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Crack open a cold can of awesome and get a load of the Mission Gathering Church's billboard in San Diego, which reads:
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Since collectively, the you folks are smarter and more resourceful than me, I'm asking you to lend me a hand by listing this week's protests in the comments. To make this easier, please include a link, so we can confirm it. If this sounds like we're advocating our readership to get out there and peacefully protest in acts of visible disobedience, that's because we are–angrily demanding equal rights is the new after-work cocktail, people. |
 Photo: Jonathan Alcorn In what more than one protester has described as "the second Stonewall", Californians across the state have taken to the streets in spontaneous demonstrations to protest the passage of Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling in May that allowed it. Here's a brief rundown of the past five days: Day One (Nov. 5th): While the rest of the world celebrated the election of Barack Obama, opponents of Proposition 8 gathered in gay enclaves like West Hollywood and San Francisco to hold impromptu rallies. In Los Angeles, a group of approximately 1,500 people, mostly younger, left the rally while it was still ongoing and marched up to Sunset Boulevard, forcing street closures. Police managed to divide the group, keeping 2/3 within West Hollywood. The remaining group marched to the CNN building in Hollywood and then up to Hollywood & Highland, L.A.'s version of Times Square, where police barricading the group from entering the intersection. A tense standoff ensued, with some protesters breaking through the police lines and two being beaten by the police with billy clubs. In all, four separate groups, about 3,000 people total, marched throughout Hollywood, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood throughout the night, with protesters holding a sit down protest at Sunset and La Cienega til 2:30am. Seven people were arrested. |
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» Not Compelled…
"A judge ruled yesterday that San Diego city officials did not violate the free-speech rights of four firefighters when they were ordered to attend last year's gay pride parade in Hillcrest. The firefighters claimed that their participation while in uniform qualified as "compelled speech" under the state constitution because it could be construed as an endorsement of certain political messages. San Diego Superior Court Judge Michael Anello noted in a written ruling that citizens must accept some limits on their constitutional rights when they enter government service." The firefighters also claim they were sexually harassed during that parade. A mistrial was declared last week on that charge and a new trial will begin next year. [San Diego Union-Tribune] |
» Name Change?
"Members of gay and lesbian clubs at two San Diego community colleges say campus administrators have violated their free speech rights by repeatedly blocking attempts to advertise their shared acronym: FAGS." [Union-Tribune] |
» "Mistrial"
"A mistrial was declared Monday after a jury could not decide whether to award damages to four firefighters who claimed they were sexually harassed after being forced to participate in a gay pride parade last year. The jury deliberated nearly four days before announcing a deadlock on the first of several criteria needed to find the city liable. Charles LiMandri, the firefighters' attorney, called the mistrial "extremely frustrating." A new trial was set for January." [AP] |
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» Split?
"A jury deliberating whether four San Diego city firefighters were sexually harassed during last year's gay pride parade asked the judge Thursday morning about the amount of jurors needed to reach a verdict. The question, submitted to the judge about 10 a.m., was quickly answered: at least nine jurors need to agree on a count in order to reach a verdict in a civil trial." [Union-Tribune] |
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» Weighing Options…
A San Diego jury will deliberate today on whether four firefighters deserve compensation for being "forced" to participate in the city's gay pride, where they say they were turned into pieces of hot beef. [Union-Tribune] |
» "Confused."
“I felt confused, embarrassed, used, abandoned by my leadership. I had to fight through it.” - San Diego firefighter Alex Kane on being "forced" to participate in a gay pride parade. Kane and three others are suing the city for their allegedly traumatic experience. [San Diego Union-Tribune] |
» Fire Chief Recalls Pride March
San Diego Fire Chief Tracy Jarman, who ordered Firemen to participate in the Pride Parade, said she understood how people could find the event offensive. The trial, where 4 firefighters are suing the city for being harassed during the gay pride parade, began Monday and is expected to last two weeks. Apparently, the men were so shaken from the parade they "requested critical-incident stress debriefing, or the same type of emergency counseling offered to firefighters dealing with on-the-job casualties." This must have been one wild parade. (Previous stories from us on this here and here) |
» Firemen Trial Begins
San Diego Firemen are suing the city because during the pride parade they "endure(d) offensive comments and gestures from parade participants." Opening statements begin today and the firefighters are seeking "unspecified compensation" for their trouble. These are some sensitive firemen. |
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» Alarmed.
"A jury soon will decide whether four San Diego firefighters who were forced to ride in a truck in last year's gay-pride parade were sexually harassed." A lawyer for the firefighters claims the men were subjected to "hundreds of sexual advances." [Union-Tribune] |
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» Botched.
"A harbor cruise scheduled to coincide with San Diego Gay Pride turned deadly over the weekend when a go-go boy fell overboard from the boat and was later fatally shot by police during an attempted rescue." [Gay Wired] |
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Right wingers were livid, of course, and Sanders' decision only fueled their anti-gay fire: While some viewed the mayor's decision as moving and heartfelt, others were outraged. The goods news is that a slim majority of California voters oppose Proposition 8, which would reverse the state Supreme Court's earlier decision to legalize gay marriage. |
» Good Point.
The Log Cabin Republicans are gearing up for their annual convention in San Diego this weekend, when luminaries like Arnold Schwarzenegger will address the gay GOPpers. One of the group's members, Kevin Norte, offered this reflection, which we think is fairly valid: "The gay and lesbian community is more accepting of, lately, the leather community than it is the Republican community. West Hollywood will put Mr. Leather as their grand marshal of the parade, but would they ever put a Republican? The answer is Never! And that's a boundary that has to be broken down someday." There's certainly quite a talent pool to choice from - we think Mark Foley would make a great grand marshall. Just make sure there are no teenagers around. [KPBS] |
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