The Christian Civic League of Maine's Mike Hein calls Pam's House Blend: "a leading source of radical homosexual propaganda, anti-Christian bigotry, and radical transgender advocacy."
He is "praying that Pam Spaulding will "turn away from her wicked and sinful promotion of homosexual behavior."
(CCLM's web site, 10/15/07)
Ex-gay "Christian" activist James Hartline on Pam:
"I have been mocked over and over again by ungodly and unprincipled anti-christian lesbians."
(from "Six Years In Sodom: From The Journal Of James Hartline," 9/4/2006, written from the "homosexual stronghold" of Hillcrest in San Diego).
"Pam is a 'twisted lesbian sister' and an 'embittered lesbian' of the 'self-imposed gutteral experiences of the gay ghetto.'" -- 9/5/2008
Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth Against Homosexuality heartily endorses the Blend, calling Pam:
A "vicious anti-Christian lesbian activist." (Concerned Women for America's radio show [9:15], 1/25/07)
"A nutty lesbian blogger." (MassResistance radio show [16:25], 2/3/07)
Pam's House Blend always seems to find these sick f*cks. The area of the country she is in? The home state of her wife? I know, they are everywhere. Pam just does such a great job of bringing them out into the light.
--Impeach Bush
who monitors yours Bevis ?? Just thought I would drop you a line,so the rest of your life is not wasted.
*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***
SIGNFOREQUALITY.COM LAUNCHES
PETITION DRIVE TO REPEAL PROP 8
Activists Unveil Unique Social-Networking Tool to Support Signature Gathering Effort
(SACRAMENTO - November 16, 2009)
SignForEquality.com today launched a groundbreaking effort to gather signatures to repeal Proposition 8 and restore equal marriage rights for same-sex couples, marking the first time that social networking technology has been used to qualify a California initiative for the ballot.
"We're taking names," said John Henning, who is heading the SignForEquality.com effort as Executive Director of Love Honor Cherish.
"SignForEquality.com will make history by using custom social networking tools, as well as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, to support an all-volunteer signature drive to repeal Prop 8. People throughout California can now help us win marriage back by the simple act of signing and collecting signatures."
Love Honor Cherish launched www.SignForEquality.com as part of the volunteer signature drive, which began today. The site features a downloadable petition form and training videos for signature gatherers, and uses unique social networking technology to help gatherers set goals, build teams, and find signature gathering events.
"In its first day, SignForEquality.com is already the state of the art in California petition signature gathering," said Henning.
Henning noted that in recent years, signature gathering campaigns have been in the hands of a few powerful elite, who qualify ballot initiatives by spending millions on paid signature gatherers.
"SignForEquality.com brings the campaign back to the people," said Henning. "We're going to qualify this initiative person by person, and signature by signature."
The proponents of the ballot initiative have 150 days to gather approximately 1 million signatures. The signatures are due on April 12, 2010.
Love Honor Cherish is one of more than 40 groups that support repealing Prop 8 at the next general election in November 2010. The groups include the Latino Equality Alliance, the Mexican American Bar Association, and the San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality, among others. For a full list, go to www.RepealProp8.com. Love Honor Cherish is also part of the Restore Equality 2010 coalition, which has elected representatives throughout the state.
As signature gathering gets underway, the campaign to change the hearts and minds of voters has already begun and will continue through the November 2010 election.
"Prop 8 passed last year with just 52% of the vote," said Henning. "Now, a year later, a recent L.A. Times poll says that 51% favor marriage equality. In the next 12 months, we'll make that margin even bigger."
Proposition 8 was an amendment to the California Constitution passed by voters in November 2008. It reversed a California Supreme Court decision in May 2008, which held that same-sex couples were guaranteed equal marriage rights under the California Constitution. The new ballot proposition is also a constitutional amendment.
The proposed measure reads as follows:
This amendment would amend an existing section of the California Constitution. Existing language proposed to be deleted is printed in strikeout type. Language proposed to be added is printed in underlined type.
Section 1. To protect religious freedom, no court shall interpret this measure to require any priest, minister, pastor, rabbi, or other person authorized to perform marriages by any religious denomination, church, or other non-profit religious institution to perform any marriage in violation of his or her religious beliefs. The refusal to perform a marriage under this provision shall not be the basis for lawsuit or liability, and shall not affect the tax-exempt status of any religious denomination, church or other religious institution.
Section 2. To provide for fairness in the government's issuance of marriage licenses, Section 7.5 of Article I of the California Constitution is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 7.5. Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Marriage is between only two persons and shall not be restricted on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or religion.
Love Honor Cherish is a Los Angeles-based grassroots organization committed to repealing Prop 8 in 2010 and to developing a new generation of leadership on this issue. Formed in May 2008 to defeat Prop 8, it raised over $500,000 for the No on 8 campaign and mounted its own outreach and media efforts. For more information, visit www.LoveHonorCherish.org.
Signature Gathering will be taking place in locations throughout the state. For more information about locations and other opportunities for media coverage, contact Mike Roth at 310-433-8685 or mike.roth@lovehonorcherish.org
San Francisco San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who has been seen as a leading contender to be the next governor of California, announced today that he is quitting the race.
Newsom is withdrawing from the Democratic primary amid lackluster poll numbers and meager fund-raising receipts. His withdrawal leaves state Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, who is expected to run even though he has not officially entered the race, with little opposition in the Democratic primary.
"It is with great regret I announce today that I am withdrawing from the race for governor of California," Newsom said in a statement. "With a young family and responsibilities at City Hall, I have found it impossible to commit the time required to complete this effort the way it needs to - and should be - done. This is not an easy decision. But it is one made with the best intentions for my wife, my daughter, the residents of the city and county of San Francisco, and California Democrats." ...
Mayor Newsom may be an lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community hero because of his stand on marriage equality, but he apparently didn't have that extra something to catch the imagination of the rest of the Democratic base here in my home state.
Rosa Frias was working the evening shift at Bimbo Bakeries in South San Francisco when she reached into her bread-making machine to remove a hunk of dried dough.
She screamed as her left hand, and then her lower arm, were sucked into the gears of the Winkler stringline proofer. That night, the limb had to be amputated above the elbow.
The incident drew a $21,750 fine from the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health. But Bimbo paid nothing. It appealed to the Cal-OSHA Appeals Board, which dismissed the case on a technicality...
..."That is mind-boggling," said Linda Delp, director of UCLA's Labor Occupational Safety and Health program.
It is not, however, unusual for companies to fare well on appeals. A Times review found that the board has repeatedly reduced or dismissed penalties levied by Cal-OSHA over the last few years, even in situations in which workers have died or been seriously injured. The board's actions have done more than save companies money. They have undermined Cal-OSHA's efforts to prevent future accidents, according to labor advocates, inspectors and state documents...
Government of the corporate interests, for the corporations, and by the corporate interests. This attitude needs to change, but I have little faith that it actually will.
Gutter politics rides again. We're two weeks out from Election Day in Kalamazoo, and the Anti-Gay Boogeymen are resorting to the oldest, most disgusting trick in the book, the Transgender Bathroom Panic. They've released a new flyer featuring pictures of some famous (and not-so-famous) transgendered folks, accompanied by OMGSCARY blurbs about their alleged transgendered transgressions...stuff like wanting to go to the bathroom. The insinuation, of course, is that if there's a transgendered person using a restroom, that person must be on the prowl looking for helpless pretty young women to rape.
Before we go any further, it's worth noting that the Kalamazoo nondiscrimination ordinance doesn't mention restroom access even once. It's aimed at stopping employers from firing employees because of their sexual orientation and ensuring fair and equitable access to city employment and services...but I digress.
I'm not transgendered and I wouldn't dare dream of speaking for the transgendered community in most cases, but in this case I think it's pretty fair to assume that if a transgendered person is fighting for access to a bathroom, all they want to do is pee...
On that point, writer PerfectStormer has my personal permission to speak for me.
On Oct. 8, the House approved its version of the Matthew Shepard Act, and it awaits Senate approval. The Matthew Shepard Act will broaden the targets of hate crimes to crimes motivated by gender, gender identity, and disability.
In California, such categories of victims are covered but in other states, such as Wyoming, they are not. The federal law would lend consistency across states. There is no logical reason why a gay person could be a victim of a hate crime in one state and not in another.
...I have had personal experience with hate crimes that went unpunished. A gay person close to me was threatened and hurt in a hate crime, enough to go to the hospital, and yet the police who were called to the scene did not arrest the perpetrators. After that, I kept a gun under my bed for several months until I reconsidered the consequences of using it.
I took another gay man to the hospital after he was attacked on the streets of Riverside. For many years, I did not know this friend had been raped as well as brutalized in other ways. His suffering was beyond description.
Hate crimes have more serious effects on the victim than other crimes...
...As well as on people in the same identity community as a hate crime's victim.
DULUTH, Minn. - A northern Minnesota man has pleaded guilty to driving his motorized lounge chair while drunk.
A criminal complaint says 62-year-old Dennis LeRoy Anderson told police he left the Keyboard Lounge in Proctor on his customized La-Z-Boy after drinking eight or nine beers.
Prosecutors say Anderson's blood alcohol content was 0.29, more than three times the legal limit, when he crashed the lounge chair into a parked vehicle in August 2008.
So the lesson for me here is...Well, since I don't own a motorized La-Z-Boy, I don't think there is a lesson for me here!
• A special salute to California's disabled veteran small businesspeople in our Wiener Story Of The Day. From the Los Angeles Times' Carpinteria hot dog vendor relishes his sales-tax victory; After 16 years, the owner of the Surf Dog stand, a disabled veteran, has won an exemption for peddlers such as himself. On Thursday, the dogs are on him...
As light on his feet as the prizefighter he once was, Bill Connell moves quickly around his Carpinteria hot dog stand, jabbing hot sausages, whipping Monster Dogs into buns, and boasting about the recent knockout he scored against state tax officials.
"They told me the law didn't mean what it said in plain language, and I told them: 'Are you kidding me? I was educated in Catholic schools! I know what the law says!' "
For 16 years, Connell sparred with the state Board of Equalization over the interpretation of an 1872 statute exempting street peddlers who are disabled veterans from paying various taxes. This morning, he'll celebrate his victory by giving away hot dogs and carving up sheet cakes decorated with the Stars and Stripes. Politicians who supported Connell's cause will speechify on a platform set up at his Surf Dog stand, a cart commanding an ocean view that would be the envy of any five-star hotel.
...[California state Sen. Jeff Denham (R-Atwater)] sponsored a bill, inspired by Connell, allowing veterans with service-related disabilities not to pay sales taxes when peddling things such as T-shirts, tacos and incense on the street. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed it into law earlier this month.
At the heart of the new law is the notion of the state giving a boost to self-employed veterans. Connell, a former toxic-waste disposal specialist who knows his way around a law book, contended that's exactly what the state wanted to do when it passed laws to that effect in the 1800s. State attorneys disagreed, pointing out that state sales-tax laws weren't imposed until 1933, didn't mention veterans and superseded rules from the previous century.
Horary for this disabled veteran! Good to know too that If I, as a disabled veteran, opened up a hot dog or taco cart anywhere here in my home state, I won't have to charge sales taxes to my customers!
Of course, I'm not thinking about selling hot dogs or tacos from a cart anytime soon...
So anywho...It's an open thread! What are you thinking about today, or what books or articles have you been reading the past few days? Wanna share?
And again, please feel free to chat, blogwhore, and link-share in the comment thread because...it's an open thread! Woo-hoo!
This looks like an amazing documentary chronicling the first time a civil right was put on the ballot, to be decided by mob rule -- Proposition 8 -- and the millions pumped into the fight by the Mormons in the name of faith. Here's the first trailer for 8-The Mormon Proposition:
Producer Steven Greenstreet, who sent me the trailer link (it just went live) says it has just been submitted to Sundance other festivals. He was a journalist in 2008, and did a lot of coverage of Prop 8. When he left his news agency, he began working with the crew that made this documentary.
Folks, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and every Republican who covers up for Schwarzenegger's liberal follies are helping to destroy the GOP's "pro-family" brand. Corrupting children's minds and souls through manipulative school exercises like "Harvey Milk Day" is anti-family and anti-child to the core. You simply cannot be pro-sexual sin and pro-family at the same time.
Karen Ocamb, over at LGBT POV, has a round-up of what conservative "Christians" are thinking about education of late, with quotes by the California Family Council (a press release here, and an audio below in Shockwave player) and the Capitol Resource Institute (email release) on the Harvey Milk Day bill (SB 572), being signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Frankly, Harvey Milk Day has been receiving a lot more attention on the religious right than I thought this bill deserved, and had no idea why this particular bill garnered so much attention.
Harvey Milk Day, a state day to honor the slain San Francisco gay rights advocate, is now official in California thanks to a somewhat unexpected signature Monday from Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has vetoed such legislation in the past...
...[State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco)], reached Monday, said he believed Schwarzenegger finally signed the bill this session to establish a day for the late San Francisco supervisor because "Harvey Milk Day is an idea whose time has come.'' ...
Why is this a bill whose time has come?, I talked to Alice Kessler, Equality California's Director of Government Affairs, and asked her what passage of the Harvey Milk Day bill into law means. I wanted to know why this bill was important to the LGBT community into the future, and why this bill was apparently so important to conservative "Christians."
The answers kind of surprised me -- honestly, I just hadn't thought this one through. First is symbolism: Martin Luther King Jr. has a day in California; Cesar Chavez has a day in California; now Harvey Milk has a day in California. What the California Legislature and Governor has done in passing SB 572 is elevate an LGBT civil rights figure into parity with an African American and labor civil rights leaders: This bill being law now symbolically states that the LGBT civil rights movement is equal to the African American and the labor civil rights movements.
The other actually is school curriculum. From the California Family Council audio above:
Governor Schwrtzenegger's deadline for legislative yearfor 2009 is capped off with the anti-family law, forcing tearchers to waste academic instructional time honoring deceased homosexual politician Harvey Milk in grades K through 12.
You know how the religious right is always railing against the teaching the Homosexual Agenda™ in public schools? A little further into that audio, executive director of the California Family Council -- Ron Prentice -- gives us part of what I'd call the "Christian" Agenda™ here in California in response to this bill:
"...And, we will ensure, that in coming years, voters will place into elected office those people who are orentated towards priciple, and holding to a standard of values that the citizens of the state hold."
One of the things the Harvey Milk Day bill encourages is school lesson plans that stimulate discussion about Harvey Milk. Alice Kessler and I were discussing back and forth about how Martin Luther King Jr. Day has resulted in many lesson plans and classroom discussions about contributions of many more African Americans than just Martin Luther King Jr., Harvey Milk Day will result in many lesson plans and classroom discussions about contributions of many more LGBT Americans than just Harvey Milk.
In other words, this bill encourages discussion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights activists and issues in California classrooms.
I asked Alice Kessler about how this may result in transgender people discussed in the classroom, and she mentioned how trans people at Stonewall -- such as civil rights activist Sylvia Rivera -- will at some point soon be the subject of lesson plans adopted for use in California classroom.
And, there is a ripple effect. If California's public schools starts including curriculum about Harvey Milk and other LGBT people for discussion in the classrooms, other states may follow.
It's much more than a just another state day to have on the state calendar; it's a lot of why LGBT Californians, and conservative "Christian" Californians -- as well as LGBT people and conservative "Christians" beyond the California state lines -- care so much about the Harvey Milk Day bill being passed into law.
So, in Alice Kessler's and my minds, the Republican Governor of California -- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger -- signing the Harvey Milk Day bill into law is both pretty surprising, and pretty significant. This is a far more important bill than I at first thought it was.
PayPal has decided that a listing of doctors who legally recommend cannabis as medicine in California makes California NORML unworthy of PayPal's online transaction services. NORML says that as a protector of free speech, PayPal is no longer worthy of your dollars!
Recently, PayPal froze the accounts of California NORML because it was taking payments from doctors who wished to be listed on the canorml.org website. (See http://bit.ly/DumpPayPal)
PayPal had originally objected to California NORML's listing of collectives and dispensaries, saying that taking fees from them violated "Terms of Service" forbidding involvement with anyone "distributing narcotics". Despite the fact California NORML doesn't distribute medical marijuana (which, by the way, is technically not a "narcotic"), the advertising for those who do distribute medical marijuana, combined with the conflict between California and federal law on the issue, caused California NORML to relent and stop accepting fees from the legal collectives and dispensaries in the state, a major loss of revenue to the non-profit organization.
PayPal, however, was unsatisfied and continued the freeze due to California NORML's listing of doctors who recommend cannabis as medicine. When confronted with the fact that the Supreme Court has affirmed the federal right of doctors to discuss and recommend cannabis medicine and that recommendations in no way involve the distribution of medical marijuana, PayPal replied: "We are not arguing the legality of this issue; we are simply stating that we have made the business decision to not be involved with this type of business."
There is a quite a chilling effect to the First Amendment when banks are allowed to discriminate against customers solely due to the nature of their speech. If PayPal had cut off services to gay rights groups, civil rights organizations, religious denominations, or gun firing ranges because they didn't want to be "involved with this type of business", there would most certainly be an appropriate uproar. Cutting off a service to physicians because PayPal doesn't like what they say is equally offensive.
We call on all lovers of liberty, cannabis users or not, to boycott PayPal and stand in solidarity against any company that tries to silence the truth about medical marijuana. Please use the attached graphic on your website and pass it around to others, and link it back to http://bit.ly/DumpPayPal.
Some pleasant surprises -- and a downer for the transgender community. Why can't there be a clean sweep? (LGBT POV):
Late last night, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Harvey Milk Day, out-of-state marriages bill and domestic violence protection bill.
"This is huge!" Equality California legislative director Alice Kessler tweeted early this morning.
However, Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 1185 (Lieu), which Kessler described as "a simple bill allowing better access to birth certificates for transgender people." He also vetoed AB 382 (Ammiano), which would have established protections for LGBT prisoners, which he said was "unnecessary."
Equality California (via press release):
Today Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law two historic LGBT rights bills - recognizing the contributions of slain civil rights leader Harvey Milk and a bill that underscores that same-sex couples married before the passage of Proposition 8 are entitled to full recognition as married spouses in California, regardless of whether they married in California or out of state. Both bills were sponsored by Equality California (EQCA) and were introduced by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). The bills were the top priority of EQCA, the state's leading LGBT rights organization and were targeted by right wing anti-gay groups who worked to defeat the bills first in the legislature and then by urging the Governor to veto the measures.
"We are grateful to the Governor for signing these critical and groundbreaking measures into law and rising above partisan politics to improve the lives of LGBT Californians," said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors.
The Harvey Milk Day bill marks the first time in the nation's history that a state will officially recognize and celebrate the contributions of an openly LGBT person with an annual "day of special significance."
"Californians will now learn about Harvey's amazing contributions to the advancement of civil rights for decades to come," Kors said. "He is a role model to millions, and this legislation will help ensure his legacy lives on forever."
The Marriage Recognition and Family Protection Act, also signed today, holds that same-sex couples married before the passage of Proposition 8 must be recognized as married spouses in California, regardless of whether they married in California or in another state or nation. In addition, the new statute also confirms that same-sex couples married outside of California after November 5, 2008, must be given all of the rights, protections and responsibilities of married spouses under California law, with the sole exception of the designation of "marriage."
"We are grateful that the Governor has signed this critical bill, which provides much needed protections for same-sex couples who have legally married out of state, or will in the future, and who deserve to be treated like any other married couple," Kors said. "This bill will allow same-sex couples to get married in other states and countries and ensure they are treated equally under the law when they return to California. Ultimately, however, restoring the freedom to marry is the only way to ensure that all Californians receive the dignity and respect that comes with marriage."
...The Governor also signed EQCA-sponsored legislation by Assemblymember John A. Pérez to help leverage funding for same-sex domestic violence services and vetoed two bills on the grounds that existing law and policy already provided the protections the bills sought to put into statute: the Equal ID Act, allowing transgender people to obtain new birth certificates and the LGBT Prisoner Safety Act, considering sexual orientation and gender identity to safely house prisoners.
"While we believe it is important to have these protections in statute rather than just as policy or court precedent and are disappointed by the vetoes, the Governor's reaffirmation of these policies will hopefully help ensure they are enforced," Kors said.
The sponsors of California's same-sex marriage ban must hand over some internal campaign records to lawyers seeking to overturn the voter-enacted initiative, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled Thursday.
Denying a request to shield the information, U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn Walker said the Protect Marriage campaign had failed to show that providing private e-mails, memos and reports would inhibit the political activities of gay marriage opponents or subject them to unbridled harassment.
The judge agreed with lawyers for two unmarried same-sex couples who have sued to strike down the ban, known as Proposition 8, that confidential communications between the campaign's leaders and professional consultants could reveal a rationale for denying gays the right to wed that is relevant to the case.
The lawsuit argues that the measure was motivated by hostility toward gays and as such must be struck down as inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of equality.
"What was decided not to be said in a political campaign may cast light on what was actually said," Walker said.
At the same time, the judge said the couples' lawyers must limit their fact-finding request to cover only central issues and individuals, including Mormon and Catholic church representatives who served on the executive committee that oversaw the campaign. He also left open the possibility that he would restrict public access to the documents.
This just in from Equality California. EQCA, I could kiss ya! But you all already know the special place I hold in my heart for intrepid phone bankers.
Dear Lurleen,
Your help is urgently needed.
Current polls show that we are two points behind in Maine and have only 51% support in Washington.
If you can't make it to one of our phone banks, sign up to make calls from home for Maine or for Washington.
Victories in these two states are crucial for victory in California, and we have an opportunity and responsibility to support these critical fights.
So far, our movement has lost in every state where we've face a referendum on marriage. That's why we need to stop this here and now. Join us to call voters.
In solidarity,
Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California
Update:Blend reader David kindly reminded me that there was one more, very important item in that email!
National Day of Action for Maine
Keep Marriage Equality in Maine!
This Sunday, join a virtual phone bank to help the Maine NO on 1 campaign. All you need is a computer and a phone.
Today, the California State Senate joined the Assembly in passing the Equal ID Act by a 22-14 vote. The bill, AB 1185, sponsored by Equality California (EQCA) and introduced by Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), expands legal protections for transgender people born in California. If signed by the Governor, the new law would allow qualified transgender people born in California to return to the county of their birth and obtain a court order reflecting their correct gender and an accompanying name change, if applicable. The court order is then used to obtain a corrected California birth certificate.
"All Californians deserve legal documentation that accurately reflects who they are," EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors said. "This measure would allow transgender people in California and beyond a greater ability to obtain accurate identification, apply for jobs and live their lives as full and equal members of society. We urge the Governor to sign the bill with haste."
The Equal ID Act grants all transgender people born in California access to accurate birth certificates. The bill ensures that transgender people born in California can return to the county of their birth to obtain a corrected birth certificate. It also provides greater access to transgender persons living in the state and beyond, allowing them for first time to petition the court in their home counties.
"The Equal ID Act would bring the Health and Safety Code up to date with case law," said Kristina Wertz, Legal Director of the Transgender Law Center (TLC), citing the recent case of Somers v. Superior Court, successfully litigated by TLC, in which a California appellate court ruled it unconstitutional to deny a transgender person born in California the ability to petition California courts for a legal gender change. "It would alleviate any confusion and ensure that California-born people residing in other states know that they, too, can be afforded the dignity of a birth certificate that reflects who they truly are." ...
I'm sure this seems a small thing to many, I know, but to transsexuals who want to change their California birth certificates after genital reconstruction surgery, but haven't been able to in the recent past because they no longer live in California, this is a big thing. When one considers how birth certificates are used for identification these days, being able to correct one's sex/gender marker -- as well as one's birth name to one's taken name -- this is significant legislation.
My only disappointment is that 14 State Senators voted against this bill.
The saga continues out in the Golden State as LGBT orgs agree to disagree over the tactics to take down Prop 8. Equality California tries to have it both ways in a sense -- announcing that it will to put extra time and resources toward educating the public for a 2012 effort, but also declaring support for those trying to get a 2010 ballot initiative in place.
Marc Solomon, EQCA's marriage director, said that after evaluating several options and consulting with the top 100 donors from the 2008 campaign, the organization will continue a localized, three-year education campaign for the 2012 election.
The announcement came less than an hour after the Courage Campaign, another activist organization, announced that it will move forward on a 2010 ballot initiative. On Tuesday, Courage Campaign chair Rick Jacobs asked members to raise $42,000 within 60 hours to help decide the timing of the measure. As of Wednesday morning, the organization reported that it had received donations totaling $77,905 within just 24 hours, raising their total amount available for research, polling, and focus groups to $135,998.
EQCA says that the effort is notable and that it will support the other group's push for the 2010 ballot measure, but EQCA will continue to forge ahead on a 2012 ballot measure because, the group maintains, more California voters will support marriage equality by then.
"We promised the LGBT community that we would let them know what we think the wisest course of action is. It's our responsibility. That’s why we put something out today. But we’re not saying that it’s our way or the highway. We certainly can’t force anyone to adopt our position."
..."There’s this feeling that when it’s convenient, that people will listen to what [the POC groups] have to say and when it’s not, they won’t. I think we all have to think about that. Think about what these communities went through after Prop 8 passed and the blaming of POC communities. I think it’s important that people listen to that perspective, that they're thinking 'Our communities got blamed for Prop 8.' And after, people said a lot of work will happen, and now the work hasn’t happened and we’re saying we’re going right back to the ballot. That’s an important perspective to keep into account."
Marc rebuffed the claim that those who support 2012 are wanting to "wait."
"We all want to win back marriage as quickly as humanly possible. The question is, 'Can we get it done by 2010 or not?'"
In the organizational and movement chaos surrounding a Prop 8 overturning ballot initiative in 2010 versus 2012, the call for funding is out there. A snippet from a recent Courage campaign e-blast:
Right now, several organizations within the marriage equality movement are debating whether to place an initiative on the ballot to repeal Prop 8 in either 2010 or 2012.
The Courage Campaign community already spoke out in favor of 2010, quite strongly. In May, 83% of our members told us to work with our partners to place a marriage equality initiative on the ballot in 2010 -- and to help build the movement to support it.
That's why the Courage Campaign has mobilized 44 Equality Teams and trained more than 1,000 organizers across California in 2009. And it's why we have been working with the smartest, most experienced campaign professionals in America -- people who ran Barack Obama's campaign, know California and can chart a course to victory.
But the only way a 2010 campaign can be launched is if the marriage equality movement raises $200,000. That's right. $200,000. That's how much money it will take to determine -- through research, polling and focus groups -- the initiative language and messages that will move voters to support marriage equality.
We are ready to do our part but we can't do it alone. That's why we are asking the Courage Campaign community to raise $100,000 by August 13. And we are challenging our partners in the marriage equality movement to raise the remaining $100,000 as soon as possible.
From holding multiple Camp Courage training events from the coast to the Central Valley to organizing 44 Equality Teams in 23 counties, we have mobilized our members to help build a people-powered foundation for victory in 2010. With a September deadline looming for filing an initiative, these organizers are ready to start gathering signatures.
But if the marriage equality movement is not able to raise the $200,000 necessary -- $100,000 from the Courage Campaign and $100,000 from our partners -- to pay for the research to launch an initiative campaign, then we will have to accept that our movement is not ready to repeal Prop 8 in 2010.
And we will have to wait until 2012 to bring marriage equality to the ballot again. It's as simple as that.
A reader contacted me and said he received the call for dollars and had a few questions for the organization.He gave me permission to repost the letter.
I'm sure you've heard about the Courage Campaign asking for $200,000 by 8/13 in order for them to support going back to the ballot in 2010. I thought you might be interested in my response email that I sent them.
I love the Courage Campaign, and I deeply support them; however I have a few questions about this call out for $200,000 and I was wondering if you guys might be able to help me better understand.
Anthony Woods, who is openly gay, is running to represent California's 10th Congressional District. Woods was awarded the Bronze Star for his service during two tours in Iraq -- and he was discharged from the Army under DADT. He had already won the endorsement of VoteVets.org, and today he can add the HRC and the Victory Fund to the list.
The Human Rights Campaign PAC, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, and the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, which works to grow the number of openly LGBT elected officials across the U.S., announced today the endorsement of Anthony Woods for U.S. Congress. Woods, who is running in the September 1 Special Election for California's 10th Congressional District, earned the Bronze Star after serving two tours in Iraq in the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged after challenging the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.
"The Human Rights Campaign is proud to endorse Anthony Woods, a veteran of the Iraq war and steadfast advocate for our community, to become the next U.S. Congressman from California's 10th district," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Anthony hasn't just shown his support on issues of LGBT equality, he's lived them -- especially the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' Anthony's support of marriage equality will also be important as we work to repeal Proposition 8, which stripped marriage rights away for California's same-sex couples. There is no doubt that Anthony will be a role model for LGBT youth, and we applaud his continuing service to our country."
"Anthony Woods is an exciting candidate with a tremendous record of accomplishment. He's also running an impressive campaign. Anthony has assembled a solid campaign team that understands what it will take to win this extremely competitive race. We need more leaders like Anthony Woods in the U.S. Congress, so we are proud to endorse him," said Chuck Wolfe, president of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. "His will be an authentic voice not only for the people of California's 10th Congressional District, but for the millions of Americans for whom the promise of equality remains unfulfilled."
"I am honored and proud to earn the support of Human Rights Campaign and the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund," said Anthony Woods, candidate for California's 10th Congressional District. "They're working to make sure America lives up to its promise of equality under the law, which is something I'll fight for in Congress."
VoteVets comments:
"Anthony Woods is a historic candidate for a critical point in history," said Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran, and Chairman of VoteVets.org. "Anthony is fresh, eager, and has an incredible track record of service. His military record is incredibly impressive. And, he'll bring vigorous leadership to Congress that will benefit his district. We urge voters in his district to send him to Congress."
In a significant boost to the effort calling for opponents of Prop 8 to forego a ballot initiative in 2010, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has signed onto the "Prepare to Prevail" campaign publicly launched this week by API Equality-LA, HONOR PAC and the Jordan Rustin Coalition. Rea Carey, Executive Director:
"As a state that has often served as a political and cultural trendsetter for the rest of the country, what happens in California has national significance for the LGBT movement. That's why for well over five years the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has devoted significant human and financial resources to winning the freedom to marry in California. This commitment remains steadfast as we continue to work on the ground in California with the Vote for Equality Project of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and Equality California to build effective models of person-to-person voter persuasion about marriage equality.
"We support the soonest possible return to the ballot box to repeal Prop. 8 that gives the LGBT community a fighting chance to win. The priorities expressed in 'Prepare to Prevail' are about the hard work it will take at the grassroots to move towards a solid victory, and we look forward to continued work with our partners in California to build a strong, diverse and successful campaign for marriage equality."
In its decision, the NGLTF stressed the importance of accomplishing key goals before getting a repeal effort on the ballot:
• Build solid majority support for the freedom to marry before returning to the ballot. Multiple polls have shown that support for marriage equality has remained flat since November 2008. The LGBT community will be in a stronger position to win if we're defending, and not attempting to create in the midst of a campaign, majority support at the ballot box for the freedom to marry.
• Demonstrate a proven ability to move former Yes on 8 voters to support marriage equality. Both polling and real-world testing door-to-door have shown that following the public debate over Prop 8, many voters' positions have hardened; consequently, few voters remain undecided about whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.
• Develop persuasive messaging capable of moving former Yes voters that can also withstand vigorous campaigning from the opposition.
• Build a campaign infrastructure that's able to raise the significant amount of money and recruit the army of volunteers needed to prevail. The LGBT community could measure its readiness to return to the ballot by establishing a set of benchmarks to be met, over time starting from now, for fundraising, volunteer recruitment and other campaign infrastructure goals.
The rest of the release, documenting the organization's commitment to the equality fight in California, is here. It will be interesting to see the response to this announcement by the 2010 proponents. While these conversations are difficult, I think it's healthy to think things through in clear view.
I'm actually relieved to see this perspective out there, because my initial reaction to the seemingly urgent call by LGBT groups out in Cali to try to undo Prop 8 by putting it back on the ballot in 2010 seemed rash, so soon after the millions of dollars and energy into the unsuccessful Prop 8 fight. More than $82 million was raised on both sides of the issue, the most expensive ballot initiative over a social issue in the Golden State's history.
Prepare to Prevail, a coalition representing API Equality-LA, HONOR PAC, the Jordan-Rustin Coalition and other groups, released a public statement that says to the LGBT community -- give it little more time in order to guarantee a big win in the long run. It's the first widely supported public call by LGBT community groups and supporters to forego a rush to the ballot box in 2010 to repeal Proposition 8. There are logical, practical reasons to wait, even if the emotions and motivation are high to do something in 2010.
Ron Buckmire, President of the Barbara Jordan / Bayard Rustin Coalition, cites resource constraints. "We've got massive economic challenges in California right now. And our own LGBT service organizations are struggling. We are all being forced to make difficult decisions. Investing in a robust, coordinated public education campaign about marriage is a wiser investment than choosing to wage another very expensive electoral battle at this time."
"We want to win. And winning a political campaign requires ample preparation," says Luis López, President of HONOR PAC. "The renewed energy and collaboration in our community will, with time and direction, become the fuel of a well-oiled campaign machine. For now, though, with little movement among voters on this issue and key components not yet in place for 2010, we need to take stock and focus on building our capacity."
I think those who are in favor of action in 2010 need to consider who these groups represent and why they hold this position:
API Equality-LA is a coalition of organizations and individuals who are committed to working in the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities in Greater Los Angeles for equal marriage rights and fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families through community education and advocacy.
HONOR PAC advocates for the political empowerment of Latina/o LGBT communities. HONOR PAC supports candidates and ballot propositions that advance progressive policies and serve the unique needs and interests of Latina/o LGBT communities.
Barbara Jordan / Bayard Rustin Coalition Jordan Rustin Coalition was created in response to the lack of outreach to African Americans in the campaign against Proposition 22, the anti-gay marriage initiative in 2000, and the realization in 2005 that another such initiative was imminent. The mission of JRC is to empower Black same-gender loving, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and families in Greater Los Angeles, to promote equal marriage rights and to advocate for fair treatment of everyone without regard to race, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
Need I say more? If we have POC groups, communities where outreach was poor, ineffective or non-existent the last time around concerned that the train is leaving the station too soon, I think it's time to listen to the full rationale for holding off until the ducks are in a row.
Out of cash and understaffed, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has suspended its faltering effort to analyze DNA evidence from thousands of rape and sexual assault cases.
The department halted shipments of the genetic evidence to private crime laboratories at the end of May after funds allotted for the testing ran dry, according to a report submitted by Sheriff Lee Baca to the county Board of Supervisors late last week.
Sheriff's Department officials said they expected to receive federal grant money next month, and more funds in the fall, that would allow them to continue testing for four or five months. After that, however, the department will have to rely on an uncertain stream of state funding, officials said.
The haphazard approach underscores the trouble Baca has had delivering on a promise he made in November to clear the decades-old backlog of evidence from roughly 4,600 cases and to keep pace with testing evidence from all new cases. Late Monday afternoon, a spokesman for Baca said that Marshall University in West Virginia had agreed to do a small amount of testing for free each month, adding to the sense that the Sheriff's Department is scrambling to find help anywhere it can...
Does that mean that if you're male, then you're likely to have more police resources applied to any violent crime perpetrated against you in Los Angeles County than if you happened to be female? I'm guessing this is the unitended, secondary message of this bit of news from Southern California.
Seriously, if you believe that one of the major functions of government to deterring violent crime -- deterring violent crime by enforcing criminal laws and jailing violent criminals -- then Los Angeles County probably isn't your kind of local government. Especially if you're female.
Just incredible news coming out of Southern California, to say the least.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's taking an aggressive stand -- he filed an official response to the federal lawsuit brought by the American Foundation for Equal Rights and attorneys Theodore Olson and David Boies. Significantly, he also does not dispute that Prop 8 isn't constitutional. (American Foundation for Equal Rights press release via email):
The Governor did not dispute the unconstitutionality of Proposition 8 and called for swift action by the courts.
"Today's filing by Gov. Schwarzenegger bolsters our call for a swift end to the constitutionally intolerable situation created by Proposition 8. We are extremely pleased Gov. Schwarzenegger does not dispute the unconstitutionality of Proposition 8 and agrees that swift action is needed to ensure that every person is treated equally under the law," said American Foundation for Equal Rights Board President Chad Griffin. "Exactly one year ago today, thanks to the state Supreme Court, equal marriage rights were granted to every Californian for the first time. We look forward to the federal courts granting those equal rights once and for all by quickly acting on this case."
Gov. Schwarzenegger's filing states: "Plaintiffs' complaint presents important constitutional questions that require and warrant judicial determination. In a constitutional democracy, it is the role of the courts to determine and resolve such questions. ... The Administration encourages the Court to resolve the merits of this action expeditiously."
As Chris @ LawDork says, "unlike the Obama DOJ Motion to Dismiss filed today in Smelt, the Brown Answer filed in Perry cites approvingly to Loving v. Virginia, on the 42nd anniversary of the ruling." (LAT):
California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown asked a federal court Thursday not to block Proposition 8, arguing that a resumption of same-sex marriages in the state before the federal challenge was resolved would put those unions in "legal limbo."
In written arguments filed late Thursday, Brown said permitting gays to marry before appeals in the case are completed "would not serve the public interest because it would create significant uncertainty for many persons [involved in] a relationship in which certainty is of the utmost importance."
California Attorney General Jerry Brown responded today to the federal challenge to Proposition 8 filed last month by Ted Olson and David Boies by agreeing that the initiative violates the U.S. Constitution.
"Taking from same-sex couples the right to civil marriage that they had previously possessed under California's Constitution cannot be squared with guarantees of the Fourteenth Amendment," the Attorney General's filing states.
"Today's filing by Attorney General Jerry Brown underscores that Proposition 8 is a clear violation of the United States Constitution because it denies all people equal rights," said Chad Griffin, Board President of the American Foundation for Equal Rights. "We are confident that our state's chief legal officer's strong opinion will help this case move quickly through the courts so that every Californian will soon be treated equally under the law."
The American Foundation for Equal Rights is the organization that hired Olson and Boies to lead a federal challenge to Proposition 8 on behalf of two same sex couples who were denied marriage licenses because of the initiative.
..."This unequal treatment of gays and lesbians denies them the basic liberties and equal protection under the law that are guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution," the suit states.
The American Foundation for Equal Rights, the organization that hired Ted Olson and David Boies to lead a federal challenge to Proposition 8, recently announced its founding Board of Directors, which includes Rob Reiner and Dustin Lance Black.
Boies went on the Charlie Rose show to discuss the case.
Here's more information on the case -- and the board of The American Foundation for Equal Rights, from the web site:
Relegating gays and lesbians to "separate but unequal" domestic partnerships violates the U.S. Constitution, the suit states.
"More than 30 years ago, the United States Supreme Court recognized that marriage is one of the basic rights of man," the suit states, referring to the Court's decision in Loving v. Virginia, which struck down bans on interracial marriage.
According to the suit, Proposition 8:
• Violates the Due Process Clause by impinging on fundamental liberties.
• Violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
• Singles out gays and lesbians for a disfavored legal status, thereby creating a category of "second-class citizens."
• Discriminates on the basis of gender.
• Discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation.
Kris Perry and Sandy Stier have been together for 9 years and are the parents of four boys. Perry is Executive Director of First 5 California, a state agency that promotes education and health for children under five. She holds a BA from UC Santa Cruz and an MSW from San Francisco State University. Stier is Information Technology Director for the Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services Agency. She is originally from Iowa and is a graduate of the University of Iowa. Perry and Stier first tried to marry in 2004, after the City of San Francisco began issuing licenses. They live in Berkeley, CA.
Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo have been together for 8 years. Katami is a fitness expert and business owner who graduated from Santa Clara University before receiving his graduate degree from UCLA. Zarrillo is the General Manager of a theater exhibition company. A native of New Jersey, Zarillo graduated from Montclair State University. Having wanted to marry each other for more than two years, they considered options including traveling to other states for a "civil union," but felt any alternative fell short of marriage. They live in Burbank, CA.
"Our government should treat every American equally," Board President Chad Griffin said. "The American Foundation for Equal Rights will support legal, political and policy advocacy to ensure every American's Constitutional rights are protected."
The Board members are:
• Chad Griffin
• Rob Reiner
• Michelle Reiner
• Bruce Cohen
• Kristina Schake
• Dustin Lance Black
This attitude needs to change, but I have little faith that it actually will.
On that point, writer PerfectStormer has my personal permission to speak for me.
to California's disabled veteran small businesspeople in our Wiener Story Of The Day. From the Los Angeles Times' 
For 16 years, Connell sparred with the state Board of Equalization over the interpretation of an 1872 statute exempting street peddlers who are disabled veterans from paying various taxes. This morning, he'll celebrate his victory by giving away hot dogs and carving up sheet cakes decorated with the Stars and Stripes. Politicians who supported Connell's cause will speechify on a platform set up at his Surf Dog stand, a cart commanding an ocean view that would be the envy of any five-star hotel.
Good to know too that If I, as a disabled veteran, opened up a hot dog or taco cart anywhere here in my home state, I won't have to charge sales taxes to my customers!
Dear Lurleen,
Anthony Woods, who is openly gay, is running to represent California's 10th Congressional District. Woods was awarded the Bronze Star for his service during two tours in Iraq -- and he was discharged from the Army under DADT. He had already won the endorsement of 
I'm actually relieved to see this perspective out there, because my initial reaction to the seemingly urgent call by LGBT groups out in Cali to try to undo Prop 8 by putting it back on the ballot in 2010 seemed rash, so soon after the millions of dollars and energy into the unsuccessful Prop 8 fight. More than $82 million was raised on both sides of the issue, the most expensive ballot initiative over a social issue in the Golden State's history.
