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TEACHER VIOLATED GAY BIAS POLICY
A Fresno City College science instructor violated a campus anti-discrimination policy when he told students that homosexuality is a mental disorder that should be treated with psychotherapy, campus administrators have concluded.
The campus' student newspaper published Villa's letter Wednesday:
''Dr. Lopez engaged in conduct that could result in the creation of a hostile learning environment by unreasonably interfering with students' learning by making insulting comments directed at homosexuals.''
[ via NYTimes.com ] Full Story. [3/19/10]
NEW HATE CRIMES BILL ADVANCES IN STATE ASSEMBLY EQCA-sponsored bill would strengthen protections for victims of hate crimes > Full Story. [3/17/10]
LOS ANGELES BLACK PRIDE HOSTS THE LARGEST BLACK GAY PRIDE EVENT IN AMERICA While Martha's Vineyard attracts some of the country's most elite African-Americans every summer to what iscommonly known as "The Inkwell," so too does the upscale beach community of Malibu. This beautiful beach enclave is expected to swell to almost 20,000 as African-Americans from all over the country populate this pristine California beach on Saturday, July 3rd, 2010 from 10am to 5pm for what is known as "At The Beach." > Full Story. [3/2/10]
CALIFORNIA'S FIRST GAY ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SWORN IN California's first openly gay Assembly speaker was sworn in on Monday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. After taking the oath, Assemblyman John Perez, a Los Angeles Democrat, paid tribute to the gay and lesbian Californian politicians that came before him, saying his achievements would not be possible if not for "people like Elaine Noble, Harvey Milk and Sheila James Kuehl, who blazed a trail of pride and purpose for gay and lesbian Californians to serve our state." > Full Story. [3/2/10]
PROP 8 TRIAL CLOSING ARGUMENTS WON'T BE TELEVISED The court issued a press release intended to correct any misconceptions about a recent report in the San Francisco Chronicle that there was a possibility the closing arguments for Proposition 8 could be televised: > Full Story. [3/2/10]
EQUALITY CALIFORNIA SPONSORS BILL ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO DISSOLVE MARRIAGES, DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES Equality California is sponsoring a new bill introduced last Friday by Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) that would create a consolidated form and procedure to dissolve both a civil marriage and domestic partnership. > Full Story. [2/25/10]
MANIFEST EQUALITY LAUNCH MANIFESTEQUALITY(www.manifestequality.com)is now set to launch in its pop up space in the center of Hollywood on Wednesday, March 3 - Sunday, March 7, 2010. The MANIFESTEQUALITY Gallery issues a call-to-action, with artists motivating public energy toward true reform on a local, state and national level. Artists, grass roots activists, performers, celebrity guests, art collectors, musicians, public officials and the general public will display their works and show support at the MANIFESTEQUALITYGallery in Hollywood, CA. just blocks from the Kodak Theater where the Academy Awards will be held. Participating artists include: Barry McGee, Harvey Pekar, Karen Kimmel, Robbie Conal, Ron English, Tierney Gearon, Shepard Fairey, Clare Rojas, Swoon and hundreds more. The MANIFESTEQUALITY gallery has gathered international and local artists in a call to present artthatunites art, activism and the message of universal equal rights into a memorable multi-media 'moment'. Through Suffrage, the Equal Rights Amendment, the Prop 8 shockwaves, the legal battle for equal rights has been fought at different times, on differing fronts, for varied communities. In response to the growing resistance to equal rights for the LGBT population, the creative community is gathering, during Oscar Week to bring inspiration through the creation of original artworks, performances and special installations that raise visibility for the grass roots efforts to ensure full Equal Rights to LGBT Americans. Upper Playground (www.upperplayground.com) will be working with the artists and offering sales services to assist in the fundraising for this cause. The MANIFESTEQUALITY gallery interior has been designed by artist Jed Lind in collaboration with local LA Design team COMMUNE (www.communedesign.com ) headed by Roman Alonso and Steven Johanknecht with a generous contribution by the ReUse People. Aaron Rose and his arts organization Make Something School (www.makesomethingworkshops.com) will host students on Saturday March 6, 2010 who are between the ages of 16 - 21. Aaron dreamed up a nationwide series of art workshops for teens. His intention was simple: to introduce a new generation of creative minds to the concept of DIY. MANIFESTEQUALITY Schedule of Events include: March 2, Tuesday 7pm - 10pm Invitation Only: VIP and Media Preview Courage Campaign Presents: Legendary activist and organizer, Cleve Jones Cleve conceived of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt which at 54 tons, has become the world's largest piece of community folk art. Jones is portrayed by actor Emile Hirsch in MILK, director Gus Van Sant's 2008 film about the life of Harvey Milk. More recently Cleve recognized the need for a national stage in the equality debate and together with activists from around the country he spear-headed the National Equality March this past November. He is an adviser to and works closely with the Courage Campaign. Musical Performance by Emily Wells - is a violinist whose style merges hip-hop and classicals. She also uses many other instruments in her work, including glockenspiels, analog synthesizers, and even toy pianos and other toy instruments. DJ Diabetic (aka Shepard Fairey) March 3, Wednesday 10am - 6pm Gallery Open to the Public 8pm - 1am Opening Night Party: Musical Guest: Uh Huh Her, Fitz & the Tantrums, and more DJ Set by Tim Biskup, Chris Holmes, and Booby Trap March 4, Thursday 10am - 6pm Gallery open to the public March 5, Friday 11am - 10pm Gallery open to the public March 6, Saturday 10am - 6pm Gallery open to the public 11am - 5pm Make Something School with Aaron Rose 8pm - 1am Closing Night Party Musical Guests: Isaac Brock from Modest Mouse, Sam Sparrow, DJ Set by Crystal Method and Kelly Cole March 7, Sunday 10am - 5pm Gallery open to the public Additonally throughout the week you catch DJ sets with: Daisy O'Dell, Adam 12 and Justin Warfield from She Wants Revenge, Boom Bip, Mia Moretti, Justin Allen, DJ AC, Dan Mancini, Rare Matthew, and more. MANIFESTEQUALITY's Presenting sponsors include Courage Campaign, Human Rights Campaign, MoveOn, Planet Illogica and Logo TV. With additional support from UpperPlayground, Blik Wall Graphics, Commune, No Favorite and Juxtapoz Art and Culture Magazine. Community partners include WhiteKnot, FAIR, EqualRoots, Renwl, Californaia Faith for Equality, Equality California, Black Lesbians Unite, Honor PAC, Homotracker, OutWest, Progressive Jewish Alliance, Latino Equality Alliance, and Generation For Change. Produced by the team behind the remarkably successful MANIFESTHOPE exhibitions/campaigns at the Democratic National Convention '08 and the Presidential Inauguration '09; including Taskforce, Apple Via & Co.; and Evolutionary Media Group. MANIFESTEQUALITY will serve as a touchstone event - a convergence of altruistic intention, artistic expression, community engagement and political momentum. > Full Story. [2/24/10]
EQUALITY CALIFORNIA SPONSORS FIRST BILL IN NATION TO INCLUDE GENDER IDENTITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN STATE GOVERNMENT FORMS Introduced by Assemblymember Ted Lieu, the bill would enable the state to gather vital data about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community > Full Story. [2/18/10]
THERAPY ORGANIZATIONS CHALLENGING PROP 8 AGREE QUALITY OF PARENTING IS WHAT MATTERS NOT GENDER A group of leading organizations for marriage and family therapists and other mental health professionals from across the nation have filed an amicus brief challenging Proposition 8 in the Perry v. Schwarzenegger case in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. The therapy associations agree that what matters is the quality of the parenting, not the gender of the parents. > Full Story. [2/10/10]
COURAGE CAMPAIGN'S RICK JACOBS FILES FPPC COMPLAINT AGAINST ANDY PUGNO, ASSEMBLY CANDIDATE AND COUNSEL FOR PROTECT MARRIAGE Alleges misuse of public funds in support of ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage > Full Story. [1/29/10]
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