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

• Day of Decision Chant Sheet
• Day of Decision Talking Points

Here are the list of movies we’ve chosen from this round:

On the Downlow
‘On The Downlow’ is the explosive story of the relationship between Isaac and Angel, two young Latinos involved in a Southside Chicago gang. The decisions these men make and the paths they each take create a trap for them in a community where rules can’t be broken and secrets won’t be tolerated. With characters that defy stereotyping and a surprising tenderness, ‘On The Downlow’ is an unconventional look at life in the hood.

• IMDb page
• YouTube trailer

No Secret Anymore: The Times of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon
San Francisco icons, Del and Phyllis are known as the founders of the modern lesbian civil rights movement. With incisive interviews, rare archival images and warmhearted humor, No Secret Anymore reveals their inspiring public work, as well as their charming private relationship. It is a delightful way to meet these legendary lesbians, known as the founders of the modern lesbian civil rights movement. When they courageously launched the Daughters of Bilitis in 1955, it became the first public organization for lesbians in America. No Secret Anymore follows them through six decades, tracing the emergence of lesbians from the fear of discovery to the expectation of equality.

• Synopsis

The Celluloid Closet
Various men and women connected to the Hollywood industry comment on film clips and their own personal experiences with the treatment of LGBT characters in film. From the sissy characters, to the censorship of the Hollywood Production Code, the coded gay characters and cruel stereotypes to the progress made in the early 1990s. Vito Russo wanted his book to be transformed into a documentary film and helped out on the project until he died in 1990. Some critics of the documentary noted that it was less political than the book and ended on a more positive note. However, Russo had wanted the documentary to be entertaining and to reflect the positive changes that had occurred up to 1990.

• Wikipedia article
• YouTube trailer

The Laramie Project
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.

• IMDb page
• YouTube trailer

Soldier’s Girl
The true story of a young soldier beaten to death for falling in love with a transgendered nightclub performer.

• IMDb page
• YouTube trailer

Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate?

Through the experiences of five very normal, very Christian, very American families — including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson — we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child. Informed by such respected voices as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard’s Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Reverend Jimmy Creech, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO offers healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.

“For the Bible tells me so” screening courtesy of FIRST RUN FEATURES.

Event information

• Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2009
• Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
• Location: The Abbey, 692 N Robertson Blvd, West Hollywood, CA, 90069