1:30 PM East Coast
10:30 AM West Coast
Last update: 3:08 p.m. EST Nov. 7, 2008
CHICAGO, Nov 07, 2008
James Dobson’s Induction Into the Radio Hall of Fame Is Outrageous and Offensive
Focus on the Family’s James Dobson spent $800,000 on Proposition 8 to stop gay people form marrying in California. On Saturday evening, this dangerous ideologue will be inducted into the Museum of Broadcast Communication’s Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago. He will be met with a protest from outraged gay organizations at 5:30 PM on Saturday, November 8, outside of the Renaissance Chicago Hotel, 1 W. Wacker Drive (corner of Wacker & State).
“It is mind-blowing, that the Radio Hall of Fame would honor a primary leader of Proposition 8,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “Dobson put his Media Empire and vast amounts of money into the service of denying equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. And, the Radio Hall of Fame reacts disgracefully by giving this demagogue a trophy.”
“If Dobson had helped organize and fund a campaign to take away African American voting rights, he would be properly shunned as a hater,’” said Bob Schwartz of the Gay Liberation Network. “However, because the Museum of Broadcast Communications has chosen instead to honor Dobson, they apparently think it’s okay to promote those who publicly organize discrimination against gays.”
It is ironic that the Museum will be honoring a promoter of hate like Dobson, while at the same time many mourn the recent passing of journalistic legend Studs Turkel, whom the Museum never got around to honoring.
The campaign against the honoring of Dobson was initiated by the Gay Liberation Network
(www.GayLiberation.net) and Truth Wins Out (www.TruthWinsOut.com and www.DumpDobson.com), and endorsed by dozens of groups and individuals signing on to a series of full-page protest signature advertisements.
For information about Saturday night’s protest, contact the Gay Liberation Network at 773-209-1187 or LGBTliberation@aol.com
Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the “ex-gay” myth and educates America about gay life.
By John M Guilfoil
Globe Correspondent / November 10, 2008
It will go down as the Facebook protest against California’s Proposition 8, participants said.
About 75 people huddled at Jill Brown-Rhone Park in Central Square to voice their solidarity with advocates of gay marriage in California, where voters last week approved a state constitutional amendment to define marriage as only between a man and a woman.
Yesterday’s rally was largely the work of a single college student and largely organized online through the Facebook social network site.
Ryan MacNeely, 22, a student at Boston Architectural College, said he organized the protest because he was angered by the California vote. MacNeely created an event listing on Facebook.com and invited more than 1,000 people. He also created a group on Facebook called “I Hate Prop 8,” and scheduled a second protest for Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. at Cambridge City Hall.
“We want to send a message about gay marriage and that the decision in California isn’t going to be tolerated. It’s just absolutely ridiculous,” said the Haddam, Conn., native.
He wasn’t alone. The protest, scheduled for noon, started with about a dozen people, but gradually more and more emerged from the train station and surrounding neighborhoods.
Morgan Grenier, 17, woke up at 7 a.m. to make the trip from her home in Yarmouth. “It’s a civil rights issue. . . . We were the first state to legalize gay marriage, and it’s our duty to support the ‘No on 8′ campaign in California, and to get this overturned,” the high school senior said, holding a sign that read “It’s not too far. It’s not too late. Fight Prop 8.”
From Central Square, the crowd of about 75 people marched down Massachusetts Avenue to Harvard Square, chanting “Gay, straight, black, white, marriage is a civil right.” Shop owners and tourists looked on, some cheering in support.
Many of the protestors were “Facebook friends” who were meeting for the first time.
“These are real kids who just wanted to do something after hearing the [Proposition 8] news. They organized by the Internet and social network groups. It happened organically,” said Fumi Kanaya, 43, of Cambridge, who described himself as “one of the adults” at the protest. He, too, heard about it from Facebook.
Protester Matthew Meisel, 23, of Somerville, said that while the group didn’t appear to be visibly upset, they were “terribly hurt and terribly angry. To have such a progressive and large state like California say so publicly, ‘Your way of life is just wrong,’ to me is a huge shock. It’s something I’ve never felt before.”
After the event, MacNeely said the plan is to “catalyze some kind of national movement, where we’re having people all over the country protest this. It’s not just for California. It’s meant as a nationwide effort to push gay marriage to the forefront, so we can actually get something done.”
John Guilfoil can be reached at jguilfoil@globe.com
November 10, 2008
Melissa Etheridge hit her blog in an angry lesbian sort-of-way, but with good cause in protest of the passage of Proposition 8.
Etheridge makes a good point. If she doesn’t get all of the perks offered to the straight tax payers - should she and all the other gays get a tax break.
She writes, “Okay, so I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen. I mean that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights, sounds sort of like that taxation without representation thing from the history books.”
Much to my surprise, Melissa actually makes a little sense here. If gay marriage isn’t legal, maybe gays and lesbians should get a state tax break. It might make people think twice before they vote to ban gay marriage. I bet all of those homophobes who voted for Prop 8 if they knew it was going to raise their taxes!
