Protect Marriage Equality

Shepard Fairey — who designed the ubiquitous Barack Obama campain image with Obama’s profile in heroic colors — revealed today his Defend Equality poster, which is a protest against Proposition 8.

Read the full story at 365Gay.

When Brandon Flowers leads the Killers on stage at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco next month, he may not get the ecstatic reception to which six years of rock superstardom have made him accustomed.

It could be a similar story when Gladys Knight plays New Orleans in a fortnight, or Donny Osmond returns to the Flamingo in Las Vegas in January, or American Idol star David Archuleta does the rounds of Hollywood chat-shows to promote his debut album this week. Each singer is a committed member of the Mormons, or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Unfortunately, that’s a spiritual calling that in the eyes of California’s suddenly vociferous gay rights movement makes them public enemy number one.

“This Mormon church has just taken away one of our fundamental rights, and shown itself to be a nasty church with bigoted beliefs,” said John London, a student from West Hollywood, at an equality protest last week. “So when Brandon Flowers, or David Archuleta or any of its other celebrity members show up in a gay neighbourhood, they should know how we feel.”…

Read the full story by Guy Adams in the Independent (UK).

Melissa Etheridge has posted her reaction to the passage of Prop. 8:

Okay. So Prop 8 passed. Alright, I get it. 51% of you think that I am a second class citizen. Alright then. So my wife, uh I mean, roommate? Girlfriend? Special lady friend? You are gonna have to help me here because I am not sure what to call her now. Anyways, she and I are not allowed the same right under the state constitution as any other citizen. Okay, so I am taking that to mean I do not have to pay my state taxes because I am not a full citizen. I mean that would just be wrong, to make someone pay taxes and not give them the same rights, sounds sort of like that taxation without representation thing from the history books.

Okay, cool I don’t mean to get too personal here but there is a lot I can do with the extra half a million dollars that I will be keeping instead of handing it over to the state of California. Oh, and I am sure Ellen will be a little excited to keep her bazillion bucks that she pays in taxes too. Wow, come to think of it, there are quite a few of us fortunate gay folks that will be having some extra cash this year. What recession? We’re gay! I am sure there will be a little box on the tax forms now single, married, divorced, gay, check here if you are gay, yeah, that’s not so bad. Of course all of the waiters and hairdressers and UPS workers and gym teachers and such, they won’t have to pay their taxes either.

Oh and too bad California, I know you were looking forward to the revenue from all of those extra marriages. I guess you will have to find some other way to get out of the budget trouble you are in….

Read the full posting at MelissaEtheridge.com

The Screen Actors Guild has come out against a proposed amendment to the California constitution that would ban same-sex marriage, while 59 noted constitutional lawyers have issued a statement denouncing arguments being used by supporters of the measure.

The list of 59 law professors includes Erwin Chemerinsky, the Founding Dean of the University of California School of Law; Kathleen Sullivan, Former Dean of Stanford Law School; and Paul Brest, Dean Emeritus of Stanford Law School….

The statement said that the proposed amendment, known as Proposition 8, “clearly discriminates against gay men and lesbians.” The constitutional experts also said that the California Supreme Court ruling that opened up same-sex marriage has “no effect on the tax exemptions of churches” as claimed by the backers of the amendment. The statement further noted that ruling has no effect on teaching or parental rights.

Read the full story at 365 Gay.

A new 30-second video features parents explaining that they oppose Prop. 8 because  they want their children to live in a world that is free from discrimination and intolerance.

Steve Young’s wife issued a statement early today, saying the Hall of Fame quarterback is not involved in the campaign against Proposition 8.

Television and newspaper reports Friday linked the former 49er to the ballot measure because of yard signs in front of their Palo Alto home urging citizens to vote no on the proposition that would ban same-sex marriage in California. Barbara Young also has donated nearly $50,000 to defeat the measure….

“I am very passionate about this issue and Steve is completely supportive of me and my work for equality,” Barbara Young said in a statement to the Mercury News after midnight. “We both love our Church and are grateful that our Church encourages us to vote our conscience. Steve prefers not to get involved politically on any issue no matter what the cause and therefore makes no endorsement.”…

Read the full story in the San Jose Mercury News.

Thursday’s news that Jeff Kent has given $15,000 to the campaign seeking to ban gay marriage in California came as only mild surprise to those who have listened to Kent talk for more than a few seconds. But last night, the San Francisco Chronicle’s John Wildermuth offered a sports-gay marriage shocker: former SF QB Steve Young, one of the most famous Mormons in the world, has donated $37,000 to the side seeking to retain gay marriage rights….

Read the entire blog post by Tom Ziller at the Sporting News.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson, enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame after winning five NBA championships as a Los Angeles Laker, and three Most Valuable Player awards, has lent his voice to the chorus of those calling Proposition 8 wrong and unfair.

Johnson’s efforts to defeat Prop 8 occurred as the family of Steve Young announced their opposition. Barbara Young made it clear last night that they will vote NO on 8. Steve Young, the legendary former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers was MVP of Super Bowl XXIX, MVP of the NFL in 1992 and 1994, and is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Young family released the following statement last night: “We believe ALL families matter and we do not believe in discrimination, therefore, our family will vote against Prop 8.”

In a recorded telephone call to California voters, Johnson says:

“This is Magic Johnson calling to ask you to join me and Barack Obama in opposing Proposition 8. Prop 8 singles out one group of Californians to be treated differently - including members of our family, our friends, and our coworkers. That is not what California is about. So this Tuesday, vote no on Proposition 8. It is unfair and wrong. Thanks.”

The telephone message from Magic Johnson will reach millions of California voters in the final days, urging voters to reject the initiative.

Read the full press release at the No On 8 website.

According to the No On 8 Campaign, proponents of Prop. 8 have sent a mailer to millions of California voters claiming that Senator Obama supports Prop 8.

In response, No On 8 has released a new TV and radio ad highlighting Senator Obama’s firm opposition to Prop 8. It also echoes the chorus of opposition from California’s leaders — Governor Schwarzenegger, the California Teachers Association, Senator Feinstein and more.

The No On 8 campaign is also making targeted automated calls to millions of voters, featuring the voice of NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson asking them to join him and Barack Obama in opposing Prop 8.

Live Nation has donated $50,000 to oppose California’s Proposition 8.

The major international concert promoter believes that Proposition 8, which will be voted on in the November 4 California election, takes away individual rights. The company has therefore contributed to the No On Prop. 8 campaign….

Read the full story at NME.

Jeff Kent, who played second base for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, has stepped into the emotional world of same-sex marriage, giving $15,000 to backers of the California proposition on Tuesday’s ballot that would ban it.

In a disclosure filed with the California secretary of state, Kent listed his occupation as professional baseball player for the Dodgers and his address as Austin, Texas. He gave the $15,000 in a transaction dated Monday but which only now is public.Jeff_kent

Read the entire blog entry by Dan Morain at the Los Angeles Times.

The NO on Prop 8 campaign has launched a new Spanish language television ad featuring America Ferrera, Tony Plana and Ana Ortiz, three prominent actors currently starring in the hit television show “Ugly Betty.”

In a CNN interview with  Campbell Brown, former NBA star Charles Barkley stated his support for marriage equality and his distaste for the GOP’s evangelical Christian leaders.

Brown: You, there has been a lot of polarizing rhetoric on both sides, frankly throughout this campaign. You yourself have called the evangelical base of the GOP fake Christians.

Barkley: Well, because they are so judgmental. And you know what is really interesting about that? I was actually defending John McCain when I said that, because they were saying when he first got nominated that he is not part of the evangelicals. You got to respect Sen. McCain. What I meant by that and I still stick by it — my idea of religion is we are supposed to encourage people to love other people. I am a big pro-choice guy. I am a big gay marriage guy and they are so divisive and that is not my idea of religion. My idea of religion is we are supposed to bring people together. We are not supposed to judge other people….

Read the entire interview transcript at CNN.

The No On Proposition 8 campaign has released a new ad featuring Senator Dianne Feinstein.