From my BFF Barry at www.queercincinnati.com

In response to the hate crime at Tabby’s American Grill, a group of activists is going there to show solidarity with queers in Warren County. We’re standing up for and with our brothers and sisters. 

Tonight, at Tabby’s American Grill at 2920 West U.S. Route 22, in Maineville (click here for a map), LGBTQ people will gather at 10p.m. wearing white to show that they come in peace.

The crowd will meet in the parking lot and they will enter collectively. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend, but I encourage everyone else to… and, more importantly, take pictures and send them back to QueerCincinnati@gmail.com so that we can feature the outcome here.

Just a few words:

• Be safe.
• Don’t fight, don’t take people on.
• Be peaceful and be loving. This is about education and solidarity, not violence, not hate. We are not fighting hate with hate. We are fighting hate with love and affection.
• Stand together… don’t go out on your own. Find a buddy and stick to them. 
• Do not do not do not yell, scream, holler, or swear at people. You do not, under any circumstances, want to incite violence from other people. That is not the point.
• Respect law enforcement officers.
• Take the high road … be civil.

Seriously, folks, I don’t want have to be writing about no other hate crimes in the morning. We are peaceful people — always remember that. 

More importantly: be good customers. Drink, have fun, tip your bartenders, talk, carouse, and have a good time. Make sure that no one has any reason to treat you poorly; make sure no one has any reason to kick you out. Just go and enjoy the night with friends.

“Decision Day” is on Tuesday!

The California Supreme Court just announced that it will release its decision on the fate of Proposition 8 on Tuesday, May 26.

The court will either uphold the Constitution, recognizing equal protection under the law, or uphold discrimination, taking away fundamental civil rights from a minority.

This will be a moment that you — and your friends — will remember for the rest of your life. We don’t know what the state Supreme Court will do. But I’ll send you the news as soon as it is announced. 

(Crossing Fingers!)

Juliet

Photo courtsey of Frank Browning (www.aliciapatterson.org/.../Browning.html) 

Written by Brandon Santo - Grassroots Equality Examiner  www.examiner.com

Since Proposition 8 passed in November, there has been a lot of disscusion about a equal rights march in Washington DC. Many new activist and organizations have attempted to gain support for such an event, one of which was Million Gay March, which started out as an organization, later turned into and event, and then completely dropped away as Grassroots Equality Network took over the project.

I was the leader of the Million Gay March’s effort, though I never fully believed the time was right for a march on DC, instead I felt that an event not planned in any centalized location was the way to go when celebrating Stonewall. I am not going to lie and say I didn’t discuss the possibilities of a march, but I took the advice of past leaders of this movement when they said the time was not right.

After gaining more experience, I have seen what they meant, as a community, we tend to have issues coming to a consensus, and if we can’t get buy in from the grassroots leaders, a march on DC would never work. 

So what has changed that has started people talking about wanting to do this as soon as we can? Two reasons Momentum and Obama.

Lets start with momentum, Proposition 8 fired people up. Huge amounts of new people have entered this movement and conversations are being had all around the country. Since October, four states have legalized same-sex marriage, countless states have pending legislation to legalize, and a number of protection laws have passed. People see us, they hear our struggle. Read more »

Today is recognized in California as Harvey Milk Day!

This Bill (SB572) was introduced last year, passed in the Senate AND the House, but Gov. Schwarzenegger actually VETOED it last September. It was reintroduced again this year with the support from Sean Penn as well. Again it has passed in the Senate and is now in the Assembly.

We will never forget Harvey Milk.

 Harvy and long time partner, Scott.

Source: www.strangebillions.com/harvey/

Juliet

Unbelievable footage from the White Knight Riots on May 21, 1979.

The White Night Riots were a series of violent events sparked by an announcement of the lenient sentencing of Dan White, for the assassinations of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Harvey Milk. The events took place on the night of May 21, 1979 in San Francisco.

San Francisco had a long-standing conflict with the police department. The struggle against the SFPD turned violent when White, who was himself a former policeman, was given the lightest possible sentence for the assassinations. Initial demonstrations took place at San Francisco’s City Hall after the verdict of voluntary manslaughter was announced. The riots caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage.

Later that night, police made a retaliatory raid on a gay bar in San Francisco’s Castro District. Many patrons were severely beaten by police in full riot gear. Two dozen arrests were made, and several lawsuits were filed against the San Francisco Police Department.[1] The show of strength from the gay community led to increased political power, which culminated in the re-election of Mayor Dianne Feinstein the following November. In response to a campaign promise, Feinstein appointed a pro-gay Chief of Police, which increased recruitment of gays in the police force and eased tensions.

KNOW YOUR HISTORY!

Juliet