Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "civil rights"

Sacramento museum day celebration at Sojourner Truth Mulitcultural Art Museum

2012-02-07T00:52:50Z

Well over 800 visitors participated in the Museum Day festivities at the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Museum this past Saturday.

The day’s events included cultural performances, storytelling, arts and crafts activities for children, food demonstrations and vendors displays of ethnic jewelry, greeting cards and well as original works of art.

“We had a beautiful event today,” stated museum director and founder, artist Shonna McDaniels.

“All of our activities today were intended to further our primary mission to educate children and adults about the cultural diversity that has strengthened this nation while providing a platform to develop and showcase artists from culturally diverse backgrounds,” said McDaniels.

The work of McDaniels and resident artist Joe Pollakoff are featured throughout the building. Pollakoff also serves as the curator of the departments of art, history and exhibits.

The museum houses a diverse collection of artifacts dating back to the slavery era and includes a collection of dolls previously owned by slaves.

During the hourly tours of the museum, a very knowledgeable Pollakoff explained how the dolls doubled as hiding places for valuable items that were forbidden to slaves.

“Not only have we found precious metals and other heirlooms inside of the dolls in our collection during the restoration process, one doll contained the set of iron shackles that you see in our display case,” stated Pollakoff to a group of visitors, some of whom were visibly moved by the revelation.

The Florin Arts and Business building features long hallways with spectacular murals depicting the history of black people dating back from Africa through the civil rights era and includes many familiar faces that are recognizable from current and historic events.

Reyna Greenfield discovered the event while searching for an extra credit project as part of her curriculum in a course on culture and diversity in early childhood education.

“I enjoyed the art today; it has been a great experience,” said Greenfield as she was preparing to leave after spending some time viewing the murals and taking the tour.

“During the tour and learned a great many things I did not know about the influence of African-Americans and their art upon the American culture,” said Greenfield.

The Sojourner Truth Multicultural Art Museum was admitted to the Sacramento Association of Museums (SAMS) in 2007 after many years of dedicated work by a long list of local artists led by McDaniels, who is the executive director of the non-profit corporation that holds ownership of its name.

“We have recently begun the process of seeking a permanent home,” stated McDaniels, when discussing what the future holds for the Museum that bears the name of Sojourner Truth, a former slave who escaped to freedom with her infant daughter in 1826. Truth is also famous for being the first black woman in America to win a court case against a white man. The case assisted her in recovering her son, who had been sold illegally into slavery.

“We have grown tremendously since we moved into this location in 1995,” said McDaniels.

“The time has come for us to secure our own facility so that we can be in full control of our mission and our destiny,” she said.

The building that houses the museum has changed ownership several times during the past 17 years and is now currently up for sale. With each change in ownership comes the delicate process of negotiating the role, rights and obligations of the museum vis-à-vis the vision of the new management of the building.

None of those concerns were on the minds of the visitors who were busy enjoying the unique opportunity to learn about history while appreciating the visual and performing arts that were a part of the day’s scheduled events.

The featured youth artists for the day were twin sisters Keley and Catherine Suan. The Suan sisters are up and coming artists who took home two first place and two second place prizes at the Cal Expo Youth Art and Design Expo in 2010.

Both of the young women are determined to pursue a career in art and are now taking college courses to pursue different goals.

“I’m thinking about becoming an art teacher so I can keep my art close to me while still submitting work to galleries,” stated Catherine.

“I am more interested in illustration and animation because I like my art to tell stories,” said Keley.

Both Catherine and Keley were busy throughout the afternoon explaining their artistic techniques and showing their work to potential customers.

The museum is frequently opened for field trips to area schools and community centers that bring classes or groups to take the tour and learn about the struggles and triumphs of people from diverse cultural backgrounds throughout history. The museum’s original focus on African-American history has not changed, but has expanded to include non-white cultures whose accomplishments in art and society deserve more recognition.

The youth representing the After School Program led off the afternoon’s activities at noon. First the Phoenix Park Unity Teens put on a fashion show that featured traditional African clothing and included tribal symbols placed on the skin using various colors.

They were followed by the Phoenix Park African Dance Group. The young dancers put on a well rehearsed and high energy dance routine accompanied by music which featured traditional African drums.

The performances resumed at 1 p.m. with the Azteca Dance Group wearing colorful costumes complete with long feathered headdresses and leg ornaments whose rattling sounds accompanied the drum beats created by a decorated drum played by one of the group members.

The Azteca Dance Group demonstrated a variety of traditional Aztec ceremonial dances and prayers. When it came time for the “friendship dance,” all members of the audience were invited to join in and participate, and most did.

Meggan Mariano and Maria Morge of the Sacramento Black Art of Dance Group performed an elegant dance routine entitled, Spiritual Awakenings, to music composed and performed by jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders.

Following the tradition of black concert dance in American culture, the routine was so inspiring and well done that an encore performance was requested by audience members who gathered up attendees who missed the initial performance.

Sandy Holman of the Cultural C.O.O.P of Davis demonstrated her enthusiastic storytelling skills to a very attentive audience of children and adults alike. Her storytelling included visual displays as well as call and response participation by the audience.

Holman’s storytelling was educational as much as it was entertaining. She told stories about the history of Africa along with anecdotes from her childhood and repeatedly cajoled, encouraged and inspired the children in the audience to read, take care of their bodies and not engage in negative behaviors that would jeopardize their future success.

Holman completed her time by quizzing audience members about the identities of the members of the African royalty she described and rewarding those who remembered the correct answers with a variety of educational items including books on African history.

The AAPACC Hmong Dance group also graced the audience with a routine of traditional dance. Their movements were perfectly coordinated and featured intricate hand movements that matched the agile dance steps set to the fluid traditional Hmong music. The appreciative audience appeared to be somewhat disappointed that the young ladies only performed one routine.

“I really liked the Hmong dancers,” stated Jasmin Vargas, age 8, when recalling what she liked best about Museum Day.

“I made clay dolls and noisemakers and I saw a lot of art,” added Vargas, explaining what she would remember about the day’s events.

The Museum Day festivities included several hands-on stations where children of all ages were invited to join in the fun to create art or participate in educational activities.

Early in the day a group of children worked together to paint a diversity mural that was placed upon the wall for display in the area that was reserved for arts and crafts.

The arts and crafts available included making shakers or drums, handmade pillows, coloring books with themes featuring cultural diversity, and Diwali Diays (candles).

There were also children fashioning figures out of clay, as well as one station where the art of sushi making was being taught and everyone was able to admire their creation before dining on what they made.

One special attraction was manned by Col. Thomas Sherman (Ret.), Executive Director of the Youth Aviation Academy. It featured a computer flight simulator identical to the ones he uses to teach aviation to sixth graders at Harmon Johnson Elementary school in Del Paso Heights.

Col. Sherman explained that he started the non-profit after his retirement to expose children that would likely not otherwise be introduced to the possibilities of a career in aviation. His idea of bringing in children at a young enough age so that they can be inspired to do the hard work necessary to be qualified to become pilots, air traffic controllers or serve as members of the ground crew is just now beginning to develop.

“We people of color don’t get the kind of exposure we need to excel in areas where we’re underrepresented,” stated Col. Sherman when explaining the struggles he went through because he was only one of a few members of his flight school class that did not already have a pilot’s training and license after earning his Electrical Engineering degree and accepting a military commission as a second lieutenant.

The final performer for the day was “Magic Forrest” Barnes, a very well regarded local magician who combines teaching little known facts about African American inventors and pioneers with a variety of illusions and magic tricks.

Magic Forrest incorporated volunteers from the audience into his presentation. Nearly every youngster in the crowd participated in one form or another before he was done.

Magic Forrest frequently mesmerized the crowd with his tricks and had one young lady visibly disturbed with worry when it appeared that he was about to pour a cup of water over her head that somehow turned out to be empty.

During his time before the crowd, Magic Forrest encouraged the children to dream big and think big. His message emphasized the need for kids to stay in school and to believe in themselves.

As the afternoon’s event drew to a close, a number stopped by to retrieve the work they displayed for the event and a group of volunteers began to assist in putting away items brought out for the event.

“I really like what Shonna is doing here at the Sojourner Truth Museum,” stated John F. King, a well regarded and accomplished artist who has been on the forefront of the art scene in the Sacramento Area for over four decades who had art on display during the event.

“Her multicultural approach to this museum is fantastic and is greatly appreciated and much needed here in the south area,” said King.

“Your light really shined bright today,” stated L. Finch, the building engineer of Florin Road Arts and Business Complex, as McDaniels went by busily taking down the artwork that was hung specifically for the event.

McDaniels modestly responded.

“I owe a big thanks to a whole lot of people that made all of this possible, including you, Mr. Finch.”

Dream Stays Alive - Martin Luther King

2012-01-17T04:27:50Z

The fire Dr. Martin Luther King stoked still burns. Today over 20,000 people in Sacramento marched to honor him. Across the nation, perhaps millions.

Honoring King with the 31st annual March for the Dream, a diverse group of US citizens, from points near and far, joined each other in Sacramento as they marched simultaneously from Grant High School in north Sacramento and from Oak Park's Community Center to Sacramento Convention Center for a community celebration. People jumped into the march from Land Park and Del Paso Blvd. as the march moved forward.

Bands played, marchers sported banners, signs and balloons. Two young girls rode a horse.

Here are some images from today:

"Question One" West Coast Premiere at the Crest

2012-01-14T07:51:11Z

Thousands of same-sex couples in Sacramento and throughout California are eagerly waiting on a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco that will ether uphold, or not, the California Supreme Court’s decision that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

This issue has already been dealt with in several other states with some accepting marriage equality but for California it has proven to be a highly emotional and complicated one for same-sex couples that are hoping to soon have the same rights as other legally married couples. The decision is expected any day now.

“Question One,” a newly released documentary on Maine’s 2009 referendum battle over same-sex marriage, will be shown for a special one night engagement, on February 1 at Sacramento’s Crest Theater, marking the film’s West Coast premiere.

The film chronicles in “War Room” fashion the behind the scenes workings on both sides of the campaign (which very closely mirrored California’s Prop 8 battle) and includes emotional and revealing interviews with key proponent and opponent campaign operatives. As was the case in California, the ballot measure was narrowly approved by Maine voters, thus overturning legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in that state.

Of special interest to Sacramento is the fact that the film also documents the controversial leading role of Sacramento-based campaign consultants Frank Schubert and Jeff Flint as referendum proponents. Schubert-Flint Public Affairs headed the 2008 campaign for Prop 8 here in California as they did in Maine and have since taken the lead in a national effort to outlaw same-sex marriage in other states.

In a recent article in the Sacramento Bee concerning the Sacramento screening of the documentary Schubert said, "I have no plans to see the movie, I already know how it ends."

The film illustrates how the same tactics, strategies and issues (in particular the claim “that same-sex marriage would be taught to children in public schools) that were used by Schubert and Flint in California were also used by them in Maine.

Produced by Fly on the Wall Productions and directed by award-winning journalists Joe Fox and James Nubile; “Question One” chronicles the campaigns and the issues raised but also tells the very human stories of various individuals who were connected on both sides of the divide, caught up in a cycle of events that would change their lives forever.

Fox and Nubile’s last documentary, Passing Poston, about a Japanese internment camp during WWII, aired nationwide in 2010 on PBS and screened in theaters across the nation to critical acclaim. The film was featured at the Crest Theater for the Sacramento International Film Festival in March of 2008.

Fox said of “Question One”, “To be honest, I was shocked at how I was able to gain the amount of access to both sides of the campaign to repeal marriage equality in Maine and the degree that Frank Schubert and his company here in Sacramento was involved in that process. I think this film will open a lot of eyes to those who attend this viewing February 1st as to what goes on behind the scenes in campaigns like this both in Maine, California, and throughout the nation.”

The screening on February 1st is free to the public. After the screening there will be a Q & A session with the director and a panel discussion about the film and marriage equality here in California. Additional panel guests may be announced in the coming weeks.

Co-sponsors of the screening here in Sacramento are Equality Action NOW, Outword Magazine, Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center, Sacramento Stonewall Democrats and the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce.

Admission to this special screening “Question One” is complimentary but reservations are essential. To attend sign up online HERE (http://bit.ly/wzOaDT). Include your name and how many tickets you would like (limit of 4 per person). More information and preview can be found at the web site: Q1 The Movie - Vimeo Question One, or on their Facebook Movie Page: Question One: Sacramento

Disclosure: Ken Pierce is the Public Relations Director and President of the Board of Directors for Equality Action NOW, a local Sacramento grassroots civil rights organization. Equality Action NOW is co-sponsoring this screening at the Crest Theater.

Dr. King's dream and march, our nightmare and pain

2012-01-13T04:56:13Z

Dr. King’s dream and march, our nightmare and pain

“I feel so broken hearted, I cried so many tears
There was so much you gave me, to my heart, to my soul
So much of your dreams that were never told
There was hope for a brighter day
Why were you, my flower, plucked away
Oh, oh, I’m missing you
Tell me why the road turns
I’m missing you”
—Diana Ross

I miss my son. I miss hugging him. I miss looking in his eyes when he is excited. I miss us discussing his plans for his future. I miss sharing in his everyday experiences. I miss his smile. I miss his joy.

All I ever wanted was for him to be in an environment where he can grow.

My son was arrested at 19 years of age. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison, more years in prison than he was alive. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/mothers-prayer/content?oid=309130

My son was sentenced under California's 10-20-life law. For two years he continuously rejected a plea and maintained his innocence. After being denied a fair trial and fair legal representation, he felt forced into taking two years for allegedly robbing someone for marijuana and 20 years for allegedly discharging a firearm.

Due to the time he received, not the crime itself, he is housed as a level-four prisoner with prisoners who have life- and life-without-parole sentences. With the 10-20-life law, you do not have to commit a murder or cause great bodily injury to receive life in prison.

Sentencing a youth under California's 10-20-life law can be a death sentence when youth are housed not due to the crime but due to the prison sentencing time.

The youth incarcerated are not just losing freedom; many will lose their parents, siblings, spouse, girlfriend, children and their hope of a future outside of prison walls. For an inmate to live in a prison where many are sentenced to spend their entire life behind those walls is a great challenge in itself.

Sacramento courts have sentenced teens, as young as 14 years of age, to prison terms of life without the possibility of parole.

The outrageous misconduct within the investigation leading to my son’s arrest, as well as the outrageous misconduct through the court process, is all documented on appeal. It is only due to the pending appeal in the Ninth Circuit Court that I will not, at this time, discuss the particulars of the case and the circumstances leading to the misconduct.

For two years we fought in Sacramento Superior Court for a fair trial. When it became obvious he was not receiving a fair trial nor fair legal representation, we wrote letters to the trial court and the Sacramento Superior Court presiding judge.

Within the letters we continuously pleaded for his constitutional rights of a fair trial with fair legal representation.

We wrote letters to the California Bar Association, American Bar Association and to various local and statewide civil rights organizations.

At my son’s request, I went to our state capitol and cried, pleading for assistance from our senator and our assemblyman’s office. I left and painfully cried all the way to my councilmember’s office. None could assist us in our quest for a fair trial and fair legal representation.

I went to the NAACP. While they tried to assist by attending court, we were still not given a fair trial and the court denied our motion to have the attorney removed from the case. I went to anyone who would listen and begged, cried, pleaded for assistance in obtaining a fair trial.

I wrote letters throughout the state of California and wrote letters to organizations in other states. I went to so many, pleading for assistance to help my son get a fair trial, heck reward or penalty, with fair legal representation.

Our pleas were denied. The court would not acknowledge our concerns and failed to hold an evidentiary hearing. When I was brought into the courtroom and told to tell my son to take the plea deal or he would do life in prison, my son, under great duress, involuntarily and without understanding the consequences of the plea felt forced into taking the plea.

My son was coerced into pleading, denied fair legal representation and a fair trial and tried to protect his mother from further pain.

We were not alleging after the fact, once sentenced, that he was being denied his constitutional right to a fair trial and fair legal representation. We made those founded truthful accusations prior to the trial that ended in mistrial, and we continued begging for his constitutional rights during the start of the second trial.

We sent letters certified mail to the court to ensure they were being received. We have response letters showing the presiding judge, American Bar Association and California Bar Association all received the letters, and each responded they could not assist us.

The response letters are dated prior to my son taking the coerced, involuntary plea made under duress.

Four years later, we are still fighting in appeal courts. Our appeals have been denied, each without an evidentiary hearing, and we continue up the writ of habeas corpus ladder put into existence by our freedom-minded forefathers who valued the criminal justice system and the rights of the accused exposed to it.

It is extremely painful with each appeal court process. We have no money to afford an attorney. We have no legal skills to argue against skillful attorneys. We fight with the truth and a $50 book explaining the Great Writ and U.S. constitutional rights which should not be violated.

While it appears some of our Sacramento courts may have been hijacked by pirates posing as prosecutors, and some within the judicial process are more concerned with personal vendettas or winning cases, by any means necessary I still have faith in the Constitution of the United States of America because In God We Trust.

It is painful. It is time consuming. It is difficult. It is exhausting, but it is what it is, a fight we must endure to have an opportunity of life and freedom outside of our overcrowded, dangerous prison walls.

Sadly, once my son is released from prison it will be painful, difficult, time consuming and exhausting to ensure life within our neglectful, lack-of-opportunity, lack-of-employment, lack-of-resources-for-our-youth city since our politically ego-driven elected officials value endorsements from unions to advance their careers.

Sadly, some politically ego-driven elected officials would rather ensure that police union departments are enhanced rather than ensure that the residents of the city are provided with resources.

On June 30, 2005, during an NAACP Police Brutality town hall meeting, former Police Chief Albert Nájera defensively and accurately stated, "A black young man between the age of 16 and 25 has a 50 percent chance to die in the city of Sacramento, and he is dying at the hands of another black young man."

I was at the meeting to discuss our city youth violence and deaths. I wondered the same thing the police chief did: Why were we gathering for a police brutality case and failed to gather for the hundreds of youth who have died in this city at an alarming rate at the hands of another?

I wondered why we were not meeting with the city and county of Sacramento insisting on jobs, resources and opportunities for our youth?

Our black youth were losing life and freedom, and our civil rights leaders solely focused on prejudice- or police-related issues. The police chief’s aforementioned statistic about black youth nor their 92 percent arrest rate was not mentioned by the media, nor the organizations holding the meeting.There was no focus on the loss of life, nor the loss of freedom.

Some of our children are faced with the plight of two options either dying on Sacramento streets or dying in a California state prison.

The mounting deaths and arrests due to youth violence were dismissed. The loss of life and loss of freedom of Sacramento's low income youth was dismissed; until grant-funding became available.

Civil Rights Groups, concerned over police interaction within the low income community, held townhall meetings to discuss Sacramento Police Racial Profiling and Sacramento Police Brutality cases.

Grant dollars, for youth and gang violence prevention, suddenly becomes available and Sacramento law enforcement jumps on the youth and gang violence prevention funding bandwagon. The same Civil Rights Groups concerned with Police Racial Profiling and Police Brutality decide to apply for grants to work with law enforcement for youth and gang violence prevention.

The low-income community affected and exposed to the violence living in communities divided into victims and suspects were not seen until grant-funding became available. Were they looking at the low income community affected and exposed to the violence? Or were they looking at money?

This past week, my son was beaten, physically assaulted on the prison yard. He could have fallen asleep and not woken up due to head injuries. By the Grace of God, my son’s life has yet again been spared. He was placed in the hole. His life is in danger if he steps foot back on that particular prison yard.

His prison counselor stated, “It is the safest place for him.”

Can you believe it? Can you imagine the pain of knowing the safest place for your child is in the hole in a prison? No windows, no TV, no outside contact, no contact, visits from his mother, sibling or girlfriend?

Can you imagine living in America, the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave, my country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty of thee I sing, where I pledge allegiance to our flag, in so much pain fighting for life and freedom and the Pursuit of Happiness?

When I march in the annual Martin Luther King Parade, I don’t march to sing and dance of the triumphs of yesterday. I have genuine, deep-rooted horrible never-ending pain.

Can you imagine fighting for your child to live in this city and immediately thereafter fighting for him to know freedom? Then have to fight the appeal courts for the truth to be seen? Then with all your heart, have to find a way to keep him alive in prison?

Imagine being a mother having to cry and beg for a prison in the state of California to do what the city of Sacramento failed to do: protect my son

That suffering is the plight of many of us who live in communities divided into victims and suspects, where our children have become commodities to enhance departments and advance political careers.

In God we trust, since the money the motto is written on appears to be valued more than many of low-income, disadvantaged citizens. And many are looking at money, grants, enhancing departments through crime and not looking at those of us affected and exposed to the violence.

I march out of pain for the plight many of us are experiencing today. I also march out of my own personal pain. I don’t think I am disrespecting Dr. King by writing this, since Dr. King did not march singing and dancing for the triumph of the end of slavery.

Dr. King did not march for the past. He marched for his present-day crisis and to provide a better future for many of us. Dr. King did not look backward. He looked to the present and hoped for a better future.

Those of us with current-day suffering from the death or arrest of our youth are expected to march in the annual parade walking on a treadmill of the past.

I realize the definition of insanity is to continuously do the same thing over and over and expect different results. But what else do we have? I do plan on attending the MLK march.

But with all due respect, for some of us to sing and dance once a year is not what I believe Dr. King would have wanted us to honor. I am a mother in pain 365 days a year.

I will walk surrounded and suffocating with pain. In fact, it will be pain moving my feet. I have nothing left to carry me. While addressing youth violence, I gave this city everything I have. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/death-be-not-shrouded/content?oid=47273 Unwillingly, I even gave my first born son.

There are days when my pain is so deep I don’t have a will to live. There are days I don’t want to wake up. There are days when I am afraid of living in this world gone mad and afraid of dying wondering who will protect my children that I brought into this world.

There are nights when I am afraid of falling asleep due to the nightmares I have still hearing the sounds of gunshots outside my home, leaving shell casings that would have blown tremendous holes throughout my son’s body.

There are nights I am afraid of going to sleep because I am afraid of waking up to this nightmare I am living.

But I have to awake. Who else will fight the writ of habeas corpus ladder of a low-income mother for her son to know what was rightfully his: freedom?

To march with a hollow lack of substance in tribute to a man of great substance, to me, is disrespectful.

I will be in the crowd, but instead of carrying a poster of Dr. King I will carry one of me and my son. Our pain is real, it is today, it is now, and it appears it will be forever if some are just going to live in the past and dismiss the present-day plight that has left so many of us broken, suffering to live and die in pain.

I appreciate honor and respect Dr. King for having a dream, but while many are reminiscing on his dream, many of us are living a nightmare.

Instead of gathering at the end of the event to speak of history, why can’t we gather to find solutions and make history and change the current state of affairs where too many are losing their lives and losing freedom?

I tried to protect my son when youths armed with guns were shooting at him in my front yard. We wrestled trying to protect one another. I was praying the next bullet would take my life and not that of my son.

I tried to protect my son when he was suffocating in an unjust court.

This city has left both my son and I nearly breathless on more than one occasion. We, and so many others, are suffocating in the city of Sacramento. I don’t believe Dr. King was ego-driven.

I believe Dr. King would have wanted us to acknowledge the current plight where thousands of youth bodies lay prematurely dead on American streets and thousands more are living and dying in California prisons.

I think Dr. King would have been more concerned with our plight than concerned with us paying tribute to him.

I knew when civil rights organizations addressed Jenna Six, the plight of many of us would be overlooked due to the fact our plight is not prejudice-related.

I knew some leaders in America would focus on prejudice versus freedom. But should prejudice overshadow life and freedom in America, a country dedicated to looking into the life and freedom of citizens of other countries?

While it appears this low-income mother’s plight, the plight of my son, is dismissed by today’s civil rights organizations, I do feel Dr. King would have embraced us, supported us and acknowledged us.

I do not believe Dr. King would have expected us to pay homage to him when we are in fact suffering from the great pain of losing our children to death on our streets or to be the walking dead in one of California's many prisons.

With and through pain I will march on Jan. 16, but I will be the one carrying a poster of my son and not one of Dr. King. And, to be honest, I think Dr King would have wanted it that way.

I hope many others join in carrying a poster of their loved ones, whether they have been murdered in the city of Sacramento or sentenced to be the walking dead in one of California’s many for-profit prisons housing the low-income youth of America.

After all, Dr. King was not singing and dancing of yesterday’s struggles and triumphs. Dr. King was justice-driven, equality-driven, looking and laboring for the end result of change. Dr. King acknowledged, saw and labored for the low-income, the voiceless, the powerless.

Dr. King understood America’s motto of Life , Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness for all.

I am not walking for the civil rights of yesterday. I walk for the human rights of today.

I did not bring a child into this money-, political ego-driven world for his body to lay dead on a Sacramento street, gutter, sidewalk or home, nor did I bring him into this world to live or die in a California state prison

We, America's low income citizens living in communities divided into victims and suspects, can not raise our children from the dead. Nor can many of us afford to visit or receive telephone calls from our children being raised in a California State Prison.

We, the low income community divided into victims and suspects, are missing our children.

Disclosure: Mother of three. I've taken my younger son to two funerals of murdered friends. I am fighting for him to have life. I have attended many funerals of my older sons friends and I am fighting for him to know freedom. (Photo 4) I love my children

Prop 8 Hearing Thursday Marriage Equality for California gays and lesbians is back on track here in California – what happens next?

2011-12-05T05:10:00Z

In the next few months look for progress in the fight to uphold Judge Walker’s decision to strike down Proposition 8 due to the fact that it is unconstitutional.

On Thursday, December 8, a three-judge panel in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments on the efforts to release video of the Prop. 8 trial as well as ProtectMarriage’s motion to throw out the case. The hearing is expected to take two hours, beginning at 2:30pm. The hearing will be delayed broadcast and will have remote viewing locations in Pasadena, Portland and Seattle. Thousands of other interested parties on both sides of the issue, including the LGBT community here is Sacramento will follow the hearing’s progress on Twitter and other social media.

On the web site of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, it was explained that in the first hour, Ted Olson will argue that the “public has a First Amendment right to see video footage of the historic Prop. 8 trial. Olson will site that the other side is “trying to keep the video under lock and key because they don’t want anyone to know they failed in court, where reason and facts matter.”

In the second hour, David Boies will explain how the Prop 8 proponents’ motion to ignore the District Court’s striking down Prop 8 is mainly basing their argument on the fact that the judge who ruled, was himself gay and in a long-term relationship. This point of reasoning would implicate an adverse reasoning where someone who is lesbian or gay questioning a judge’s decision because he or she is straight.

A.F.E.R. stated, “The anti-marriage forces are trying everything they can to get the case thrown out because they know that reason and truth are on our side. This tactic was universally condemned in the media and it took only a day for Chief Judge James Ware to rule against the homophobic motion. We are confident that the appeals court will affirm that being gay has no bearing on a judge’s impartiality, just as courts have historically done with cases involving race, gender and religion.”

After Thursday’s hearing a ruling can be expected anytime. Insiders close to the lawyers who are fighting for Marriage Equality say the decision could be made before the end of the year or soon after. The decision will set an important precedent and potentially send the Prop 8 case to the United States Supreme Court.

To follow Thursday’s hearing go to A.F.E.R.’s web site at: http://www.afer.org/

Disclosure: Ken Pierce is the Public Relations Director and President of the Board of Directors for Equality Action NOW, a local Sacramento grassroots civil rights organization.

Community Reacts to Prop 8 Decision

2011-11-20T06:36:10Z

Thursday, the California Supreme Court published their written decision allowing proponents of Prop 8, namely ProtectMarriage.com, to step in the place of the State of California to argue in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in essence saying that Judge Walker’s decision to strike down Prop 8 was wrong and the “will of the people” should take precedence over the state’s constitution.

This ruling has implications far beyond the question of the constitutionality of Prop 8, but for many same-sex couples who have committed themselves to each other, some who have children who worry about protecting them as well as older couples who face going into nursing homes, separated from their long-time partners without recourse, it means more time sitting on the sidelines, hoping and praying they too will soon be treated equally under the law.

Hanging out at the Cornerstone Restaurant in the heart of Lavender Heights were a few gay activists who wanted to be together when the decision was published. Depending on who you spoke to, the response to the court ruling was varied.

Benancio Garza (20), a board member and youth leader for Equality Action NOW, a local grassroots civil rights organization, was trying to wrap his head around what this means for him personally and the youth he represents in the community.

Garza has stated before that he is unsure of his feelings about marriage, however one thing was very clear, “The fight for equality for everyone has not ended. It’s sad that even today, we still allow discrimination to be debated on.”

Commenting on the Equality Action NOW Facebook page, Joseph Gray, a student in culinary school wrote, “It’s truly sad that a portion of our fellow citizens in California will not allow all adults the opportunity to marry and show their fullest and deepest love to their significant other. If they want to 'protect' marriage so badly, they need to make divorce illegal! If I had the right to marry my (same-sex) significant other I know we would never divorce!”

In an email from Tina Reynolds, Equality Action NOW’s Executive Director exclaimed, “I just knew that the court would rule in the favor of equality on this – I just knew it! Once again, I am enormously disappointed that I am voted to maintain a 2nd class citizenship.”

While some in the community saw this latest step in the judicial process as a setback, others were delighted that finally this issue is back on the fast track to be resolved.

Matt Baume of the American Foundation for Equal Rights said that he didn’t find the decision as a setback at all. “Whether (ProtectMarriage) have standing or not, what they don’t have is a case. Prop 8 was exhaustively examined in court, and the ruling against it is air-tight. The proponents have spent the last year throwing out every trick and stall tactic in the book, and for what? They know they can’t win.”

In an article in the Los Angeles Times, it was stated the lawyers for the two same-sex couples who are challenging Prop 8 said Thursday that a federal appeals court ruling on the constitutionality of the same-sex marriage ban could come down any day now that the California Supreme Court has ruled that initiative sponsors have the legal right to defend it.

What is now clear to everyone the Prop 8 fight is more likely, because of this decision, to end up on the steps of the United States Supreme Court.

Disclosure: Ken Pierce is Public Relations Director and President of Equality Action NOW. You can reach Pierce at kpierce8272@yahoo.com.

Prop 8 Stand-In Question Answered Today - Community Gathers at Headhunters to Await Decision

2011-11-17T10:46:30Z

The California Supreme Court announced it will issue a written opinion today at 10 a.m. on whether conservatives who sponsored Proposition 8 are entitled to defend the measure that overturned a 2008 ruling recognizing the right to same-sex marriage.

The leadership of Equality Action NOW, a local Sacramento civil rights organization is inviting the community to gather at Headhunters/Cornerstone Restaurant on the corner of 10th and K Streets beginning at 9:30 a.m. to await the decision.

For many members of the organization it is a personal issue and today will mark a pivotal moment in their fight for marriage equality.

The Court in San Francisco will decide whether California law allows ProtectMarriage.com, sponsors of Prop 8 to force an appeal in Perry v. Brown – even though the California Attorney General actually agrees that Prop 8 is unconstitutional.

For thousands of same-sex couples, their supportive friends and family members, and straight allies, this battle for equality and civil rights has been long and trying.

A year ago, Dr. Nicola Simmersbach, a “pro-marriage” licensed marriage and family therapist and her partner, Diana Luiz were ready to be married when Judge Walker ruled that Prop 8 was unconstitutional and were sitting at the County Clerk’s office all dressed in white and holding a bouquet of brightly colored sunflowers. Moments later a stay was issued and their mood instantly turned to sadness and disappointment.

“Diana and I are a committed, long-term same sex couple who is still being denied the right to marriage. No person has been harmed in the 18,000 legal same sex marriages that exist in California today”, said Dr. Simmersbach. “But Diana and I are harmed every day by the systems and people who keep marriage out of our reach. We are ready to marry immediately. We want our day to come soon.”

“I don’t really know if I believe in marriage”, thoughtfully exclaimed Benancio Garza, 20 year old Youth Spokesperson and Board Member for Equality Action NOW and American River College Student. “However for certain my main focus right now is to fight for my right to be considered equal in every way under the law and that includes my civil right to marry another male adult if that is what I want to do. Here in America being separated because of my sexual orientation for which I did not choose is hypocritical backwards thinking. We are all different, and we need to accept that fact.”

The question the California Supreme Court answers today seems like a trivial technical issue but in reality whatever the Court decides will have far-reaching implications for the whole state. There are many laws that California passes through the initiative process that may not be in line with the California or the U.S. Constitution and the Courts has to determine the law’s constitutionality.

Currently, California’s Attorney General and Governor can decide not to appeal a court decision ruling that an initiative is unconstitutional. But, depending on how the California Supreme Court rules, future Governors may lose the ability to make such final decisions for the state – leaving disfavored groups in California even more vulnerable to unconstitutional initiatives that single them out for attack.

So if the California Supreme Court holds that California law gives sponsors the power to bring an appeal over the objections of the Attorney General and the Governor, the Ninth Circuit would still have to decide whether Prop 8’s supporters meet all the other criteria to appeal under federal law. If the Ninth Circuit allows them to appeal, the Ninth Circuit would then decide whether to uphold or reverse Judge Walker’s ruling that Prop 8 is unconstitutional.

Disclosure: Ken Pierce is the Public Relations Director and President of the Board of Directors for Equality Action NOW.

Equality Action NOW and Gender Health Center Hosts Coming Out Party

2011-10-04T05:21:21Z

Come out, come out, wherever you are! ~ Harvey Milk

Equality Action NOW and the Gender Health Center are co-hosting an all-ages party to formally introduce the “coming out” of the first elected Board of Directors for E.A.N. on National Coming Out Day - Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at Hoppy Brewing Company (6300 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95819) starting at 6:00pm.

Equality Action NOW is a nationally-known civil rights organization based in Sacramento and is at the forefront of speaking out and standing for the rights of all people since its inception. The organization was born moments after the November 2008 general election when President Obama was elected and Proposition 8 was voted into law which states that marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

Tina Reynolds and her staff at Uptown Studios were devastated at the news that LGBTQ citizens had lost Marriage Equality here in California and set out immediately to create a web site and organize their first Marriage Equality rally and march at the state capitol to protest the new law. Several rallies, marches, protests, and equality events later and Equality Action NOW recently elected their first Board of Directors and have taken their first steps towards becoming a 501c3 non-profit.

The Gender Health Center is a non-profit service organization meeting the counseling needs of the LGBTQI community in Sacramento focusing on the “T” or transgender. The Center provides excellent counseling/therapy services to anyone who expresses the need as well as anyone who self-identifies or is perceived to be gender variant.

National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is an internationally observed civil awareness day for coming out and discussion about gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) and asexual. Founded in 1988, the day is observed by members of the LGBTQA community and their allies on October 11 (October 12 in the U.K.) each year.

There is a suggested donation for the coming out mixer of $5 to help cover the costs of the event and will go to both Equality Action NOW and the Gender Health Center to help with their programs. Paid donations will get you a wristband for happy hour drink prices all night long. Please bring the family as this is an all-ages event. In addition it is $2 taco night and half off appetizers after 9:30pm. A special gay trivia game will begin at 10pm.

MEET THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Tina Reynolds, co-founder of EAN was officially hired by the board as its first Executive Director. Reynolds, a long-time activist and business owner, along with her employees of Uptown Studios, an award-winning website and graphic design firm founded the organization within days after the 2008 general election where President Obama was elected and Prop 8 became law.

Today Equality Action NOW is one of the most visible and active civil rights organizations in the Sacramento region. In the beginning members focused on defeating Prop 8 and held huge rallies on the west steps of the state capitol. It wasn’t long before the organization diversified their efforts to include fighting for civil rights beside other minorities and disenfranchised people of color, sexual orientation, age, disabled, and those in poverty.

Elected as the first Chairman of the Board is a well-known Sacramento gay and civil rights activist, Ken Pierce. Pierce volunteered with Equality Action NOW early on as their Director of Public Relations and continues to serve in that capacity. Born and raised in Texas, Pierce moved to California in 1989. Since becoming EAN’s PR Director, he has worked hard to brand the organization as a premiere civil rights group who’s focus Is to “mobilize, motivate, activate, and educate” the public to the issues important to the group. This was Pierce’s second year on the Sacramento Pride Festival Organizing Committee. He works for Manpower during the day and has his own Public Relations Firm part-time. This year Pierce received the “Harvey Milk Activist Award” at the organization’s 2nd annual Harvey Milk Day event.

Vice-chairperson, "Vihil" Heather Vigil is a U.S. Navy Veteran from Woodland, CA. In 2003 she received her BA in Art History and Museum & Gallery Studies from Humboldt State University, in 2008 Vihil received her MBA in business development from Ashford University and has experience working in small business management, corporate accounting for small to large professional services firms and currently serves as an association membership director for four state-wide non-profit organizations based out of Sacramento. Vihil is also owner/primary photographer of Vihil Photographix, a Sacramento based fine art photography studio. As a regular supporter of the Crocker Art Museum, Vihil continues to spread a passion for the arts by encouraging others to explore the local arts attractions of Sacramento. Currently Vihil is developing a workshop series titled, "Business for the Artist" to be held in midtown Sacramento beginning January 2012.

Emily Bender is the current Treasurer for Equality Action Now. She is an active Community Organizer and volunteer for underserved populations, including gay rights and youth empowerment. She has been an adult adviser for the Friday Night Youth Group at the Gay & Lesbian Center for over nine years. Emily is a co-founding member of the 20s-Something Group that meets on Thursdays at the Center. She is a native of Nicaragua and has lived in Northern California for most of her life. Her formal education includes an M.A. in Organizational Leadership, a Master's Certificate in Public & Nonprofit Leadership from Chapman University, and a B.A. in Rhetoric & Communications with a minor in Psychology from the University of California at Davis.

Rachel Pearman is a founding member and Secretary of the Equality Action Now Board of Directors. She received her undergraduate degree in Government, and is currently working on her Masters in Gender Equity in Teacher Education. In addition to EAN she has volunteered to raise funds for HIV/AIDS and with the Sacramento Pride organizing committee. She lives happily with her partner in Midtown Sacramento.

Rounding out Equality Action NOW’s board members at-large include:

Angela F. Luna serves as EAN’s education lead and author of the first LGBT history workbook, “In Celebration of Harvey Milk” for grades 4 through 12.

Benancio Garza (20), college student, Christian, and EAN’s youngest board member. Garza is director and creator of EAN’s “Youth Force” dedicated to motivating, activating, and educating our youth and future leaders.

Enrique Manjarrez has been an activist for 5+ years fighting for queer youth and pro LGBT legislation. Manjarrez works for Breaking Barriers and is EAN’s Spanish Spokesperson.

Tyx Pulskamp is very active in the transgender community and works for STEP, Strategies to Empower People.

Sarah Barkawi, EAN’s straight ally recently had a commitment ceremony with partner Eli. Until there is full marriage equality for all, the couple stands in support. Barkawi also volunteers for the Matthew Sheppard Foundation.

Prop 8 Battle Continues Today

2011-09-06T07:19:23Z

Tuesday, September 6, 2011 - Today, the California Supreme Court is hearing arguments on an important question of California law that presented itself in the ongoing federal challenge to Prop 8, same-sex marriage issue. Leaders of Equality Action NOW, a local grassroots, civil rights organization have been on the forefront of educating the public and providing the community with a voice since the general election November of 2008 when Proposition 8 passed and was made into law.

For many members of the organization it is a personal issue and today will mark a pivotal moment in their fight for marriage equality.

The Court in San Francisco will decide whether California law allows the sponsors of Prop 8 to force an appeal in Perry v. Brown – even though the California Attorney General actually agrees that Prop 8 is unconstitutional.

For thousands of same-sex couples, their supportive friends and family members, and straight allies, this battle for equality and civil rights has been long and trying.

The question before the California Supreme Court today seems like a trivial technical issue but in reality whatever the Court decides will have far-reaching implications for the whole state. There are many laws that California passes through the initiative process that may not be in line with the California or the U.S. Constitution and the Courts has to determine the law’s constitutionality.

Oral argument will be televised today beginning at 10:00am on C-SPAN and the California Channel as well as video streamed on the internet. Equality Action NOW and Headhunters/Cornerstone Restaurant well be hosting a viewing party for the community at Headhunters beginning at 10:00am on the corner of 10th and K Streets. The public is invited to attend.

Make no mistake – today’s hearing, and the decision that results from the arguments will be of high interest to constitutional and judicial scholars across the United States. But more importantly, it will be heard and watched by hundreds of thousands of individuals, whose personal current and future lives depend on the outcome.

The California Supreme Court must issue its decision within 90 days of oral argument and is likely to rule even sooner.

Seth’s Law Under Suspension

2011-07-13T20:43:56Z

Monday, the California Assembly Appropriations Committee heard testimony concerning AB 9, otherwise known as Seth’s Law. Speaking for the anti-bullying law was its author, Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), bill sponsors Matt Bunch, Equality California’s Government Affairs Manager and John Lovell of the California Police Chiefs Association.

AB 9 will work hand-in-hand with the 2008 Safe Place to Learn Act by requiring schools to adopt comprehensive polices prohibiting intimidation and bullying in their existing anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies; establishing a process for receiving and investigating complaints of intimidation and bullying; ensuring personnel are trained to recognized and must intervene in bullying; and creating an appeal process for decisions.

Assemblymember Ammiano stated that, “AB 9 is named after Seth Walsh who tragically took his own life (at 13 years old) after years of relentless harassment and bullying he experienced at his school in Tehachapi, CA. Seth’s mother and close friends reported that teachers and administrators were aware that Seth was being harassed and in some instances participated in the harassment. Yet, Seth’s mother’s pleas to the school for help were brushed aside.”

Ammiano continued, “Research shows that students that were harassed at school frequently suffer long-term social, emotional, and psychological harm.”

Matt Bunch speaking on behalf of Equality California focused on the immense financial savings school districts stand to make if this law was implemented.

Indeed, according to the California Healthy Kids Survey, 27% of students who reported harassment based on actual or perceived sexual orientation said they missed school at least one day during the past 30 because they “felt unsafe”.

109,000 school absences at the middle and high school levels in California are due to bullying based on actual or perceived sexual orientation. Many additional absences may be attributed to bullying based on other factors including actual or perceived gender identity or expression, race or ethnicity, disability, etc.

The cumulative loss to school districts in California was estimated by the Safe Schools Coalition to be, at a minimum, $39.9 million, annually. This is caused by a loss in Average Daily Attendance (ADA).

Additionally, there are a number of legal cases across the state which has been brought forward by students and their families after suffering harassment, discrimination, or bullying based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation. Most of those cases were settled with undisclosed financial settlements. Some of the disclosed financial settlements were hundreds of thousands of dollars or more.

John Lovell who spoke on behalf of the California Police Chief’s Association said that, “We’re in strong support of this bill. It’s about 50 years overdue. Left unattended, bullying can escalate into criminal activity which has its own set of cost increments. This is an important bill and we are in strong support of it.”

After the main statements of support several community members lined up to offer their own “me too” statements. Representatives from education, governmental, mental health, and parents of bullied youth as well as LGBT organizations including Equality Action NOW, a local Sacramento civil rights group urged the committee to move the bill to a vote and into law.

Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) who chairs the committee then asked for opposition to the bill from the public which there were none. She then asked a representative from the Finance Department to report on feasibility and was told the department does not recommend implementing this bill for budgetary reasons. Sen. Kehoe quickly suspended the bill for review.

Back in the office of Assemblymember Ammiano, Wendy Rae Hill, Senior Legislative Assistant to Ammiano explained that “they may be able to tweak the bill somewhat but they have already trimmed it to a point where any more trimming would greatly diminish its main purpose”.

Some schools are already ignoring the Safe Place to Learn Act and this bill will spell out steps to implement the law to include intimidation and bullying. It will also serve to inform students and parents of their rights. Parents especially often times don’t know what to do about their kids coming home depressed and distraught from being constantly harassed for whatever reason.

Hill said, “Far too many students continue today to experience severe discrimination and harassment with no meaningful protections from school officials.”

Seth’s Law will be kept in appropriations in the suspense file and will be there throughout the entire summer. It will come off of suspense around August 25th of this year and soon after should go to the floor of the State Senate for a vote.

State Assembly Passes Fair Education Act

2011-07-06T20:13:56Z

Tuesday, the California State Assembly passed a bill that would require schools to fairly and accurately portray the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights movement and the historic contributions of the diverse LGBT community in social science instruction. The leadership of Equality Action NOW, a local grassroots civil rights organization is celebrating the 49 – 25 vote.

In an announcement, Tina Reynolds, co-founder of Equality Action NOW said, “When children are taught about the history of our involvement in humanity and how our achievements matter, we will all have better children. Thank you Senator Leno!”

The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act (SB 48), authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and sponsored by Equality California and Gay-Straight Alliance Network would also add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s existing anti-discrimination protections that prohibit bias in school activities, instruction and instructional materials.

“There are studies that have shown that inclusion of LGBT people in instructional materials is linked to lower rates of bullying,” said Benancio Garza, EAN’s Youth Spokesperson, “that along with strong anti-bullying laws should help kids like Lawrence King who was killed for being gay, have a better view of himself and others respect him for who he was.”

According to EQCA’s web site, “The FAIR Education Act will bring classroom instruction into alignment with existing non-discrimination laws in California and would add the LGBT community to the existing underrepresented cultural and ethnic groups, which are covered by current law related t inclusion in textbooks and other instructional materials in schools."

EAN Education Lead, teacher, and author of the first school workbook about Harvey Milk, Angela F. Luna exclaimed, “"This legislation sends the critical message that equity and accuracy are essential components of excellence in public education and the LGBT perspective in history and the social sciences is equal to that of any other group. This legislation will literally save lives as it validates LGBT youth as well as LGBT educators across California."

“We are selectively censoring history when we exclude LGBT Americans, or any other group of people, from our textbooks and instructional materials,” said Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). “We can’t tell our youth that it’s OK to be yourself and expect them to treat their peers with dignity and respect when we deliberately deny them accurate information about the historical contributions of Americans who happened to be LGBT.”

The bill now heads to the Governor Jerry Brown’s desk.

Leaders Stand With Crime Victim

2011-06-09T16:38:55Z

Assemblymembers Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) and Alyson Huber (D-El Dorado Hills) and numerous community leaders, including the leadership of Equality Action NOW, a local civil rights organization are holding a news conference on the West Steps of the State Capitol this afternoon, June 9, 2011, at 2pm, speaking on behalf of Seth Parker.

Parker, 26-year-old man was assaulted in the parking lot of the Strikes Family Entertainment Center in Elk Grove late Sunday night, the Elk Grove Police Department reported.

Parker, of Sacramento, said Monday he believes he was attacked because he is gay.

In a news interview, the victim said he and several female friends were leaving Strikes at about 11:30 p.m., when two males who had just been dropped off at the location began harassing their group. When one of the men began directing derogatory comments at Parker, some of Parker's friends turned to confront the two men.

Parker said he intervened and then began to walk away from the two men when he was punched on the side of his face from behind, he said. One of the two men made derogatory comments about Parker's homosexuality, "to the point where it was stuck in my head like a bad song," Parker said.

A friend drove Parker to a local hospital, where he was found to have multiple facial fractures, he said.

A full report of the incident has not been released and no one knows whether the attack is being investigated as a hate crime.

Tina Reynolds, co-founder of Equality Action NOW stated that, “We are showing up to take a stand and be vocal and let all communities know this is abhorrent. Hate is hate and it is not okay!”

“My generation has to deal with bullies on the school grounds every day,” says 19 year old Benancio Garza, Gay Youth Spokesperson for EAN, “This is what happens when those same bullies are allowed to get away with hate speech. It turns into hate violence.”

Sen. Darrell Steinberg Names Uptown Studios "Best Small Business of the Year"

2011-06-08T17:43:44Z

On Monday June 6, 2011, California state legislators came together to honor a small business owner from each of their legislative districts. This year California President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg named Sacramento website and graphic design firm, Uptown Studios “Best Small Business of the Year” for 2011.

Since 1992, owner Tina Reynolds and her top-notch team of employees create websites, brochures, logo/brand designs and use state of the art videography and social media marketing techniques.

To the greater Sacramento region, Uptown Studios is more than just another small business. They are known as a company “with a conscience”. Reynolds and her team has given countless hours volunteering for organizations such as SafeGround and co-founded Equality Action NOW, a local grassroots civil rights organization.

Uptown Studios also serves many companies when it comes to "greening" up their print materials and coming up with great options to print, such as pdf’s, online video and alternatives to printing.

Other businesses, big and small, as well as non-profits and governmental organizations depend on Uptown Studios to help them with their promotional needs and in turn are able to gain a higher exposure to the public. One of their mottos is, “If you can see it - we can do it!”

Reynolds commented, “Being named 'Small Business of the Year' by Senator Darrell Steinberg is such an honor. First because Senator Steinberg is a hero of mine, and secondly because he is recognizing the great work that we do in the greater Sacramento Area for our clients and nonprofits. This award makes me so proud of all the work that we do as a team; fighting for equality, changing the face of homelessness, and connecting with many other nonprofit groups and working together on so many issues.

This will only make the way we do business better; we will have a more pride than ever in the work we do...”

Presenting the award was Susan McKee from Sen. Steinberg’s office. In her remarks about Reynolds and her employees who were all there, McKee said, “Tina does so much work in the community, it takes all these people at the table to actually run the business while she’s out helping the homeless, working on political campaigns and I am very pleased to be able to call her friend of Sacramento.”

The small business event was held at Sacramento Convention Center.

You can contact Uptown Studios through their website at www.UptownStudios.net or call 916.446.1082.

Gov. Jerry Brown Proclaims Sunday “Harvey Milk Day”

2011-05-21T02:53:58Z

Equality Action NOW Hosts Event at the Crocker Art Museum

Today, California Governor Jerry Brown officially proclaimed Sunday, May 22, Harvey Milk Day. Last year Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law the Harvey Milk Day bill, in honor of the slain San Francisco supervisor who fought for LGBT rights.

The proclamation begins by saying, “In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man in the history of the United States to be elected to public office. This milestone achievement gave hope to millions of gays and lesbians across the country that a day would come when they could live their lives openly and honestly without fear of discrimination.”

This year, even more then the first Harvey Milk Day, there has been a backlash of anti-gay rhetoric from organizations such as SaveCalifornia. After learning of the proclamation, Randy Thomasson, President said, “"Children are being led down a wrong road by the glorification of Harvey Milk. An official 'Harvey Milk Day' promotes the unnatural and unhealthy homosexual, bisexual, and transsexual lifestyle to minors. Just as Harvey Milk ignored the health risks of homosexual behavior, his legacy will be to pull even more young people into this disease-prone lifestyle. Just as he advocated for openly homosexual teachers as role models, 'Harvey Milk Day' will train boys and girls to follow a worse role model -- Milk, a predator of teens who knew no sexual boundaries or sexual danger."

Ignoring the negative calls for boycotting and protesting events honoring Harvey Milk, celebrations have grown worldwide. Here in Sacramento, Equality Action NOW, a local civil rights, organization is hosting live entertainment by spoken word artist, Jovi Radtke, and the screening of the Academy Award winning documentary, The Times of Harvey Milk at the Crocker Art Museum, Sunday beginning at 6:30pm.

Equality Action NOW leaders are inviting individuals and families to participate. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. For more information visit their web site: www.EqualityActionNOW.org.

EQCA Awards LGBT Caucus and PowerPac

2011-05-19T16:38:08Z

The award program Monday evening, May 16 was short and sweet but the importance of the gathering outweighed the brief ceremony. Equality California (EQCA) held their annual awards presentation at the beautiful Citizen Hotel. In attendance was a who’s who of LGBT and governmental officials.

EQCA founded in 1998, works to achieve equality and secure legal protections for LGBT people. Their stated purpose is to help improve the lives of LGBT Californians. The organization sponsors legislation and coordinates efforts to ensure its passage, lobbies legislators and other policy makers, build coalitions, develops community strength and empowers individuals and other organizations to engage in the political process.

Something the organization is most focused on is writing and advancing legislation that directly affects the lives of LGBT citizens, and this year it is especially geared to our youth. Bills such as the “Fair Education Act”, “Equality and Equal Access in Higher Education”, and “Seth’s Law” which will tighten up anti-bullying polices in schools are receiving a geat deal of attention, mainly by anti-gay groups such as SaveCalifornia.

All-in-all this year there are twelve bills and one resolution EQCA will have something to do with getting to a vote and hopefully made into law - at least here in California.

Monday evening EQCA and their supporters gathered to recognize two major players in the legislative process. First the organization recognized PowerPac.

PowerPAC is a nonprofit advocacy and political organization. The organization was created to champion democracy and social justice in states and communities across the country. They direct financial and human resources to strategic local and state legislative fights, ballot initiatives, and other campaigns by organizing donors who are committed to social justice politics. They identify priority areas for investment and help donors achieve maximum political impact with their political giving.

The second award went to the entire California LGBT Legislative Caucus. The Caucus was formed originally in June 2002. Its role is to present a forum for the California Legislature to discuss issues that affect LGBT Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for all Californians. Formation of the LGBT Caucus made California the first state in the country to recognize an official caucus of openly-LGBT state legislators.

The LGBT Legislative Caucus had grown each year and this term has seen the largest number yet. The seven members include Assembly Speaker, John A. Perez; Senator Christine Kehoe (Chair); Senator Mark Leno; Assemblymember Tom Ammiano; Assemblymember Toni Atkins; Assemblymember Richard S. Gordon; and Assemblymember Ricardo Lara.

It is through the collaborative efforts of organizations such as EQCA, PowerPac, and of course openly out LGBT legislators and their allies that full equality and civil rights will become a reality for hundreds of thousands of LGBT citizens. It is up to those same LGBT citizens and their allies to elect more gay government officials and openly back the bills that affect them.

Equality Action Now Hosts 2nd Harvey Milk Day

2011-05-09T03:41:45Z

Equality Action NOW, Sacramento’s leading grassroots civil rights organization is hosting the 2nd Annual Harvey Milk Day event at the beautiful Crocker Art Museum (216 O Street, Sacramento, CA), Sunday, May 22, 2011. A special VIP reception will be held from 5 -6:30pm. VIP Tickets are $50 per person.

Beginning at 6:30pm there will be a short presentation in the auditorium, a performance by Spoken Word Artist Jovi Radtke, then the award-winning documentary; The Times of Harvey Milk will be shown. The film is educational and is appropriate for all ages. Tickets for the film-only will be $15.

Reserve your tickets online at www.EqualityActionNOW.org.

Funds raised at this event will be used towards scholarships for Midwest Academy of Social Activism Training.

Harvey Milk Bio –

Harvey Bernard Milk (May 22, 1930 – November 27, 1978) was a highly controversial and revered politician who became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Early in his life, politics and gay activism were not an interest of his. Only after his experience in military service, in the theatre, business, and in the counterculture of the 1960’s at around the age of 40 did he begin to participate in civic matters or was even open about his sexuality.

Milk moved from New York City to settle in San Francisco in 1972 during a migration of gay men to the Castro District. He took advantage of the growing political and economic power of the neighborhood and ran unsuccessfully for political office three times.

Because Milk was very theatrical in his campaigning and he showed that he was not a one-issue candidate, he increasingly became popular. Finally he won a seat as city supervisor repersenting the Castro District in 1977.

Milk served 11 months in office and was responsible for passing a groundbreaking and stringent gay rights ordinance for the city.

On November 27, 1978, Dan White, another city supervisor who had recently resigned but wanted his job back, assassinated Harvey Milk and then Mayor George Moscone in their offices at City Hall.

Despite his short career in politics, today Milk is an icon in San Francisco and a hero to hundreds of thousands of lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender people throughout the nation, and the world.

While Milk’s election to public office made him a trail-blazer to many who came after him, it was what he stood for that continues to serve as a beacon of light, courage, and inspiration to so many and a thorn in the side of those who are vocal against gay and civil rights.

When the older citizens of his district were being mistreated, he stood up for them. When big business took advantage of the common worker, he stood with the unions. When a witch-hunt ensued on gay teachers, he went toe-to-toe with the Anita Bryant’s of the world and stood up publicly to protect their civil rights.

And when a young student told him that he had a new outlook on life because of what he had accomplished, Harvey Milk issued one of his most-used quote to let others know that one of the most important things we can give to LGBTQ youth is, “You’ve gotta give them hope!”

Milk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

Harvey Milk Day History–

On October 12, 2009, Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the highly controversial bill (S.B. 572) establishing “Harvey Milk Day” to take place each May 22nd, Milk’s birthday. Last year, Equality Action Now hosted one of the first Harvey Milk Day events, which included the screening of the movie, Milk and a rally at the California State Capitol.

Harvey Milk Day events continue to grow worldwide. There is even a nation-wide push to issue a special Harvey Milk postage stamp.

One of the main reasons for Harvey Milk Day is to educate young people about the life and importance Milk still has in the fight for civil rights and about treating each other with respect. Equality Action NOW hopes students, parents, and teachers will join them on Harvey Milk’s birthday to celebrate his life and legacy.

Harvey Milk Day Resource Information –

1. BOOK – "The Mayor of Castro Street" by Randy Shilts - 1982 – St. Martin’s Press, New York
2. CHILDREN’S BOOK – "The Harvey Milk Story" by Kari Krakow (Author) and David Gardner (Arthur/Illustrator)
3. NEW STUDENT’S WORKBOOK – "In Celebration of Harvey Milk" by Angela F. Luna (Sacramento teacher and Equality Action Now member) – January 2011 – Self-published AuthorHouse.com.
4. MOVIE – MILK – 2008 - Directed by Gus Van Sant, Written by Dustin Lance Black, Starring Sean Penn.
5. DOCUMENTARY FILM – The Times of Harvey Milk – 1984 – Directed by Rob Ebstein.
6. WEB – A Photo History of Harvey Milk – by Strange de Jim with photos by Daniel Nicoletta – http://www.strangebillions.com/harvey/

Same-Sex Couples in Sacramento County Engage in National Request Marriage Actions

2011-02-10T18:41:45Z

On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2011, from Noon to 2:00pm Marriage Equality USA, Equality Action Now, GetEQUAL, and members of the Faith Community will request marriage licenses for local same-sex couples at the Downtown Sacramento County Clerk’s Office at 720 F Street (Cross-street 8th), Sacramento, CA 95814.

At local marriage counters in cities nationwide, same-sex couples will request marriage licenses at their local County Clerk’s Offices to raise awareness of the harms and impact the inability to marry causes on their families.

Since 2001, Marriage Equality USA chapters have engaged in these annual marriage counter actions to render visible the discrimination that is enforced every day. “It is an affront to the basic dignity of the LGBTQI Community as fellow human beings when same-sex couples are turned away from the marriage counter, but it gives us the opportunity to tell our stories and show that they live in every community and want to honor and protect our families like everyone else,” said Julie Tindall, Marriage Equality USA Sacramento County Chapter Leader and straight supporter. “Marriage discrimination is wrong and harms real-life families. All Americans deserve equal treatment under the law. The time has come.”

Tina Reynolds, co-founder of Equality Action Now issued this statement, “On Valentine’s Day we will be at the clerk’s office to show we are still unequal in the eyes of our fellow citizens - we will show up until there is equality for all, we will fight on the side of what is fair and equal... separate marriage laws are not fair or equal!”

Equality Action Now youth spokesperson, Joey O’shea, 22, stated that, “Marriage equality holds a high importance to me, because I believe everyone should have the possibility of happiness." EAN youth media intern, John Wells, 18, said, “Being around same-sex married couples gives me hope and is a visible sign that while I had a bad time being bullied at school and kicked out by my parents, things do get better. I want to have a committed relationship with my future husband and raise a family. I want my family to have all the legal protections any other family has today. For certain, marriage equality is important to the well-being of my generation of LGBTQ youth.”

Founded in 2000, Marriage Equality USA is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation. For more information go to www.marriageequality.org.

Equality Action Now is a local Sacramento grassroots civil rights organization founded in 2008. For more information go to www.EqualityActionNow.org .

Documentary shows civil rights-era history of Sacramento

2011-02-03T01:33:52Z

The civil rights movement of the 1960s is often viewed as centralized in the South, but blacks in Sacramento faced similar challenges, and a KVIE documentary tells those stories.

“It was just a really horrific time in Sacramento,” said Bryan Shadden, a producer at KVIE who worked on the film, “African Americans in California’s Heartland: The Civil Rights Era.”

The documentary first aired four years ago, but is being shown again Feb. 17 to coincide with Black History Month.

Shadden worked on a story about busing African-American students out of Oak Park after Stanford Junior High School burned in 1963.

Students were bused to almost all-white schools in an effort to integrate the races. Unfortunately, unintended consequences led to racial tensions, which contributed to shootings and other violence in the following years, according to the film.

“You can still see scars from decisions that were made a long time ago,” Shadden said, adding that even though the decisions were made with good intentions, they still sometimes led to strife.

He said one of the people he interviewed in the film, Kim Harrington, told him that trees were cut down in Oak Park in 1967 to give police officers better shooting lanes after they raided the Black Panther headquarters and a gun battle ensued.

Newspaper articles from the time show a trend of violence between “snipers” and officers in the area, with one June 16, 1969 article reporting more than 100 shots exchanged in one night.

A Sacramento Bee article from May 11, 1970 tells the story of the shooting of Officer Bernard Bennett, who was hit in the head by a sniper and later died.

In 1973, an African-American teenager from Del Paso Heights was accidentally shot and killed by police, and a citizen-led effort to improve relations between police and the community.

Other stories in the documentary shed light on housing discrimination, and even burial discrimination.

“A lot of funeral homes wouldn’t accept African Americans to bury,” said Marinda Johnson, who was also a producer on the documentary.

Vincent Thompson, an African-American embalmer, started the first African American funeral home, Thompson Funeral Home.

“He really became a voice for the African-American community,” Johnson said. “He helped start the Oak Park Community Council.”

Though the stories tend focus on struggle, not all are that way.

In a time of racial turmoil across the country Grant Union High School had an all-African-American men’s track team.

“This relay ended up winning the championship, and even though they had all these race issues going on around them, there were no racial tensions at this school,” Johnson said. “Everyone just thought of them as champions ... the achievement, the success was all they focused on at the school.”

Both Shadden and Johnson said the memory of the 1960s and 1970s tends to be lost today, and the documentary is a reminder of how far the city has come.

“There was a Time Magazine article in the early 2000s that said Sacramento is one of the most diverse cities, and that’s the short-term memory,” Shadden said.

“We almost kind of turn our eye to it in a sense,” Johnson said. “We hear about it and we think, ‘oh it couldn’t be that bad. It’s Sacramento ... It’s not as bad as the South, so it can’t be that bad.’ That’s the mentality.”

The documentary is paired with another, which explores the history of African Americans in the Central Valley and Sierra Nevadas from the Gold Rush through the 1950s, which will air at 7 p.m. Feb. 9. and at 6 p.m. Feb. 13 ~~9 p.m. Feb. 15~~.

The documentary on the civil rights era in Sacramento will air at 11:30 p.m. Feb. 17.

For more information about the documentary and more stories on the civil rights era in Sacramento, click here.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Editorial note: The time of the encore has been corrected to Feb. 13 at 6 p.m.

Community Program Explores LGBTQ Bullying in Sacramento

2011-01-31T07:57:05Z

Part 1 - A Local Gay Youth Tells His Story
By Ken Pierce

Note: This is the first of three articles about growing up gay in Sacramento. It is hoped that the reader gains a better insight into the problems facing LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender, Questioning) youth in our local schools and community.

In the studios of Access Sacramento the evening of January 4, 2011, Mental Health Matters, a monthly program airing on the Comcast Community Channel was taped. The show’s producer, Marilyn Hillerman invited members of Equality Action Now’s, “It Gets Better Sacramento” project to talk about the LGBTQ youth bullying problem which has been so much in the news lately.

On-air program host and Executive Director of Mental Health America of Northern California, Susan Gallagher opened the show by introducing Dr. Katie Polsky, PH. D., Clinical Psychologist and LGBT Specialist.

Dr. Polsky, whose wife is a therapist gave several daunting statistics, “Bullying is commonplace and most people don’t realize how much damage it does to young people. Bullying can affect those who are susceptible to depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as so many other mental health issues. But even more dramatic is the number of suicides or attempted suicides of bullied youth. Four times as many LGBTQ youth attempt suicide relative to their heterosexual counter parts. That’s a huge number.”

Dr. Polsky continued, “In terms of bullying and harassment in schools, 86% of LGBTQ youth report and experience some sort of verbal or sexual harassment in school. 60% of youth report feeling unsafe in their schools. These are remarkable numbers no one should have to experience and these are the issues we are facing as a community and as a nation. It is important that we shed some light on this topic.”

John Wells 18, a Sacramento native and youth advocate and spokesperson for Equality Action Now really put a face to some of the depressing statistics Dr. Polsky stated. Wells spoke of his bullying in school, home life and how he got through it all.

Wells explained. “My parents were not alright with having a gay son and they first tried to deny it, and then they tried to change me. They put me into a Catholic High School. It was really difficult to fit in with friends once I began coming out to them about my being gay. There was a lot of reticule, bullying and lack of support of the people I came in contact with everyday, which put me in a really unsafe mental place. The bullying got so bad there were times I would self-injure myself and I even seriously considered suicide. In the end my parents kicked me out of the house when I turned 18.”

When asked by the moderator how he managed to get through all that depression and bullying Wells said, “A few things helped such as getting myself kicked out of Catholic School and moving to a public school where I joined a Gay-Straight Alliance club. I became close friends with the two senior leaders and in my junior year, became President of the club. Also local organizations like Equality Action Now allowed me to participate in their ‘It Gets Better Sacramento’ project; become their youth spokesperson and since I am taking communications in college now, their Public Relations Director is mentoring me in Media and Public Relations.”

Wells is an exception to the rule when it came to standing up to a bully. He told of an instance in school attending a pep-rally for the football team just before an important game. “I became really pumped up at the rally and excited and didn’t think about how my cheering may seem to others. A guy behind me became very irritated at me because he said I was cheering ‘like a girl’ and ended up punching me in the face in front of everyone.”

“I was hurt and humiliated but all I could do is cry and walk away. I decided to go to the Principal’s office and turn the guy in and he got in serious trouble. Walking away was the right thing to do and turning the guy in helped to identify someone who may have a problem with bullying. In my case the school was very supportive but I know that isn’t always true which is why we need strong legislation such AB-9, the bill Assemblyman Tom Ammiano has introduced to help stop school bullies.”

Smiling into the camera Wells concluded, “It still isn’t easy since I don’t have a job and I am going to be moving in with friends soon but at least I am not homeless like so many LGBT youth and I am going to college hopefully to go into counseling or communications. All-in-all though, it does get better.”

In the next few months you will hear about three other gay activists and a little about their lives growing up gay. By the conclusion of this series the reader should have a better understanding the problems facing LGBT youth here in our own community and how they survive.

Thousands March in Honor of Martin Luther King

2011-01-18T21:58:09Z

10,000 honored Dr. Kings Dream on Monday, Jan. 17.2011 in Sacramento.

Thousands in our community marched today from two locations honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It took 30 minutes for the mass of marchers to pass by me as they made a right hand turn from Sutterville Rd. (above) onto Sacramento City College as they made their way to the Convention Center downtown. They formed at Oak Park Community Center.

These marchers, coming from Grant High School, marched south on North 12th St as they travelled to the Convention Center downtown.

Democratic Senate leader Darrell Steinberg and Democratic Assemblyman Roger Dickinson took part in the event.

Hundreds participated in a job fair at the convention center.

The Crocker Art Museum commemorated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with inspirational tours based on King's teachings, gospel music performances by Cosumnes River College Contemporary Gospel Choir, screenings of Martin Luther King: Legacy of a Dream and a reading of Faith Ringgold's "My Dream of Martin Luther King" followed by a hands-on art making project.

The National Day of Prayer Task Force (NDPTF) issued a clarion call to prayer in order to honor his spiritual legacy and his work as a prominent leader in the civil rights movement.

Shemida Jade Lowe watches the parade along North 12th wearing Dr. King's prison number when he was incarcerated after his bus boycott arrest in Alabama, February 22, 1956.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Marchers to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.

2011-01-08T01:06:55Z

The first organized group in Sacramento to march in Martin Luther King Jr.’s honor did so in January, 1981. At 9 a.m. Jan. 17, 30 years later, more than 10,000 are expected to gather at Grant High School, Sacramento City College and Oak Park Community Center to march for civil rights and social justice in the MLK365 March.

“This march in a real sense is a way of dramatizing the needs of our generation, coming up with a whole set of values that meet the needs of people today,” said event spokesman Sam Starks. “We will march until we bring into existence those things.”

The march is a celebration of King’s work and the work of all who participated in the civil rights movement, but it is also a call to action for the current generation – those too young to have lived through the turbulent decades from the 1950s through the 1970s.

“We’ve come a long way, but we’ve still got a long way to go,” Starks said.

“It’s not just an issue of whether people of color can buy houses or sit at lunch counters,” he said. “Have we reached a place where we can say America is truly a country of equity, justice and fairness? No. This is about making America a greater place than it already is.”

The marches will conclude at the Sacramento Convention Center around 10 a.m. for the celebration.

That celebration will include educational displays, music, food, speeches by local politicians and a multicultural talent show.

Starks said the goal of the MLK365 organization is to keep working on social justice issues all year long, focusing on the differences in various races’ experiences.

One of the group’s focuses is neighborhoods

“We need to look at the communities where predominantly people of color live,” he said. “Those communities don’t have true integration. They have check-cashing and liquor stores instead of parks and banks.”

One of the organization’s major focuses is on youth, and Amy Perdigone, a counselor at Highlands High School in North Highlands, has been volunteering with the organization for about five years, when she was a counselor at Encina High School.

“I try to be promoting things like peace, justice and social justice,” she said. “A lot of King’s legacy is very applicable even today. We try to make it more modern.”

Perdigone said today’s youths are more in tune to entertainment, so music and video are incorporated into the educational parts of the celebration following the march.

“It appeals to them because of the entertainment and education (section of the convention center celebration) playing videos that show marches from ’65, when teens and youths started (the civil rights movement),” Perdigone said. “They have a strong reaction to that. They connect the past with the present, and they see that people their age were doing these things.”

Participation in the march is free of charge, but Starks said there is a cost.

“You have to get up early, and you have to march, and you have to go back and tell all your friends and share King’s message,” he said. The two marches come from the north and south areas of Sacramento, and each is expected to take about an hour.

For more information on the march, exact meeting times and routes, visit the MLK365 website.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Photos of last year’s event courtesy MLK365.

LGBT COMMUNITY CALLING FOR PROTEST TODAY AT CAPITOL

2010-08-18T18:56:38Z

Monday the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit placed their own stay in the Federal Prop 8 Case, which doesn’t allow the issuing of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Once again disappointment, and for some, anger has invaded the lives of many same-sex couples who were set to take their vows on the West Steps of the California State Capitol Building today.

In place of the planned Wedding Ceremonies, leaders of the LGBT Community are calling for a Protest Rally and March around the State Capitol. This will begin on the West Steps at 6:00pm, Wednesday August 18 (when hundreds of same-sex marriages would have taken place).

Equality Action Now as well as organizations throughout the region are hosting a protest rally and march in reaction to same-sex couples “having to once again put their wedding plans on hold and continue to suffer being treated like 2nd class citizens without the ability to protect their family and each other, as other citizens who are able to legally marry in the State of California”.

While the program is still in the planning stage, confirmed speakers include State Senator Mark Leno, Equality California’s Government Affairs Director, Mario Guerrero, a representative of Faith for Equality, Diana Luiz and Dr. Nicola Simmersbach, Sacramento couple who were set to wed today, and Hilary Hodge, spokesperson for Equality Action Now.

Organizer Enrique Manjarrez explains the reason for the protest is, “For the community to support couples who were looking forward to their wedding day. For young people looking forward to a life where they are truly equal under the law. For all of us to show the world that you may knock us down, but we’ll get up again. The fight for equality goes on here in Sacramento, and across the country”.

Plans Move Ahead for Same-Sex Weddings Wednesday

2010-08-16T08:18:58Z

The judicial clock is ticking down towards Judge Vaughn Walker’s Wednesday, August 18th, 5:00pm lift of the stay in the Federal Prop 8 Trial. In the event that the temporary stay is lifted and once again, same-sex couples are allowed to apply for a marriage license, the leadership of Equality Action Now and the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center will host Wedding Ceremonies on the West Steps of the California State Capitol Building beginning as soon as the first couples arrive from the Sacramento County Clerks Office.

Same-sex couples and their supporters all across the state have been on an emotional roller coaster; first in anticipation of the initial ruling in the case then jubilation when Prop 8 was struck down. Almost immediately a huge letdown happened as a temporary stay was put into place. Once again anticipation reigns supreme with same sex couples that are prepared to join the 18,000 who have already legally married.

One thing is a clear, ProtectMarriage.com and other proponents of Proposition 8 who stepped in the place of the State to take the case to the Federal Court will be relentless and will spare no cost in finding a way to convince the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, or even the Supreme Court to place a permanent stay. Their goal is to keep same-sex marriages from taking place until a decision is made in the higher court. That decision could take as long as two years.

If a permanent stay is put into place, Wendy Rae Hill, Executive Director of the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center explained, “Same-sex couples will continue to suffer the indignity of being considered second-class citizens and we and our families will continue to be without the same rights and protections legally married couples have. Ether way those who are currently legally married suffer no consequences what-so-ever”.

Putting all the legal wrangling aside, Enrique Manjarrez, a volunteer with Equality Action Now says, “Thinking positively, our organization, along with the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center and several other individuals in the community are planning a memorable wedding ceremony for any couple who wish to be one of the first in the State to legally marry after last weeks landmark decision by the Federal Court. There will not be a mass ceremony”.

Couples who wish to participate will have the opportunity to take their vows on the West Steps of the California State Capitol. They may use their own marriage officiate or one of several Ministers of local churches who have stepped up and offered their services. Depending on their schedules, several legislators have also indicated they would be happy to step out of the Capitol to perform civil ceremonies.

In checking with the Downtown Sacramento County Clerk's Office, a representative said if the stay is lifted, they intend to stay open after their usual closing time of 5:00pm. At 5:00pm they will issue only same-sex marriage licenses until 8:00pm. The official said they would process those couples that made a reservation ahead of any walk-ins. Reservations are full for Wednesday and Thursday and filling quickly for Friday.

The Capitol Marriage Ceremony Coordinator is asking help from the community and from local businesses who stand to have an increase in their business to donate their time, products, and services to make Wednesday a special day for all same-sex couples who plan to marry. The community is encouraged to attend to support those who are getting married. If you would like to participate and marry Wednesday evening at the State Capitol contact Enrique Manjarrez by calling the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center at 916-442-0185.

If Stay is Lifted – Sacramento Is Mobilized For Weddings To Begin

2010-08-09T09:49:57Z

Sacramento, CA – August 9, 2010 - It isn’t known how many same-sex couples are poised to rush down to the Sacramento County Clerk’s Office, however if Wednesday is any indication there could be more then just a few dozen who spent the weekend ring shopping, buying flowers and ordering wedding cakes in anticipation of the possibility Judge Vaughn Walker who presided over the Federal Prop 8 Trial will lift the stay and allow those couples to apply for a marriage license.

If you go to the Sacramento County Clerks Office web site you will see highlighted in bright yellow the following statement: “Prop 8 Ruling – Until the ruling on Proposition 8 is entered, it is not in effect. The court has stayed entry pending consideration of a motion to stay the ruling while it is appealed. As a result, the County Clerk/Recorder may not yet issue licenses to same-sex couples”.

With Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and State Attorney General Jerry Brown as well as other governmental entities such as the City and County of San Francisco (Mayor Johnson and the City of Sacramento has been silent on this issue so far) filing a Memorandum to Oppose continuing the stay, anti-Prop 8 supporters have high hopes the Judge will strike down the stay and will allow the issuing of marriage licenses to begin.

It is uncertain, even if it is lifted, how soon same-sex couples will be allowed to fill out the long-awaited and hard-fought paperwork that gives them the right to join the already 18,000 married same-sex couples to legally marry in the State of California. Attorney General Brown has indicated he will call for an immediate issuing of licenses as soon as Judge Walker lifts the order and enters the judgment.

The leadership of Equality Action Now, a Sacramento grassroots civil rights organization who has been on the forefront of the mobilization of the Sacramento region’s LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex) community and their allies met Sunday evening to plan their next mobilization effort – the support of all same-sex couples and straight couples who have vowed not to marry until their gay friends and family members can do so legally, at the Downtown County Clerks Office (600 8 Street, Sacramento, CA 95814), if and immediately when Judge Walker lifts the stay.

Tina Reynolds, co-founder of Equality Action Now and the membership are calling on the community to help supply newly weds with white balloons, flowers and wedding cake. EAN is also contacting officials who are able to perform marriage ceremonies to any couple showing up at the Downtown Office. Some services may be conducted on the west steps of the State Capitol Building. There may be some surprise well known officials lending their services.

Sacramento LGBT Community Reacts to Federal Prop 8 Decision

2010-08-04T21:43:28Z

Sacramento, CA – Today, Judge Vaughn Walker released his decision in the Perry v. Schwarzenegger Federal Prop 8 Trial. The leadership of Equality Action NOW and the staff of the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center (1927 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95811), are elated with the ruling and are calling a Press Conference at 3:45 PM at the Center and are planning a party beginning at 6:00 pm on K Street at 21st in Midtown Sacramento, in the parking lot behind McMartin's Real Estate.

Tina Reynolds, co-founder of Sacramento’s Equality Action Now, a grassroots civil rights organization said. “Today, we will dance in the streets to celebrate our equality with our fellow Californians and thank all of our allies. While this is a huge step towards equal rights for same-sex marriages, it is well understood that the positive ruling in this case will serve as the bases for an appeal from the Yes on Prop 8 side. Opponents of same-sex marriages will continue their fight by using every available means legally, as well as in the public arena to deny full and equal rights to LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex) individuals. So tomorrow we will continue to build bridges to other communities by coming out and telling our personal stories”.

Wendy Rae Hill, Executive Director of the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center pointed out, “as witnessed in the this trial, what the proponents of same-sex marriage have on their side is the Constitution and evidence that no one can dispute the fact that same-sex marriages will do no harm to the institution of marriage. On the other hand there is an abundance of evidence that same-sex marriages will actually serve to strengthen our society and family structure as in the case of my own family”.

Organizations throughout the state and here in Sacramento are urging the community “to continue to amplify the themes underscored by Olson/Boies which focused on the inclusion and integration of LGBT people within the legal protections enjoyed by all Americans and framed this current controversy within the larger historical context of past discriminatory laws that have been eliminated. In this way, marriage discrimination against the LGBT community is seen as one more instance of unfounded bias and prejudice that is eliminated and is consistent with the enduring American principle of extending Constitutional protections and fairness to all people”.

”Today our response to Judge Walker's ruling includes reaching out in fellowship and compassion to those who voted for Proposition 8 in 2008 out of fear and lack of information. Just like the evolution of Governor Schwarzenegger, U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein and San Diego Mayor and Prop 8 trial witness Jerry Sanders, we need to ensure we celebrate with a grace that allows people to evolve in their position towards marriage equality with dignity and join us as we move forward. We need to ensure we do not view this win as a zero sum game against our adversaries - but rather the unfolding of a more inclusive, kind, loving country for everyone”.

Federal Prop 8 Trial Day of Decision - Sacramento Responds

2010-08-04T15:21:39Z

Today, Judge Vaughn Walker will released his decision in the Perry v. Schwarzenegger Federal Prop 8 Trial. The leadership of Equality Action NOW and the staff of the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center announce today's events.

The ruling will be first, sent out by email to all who are directly connected to the case between 1:00pm and 3:00pm then it will immediately be posted to the web site (www.cand.uscourts.gov).

If Judge Walker rules in favor of striking down Prop 8 and restoring same-sex marriages in California, the leadership of Equality Action Now and the staff of the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center are planning a party to be held at K Street and 21st in Midtown, in the parking lot behind McMartin’s Realty beginning at 6:00pm.

If the ruling upholds Prop 8, we will march from the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center, 1927 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95811, to the west steps of the State Capitol beginning at 6:00pm. There will be speakers and participants will have the opportunity to express their feelings in an open mic forum.

No matter how it goes, a Press Conference will be called within 2 hours of the ruling announcement on the front steps of the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center. If you can make it to the Center for the announcement there will be Media who will want to get the immediate reaction to the ruling from people who this effects the most. It is important you have your voice be heard no matter the outcome. In any case the Center will be open beginning at 9:00am.

While this ruling can be a huge step forward or a temporary barrier towards equal rights for same-sex marriages, it is well understood that this case will serve as the bases for an appeal. Opponents of same-sex marriages will continue their fight by using every available means legally, as well as in the public arena to deny full and equal rights to LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex) individuals – and so will we.

It is important to us to continue to build bridges to other communities by coming out and being vocal with our personal stories and issues.

As witnessed in the this trial, what we have on our side is the Constitution and evidence that no one can dispute the fact that same-sex marriages will do no harm to the institution of marriage. In addition there is an abundance of evidence (and common sense) that same-sex marriages will actually strengthen our society and family structure.

Organizations throughout the state and here in Sacramento are urging the community to continue to amplify the themes underscored by Olson/Boies which focused on the inclusion and integration of LGBT people within the legal protections enjoyed by all Americans and framed this current controversy within the larger historical context of past discriminatory laws that have been eliminated. In this way, marriage discrimination against the LGBT community is seen as one more instance of unfounded bias and prejudice that is eliminated and is consistent with the enduring American principle of extending Constitutional protections and fairness to all people.

On the Day of Decision our response to Judge Walker's ruling must include reaching out in fellowship and compassion to those who voted for Proposition 8 in 2008 out of fear and lack of information. Just like the evolution of Governor Schwarzenegger, U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein and San Diego Mayor and Prop 8 trial witness Jerry Sanders, we need to ensure we celebrate or protest with a grace that allows people to evolve in their position towards marriage equality with dignity and join us as we move forward. We need to ensure we do not view this win or lose as a zero sum game against our adversaries - but rather the unfolding of a more inclusive, kind, loving country for everyone.

Sacramento LGBT Community Prepares For Federal Prop 8 Ruling

2010-06-24T17:29:24Z

Following a five-month hiatus, intriguing closing argument to the Federal lawsuit against California’s Proposition 8 were heard in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco on June 16, and a decision in the case is expected shortly.

The leadership of Sacramento’s Equality Action Now, a local, grassroots civil rights organization and the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center are planning to respond to whatever ruling Judge Vaughn Walker decides in the case with a rally at the Sacramento G&L Center, 1927 L St.

As of this writing there are no indications when the ruling will take place. Organizers are preparing for any day or time it could be announced. There were rumours flying yesterday that the decision could be handed down as early as this Friday, June 25, 2010, but the general thinking is the decision will not be made before this weekend’s San Francisco’s Gay Pride events or even prior to July 4th, Independence Day.

There are two possible rulings that could be made. Ether the banning of same-sex marriage will be viewed by this court to be unconstitutional and once again it will be legal for same-sex adults to attain a marriage license in the state of California, or the law which had caused so much controversy and millions of dollars on both sides spent to repeal or uphold will continue to be the law of the land.

One way or another one thing is certain, the ruling will be appealed and the case will continue to the Federal Court of Appeals before possibly heading to the Unites States Supreme Court.

Planners of the “D-Day” event are encouraged by early indications that the possibility of the decision on their side is high. With hope that they are right, plans are being formed to close down 20st street between K and L streets, the block the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center is located near, for a celebration.

Speakers and entertainment are being lined up and the community is being informed through a vast social networking infrastructure that has been developed since the general election of 2008.

Of course, organizers are also planning for a defeat which could start within hours of the decision at the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center, with a short press conference and then begin a protest march to the California State Capitol where participants will be able to express their feelings of the decision and speakers will offer their support and encouragement.

In any case, Sacramento will be ready to be vocal about what is predicted to be a cornerstone to the future of same-sex marriage here in California.

For more information about plans for “D-Day” go to the web site for Equality Action Now (www.equalityactionnow.org) or the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center (www.saccenter.org).

Equality Action NOW Announces Pride Month Activities

2010-06-10T20:57:39Z

Equality Action Now, a Sacramento based, award-winning civil rights organization will have a super-busy few weeks ahead. The grassroots, all-volunteer activist group will be participating in several events slated for Pride Month.

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE LGBT CAUCUS Awards Ceremony

On Monday June 14, 2010 at 10:30 AM, the California Legislative LGBT Caucus will host a special awards ceremony. The California Legislature will proclaim June 2010 as LGBT Pride Month and celebrate the LGBT Community’s past accomplishments and contributions. The Assembly will also honor LGBT individuals selected from across the state for their lifetime contributions and accomplishments in creating a better future for California and the United States.

Sacramento’s own, Tina Reynolds, co-founder of Equality Action Now and long-time activist has been chosen to receive a lifetime achievement award along with other noted honorees such as Armistead Maupin, Aaron Alvarado, Dr. William Beck, Cecilia Chung, Professor David Cruz, Del Martin (Posthumous), Phyllis Lyon and Jewel Thais-Williams.

The ceremony will take place on the floor of the Assembly with a reception following hosted by the LGBT Caucus consisting of Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, Assembly Speaker, John A. Perez, Senator Christine Kehoe, and Senator Mark Leno.

CLOSING ARGUMENTS – Federal Prop 8 Trial

On Wednesday, June 16, closing arguments in the Federal Prop 8 trial will take place. It has been suggested that the judge in the Perry v. Schwarzenegger case may render a decision ether immediately or within a day or two.

The leadership of Equality Action Now is planning on calling a Press Conference on the steps of the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center as soon as the decision comes down from the court. If the outcome is positive there will dancing and a celebration. If the decision is against same-sex-marriage, EAN will lead a protest march from the Center to the West Steps of the State Capitol.

Anyone wanting to participate should sign up to receive Action Alert emails on the www.EqualityActionNow.org web site.

DYKE NITE – Capitol Pride Festival Event

Equality Action Now members are actively participating in leadership positions for this years Pride Events. EAN member, Hilary Hodge is helping to make sure Dyke Nite, to be held on the West Steps of the State Capitol, the evening of the Pride Festival, is a success. Dyke Nite is a fun event for all sexes and age groups and will begin Friday, June 18, 2010 from 6:00 to 8:30 PM. There is free admission with entertainment by Der Spazm, Sappho's Serenaders, Kings of Drag, Hot Pot Studios, C. Foster and Jovi Radtke are closing with Spoken Word. Hilary Hodge will emcee the event.

SACRAMENTO’S CAPITOL PRIDE PARADE AND FESTIVAL

Entirely run by volunteers and benefiting the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center, Capitol Pride Festival will, for the first time, be located along Capitol Mall between the west steps of the State Capitol Building and the iconic West Sacramento Drawbridge Saturday, June 19, 2010.

PRIDE PARADE

This year the Pride Parade will begin at Southside Park and run straight down 7th Street to the State Capitol. Equality Action Now will be bringing up the rear of the parade and along the way will be inviting everyone along the route to join in their march to the Festival. If you want to join them at the beginning, EAN members will be forming up at 9:00 AM at or near the corner of 7th and T Streets at Southside Park. Look for the “Imagine Equality” signs. If you like you can bring beads, and leis to hand to people along the route.

PRIDE FESTIVAL

Entry to the Festival along Capitol Mall will be $10. With the new venue it is expected that this year’s Pride Festival could be the largest yet. Food, entertainment, drink, (think a cold slushy margarita), and hundreds of vender booths will stretch out along the visually stunning Capitol Mall corridor.

Equality Action Now members are an important part of the Sacramento LGBTQI Community and are proud of their accomplishments and participation in helping all citizens. For more information on how to join EAN go to their web site at www.EqualityActionNow.org or email info@equalityactionnow.org. For information about the Pride Festival go to http://sacramentopride.org or download the official Pride Guide at www.outwordmagazine.com .

Sacramento’s LGBT Leadership Applauds the Striking of DADT

2010-05-28T03:51:09Z

Sacramento, CA – May 27, 2010 – Today the Senate Armed Services Committee voted 16-12 to allow the repeal of the long-standing ban on gays serving openly in the U.S. Military.

This evening the United States House of Representatives voted on striking down “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and with a vote of 234 Yea and 194 Nay, the repeal bill passed. In the end 5 Republicans voted for it and 26 Democrats voted against. The bill needed at least 218 votes to pass. After the results were announced, applause rang out in the otherwise stoic House Chambers.

The highly controversial issue will move to the full Senate floor sometime this summer.

In a statement released by Wendy Rae Hill, the newly appointed Executive Director of the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center, Hill exclaimed, “I am proud of our Nation's Leaders. One's sexual orientation should not be a factor in serving and protecting our country.”

Ken Pierce, a spokesperson for Equality Action Now, a Sacramento grassroots civil rights organization says, “There are thousands of brave LGBT service members who are currently serving in all areas of military service. Soon they will be able to be truthful about who they are without fear of losing their job. I don’t think repealing this bill will do any kind of damage to morale in the military. Remember we are about to join a long list of countries, all of them allies that did away with discrimination long ago. They realized the importance of retaining highly dedicated and skilled men and women rather then booting those key personnel to the street. Finally we may be able to truly change, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Care”.

Senator Mark Leno Hosts Religious Freedom and Marriage Talk

2010-05-19T05:50:05Z

By Ken Pierce

Sacramento, CA – May 18, 2010 – Today Senator Mark Leno (D – San Francisco) hosted a discussion at the State Capitol of a bill he sponsored to hopefully help define a confusing aspect of the same-sex marriage fight that may be headed back to the polls in California in 2012. SB 906 was introduced January 27, 2010 and named the Civil Marriage and Religious Freedom Act.

The summary of the bill states that it does reaffirm the freedom of the clergy to make faith-based decisions regarding which marriages they solemnize and further clarifies the distinction between civil marriage and religious marriage. It also clarifies that religious institutions would not lose their tax-exempt status in California if they refuse to solemnize a certain marriage that is contrary to their religious faith.

Among the discussion group was Sen. Leno, New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson, Bishop Christopher Senyonjo of Uganda, and Equality California Executive Director, Geoff Kors.

Bishop Robinson is the first openly gay priest to be ordained a bishop in a major Christian denomination. As a high-ranking member of the clergy, Bishop Robinson has advocated for equal protection under the law and for full civil marriage rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. The Bishop mentioned that New Hampshire enacted a similar bill which helped pave the way for the legalization of same-sex-marriages in his state.

Bishop Christopher Senyonjo of Uganda is a courageous vocal opponent to Uganda’s proposed legislation to criminalize and execute members of the LGBT community. The government could soon outlaw his ministry with Integrity Uganda, and Bishop Christopher could be put in prison for his support of LGBT Ugandans. While the Bishop praised the Religious Freedom and Marriage Act proposed in California, his real message is that Religious zealots here in the United States are still fueling support for Uganda taking a harsh stand towards Ugandan LGBT citizens. While their verbal support has been hushed due to the huge backlash of media attention, Bishop Senyonio said, “Money from the U.S. is still flowing into Uganda as well as other African nations in support of strong governmental actions targeting homosexuals”.

Now that the heated debate of when to put to the vote to same-sex-marriage is settled, EQCA is moving ahead with a strategy to win the support of California citizens. Their network of offices and volunteers, including here in Sacramento, has been making thousands of phone calls and knocking on doors across the state. Geoff Kors, executive director led the way for his organization to become a co-sponsor of the Religious Freedom and Marriage bill as part of that new strategy.

Currently SB 906 is on its third reading on the Senate Floor. The bill is sponsored by EQCA and California Council of Churches. It receives official support from AIDS Project Los Angeles, Anti-Defamation League, Asian Americans for Civil Rights & Equality, California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, California Teachers Association, Consumer Attorneys of California, Jewish Political Action Committee (JPAC), Sacramento Lawyers for the Equality of Gays and Lesbians, Inland Counties Stonewall Democrats, and the City of West Hollywood.

Ken Pierce is a local Sacramento writer and Director of Public Relations for Equality Action Now.

Photos by Ken Pierce:

1. (L to R) New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson, California Sen. Mark Leno

2. (L to R) Geoff Kors, Bishop Robinson, Uganda Bishop Christopher Senyonjo, Sen. Mark Leno

3. View of the California State Capitol Building

Complete Guide to Harvey Milk Day Events in Sacramento

2010-05-15T20:33:51Z

Background Notes

Harvey Milk was a leader in the gay rights movement who was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. This made him the nation’s first openly gay man elected to public office in a major U.S. city.

It was on November 27, 1978 when San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk were shot to death by a former city supervisor, Dan White, who had just recently resigned but changed his mind and wanted his seat back. This sent a shockwave throughout San Francisco, California, and throughout the nation when the major networks carried the story during the evening newscasts.

On October 12, 2009, Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the highly controversial bill (S.B. 572) establishing “Harvey Milk Day” to take place each May 22nd, Milk’s birthday. This makes the slain gay civil rights activist only the second person in state history – in addition to conservationist John Muir – to gain such a designation. The signing came on the heals of President Obama awarding Harvey Milk posthumously, the Presidential Medal of Freedom last August.

Though Harvey Milk Day is not a state holiday, the measure encourages schools to conduct lessons “remembering the life of Harvey Milk, recognizing his accomplishments and familiarizing pupils with the contributions he made to the state.”

Saturday, May 22, 2010 will be the first Harvey Milk Day and Equality Action Now, an all-volunteer; grassroots civil rights organization took the lead in organizing events for Sacramento. In the past, the organization hosted several large rallies at the State Capitol protesting Prop 8, the same-sex marriage bill that passed in 2008 and upheld by the State Supreme Court in 2009.

EAN leadership wanted to make sure the city wasn’t left out in providing fun, educational, and affordable events that is all-inclusive to celebrate the life and legacy of Harvey Milk. With the help of their sponsors, Badlands, Outword Magazine, Uptown Studios, Great America, California Faith for Equality, Sacramento PFLAG, Red Bull USA, Stephan’s Auto Haus, Rainbow Chamber, Sacramento International Gay Lesbian Film Festival, Equality California, B’nai Israel, A Chorus Line, and Depot, it seems they have been successful.

“Milk and Cookies” at the Crest Theater – May 19, 2010 – K Street, between 10th and 11th Streets

This special evening at the Crest Theater begins at 6:00pm with a VIP Reception. Equality Action Now invites everyone to become a VIP. Enjoy complementary wine and cookies as well as the opportunity to converse with other Harvey Milk admirers. Special guests will include Sen. Mark Leno, sponsor of SB 582, making Harvey Milk Day a “special day of significance”, and the first out gay man to be elected to the State Senate. You will also have the opportunity to speak to Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, formally a personal friend of Harvey Milk. Also, in the movie, Milk, actor Emil Hirsch played a young collage student who was befriended by Milk and was recruited to work in his Castro Street election office. That young man, Cleve Jones became a powerful AIDS and LGBT and civil rights activist. Participation in the VIP Reception will allow you to personally meet Cleve.

Beginning at 7:00pm the Crest Theater doors will open and participants will move to the main theater for a fun and educational Harvey Milk Panel Discussion. This event will start off with a performance by the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus and “Spoken Word” artists, Jovi Radtke and C. Foster. Mark Leno, Tom Ammiano, and Cleve Jones will then speak about the life and legacy of Harvey Milk.

Beginning at 8:00pm Equality Action Now will present the screening of Gus Van Sant’s biopic movie, Milk, starring Academy Award winning actor, Sean Penn. This special one-time screening should be a highly educational event for those who didn’t see the movie the first time around and an exciting evening for those seeing it again on the big screen with a theater full of Harvey Milk admirers.

The cost of the VIP Reception, which includes the panel Discussion and special screening, is $30. Cost of attending the Panel Discussion and the movie Milk is $10. Tickets are available at Tickets.com or at the door.

NOTE: Both the Panel Discussion and movie, Milk is rated “R” – Panel Discussion entertainment for language and Milk for language, some sexual content, and brief violence. No one under the age of 17 will be admitted without Parental or Guardian permission.

Harvey Milk Day Rally and March – Saturday, May 22, 2010 – California State Capitol – West Steps – 4-6pm

Equality Action Now is happy to host this free, family-friendly event at the State Capitol on Harvey Milk’s 80th birthday. Participants will, many for the first time, experience a rally much like Harvey Milk organized in the late 1970’s. Voices from the past, present, and future are the main themes and speakers representing each will speak to the meaning Harvey Milk has for them personally.

Highlighting the entertainment portion of this event will be the traveling cast of Broadway’s A Chorus Line straight from their run at the Sacramento Community Theatre May 19-23. Cast members will perform a musical number from A Chorus Line’s, “What I Did for Love”. Additional entertainers will include Irina Rivkin, Outmusic Awards Recipient, Small Differences Woman’s Choral Ensemble, and local artists Cooper Rae, Jovi Ratke and C. Foster.

The final speaker, introduced by a young activist, will be Harvey Milk himself (Eric Baldwin) reciting excerpts from two of his inspirational and historic speeches including the highly emotional “Hope” speech. This portion of the rally will take participants back to what was going on in the late ‘70’s but is highly relevant to today and the issues many Americans still face today. At the end of his speech, Tina Reynolds, co-founder of Equality Action Now and Harvey Milk will lead participants in a march around the Capitol Building.

For this event, there will be a special children’s section close to the front so they can easily see and hear the event unfolding before them. Activities for the children will be provided. Organizers hope students of all ages have the opportunity be a part of this historic event.

Open House at the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center – May 22, 2010 - 1927 L Street, Midtown Sacramento – 6-8pm

After the Rally and March the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center will hold an Open House. Sponsored by Congregation B’nai Israel, an exhibit about Harvey Milk’s early cultural and religious life will be on display. The new Executive Director, Wendy Rae Hill and her staff will be available to speak about the current services the Center provides the community and her vision of how it can expand to be even more relevant to Sacramento and the surrounding areas it serves. This will be a great time for visitors during the Open House to learn about California’s Pride Festival here in Sacramento, volunteering opportunities and how to become a member of the Center.

Harvey Milk Day After-Party Activities – May 22, 2010 - Midtown – K Street and 21st Streets – 6-10pm

After the Rally and visiting the Gay and Lesbian Center, choose a favorite visit the Badlands or barhop to the beat of music filling the streets in celebration of California’s first Harvey Milk Day. Equality Action Now volunteers will be at the door of Badlands, Depot and Headhunters asking for donations to help cover the cost of the events.

For more information about Harvey Milk Day Events here in Sacramento visit www.EqualityActionNow.org, email info@equalityactionnow.org or call (916) 446-1082.

A Chorus Line to Highlight Harvey Milk Day Rally Entertainment

2010-05-10T21:15:00Z

To commemorate Harvey Milk Day, on his birthday, May 22, 2010 Equality Action Now will host a fun and historic Rally and March on the West steps of the State Capitol. Invited guests include adult and youth speakers from the community as well as entertainment. Highlighting the entertainment will be the cast of Broadway’s hit, A Chorus Line.

The road tour of A Chorus Line will be playing at the Sacramento Community Theatre May 19-23. According to their tour manager the cast will perform their matinee show then head over to the Capitol to perform a musical number from A Chorus Line, “What I Did For Love”.

A Chorus Line, one of the most recognized Broadway musicals, won nine Tony Awards, including “Best Musical” and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. This singular sensation is the longest-running American Broadway musical ever.

Additional entertainers at the Harvey Milk Day Rally will include:

Small Difference Women's Choral Ensemble is a group of women of all orientations who are dedicated to performing music that has a message. It is one way the members have channeled their activism to change this world for the better. We sing songs for peace & justice, lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender equality, women's liberation, the environment, and human rights for all. We are a proud member of Sister Singers Network and GALA (the Gay & Lesbian Association of Choruses).

Irina Rivkin is an Outmusic Awards Recipient for OutSong of the Year 2003, & Nominee for Outstanding Debut Recording 2005, Rose Street House of Music founder and singer-songwriter Irina Rivkin has performed for 25 years, from her childhood singing Russian folk and American Jazz in a family band, to performing her own songs for the last 12 years. She expresses insightful, gutsy, vocal world-folk originals, journeying into the personal and political, with occasional travels into Russian and Spanish language lyrics. Irina layers her poetic lyrics with rich textured harmonies, swirling with vocal percussive beats, all created live on-the-spot using her loop station instrument.

Cooper Rae, a performance artist from Midtown Sacramento. Rae is committed to creating music and art that effects a social change, Her performance is inclusive and combines a variety of styles into her music – jazz, blues, alternative, neo-soul, r&b, funk, even country. Rae’s original songs touch on a multiple subjects: politics, love, sex, heartbreak, and personal strength. She says that her music is very reflective of her life; therefore it’s very lesbian.

Jovi Ratke and C. Foster “Spoken Word” artists:

Jovi Ratke is a new face on the spoken word scene, but this up and comer has been throwin down words since she learned how to speak them. Over the past few years, she has been a strong and inspiring voice at rallies for marriage equality, events to benefit our homeless communities, and everywhere she can find a mic. Jovi is compact fluorescent lighting meets the energizer bunny with more heart than she can contain folded in. She writes like pen to the page creates oxygen and she possesses a voice that begs to be heard.

All the world’s a stage for performance poet, C.Foster. She can be found reciting lines while shifting gears and pounding pavements. Foster’s work centers on the complexity of love and all the unusual places it exists. With a cracked rearview and a rusty heart, she finds beauty in the breakdown.

Eric Baldwin, an accomplished actor/director has performed across the United States as well as Europe will be playing Harvey Milk, reciting from two of Milk’s speeches, including his inspiring “Hope” speech. Eric as Harvey Milk will then lead the grand finale march around the State Capitol Building.

Harvey Milk Day Rally and March May 22, 2010 at the California State Capitol Building, 10th and L Streets, from 4-6pm is sponsored by Equality Action Now, Outword Magazine, Uptown Studios, Stephan’s Auto Haus, Rainbow Chamber, SIGLFF, EQCA, Faces, B’nai Israel, and Badlands and Depot. For more information on this free, family-friendly event: www.EqualityActionNow.org or call (916) 446-1082.

Cleve Jones to Highlight "Milk and Cookies" Event at the Crest Theater

2010-04-30T19:59:13Z

Sacramento, CA - On October 12, 2009, Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the highly controversial bill (S.B. 572) establishing “Harvey Milk Day” to take place each May 22nd, Milk’s birthday. The signing came on the heels of President Obama awarding Harvey Milk posthumously, the Presidential Medal of Freedom last August.

Equality Action Now, a local grassroots civil rights organization wanted to make sure Sacramento wasn’t left out in providing community-based affordable events commemorating Harvey Milk’s 80th Birthday, his Presidential Medal of Freedom award, and the California’s first official Harvey Milk Day. During the last several months EAN’s leadership and volunteers collaborated with several individuals and organizations throughout the region to organize events celebrating Harvey Milk and his legacy.

“Milk and Cookies” Panel Discussion and the Screening of “Milk”

To open the week Equality Action Now is hosting a VIP Reception, “Milk and Cookies” Panel Discussion, and the screening of “Milk” the movie production that won 2 Academy Awards starring Sean Penn. All will take place beginning at 6:00pm Wednesday May 19, 2010 at the Crest Theater in downtown Sacramento. State Senator Mark Leno, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano and Cleve Jones are special guests.

Elected to the Senate in 2008, Senator Mark Leno is the first openly gay man elected to the State Senate, and one of the first two openly gay men ever elected to the State Assembly. Prior to his election to the Senate, he served six years in the State Assembly and four and a half years on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

As sponsor of S. B. 572, Harvey Milk Day would not have been enacted if it were not for the tenacity and perseverance of Senator Leno.

Tom Ammiano is a long-time San Francisco Democratic leader who has served the city nearly three decades as a teacher, civil rights leader, educator and Supervisor. Today Ammiano serves as a State Assemblyman.

Assemblymember Ammiano is a tireless fighter of LGBT and civil rights and recently came out for the legalization of marijuana. He was also a good friend of Harvey Milk and may have a story or two to tell participants of the VIP Reception and “Milk and Cookies” Panel Discussion.

Cleve Jones is an AIDS and LGBT civil rights activist. He conceived the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. At the onset of the AIDS pandemic Jones co-founded the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

Jones began his career as an activist in San Francisco during the turbulent 1970’s. He worked as a student intern in Harvey Milk’s office while studying political science at San Francisco State University. Actor Emile Hirsch portrayed Cleve Jones in Milk, director Gus Van Sant’s biopic of Harvey Milk. Equality Action Now is especially happy to have Cleve participate in this special event.

Additional guests providing entertainment during the “Milk and Cookies” Panel Discussion is the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus and local “Spoken Word” artists, Jovi Radtke and C.M. Foster.

A VIP Reception with Leno, Ammiano and Jones begins at 6:00pm. The “Milk and Cookies” Panel Discussion starts at 7:00pm and the screening of Milk begins at 8:00pm. Entry to the VIP event is $30 and the Panel Discussion plus the screening of Milk $10. Tickets are available at Tickets.com. For more information about Harvey Milk Day events visit: www.EqualityActionNow.org

About 50 people urge City Council to help form Safe Ground

2010-04-24T02:03:50Z

About 50 people urged the Sacramento City Council Thursday to help efforts to reserve land for the homeless. The people who addressed the City Council were supporters of the “Safe Ground” campaign, which opposes the city’s anti-camping ordinance and advocates for a living space for the city’s homeless.

The recent stabbing death of 68-year-old Bernice Nickson, a homeless resident, was mentioned in the comments of some of the Safe Ground advocates.

The Safe Ground supporters spoke during the part of the meeting reserved for public comments on subjects that are not covered in the agenda. Council members do not respond to citizens during that part of each City Council meeting.

Comments from some of the people who addressed the City Council Thursday are below:

Tracie Rice-Bailey, advocate for Safe Ground: Had [Nickson] had a safe place to sleep, she would be alive today. If this is not a solid reason for safe ground, what might be? We need to get real and not let this happen to anyone else. We need a moratorium on the anti-camping ordinance now.

Joan Burke, director of advocacy for Sacramento Loaves & Fishes: Please give us Safe Ground so that no woman has to sleep outside in Sacramento, and no woman has to die because she’s homeless.

John Kraintz, advocate for Safe Ground: Safe Ground is hoping to offer something that provides a solution of empowerment, rather than entitlement. To try to be contributors. That’s why these people are here tonight — because they’re part of your community. They care. How many normal citizens do we find coming out to talk to the City Council and tell them what’s on their mind?

Mark Merin, civil rights attorney: When people say they’re part of Safe Ground, and they’ve counted on Safe Ground, what they’re talking about is a group of people who stay together. They camp at night ... break their camp in the morning, and they drag their stuff away. So, it’s a clean site. That is not ideal. What they need is a place where they can actually be and their stuff can stay safe. And they can go about connecting with family (and) friends, qualifying for services, and moving up.

Cres Vellucci, member of the board of directors of ACLU of Sacramento County and a Vietnam veteran: As I understand it, a number of the people that are homeless ... are military veterans. As a veteran, I would like to encourage all of you to consider that these people have served their country. They’ve done what they had to do — whether they were drafted like I was, or whether they joined.

Photo caption: The city removed "Tent City" last year. Photo by Jonathan Mendick.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Sacramento's Harvey Milk Day Student Essay/Art Contest

2010-04-03T15:16:23Z

Equality Action Now and Contest Sponsor, Barnes & Noble at Arden Fair is hosting an essay and art contest to commemorate California’s first Harvey Milk Day, Saturday May 22, 2010.

Harvey Milk Day was enacted and signed into law last October by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Under the measure, May 22 is officially Harvey Milk Day in California, coinciding with Milk's birthday. While it is not a state holiday, schools are encouraged to hold lessons "remembering the life of Harvey Milk, recognizing his accomplishments and familiarizing pupils with the contributions he made to this state".

Equality Action Now is a local grassroots civil rights organization and is leading the way in organizing Sacramento’s Harvey Milk Day events. Note: Equality Action Now is working on forming a curriculum for school-aged children and teens. For more information check out http://www.EqualityActionNow.

Harvey Milk Day Student Essay/Art Contest Rules:

1. The Harvey Milk Day Student Essay/Art contest is open to the following age-groups (as of May 22, 2010):
a. 6 and under (Art Contest)
b. 7 – 12 yrs old (Art Contest)
c. 13 – 14 yrs old (Essay contest)
d. 15 – 18 yrs old (Essay contest)

2. The Harvey Milk Day Student Essay/Art Contest is open to students in the Sacramento Capitol Region, which includes those who reside in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba Counties.

3. Limit one entry per person.

4. Essay and artwork must be the original, unpublished work of the student.

5. Essays are limited to 250-300 words and written in English. Artwork is limited to 8 ½ x 11. Artwork may be in crayon, pencil, color pencil, ink, or charcoal mediums.

6. Entries will become the property of the Sponsor (Equality Action Now), so be sure to keep a copy for your records.

7. All entries must include a title page as the first page of the submitted document or artwork. This title page must contain the writer/artist name, email address, home phone or cell, address (street, city, state, zip), county of residence, school name and parents name and signature if writer/artist is under the age of 18. Be certain that no name or identifying information appears on the essay or artwork itself.

8. The contest deadline for getting in all submissions is May 10, 2010.

9. All submissions along with the title page must be submitted by Postal mail. Mail entries to: Harvey Milk Essay/Art Contest – 410 Alhambra Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95816.

10. Winners will be selected from eligible entries received. Entries that do not meet submission guidelines will be automatically disqualified. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any person it believes has intentionally violated these official rules.

11. Essays will be judged by individuals chosen by the Sponsor, whose decisions are final. In the event of a tie, the Harvey Milk Day Organizing Committee Chairperson will cast the deciding vote.

12. All prizes will be awarded.

13. Winners will be notified by email or phone.

14. Entry and acceptance of prize constitutes permission to use each winner’s name, prizes won, hometown and likeness for advertising and promotional purposes without further notice or compensation, except where prohibited by law.

15. Winners will be publicly announced Wednesday May 19, 2010 at the Crest Theater just before the showing of “MILK”. Winners will also be invited to personally present their winning essay or artwork during the Harvey Milk Day Rally at the State Capitol Saturday, May 22, 2010. Winning essays and artwork will be published in Outword Magazine and posted on the Harvey Milk Day web site. All submitted essays and artwork may be chosen for display at the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center.

16. Students in families of the judges are not eligible to participate in this contest.

17. Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer, administration of the contest or in the announcement of the prizes.

18. Entries must meet all contest requirements. Consideration will be given to presentation, content, structure, grammar, spelling, clarity and originality of response.

19. Prizes: There will be one package of prizes for each age group awarded. (Note: Additional prizes may be awarded as new sponsors sign on.)

a. Age 6 and under: Prize package from Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Arden Fair - Illustrated book The Harvey Milk Story by Kari Krakow - Free tickets to all Harvey Milk Day events.
b. Age 7-12: Prize package from Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Arden Fair - Illustrated book The Harvey Milk Story by Kari Krakow - Free tickets to all Harvey Milk Day events.
c. Age 13-14: Prize package from Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Arden Fair - Book The Mayor of Castro Street: the Life and Times of Harvey Milk by Randy Shilts - Free tickets to all Harvey Milk Day events.
d. Age 15-18: Prize package from Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Arden Fair - Book The Mayor of Castro Street: the Life and Times of Harvey Milk by Randy Shilts - Free tickets to all Harvey Milk Day events.

20. By entering, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decision of the judges and the Sponsor, which will be binding and final in all respects.

Essay statement: Many people consider Harvey Milk a hero. People consider him a hero for several reasons, but not for as much as who he was but what he did for so many people he helped during the time he was alive. After learning about Harvey Milk…

If Harvey Milk was alive today, whom would he be helping, what would he be doing and why would he have chosen this person or persons to help? Artwork should also reflect on this question.

Civil rights activist Efren Guttierrez declares candidacy for Sacramento City Council, slams ‘special interests’ that dominate city hall; Says his special interest will be 'people'

2010-02-09T23:04:04Z

SACRAMENTO – Declaring “my only special interests are people,”
civil rights activist Efren Guttierrez today (Feb. 9) officially
announced his candidacy for Sacramento City Council, District 1 –
and he didn’t’ waste anytime slamming big special interest money
that dominates local campaign races.

“I will only have one special interest: The People. I will not
accept contributions from large developers and similar special
interests because ‘It’s About Time’ the grip of those special
interests on the city is broken,” pledged Guttierrez, 54, a local
real estate broker and community activist as he stood outside
Sacramento City Hall with dozens of supporters.

Guttierrez is the executive director of Chicano Consortium, and
president of the La Raza Sacramento Chapter. He’s also on CORE’s
steering committee and a member of a large number of social
justice groups, including the Dept. of Justice Hate Crime Task
Force, Latino Congreso, Sacramento Mentor Program and Rescue &
Restore Coalition (anti-human trafficking), among many others listed.

Guttierrez, who held his event at a City Hall memorial of former
Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna, repeatedly used his theme “It’s About
Time,” referring to the 11 years since a Latino has been on the
Sacramento City Council. More than 22 percent of Sacramento’s
population is Latino, and it’s nearly about 27 percent in
District 1 – largely in the Natomas area.

Guttierrez said one of his goals is to “stop lining the pockets
of the wealthy and super wealthy who get special favors (from the
City). The time of sweetheart deals from the city to these
companies is over. I wan to generate not just any jobs, but
living wage jobs,” he said.

“We also need to focus on the kids…(and) provide them with an
education not just from books, but how to survive in their
community, and on this planet. We need to teach life skills,”
Guttierrez said. He also said he hopes to launch an effort to
help people in the city with soaring health care costs. “This is
everyone’s problem,” he said.

Guttierrez acknowledged that his campaign will not have large
campaign coffers because of his refusal to accept corporate
special interest money. But, he said, his “people” campaign will
be “fueled” by social justice organizations and volunteers.

“I will have the aid…of those who truly care about others more
than their own bottom line. The people have been down too long
and fooled too often by politicians. But I am not a politician.
This campaign will be about people,” he said.

More information can be found at www.EfrenGcitycouncil.org.

THE MEETING, BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

2010-01-20T05:27:33Z

FOR ALL WHO MISSED OR REQUESTED THE SHOW AGAIN, THIS IS FOR YOU!

Fascinating and Dramatically Compelling, this Eloquent Play depicts the supposed Meeting of two of the most important men of modern times: Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Differing in their Philosophies, but alike in their mutual respect, the two men debate their varying approaches to the same grave Social problems, both prepared to die for their beliefs but neither aware of how soon their assassins’ bullets would await them.

The story takes place in a suite high up in a Harlem Hotel room where Malcolm X and his bodyguard Rashad are resting before Malcolm X’s fateful speech at the Audubon Ballroom. Malcolm X has requested a secret meeting with Dr. King who is also in New York.

Cautious at first, the two quickly fall into a spirited debate about their different approaches to improving the lot of the Black Man in a predominantly White society. Dr. King (the lamb) hoping to find racial harmony through Love and Peaceful Resistance while Malcolm X (the lion) is reconciled to violence and revenge if Blacks are to win out over oppression.

*The Meeting received a Louis B. Mayer Award, eight NAACP Theater Awards, and six New York AUDELCO nominations.

Theatre3 Productions Presents "The Meeting" By: Jeff Stetson, Starring James Ellison, Romann Hodge and Brandon Rubin. The show runs Feb 25th at 8pm, 26th @ 7 pm and 27th @ 5 pm.

All tickets only $10.00! Get your's early TICKETS SOLD OUT on our previous run! THE GUYS BROUGHT THE HOUSE DOWN! CONGRATS TO JAMES, ROMANN AND BRANDON FOR A SUCCESSFUL RUN...LOVE A MUCH!!! We have some of the hottest actors in Sacramento!! Email: T3prods@yahoo.com

http://www.facebook.com/SMELLITLIKEITIS?v=app_169505045786#/event.php?eid=257760219106&ref=ts

Tickets may be purchased at:

Oak Park:
Uncle Jeds Cut Hut 3432 3rd Ave @ Broadway, Sac, CA (916) 452-3222

South Area: South Sacramento Christian Center 7710 Stockton Blvd, Sac 95823 (916) 681-6791
FOR FURTHER INFO / VENDOR OPPORTUNITIES / BOOKING / TICKETS
or by Calling Sherry Dunn (916) 256-9212

* Theatre3 Productions: Orland Gladden-Director, Mike W Benjamin - Artistic/Technical Director and Sherry Dunn - Assistant Director/Stage Manager/Writer.

**NOTE: To Assure Seat Reservation, Advance Ticket Purchase is Suggested. In the event we have left over seats, tickets may be purchased at the door. You may also contact the cast for ticket availability.

***NOTE: TICKETS SOLD OUT FOR OUR LAST PERFORMANCES, SO RESERVE YOUR SEAT BY PURCHASING TICKETS EARLY! THANKS FOR ALL WHO ALL WHO CAME OUT TO SEE THE SHOW!

Marriage Equality Rally and March at the Capitol

2009-11-06T22:16:36Z

Over 200 people gathered Wednesday night]at the California State Capitol for a rally and march which marked the first anniversary of the passage of Proposition 8.

The event, “A Day of Smiles, Tears and Action,” was led by Equality Action NOW, a grassroots civil rights organization, along with several supporting organizations. The event also followed relevant elections in Maine and Washington on Tuesday.

In Washington, voters approved Referendum 71, keeping a law that expanded state benefits to same-sex domestic partners. In Maine, voters rejected a law passed by the state's legislature and signed by the governor that would have allowed same-sex marriages. Maine is now the 31st state to reject same-sex marriage in a popular vote.

Proposition 8 amended California law to recognize marriage only between a man and a woman.

Last year was not the first time that California voters were presented with a vote to narrow the definition of marriage. In 2000, Proposition 22 passed, approving the same language, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

During his speech at the event, EAN volunteer and Camp Courage representative Chris Hauck pointed out the positive difference between the two propositions. While Proposition 22 won by over 22 points, Proposition 8 won by less than five points. Hauck also noted that Proposition 8 was not supported by a majority of voters in areas like Santa Barbara and Irvine, areas where an overwhelming majority supported Proposition 22 almost a decade ago.

Proposition 22 was eventually overturned by the California Supreme Court, allowing gay marriage for approximately five months before the passage of Proposition 8. Proposition 8 was upheld in the California Supreme Court last May in Strauss v. Horton.

As the ongoing judicial and legislative battle ensues, national groups including the American Civil Liberties Union are discouraging further legal action, saying it could do more harm than good. Instead they recommend making changes at the ballot box.

Jennie Reiken, Sacramento field manager for Equality California, strongly encouraged attendees to start canvassing. She encouraged people to educate those around them by having one-on-one conversations about their relationships.

“While the event was held to commemorate the passing of Proposition 8 and the resulting year of inequality, the rally was held to encourage people to get involved in any way they can and provide ample volunteer opportunities," EAN spokesperson Hilary Hodge said after the rally.

Following the march, several organizations made sign-up sheets available to participants. EAN recognizes there is a difference of opinion between marriage equality activists on whether to try voters again in 2010 or 2012. Whenever the issue returns to the polls, Tina Reynolds, co-founder of EAN has stated, “(EAN) does not take a stand one way or another since choosing a date has worked to polarize our community. We will be there whenever a rally, a vote, a stand needs to be made, and we will support all of our brothers and sisters in solidarity.”

In the near term, grassroots efforts in Sacramento continue, including an intensive two-day training called Camp Courage Sacramento this Saturday and Sunday. The training is designed to teach community organizing skills for marriage-equality activists. Registration information is available here. A fundraiser for Camp Courage will be held this tonight at Head Hunters located at 1930 K Street in midtown Sacramento.

A brief timeline:

March 7, 2000 – Proposition 8 passes in the Primary Election

May 15, 2008 – Proposition 22 overturned by California Supreme Court (in re: marriage cases)

Nov. 4, 2008 – Proposition 8 passes in the General Election

May 26, 2009 – Proposition 8 upheld by California Supreme Court (Strauss v. Horton)

Local Civil Rights Group On Watch Today

2009-11-03T15:59:29Z

Sacramento, CA – Today is election day across the nation and members of Equality Action Now, a local volunteer grassroots organization are watching three key areas who’s outcome could impact the struggle of the LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transsexual, Questioning, Intersex) community here in California.

While Tina Reynolds, co-founder of Equality Action Now, and her army of volunteers are preparing for tomorrow’s “One Year Ago” rally and march at the state capitol to call attention to California’s gay community and their own struggle to overturn Prop 8, they will be paying close attention to elections in the states of Maine, Washington, and the city of Kalamazoo Michigan.

The first and most important battleground for supporters of is in the state of Maine. Mainers will be the first in any state with the chance to repeal or uphold a law passed by their state Legislature and signed by their governor, legalizing same-sex marriages. The ballot measure, Question One, results from Maine’s provision for a “people’s veto”, which means any newly passed law can be subject to repeal by voters if enough signatures can be obtained to trigger a referendum. Last minute polls indicate that support of same-sex marriage is squeaking ahead but it is still too close to call.

The state of Washington is a voting mail-in state so while their Referindom 71 has already been decided, the results will not be in until later today. Referindom 71 would expand the rights, responsibilities, and obligations accorded state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses, except that a domestic partnership is not a marriage. The bill reads that same-sex couples, or any couple that includes one person age sixty-two or older, may register as a domestic partnership with the state. Registered domestic partnerships are not marriages, and marriage is prohibited except between one man and one woman. This bill would expand the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of registered domestic partners and their families to include all rights, responsibilities, and obligations granted by or imposed by state law on married couples and their families.

Today the citizens of Kalamazoo Mishigan will be voting on the Kalamazoo “Non-Discrimination Ordinance”. The City Commission passed the inclusive non-discrimination ordinance on June 29 after five public forums were held to hear comments about the ordinance. The final ordinance, which simply adjusts current employment and housing/accommodations law to protect gay and transgender people as it currently protects people based on race, gender, and religion, includes revisions proposed during the public forums. If passed, the city ordinance could be a template other cities could adopt in the future.

All three elections may or may not have an impact close to home here in California. In any case gay and civil rights activists across the state have already been actively supporting the three other elections by fundraising, phone banking, and as with the all important Maine vote, sending trained organizers to key cities to lend support on the ground. This is a good indication that activism is growing and many individual organizations, big and small are pooling their resources to support common issues.

Here in Sacramento, Tina Reynolds, fresh from attending the National Equality March in Washington DC is reflective and defiant saying,“November 4 will be the one year anniversary when California’s LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transsexual, Questioning, Intersex) community lost our equality and it will be the day after the vote in Maine, Washington and Kalamazoo. We will stand on our own state capitol steps in solidarity with our brothers and sisters fighting for their civil rights everywhere. We will celebrate with them or join arms and continue to gain strength to fight on a national level with them!”

Whatever the outcome in other states, it is likely that California will continue to be an important battleground for gay rights and same-sex marriage.

Camp Courage Comes to Sacramento

2009-10-17T05:15:21Z

Highlighting the one-year anniversary since Prop 8 was passed into law, Equality Action NOW, is co-sponsoring along with Courage Campaign and 20 other organizations and individuals, Camp Courage Sacramento, November 7-8, 2009. Camp Courage is an intensive two-day training designed to teach the principles and skills of community organizing and how to become an effective activist.

Drawing on techniques honed for decades by progressive social movements and proven results used by the Obama campaign, Camp Courage teaches empowerment, team building, leadership development, and grassroots organizing skills. It is designed primarily for new activists of all ages or those who have never engaged with the broader community about social issues. While overturning Prop 8 is a current focal point of attention, Camp Courage will educate individuals to plan and implement campaigns that cover a wide array of importance to the community at large.

Camp Courage will cover basic community and political organizing skills, such as finding your voice by telling your “story of self”; leadership development; principles of successful organizing; developing collaboration and building effective teams; techniques of voter persuasion; organizing a phone bank; canvassing; tabling; throwing house parties and online organizing.

In addition to providing participants with essential activist tools, Camp Courage provides a unique opportunity for community members to meet and network with like-minded individuals and organizations which they can connect, join, and put their newly learned skills to immediate use. Trainings have already been held in Los Angeles, Fresno, Oakland, San Diego, East LA and more recent in Washington DC.

Faculty and leaders of the camp include Tori Osborn, Mike Bonin and Lisa Powell. Participants of Camp Courage Sacramento will be enlightened and motivated by speakers such as Lt. Dan Choi, a West Point graduate who was discharged from the National Guard because of “homosexual conduct” and who appealed directly to President Obama to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” rule. Also appearing is Rev. Eric P. Lee, President/CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. More speakers will be announces later.

Courage Campaign, creator of Camp Courage is the online organizing hub for progressive Californians. They have a network of over 700,000 grassroots and netroots citizens empowered to leverage online tools for offline activism. Courage Campaign is a multi-issue organization that focuses on several California progressive issues, including marriage equality.

To sign up, go to: http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/campsacramento

Equality Action NOW is an award-winning local Sacramento grassroots volunteer organization filled with dedicated activists who fight on several civil rights fronts, one of which is the fight to repeal Prop 8. In co-sponsoring Camp Courage, EAN hopes to help make the first-ever Sacramento gay activist school a success by recruiting participants to become campers in this important event.

For more information about Equality Action Now visit: http://www.EqualityActionNOW.org

Maine’s Question One – A Question For California?

2009-10-13T15:56:08Z

On the evening of November 4, 2009, members of civil and same-sex marriage rights organizations will stage a rally at the California State Capitol to protest the passing of Prop 8 exactly one year ago. Roughly three thousand miles away in the state of Maine, Question One will have been answered for citizens hoping their state is the next state to legalize same-sex marriage.

Maine is the latest battleground for supporters of same-sex marriage. On November 3, they will be the first in any state with the chance to repeal or uphold a law passed by their state Legislature and signed by their governor, legalizing such marriages. The ballot measure, Question One, results from Maine’s provision for a “people’s veto”, which means any newly passed law can be subject to repeal by voters if enough signatures can be obtained to trigger a referendum.

Back here in California, supporters of same-sex marriage are cautiously hopeful for a landmark victory that they believe would have an impact here. If the law is unhealed it could help with a positive momentum many believe is happening in California. The real question is how would a defeat, Maine voters repealing the law; affect California in overturning Prop 8?

“I don’t think anyone really knows for sure,” answered Tina Reynolds, co-founder of Equality Action Now, a grassroots civil rights organization based in Sacramento and organizer of the California State Capitol protest. “Maine is our sister state fighting the same lies and distortions created by the religious right to repeal their same sex marriage laws. The radical right is using fear in the same manner as they used against us in California.”

Reynolds goes on to say, “November 4 will be the one year anniversary when California’s LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transsexual, Questioning, Intersex) community lost our equality and it will be the day after the vote in Maine. We will stand on our own state capitol steps in solidarity with our Maine brothers and sisters. We will celebrate with them or join arms and continue to gain strength to fight on a national level with them!”

Whatever the decision of Maine voters, knowing the track record of California gay rights activists who seem to have the resiliency to press on year-after-year, the fight for same-sex marriage will continue to move ahead until it is settled for good. While Maine could provide a boost or depression, it is likely to have a short term affect to the efforts here in California. One good indication could be the attendance and the mood of participants, both for and against gay marriage, who show up on the west steps of the California State Capitol Building, November 4th at 5:00 pm. It could be a defining moment with national implications.

One Year Ago – A Day of Smiles - A Day of Tears – A Day of Action

2009-10-08T06:59:47Z

A year ago on November 4, 2008, Proposition 8, a California ballot proposition passed in the November general election. The measure added a new section (7.5) to Article I of the California Constitution. The section reads: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” The proposition overturned the California Supreme Court’s ruling saying that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right, by restricting the definition of marriage to opposite-sex couples. California’s State Constitution put the measure into immediate effect the day after the election.

On November 4, 2009, Equality Action Now, along with members of the Sacramento LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transsexual, Questioning, Intersex) Leadership Coalition will lead a rally and march at the California State Capitol Building to highlight the fact that the fight for civil rights for all citizens is not over. The rally will begin at 5:00 pm with sign making for participants, followed at 6:00 pm with a few speakers. At 6:30 pm Equality Action Now will lead a march around the capitol grounds.

Equality Action Now, a grassroots all-volunteer civil rights organization was born literally moments after the November 2008 elections. The award-winning group of activists lead by Tina Reynolds, co-founder and owner of Uptown Studios now serves as Sacramento’s premier civil rights organization. Even though the same-sex marriage issue is still an important focus of the organization, members have also spent their free time collecting food for the poor marched in step with other organizations such as the labor union and the Martin Luther King Jr Day parade Members also was instrumental in supporting SafeGround Sacramento, fighting for the homeless and helpless.

The Sacramento LGBTQI Leadership Coalition was formed just prior to the recent California Supreme Court decision to uphold Prop 8. Along with leaders of Equality Action Now, this group meets monthly to share information from other local grassroots and statewide organizations on preparations to overturn Prop 8.

The November 4th rally will serve as a reminder to the public at-large that the LGBTQI community, along with their many straight, political, and religious allies will not give up the fight for full equality until their rights are fully restored. While the decision of when to place this issue back on the ballot (2010 or 2012) is being decided, organizations such as Equality Action Now are continuing to mobilize, motivate, activate like-minded individuals and educate opponents who may have heard only one side of the issue.

The California State Capitol Building is located at 10th and L Street, Sacramento, CA. The rally will begin on the west steps at 5:00 pm and will conclude at 6:30 pm with a march around the capitol grounds. For more information visit Equality Action Now’s web site at: http://www.EqualityActionNow.org. or events@equalityactionnow.org or phone (916) 446-1082.

Cleve Jones speaks on equality

2008-12-12T01:55:40Z

A crowd of people gathered outside the Sacramento Convention Center on Wednesday afternoon to hear Cleve Jones speak on equality and civil rights.

Jones is an activist, lecturer, author and was mentored by Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California. Jones is portrayed by Emile Hirsch in the film "Milk" with Sean Penn which is currently playing in Sacramento theaters.

Cleve Jones is currently leading a boycott of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, whose owner donated $125,000 to the Prop 8 campaign.
Some individuals who gathered for Jones's speech were holding signs, one read "More than a word" with the word "love" written in different languages.

One particularly eye-catching sign read "Sleep With The Right People" which is the name of an alliance between UNITE HERE and the LGBT community.

UNITE HERE is the union that represents hotel and restaurant workers in securing equal and fair treatment. According to their Web site, UNITE HERE represents over 450,000 workers and 400,000 retired employees in North America.

After a question and answer session, Jones concluded his demonstration outside the Convention Center with a powerful speech on civil rights:

"I don't refer to it as marriage equality anymore, I refer to it as equality. We want equality in all areas - civil marriage, military service, adoption, taxation, social security. The most important rights that accrue to heterosexual couples through marriage are determined by the federal government.

"If you think you're equal act like it. Don't settle for crumbs. No more bargaining. No more compromise. We're equal. Now's the time. We are equal! We are equal!"

Tina Reynolds, who is one of the founders of Equality Action Now - a group that formed the day after the election when Prop 8 did not pass, was an active part of the discussion with Cleve Jones.

Reynolds described the sentiment behind the rally:

"Equality Action Now isn't doing individual boycotts but we're really here to say not where you should spend your money but why would you want to spend money at a place that doesn't support your community? When they advertise to us and they take our money and then they sink $125,000 into a campaign against us, it seems like we should stop and really look at what it is and where we're spending our money."

Were you at the Convention Center on Wednesday afternoon? Did you drive by and see the signs? Have you seen the "Milk" movie? What are your thoughts?

Photographs taken by Catherine Foss

Sarah Payne also reported on this story.