Fred Phelps is an ass.  A hateful, vile, waste of space.  There, that’s as angry as I’ll be getting…hopefully.  Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church lunatics (mostly relatives of his) are planning on coming to San Diego within the week to spew forth their despicable ramblings, and thankfully San Diego folks are not going to let it take place without responding.  Mind you, PEACEFUL responses, without engaging these imbeciles who have the audacity to even protest at funerals of military men and women.   (Yes, I will be practicing restraint.  Practice, practice, practice…)

There are some who feel giving Phelps ANY attention is feeding right into the notoriety he so obviously craves, but many of us don’t care to see his hate go unchecked and want to divert attention from him, and toward a more peaceful and positive message.  Which way of responding is the correct one?  Who knows.  All I do know is that I’m sick and tired of seeing hate fill the airwaves, the media, and our lives, and I plan on doing my part to balance it out with positive actions.  If you’d care to join us, just read the information below and sign up.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2009
Contact:  Ben Cartwright

877-727-5446 x707
ben@sdgln.com

Hale Media, Inc.
Publishers of San Diego Gay & Lesbian News ~ www.sdgln.com
(877) 727-5446
Follow us on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook

Westboro Baptist Church Announces 30 Protest Sites in San Diego

(SAN DIEGO)  On October 5, the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) announced it will be protesting a total of 30 sites throughout San Diego County, a drastic increase from the six locations originally announced last weekend.

Founded in 1955 by controversial pastor Fred Phelps, the church is monitored as a hate group. Members of the congregation commonly protest against homosexuality, Judaism and Catholicism.  The group is also anti-Swedish, anti-Irish, and often chastises the United States as being “a sodomite nation of flag-worshiping idolaters”.

Among groups who have been closely monitoring the WBC is the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Founded in 1913 “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all”, the ADL is the nation’s premier civil rights/human relations agency, fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry. They believe the WBC is carrying on this campaign in the hopes of getting reaction from the Jewish community and to garner media attention.

“The purpose of every one of their events is to manipulate the media,” said ADL Regional Director Morris Casuto. “The WBC normally appears in a location to garner publicity for itself and its grotesque and disgusting message.”

While acknowledging the church’s actions may be offensive, the ADL is asking members of the Jewish community to respond by not responding.

“We are recommending for the Jewish community to pay them no mind.  Give them their 30 minutes of useless disgusting protest and let them go back to their obscurity.”

Members of the gay community are taking a different approach.

“It truly is a sad day when the Phelps bandwagon comes to town,” said San Diego Pride Executive Director Ron de Harte. “San Diego Pride encourages those who want to stand up for love, peace and equality to register at http://nohate.sdgln.com.  Organized counter demonstrations will overshadow this hate group’s message with a message of respect, freedom and equality for all people.”

Community activist Sara Beth Brooks, who has taken an active role in helping organize counter rallies, agrees.

“I think organizing peaceful opposition rallies are really important.” Brooks has taken an active role in helping organize those who have expressed an interest counter rallying the WBC protest at San Diego High School.”

The WBC will be protesting San Diego high school because they “think it’s sooooo cool to be fags”.

“We can’t allow this type of discrimination and hate to exist anywhere. We can’t just look the other way and allow Fred Phelps to come into our community and onto school grounds and tell students that God hates them.”

Brooks, who recognizes Phelps is a known “baiter” that oftentimes tries to get counter protesters to fight back, has been taking advance precautions to ensure that participants on both sides remain equanimus.

“I’ve been in contact with the San Diego Police Department as well as the San Diego Coalition for Peace and Justice. Both police and peace officers will be monitoring the situation to ensure peace is maintained.”

She has also been corresponding with other faith based organizations to let them know their institutions may be targeted.

“What’s ironic is that while most of these institutions regularly disagree with the LGBT community on a lot of things pertaining to marriage equality and faith issues, they have been very receptive and thankful that we have reached out to them to let them know their place of worship is going to be protested.  This has been an opportunity for us to make some inroads within the faith community.”

The main goal of the counter protests, she notes, is peaceful opposition.

“It is our goal to facilitate peaceful, positive protests that promote love and equality.  It is our goal to promote values which are at the core of our community, and to let our message of love and equality to outshine the WBC’s message of hate.”

Leave it to Michael Moore to figure out  a way to lend a helping hand, albeit one he admits really “ain’t much when what you really need is a job or a place to live”, by getting movie theaters in some of the nation’s hardest hit cities to offer a free screening of “Capitalism” tonight.  Here’s the email Michael sent out this morning, with lists of free screenings AND benefit screenings included.  Can’t wait to see the movie soon!

Free Screenings Tonight of “Capitalism” for the Jobless and Homeless in America’s Hardest Hit Cities (plus local benefit premieres all across the country)

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Friends,

We’re just one day away from the widest opening I’ve ever had for any of my movies. Tomorrow, Friday, October 2nd, “Capitalism: A Love Story” opens on over a thousand screens across the United States, a record for an independent documentary.

This follows last weekend’s limited opening in New York and L.A. where “Capitalism” set the box office record for the highest per screen average of ANY movie released so far this year. Not just any documentary — any MOVIE! It was, as the studio said, a good indicator of just how well the movie may do when it goes wide this weekend. I sincerely hope they’re right because I believe deeply in this film.

To kick off the national release of “Capitalism: A Love Story,” I’ve asked the studio to offer a number of screenings in the nation’s hardest hit cities — the ones with the highest unemployment rates and highest foreclosure rates — where those who’ve lost their jobs or who are in foreclosure (or have already been evicted) may attend my film free of charge. They’ve agreed, and so tonight (Thursday), the night before our opening day, ten cities will grant you free admission if you have fallen on hard times. The list of theaters and cities is below. You don’t need to bring any “proof” of your situation — just show up — it’s the honor system, no questions asked.

Of course, a free movie ain’t much when what you really need is a job or a place to live. And that’s not going to change until the party that controls both the Congress and the White House wakes up and realizes the American people put them in charge to fix the mess created by the previous administration. For that to happen requires the active involvement of each of us. And, as I show in this movie, it’s going to also require us to challenge some fundamental assumptions about an economic system that currently allows the wealthiest ONE PERCENT in this country to have more financial wealth than the bottom 95% combined. That concentration of money and power in the hands of so few people is, I believe, at the core of so many of our problems.

So, if you’re going through tough times and you live in one of the areas below, please be my guest tonight, on the eve of my new film’s opening. Seating will be on a first come, first served basis.

Also, in another five cities tonight, I have made the film available to local groups to hold benefit screenings to raise money for their local organizations — organizations which are working toward a day when a filmmaker doesn’t have to offer free screenings to people who’ve been put through the wringer. If you live in any of these areas (see below for the list of benefit premieres tonight), please come out and support the good work of these grassroots groups.

So, until tomorrow, thanks for your support, and I’ll see ya at the movies!

Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com
Twitter.com/MMFlint
Facebook.com/MMFlint
MySpace.com/MMFlint

“CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY” FREE SCREENINGS:

Las Vegas, Nevada
Thursday, Oct. 1st, 7:00 p.m.
Cinemark Orleans
4600 W Tropicana Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89103

Phoenix, Arizona
Thursday, Oct.1st, 7:00 p.m.
Harkins Christown
1620 W Monte Bello
Phoenix, AZ 85015

Fresno, California
Thursday, Oct. 1st, 7:30 p.m.
Edwards Stadium
250 Paseo Del Centro
Fresno, CA 93720

Saginaw, Michigan
Thursday, Oct. 1st, 7:00 p.m.
Goodrich Saginaw 8 Theater
3250 Kabobel Dr.
Saginaw, MI 48604

Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina
Thursday, Oct. 1st, 7:30 p.m.
Regal North Hills Stadium 14
4150 Main at North Hills St.
Raleigh, NC 27609

Tampa / St. Petersburg, Florida
Thursday, Oct. 1st, 7:30 p.m.
Muvico Starlight
1800 Highwood Preserve Parkway
Tampa, FL 33647

Elkhart, Indiana
Thursday, Oct. 1st, 7:00 p.m.
Carmike Encore Park 14
2701 Cassopolis Street
Elkhart, IN 46514

Baltimore, Maryland
Thursday, October 1st, 7:30 p.m.
The Charles Theatre
1711 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Cleveland, Ohio Thursday, Oct. 1st, 7:30 p.m.
AMC Westwood Town Center
21653 Center Ridge Road
Rocky River, OH 44116

Peoria, Illinois
Thursday, Oct. 1st, 7:00PM
Willow Knolls 14 Theatre
4100 W Willow Knolls Drive
Peoria, IL 61615

“CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY” BENEFIT SCREENINGS:

Miami, Florida
Thursday, Oct. 1st, 7:30 p.m.
Sunrise Intracoastal
3701 NE 163rd Street
North Miami Beach, FL 33160
Benefiting: Take Back the Land

Madison, Wisconsin
Thursday, October 1st, 7:00 p.m.
Sundance Cinemas 608
430 N. Midvale Blvd.
Madison, WI 53705
Benefiting: Madison Association of Worker Cooperatives / Union Cab / Isthmus Engineering

San Francisco, California
Thursday, Oct. 1st, 7:30 p.m.
Embarcadero Center Cinema
One Embarcadero Center, Promenade
San Francisco, CA 94111
Benefiting: US Federation of Worker Cooperatives

Chicago, Illinois
Thursday, Oct. 1st, 8:00 p.m.
Kerasotes City North
2600 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
Benefiting: United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America

Grass Valley, California
Thursday, Oct. 1st, 7:30 p.m.
Del Oro Theatre
165 Mill Street
Grass Valley, CA 95945
Benefiting: KVMR-FM

Boulder, Colo. (past screening)
Tuesday, Sept. 29th, 8:00 p.m.
Boulder Theater
2032 14th Street.
Boulder, CO 80302
Benefiting: Present Tense Films

I should be talking about the disgusting exhibition put forth this past weekend in DC by individuals I am ASHAMED to know are my fellow citizens, but I won’t.  I ought to be pointing out the blatant lies being spread about what’s in Obama’s health care plan (coverage for illegal aliens, death panels, etc.), but I won’t.  I am tempted to join in the talk of the utter lack of civility by the likes of Joe Wilson, Kanye West, and yes, even Serena Williams, but I won’t.

I will tell you how thrilled I am (it’s in the air, folks!) that in just a few minutes, my beloved San Diego Chargers will be taking to the field in Oakland, to hopefully beat the pants off of the Oakland Raiders and start the Chargers 50th anniversary season off  with a big win!  Yup, that’s what I’m talking about.  GO CHARGERS!!!!

It’s a blog I would post my thoughts on, right?  A place I’d come to vent, to be silly, to talk about music I was addicted to, to share movies to see or skip…yup, I remember it.  I do have a confession to make.  Twitter might have come between us.  Trust me folks, I NEVER thought that crazy “tweeting” thing would be something I’d do, but alas, my political being has been poked, prodded, enlightened and enraged via Twitter, and I’m afraid a lot of what I’d come over here to post ended up in 140 characters or less on Twitter.

But here I am, tail tucked between my legs (so to speak), head hanging low while creaking opening up that “new post” room door, shaking loose the cobwebs, and dusting off the mantel to put up a picture of one of the most GLORIOUS SoCal sunsets I’ve ever been witness to. (The brightest spot in the middle is the sun setting on the Pacific Ocean…yes, I’m VERY lucky!) Will also post a very brief video of the sunset, too.  Highly doubt many (if any ) have missed me being over here, but I feel like it’s that loyal friend you take for granted.  Promise not to take you for granted dear WordPress, and will hopefully force myself to get on over here and spend some quality time with you, reliving some good times,  venting about the political topics of the day, sharing some good tunes, and of course, of course, OF COURSE talking Chargers football! See ya.

Yup, it’s that time of year again: CHARGERS time!  Seems like it’s been much longer than a few months since delving back into the blue and gold, but all that matters now is that it’s training camp time, with the official season just around the corner.  Woo-hoo!  Larry English’s contract was signed Saturday morning, just in time for him to then get the “newbie” treatment from veterans later at his first training camp practice,  Shawne Merriman is working his mohawk and ready to play, and early camp word is that things are looking VERY good all around.  Anxious, anxious, anxious for this season to get under way, and would LOVE to have Chargers talks with the City of Oceanside come to fruition, but I’ve seen far too many ventures at the old Valley Drive-In site fall through over the years.  Fingers crossed, though!

If you’d like to keep up with all things Chargers, here are a few areas I frequent:

• Chargers website
• Chargers Blog (just launched 8/1 on a good old WordPress platform)
• Chargers Facebook page
• Twitter (note: only “verified” Twitter account is Merriman’s)
  • Chargers
  • Shawne Merriman
  • Luis Castillo
  • Shaun Phillips

Feel free to post any other good Chargers-related locations in comments.

Went to my first San Diego Pride parade yesterday and had a great time.  Yes, I admit I went to not only show my support as a straight ally, but to hopefully ogle some hot guys with my buddy. (Hey, at least I’m honest!)

House Boi float doesn't disappoint

It was a very hot, sunny San Diego day in Hillcrest yesterday, with tons of happy faces (albeit quite sunburned today…well, at least mine is!) and such a POSITIVE vibe amongst the LGBT and straight folks, from some who have been around the block a few times to those barely able to take their first steps–just a great pleasure to be a part of.

The next generation of activists: That's "how they roll"

There was such a wide variety of groups represented, from politicians to roller derby girls, from the bear community to a public charter school, from the ACLU to the USDA, and many more you can see in my online photo album (273 pics!). Being an animal lover, it was fabulous  seeing our 4-footed friends making several appearances, including San Diego Pug Rescue, the Neuter Scooter, Sunset Cliffs Animal Hospital, and the horses from the Wells Fargo contingent.

SNAP Neuter Scooter (mobile spay/neuter clinic)

I have to admit I was floored by how many church and synagogue contingents there were, too! Again, just a VERY good feeling to see so many areas of San Diego County come together in such a positive fashion. (I read somewhere there was a very small group of protesters, but I didn’t run across any…thankfully.)

My FAVORITE sign of the day! Missiongathering Christian Church float

Congregation Beth Israel contingent

On the negative side, though, I do have to say that as a former marching band geek (yes, I admit it!) who has participated in many a parade, I hope that next year parade organizers work on NOT having so many gaps of time between contingents, as was first evidenced early on with at least 10 minutes (really more) of nothing, nada, zip, zilch, between the ‘loud and proud’ (literally) first group, “Dykes on Bikes” and the second group.  Unfortunately there were many more gaps like that throughout the parade. That being said, I can only imagine what goes into trying to organize 8,000 participants in 180 contingents and floats. Organizers might also want to consider more crowd control (estimates of over 150,000 attendees!) since people had no qualms about just moving themselves right out into the street to hang out, not only interfering with parade activity, but also rudely blocking the view of those who’d staked out spots curbside much earlier. There were a couple of times I had to ask folks to move out of the way so a wheelchair bound woman nearby could see the parade.

Proud parents who must have an equally proud daughter

I’ve included a few of my favorite photos I took at the parade, but if you’d like to see more (including Grand Marshals, Cleve Jones and Lady Chablis) the link is below. I haven’t had the time or energy to crop them or add descriptions, yet, and also still have several videos to upload…at some point. San Diego Pride Parade 7/18/09

Thank you, San Diego Pride, for putting this community building, Stonewall remembering, activist motivating event together. See you next year!

This is one of those times where something so moves me (yes, tears in my eyes) that I head right over here and put forth my thoughts, not really caring if they make sense to anyone else, if there are typos, or what others think, but just feeling the intense need to put them out there.

I’d been battling with the IRS today which has emotions on a high level already, so opted to get my mind off things by catching up with email, Twitter, etc. Finally decided to truly chill and turn off the computer to relax with the poochie. No sooner had I done so than I get a call from my mom letting me know my “boyfriend” had died. That “boyfriend” being the incredible Walter Cronkite. (My “boyfriends” were the likes of Walter, Charles Kuralt, and Tim Russert. These were men of intelligence, compassion, wit, and humor. Men I had an “intelligence crush” on, not the other type.)

Walter Cronkite was such a huge part of my life, as he was for so many others, with all of us growing up as I did, sitting in front off the TV with his nightly sign off “And that’s the way it is.” This is a man I trusted, a man whose every word I believed, a man who was right up there with my grampa Nick. Yes, I idolized them both. These were men who you felt would protect you, be honest with you, NEVER lie to you, and would always help guide you. While that sounds like something someone would naturally expect from a grandfather, is it something you’d expect someone to feel about a man she only knew from the television?

What was it about Walter that made me trust him so? Is it just that as someone born in 1962, he WAS the man I knew as the purveyor of news, when in those years news equaled truth? When doctors, teachers, and government officials were all people you automatically respected? (Remember I was young then, and didn’t know any better.) Was it the calm, measured, yet heartfelt way in which he shared the news with us that somehow comforted me? And why is it that there is so much from those younger years I don’t necessarily remember in detail, but I do remember the overwhelming feeling of “comfort” and “safety” when Walter was involved? I’m not sure the answers to those questions, although I’m sure someone could psychoanalyze them for me…please don’t. I’ll choose to keep them, since so many of our childhood memories are discarded to the “here’s what the reality was” box as we grow older.

I had the good fortune to actually meet Mr. Cronkite when I lived in Los Angeles, circa 1997, at a book signing for “A Reporter’s Life”. I remember standing in line outside the bookstore and wondering if I’d have enough nerve to actually speak to Mr. Cronkite, or if I’d chicken out. There’s that possibility that someone you look up to so much, might somehow fall short and tumble ever-so-quickly off that pedestal upon which you’ve placed him. And what on earth could I say that countless others hadn’t already said before, time and time again. But that didn’t matter, as I physically got closer and closer to the man. There he was, just around the line and in the actual same breathing space as me. That WAS Walter Cronkite just feet from me. I just about chickened out and opted to just buy the books (one for me and one for my gram in Washington who devoured books like I devour Ben & Jerry’s ice cream) and leave, but next thing you knew it was my turn. Gulp.

Honestly, I don’t remember exactly what I rambled about at first, but what I do vividly recall was eventually telling him how I’d grown up sitting in front of the TV for that evening newscast, not complete until he closed with “And that’s the way it is.” I told him after now having met him, I would be able to retell the story to my friends and family and say “And that’s the way it is (was).”  It was then that this icon, this man with the kindest eyes, the most gentle looking wrinkles in his skin, with the perfect white hair, took my hand in his unbelievably soft hands (I honestly have never forgotten how soft his hands were!), looked right into my eyes and said, “And I’ll remember this as the night I met you.” Walter ‘freaking’ Cronkite said that to ME! Suddenly time stopped, and actually went backward; I became that little girl from my youth, looking into the face of the man on TV, telling me of the happenings of the world. But for that moment, on that particular night, I was the news Walter was talking about and I was “the way it is” for Walter Cronkite and me.

Thank you for that moment, Mr. Cronkite.  For the memory that has never left my heart or my mind, and for the important part you played in my life and the lives of so many others.  For that we are eternally thankful and immensely grateful for having grown up in a time where we  had a man such as yourself,  to guide us as a beacon of truth and integrity; a man who carried on those traits his entire life.   I cannot imagine us ever having such a role model again. RIP Mr. Cronkite.

ADDED: CBS Special News Report

Cronkite: In His Own Words

BBC: US TV News Legend Cronkite Dies
CBS: CBS Legend Walter Cronkite Dies
CNN: Former CBS anchor ‘Uncle Walter’ Cronkite dead at 92
Los Angeles Times: OBITUARIES
Walter Cronkite, longtime CBS anchorman, dies at 92
MSNBC: Former CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite dies
Journalist reported moon landing, assassinations of JFK and MLK
The Daily Beast: Walter Cronkite 1916-2009
The Nation: Walter Cronkite: Definitional Journalist Saw Big Media’s Flaws

———————————————–
From The Center

In Memory of Seaman August Provost

Last week a 29 year-old gay, African-American servicemember, Seaman August Provost, was brutally murdered at Camp Pendleton. His partner learned the news from a member of the news media. No one should find out about a loved one’s death in this fashion. But those who love gay servicemembers live with this horrible consequence of being forced to serve in silence: because of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” they may not be notified of their loved one’s status. Our hearts break for Seaman Provost’s partner.

The board of directors, staff and volunteers of The San Diego LGBT Community Center join SLDN (Servicemembers Legal Defense Network), AVER (American Veterans for Equal Rights), DODFedGlobe, The North County LGBT Coalition, and all in the San Diego community as we offer our condolences and support to Seaman August Provost’s family, partner and friends.

Whether the facts ultimately prove that this was a bias-related crime or not, a young serviceman has been murdered in a horrible fashion, and we honor his service to his country and mourn his loss and the loss of his family, friends and partner. We join SLDN, AVER, and Congressmembers Davis and Filner in their call for a thorough and open investigation into the murder and all of its circumstances, and for full disclosure of any and all findings related to the death of August Provost.

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) been in contact with the family, has sent a letter to the Secretary of the Navy and has been in contact with senior flag officers at the Pentagon, as well as the White House, to attempt to ensure a full and open investigation, and disclosure of any information related to the murder, who committed it and the circumstances surrounding it.

SLDN is asking that any servicemembers, gay or straight, who have information related to the murder contact the legal department at SLDN, BEFORE GOING TO THEIR COMMAND, for a free and confidential consultation about their rights as they relate to confidentiality, immunity and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

A candlelight vigil will be held in memory of Seaman August Provost on Friday, July 10 at 7:30 pm outside Camp Pendleton (at the corner of Monterey Dr. and North Coast Highway). A “community funeral procession” will meet at The Center at 5:30 pm and proceed to Camp Pendleton. To take part in the North County procession, email info@northcountycoalition.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information, call (760) 672-1848 or visit one of the following websites.
www.dodfedglobe.com
www.northcountycoalition.org
www.imperialcourtsandiego.com
www.sldn.org
————————————————————–
Also, from Facebook:

VIDEO: August Provost Memorial Vigil in Oceanside Friday (2min)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oROFbGlruRA

Candle Light Memorial Vigil for Seaman August Provost
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=100907997691
7:00 – 6:00 pm Friday, July 10, 2009
1300 N Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054

San Diego, CA: Caravan Funeral Procession to Oceanside, meet at the LGBT Center at 5:30PM. Departure at 6PM.

Vigil in San Francisco, CA Facebook Event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=98819863871

Vigil in Sacramento, CA Facebook Event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112753029152

Vigil in Clovis, CA Facebook Event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=87415918238

Dallas/Fort Worth August Provost Memorial Page on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107258986471

Flickr: August Provost Memorial and Online Vigil:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/provostmemorial

My Canadian buddy, blogger extraordinaire, funny gal, mom to the adorable Wilbur, and ‘looks good all the time which really annoys’ gal, Joy, and her friend Janet, have created a  design eye candy blog *moggit , to tackle (in their own words) “fugly design and home decor”.  Their blog is in the running for a couple of SocialLuxe blog awards, in the categories of Funniest Blog and Guilty Pleasure Blog.  Mind you, I’m one of the last folks anyone would come to for design advice (trust me!), but the designs they post are always interesting, their comments are insightful and witty, and don’t tell anyone, but (shhhh) I’ve actually learned a thing or two!  Give *moggit a go for yourself, and most definitely hit up the SocialLuxe site to vote for them…thanks!

And since I’m in a great mood due to listening to 3 hours of Bob Marley on  “Brunch with Bob” on FM94.9 (KBZT in San Diego), figured I’d put you in a good mood by posting a photo of one of my favorite poochies (after my Rudy, of course!), Ms Joy’s very own Wilbur. Have a great Sunday, and go vote for *moggit!

Meant to post about this earlier, but I never seem to get over here as much as I should.  Bad me, bad me.

San Diego Pride created the Equality Torch Relay to help raise awareness of the equality cause by bringing together all areas of the San Diego region.  The relay will simultaneously take place in the north county and the inland area, and from the south bay to the east county, with all torch bearers converging this evening at the San Diego County Administration Building for a 6PM rally, which everyone is invited to attend.

San Diego Pride "Equality Torch Relay" stop in Oceanside, CA

@SanDiegoPride was tweeting about it this morning, and I was bummed to read one that said it had just left my neck of the woods.  Happily the coastal relay ended up being at Oceanside City Hall a bit later, so as soon as I  saw the tweet I threw on some clothes and a baseball cap, grabbed Rudy and my camera, and flew over to City Hall.  The relay (including torch bearers, flag carriers, and several cars) was coming down Coast Highway as I arrived, so I honked my horn in support as did many others (yippee!), then parked and caught up with the group as they rallied in front of City Hall.  I took some pictures for some of them with their cameras, then a couple with my own (yes, the date is incorrect…I’m not taking pictures in the future…at least not yet!), as well as this short little video clip which is a wee bit wobbly since I had Rudy tugging on his leash as I was trying to tape.

If you’re in San Diego County and missed the Equality Torch Relay in your neighborhood (or are in Orange County or LA and want to drive down), you can still take part tonight in front of the County Administration Building at 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, 92101.  The rally begins at 6PM, but if you arrive at 5PM you can help carry the 300 foot rainbow flag as it circles the building. Click here for more info.

Kudos to San Diego Pride for putting the incredible community-building event together, but especially to all the folks that got up bright and early this morning to carry the torches, drive alongside marchers, and to those who offered their support along the way via horns, thumbs up, or through verbal affirmations.  After all is said and done, until there are equal rights for ALL of us, how can any of us be satisfied?

***ADDED 6/7/09, from SanDiegoPride.org:
Equality Torch Relay – 2009 Two thousand participants helped commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, during San Diego Pride’s Equality Torch Relay.  The LGBT community and our allies took the cause of equality to backyards in all 18 incorporated cities in San Diego County.

From sunrise to nearly sundown, we carried the message of equality to every city in San Diego County.  The need to raise awareness of homophobia and LGBT discrimination echoed through the community when one of the event organizers was attacked for carrying a Rainbow flag in Lemon Grove.

The Equality Torch set out to unite the San Diego Region and use the power of our neighborhoods standing arm-in-arm to inspire change.

The Relay inspired courage for many, and was the cause of reflection for those who haven’t considered how LGBT discrimination could affect someone they love.

The incomparable “Queen of the Blues”, Koko Taylor, has passed today due to complications from a recent surgery to correct a gastrointestinal bleed, according to her website.  Any lover of the blues, such as myself, is most definitely suffering a serious case of the blues upon hearing this terribly sad news. If you do not have Koko in your musical library, do yourself a favor and include some, if not all, of her recordings.  This is a voice, and woman, who cannot be replaced and will most definitely be missed.  RIP Koko Taylor 1928-2009.

“Ernestine”

***ADDED 6/5/09***

From a Koko Taylor MySpace bulletin:

• Wake/Visitation (Lying in State)
  Thursday, June 11, 2009
  4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
  Rainbow Push Coalition National Headquarters
  930 East 50th Street at Drexel Blvd.
  Chicago, IL 60615
• Funeral Services
  Friday, June 12, 2009
  6:00 pm
  (4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Visitation)
  Rainbow Push Coalition National Headquarters
  930 East 50th Street at Drexel Blvd.
  Chicago, IL 60615

Here’s an extremely inspiring video of various religious, labor, and civil rights  leaders (including Eric Lee of SCLC) as well as those who worked so hard to put the powerful “Meet In the Middle 4 Equality” march and rally together (Robin McGehee) yesterday.  This video is from just prior to the 14 mile march from Selma, CA to the MITM4E rally in Fresno, CA.  Big thanks to Unite the Fight for these videos, as well as getting the live feed of the rally on ustream.

Unite the Fight will have a live feed from the “Meet In the Middle 4 Equality” rally in Fresno, CA, today at 1pm PST on USTREAM. You can also see videos from the 14 mile equality march from Selma, CA to Fresno, CA on Unite the Fight’s qik site. To see these folks marching for 14 miles in over 90 degree heat is pretty darn inspirational to me, and makes me very proud of them. Saw San Diego in the house, as well as Planned Parenthood, in this video. Also great to see folks representing us straight allies!

You can also follow “Meet In the Middle 4 Equality” by putting #mitm4e in the search box on Twitter for up-to-the-minute tweets.

Best of luck to everyone involved in today’s equality rally and march!

***Live feed for “Meet In the Middle 4 Equality” just went up @ 12:40pm PST…they’re welcoming the 14 mile equality marchers. ***

Dear GLBTQ community,

Please know that not everyone in California thinks the way those who voted Yes on Prop 8 do. Please know that the illogical decision handed down by the Supreme Court of California WILL be challenged. Please know that you have countless straight allies, such as myself, out there who are ready, willing, and able to continue to fight with you to gain equality in every aspect of the law.  Please know that you ARE valued individuals (not second class citizens), that who you love should NOT matter, and the fact that you continue to stand firm in your love in the face of this ignorance is still truly amazing to me.  Don’t be discouraged for too long,  don’t look at every person and wonder how they voted, don’t think that things will never change, and don’t give up hope.  Everything is just going to take a bit longer than anticipated or hoped for, but change WILL come and I look forward to being right there with you when it does.

Much love and admiration,

Laura

Please contribute to help air the “Fidelity” video above (Courage Campaign)

Find a Day of Decision protest rally near you!

Prop 8 Decision Analysis (HRC Back Story)

As Justice Moreno noted in his eloquent dissent:

I realize, of course, that the right of gays and lesbians to marry in this state has only lately been recognized.  But that belated recognition does not make the protection of those rights less important.  Rather, that the right has only recently been acknowledged reflects an age-old prejudice that makes the safeguarding of that right by the judiciary all the more critical …

Proposition 8 represents an unprecedented instance of a majority of voters altering the meaning of the equal protection clause by modifying the California Constitution to require deprivation of a fundamental right on the basis of a suspect classification.  The majority’s holding is not just a defeat for same-sex couples, but for any minority group that seeks the protection of the equal protection clause of the California Constitution.

I’ve been meaning to post a review of the opening night of the New York Dolls “‘Cause I Sez So” tour, with The Cliks opening for them,  from last Wednesday night (5/20/09) at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA, but haven’t gotten around to it.  Short review: GO SEE THIS SHOW!!!  Especially if you’re on the west coast and get the great opportunity to see The Cliks (“Snakehouse” and “Dirty King”) open for the New York Dolls!!!!  I figured if I don’t at least post these videos now, I might not ever get around to it. (Laziness ensues…) I’ll try to write more later, especially on the main reason I went to the show, the incredibly talented The Cliks, whose new CD “Dirty King” is fantastic, and available at the show, as well as various online options such as iTunes for $11.99, “Snakehouse” for $9.90.

In the meantime, here are the two videos I was able to tape before “the man” decided to pay me a little visit to say I couldn’t tape the show.  Hmmm, interesting that there are COUNTLESS NY Dolls live performance videos online, as well as COUNTLESS Belly Up Tavern videos online, yet I couldn’t tape in order to spread the NY Dolls love?  In all honesty I was fine with not taping and just enjoying the show.  I did tape several Cliks songs, but unfortunately the sound is pretty bad–too close to the speakers, I think.  Anyway, here ya go with some New York Dolls.

Opening video, with the NY Dolls coming on stage to opera music.  Song (Looking for a Kiss) starts about one minute in.

Last few seconds of this video of “‘Cause I Sez So” are when Mr. Security Man was telling me no taping, hence the camera going black.