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LATINO LGBT ORGANIZATION LAUNCHES IN CALIFORNIA
HONOR Fund will be dedicated to building LGBT support in Latino communities.
Los Angeles, CA – Today, civic and community leaders convened at Los Angeles City Hall for a breakfast briefing to formally launch HONOR Fund, a new 501c3 Latino LGBT organization in California. HONOR Fund is dedicated to advancing the rights of Latino lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) communities and promoting understanding and respect for LGBT individuals and families within California's Latino community.
"Now is the time to begin the work necessary to win Latino hearts and minds in the question of LGBT rights and marriage equality," said Luis Lopez, President of HONOR Fund. "It is important to have an organization of the Latino community to work collaboratively with other groups - both LGBT and Latino organizations - to build culturally and linguistically relevant programs. HONOR Fund is well poised to meet that challenge."
The passage of Proposition 8 two years ago demonstrated the need for additional outreach in the Latino community. In that election, a majority of Latino voters (53%) supported the ban on same-sex marriages. HONOR Fund is committed to winning majority support for marriage equality in the Latino community regardless of the outcome of the Prop 8 legal challenge.
"LGBT rights are civil rights," said Victor Viramontes, National Senior Counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). "Our two communities –Latinos and LGBT – understand the struggle to seek equality and constitutional protections and, therefore, we join HONOR Fund in their efforts to create one movement for both communities."
"We need organizations like HONOR Fund to stand up for LGBT students and their families," said Los Angeles Unifies School District Board Member Nury Martinez. "Latino LGBT youth struggle to find validation and acceptance at school and home, and that is why HONOR Fund's work will be so important for the future success of our gay and straight community."
HONOR Fund also announced the launch of their bilingual website: www.honorfund.org
HONOR Fund is an affiliate of HONOR PAC, a Latino LGBT Political Action Committee that funded the No on Prop 8 East Los Angeles Office in 2008. HONOR Fund's launch is made possible by $160,000 in grant awards from The Arcus Foundation, Horizons Foundation, Liberty Hill Foundation, and private donors. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) is serving as HONOR Fund's fiscal sponsor.
Visit our HONOR Fund Launch Photo Gallery by visiting: http://honorfund.org/news/latino-lgbt-organization-launches-california
[9/1/10]
CALIFORNIA PASSES LEGISLATION INCREASING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOUTH
Equality California-sponsored bill would enable at-risk youth to seek mental health services > Full Story. [8/31/10]
GRAMMY-WINNING SUPERSTAR CHAKA KHAN TO HEADLINE OAKLAND PRIDE FESTIVAL LABOR DAY WEEKEND
Oakland, CA – August 24, 2010 – The theme for Oakland's inaugural LGBTQ Pride festival is "We Got The Funk" and they are not playing around! The event has booked the legendary singer-songwriter Chaka Khan to headline the Oakland Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Festival, premiering in Oakland's Uptown District, Sunday, September 5, Labor Day Weekend. The festival will take place from 12pm-6pm on Franklin at 21St. and will take up four city blocks. > Full Story. [8/26/10]
STATE SENATE PASSES NEW HATE CRIMES BILL PROTECTING AGAINST LEGAL LOOPHOLES
Sacramento – The State Senate today passed the Hate Crimes Protection Act (AB 1680) in a 22-13 bipartisan vote. The bill would exempt hate crimes from mandatory arbitration clauses, often included in employment contracts and would prohibit contracts from requiring an individual to waive his or her legal rights and procedures, guaranteed under the Ralph Civil Rights Act and Bane Civil Rights Act, which provide protections for victims of hate crimes. The bill is sponsored by Equality California and was introduced by Assemblymember Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego). > Full Story. [8/25/10]
CALIFORNIA MOVES TO EXPAND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES
Sacramento - The California State Senate passed the Unemployment Benefits Act (AB 2055) yesterday in a 23-11 vote. The bill seeks to ensure that same-sex couples in California have access to unemployment benefits. Previously approved by the State Assembly, the bill was introduced by Assemblymember Hector De La Torre (D-South Gate) and sponsored by Equality California. > Full Story. [8/24/10]
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE APPROVES REMOVING GAY ‘CURE’ LANGUAGE FROM STATE CODE
Code instructs state to research 'cure' for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals > Full Story. [8/24/10]
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE OFFICIALLY ENDORSES REPEAL OF DOMA
Today, the California State Senate approved a joint resolution, AJR 19, calling on the U.S. Congress and President Obama to immediately repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which explicitly forbids the federal government or any federal agency from recognizing state-sanctioned marriages between same-sex couples. Introduced by Assemblymember Julia Brownley (D – Santa Monica) and sponsored by Equality California, the joint resolution was passed by a bipartisan vote of 22-12. > Full Story. [8/24/10]
MEG WHITMAN: 'I WOULD DEFEND PROP 8'.
At a news conference yesterday, California GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman said that, unlike Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger or Attorney General Brown who have declined defending the measure, she would defend Proposition 8 if elected governor... > Full Story. [8/23/10]
SDGLN TO HOST LGBT CANDIDATES FORUM ON AUG. 30 AT ANTHOLOGY
San Diego Gay & Lesbian News will hold a "Meet the LGBT Candidates" forum later this month at Anthology, 1337 India St. > Full Story. [8/19/10]
FEDERAL JUDGE RULES SAME-SEX MARRIAGES MAY RESUME IN CALIFORNIA ON AUGUST 18
Jacobs: "Today, equality under the law has been restored for millions of loving families across California."
Moments ago, Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that the temporary stay of his ruling that California's Proposition 8 is unconstitutional will be lifted, effective August 18th. Today's order means that in less than one week, gay and lesbian couples can once again get married in California.
More than 18,000 California gay and lesbian couples were married prior to the passage of Proposition 8 in November of 2008.
In response to today's ruling, Courage Campaign Founder and Chairman Rick Jacobs issued the following statement:
"Today's ruling means that in less than one week, equality under the law will be restored for millions of loving families across California. Lifting the stay is ultimately consistent with both legal precedent and the findings in this case. > Full Story. [8/12/10]
DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP PETITION CASE BACK IN COURT
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that signed petitions calling for a state vote on expanded domestic partnerships for gay couples are barred from public release while he hears arguments on whether to block them for good. > Full Story. [8/12/10]
STATE OF CALIFORNIA CALLS ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GRANT TAX EQUITY TO SAME-SEX COUPLES
Sacramento – Today the State of California officially endorsed a resolution supporting greater tax equity for married same-sex couples and registered domestic partners. The Tax Equity Resolution, AJR 29, was approved by the California Assembly with a procedural concurrence vote that included bipartisan support. Authored by Assemblymember Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) and sponsored by Equality California, the resolution urges the IRS to change its policy that now requires many same-sex couples who are in different tax brackets to pay unfairly high taxes because the federal government fails to recognize how California applies its community property laws.
"All legally recognized couples deserve to be taxed fairly and appropriately, regardless of their sexual orientation," said Mario Guerrero, Equality California's government affairs director. "We thank lawmakers for urging the federal government to end its disproportionate and unjust taxation of same-sex registered domestic partners and married same-sex couples." > Full Story. [8/10/10]
JUDGE DECLARES PROP 8 UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Same-sex couples and their families won a huge victory Wednesday as U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker ruled California's Proposition 8 violates both the equal protection and due process clauses in the U.S. Constitution. > Full Story. [8/4/10]
JUDGE DECLARES PROP 8 UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Same-sex couples and their families won a huge victory Wednesday as U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker ruled California's Proposition 8 violates both the equal protection and due process clauses in the U.S. Constitution. > Full Story. [8/4/10]
HOMOPHOBIC FRINGE GROUP LAUNCHES "YOUR VALUES" INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE FOR PALIN-ENDORSED CALIFORNIA SENATE CANDIDATE
Courage Campaign tells Carly Fiorina "Bigotry has no place in the United States Senate" as it tracks "National Organization for Marriage" tour across America
LOS ANGELES -- Amidst its anti-gay bus tour across 23 eastern and midwestern cities, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has joined a $1 million independent expenditure campaign called "Tus Valores" -- or "Your Values" -- to support Sarah Palin endorsed California Senate Candidate Carly Fiorina. > Full Story. [7/29/10]
HRC TO NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE: HOW MUCH WILL YOU SPEND LYING TO CALIFORNIANS THIS TIME?
NOM opens coffers to anti-LGBT campaign in California, but how much?
WASHINGTON – According to a media advisory from the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, the National Organization for Marriage is involved in a $1 million independent expenditure campaign to support Carly Fiorina for Senate, a candidate they point out opposes marriage equality. Today, the Human Rights Campaign – the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization – called on NOM, which has a long history of trying to hide political contributions, to disclose how much they're contributing to this effort. As the LA Times points out in reporting on the new campaign, "finding out where the money comes from – if and when it actually does come – is virtually impossible."
"Like a broken record, NOM is again involved in a campaign with an anti-LGBT message yet the public has no idea how deep they're reaching into their coffers," said Fred Sainz, HRC's vice president of communications. "Apparently they have some gas money left from their sham summer tour to once again flood the airwaves with lies about same-sex couples who only seek the same rights as everyone else."
NOM has a history of trying to evade long-established public disclosure laws and to hide their political activities from legitimate scrutiny and accountability. In doing so, they have falsely alleged that their donors have been harassed and intimidated across the country to justify why it shouldn't have to play by the same rules as everyone else. These tactics have prompted a state ethics investigation in Maine and recent court defeats across the country.
In Washington state, NOM's lawyers fought the state's public records law all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court – and lost last month. A federal court in California similarly rejected NOM's efforts to hide its donors and debunked its claims of harassment and intimidation in the wake of Proposition 8.
"While the stated intent of this independent expenditure is to support Carly Fiorina, clearly NOM wants to poison the well around the marriage debate in California," said Sainz. "With polls showing movement towards equality for all families, they see the writing on the wall and will stop at nothing to turn the clock backwards."
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
> Full Story. [7/29/10]
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE DESERT STONEWALL DEMOCRATS
Western Leadership Conference in Palm Springs November 5-7th 2010
July 27, 2010
For Immediate Release
Contact: Greg Rodriguez 760-902-9882 or greg@gregrodriguez.com > Full Story. [7/28/10]
7 GAY COUPLES SUE MONTANA OVER EQUAL PROTECTION
The ACLU of Montana may have found a way to force states like Texas that have outlawed same-sex marriage to provide rights to gay and lesbian couples. > Full Story. [7/23/10]
THE CITY OF OAKLAND APPROVES RESOLUTION FOR OAKLAND PRIDE!
City Council Members Proclaim Sept. 5 Oakland Pride Day. Oakland CA - On July 20, the City of Oakland will approve a resolution to make September 5, 2010 "Oakland Pride Day". Councilpersons Desley Brooks, Ignacio De La Fuente, Rebecca Kaplan, Pat Kernighan, Nancy Nadel, Jean Quan, Larry Reid and President Jane Brunner, have each shown their support for the first Pride Celebration in 6 years, by honoring the Oakland Pride Organization for their commitment to Oakland's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities. > Full Story. [7/20/10]
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