Building community in San Diego's South Bay for LGBT and their friends!

Existing gay marriages now on a great divide

2009-03-07T15:37:00.000-08:00

With the California Supreme Court likely to uphold Proposition 8 but still recognize those already married, the couples are feeling both elated and isolated. By Maura Dolan and Jessica GarrisonMarch 7, 2009 Jeanne Rizzo, 62, who married her partner of 20 years in September, was "somewhat heartened" Friday that her marriage is poised to

Marriage ruling gave gay people legal protection

2009-02-23T06:57:00.000-08:00

By Greg Moran Union-Tribune Staff WriterFebruary 23, 2009 Tucked deep within the state Supreme Court's sweeping decision in May that struck down same-sex-marriage bans for a time is a single sentence that will have a significant effect for years – regardless of any new turns in the same-sex-marriage debate.

California court to hear gay marriage case in March

2009-02-03T17:16:00.001-08:00

Tue Feb 3, 2009 7:37pm ESTSAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's Supreme Court early next month will hear arguments over whether to allow a ban on same-sex marriage that has become a national rallying point for gays and their supporters. California voters on November 4 approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. A ruling by the same state top court

Gay leaders mull taking fight to 2010 vote

2009-01-26T06:37:00.000-08:00

By LISA LEFF – 26 January 2009 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gay rights activists are weighing the wisdom of rushing in front of voters a repeal of the state ballot measure that banned gay marriage.While two initiatives seeking to undo Proposition 8 — the voter-approved measure — already have been submitted to the Secretary of State, pro-gay marriage leaders say 2010 may be too soon to bring the issue

Condom Burnings and Anti-Gay Witch Hunts: How Rick Warren Is Undermining AIDs Prevention in Africa

2009-01-08T10:28:00.000-08:00

By Max Blumenthal, The Daily Beast. Posted January 8, 2009.Once hailed by Time magazine as "America's Pastor," California megachurch leader and best-selling author of The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren now finds himself on the defensive. President-elect Barack Obama's selection of Warren to deliver the inaugural prayer has generated intense scrutiny of the pastor's beliefs on social

Top Court in California Will Review Proposition 8

2008-11-29T15:53:00.000-08:00

By JESSE McKINLEY Published: November 19, 2008 SAN FRANCISCO — Responding to pleas for legal clarity from those on both sides of the issue, the California Supreme Court said Wednesday that it would take up the case of whether a voter-approved ban on same-sex unions was constitutional. The court, however, stopped short of suspending the ban, which California voters passed as

Protest 8 March, Saturday, November 8, 2008

2008-11-08T07:18:00.000-08:00

An estimated 8 to 10,000 march peacefully on November 8, 2008 in San Diego to protest the passing of Proposition 8. The LGBT community was not alone, marching alongside of them were many from the heterosexual community showing their support for equal same sex marriage rights. Proposition 8 has undermined our State's Constitutional commitment to equal protection under the law and writes in

outcomes for Prop 8

2008-11-07T08:16:00.001-08:00

Check out the counties that voted for and against Prop 8 compared to Prop 22. This shows a lot of progress and hope that with outreach, education and openness with our neighbors - we will see marriage equality in California accepted by the majority. Click here

Marriage - a Historical Perspective

2008-09-29T19:15:00.000-07:00

by Dae Elliott Sociology Lecturer, SDSUThe misinformation promulgated by conservatives about marriage and the silences about their inaccuracies is aggravating. Until very recently – it was generally understood that there was a difference between state sanctioned, civil marriage and church sanctioned, religious marriage. Many divorced Roman Catholics who are not permitted to remarry in the

Be Involved! Protect our right to marry!

2008-09-21T10:26:00.000-07:00

With less than 50 days left to go things are starting to ramp up! We know that each of you are working hard in your committees to ensure our victory in November. This weekend is an especially important one and we need your time, energy and voice to counter the other side. According to press reports, on Monday September 22, one million Mormons will march out of their front doors to plant

Close to 1,000 attend South Bay Pride!

2008-08-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

Close to 1,000 people attended South Bay Pride! The weather was gorgeous, the food great and the entertainment fantastic. Empress Selena Diamond of the San Diego Imperial Court emceed the event which had entertainment by Latin Rhythm Creations, Alondra's Dancers, Roxy Blue and Band, and Rhythm and the Method!Cara Dessert spoke about the "Vote NO on 8" campaign. Long time couples Pat Washington

No Chula Vista City Proclamation for South Bay Pride

2008-08-15T20:21:00.001-07:00

Mayor Cheryl Cox declined South Bay Alliance’s request to make a city proclamation for South Bay Pride and declaring August 24, 2008 Chula Vista’s Pride day. She also declined to provide a letter of support. Mayor Cox explained that she has limited the number of City Proclamations and Letters of Support for events to those more directly related to Chula Vista city governance such as Arbor Day,

Judge upholds ballot summary for gay-marriage measure

2008-08-08T15:35:00.000-07:00

By Mike Swift, Mercury NewsAugust 8, 2008When the state's voters decide Proposition 8 this fall, it appears they will check "yes" or "no" next to a ballot title that reads: "Eliminates the Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry." A Superior Court judge this morning rejected a suit filed by Prop. 8 proponents against the ballot title proposed by Attorney General Jerry Brown. Judge Timothy M. Frawley

Opponents of gay marriage say they'll sue over changed wording in Proposition 8

2008-07-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

After a tweak by the state attorney general's office, the initiative now seeks to 'eliminate the right' of same-sex couples to marry, wording that the measure's proponents say could prejudice voters. By Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer July 29, 2008Supporters of Proposition 8, the proposed state constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage, said they

Community Leaders Condemn "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

2008-07-23T08:26:00.001-07:00

SLDNJuly 22, 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the eve of a Congressional hearing on the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, leaders from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Stonewall Democrats, Log Cabin Republicans and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays called for repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law

Supreme Court rejects bid to remove gay marriage ban measure from November ballot

2008-07-17T11:15:00.000-07:00

by Howard Mintz - Mercury News Article Launched: 07/16/2008 01:02:31 PM PDT With perhaps the last legal roadblock removed, it appears the fate of gay marriage in California will be up to the voters in November. The California Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a bid by civil rights groups to remove a measure from the November ballot that would restore the state's ban on same-sex

Gays who wed in California won't have equal marriage rights

2008-06-15T09:14:00.000-07:00

By Linda GoldstonMercury NewsArticle Launched: 06/11/2008 01:30:25 AM PDT Thousands of gay couples will marry in California during the upcoming months, but when it comes to the law, not all marriages are created equal. Same-sex married couples can expect many of the same marital rights as heterosexual couples under state law. But things will be different if they end up in

Calif. court refuses to stay gay marriage ruling!

2008-06-04T18:29:00.001-07:00

By LISA LEFF – June 4, 2008 Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California's highest court Wednesday refused to stay its decision legalizing same-sex marriage in the state, clearing the final hurdle for gay couples to start tying the knot this month.Conservative religious and legal groups had asked the California Supreme Court to stop its May 15 order requiring state and local officials to

Gay marriage ban qualifies for California ballot

2008-06-02T22:01:00.000-07:00

By LISA LEFF – June 2, 2008 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An initiative that would again outlaw gay marriage in California has qualified for the November ballot, the Secretary of State announced Monday.California Secretary of State Debra Bowen said a random check of signatures submitted by the measure's sponsors showed that they had gathered enough names for it to be put to voters.The measure would

Some thoughts about the California Marriage Case

2008-05-16T18:42:00.000-07:00

Mar 18, 2008by Leonard LinkHerewith some observations about the California Supreme Court’s marriage decision. . . In terms of its importance: When/if the court’s decision goes into effect, California will be the third largest polity in the world that has embraced marriage equality by allowing same-sex couples to marry. The largest is South Africa, with a population of almost 48 million, then

California Court Affirms Right to Gay Marriage

2008-05-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

By ADAM LIPTAK Published: May 16, 2008Same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The court’s 4-to-3 decision, striking down two state laws that had limited marriages to unions between a man and a woman, will make California only the second state, after Massachusetts, to allow same-sex marriages. The decision, which becomes effective in 30

California Supreme Court to Rule Tomorrow!

2008-05-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

The CenterMay 14, 2008Here we go folks, the ruling is coming down tomorrow! The California Supreme Court has announced that it will issue its ruling on the marriage case tomorrow morning (May 15) at 10am. The opinion will be posted on line at that time and council for our side will rapidly analyze it for its meaning and then tell the world (NCLR, ACLU, The City of San Francisco, EQCA).Win or lose

South Bay Pride at Memorial Park this year!

2008-05-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

Don't miss it! South Bay Pride (formerly Gay Day in South Bay) is being held at Memorial Park, Sunday - August 24th from 1 to 5. South Bay Alliance organizes the celebration and decided it was time to make South Bay's Pride a major event. Moving South Bay Pride to historic downtown Chula Vista is a perfect match for the much larger crowd expected. Memorial Park also has an amphitheater for

DeMaio rated "Unacceptable"

2008-04-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

Monday April 28, 2008 (San Diego) - The San Diego Democratic Club (SDDC), the chartered Democratic club serving San Diego County's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, announced today that it has rated Carl DeMaio, an openly gay candidate for the San Diego City Council in District Five, as "unacceptable." As the SDDC's lowest possible rating, its use is rare in any election

California Group To Submit Anti-Gay Referendum Signatures

2008-04-22T18:34:00.000-07:00

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff Posted: April 22, 2008 - 11:00 am ET (San Francisco, California) A coalition of conservative groups says it has collected more than enough signatures to force a proposed amendment banning same-sex marriage onto the November ballot. The groups, under the banner 'Protect Marriage' say they have collected more than 1.1 signatures, and will present them to county

Military Using Convicted Felons To Replace Drummed Out Gays

2008-04-21T21:31:00.000-07:00

April 21, 2008by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff (Washington) Newly released data show that the Army and the Marine Corp, under pressure to increase their numbers, have sharply raised the number of recruits who have felony convictions. The information, released Monday by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, shows that the number of soldiers admitted to the Army with felony

Tax Day 2008: The Cost of Being Gay

2008-04-14T20:34:00.000-07:00

By Lara Schwartz April 10, 2008 Advocate.com State and federal laws impose real dollar costs on real people. Call it “The Cost of Being Gay.” Many of the most significant examples of this cost occur in

Steering Committee meeting rescheduled

2008-04-09T06:41:00.000-07:00

The Steering Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 9th has been reschedule for Monday, May 5th at South Bay Fish and Grill starting at 6:30 (show up at 6 for snacks beforehand!).We will be planning the upcoming Gay Day then. Those of you who would like to take an active part in making Gay Day be the best yet, we would love to see you there and hear your input!

Definition of Marriage Is at Heart of California Case

2008-03-10T21:47:00.000-07:00

By ADAM LIPTAK Published: March 5, 2008New York TimesSAN FRANCISCO — For almost four hours on Tuesday, the California Supreme Court heard arguments in the most important same-sex marriage case since Massachusetts’s highest court allowed gay and lesbian couples to marry there more than four years ago. if (acm.rc) acm.rc.write(); But it took only 15 minutes for Justice Carlos R.

State Supreme Court takes up same-sex marriage

2008-03-03T21:33:00.000-08:00

Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer Monday, March 3, 2008As gay-rights groups call for marital equality and opponents warn of a public backlash, societal decay and religious conflict, the California Supreme Court is prepared for an epic three-hour hearing Tuesday on the constitutionality of the state law defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. It shapes up as the most momentous

MEMORIAL TO HONOR SLAIN STUDENT

2008-02-24T11:55:00.000-08:00

Gay Lesbian Straight Alliance Education Network (GLSEN) - San Diego and Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) - San Diego will sponsor a memorial and candlelight vigil in memory of Lawrence King, aged 15, a gay-identified middle school student who was fatally shot at his school on February 12 in Oxnard, California, in what has been identified as a hate crime. The

February 5 th is the Presidential Primary !

2008-01-06T13:36:00.001-08:00

We will once again face a choice about who will be our President. Whether you are Democrat or Republican, it is imperative that you participate in this process and make your voice heard. Momentum is building for the LGBT community. Our political representatives are listening to us more and more. A very BIG reason for this response is that we have made ourselves felt in the voting booth. We are a

A Busy Month for Sacramento!

2007-10-29T15:50:00.000-07:00

by Dae ElliottGov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed seven of the eight bills supporting LGBT Californians and their families. These laws will go into effect next year and we will have more protections and rights than ever before according to EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. Unfortunately, the governor did vetoed the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act (AB 43), authored by

Govenor Schwarzenegger and Mayor Sanders: Will They Cave to Political Expediency or Step Up to Protect our Constitutional Democracy?

2007-09-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

by Dae ElliottUpdate - Govenor Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill even though over 15,000 signatures were submitted to him Equality California in support of marriage equality.Update - Thank Mayor Sanders for his courage and candor in deciding to sign the "Friend of the Court" in support of marriage equality!September 18, 2007 - San Diego City Council passed Toni Atkins' move to sign on as a "Friend

It is about humanity, it is about equality and it is about ending discrimination

2007-09-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

Follow up: Passed during next vote when Donna Frye voted for signing now that she felt the community had an opportunity to express their views!San Diego City Council Vote on California Marriage Equality Case Re-docketed to September 18th by Dae ElliottThe San Diego City Council voted on Tues., Sept. 4 on whether to sign a friend-of-the-court (amicus) brief in the marriage equality case

Call Senator Ducheny Today!

2007-08-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

These are history-making times for the LGBT community. And believe it or not, we in the South Bay are in a very influential position. In 2005, California became the first state in the nation to pass gay marriage through both houses of a state legislature. Unfortunately, that bill, AB 849, was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. As the State Supreme Court hears a case regarding the

July 21, 2007 Pride Parade

2007-07-24T14:22:00.001-07:00

I was able to take some pictures for all of you that did not make it to the parade this year. As reported, there was not too many wonderfully over-the-top spectators but thought it would be nice to have some highlights of the better floats and participants that passed our way! Hope all of you had a great Pride Weekend. I know I did and want to thank Bair Financial for opening up their

News from Sacramento

2007-07-01T15:41:00.000-07:00

Equality California, California’s LGBT civil rights and advocacy organization, saw their entire 2007 legislative package clear the first major hurdle in the Legislature. EQCA sponsored nine measures. All passed either the State Assembly or the Senate by the June 8th deadline. "By passing allnine bills, the Assembly and the Senate are standing up for fairness and equality under the law for the

Gay Day in South Bay is Back!

2007-07-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

The 4th Annual Gay Day in South Bay at Heritage Park in Otay Ranch is being held Sunday, August 19th from 12 - 3 pm. Join other LGBT people and their allies and friends for a beautiful day at the park, socializing and networking. We will have food, entertainment activities for kids - just come and relax and meet your neighbors! If you are a business owner or social agency please contact us

Out at Petco Park with the San Diego Padres

2007-07-01T15:30:00.001-07:00

On Sunday, July 8, 2007 at Petco Park, 5:05 - the San Diego Padres take on the Atlanta Braves at PETCO Park. Take this opportunity to celebrate LGBT Pride while enjoying a night of fun, baseball, and recognition for the San Diego LGBT community. San Diego Pride supporters and volunteers will be recognized as well as the Gay Men's Chorus of San Diego who will sing the

Champagne Brunches, Family, and Marriage Equality!

2007-05-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday (May 20th), South Bay Alliance celebrated their official "coming out" as part of the LGBT community. We invited everyone we knew and as family's do, they showed up to affirm our commitment to each other. The ages spanned from around 2 to 70 something. There were mothers and their children, a father and his daughter, grandmothers, brothers, sisters, best friends, LGBT and straight

South Bay LGBT Get Connected!

2007-03-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

There’s a new kid on the LGBT block and its name is South Bay Alliance! After being told by local politicians and organizers that there isn’t a LGBT community in the South Bay, Michelle Doty Cabrera (Mitch) decided it was time to take action. She has lived in the South Bay most of her life and knew that was just not so! Last fall, she organized a mixer to see if there was interest in a South Bay