GAY IE ISSUES:
Rally in Rancho Cucamonga
protests court's Prop 8 decision

Inland Empire gays, lesbians and their allies raised their voices Tuesday night at a rally in Rancho Cucamonga to protest the California Supreme Court ruling upholding Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage.

The crowd estimated at 400 or more stood on the four corners of Foothill and Day Creek Boulevard, one of the busiest intersections in the area near the Victoria Gardens shopping center.

“What do we want?”
“Equal rights”
“When do we want them?”
“Now”

The chant was one of several that went up from the group as they stood waving signs at passing vehicles and responding to honking horns. The crowd included many young people, some older folks, a few children and even some dogs.

One child carried a homemade sign that read “My Moms said ‘I Do.’”

The crowd was littered with red and blue signs, with the slogan “I DO support freedom to marry,” provided by the rally’s sponsors, Equality Inland Empire and Equality California. Other people carried the rainbow flag and there was at least one American flag.

The rally was one of many Day of Decision events across the state, and elsewhere in the nation, protesting the court’s decision released earlier in the day.

Protesters walked across the multiple-lane intersection to occupy all four corners of the commercial intersection.

Two Proposition 8 supporters waved signs as they walked near the crowd.

Speakers included representatives of Riverside PFLAG and a Redlands clergywoman, who expressed their sadness about the decision and their hope for the future.

But the night belonged to the protesters, who brought out electric candles and glow sticks as darkness fell and continued their chants.

“Gay, straight,
black, white
marriage is
a civil right.”

GAY IE ISSUES:
Reaction to Prop 8 decision

Here's some reaction to today's Supreme Court decision:


Back to the ballot
Today’s ruling is a miscarriage of justice. No minority group should have to defend its right to equality at the ballot. Despite today’s setback, Equality California is committed to restoring the freedom to marry. We believe, as do the majority of our members, that 2010 is the best time to return to the ballot to repeal Prop. 8. We must take full advantage of the momentum and commitment people now have to do the work required on the ground. However, we will make the final decision on when to return in collaboration with our coalition partners and allies throughout the state.
--Marc Soloman, EQCA's marriage director

Out of step
Today's decision is dramatically out of step with where the nation is heading. After decades of struggle and hard work, we are living through an unmistakable turning point in the history of our movement. In the past few weeks alone, there has been a tidal wave of momentum in favor of equality for same-sex couples—including a unanimous decision upholding marriage equality from the Iowa Supreme Court; legislative victories in Vermont and Maine; and additional victories on the horizon in New Jersey and New York. Across the country, public opinion is shifting decisively in our favor. Five states have now embraced full marriage equality for same-sex couples, and more are expected to join that list this year. It is devastating that California is no longer one of them. But rest assured: we will be again.
--Kate Kendall, National Center for Lesbian Rights

Sad day for California
This is a sad day for our state and a setback for the cause of freedom and fairness. But it's also important to keep this in perspective. Every noble struggle known to man or woman has been filled withlosses--temporary defeats that people had to endure and overcome. We must pick ourselves up and move forward, knowing that justiceu ltimately will prevail and the right to marry will one day be oursforever. Fortunately, this loss comes amidst a veritable tide of progress inmany other state supreme courts and legislatures--a tide thatcannot be turned back, no matter today's decision.
--Lorri L. Jean, CEO, LA Gay and Lesbian Center

Statement from GLAAD: http://glaadblog.org/2009/05/26/glaads-statement-on-prop-8-decision/
Statement from National Gay and Lesbian Task Force: http://www.thetaskforce.org/press/releases/pr_052609
Statement from Lambda Legal: http://www.lambdalegal.org/news/pr/court-upholds-prop-8-state-continues-to-regognize-18000-marriages.html
Statement from Human Rights Campaign: http://www.hrc.org/12755.htm
Statement from PFLAG: http://pflagblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/as-california-court-upholds-proposition.html

GAY IE ENTERTAINMENT:

9 reasons why Adam Lambert

didn't win American Idol

So we’ll have to wait another year for an “out” American Idol, after Kris Allen took the title over Adam Lambert for Season 8.

A lot of people are surprised and disappointed with the result. But we probably should have seen it coming for a lot of reasons, the least of them being Lambert’s sexual orientation.

1.Kris might never have ever been the underdog. American Idol isn’t exactly transparent about the voting results; the numbers are a secret. Kris was proclaimed the “underdog,” a role he played brilliantly, but for all we know he might have been leading all along.

2. Adam might have peaked too soon – he’d already been on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. Kris demonstrated improvement from week to week, and in the end seemed to be something new and different.

3.Kris is what the show is about – an amateur is discovered. Voters might have figured that with Adam’s stage experience he’s already a pro.

4. Adam’s fans were loud, his support was deep; but Kris appealed to the tween girl demo of the show, in the end, his support was broad.

5. Allison’s early departure might have signaled doom for Adam. He could gain her rock votes, but Kris had more to gain from Danny’s voters, who were probably a bigger block and had lost their singer just a week before the finale.

6. Kris’ rural background worked to his advantage. The phone company reported millions of votes from his home state of Arkansas, proof that a rural area works to get behind its own. Adam’s SoCal roots in San Diego –well, we’ve seen it all before. (A demonstration of this was the hometown visits of the finalists – Adam’s seemed flat compared to the excitement for Kris.)

7. There might have been some backlash that Adam was seen as the judge’s favorite and seemed to get extra special treatment for his arrangements and productions. (Proof of that even in the finale where Kris did one simple song with Keith Urban, while Adam glammed it up with a three-song set with KISS.) Voters to AI: We’ll decide who wins, thank you very much.

8. That last-minute Christian versus gay-guy dust up couldn’t have helped matters much. A reminder that Adam might just be a little too out there for Middle America. Kris was a safe choice; who knows what might be lurking in Adam's closet.

9. And by not directly addressing the gay question, was Adam playing it safe or appearing to be a little too private, too coy? Maybe he underestimated what the public could handle. Adam’s talent is undeniable, but he (or the AI machine) never trusted us enough to tell his story…and we love a story.

In the end, they’re both talented, attractive performers with great futures. The one question remaining: Will Adam finally answer the gay question in the upcoming round of post-finale media interviews? It’s time to come out already!

GAY IE EVENTS:
Comedy Store goes gay on Friday nights

What’s so funny about being gay? Find out on Friday nights when LA lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender stand-up comics take the stage for Thank Gays It’s Friday at the Comedy Store. The show, wich opened in September, bills itself as the longest-running weekly LGBT show in Southern California.

WHEN: Midnight Fridays
WHERE: The Comedy Store, 8433 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood
ADMISSION: $10, students $7
INFO: 323-650-6268

GAY IE: ISSUES
Help make Harvey Milk’s birthday a state holiday

If Harvey Milk had lived he would be 79 years old on Friday, May 22.

The effort to make the slain gay rights leader’s birthday a state holiday is in the California Assembly after the Senate approved the bill last week. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill last year, saying that Milk, who was a San Francisco supervisor when he was killed in 1978, should be recognized on the local level.

You can help influence the governor this time around by signing a petition at www.eqca.org/HarveyMilkDay.

Read a review of the DVD of the Oscar-winning movie “Milk” elsewhere on this blog.

GAY I E ISSUES:
EQ IE Unity Forum proves local supporters
of marriage can have an impact

Maybe the Inland Empire isn’t a gay dead zone after all.

More than 200 people attended a Unity Forum focusing on marriage rights sponsored by Equality Inland Empire Friday, May 15, at the University of Redlands.

Featured speaker Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, said it was the 11th in a series of town halls in the state, and the best attended. That's an indication that the IE could be a battleground in the fight for marriage rights in California.

Kors and other speakers said those attending the IE meeting could make a difference in the next battle for same-sex marriage rights by telling their stories to friends, co-workers and others to change the hearts and minds of voters. Supporters of marriage can not depend on gay strongholds like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Palm Springs to bring in the vote.

While we wait for the state Supreme Court to issue its opinion on the challenge to Prop 8, Equality California is already anticipating a ballot box rematch with opponents of same-sex marriage.

Kors announced that Equality California would open an office in the Inland Empire and staff it with four organizers to support the work of local advocates. The goal is to “win marriage back and make it real,” Kors said. He said the effort needs to produce a victory so large that opponents will not continue their fight.

Speakers expressed the need for hope Friday night, but it could be a long fight for marriage rights. Observers consider it unlikely that the Supreme Court’s decision due anytime will find a way to overturn a measure approved by the electorate.

Organizers staffing California Equality’s IE office will help with door-to-door canvas campaigns, preparing walk lists and training efforts. They will also attend public events and help build coalitions.

Ironically Friday’s town hall was conducted on the one year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to allow same-sex marriage. All that changed in November when Prop 8 was approved by voters and same-sex marriages stopped.

The town hall, the first event organized by the new Equality IE, opened with a slide show of photos from IE marriages and events protesting of Prop 8.

Equality California’s new TV commercials statewide featuring couples discussing same-sex marriage rights were also screened. See one of the ads here.

GAY IE: MOVIES
Summer film preview -- 7 movies to watch for

The summer movie season is here, and film fans will be lining up for “Wolverine,” “Star Trek,” “Harry Potter” and the latest Pixar animation. But what about movies for the rest of us?

Here’s what we can look forward to:

--“Newcastle” (now playing in limited release). There’s lots of eye candy and at least one gay relationship in this coming of age story set on the surf.

--“Little Ashes” (opening May 8 in limited release). Robert Pattinson (“Twilight”) stars as artist Salvador Dali in this film that explores Dali’s relationship with Spanish writer Federico Garcia Lorca (Javier Beltran). Directed by Paul Morrison.

--“Outrage” (opening May 8 in limited release). Closeted politicians are exposed in this documentary directed by Kirby Dick.

--“The Art of Being Straight” (opens June 5). A group of friends in Los Angeles deal with issues of sexual attraction.

--“Bruno” (opens July 10). Sacha Baron Cohen brings his gay Austrian fashion reporter alter ego Bruno to the big screen in the most anticipated gay-themed movie of the summer. After Cohen’s politically incorrect “Borat” three years ago, it’s difficult to know if this will be good or bad…or perhaps so bad it’s good. Unlike most of the other movies on this list, look for “Bruno” at a theater near you, at least if the film can be edited from its initial NC-17 rating to an R.

--“Humpday” (opening July 10). Mark Duplass and Joshua Leonard play former college roommates who say they’re not gay, but they’re stressed out after making a drunken dare to perform in an erotic film. Written and directed by Lynn Shelton.

--“Taking Woodstock” (opening Aug. 14). Directed by Ang Lee (“Brokeback Mountain”), this movie is based on the memoir of Elliot Tiber, who organized the famous music festival. Tiber’s book is described as sexually graphic, but the movie downplays Tiber’s homosexuality. Demetri Martin stars as Tiber. Costarring Imelda Staunton, Livev Shreiber and Emile Hirsch.

And here's something to look forward to: the Jim Carrey-Ewan McGregror prison romance, "I Love You Phillip Morris," has a distributor and is scheduled to open Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 2010.