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Get ready for the 4th of July by having a fabulous night before. Could we dare call it July 4th eve?
I just noticed this:
If you go to Google.com and search for "gay pride" the divider on the right hand of the search results (before the ads) is a rainbow! How gay is that?
us to death!
TONIGHT'S MIGHT-SEE: "GLAAD Media Awards" (7 p.m.) and "Brokeback Mountain" (2005, 9 p.m.), Bravo. First are highlights of awards by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
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GLAAD gave honors for TV drama ("Brothers & Sisters"), comedy ("Ugly Betty") and reality show ("Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List"), plus movies ("Stardust," "The Bubble") and more. Special awards went to Sharon Stone, Janet Jackson and Rufus Wainwright.
Then Bravo airs a previous GLAAD winner. "Brokeback Mountain" also had well-deserved Oscars for its director (Ang Lee), script and music, plus nominations for picture, cinematography and the superb work of the late Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Williams.
"Today is National HIV Testing Day and the Centers for Disease Control has issued an ominous warning - about one-fourth of the more than one-million people living with HIV in the United States don’t know they are infected. National HIV Testing Day is an annual campaign organized by the National Association of People with AIDS. The theme of this year's campaign is significant – "Take the Test. Take Control."
"Knowing your HIV status empowers you to help prevent the spread of the disease" said Dr. Kevin Fenton, Director, of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention at the CDC. "If you are infected, you can take steps to protect your health and that of your partners as well as seek life-extending medical treatment. People who learn they are not infected can take steps to help ensure they remain uninfected.""
In Napa, you can get tested at:
"We petition Heinz to reinstate its Deli Mayo TV advertisement following complaints from 200 people as to its 'offensive' and 'inappropriate' content. We feel that the decision to withdraw the advert is wrong in the face of a small number of narrow-minded individuals. By doing so, Heinz have given the impression that they would prefer to cater for the homophobic than the free-thinking, and the decision has provoked upset, brand distrust and outrage among the LGBT community and outside of it. Do not bow down to these homophobic individuals"Add your name to the 3400+ who've already signed, here.
Democrats of Napa Valley host a marriage equality and "engagement party" tonight at their meeting. This is the grand celebration I told you about last week."Join us Wednesday evening, June 25 at 7:00 p.m. to elect new officers and for our Engagement Party to celebrate the California Supreme Court’s landmark ruling ending discrimination against same-gendered couples. DNV invites the public, including any couples that have become engaged or married since the historic decision to the celebration!"Oh, and "Wedding attire optional", of course. The party will be held at Democrat Headquarters, 1015 Coombs Plaza in Napa Town Center (across from the former Bookends Book Store). There is no charge, but please RSVP to to 707/320-2324 or info@democratsofnapavalley.org
Heinz is pulling the commercial after receiving over 200 (is that a lot?) complaints.
So, I attended GLAM's grand opening party weeks back in downtown Petaluma and won some swag to bring home: A 2008 DAMRON travel guide. Maybe I'm not as in-the-gay-know as I thought: I had never heard of the Damron guide... It seems pretty handy, has thousands and thousands of listings of gay-friendly spots around the world: restaurants, accomodations, shops, bars, and my favorite for the most interesting entries: "Cruisy Spots". (Who does their research on that one?)"VISTA POINT [AYOR] Route 12/121 bridge over Napa River, Napa Parking lot & nearby woods N of bridge on E side"Yeah. The Grape-Crusher. Ha! I had heard rumors (but of course, have never gone myself) that this was a hot spot for gay-sex pick-ups, but I guess I didn't really have any hard (no pun intended) evidence.
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OK, so after reading rave after rave about Patti Lupone's performance at the Tonys on Sunday (which I mentioned here that I forgot to record), I finally hunted it down on YouTube and yeah, it lives up to the hype. But I'm far, far more tickled by this Patti Lupone homage clip. I don't know who the heck this Michael Burbach kid is, but he is made of the awesome. And the fabulous. Watch this clip and you will instantly became 100% gayer.
It's very cool to have brands and companies realize the importance of the LGBT market--there's a certain amount of "oh they see us" when a company (especially a big, important company) plasters up a billboard or new campaign specifically targeting the gay community. Of course if it's done in taste and of course if they are showing they either "get us" or are part of our community as well.Liquor companies were some of the first to advertise with gay community, giving money to our publications and events when no one else would. Now we see just about every type of business focusing on our community, but that wasn't always the case.Catch below a video interview with the (beadazzled and fabulous!) creator of the rainbow flag (I think how that works is that he promoted the idea of the rainbow for the LGBT community and not so much "invented" the actual rainbow):
So any gay-wedding planning tips to pass on? Most romantic/gay-friendly spot in the Valley? Best gay-friendly caterer? Photographer? Wow, we better get our act together and start making recommendations.What on earth does one feed a banquet hall full of homosexuals?...Have you ever baked a birthday cake for a gay man’s birthday party, only to find thirty or so other gay men moaning about carbohydrates, telling you that while the dessert you’ve just put your heart and soul into looks great, they’ll just have to pass on it, while patting their stomach? Well, I have, and what I have since learned is this: Guzzling vodka = good carbs, eating a tiny sliver of polenta cake= It-will-make-me-fat-and-then-no-one-will-love me-or-think-I’m-hot bad.
No, cake is out of the question. Perhaps a wedding protein shake would be more fitting. Of course, there’s the problem of slicing.
How does one approach a gay reception? For one couple I know, I imagine there would be a chilled Ketel One fountain splashing about. Would others prefer a Teddy Bear Picnic motif? I think the traditional menus might need a going over. Instead of fish or chicken, the invitations should request a preference for either no-carb or sauce on the side.
And what on earth do you feed a roomful of lesbians? There is only so much quinoa to be had in any given season, you know.
Isn't it awesome that these two sweet ladies were the first to get married in San Francisco? (And their cake was made by Elizabeth Faulkner of Citizen Cake fame. Yum! I'm considering a cupcake pyramid by the folks at Miette for my wedding pastry--although my man doesn't know it yet.) I hope that they become the poster-lesbians for the marriage equality movement, and people see that "gays" aren't the scary picture of the stereotype they have in their mind--although that's hot, too! Talk about a pefectly-gay and fabulous jump-start to the marriage equality celebrations!
Wow--I'm impressed it--seems like Napa is actually doing something progressive (I have yet to participate in the Drinking Liberally gatherings, but that's another promising gathering)! And it's not just the locals this time (which if you're in the right circles you can find doing cool stuff all the time), but Napa's Democrats are also hosting a celebration...1st Morning of Marriage-Equality Gathering
You are invited to join us in the morning to celebrate as the historic first license is issued! Carol Whichard and Deb Stallings are applying and hopefully lots of other loving and committed couples will too! We will gather at 7:30 AM in the plaza out front of First Squeeze and go to the Clerk’s office, located at 900 Coombs Street, Room 116. Please pass the word and invite your friends, gay and straight to help us show the community-wide support for this issue!
Engagement Party!
You are also invited to join the Democrats of Napa Valley as they host an “Engagement Party” to celebrate the end of marriage discrimination on Wednesday June 25, 2008 beginning at 7 PM at [Democrats of Napa Valley] Headquarters, located at 1015 Coombs Street, next to Sushi Mambo on Coombs Plaza. DONV invites all newly engaged or married couples as well as the community at-large to celebrate the long-overdue end to this discrimination.
Same-sex wedding are being held around the state starting Monday evening in some counties. Here are local officials' plans [SFGate]:
Napa County: The County Clerk’s office will issue same-sex marriage licenses at the same time as hetero-sex licenses at their Napa Office--900 Coombs St Ste 116between the hours of 8 AM and 4 PM Monday through Friday beginning Tuesday June 17, 2008. Appointments for ceremonies can be made by e-mailing the County Clerk at recorder-clerk@co.napa.ca.us, by calling 707.253.4247 or by coming in person to the office. Ceremonies are usually scheduled at 10 AM, 11 AM, 2 PM and 3 PM Monday through Friday. Couples needing other times can be accommodated. The cost of a license is $70 and we suggest that the couple purchase a certified copy for $13 at the time the license is issued. The certified copy will be mailed when the marriage certificate is received from the officiant. Ceremonies are $40 and the office can provide a witness if the couple needs one. Any questions or comments can be directed to John Tuteur by voice 707.253.4459 or by electronic mail at jtuteur@co.napa.ca.us
Alameda County: The county clerk's office will stay open late tonight - until 8 p.m. - and is one of a handful of offices statewide to wed couples today. On Tuesday, the office will maintain its regular hours, issuing marriage licenses from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $84 for the license and $50 for the ceremony. The clerk's office is located at 1106 Madison St. in downtown Oakland.
Sonoma County: The county clerk's office also will begin issuing marriage licenses today at 5 p.m. and will stay open till 8 p.m. The office will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays through June 30 and also be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The license costs $75, and the ceremony costs $50. The clerk's office is located at 2300 County Center Drive in Santa Rosa.
San Francisco: Mayor Gavin Newsom will conduct just one marriage tonight for Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, the first same-sex couple to marry at City Hall in 2004. The clerk's office will open at 8 a.m. Tuesday and will stay open for ceremonies until 8 p.m. indefinitely. The office also will be open Saturday, June 28. Officials say they can issue up to 250 licenses and conduct 500 marriages each day; 128 couples had made appointments as of last week. The fee for a marriage license is $89, and a ceremony costs $67.
Contra Costa County: County Clerk-Recorder Steve Weir will marry his partner Tuesday morning as the county begins marrying same-sex couples at 8 a.m. Weir has deputized a handful of extra county workers to issue marriage certificates and oversee wedding ceremonies. Marriage licenses cost $85. Weir said Martinez police have notified his office, which is located at 555 Escobar St. in Martinez, that a small group of protesters will be on hand Tuesday.
Marin County: The county will begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples when the office opens at 9 a.m. Tuesday. The office will stay open past its usual 4 p.m. closing time to accommodate any couples who may still be waiting. Ceremonies cost $35, and marriage licenses cost $75. So far, 23 same-sex couples have made appointments for wedding ceremonies during the week. The clerk's office is at 3501 Civic Center Drive in San Rafael.
Santa Clara County: Marriages for same-sex couples will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, with the first two conducted by Supervisor Ken Yeager, the first openly gay politician elected in Santa Clara County. Twenty-five same-sex couples have made appointments to marry so far. Marriage licenses cost $79, and ceremonies cost $80. The clerk's office is at 70 W. Hedding St. in San Jose. Marriage licenses are available until 4:30 p.m., and ceremonies, which must be scheduled in advance, are performed until 3:40 p.m.
San Mateo County: Same-sex couples can obtain marriage licenses and schedule civil wedding ceremonies that will begin Tuesday at 8 a.m. Four same-sex couples have made a wedding appointment for Tuesday. The first same-sex wedding is scheduled for 10 a.m. Marriage licenses cost $78, and ceremonies cost $35. The clerk's office is located at 555 County Center in Redwood City.
Bottom Line. If you’re ready and it’s right for you, get married in California. If you do, claim the name and act like what you are--married. But don’t go suing right away. Most lawsuits will likely set us all back. There are other ways to fight which are more likely to win.
A joint release/announcement came out yesterday asking gays who marry in Cali from out of state to NOT go home and sue for recognition. Joe.My.God (and the LA Times) has more info on this strategyFirewater wrote on Jun 8, 2008 7:39 AM:
" Good for Napa, it's about time this law went thru. I don't understand people trying to stop this arrangement since it doesn't effect them personally, maybe their moral beliefs.db76 wrote on Jun 8, 2008 9:35 AM:
yamamama wrote on Jun 8, 2008 11:01 AM:
royrodger wrote on Jun 8, 2008 1:23 PM:
FaithNHope wrote on Jun 8, 2008 2:59 PM:
carlon wrote on Jun 8, 2008 4:35 PM:
bloodagar wrote on Jun 8, 2008 5:15 PM:
" Once there was a time when women did not have rights, blacks did not have rights...this was injustice and intolerance. Equating homosexuality with bestiality? Grow up. Pedophilia? Certainly not.db76 wrote on Jun 8, 2008 6:37 PM:
NValleyGirl wrote on Jun 9, 2008 2:03 PM:
[Kern County Auditor-Controller-County Clerk Ann Barnett] tried to resign her elected position as county clerk — while keeping her positions as auditor-controller and elections boss...And finally, when the ruling came down Wednesday that she had to license same-sex marriages, she decided to stop performing all weddings. That involved canceling 25 heterosexual ceremonies that had been scheduled after June 13, according to her staff. [Bakersfield Californian]
Looks like Bakersfield will not be a place for gay destination weddings...
So a respectable group of 9 of us met up at Cuvée on Friday night (even if I was 30 minutes late due to the LGBT Mass in Berkeley going later than I had expected--sorry guys and thanks SO much for waiting!). We enjoyed some cocktails (I needed one after my rush up from Berkeley) and then headed over to catch Sex and the City at the Cinedome. I had a great time meeting new (gay) folks in town and it made me start thinking...
"All that product - along with the ear piercing, the supportive freedom rings, the religious devotion to "Project Runway" - now that these things no longer separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, we need new ways to identify one another. I propose, therefore, the following list of further possibilities. The heterosexuals will doubtless render them useless, one by one, but still I think these might last us for a while."Click here for Joel Derfner's article from Pride Source, "Ways to be Gay".
Now I'm not so sure how much of a fan I am of these (personally, I've been supporting the less creative and more obvious rainbow wristband), but you gotta admit they have, at least a sort of, distinction. (As in, they distinctly stand out.) This goes along nicely with my belief that the more our friends, neighbors and ideological enemies get to know us for us, and the more we are visible in our day to day lives (and not so much Pride-float-in-a-thong, gyrating-and-thrusting to dance music) then the more we will be accepted and the less we will be judged based on stereotypes.
They shouldn't have been surprised. The Rat Pack ethos, with its thinly veiled - or sometimes blatant - homophobia has long been relegated to nostalgia. There's a gay nightclub on the Strip, and plenty of others scattered around the city. Mayor Oscar Goodman, a former mob lawyer, marches in the annual gay pride parade...Sounds fun to me! My partner has been talking up Vegas for a while now. Knowing that there are not only gay-friendly staff and destinations around the city, but also a gay-exclusive resort and other clubs makes it sound worthwhile instead of having to watch out for the urge to hold hands or sneak a kiss.
..."Vegas is big and glitzy and exciting," said David Paisley, the firm's senior projects director, "and gays and lesbians are drawn to that."..."For a long time, Las Vegas has been perceived to be an inclusive destination," said Terry Jicinsky, a gay man who is the convention authority's senior vice president of marketing. And, unlike some destinations, it doesn't need to remake its image for this audience. Gays and lesbians are attracted to Vegas for exactly the same reasons everyone else is. The agency, said Jicinsky is "not attempting to position Las Vegas as a destination for a 'gay experience,' such as Key West or Palm Springs might try to do."
The National Organization for Marriage California donated $700,000 to the campaign. One of the organization’s largest financial contributors includes Bolthouse, who declined to comment about his donation Tuesday. The measure’s proponents said the campaign to promote the initiative may exceed $30 million. Supporters have spent about $1.8 million to collect signatures and publicize the initiative, according to campaign filings. Other supporters include San Diego developer Terry Caster ($172,000); hotel developer Manchester Financial Group of San Diego ($125,000); Fieldstead and Co. of Irvine ($400,000) and Knights of Columbus Headquarters in Connecticut ($250,000).
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