A lot of progressive Queers and Queer-friendly allies have written off the annual Pride events as overly commercial, corporate and mainstream. But that's not what it felt like to me when I marched with the San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality (S.A.M.E.) in San Diego's Pride Parade July 16. In a mixed contingent that also included members of the Bradley Manning Support Group and the International Socialist Organization, I felt like part of a movement, participating in an island of militant political awareness that asserted the values on which Pride was founded that have largely got lost in the overall celebration.
Stories and photos: Marching with S.A.M.E. at the San Diego Pride Parade by Mark Gabrish Conlan/Zenger's Newsmagazine | | Rally Kicks Off San Diego Pride Events by Mark Gabrish Conlan/Zenger's Newsmagazine | | Photos of San Diego's Queer Pride Parade July 16 by Mark Gabrish Conlan/Zenger's Newsmagazine
WEST HOLLYWOOD, November 20, 2009 - Friday night's dedication of the Transgender Memorial in West Hollywood culminated years of planning and struggle to build a permanent monument to the dozens of Trans identified persons who are murdered each year by hate criminals.
The new plaque is now at Sheppard Triangle in West Hollywood. Dedication speakers, included Bushnell, Jarez, Chaz Bono, West Hollywood Mayor Abbey Land, City Councilmen John Duran and Jeffrey Prange. This author was impressed how tidy each speaker's remarks were, contrasting with the lengthy ones we remember from past Days of Remembrance. It was as if everyone knew that this year was special and that we should not any longer delay the unveiling we had struggled so long to achieve.
The audience was particularly moved by the humbleness of Chaz Bono, who thanked us for inviting him, and said he was new to our community, and did not feel he should take up too much time merely because his celebrity might invite more attention to his personal transition, which was the similar to what all of us face. Full Story: Dedication of Transgender Memorial Ends Years of Struggle by Carolina | | Photos: Dedication of Transgender Memorial Photos By Robert Stuart Lowden
Fred Phelps, founder and pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas and a man so far on the fringes of the radical religious Right even the late Rev. Jerry Falwell called him a certified nut, brought his nationwide road show of hate to San Diego the weekend of October 16-18. Along with a number of synagogues and Jewish community groups, one of his picketing targets was San Diego High School for its alleged tolerance and acceptance of Queer students. A counter-protest drew 500 people as opposed to the 10 or so Westboro Baptist Church members on the opposite side of Park Boulevard from the school. Full article: Fred Phelps Brings Road Show of Hate to San Diego; 500 Protest Against Him by Mark Gabrish Conlan
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, October 25, 2008 - Student leaders of local high school Gay-Straight Alliances banded together this Saturday to demand equality for LGBT people and spread awareness about the insidious proposition 8. They were joined by teachers, community members, and families. Prop. eight, if passed, would eliminate the legal right for same-sex couples to marry. Earlier this year, the California Supreme Court decided that the right to marry was guaranteed by the state constitution, and could not be superseded by initiative.
Students from Rancho Cucamonga and Los Osos High Schools began arriving to the corners of Foothill and Haven as early as nine o'clock. In the morning, several supporters of prop 8 gathered at the northeast corner. Students frantically began calling each other to increase their presence. Their numbers soon overwhelmed the "yes on 8" people, and opponents of 8 were able to establish a strong presence at all four corners. From the Newswire Rancho Cucamonga Youth Demonstrate Against Proposition 8 by Lalo
10/07/2006
Susan Forrest, a member of the AIDS social services community, writes about a new social marketing campaign that may fail to reach at-risk communities:
There is a LOT of hand-wringing in L.A. HIV circles about men who have sex with men who dont identify as gay - and how to get them HIV tested and how to target prevention to them. [Many of those men are purported to be men who are not white.] This campaign will not speak to them...
It is generally acknowledged that those guys do not identify as "gay" and are not seen as members of 'The Gay Community' (of course, there are many communities in LA, but 'The Gay Community' in LA the West Hollywood, entrenched crowd who self-identify as 'The Gay Community' generally are white.) So if these posters are going up in West Hollywood or in areas where people who identify as part of the gay community are, they will miss the very population they are saying they want to reach.
READ: HIV is a Gay Disease (!?!) by Susan Forrest.
A transgender woman who has been a leader in social services for the Latina transgender community in Los Angeles was assaulted and molested by security guards and police in Miami 03/10/06.Transexual Activist Maria Louise Roman was assaulted, discriminated against and wrongly incarcerated ironically, after a taping of "Transamerica" segment for Spanish TV Talk Show Cristina.
... Full report:
Transgender Woman Assaulted by Police by Susan Forrest
May 15, 2004
Close to 500 people held a march and rally this Saturday in the
Silverlake district of Los Angeles. Marching from the intersection of
Sunset Blvd and Edgecliffe to a rally on Sunset Junction at Santa
Monica Blvd. The event was organized by a coalition of group including
the LAMBDA Legal Defense and Education Fund, The California Freedom to
Marry Coalition, The L.A. Coalition for Equal Marriage Rights, and ANSWER LA . The event was peaceful and there were no arrests.
Photos by "A", Photos by jlr
Gwen Araujo Mistrial: Town Hall & Demonstration
The jury that heard the case against the murderers of Gwen Araujo, the young transgender women who was killed last year in Newark, California, were unable to agree on a verdict and the judge was forced to declare a mistrial
Justice for Gwen Delayed, Not Denied. Come together 6/23/04 to help stop the hate crimes waged against the
LGBT community. For more information.
Event Report Back
From the IMC Archives
Transgender Teen is Hate Crime Casualty
Gwen Araujo was remembered October 3, in Hollywood CA as around
50 candlelight marchers paraded through "Tranny town", down Santa
Monica Blvd. from Highland Ave. to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery where she
was eulogized by LA Transgender activists such as Maria Roman of Bienestar,
Shirley Bushnell of Transgender Menace, Alexander Yoo of FTM Alliance and
Talia of SCHA-LA.
Many participants carried signs bearing photos of Gwen and protesting
Transgender hate crimes. Many motorists driving by honked in approval. At the memorial, mourners scorned lack of main stream press coverage of the
memorial, and poor coverage of the crime, especially that of the LA Times,
for referring to Gwen as he, and as 'a boy who dressed as a girl'.
From the IMC Newswire (past and present): Family And City Remember Gwen, October 3rd. Photos, Shallow Grave an illustration, Accused Murderer Seeks Bond, Remembering our SISTER GWEN ARAUJO and Equality for California's Transgender Citizens!.
From the Web: AUDIO (streams fast), gendertalk interviews Shelly Prevost, independent film maker and video activist, on the aftermath of Gwen Araujos murder and her short film "Isnt It Obvious". Also interviewed, Seth Kilbourne, National Field Director for the Human Rights Campaign, on their national strategy for trans inclusion. One Year Later by Jaime Ray
Media Coverage: San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, San Jose Mercury News.
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