BearFlagBlue | Nor*Cal Style. East Bay Attitude. Progressive Politic.: civil rights

Showing newest posts with label civil rights. Show older posts

5/28/2009 11:04:00 AM | by sean mykael

Sat May 30, 1:00pm - Fresno, CA - City Hall

United for Equality
Join us in Fresno, the middle of California, as we galvanize our forces with a day of unity of all peoples - gay and straight alike. Our peaceful events, including our Equality March and our Equality Rally, share the theme of "United for Equality". Join with us and then take our vision back to your own communities where we can work together to change our world to include federal level equality, access & justice for all.
Learn More>>

Sat May 30, 1:00pm - Fresno, CA - City Hall

5/28/2009 10:44:00 AM | by sean mykael

The California Supreme Court's decision to uphold Proposition 8 is extremely disappointing, but we don't have time to mourn their failure to restore marriage equality to California.

It's time to go on offense. To be fearless in our fight for equality.
Starting right now.

In response, the Courage Campaign will hit the California airwaves with a 60-second TV ad version of "Fidelity" -- the heartbreaking online video viewed by more than 1.2 million people, making it the most-watched video ever in the history of California politics.

We are launching this provocative new TV ad in the spirit of Harvey Milk's call to "come out, come out wherever you are" and proudly tell the stories of the people most affected by the passage of Prop 8 -- in moving images set to the beat of Regina Spektor's beautiful song.

Watch the new "Fidelity" TV ad now and -- if you want more people to see it -- make a contribution to put it on the air in Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and San Francisco.

3/16/2009 09:12:00 AM | by sean mykael

While Prop 8 contributors whine about being boycotted or receiving nasty emails, folks in the gay community are actually being attacked.

Hate crime cases involving anti-gay sentiment shot up in Santa Clara County last year, a striking increase that a leading prosecutor attributes to controversy over Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban on gay marriage.

Anti-gay incidents accounted for more than half of hate-crime cases last year — 56 percent — a big jump from only 15 percent in 2007. There were 14 anti-gay cases out of 25 hate-crime cases in 2008, compared with only 3 out of 20 in 2007.

"My belief from having done this work for many years is that surges in types of hate incidents are linked to the headlines and controversies of the day,'' said Deputy District Attorney Jay Boyarsky, who is assigned to monitor hate crimes. "Marriage equality and Proposition 8 have been in the news, and we have seen an increase in gay-bashing.''

Amazing what happens when you tell a society that it's alright to treat a whole class of people as "less than"

Sheriff Joe Under Investigation

3/12/2009 12:00:00 PM | by sean mykael

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County is being investigated by the US Dept of Justice. Marisa Treviño has the story at Latina Lista

The most infamous person in the country right now "militarizing" his town in the name of immigration enforcement is Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Arpaio has not been shy about his methods and it's probably the fact that he's so egotistical and publicity-hungry that has landed him in a place he's always daring people to do — investigate how he enforces immigration law.

The only difference is that this time it's Washington that's investigating him.

From MSNBC:

In a letter dated Tuesday to Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the department's Civil Rights Division said investigators will focus on alleged patterns of discriminatory police practices and on allegations of discrimination based on a person's national origin.

I guess Joe Arpaio just found out there is a new sheriff in town.

2/17/2009 01:24:00 PM | by sean mykael

Assembly Legislators in Sacramento have officially backed the efforts to overturn Prop 8

A legislative committee has endorsed legal efforts to overturn California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.

The Assembly Judiciary Committee voted 7-3 Tuesday to put the legislature on record as opposing Proposition 8.

In other news...

Today is Marriage Equality Lobby Day. Brian is reporting on the days events over at Calitics.

2/10/2009 02:13:00 PM | by sean mykael

Ken Starr, who is representing ProtectMarriage in the California Supreme Court case was in Nashville, at the National Religious Broadcasters convention.

"What is being argued before the California Supreme Court is: Do the people have power under the California constitution to amend the constitution so as to overturn a specific decision of the California Supreme Court? It's a very important but nonetheless different issue than the underlying constitutional issue of the right to marry someone of the same sex," said Starr, who has not been granting media interviews about the case.

Do the people have power under the California constitution to amend the constitution so as to overturn a specific decision of the California Supreme Court?

It depends on whether or not that decision discriminates against a protected class...and in the State of California you can not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.

That's how I see it anyways.

If the courts say that the people can call for legislated discrimination in the voting booth. How long before we're drinking from separate water fountains again?

Schubert's Status

2/10/2009 11:42:00 AM | by sean mykael

Steven Maviglio on a "Yes on 8" consultant's ironic facebook status

I have a lot of respect for GOP consultant Frank Schubert, even though we've been on the opposite side of the fence on just about every issue -- particularly Prop 8. Heck, he's even one of my "Friends" on Facebook.

Which is why his Facebook "status" caught my eye last night:

"Frank is celebrating my 13th wedding anniversary tonight with my wonderful wife!"

I sincerely wish Frank and his wife MaryAnne a happy anniversary. I'm sure they cherish each other. But then again, so do the tens of thousands of same-sex couples who also have tied the knot.

In the next few weeks, the California Supreme Court will decide the fate of their marriages. Let's hope the court allows them to be able to post similar "status" reports 13 years from now.

Indeed. Let's hope the California Supreme Court does the right thing, and restores equality in the state.

Prop 8 Backers Attack Prop 9

1/08/2009 09:08:00 PM | by sean mykael

From the SacBee

The Proposition 8 campaign has filed a federal suit challenging the constitutionality of California's campaign finance laws that compel disclosure of personal information by campaign donors who they said have been threatened and harassed.

They've already taken our civil rights and are trying to divorce 18,000 loving couples, now they are on to our campaign transparency.

Robert and Dante are on it over at Calitics

California Issues

1/01/2009 02:00:00 AM | by BearFlagBlue

Linkbar

Should Marijuana be Legalized & Taxed?

The CA BlogWire

Meet In The Middle 4 Equality

5/28/2009 11:04:00 AM | by sean mykael

"Fidelity" : Repeal Prop 8

5/28/2009 10:44:00 AM | by sean mykael

Gay-Bashing on the Rise

3/16/2009 09:12:00 AM | by sean mykael

Sheriff Joe Under Investigation

3/12/2009 12:00:00 PM | by sean mykael

CA Legislators Vote No on 8

2/17/2009 01:24:00 PM | by sean mykael

Starr's Argument

2/10/2009 02:13:00 PM | by sean mykael

Schubert's Status

2/10/2009 11:42:00 AM | by sean mykael

Prop 8 Backers Attack Prop 9

1/08/2009 09:08:00 PM | by sean mykael

California Issues

1/01/2009 02:00:00 AM | by BearFlagBlue

Subscribe

BFB Tweets

Popular Posts

Recent Comments

Tags

California Blogs

California Newspapers

California Alternatives

CA Progressive Orgs

BearFlagBlue 2.0

East Bay Represent!

Advertisement