Showing posts with label african americans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label african americans. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

LDS Apostle Compares Mormon Backlash Post Prop 8 to African American Civil Rights Struggle

Elder Dallin Oaks, an LDS apostle, gave a speech at Mormom Brigham Young University Tuesday comparing the backlash against Mormons post Prop 8 to the struggles of African Americans in the South during the civil rights movement. In the same speech, he called marriage equality an "alleged civil right."



AP:
Oaks suggested that atheists and others are seeking to intimidate people of faith and silence their voices in the public square, according to his prepared remarks.

"The extent and nature of religious devotion in this nation is changing," said Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a church governing body. "The tide of public opinion in favor of religion is receding, and this probably portends public pressures for laws that will impinge on religious freedom."

-----

"Blacks were lynched and beaten and denied the right to vote by their government," said Marc Solomon, marriage director for Equality California, which spearheaded the No on 8 campaign. "To compare that to criticism of Mormon leaders for encouraging people to give vast amounts of money to take away rights of a small minority group is illogical and deeply offensive."

-----

Fred Karger, founder of the gay rights group Californians Against Hate, said Oaks' speech is part of a public relations offensive to "try to turn the tables on what has been a complete disaster for the Mormon church ... They are trying to be the victim here. They're not. They're the perpetrators."

I've said from the beginning that I don't agree with the focus of our ire over Prop 8 should be against the Mormons. I saw behavior at the protests around the Los Angeles Mormon temple immediately following the passage that I not only felt embarrassed by but shame for our community, though the anger behind these actions was justified.

However, I find it very ironic that the Mormon leadership is playing victim and comparing this current backlash against them to hundreds of years of oppression that African Americans suffered, because the LDS church was part of that oppression, calling them cursed because of their skin color or what they considered the "Mark of Cain" and declaring them unable to be saved, go to heaven or to be members of their church. It was only when the church experienced societal pressure that one of the apostles experienced a "revelation" and suddenly African Americans were A-OK.

But on top of that, in reference to Proposition 8, the LDS church was a major player in creating the ballot to strip LGBT citizens of an existing and fundamental right. How can they turn around and then claim victimization?

This arrogance and playing victim is offensive on so many levels.

I guess it's only a matter of time before another apostle experiences another "revelation" and we gays will be A-OK, too.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

EVENT: Roll Bounce Party! A Jordan Rustin Coalition Fundraiser


Purchase tickets here!

Find out more about the Jordan Rustin Coalition, a Los Angeles based group committed to engaging the African-American community to work on marriage equality while building a movement of LGBT African Americans and allies who are committed to grassroots organizing.

Friday, April 17, 2009

EVENT: Jordan Rustin Coalition, "Talking Across the Table"

Talking Across the Table
Elder Voices - The Women - Then to Now
Coming Out to Civil Rights

Panel members
- Jewel Williams - Owner of Jewel's Catch One
- Vallerie Wagner - JRC & National Black Justice Coalition board member
- Dr. Sylvia Rhue - National Black Justice Coalition
- Fatima Cortez-Todd - Actress, activist and past CORE member
- Rev. Onetta Brooks - Pastor of Christ Chapel of Orange County

Hosted by: Dalila Ali Rajah of Cherry Bomb
Facilitated by: Ange-Marie Hancock

Sunday, April 19th
Location: Jewel's Catch One
4067 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 737-1159

Time:3 pm to 5 pm
Cost:Free
Parking: Lot parking and street parking

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Cleve Jones and the LGBT & Labor Forum

Cleve Jones spoke yesterday at a LGBT and Labor forum hosted by Equal Roots and Unite Here! at West Hollywood's Kol Ami synagogue.

With a purpose to share and discuss the "building a powerful LGBT and Labor coalition to win full equality for members of the LGBT community and the community at large," the forum included a panel of individuals actively involved with the unions but were also part of the LGBT community.

With standing room only, the event was kicked off with an introduction by Cleve who reminded the attendees that the "queer movement began as a radical, liberal movement," and that change towards equality will "never happen with a click of a mouse but with the willingness to pound the streets, knock on doors and a willingness to be arrested." Referring to the Briggs Initiative that he worked against with Harvey Milk, he said, "That's how we won."

The proponents of the Briggs Initiative used the "same bullshit arguments" that are being used today to support anti-gay measures such as Proposition 8. Back then, polls showed them trailing, but in the end they defeated the homophobic initiative. And why?

The main reason: "Coalition."

Cleve related the story of how a Toronto union was planning on a strike vote against a Hyatt the weekend of the International AIDS Conference being held at that very hotel. He flew out to convince them not to do it that weekend because many of the hotel's rooms would be needed by those with HIV/AIDS who would be traveling very far distances and in need of rest. Crossing a picket line would prove extremely difficult, as would finding new rooms elsewhere.

Union members were at first resistant.

Many union members are immigrants coming from cultures with severe homophobia or at the very least, where homosexuality is a taboo subject. But with much hard work, setting up meetings between housekeepers and valet attendants and gay people, Cleve was able to remind them that members of their union were also members of the LGBT community, and some suffering from HIV/AIDS, and as a result, that this was their issue, too.

He was able to convince them to push the strike vote a week.

Many attendees of the HIV/AIDS conference stayed and picketed with them the following week.

That's coalition building.

Another example is the boycott on the Manchester Hyatt in San Diego. The owner gave $125,000 for the canvassing that led to Proposition 8. The local union and the LGBT community boycott has cost the hotel millions in dollars in business.

More...

Unfortunately, during the No on 8 Campaign, many union leaders reached out to help but their calls of assistance were left unanswered by a campaign that lacked structure, strategy and any sort of capability of receiving such help. These unions are powerful with a long history of winning rights for their members. How could the LGBT community not have taken advantage?

Not wanting to diss the bureaucrats of non-profits who provide many great services to the greater LGBT community, Cleve said they're not the ones that should be fighting for our rights and running our political campaigns. The community should be. And the community needs to be building coalitions.

Members of the panel spoke of their own stories and how being part of both the LGBT community and the unions has given them a chance to build a bridge between the two. However, it's not always easy.

Yardeena Aaron, an African American lesbian of Here to Stay, spoke about how she helped unionize over 5,000 security guards in her area so they could receive better benefits from the employer, only to feel betrayed when the leaders of the unionizing campaign came out in favor of Yes on 8. She realized then that more work needed to be done and so began Here to Stay, a black LGBTQ group that's reaching out within its community that's made up of many union members.

The Latino community also makes up a good deal of unions, and Tom Walsh, president of the local chapter of Unite Here! had to remind them how they themselves felt discriminated against in their own unions when, years ago, they were told they couldn't speak at the meetings unless it was in English, and how the leaders refused to get a translator. And now, the LGBT members of their union feel they are being discriminated against in much of the same manner.

Douglass Marmol, another Latino LGBT member of Unite Here! told a moving story in Spanish about how he bravely stood up at a general meeting of his union and proclaimed, "We're fighting for free health insurance. For respect. So if we are fighting for everyone else's respect, we need to fight for our own. I am gay, and I'm fighting for my own."

Shortly after, the local union head helped Douglass come out to his own family.

After the panel spoke, the forum was opened up for Q&A. One person asked what the best approach was to building these coalitions with unions, especially its members who may be resistant.

Cleve responded many of them are people of faith and have deeply held beliefs, but we also have to remember how much they'd been lied to during the Proposition 8 battle. They were told their pastors would be thrown into jail if they refused to marry gay couples.

The lies need to be addressed.

But above all, the LGBT community needs to remember these people struggle together and fight together. They know about economic justice. About fighting backbreaking work for pennies on the hour. Tell them that LGBT rights is truly about economic justice, and they get it. And they'll fight with you.

And isn't that what the fight for same-sex marriage is about? Economic justice? Receiving the benefits in an albeit faulty benefit system that your fellow citizen already receives. Isn't it about being equals?

Despite a few differences, commonalities, or "intersectionality" abound. Like Yardeena said, "We want our rights. We want to feed our families. We want to move on."

There's the power of coalition. There's the power of the progressive movement.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

EVENT: Remembering Martin Luther King March

On April 4th, a march in Los Angeles will be held on the 41st anniversary of Martin Luther King's assassination. Hosted, among others, by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles, the organization founded by MLK, its focus will be on quality jobs, quality education and safe neighborhoods.

Contrary to popular belief, many in the African American community support the LGBT community and its fight for their civil rights. We need to show equal support for the African American community. A good showing from the LGBT community at this march will be a great step in continuing our alliances.

Here to Stay, an African American LGBTQ coalition, is organizing a marching contingent. You can reach them to get involved at heretostaycoalition@gmail.com or at their website www.heretostaycoalition.org.

For full information, review the flyer below and pass it on!

Flyer for April 4th SCLC March

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

NAACP National Chairman Julian Bond Speaks at HRC Gala

National NAACP Chairman Julian Bond gave a powerful speech in support of LGBT rights at HRC’s Los Angeles Gala Dinner on Saturday, March 14.



From his speech:

"When someone asks me, “are gay rights civil rights?” my answer is always, “Of course, they are.” Civil rights are positive legal prerogatives: the right to equal treatment before the law. These are the rights shared by everyone. There is no one in the United States who does not, or should not, enjoy or share in enjoying these rights. Gay and lesbian rights are not special rights in any way. It isn’t “special” to be free from discrimination. It is an ordinary, universal entitlement of citizenship. "


"People of color ought to be flattered that our movement has provided so much inspiration for others. That, it has been, that our movement has been so widely imitated. That our tactics, our methods, our heroes, our heroines, and even our songs, have been appropriated or served as models for others."

"Now, no parallel between movements is exact. African-Americans are the only Americans who were enslaved for more than two centuries and people of color carried the badge of who we are on our faces. But we are far from the only people suffering discrimination; sadly, so do many others. And those others deserve the law’s protection and civil rights too…"

"Like race, our sexuality isn’t a preference. It is immutable; it is unchangeable. And the constitution protects us against prejudices and discrimination based on immutable differences."

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Our Post Prop 8 Strategic Approach

A new study on California's vote to ban same-sex marriage has revealed that far fewer African Americans voted for the ban. Exit polls released shortly after election day showed that about 70% voted for the ban, but the new in-depth study found a much different number: 57% to 59%. Out of roughly 700,000 African American votes, that's a huge difference.

Though I don't want to get into the details of the study, it does conclude that race was less of a factor in determining one's vote - it was more age, ideology and religious beliefs across ethnic groups.

As a community, the LGBT response to the vote has been to focus on minority groups in an effort to educate them more about who we are and how we live our lives, to show them that we are just like everyone else. And though this is good and must continue, this new study shows that only time can make the big change. Why? A quote from The Advocate.com:

"Perhaps surprisingly, the study also revealed that partisanship and ideology trumped the fact of knowing someone who is openly LGBT. About two-thirds of the state’s self-identified conservatives knew someone who was gay and about 4 out of five of them voted for the measure – the same exact ratio of conservatives who voted for Prop. 8 but didn’t know an openly LGBT person. Republicans demonstrated a similar pattern, with about four out of five of them voting to pass the ban regardless of whether they knew anyone who was out or not."

To really make a significant change in society so that, if necessary, same-sex marriage can pass on the ballot, people's beliefs and ideology must change, something that will likely never happen. Reaching out to this group doesn't appear to make that much of a difference because 4 out of 5 of them, who knew someone from the LGBT community, still voted to strip us of our rights.

More...

So where's the hope? What's the key to our success? The new generation involved in what is currently known as the "youth movement." Just eight years ago, Prop 22 passed with 61% of the vote, while Prop 8 barely made it with 52% (Graph). Many of the "No on Prop 8" votes came from those who weren't old enough to vote in 2000, and not just secular youth. There's a panic in the right wing as they realize their own youth are trending towards support for same-sex marriage (read this illuminating article from ABCNews.com about the shift). This shift isn't just for gay rights, but also abortion.

This new generation is our key to success, our hope. When I say it may take time for our success, I don't mean a lot of time. I'm not going to "wait", a piece of advice MLK rejected in his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail". I'm going to help educate those who are open-minded, who are willing to look at me as a person and not a plague to "the family", who can see past lifestyle differences and respectfully acknowledge me as a fellow citizen of their country, not a second-class citizen. I'm not going to waste my resources on those who have proven again and again that though they may love me to my face, will continually stab me in the back by voting my rights away. And if we do in fact get a new initiative on the ballot in 2010, a mere year away, to allow same-sex marriage, I have complete faith that, with the help of this new generation of both secular and evangelical youth and our renewed focus on them, it will indeed pass.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Marcha Somos Familia: We Are Family March

This Sunday, January 4th, Somos Familia is hosting a march in East Los Angeles in protest of Proposition 8.

As part of their mission statement, Somos Familia is using this march to "not only. . . voice our disappointment on the passing of Proposition 8 but to also encourage dialogue and love among all friends, families, and allies of the LGBT communities."

Hoping to be one of the first large marches in East Los Angeles, it can be effective in reaching those who are not regularly exposed to the LGBT communities. Unlike the prior protests held in allied neighborhoods, this march can bring together immigrants facing everyday discrimination, LGBT community members sidelined as second-class citizens due to Proposition 8, African Americans who face daily racial prejudice and more. Though these communities don't always see eye-to-eye, Proposition 8 is not only a threat to the LGBT community, but to other minority groups as well. If one group of citizens could have their rights stripped away, this makes all minority groups vulnerable.

For more information, see the calendar at the bottom of blog or visit Somos Familia Facebook Event Page.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Friday, December 5, 2008

Black Women's Vote

In an effort of continual education on those who voted for Prop 8, I've decided to post an interesting NY Times Op-Ed piece written by columnist Charles M. Blow, which discusses some theories on why black women, who were twice as likely as black men, voted for Prop 8.

An intriguing read that can inform our efforts to repeal Prop 8. Also a graphics editor, Charles M. Blow posted this graph below which is a great visual of statistics. It gets lost amongst the busy layout of the website, so I wanted to be sure to post it here.




Wednesday, November 26, 2008

The Black GLBT March and Protest in Leimert Park

This past weekend, there was a march in Leimert Park organized by "Love at Work - The Exchange" and Rev. Freda Lanoix. The Barbara Jordan/Bayard Rustin Coalition strongly supported the march, issuing a Press Release, part of which said:

"African-American Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Americans have something unique to add to the multiple activities attempting to repeal Proposition 8. The Jordan/Rustin Coalition supports, endorses and will participate in any and all peaceful and lawful actions involving our own communities which support this goal."

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend since I was out of town and have been searching for some coverage. Luckily, I came across John Waiblinger and his videos (which can be found on his channel at YouTube), who runs a blog named Queer Dilemma. Thanks, John, for sharing these videos.



Tuesday, November 25, 2008

First Hand Account of an African American Town Hall

Recently, there was a town hall held in the Los Angeles, African American community discussing Prop 8. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but Derrick, of the blog Uncle Fat Lips, was kind enough to allow me to post his account of this very interesting meeting.

"There was a panel of black ministers early on that I caught almost at the tail end. And of course with their self-righteous stupid asses they quoted the bible and all that madness. But I'm so glad that they were among the first panels to go up. And that's because the gays and lesbians were able to follow them up and give these men a dose of reality in terms the REAL aftermath of Prop 8 and what these fools created by encouraging blacks to vote Yes.

"So a lot of revealing information for the ignorant was brought to the table in so much as the big funders for YES on 8 were the one and same big funders who backed McCain's campaign and all that. Bottom line: many blacks just simply were not aware that by supporting Prop 8 they were going to bed with the enemy. And in truth, that's the most awful part about it all---the ignorance surrounding the ramifications in supporting Prop 8--as was discussed at great length today.

More...". . . But what it all melted down to was that many blacks generally made the grave mistake of voting through the prism of religion. That was the hottest topic---2nd to the fact that it is time that black homophobia be addressed on a community level since clearly it's an issue.

"I'd say there was some breakthrough simply for the fact that the ministers who attended (all of which head black mega churches) got a chance to see and hear what's going on in the real world; to hear the resentment and pain of those black gays and lesbians in long term relationships who have been denied their civil rights. And particularly it was good for these ministers to hear from black gays and lesbians who are still involved in church.

"I think the most powerful presence and the one that made the ministers feel the most ill at ease was the presence of the Southern Christian Leadership LA Chapter president. And that's simply because the SCL came out vocally against Prop 8. How can you justify your religious stance to the organization founded by Martin Luther King?

"That's just it---you can't.

"So the SCL is one sore spot they can't get around. And think that's why the ministers showed up and for the most part---with the exception of the bible thumping---they seemed somewhat receptive and seemed to actually be engrossed in what others had to say. More than likely that's cause it's the first time any of them heard any of it from a different perspective than their own.

"Everyone against Prop 8 unanimously agreed however that the No on Prop Campaign was pathetic in comparison to the well thought out strategies of Yes on Prop 8--particularly when it come to aggressively recruiting black votes--which No on 8 didn't bother to do. And they also wholeheartedly agreed that this still didn't excuse the black voter turnout on Prop 8 or diminish the issue of homophobia in the community.

". . . The facts now reveal that overall (whether you agree or disagree with gay marriage) it was not in our [African Americans] best interest as a community to support that measure. And because we did there may be prices to be paid as a result.

"That information, I think, was probably the most sobering of the townhall meeting. And it was clear, based on the quiet demeanor of those black ministers who encouraged the support of Prop 8, that they themselves were not at all clear on the possible negative legislative impact it could have on California blacks in the future. In terms of discrimination---if you open Pandora's Box---you open Pandora's box for all and everything. They simply had no business endorsing the measure. I think they walked away from the event now in realization of this."

Friday, November 21, 2008

Join Black LGBT of LA in a Peaceful March

Organized by "Love at Work - The Exchange"

Join the Black LGBT of Los Angeles in a peaceful march to protest the passage of
Proposition 8!

WHEN: Sunday, November 23, at 11:00am, march beings at 11:30am
WHERE: AT Leimert Park Fountain (Corner of Vernon and Crenshaw). The march route is north on Crenshaw Blvd. to King Blvdl and then back to Leimer Park. A

All gay, lesbian, queer, same-gender loving, bi-sexual, transgender, their families, friends and supporters are invited to come out and participate.

Please feel free to bring your own signs and bring your own drinking water.

PLEASE DO NOT WEAR RED OR BLUE.

*There will not be a rally at leimert park afterward*

For further information, please contact Rev. Freda Lanoix at revfreda@aol.Com or at myspace.Com/revfreda.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

California Is Not Alone

Time.com presents a video about the fall out of the gay marriage ban in Florida, focusing on the African American community. It offers a great insight to both sides of the issue.

Time.com does not allow embedding of their videos, so here is the link.

Time.com - In Florida, Fall Out From a Gay Marriage Ban

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Proposition 8 is NOT about Black Homophobia

This is was issued from:



Written by: BlackCommentator.com Editorial Board member, the Rev. Irene Monroe, is a religion columnist, theologian, and public speaker. A native of Brooklyn, Rev. Monroe is a graduate from Wellesley College and Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University, and served as a pastor at an African-American church before coming to Harvard Divinity School for her doctorate as a Ford Fellow. Reverend Monroe is the author of Let Your Light Shine Like a Rainbow Always: Meditations on Bible Prayers for Not-So-Everyday Moments. As an African American feminist theologian, she speaks for a sector of society that is frequently invisible. Her website is irenemonroe.com


"I have learned as both a pastor and also as a member belonging to several minority groups - African-American, women and lesbian - that a popular opinion on a civil rights issue does not always reflect the right choice. Too often the right choice and the moral high ground on an issue derive from small struggling groups trying both to be seen and heard among the cacophony of dissenting voices and opposing votes. And it is with these groups that we see democracy's tenacity working, where those relegated to the fringes of society can begin to sample what those in society take for granted as their inalienable right like the right for all of its citizens to marry.

"Last week we saw democracy work with the election of Barack Obama as our country's first African American president. My enslaved ancestors who built the White House could have never imagined that one of their progenies would one day occupy it. But we also saw last week, on the same day, how democracy didn't work for its LGBTQ citizens with the passing of Proposition 8, an amendment to the California Constitution eliminating marriage equality for same-sex couples, after the California Supreme Court ruled in May that a "separate and unequal" system of domestic partnership for same-sex couples is not only blatantly discriminatory but it is also unconstitutional.

"While California's gay community places blame on African Americans for the passing of Proposition 8, we were one of many interest groups backing the amendment. And although we are just 6.2 percent of the state's overall population we can't wash our hands clean by saying other interest groups are just as culpable.

"Seven out of ten of us pulled a lever to deny another minority groups their civil rights. And while the pollsters and pundits say that religion was our reason, as African American we have always discarded damning and damaging statements and scriptures about us in the name of religion like biblical passages that either cursed all people of African ancestry (The Curse of Ham, Genesis 9:18-27) or advocated slavery (Ephesians 6:5-8).

"Many Proposition 8 supporters voted yes believing the future traditional family was at stake. But when society narrowly defines marriage as solely the union between a man and a woman, it ignores the constantly changing configuration of today's family units. And the African American community knows this best. While African American ministers will argue for the traditional nuclear family, the stresses and strains of racism has and continues to thwart the possibility. So we created our own family structures.

"Therefore, multiple family structures presented by same-sex marriages should not pose a threat to the African-American community because they are what have sustained, saved and are still saving African-American families. A grandmother or an aunt and uncle - straight or gay - raising us in their loving home have anchored our families through the centuries. And these multiple family structures, which we have had to devise as a model of resistance and liberation, have always, by example, shown the rest of society what really constitutes family- its spiritual content and not is physical composition.

"Unfortunately, civil rights struggles in this country have primarily been understood, reported on and advocated within the context of African American struggles.

"The present-day contentious debate between black and queer communities, concerning what constitutes a legitimate civil rights issue and which group owns the right to use the term, is both fueled and ignored by systemic efforts by our government that deliberately pit both groups against each other rather than upholding the 13th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution that afford each of these marginal groups their inalienable rights.

"While it is true that the white LGBTQ community needs to work on its racism, white privilege, and single-issue platform that thwart all efforts for coalition building with both straight and queer communities of color, the African-American community needs to work on its homophobia.

"The blame of the passing of Proposition 8 should not be placed on the shoulders of blacks, Latinos or even religion, but rather the blame should rightly be placed on the shoulders of our government.

"To have framed our civil rights as a ballot question for a popular vote was both wrong-hearted and wrong-headed. If my enslaved ancestors had waited for their slaveholders to free them, predicated on a ballot vote we all wouldn't be living in the America we know today. And Barack Obama would not be our president-elect."

Panel at UCLA Law School

The Critical Race Studies Program at UCLA School of Law invites you to a Roundtable Discussion and Dialogue on Race and LGBT Rights:

The Aftermath of Prop 8: Is Gay Really the New Black?
  • How should we respond to the argument that "blacks betrayed gays" in supporting Prop. 8?
  • Does this framing suggest that all blacks are straight and all gays are white?
  • How does the dominant interpretation of Prop. 8 compare various communities of color?
  • What can we learn from the political and representational strategies of the campaigns regarding Prop. 8 in California?
  • What does a multiracial and coalitional politics for LGBT equality require and promise for winning and sustaining equal rights?
Professor Russell Robinson, who teaches Race, Sexuality and the Law at UCLA School of Law, will moderate an urgent roundtable discussion on the repercussions of the passage of Proposition 8 and the racial discourse surrounding its passage. The panelists will include political activists, community organizers, professors and students of diverse racial and sexual identities.

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008
6:00pm to 7:30pm
UCLA School of Law - Room 1430

For questions, please contact Professor Robinson by email at robinson@law.ucla.edu

Co-sponsored by the Williams Institute and the African American Policy Forum

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Need Encouragement about the Fight?

Anna Quindlen has written the most moving editorial for Newsweek, title "The Loving Decision." Using civil rights history, she argues that it is inevitable that gays and lesbians will have the right to marry.

Using the Loving vs. Virginia case, where Mildred Jeter, an African-American, and Richard Loving, a caucasian, married in DC, she describes how they went home to Virginia and were pulled out of their own bed and arrested in their own home for miscegenation.

I'll quote Anna's last paragraph that brought tears to my eyes:

"The last word here goes to an authority on battling connubial bigotry. On the anniversary of the Loving decision last year, the bride wore tolerance. Mildred Loving, mother and grandmother, who once had cops burst into her bedroom because she was sleeping with her own husband, was quoted in a rare public statement saying she believed all Americans, "no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry." She concluded, "That's what Loving, and loving, are all about."

Read the whole article here

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Mormons? No. African-Americans? No.

Old people? Well, yes.

I know Dan Savage probably isn't the final word on this issue, but let's hear him out.



However, Nate Silver, known to be an excellent pollster, uses hard voting data, and after close analysis, he actually agrees with Mr. Savage. Read his analysis.

With this in mind, take another look at the recent map that I posted earlier today diagramming who voted what and where in LA County. See post This only furthers our knowledge of the opposition and will continue to fine-tune our strategy to reach out to those who were lied to and misled about Prop 8.

KEEP POSTED ABOUT THE TOWN HALL. Together as a community, we're going to determine exactly what this strategy will be.