Protest Prop 8

Donate to CreateEquality!

2009-01-11T11:45:00.001-08:00

CreateEquality seeks to generate awareness about the GLBTQI community and inspire social change through the arts. Help the cause today!

Stand Up

2008-12-22T17:08:00.001-08:00

Thank You, Jon Stewart!

2008-12-10T14:56:00.000-08:00

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Mike Huckabee Pt. 2

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Prop 8: The Musical

2008-12-03T15:32:00.000-08:00

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

CA Supreme Court to Hear Appeal on Prop 8!

2008-11-19T15:18:00.000-08:00

California Supreme Court Grants Review in Prop 8 Legal Challenges

Court to determine constitutionality of Prop 8
11.19.08—Today the California Supreme Court granted review in the legal challenges to Proposition 8, which passed by a narrow margin of 52 percent on November 4. In an order issued today, the Court agreed to hear the case and set an expedited briefing schedule. The Court also denied an immediate stay.

Click on the link below to read the Press Release from NCLR:
http://www.nclrights.org/site/PageServer?pagename=press_prop8challenge111908

RENT THIS, BUY THIS, SHARE THIS

2008-11-17T14:20:00.000-08:00

Visit their website: FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO

Got Hope?

2008-11-17T14:12:00.000-08:00

Go see MILK in theaters starting November 26th!

VIDEOS

2008-11-12T17:29:00.001-08:00

COMMUNITY EVENTS

2008-11-12T10:14:00.000-08:00

Friday, Nov 28th

Costa Mesa, CA
10am-1pm
South Coast Plaza
Intersection of Bear and South Coast Drive
contact: misstarabui@gmail.com, chelsearthompson@gmail.com

Mission Viejo, CA
10:00am - 1:00pm
Crown Valley, in front of Mission Viejo mall
alackofwit@yahoo.com

Sacramento, CA
Rally in front of the State Capital building
10th and I Streets
10:00am, fossilman104@hotmail.com

Saturday, Nov. 29th

Fresno, CA
Corner of N. Cedar & E. Shaw Avenues, 10 AM

West Hollywood, CA
Motorcycle Riders & Passengers For Equality!
10:00am - 6:00pm
San Vicente between Melrose and Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood Park
2138041157
mrhys@flash.net

Huntington Beach, CA
Corner of Bella Terra & Edinger Avenue, Huntington Beach
2-6PM Between Beach Blvd & On the sidewalk between Macaroni Grill & CPK
artists_against_aids@yahoo.com

Long Beach, CA
7:00pm
Long Beach Performing Arts Center
300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach

Monday, Dec 1st

2nd Class Isn't Classy - Throughout California
http://www.2backofbus.com/

Tuesday, December 2nd

CSU Walkout
11:30 AM - rally at free speech steps
Dave Hershey
e-mail: davehershey01@yahoo.com
Phone: 619-888-2895

Thursday, December 4th

Temecula, CA
Ynez & Rancho California Roads, Temecula 4-6PM
At the Temecula Duck Pond - Bring Candles
Contact: PFLAG Temecula Valley http://www.pflagtemecula.org/

Friday, December 5th

Redondo Beach, CA
Corner of S. Catalina Avenue & Torrance Boulevard, Redondo Beach (5-7 PM)
Marching up Torrance Boulevard (5:05pm) then heading to City Hall.
Contact: southbaynoon8rally@ymail.com

Huntington Beach, CA
Drum Corp Protest
7pm 9th and PCH

Saturday, December 6th

Long Beach, CA
10am - TBD
Contact Info: 949-813-9123

Sacramento, CA
12 Noon
Location: Hyatt Regency Sacramento
1209 L St., Sacramento
Contact: Josh Eidelson, jeidelson@unitehere.org, (916) 494-1726

Antioch, CA
1:00 - 3:00 pm
Intersection of Delta Fair Blvd. and Somersville Rd.
Contact: Mike/orionca@aol.com

Costa Mesa, CA
3pm-8pm
All 4 corners of Bristol St. and Sunflower Ave.

Sunday, December 7th

Santa Barbara, CA
9:30am-12pm
In front of Calvary Chapel, 1 N. Calle Cesar Chavez, Santa Barbara
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=35435559689
franksb2006@yahoo.com

Temecula, CA
Meet up: B&N, Promenade Mall, Temecula 2PM
Marching to the Temecula Duck Pond, Ynez & Rancho California Roads, Temecula

Wednesday, December 10th

Day without Gay - Nationwide, all day!

Friday, December 12th

Claremont, CA
2pm Memorial Park, 840 N. Indian Hill Boulevard, Claremont
ThuanAgainstH8@gmail.com or patrickmilliner@yahoo.com
http://www.myspace.com/ClaremontShameOn8Rally

Long Beach, CA
Cinemark at the Pike 7pm
Street: 99 S Pine Ave
Organized By: 8Accountability.org

Saturday, December 13th

Atlanta, Georgia
Lenox Mall & Phipps Plaza 1-5pm
eliminateprop8@gmail.com

Sunday, December 14th

Pasadena, CA
8:00am - 10:00am
Pasadena Rose Bowl
littledykeboi@yahoo.com

Saturday, December 20th
Light Up The Night - Nationwide, candle light vigil
http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/Quick+Links+States+%3E+Cities

Saturday, Jan, 10th

Put a blue bulb in your window, on your porch light, or store front to show support for Equality.
http://blue4equality.org/

Celebrities Speak Out

2008-11-11T09:53:00.000-08:00

George Clooney has spoken out to E!'s Ted Casablancas about the passage of Proposition 8, banning gay marriage in California:

"At some point in our lifetime, gay marriage won't be an issue, and everyone who stood against this civil right will look as outdated as George Wallace standing on the school steps keeping James Hood from entering the University of Alabama because he was black."

Clooney joins a growing list of stars speaking out including Melissa Etheridge, Harvey Fierstein, Ellen Degeneres and more. Drew Barrymore and James Franco also joined a crowd rallying against its passage.

EDUC8 YOURSELF

2008-11-10T17:00:00.000-08:00

From a frustrated non-practicing lawyer...

I just wanted to clarify something regarding the California Supreme Court's ruling...

The California Supreme Court did not grant the right to same-sex marriage. That right already existed.

The CA Supreme Court ruled on the constitutionality of a statute limiting marriage to a man and a woman -- namely Proposition 22, which was passed by the voters in 2000 [note that it took 8 years for this issue to finally make it to the Supreme Court]. On May 15, 2008, the California Supreme ruled that Prop 22 violated the California Constitution and was therefore invalid.

This is an important distinction because our opponents argue [and many people agree] that courts and judges do not have the power to GRANT the right to same-sex marriage. Prop 8 proponents used this argument to scare a lot of people into thinking that a few rogue, liberal judges were changing the law and creating new rights for homosexuals. This could not be further from the truth.

People seriously need to learn the functions of the 3 branches of our government. It is true that the Court does not have such power [making the law is a legislative function], but it is also true that that is not what the Court did.

The Court declared the statute restricting marriage to a man and woman unconstitutional. That is why Prop 8 came about...it actually amends our constitution to make it constitutional to discriminate against us by restricting marriage to a man and woman, thus bypassing the CA Supreme Courts ruling.

Know your facts.

PROTESTS SPRING UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY

2008-11-10T09:58:00.001-08:00

My parents attended this one...Chicagoans protested outside the Chicago Renaissance Hotel on Saturday where the Museum of Broadcast Communications was giving an award to James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Dobson put a $150 million annual budget behind the defeat of equal rights for all by passing California's Proposition 8. His views on homosexuality (that it's a "treatable" condition) are not supported by either the American Psychological Association or the American Psychiatric Association. This man has a lot of resources at his disposal and will continue to throw a lot of weight behind efforts to rewrite our laws to deny equal employment rights, equal housing rights, equal access to public accommodations, and equal marriage rights denied to anyone who isn't heterosexual.

Check out photos from the protest: http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?boardid=2&thread=983952

Sunset Junction March Continues to San Vicente at 2:30AM! Drew Barrymore Speaks Out!

2008-11-09T12:07:00.000-08:00

As the Sunset Junction march broke up and people re-organized at Hollywood and Highland, the march continued, amongst a police fleet, down Highland and Sunset, finishing at San Vicente and Santa Monica Blvd. at 2:30AM.

Drew Barrymore joined the march and spoke at the finish to a seated group of hundreds of protesters. Barrymore said through tears, "You are the people who have shaped me...this is so wrong...it's not over and I am going to fight with you..."

No On 8 Campaign Leaders Call On Community to Stand Together

2008-11-07T16:31:00.000-08:00

(San Francisco, CA, November 7, 2008)--Top leaders from the NO on Prop 8 campaign today issued the following statement urging leaders in the community to stand together following the passage of Prop 8.

“This has been an incredibly difficult week for Californians who are disappointed in the passage of Proposition 8, which takes away the right to marry for same-sex couples in our state. We feel a profound sense of disappointment in this defeat, but know that in order to move forward we must continue to stand together as one community in order to secure full equality in California.

“In working to defeat Prop 8, a profound coalition banded together to fight for equality. Faith leaders, labor, teachers, civil rights leaders and communities of color, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, public officials, local school boards and city councils, parents, corporate law firms and bar associations, businesses, and people from all walks of life joined together to stand up against discrimination. We must build on this coalition in order to achieve equal rights for all Californians.

“We achieve nothing if we isolate the people who did not stand with us in this fight. We only further divide our state if we attempt to blame people of faith, African American voters, rural communities and others for this loss. We know people of all faiths, races and backgrounds stand with us in our fight to end discrimination, and will continue to do so. Now more than ever it is critical that we work together and respect our differences that make us a diverse and unique society. Only with that understanding will we achieve justice and equality for all.”

Geoff Kors, Executive Director, Equality California
Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights
Lorri Jean, CEO, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center
Delores Jacobs, CEO, San Diego Gay and Lesbian Center

Prop 8 Challenged (Legal Stuff)

2008-11-07T09:54:00.000-08:00

Proposition 8 is not just about eliminating gay rights, it's about DESTROYING the FOUNDATION of what our California Constitution stands for, fairness and a guarantee of equality for everyone under the law. Proposition 8 not only puts discrimination into our Constitution, what really matters is that it destroyed what our Constitution is meant to do, protect the minorities! Whether you are gay or straight, whether you support gay marriage or not, we should ALL agree in preserving our Constitution by not adding discrimination into it.

There are THREE legal challenges aimed at Proposition 8 already. You can read about them here:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/5/125155/110/471/654479

http://sfist.com/2008/11/05/dennis_herrera_sues_to_invalidate_p.php

Lambda Legal, The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) have urged the California Supreme Court to invalidate Proposition 8 if it passes. The groups argue that Prop. 8 is invalid because it was improperly attempts to undo the constitution's core commitment to equality and deprives the courts of their essential role of protecting the rights of minorities. According to the California Constitution, such a radical change in the way the courts and state government work cannot be decided by a simple ballot measure. The legal groups filed the writ petition on behalf of Equality California and six same-sex couples.

The California Constitution makes clear that a major change in the roles played by the different branches of government cannot be made by a simple majority vote through the initiative process, but at the very least must first go through the state legislature. Changes to the underlying principles of the constitution must be approved by two-thirds of both houses of the legislature before going to voters. That didn't happen with Proposition 8, and that's why it's invalid.

The groups filed a writ petition in the California Supreme Court before the elections, arguing that the initiative should not have appeared on the ballot. The court dismissed that petition without addressing its merits.

This would not be the first time the court has struck down an improper voter initiative. In 1990, the court struck down an initiative that would have improperly attempted to strip the state's courts of their role as independent interpreters of the constitution.

“If the voters approved an initiative that took the right to free speech away from women, but not from men, everyone would agree that such a measure conflicts with the basic ideals of equality enshrined in our constitution,” says Lambda Legal Senior Counsel Jenny Pizer. “Proposition 8 suffers from the same flaw. That’s too big a change in the principles of our constitution to be made just by a bare majority of voters.”

How To Fight Back

2008-11-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

So what can we do?

A couple of thoughts. Since the churches--particularly the Catholic Church and the Mormon Church, felt it was appropriate to fund, preach to, and encourage the "yes on 8" zealots, there is a movement underway (long overdue) to tax the churches of California. California law clearly states that tax exempt status is reserved for non-political groups. Please visit www.mormonsstoleourrights.com and click the link to sign the petition to begin taxation of the Mormon church. It takes ten seconds.

Next, BOYCOTT! Nothing speaks louder than a wallet, and the Ahmanson theater needs to be targeted. The Ahmanson family gave a massive amount of cash to "Yes on 8", so it's time we ceased to support the Ahmanson Theater/Center Theater Group. Please call the Ahmanson Theater and tell the folks at the office that you will never see a show at the theater (even though it's "9 to 5"; sorry Dolly fans) because of the Ahmanson family's dedication to removing our civil rights.

Also, KMS Restaurant Corp was a large contributor to "Yes on 8". KMS owns MANY El Pollo Loco franchises in Southern California. BOYCOTT! Don't give your cash to those who hate us!

Next--contact Lambda Legal Defense www.lambdalegal.org and join the class action lawsuit against the State of California.

This battle is far from over, and we can't become complacent. We have muscle to flex--both financially, and morally--and we must do so. We're on the right side of this issue, and history will prove this in the long run. Please pass this information on. Please consider joining a grassroots movement to tax the churches. I think a Proposition is called for in the next election to remove tax exempt status from churches who participate in the political process. At the very least, sign the petition to tax the Mormon church.

YES WE WILL

2008-11-06T22:35:00.000-08:00

In an effort to coordinate and take action, I am putting everything I can find and want to get out to the world in this blog.

I am hoping to find others out there who want to protest every day until this "decision" is repealed, overturned or somehow simply buried. I will do my non-legal best to educate as much as I can, but mostly, I am looking to get the word out about actionable things that we can all do to make change. And yes...we will.

For me, it is simple. Discrimination is un-American. This is not a "God" issue or a "Gay" issue, it's a civil rights issue. I am a person and I want the same rights as everyone else. Separate is not equal and I thought we were better than that. Especially in California.

Help spread the word about what you can do to see the change you want in the world.