Activists Plan Demo at Speaker Pelosi's Office Tomorrow Over ENDA

Activists from GetEQUAL will be protesting in front of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office in San Francisco tomorrow afternoon. They are demanding that the Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) be moved for a vote in congress immediately. The Democratic party has continually promised to hold a vote on this legislation but keeps postponing it.

Tuesday, May 18 from 430-630pm
7th & Mission St.

If you can't make it to San Francisco, please, contact Speaker Pelosi's office in both SF - 415.556.4862, and, DC - (202) 225-0100.

Word of the Gay: "Russian River"

The "Russian River" is an area North of San Francisco that has become a popular tourist attraction among outdoorsy and wine appreciating gays and lesbians.

Web Spotlight: A Call for Bisexual Artists

Bisexual Artists is seeking artists who identify as Bisexual (or with a label inclusive of bisexuality, such as Pansexual, Omnisexual, Ambisexual or Queer), to submit paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, or sculptures relating to their experiences of living as a bisexual person. Artists selected for the exhibition will have their work on display in the San Francisco art gallery of Good Vibrations on Polk Street from October 8 to November 26, 2009

Kenneth Cole Makes LGBT Pride Fashionable

Fashion designer Kenneth Cole is celebrating LGBT pride month as part of their "AWEARNESS" campaign with a unisex t-shirt for same-sex marriage. The t-shirt reads "Those Against Gay Marriage Aren't Thinking Straight. (Or Are They?)"

100% of the net proceeds from t-shirt sales will benefit the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) the largest LGBT advocacy organization in the United States.

Click here to purchase your own limited edition Kenneth Cole HRC Tee

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Kenneth Cole New York is also holding host events in five cities- Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Dallas- during Gay Pride Week. On the designated nights, 20% of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to The Human Rights Campaign.

Los Angeles June 12, 2009 4-9pm Kenneth Cole New York Store, Beverly Center
New York June 26, 2009 4-9pm Kenneth Cole New York Store, Soho, 595 Broadway
Chicago June 26, 2009 4-9pm Kenneth Cole New York Store, Chicago 540 North Michigan Ave
Dallas June 26, 2009 4-8pm Kenneth Cole New York Store, Dallas North Park
San Francisco June 26, 2009 4-8pm Kenneth Cole New York Store, 166 Grant Avenue

Historic Asexual Contingent To Take Place During San Francisco Pride

On June 28th, the San Francisco pride parade will be witnessing history in the making. It will be the first time ever in the U.S. that an asexual group will march in the parade.

Schedule of Events:

The evening before the parade, Saturday June 27th: BBQ and poster-making party at AVENguy's house in San Francisco at 6pm.

Morning of the parade: They will be meeting somewhere near SF's Embarcadero sometime between 9 and 10 am. Still waiting for more info from the Pride people.

For more details and up to the minute info on the events please check out One Percent Club.

APA protest Over 'GID' – San Francisco, May 18

Protesters call for Reform of Gender Disorders at American Psychiatric Association Convention

What: San Francisco, California. A coalition of transgender community advocates and mental health providers will gather in San Francisco May 18 to protest how the American Psychiatric Association (APA) is handling revisions to “gender identity disorder” and related diagnoses in their fifth edition of the ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’ (DSM-V).

Where: At the corner of 4th Street and Howard Street –Outside the Moscone Center

When: Protest starts at 6:00pm, Monday May 18th

Who: Community leaders scheduled to speak include Julia Serano, PhD; Madeline Deutsch, MD; Masen Davis, MSW; Kelley Winters, PhD; Danielle Askini, MSW; Mara Keisling; Andrea James, MA; Lore Dickey, PhD; Michele Angello, PhD; and Rebecca Allison, MD.

Crossposted via Bird of Paradox.

Gavin Newsom for Governor!

Help donate, spread the word, and campaign on behalf of equal rights champion, Gavin Newsom. California deserves and needs change in direction and policy.



http://www.gavinnewsom.com

"Pedro" New Movie About First Openly Gay Real Worlder With AIDS

In 1994 MTV's The Real World San Francisco which brings together different housemates to live together and share their life story had Pedro Zamora an openly gay man with AIDS on the season. He brought the disease to the spotlight and brought a humanizing element to this most feared and misunderstood illness. Pedro became the face of HIV/AIDS activism for the younger generation and his courage to stand up and be counted has made a difference in countless lives and he made a place for himself in history.

Below is a clip of the cast and a bit about the story and Pedro Zamora's life, "Pedro" which is going to debut Wednesday April 1st at 8pm EST on MTV.

Newsom for California Exploratory Committee

San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom has been a true hero and ally to the LGBT community. In 2004 he was on of the first to "break the law" when he ordered the San-Francisco city county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. He has been a consistent and outspoken supporter of LGBT rights and does so even in the face of his own political risk.

Gavin Newsom has now set up an exploratory committee in looking to become the next Governor of the state of California. The LGBT community owes this man our great support and we must champion his efforts.

http://www.gavinnewsom.com/

Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute (Candidate & Campaign Training)

The Victory Fund's Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute will hold training this month in Fort Lauderdale.

The seminar is a 3 day intensive program about the science of running for political office. The program discusses the unique struggles of running as an out candidate, the possibility of anti-gay smears and many other important techniques when running for office.

Future trainings in other cities include:

Cleveland, OH
Candidate Training
June 18-21

Colorado Springs, CO
Candidate Training
September

San Francisco, CA
Candidate Training
Dec. 2-5

Learn more about our Candidate & Campaign Training and to apply to attend the Fort Lauderdale session.

National Lesbian Health Summit, March 6-9th 2009

The Summit is focused on addressing lesbians, bisexual women, queer women, and transgender people. We welcome all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) communities, and our important friends and allies, nationally and internationally.

We will come together to rebuild a multi-issue, multicultural women’s health movement focused on long-term strategic goals for lesbian/bi/queer women’s health and wellness that is reflective of the diversity of our community.

San Francisco, California March 6th-9th
For more information or to register check out National Lesbian Health Summit

Equality Camp - San Francisco Jan 3rd 2009!

What is EqualityCamp?

EqualityCamp will begin to plan Marriage Equality 2.0 so that all Americans and their families are treated equally under the law.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Citizen Space, 425 2nd Street, 3rd floor, San Francisco, CA 94107

What is EqualityCamp’s goal?

• An inclusive, inspiring, integrated (web and on-the-ground) movement…

• with a clear, central gathering place online…

• with feedback loops to empower a grassroots movement that integrate with any formal campaign.

Who will attend?

Anyone who wants to help achieve the goal. From web 2.0 leaders to people who only use the Net for email, from gay/lesbian/bi/trans/queer citizens who want their full equality to straight allies. People we haven’t yet thought of. You.

Proposed Sessions

• Kicking some Digital Ass(ets): Effective ways to use some powerful tools (will focus on video and some text-based) {Cathy Brooks}

• Marriage Equality - not a GAY issue: Avoiding stridency and reaching out to non-gay supporters {Cathy Brooks}

• How we are gay the way Obama is black: being comfortable in your own skin, gay or otherwise, {Heather Gold}

• Netroots organizing techniques {Adina Levin}

• Connections between netroots organizing and other community organizing

• Obama’s secret sauce, social networking & voter file tools {Dan Ancona} …

For more info check out the official page of Equality Camp.

Crossposted via Lavender Liberal.

The Power of Queer Opposition

One day after the results of the likely marriage ban in California queers and allies flooded the state with peaceful protests.



Above is a picture found on Joe My God of 5,000 protesters at the San Francisco city hall. I re-posted this because it demonstrates the strength of our community to stand united and to stand strong in fierce opposition to bigotry.

Mayor Gavin Newsom: "Reject Prop 8"

Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco is airing in a powerful new video urging us to vote NO on proposition 8. He is asking all of us to do our part to reject the marriage ban on same-sex couples. Tell your friends/family, blog, vote, text message, add a status update and let everyone know where you stand on marriage equality.

Freedom to Marry March in NY and CA

March over the bridge with Marriage Equality USA and demand equal marriage rights in your state. Marches this year are occuring Sunday, Sept 14th in New York, NY Alabany. NY, and San Francisco, CA.

Albany, NY Event Information:

Plan to March, Rain or Shine! (all registered participants will be given an umbrella).Bring a picnic lunch for a post-March gathering at the Albany Riverfront Park at the Corning Preserve. For further questions email info@marriageequalityny.org or call 877-772-0089
Meeting Time: 10:30am
Marching Time: 11:00 am
Location: Hudson River Way Pedestrian Bridge (the one that spans 787)
Meeting Point: On top of the Columbia Street parking garage, which is equipped with elevators and directly connected to the Pedestrian Bridge.



San Francisco, CA Event Information:

Join us for a rally for Marriage Equality and then march across Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on September 14th.
Meeting Time: 9:30 am
Marching Time: 10:30 am
Location: Golden Gate Bridge
Meeting Point: Crissy Field is located on the shoreline of the Presidio of San Francisco north of Mason Street 94129, between the Palace of Fine Arts and Fort Point.
To register, go to: http://www.firstgiving.com/meusa



New York, NY Event Information:

In Cadman Plaza, on the Brooklyn side of the bridge, we will have entertainment in a picnic area of the park (so bring your lunch). This event is hosted by Scott Nevins and the Gender Offenders. We will have performances by Brian Kent, Josh Zuckerman, Talia Coles, Naommon, Kelly King, Wil Deynes, Kalpna, Robert German, The Kraven Seneca Dance Company and many more. Check out the performers section for more info and links to their websites.
Meeting Time: 11:00am
Location: Brooklyn Bridge
Meeting Point: City Hall Park, Park Row & Beekman St., New York, NY 10007
To register, go to: http://www.marriageequalityny.org

Synopsis and Trailer of Milk Film

"After moving to San Francisco, the middle-aged New Yorker, Harvey Milk, became a Gay Rights activist and city politician. On his third attempt, he was elected to San Francisco's Board of Supervisors in 1977, making him the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the USA. The following year, both he and the city's mayor, George Moscone, were shot to death by former city supervisor, Dan White, who blamed his former colleagues for denying White's attempt to rescind his resignation from the board.

Mr. Milk had been the subject of several books and the Academy Award-winning documentary feature, The Times of Harvey Milk (1984); but Milk (2008) is the first fictional feature to explore private aspects of the man's personal life and career.

Milk was filmed on location in San Francisco. Many of Mr Milk's real-life surviving friends and former associates participated in the making of this film, several appearing on camera." (Imdb)

Below is a trailer of the upcoming movie:

S.F. Queer Activists Protest HRC Gala July 26th

According to Queer Today:

"On July 26 at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, there will be a party and protest in front of the HRC Gala.

HRC has a long record of endorsing war-mongers and republicans like Joe Lieberman, weak and shameful support of transgender, genderqueer/gender variant communities, and focusing their attention and money on the needs and desires of the most well-off members of the LGBT community.

As queer activists it is our responsibility to let the donors to HRC know just what they are giving to. They are contributing to an organization that endorses pro-life, and anti-war candidates. And an organization that does not fully support the trans community.

There are thousands of good hearted contributors to HRC who simply need to be made aware.

Join us on July 26, to demonstrate in front of the Westin St. Francis, San Francisco."

San Francisco Bay Area Residents Take Stand Against HRC

"On Saturday, July 26th, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is hosting its annual San Francisco gala dinner and fund raiser at the Westin St. Francis hotel. They’ll raise money, cheer and applaud their apparent successes in Washington DC, announce a sudden, renewed interest in marriage, and claim that they are advancing the nation’s LGBT agenda.

But we in San Francisco’s LGBT community are preparing our OWN July 26th party in the streets, outside of the Westin St. Francis. We also encourage others in the LGBT community and our allies to boycott HRC’s gala event, due to HRC’s ongoing refusal to advocate for federal legislation that protects all Americans from discrimination based on gender identity and expression."

Sign the Petition to Show Solidarity with the HRC Gala Boycott!

Solidarity Rallies in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco for LGBT Russians

According to Petrelis Files:

"Gay activists in three U.S. cities will mobilize for vigils on May 16 and 17 for IDAHO, International Day Against Homophobia, and the focus will be to apply pressure on the Russian government to grant all necessary permits to the organizers of Moscow's third gay pride parade, scheduled for late May.

Last year, despite the mayor of Moscow refusing to grant permits to parade, gay marchers from around the world attempted to peaceably take to the streets for equality and tolerance, and were violently assaulted by ultra-nationalist thugs, sending some of the gays, covered in blood, to the hospital. Russian police stood by and did nothing to stop the attacks."

City: Chicago, IL
Date: Saturday, May 17
Time: 3:00 pm
Location: Women and Children First Bookstore
Action: Rally in front of store, then a march
Address: 5233 N. Clark Street, cross street is Farragaut
Contact: Andy Thayer; lgbtliberation@aol.com
Web site: GayLiberation.net

City: New York, NY
Date: Friday, May 16
Time: 12 noon
Location: Russian Consulate
Action: Speak out
Address: 9 E. 91st Street, cross street is Fifth Avenue
Contact: Brendan Fey; brendan@stpatsforall.com

City: San Francisco, CA
Date: Friday, May 16
Time: 12 noon
Location: Russian Consulate
Action: Speak out
Address: 2790 Green Street, cross street is Baker
Contact: Michael Petrelis; mpetrelis@aol.com

Bill O'Reilly Wants "Gays Turned into Salt", Dennis Miller calls "Homosexuals Morons"

Another day and another task we have in combating blatant homophobia. The O'Reilly factor had a segment about "Hunky Jesus" an event in San Francisco where men dress up as Jesus. The event is hosted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Whether you like the event or are personally offended by it, people have the right to exercise their right to free speech and so do O'Reilly and Miller. However, I prefer to call them out on it and let them know they are wrong to talk about gays in this manner.

Dennis Miller refers to gays as "homosexual morons who want to throw a parade" and O'Reilly says "Wouldn't you love to see these people turned into salt" and Miller responds he "doesn't know, and just doesn't care"

Please watch the video here on PageOneQ http://pageoneq.com/news/2008/oreilly032708.html

Millions of people tuned into this homophobic crap.

Please contact O'Reilly and Miller and let them know homophobia on our airwaves is not welcome.

Bill O'Reilly
Email: oreilly@foxnews.com
Phone # 1-888-369-4762

Dennis Miller
http://www.dennismillerradio.com/pg/jsp/general/contact.jsp#form2