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Allies and friends--please use this page to speak your mind and share your thoughts.

User Name
 My two cents
amargaret I just want to say thank you for this website and for the fight and call for equality. I just married my husband this summer, and what a wonderful marriage it is. I myself am a female, and hence I have a heterosexual marriage, however I believe that love is love and no government (or religion) has the right to define that for an individual. I pity people that cling to fear and feel that the majority of people that voted for Prop 8 cannot define their own identity and so instead have to control someone else's life in order to find meaning in theirs.

Anyway, my point is...Thank you and I support everything that is being worked for, for the equality and compassion for all.
MemphisMom I live in a city and have family that have a lot of negative views about the gay and lesbian movement, this is the conservative south. I usually keep my mouth shut to keep peace. I hope there is someone out there who can expand further, a discussion my husband and I began on a Sunday morning several years ago. I am a married woman to a man and we have plenty of problems of our own, but I would love to see all, no matter what sex, be able to have and solve
relationship problems with the same constitutional rights as ourselves. Anyway, I digress. During our discussion, I stated that I believe God would not condem marriage between same sex couples and asked him to show me in the bible where homosexuality is a sin, especially since he had read more of the Bible than I in his Baptist upbringing. By the way I am a baptized Catholic. My husband could not find any specific verse after some searching and gave up. I put the bible on its spine and asked God to open to pages to show me an answer.

Finally to the jest of my question for discussion.

The pages fell to Matthew: chap. 19. I take verses 10-19 to be Jesus discussing sexuality and marriage. Jesus' last sentance
states "He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." Also my
husbands King James bible also cross references several verses including Timothy Chap. 4, verses 1-3. I also like to relate to verse 4 too. I just thought I would throw this comment into the wind and hope no person takes this the wrong way.
I try my best to love and support all the best I can.
Peace be with all.
AmandaZuke
 I'm a registered wedding officiant in the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and I perform same-sex weddings. Here in Canada, this battle for equality in the eyes of the law has been fought and won, beginning with a handful of provinces and culminating federally in June of 2005. It has been my great privilege to unite a number of American same-sex couples in marriage. They've made their way here from across the United States because for these couples, marriage is not just a piece of paper. They don't take that commitment for granted; in the absence of their government's support, they choose to make their love for one another and their devotion to one another a matter of public record. Sometimes even in the absence of witnesses who know and love them, they come to Canada to be married in the presence of strangers who support their right to enter into that contract. These marriages are entered into thoughtfully, reverently, and above all, lovingly.
Until everyone shares the same fundamental rights, we'll keep fighting.
judegeekgirl I love this website. My best friend of many years is a lesbian, I work with several gay people, some of whom are close friends. My best friend in high school was a gay man. I didn't know he was gay. We were truly just friends. I saw him suffer in shame and fear (this was in the late 60s/early 70s). He moved to San Francisco and definitely became happier. I've learned that gay people are as diverse as straight people. My gay friends are truly wonderful people that I love. I want them to every right that I have. I want them to live their lives without any fear of discrimination.

For every straight person out there who has negative views about gays, please, look into your heart and ask how you would want to be treated. There is so much else to worry about in the world. How can anyone find the time to think that gay people just wanting to love each other, have a legal bond and families could hurt anyone? Open your mind and your heart.
jksteven Hello all. I'm an LA girl who is completely ashamed of her state atm. I DO think the time is now, despite the recent set-backs. The fact that we live in a country that still supports this kind of bigotry is ridiculous. I consider myself a friend and staunch ally of this cause, and look forward to learning about additional ways that I can support the movement towards Equality. Thanks!
Ozian My best friend and the absolute love of my life is gay, as is almost my entire circle of close friends. Every day they inspire me by their love of life and the courage they have to be who they are with the whole world watching. I'd like to think that I will stand with my best friend when he marries the man of his dreams, just as he'll be my maid of honor (sans dress, if he prefers) when I marry the man of my dreams. True love isn't a club for straight people only, which is why I stand with my LGBTQ family as a proud ally.
John Fracchia To those who of you who do not share the same rights as I currently do, please know that there are MANY of us in the straight community who stand with you and we are working to affirm your civil rights. Please don't lose heart, we will get there together.
dominodoh Hi all. I just want you all to know that I so, so support everything that you are doing to ensure equality, full equality for EVERYONE. I was so moved by MILK, and I will do everything in my power to make marriage equality and full civil rights a reality for all of you. I am so honored to be one of your friends and allies.
Johnny Schaefer prayingforpeace Hi, My name is Johnny and I put my heart and soul into a song/video project about gay marriage and just want to share it with people. I think it will inspire you. Please check it out at www.ournoblecause.com or on my prayingforpeace page jere. Thanks and keep up the faith!
freeflo Equal rights for all is a concept that is so fundamental, so obvious, and so 'right' that it boggles my mind that there are so many ugly little minds out there that would foment hate and fear: and willing to back it with outright lies and millions and millions of dollars.
I know this page and this site was developed in the spirit of outreach and most certainly, non-violence; and I admit I struggle with this, getting so furious that I'd like to throw bricks and start a riot (in my mind:)
But I will hold on.
A white veteran of the Civil Rights Movement for African-Americans, I think of Martin Luther King, Jr., whose work over 40 years ago led to the amazing reality of a Barack Obama becoming the U.S. President.
A Str8 veteran of the LGBTQ Movement since a dear friend was roughed up in the Stonewall Uprising; the least I can do is follow that kind of inspiration.
It must not - it 'will' not - take so long.
I wish 'Peace' to my LGBTQ friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens (and resident aliens:)
I wish 'Enlightment ' to those who would deny them every single right they themselves enjoy.
dominodoh Loved your comments, freeflo. I know, it is unbelieveable to me in this day and age the ill feelings and out and out homophobia running around. I went to gather signatures in my local community, only to be met at one store, (after I'd finished for the night, mind you, and in the process of buying dinner for my family) Lakewood sheriff's shining huge spotlight in my eyes while I was in my car about to drive away. i mean really , what the hell was that all about except that I know for a fact they are very conservative. they wanted to start their own school district, but it was luckily held up in bureacracy, because they did not like children of color being bused into Lakewood high school. so, yeah, they need massive amounts of enlightenment. well off i go to get some more signatures. keep on fighting everyone, we must, we must support our LGBT friends, no matter what it takes.

:)
btw for the LUTN event in our area, I'm going to ask that people bring coats/jackets/ blankets to donate. Then I will be giving them in our name from LGBT to our local group Caring Connections, which is made up of local charities in our city's area. I can lug coats around easier than canned goods. Local church is doing this and I thought it would be a great and easy thing to do, too.
o.k. just back from gathering signatures to get Repeal 8 on the ballet here in Calif. One person had the nerve to say, "Hey I thought the election was over>" I told him, "No, it's just starting." :)
omg, I just saw MILK advertised on prime time TV during a basketball game! Way to go, oh I am so happy they got an ad on TV for this movie. It is so so awesome
orion45 DEMONSTRATE: During the Presidential Inauguration...don't know how to get this posted as a JOINtheIMPACT project.... but this from PeteyPP on PHB is the PERFECT way to demonstrate against Rick Warren:

You don't know FIERCE......here's what we do.!
Instead of making a sound as those disapproving of Warren, or turning our back.... turn it into a KISS IN. Who ever you are with, which ever gender just kiss them the entire length of the invocation.NOTHING pisses off the Christian Reich like joyous loving queers and dykes. It also not so subtly tells the Inaugeral Committee KISS OFF.
dominodoh Happy New Year to everyone! Hope we all get a lot of signatures on the Open Letter addressed to Pres. Obama re: full and equal rights for everyone!!!! Let's keep the heat on!
dominodoh Starbucks has come through for our local signature collecting event to Repeal DOMA as well as other important legislation that we want passed including a hate crimes bill in Matthew Shephar's name. Very important that we do this, keep the pressure on for FULL AND EQUAL CIVIL RIGHTS for ALL!! Thank you Starbucks!
dominodoh Thanks again to all who participated yesterday at Cerritos, California. We got as many signatures as on the night of LUTN! We were thrilled. I also have an invitiation from the mall owner to be able to have our group recruit, get petitions signed, whatever it takes to guarantee and acquire full and EQUAL civil rights for ALL! One little strip mall we were working in had a couple of memorable events, one was when I was able to talk to a little girl because her family allowed her to come over and ask me questions (and remember I'm a straight old lady ally), and she asked me if this was about gay marriage. I told her, yes, but that it was much more. It's about treating, loving, and respecting ALL people in this country. It's about LOVE. And love between two people, no matter the gender is LOVE.
One security guard finally asked us to close down after about four hours, and we did. We were pretty quiet, pretty tame, (we need some coaching no doubt) at any rate, he said if it was up to him we could stay, but that the owner, he knew, would have a problem with us (a problem with free speech?) well, i got the owner's name, and number - Southern Orange County area code. That's 9-4-9 area code. What is wrong with these homophobes?!!!!!!!!!
Keep fighting the good fight allies, keep fighting. We must defend and support our LGBT friends. We must. DO NOT GIVE UP. THIS BATTLE WILL BE WON, and it WILL BE SOON.

Lonnie & Jason http://socialistworker.org/2009/01/23/lgbt-movement-takes-shape
An LGBT movement takes shape January 23, 2009 AS ATTACKS on the Seattle lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community have escalated, young activists have begun making news with their energy and fresh ideas. With a renewed sense of outrage and urgency, the possibility exists for the creation of a sizable grassroots organization of activists organizing around a range of issues affecting the LGBT community. Large questions remain, however, about the type of struggle that will most effectively combat homophobia in the wake of the passage of Proposition 8, California's anti-same sex marriage law. Twenty-one-year-old Kyler Powell--a gay Mormon--had never organized or even attended a protest before spearheading the anti-Prop 8 march in Seattle. Due largely to Facebook and word of mouth, it drew nearly 10,000. The turnout was a testament not just to the fierce opposition to the second-class citizenship of gays and lesbians, but to the willingness of many outside the gay community to take action. Unfortunately the event program itself--controlled by the Democratic Party-led Equal Rights Washington--silenced any militant response, refusing to address issues of homophobia because it might cause speakers, many of who were Democratic state and local officials, to think twice about appearing. And despite the large attendance, no grassroots organizing took place; instead, the crowd was told to wait on any action until the following March, for a lobbying day. Less than one month later, the University of Washington's newspaper, the Daily, published a fiercely homophobic editorial in support of Prop 8, including a graphic of a man and a sheep. The author compared homosexuality to polygamy, incest and bestiality, and called it "a problem that needs to be dealt with." In response, freshman Kyle Rapinian and friends organized a rally on the final day of classes, with hundreds of students gathering as a result of the Facebook group "Students for a Hate Free Daily." As with the previous demonstration, the outrage that drew these numbers was dampened by the prevailing ideas of today's LGBT movement. One school official, for example, defended the right to hate speech to mixed responses from the crowd. Frustrated with the inability to express their outrage (words like "outrage" and hate were stricken from all official literature in favor of more "positive" message), radical activists began to organize outside the mainstream channels. Chanan Suarez Diaz, president of the Seattle Chapter of Iraq Veterans Against War, and Eli Steffen, an activist working in youth empowerment through the arts, put out a call for interested people to join the struggle against homophobia. The first meeting brought together both new and more experienced activists who began to organize for a local demonstration as part of the National Call to Action to Repeal DOMA on January 10. In the weeks that followed, the group did explicit outreach to communities generally kept from the stage at local protests, including youth, transgender people, drag queens, and queers of color. By the time of the January 10 protest, the group included veterans, immigrants, straight people new to LGBT activism, and transgender people. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ALL OF this has occurred against the backdrop of an alarming rise in hate crimes, in particular against LGBT people. The Seattle Police Department has come under increased criticism for underreporting hate crimes against LGBT people, including four men who attacked two men, one in drag, calling them "faggots." The Seattle Times reported last summer that from July to November 2006, police had no record of hate crimes. But auditors uncovered six reports that had not been forwarded to the Bias Crimes Coordinator (a detective who investigates and logs such reports in a database) and think there are more to be found. The FBI reports that the number of hate crimes in Washington state increased from 177 in 2006 to 195 in 2007, the last year for which statistics are available. Thirty-nine victims were targeted because of their real or perceived sexual orientation in 2007. In the days leading up to the DOMA protest, the attacks on the LGBT community took a shocking turn when an anonymous letter was sent to 11 gay and lesbian bars and the alternative newspaper The Stranger in the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood threatening patrons. All received the identical warning: "I have in my possession approximately 67 grams of ricin with which I will indiscriminately target at least five of your clients." According to the Centers for Disease Control, ricin poisoning can produce vomiting and diarrhea, hallucinations, seizures, and blood in the urine and can be fatal. The Seattle Police Department and the FBI are currently investigating. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - THE MARCH and rally on January 10 brought together nearly 100 people and organizations such as the United People's Coalition, the January 20 Inauguration Day Walkout and Rally Committee, the International Socialist Organization, and the Bend It Collective. Suarez Diaz spoke of the absurdity of gay and lesbian soldiers fighting and dying to "bring democracy" to Iraq and Afghanistan while regarded treated as second-class citizens in their own country. Mike Andrews of Pride at Work argued for the importance of the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act in improving the lives of all working people, regardless of marital status. Icelandic singer and songwriter Thor got the crowd dancing, and queer spoken word artist Amber Flame gave a sensual performance of her piece "Church Kids." Kelly Morgan, a young straight woman who was inspired by the November protests against Prop 8 to organize for LGBT rights, gave her first public speech arguing "Straight people need to know that it is okay to get involved, and to encourage your friends to get involved, in the gay rights movement...We need to stand with them in solidarity." In the months to come, the dominant LGBT groups will need to be challenged on their conservatism. The initial response of organizers with Join The Impact was to keep the "message" of the January 10 protest "positive" and to refuse to publicly acknowledge the ricin threats against the community because "these types of people love attention." This position could not be more at odds with the response of the targets of the threats themselves. The bar owners and their supporters organized a pub crawl, in which thousands of people, including city council members, visited the affected bars, to show solidarity in the attacks on the community's cultural institutions. The LGBT movement needs leadership that argues for the need to stand up to and fight back against attacks on the community and to not protect the rights of bigots. If the marriage equality movement, and the struggle for LGBT rights in general, are to win, the LGBT community in Washington needs to honestly assess its strengths and weaknesses, its victories and failures. New strategies and tactics will have to be argued and debated. Most importantly, the LGBT community itself and their straight allies will need to become self-conscious organizers in a movement whose current bureaucratic leadership all too often substitutes itself for an entire civil rights movement. With the state facing a budget deficit in the billions, schools facing closure and funding cuts, the threat of city funds being diverted from social services to build a new jail, and Boeing's lay off 4,500 workers, LGBT people may hear that their rights might have to be put on the back burner while the city and state deal with "more pressing" issues. To counter this, LGBT rights activists will need to develop stronger ties to labor and other civil rights activists and broaden the struggle to include more and more of the hopeful and energized thousands who've taken to the streets in recent months.
dominodoh
(marilyn)		 I had the best time out on Tax Day here in Lakewood, California. Great people were out and about and people joined me to stand for awhile while I collected signatures and handed out information regarding the tax penalities that are currently levied against loving gay, lesbian, and transgendered couples. We really must do something about this inequality nationwide. I can't wait until there is a day when EVERYONE has FULL and EQUAL CIVIL RIGHTS!

Straight allies, we must help our friends, neighbors, and families to attain this. Keep on fighting the good fight.

Peace, Marilyn in Lakewood, California :)



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dominodoh 		Latest page update: made by dominodoh , Apr 16 2009, 12:28 PM EDT (about this update About This Update dominodoh Edited by dominodoh

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eventsguyth Marriage Equality Celebration Invite 0 Wednesday, 10:54 PM EST by eventsguyth
Thread started: Wednesday, 10:54 PM EST  Watch
Hi:
I just wanted to introduce myself and say thanks for your efforts in the struggle for equality. I am inviting couples from all over the country to join me for a marriage equality celebration in NH on Jan. 1st, when the laws in New Hampshire change to allow same-sex marriage. We will perform legal ceremonies for the couples planning to tie the knot and have a reception with dinner and dancing to follow. We are also going to do a Meet and Greet party and New Year's Eve party on the 30th and 31st of Dec. Hope you can join us. Spread the word. We want as many couples who are ready to marry to make Jan. 1st their date. We'll broadcast live on the internet so the world can see that people will not be discouraged by what happened in California and Maine. Love will prevail. Let's all celebrate in unison and start 2010 off properly, with equal rights for all. Open to all supporters of gay rights.
fern501 suggestions 3 Nov 16 2009, 12:51 AM EST by eventsguyth
Thread started: Nov 17 2008, 3:15 AM EST  Watch
Why not picket U.S. embassies world wide? In Belgium we have Same sex marriage and GLBT movements if this type of movements exists it is thanks to the U.S. and I think they owe you. By not being gay I feel a bit cast out of these groups but I'm willing to help. Last time I demonstrated was against the war In Viet-Nam I'm not sure how much help that was but it left a message.
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eventsguyth Marriage Equality Celebration Invite 0 Nov 16 2009, 12:50 AM EST by eventsguyth
Thread started: Nov 16 2009, 12:50 AM EST  Watch
Hi:
I just wanted to introduce myself and say thanks for your efforts in the struggle for equality. I am inviting couples from all over the country to join me for a marriage equality celebration in NH on Jan. 1st, when the laws in New Hampshire change to allow same-sex marriage. We will perform legal ceremonies for the couples planning to tie the knot and have a reception with dinner and dancing to follow. We are also going to do a Meet and Greet party and New Year's Eve party on the 30th and 31st of Dec. Hope you can join us. Spread the word. We want as many couples who are ready to marry to make Jan. 1st their date. We'll broadcast live on the internet so the world can see that people will not be discouraged by what happened in California and Maine. Love will prevail. Let's all celebrate in unison and start 2010 off properly, with equal rights for all.
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