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L.A. Pride Weekend Recap

June 19th, 2009 · Political action

Several Equality Network team members handed out stickers and fliers at the Dyke Day festival in Silverlake.

Several Equality Network team members handed out stickers and fliers at the Dyke Day festival in Silverlake.

The Equality Network team celebrated Los Angeles Gay Pride by participating in several events throughout the weekend, including the Dyke March in WeHo on Friday night, Dyke Day at Barnsdall Art Park in Silver Lake and the following march, and the Gay Pride Parade on Sunday.

The Dyke March in West Hollywood on Friday night started off at  Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards, and headed to West Hollywood Park. The free event featured guest speakers, women on motorcycles, and the presentation of the annual Etheridge Award. Around 300 women joined in the march and pre and post gatherings.

Saturday, the Pride festival was in full swing in West Hollywood with special performances by Fantasia, Deborah Cox, Expose, Blake Edwards and Equlity Network supporters Citizen Savant. Over in Silver Lake was the Dyke Day celebration, featuring performances by JenRO, That’s what She Said, Fanatix and EZ Tiger, as well as guest Djs. The cozy gathering of around 300 then marched from Barnsdall Art Park to Edgecliff Dr.

The highlight of the weekend was the Gay Pride Parade, which began at 11 a.m. on Sunday in West Hollywood and went from Crescent Heights Boulevard west to Robertson Boulevard, with more than 125 entries, including floats, bands, marching community advocacy groups and convertibles with honored guests, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, both possible Democratic gubernatorial nominees in 2010.

The Parade even had a small contingent from the social awareness group Anonymous, who donned Guy Fawkes masks while holding signs and handing out fliers asking people to boycot Rockstar Energy Drink due to its alleged association with Michael Savage, an aggressive opponent of same-sex marriage who has spread hateful messages to the extent that he has been barred entry into the UK.

Organizations United Together West (OUT West), a coalition of over 40 grass roots organizations including Equality Network, was named as community grand marshal in recognition of its ability to unite and support communities on a grassroots level.

Equality Network had the greatest representation in the OUT West parade group, with a fourth of the marchers coming from EN. The group collectively got the crowds chanting as they marched along, and held signs about the HIV budget cuts, DOMA, and marriage equality.

The Equality Network recruitment team did tabling both Saturday and Sunday at the West Hollywood Pride festival, while other participants took the opportunity to hand out stickers and fliers at both Dyke March events.

The fliers helped advertise the weekly Equality Network meetings, where the group decides together on what actions to take toward the fight for equal rights for the LGBTQ community. To see when and where the next meeting is, check out our calendar page!

Equality Network marched with other equality groups that are a part of OUT West.

Equality Network marched with other equality groups that are a part of OUT West.

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Week of Equality news and information

May 25th, 2009 · Political action

Hey folks! Here’s all the information you need about Decision Day!

What is “Decision Day”?
Decision Day is when the California Supreme Court will rule on the cases regarding the Constitutionality of Proposition 8, the ballot measure which was approved in the November, 2008 election that stopped gay marriage in the state of California. We now know that this Decision Day will occur on Tuesday, May 26th.

What’s going to happen?
We don’t yet have any idea how the court will rule. After oral arguments were completed on the case, it was speculated that the court would likely uphold the legality of the marriages already completed in 2008, but would ultimately uphold Proposition 8. However, with the passage of marriage rights in a number of other states since oral arguments concluded, it is possible that the court may be adjusting their decision in our favor.

It is important to note that the judges in California are subject to recall, which means that potentially they could be voted out of office by a ballot initiative. If they strike-down Proposition 8, it’s possible that conservatives may attempt to have the judges thrown out of office via the recall initiative. This may affect the judge’s decision, considering that Proposition 8 was a voter initiative.

What events will be taking place?

  • On Tuesday, Decision Day
    • Rally, win or lose!: 7pm-11pm, march starting at Santa Monica Boulevard & San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA. More info.
  • On Wednesday
    • Ask Obama for full equal rights!: 6pm-8pm, rally starting at Beverly Hills Hilton, 9876 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA. More information.
  • On Saturday
    • Meet in the Middle for Equality: 1pm, rally starting at Fresno City Hall. Transportation available! More information.

Chants & Talking points for Decision Day

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Join us tonight to discuss Decision Day!

May 13th, 2009 · Meetings

We will be meeting tonight, at Plummer Park in Art Room #1 (map) at 7:30pm to discuss the upcoming Decision Day events, as well as how we can harness the momentum of the Teach-in, and organize effective actions in the near future. Feel free to RSVP on our Facebook event page, as well!

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Protest Torture and Murder of Gay Men in Iraq

May 12th, 2009 · Political action

While we eagerly await a court decision on whether California will recognize our relationships, our people are being tortured and murdered in Iraq. In a story largely ignored by the media, death squads are rounding up Iraqi gay men, sealing their anuses with powerful glue, then inducing diarrhea, which leads to a painful and agonizing death.

The annihilation of our people, ordered by religious decree in a nation where our troops have sacrificed their lives to restore religious freedom, is appalling. In San Francisco, activists have protested. Here in Los Angeles, we cannot remain silent while this happens.

On Wednesday, May 13, the Los Angeles City Council will consider a resolution, sponsored by Councilman Bill Rosendahl, putting the City of Los Angeles on record condemning this atrocity. A representative of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission will be on hand to testify.

I invite and urge you to attend and to speak out. A large crowd of members of the LGBT community and human rights supporters will help us draw media attention to these crimes.

The council meeting will be held at 10 a.m., May 13, in the John Ferraro Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, 90012 (map).

Please help spread the word by inviting others, RSVP’ing on the Facebook page, and “Sharing” it on your profile.

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Thanks to all the Teach-in sponsors!

May 12th, 2009 · Teach-in

Without their help, the Teach-in would not have been possible. Please be sure to visit the websites of, and support, our wonderful sponsors of the Teach-in:

Courage Campaign sponsored video-taping and photography!

Courage Campaign sponsored video-taping and photography!

Equality California, Silver level sponsor

Equality California, Silver level sponsor

Silver Peso rail excursions, Silver level sponsor

Silver Peso rail excursions, Silver level sponsor

We also want to give a shout-out to our wonderful donors:

  • Jane W. – $100
  • Todd O. – $50
  • Robin M. – $50
  • Charlene P. – $25
  • Kip W. – $10

Finally, we also want to thank everyone who sent out e-mail blasts about the event, and helped promote it on Facebook and via e-mail. We could not have done it without you. You’re amazing, and your support is deeply, deeply appreciated.

Thank you again to everyone who helped make this happen. You’ve been a party of a truly special moment in history, and we here at Equality Network just feel privileged and humbled to have been a part of it!

For more information about the Teach-in (including continuing follow-ups!), and to learn about any upcoming Teach-in events, be sure to check out the Teach-in for Equality website and sign-up for e-mail updates!

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Teach-in seats are limited! Have you registered yet?

May 4th, 2009 · Uncategorized

We just want to make sure that, if you’re planning on attending our Teach-in for Equality, that you’ve registered for your seat! Be sure to head now to the ticket website and register your ticket!



Just as a reminder, we’ve assembled some of the greatest influences on our modern history, including the following:

  • Walter L. Williams: professor at USC, specializing in GLBT history;
  • Cleve Jones: friend and advisor to Harvey Milk (portrayed by Emile Hirsch in Milk), founder of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt;
  • Torie Osborn: former Executive Director of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force;
  • Jennifer C. Pizer: Senior Counsel and Marriage Project Director for Lambda Legal;
  • Sheila Kuehl: first gay or lesbian person elected to the state assembly of California;
  • Waiyde Palmer: former West coast organizer of ACT UP!;
  • John A. Pérez: assemblymember of the 49th district of California, in Los Angeles;
  • Marc Solomon: former Executive Director of Mass Equality, Marriage Equality Director of Equality California;
  • Surina Khan: Vice President of Programs for the Women’s Foundation of California, former executive director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission;
  • Roland Palencia: Director of Community Benefits at L.A. Care Health Plan, former Chief of Operations and Vice-President of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation;
  • Talia Mae Bettcher: Director of the Center for the Study of Genders and Sexualities at California State University in Los Angeles, author;
  • Jacob Hale: professor in the Department of Philosophy at California State University, Northridge;
  • Rick Jacobs: founder the Courage Campaign, former Senior Advisor to Democracy for America, co-founder of Brave New Films, a director of the Liberty Hill Foundation;
  • Chris Freeman: lecturer at University of Southern California in 20th century gay and lesbian studies, author;
  • Julius Nam: associate professor of religion at Loma Linda University School of Religion in California, commissioned minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

If you’re interested in meeting some of these speakers face-to-face and picking their brain for a while, we encourage you to sign up for the Breakfast with History event!

breakfast-invitation

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Have you registered for the Teach-in yet?

May 4th, 2009 · Teach-in

We’re just a few days away from the Teach-in for Equality, on May 9th, and if you haven’t registered for your seat yet, now’s the time to do it! Tickets are running out, and we want to make sure you’ve guaranteed your seat!

This is truly a landmark event, in which the Equality Network has assembled some of the greatest personalities in the LGBT civil rights movement over the last 20 years. Our purpose is to ensure that everyone who wishes to be a part of the fight for marriage in California has a thorough understanding of our history, and how we got here to this critical crossroads in our fight.

For more information, see our Teach-in website. To register your seat now, go directly to our ticketing system. If you have any questions, contact Jordan!

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Can you volunteer for the Teach-in?

April 27th, 2009 · Teach-in

We need a bunch of people to help us at the Teach-in on May 9th. While we have a wide variety of things we’ll need help with, we’re definitely looking for help with setup, break-down, moving of tables and chairs, directing speakers and attendees, and simple materials organization and assembly. We can accommodate any limitations you may have, so if you are interested in being a part of a landmark event like this, please head directly to our volunteer form. Many thanks!

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Fliering for Teach-in this weekend

April 24th, 2009 · Teach-in

We’re in dire need of assistance in publicizing the Teach-in, coming up on May 9th. With all the organizing we’ve been doing, the least of which includes tracking down the most influential names in the LGBT movement of the past 15 years, we’ve almost forgotten to spread the word!

We have literally thousands of postcard-size information cards about the Teach-in, and full-size posters for the event. We need to get them up all over Los Angeles, and we need your help to make that happen!

On both Saturday and Sunday, we’ll be meeting at Java Detour at 12pm, and then go for a few hours until at least 3pm (and later, if you’re interested in staying!). During that time, we’ll do some tabling, and also send out a few cars and walkers to get those posters up, and the cards in the hands of potential attendees. We have plenty of things to do, so even if you don’t want to table, you can still help! Just show up on Saturday or Sunday. You can also see more info on the Facebook pages:

If you have any questions, contact David Comfort!

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“Laramie Project” screening, Tue. 4-21

April 19th, 2009 · Uncategorized

As part of our monthly movie screenings, we’ll be showing “The Laramie Project”! Thanks to all those who voted in our last poll. Here’s the information you need to know:

  • Date: Tuesday, April 21st
  • Time: Staring at 7:30pm
  • Location: The Abbey, 692 N Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California 90069 (map)
  • Link: Facebook event page

Moisés Kaufman and members of New York’s Tectonic Theater Project went to Laramie, Wyoming after the murder of Matthew Shepard. This is a film version of the play they wrote based on more than 200 interviews they conducted in Laramie. It follows and in some cases re-enacts the chronology of Shepherd’s visit to a local bar, his kidnap and beating, the discovery of him tied to a fence, the vigil at the hospital, his death and funeral, and the trial of his killers. It mixes real news reports with actors portraying friends, family, cops, killers, and other Laramie residents in their own words. It concludes with a Laramie staging of “Angels in America” a year after Shephard’s death.

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