Recently in Marriage Equality Category

Here is another of my most highly viewed Flickr photos. I took this one at a rally for marriage equality in Sacramento.

Sorry other NOM ad parodies. Stephen Colbert has made the best one yet. In case you missed last night’s show, here it is.

You be the judge. Personally, I think this parody of the National Organization for Marriage’s anti-gay TV ad is hilarious. The spew-coffee-on-keyboard moment for me is the little guy with the crooked sweater who…I’ll just let you see for yourself.

I like this puppet show version of the audition tapes:

Here’s a funny video about the latest conservative movements, 2M4M and tea bagging.

This is one of my favorite parodies of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) TV ad. In case you’ve been under a rock for the past few days, the interwebs are teaming with these videos making fun of a ridiculous anti-gay commercial.

Here’s an Easter message for all of you Christians out there who don’t believe in equal rights for all Americans.

“Dan White Hero”, originally uploaded by cawins.

People are sick.

The following is my first attempt at shooting and editing video. It was taken last night at the Light Up the Night for Equality candlelight vigil and march here in Monterey. Please forgive the camera work. I still haven’t figured out how to zoom and pan.

The more I fume about Obama’s selection of an anti-gay bigot to give the invocation at his inaugural, the more I regret voting for him. Check out the latest on Warren’s outrageous and ignorant views on homosexuality in the clip from The Rachel Maddow Show.

We take you now to the North Pole, where the misled and ill-informed Santa’s Elves passed Proposition D by the narrowest of margins. The controversial ballot initiative defined the profession of “dentist” as only being performed legally by a human being—not an elf, and outlawed red-nose reindeer from “leaping, jumping, prancing or in any way participating and/or joining in” any reindeer games.

Mean makes misfits. There’s room for everyone in this big ol’ world. Everyone has worth. Everyone has value. That’s the message behind Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer. Didn’t everyone see this claymation classic when they were a kid? I guess not.

On December 10, grassroots activists are hoping that Day Without a Gay will make a nationwide impact as a protest for marriage equality.

On December 10th, we are supporting Day Without a Gay.
We are calling for a nationwide strike and economic boycott by all members of our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered community AND OUR STRAIGHT ALLIES on December 10th, 2008, International Human Rights Day.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

STRIKE: call in gay, shut down your business, or just take the day off.

BOYCOTT: don’t buy anything, spend money or support the economy.

PARTICIPATE: Volunteer and/or organize a protest in your area. Our community contributes $700 billion a year to this economy (the same amount as the bailout), yet we are not given equal protections under the law that every citizen deserves. As such, it is time we make a stand. During the largest shopping season of the year, we ask that you do one very important thing: Don’t Buy Anything! What would happen to this world if the LGBTQ community didn’t exist? Why is it that we continue to contribute to an economy and government that does not contribute to us? Let’s answer these questions on December 10th. 

Unfortunately, I’ve been running across a lot of negative opinions from the LGBT community regarding this event. It seems that the “nattering nabobs of negativism” that disgraced U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew spoke about in 1970 are still with us.

Most of the arguments against Day Without a Gay are being made by people who simply don’t understand the concept. They are concerned that:

• Calling in sick will harm gay-friendly employers
• Boycotts don’t work
• The event will make LGBT people “invisible” for a day
• No one will notice if a small percentage of the workforce goes on strike for one day
• The event will cause a backlash against LGBT workers

Sadly, the real reason why this event is doomed to failure is that most LGBT don’t have the courage and commitment to make it work. They simply aren’t willing to risk their jobs in order to attain equal rights.

That’s how it was with the first Civil Rights Movement, too. The boycotts and strikes didn’t take place until late in the movement. In 1960, the first sit-in and boycotts started taking place. They were started by college students who were getting impatient waiting for their leaders to achieve desegregation of businesses.

Today, were witnessing a similar pattern. Young people are using the Internet to organize innovative actions. They aren’t waiting for the “gay establishment” to organize rallies and simlar events.

All I have to say to the folks who feel the need to be critical is, “Shut the fuck up and DO SOMETHING!”

Instead of whining that you think Day Without a Gay won’t work, organize a protest that you think may get better results. Create a Facebook page and start sending e-mail messages. Visit popular blogs and get the word out.

YOU are the movement! YOU can make a difference!

I just read on Joe.My.God. that former Whitewater special prosecuter Kenneth Starr may appear before the California Supreme Court to defend Prop. 8:

According to Mother Jones, Bill Clinton’s nemesis Kenneth Starr will bat for the haters in the coming Prop 8 case before the California Supreme Court.

Overheard last week in DC at a right-wing legal convention: “We’ve all but confirmed that Ken Starr is going to take the case.”—Jordan Lorence, senior counsel, Alliance Defense Fund.

The involvement of the former Clinton special prosecutor in efforts to preserve California’s new ban on gay marriage really wouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Two years ago, Starr, now dean of the Pepperdine law school, represented a bunch of anti-gay marriage groups, including the Mormon Church, in amicus briefs in some of California’s gay marriage litigation.

More…

One of the strongest arguments that I gave against Prop. 8 was that it opens the door to discrimination against other minority groups. Today, I read this Reuters article that seems to suggest that other minorities have just realized that they could be next.

All I have to say is, “No shit, Sherlock!”

Minorities fear trend from California gay marriage ban

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California’s gay marriage ban could open the door to legal discrimination against unpopular groups if the state Supreme Court allows the voter-approved measure to stand, blacks, Latinos, Asians and other minorities said.

The November 4 vote, supporting an end to legal same-sex marriage in the most populous U.S. state, has caused a nationwide furor as opponents of the measure decry what they consider a civil rights violation.

[…]

Legal scholars say the measure, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, breaks new ground by limiting the courts’ ability to protect minorities.

“They could take away any right from any group,” said University of Southern California Law Professor David Cruz, who filed a brief in favor of gay marriage in an earlier case.

More…

This is clever. Like the red AIDS ribbon, the “white knot” is a symbol that the supporters of marriage equality can wear on their clothing.

How to make your white knot  

1. Start with a 6 inch piece of white ribbon. Widths between 3/4 inch and 1 inch work best.
2. Tie a double knot in the center of the ribbon. Pulling the first knot tight will line up the ends of the ribbon nicely.
3. Cut triangles into the ends of the ribbon. This will help prevent fraying.
4. Pin it on and you’re good to go.  

Last year, I was speaking to my ex-boyfriend, Sean, on the phone and he told me that he was going to be appearing as George Washington in a music video by singer/songwriter Jay Spears. He explained that the video was about the separation of church and state and titled Smak Dem Christians Down.

Well, Sean made an excellent Washington. Also appearing in the video are Brad Hall (actor and husband of Julia Louis-Dreyface) as Thomas Jefferson and actor Richard Riehle as a hypocritical Christian preacher.

The video has received over 48,000 views on YouTube and a 5-star rating. But, I don’t think that’s nearly enough views for a video with such a timely message — besides, it is HILARIOUS!

Check it out! Post it on your blogs!

— James Hartline

Some members of the LGBT community in Monterey County California are saying that they’ve been “stabbed in the back” by a Salinas City Council member many viewed as a friend and ally.

Recently, a video surfaced on a local news web site that showed Gloria De La Rosa speaking at a Yes on Prop. 8 rally. De La Rosa appears on the video with Jeff Taylor, a vehemently anti-gay candidate for U.S. Congress, and other Prop. 8 supporters who participated in a “Family Values Parade” in Salinas.

What shocked many in the small LGBT community in Monterey County is that De La Rosa is a nurse who provided HIV testing for the Monterey County AIDS Project (MCAP) and the Monterey County Health Department (where she may be still employed).

In a message posted to the Gay Monterey Yahoo! group, an MCAP employee wrote:

Gloria was a friend of mine and the LGBT community, or so I thought, back in the late 1990s and early 2000s.  She was a nurse who provided HIV testing at MCAP and the Health Department in Salinas.
 
I was completely caught off guard while watching this video.  I can not BELIEVE Gloria said what she said and thinks how she thinks after PRETENDING to be supportive of our community.

The video can viewed here:

http://www.citizennewscaster.com/proposition8rally.html

Jeff Taylor lost the election by a landslide to incumbant Sam Farr. Hopefully, De La Rosa will lose the next time she is up for election in Salinas.

It has been quite a day. Cliff and I are exhausted after working all night making signs and then marching in the streets of Monterey this morning. I took 200 great photos of the event. I’ll write about it tomorrow.

For now, enjoy the slideshow:

Join the National Protest Against Prop. 8 on Saturday, November 15! 

Find an event near you: http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/

In 1849, California’s first constitutional convention was held at Colton Hall in Monterey, California. This historic landmark is now the oldest continually used municipal building in California. If you’re planning on attending a No on H8 rally on Saturday, Colton Hall in Monterey is a great place to go. Not only is Monterey one of the most beautiful cities in California, it is the birthplace of the California Constitution. Come and spend the day in Monterey!

This Saturday, November 15, Monterey County will be joining the nationwide protest of the passing of Proposition 8 in California. Please join us for a peaceful rally, 10:30 AM at Colton Hall. After gathering at Colton Hall we will march to Windows on the Bay at 11 AM. Bring your yard signs or make your own signs. Pass the word along to anyone and everyone. The more people we have the stronger the impact will be.

All of our efforts before the election were not in vain. Although Proposition 8 passed in California it failed in Monterey County by a 4 point margin, 52% No vs. 48% Yes. Thanks for your efforts and let’s keep up the fight to defeat this unfair and wrong amendment to the California Constitution.

Here is a website you can take a look at to see what is going on around the nation: http://jointheimpact.com/

We look forward to seeing you at Colton Hall this Saturday at 10:30 AM.

Join the National Protest Against Prop. 8 on Saturday, November 15!

Find an event near you: http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/