Combined Gay News Headlines (T5T-1)

Watch the El Coyote Prop. 8 Debacle

Yesterday, we told you about how a hastily assembled Prop. 8 related press conference staged by El Coyote, a dive Mexican restaurant in L.A. that's been a longtime gay watering hole, went about as well as the invasion of Iraq. We now have video of the event, in all its sad, emotionally charged glory. Above [...]

Gay Marriage 'Not The Same Thing' As Interracial Marriage, Says Legitimized Bigot

Oh gosh, we'll get to the weirdness of the Coop hosting this segment in a sec, but don't you just want to punch Tony Perkins, Family Research Council President's face in? By "punch" we mean "invalidate his intolerance through legal due process", of course. It is pretty gratifying to watch him bluster on as Dan [...]

Rachel Maddow Wears Adorable Pajamas In Solidarity for Us Bloggers

You all really wished Out had put Rachel Maddow on the cover of their Out 100 issue (and in all fairness, so did editor Aaron Hicklin), but you can catch her every night on her MSNBC show. When Sarah Palin told Greta Van Susteren that the Eisenstadt hoax was started by "some blogger â€" probably [...]

Who is Matthew Fashion???

From San Joaquin Memorial, to Southern California, to Fresno Pride’s Grand Marshall, to being arrested and jailed in both Fresno and L.A., to rehab, and to now a fresh start right here in Fresno, Matthew Fashion’s successes and failures have been an open book for all to read.  A couple of weeks ago a very [...]

Pink Wednesday celebrates one year anniversary tonight

It’ s hard to believe but Pink Wednesday, the Tower District’s only, weekly gay night at Bobby Salazar’s, turns one year old this week.  It was this time last year that we started gathering to socialize and mingle for a happy hour event for our community that was outside the traditional club environment.  Since the 20 [...]

National Protest Against Prop 8

National Protest Against Prop 8 Please join us this Saturday at City Hall as we join our voices with members of our LGBT+ family and allies all over the country to protest the passing of proposition 8. November 15, 2008 10:30 AM Pacific Time Fresno City Hall Plaza 2600 Fresno Street       

Sammon steps down from Log Cabin Republicans

Posted without comment, other than to ask who would want this thankless job?

News Release

For Immediate Release                                          

November 13, 2008

  

Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon Announces Departure

 

National Board Conducting Search for Replacement

 

(Washington, DC)—Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon will be leaving his position early next year.  "After five years at this organization and more than two years leading Log Cabin, I am ready to tackle new challenges.  I'll be doing documentary filmmaking, which is what I did before joining Log Cabin's staff," said Sammon.  "I told Log Cabin's national board earlier this year I would be moving on after the election.  I'm proud of the progress we've made and I know Log Cabin is well positioned to impact the GOP's future direction."

 

"We thank Patrick for the excellent job he has done as President," said Log Cabin National Board Chairman Pete Kingma.  "His communication ability and political skills served the organization very well."

 

Log Cabin's Board of Directors has started a national search process.  "After Patrick's strong leadership, we are confident we'll find an excellent candidate to lead Log Cabin Republicans and the Liberty Education Forum," said Kingma.

 

Sammon will stay in his position until the end of January.  "With the election behind us, it's a good time to make a transition," said Sammon.  "I have put my heart and soul into this organization and I am proud of our achievements."

More below the fold.

 

• In a tough election year, 75% of Log Cabin's endorsed House and Senate candidates won re-election as the organization provided more financial support than ever before to our congressional allies. 

• Under Sammon's leadership, Log Cabin built close ties with Sen. John McCain's campaign and had a strong presence at the 2008 GOP Convention.  "Sen. McCain's inclusive campaign was an important step forward as we educate GOP voters about the importance of fairness and freedom for gay and lesbian people," said Sammon.

• During the GOP presidential primaries, Log Cabin stood up to Gov. Mitt Romney's use of gay and lesbian families as a wedge issue.  Our television and radio ad campaigns in Iowa and New Hampshire educated Republican voters about Gov. Romney's real record.  "We're glad our Party nominated a candidate Log Cabin could proudly support," said Sammon. 

• Log Cabin helped secure 35 Republican House votes on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.  Their votes provided the margin of victory.

• Sammon expanded Log Cabin's work on HIV/AIDS issues with the addition of Dr. David Reznik as a health policy advisor.

• Log Cabin built strong ties to New York GOP state lawmakers.  In the Assembly, the organization helped gain unprecedented bi-partisan support on a marriage equality bill.  Log Cabin also built close ties with inclusive GOP State Senators, whose votes will be needed to bring marriage equality to the Empire State.

• Log Cabin's "Republicans Against 8" campaign helped secure GOP opposition to California's marriage amendment.  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his opposition to Proposition 8 at Log Cabin's national convention in April.  "It is deeply saddening that Proposition 8 passed, but I'm proud of our work in gaining GOP allies to oppose the measure," said Sammon.

 

"I thank all Log Cabin members who provided generous support for our work.  I'm grateful for your commitment to this organization," said Sammon. "I will continue assisting in any way I can to advance Log Cabin's mission."

 

"Log Cabin has a huge opportunity to influence the Republican Party's renewal in the months and years ahead," said Kingma.  "The GOP's brand is severely damaged.  Log Cabin will be an important part of the effort to revive our Party with a unifying philosophy that brings people together around inclusive GOP values instead of wedge issue politics," said Kingma.

Death in Suffolk County

Today, I ask New Yorkers and all Americans to join me in mourning the death of Marcello Lucero, a Hispanic man of Ecuadorian descent who was the fatal victim of a vicious hate crime over the weekend in Suffolk County. This disgraceful act should serve as a source of outrage for all of us.

Suffolk Police tell us that Mr. Lucero and a friend were attacked late Saturday night by seven teenagers who were driving around looking for a Hispanic to beat up. The companion walking with Mr. Lucero escaped, but Mr. Lucero was stabbed to death. This senseless and cowardly attack by these teenagers cannot stand. I am directing State law enforcement agencies to assist Suffolk County officials in any way possible to ensure swift and certain justice for this heinous crime. Our State has zero tolerance for such bigotry and I urge authorities to move quickly to prosecute the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law.

Today, I ask that you offer your prayers to Mr. Lucero's family. I would like to extend my deepest condolences as they come to the terms with the enormous pain of this loss. Mr. Lucero's death is a jarring reminder that we must remain vigilant and continue our fight to eradicate prejudice in our words and in our actions.

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NOTE FROM PAM (left, Marcello Lucero): Again we are graced with another post from the governor of New York. Many thanks for taking the time to stop by the Blend, Governor Paterson. Here are some background stories on the case from Long Island's Newsday.

* Speakers denounce attack on immigrant, urge tolerance
* Mother mourns Patchogue stabbing victim
* Lawyers for teenagers charged in bias attack speak out
* Hate-crime death highlights racial tensions in Suffolk
 

Celebrity donation round up

I was thinking about the subtitle title of this post, Stand Behind Your Donations... and I started thinking about the various celebrities that make their living off the queer community.  So I started to look into who donated and who sat on their ass.  

The biggest disappointment for me is that none of the cast members of The L Word gave a penny to the fight against Prop 8.  Not a one.  Not the queer cast members, not the straight ones who have been happy to take their paychecks for playing gay straight to the bank.  I checked everyone who has ever been a series regular in the 5 seasons it has been on the air.  That is a really big fucking disapointment to me.  The only one who donated was Ilene Chaiken.  While her portrayals of bisexuals on her show often make me want to scream and bash my head in with a rake, at least she supported her friggin' community.  

 But moving on... 

The cast of Queer As Folk faired slightly better.  It looks like Scott Lowell (Ted) gave money, as did Peter Paige (Emmett).  But even the stars who played married characters on the show didn't think to pony up.  I understand that not every actor is rich and not every actor can afford it, even a small donation is important.  I don't care really about how much you give, just that you try.  

Of course Rosie O'Donnell didn't donate, for reasons that baffle the fuck out of me.   Other queer celebrities that you hope would pony up for the community (Lance Bass, Neil Patrick Harris, Angelina Jolie) were also MIA.  Gay-for-pay actors didn't donate either (Jake Gyllenhaal, Tom Hanks, Alyson Hannigan) although kudos to Eric McCormack of Will & Grace fame for his donation.  As a fan of Joss Whedon's feminist works that often have queer themes, I'm disapointed that he didn't donate either.  

And while I do blame these individuals somewhat (ok, a lot), I really blame the leaders of No on 8 for not really trying that hard to fundraise.  Did anyone ask the cast members of the L Word or call up Tom Hanks and say "hey you won an Oscar for Philidephia, could you toss us some change when we need it?". Did anyone hound Rosie?  I feel like celebrities were such a California-specific resource of funding, PR, and good will that went under-tapped until the very end.  There were ads with Margaret Cho and Samuel L. Jackson, but not until after the Yes on 8 campaign had set the tone with their hateful and misleading ads.  

 If you have any other celebrities that you want to look up, I was using the follow the donors database from the LA Times.  I need to stop wallowing in the misery and go to bed. 

 

Southern Oregon Rally Against Prop 8 (11/15)

United and Moving Forward: Roundtable Discussion on Prop 8 (11/19)

Trans Awareness Month Event: Film Screening “Call Me Malcolm” (11/16)

When: Sunday, November 16, 2008, 7:00 pm Where: Temple Beth Israel Social Hall 1175 East 29th Avenue (at University St.) in Eugene Note: Cost: FREE, donations accepted to support the Religious Response Network