Here's your chance to be part of the nationwide outrage over the passage of California's Proposition 8 which amends the state constitution to limit marriage between a man and a woman.
11/15/08. Join your queer brothers and sisters, and our allies, this Saturday, November 15, at the City County Building at 1:30 PM. From Join the Impact website:
On the steps of your City Hall on November 15th at 10:30am PST /
1:30pm EST, our community WILL take to the streets and speak out
against Proposition 8 and all of the other pro-equality losses that we
have faced in our lifetimes, in our parents’ lifetimes, and for many
generations before us. WE CAN’T DO THIS ALONE! WE NEED YOUR
HELP! We need organizers in every major city to work with us and
get out the protest! I know you’re all tired from all of the work
you’ve done for this great election year, but I’m asking for one more
push! Let the country hear our voices together. Let them
see that we are a strong, adamant, and powerful community that deserves
equal rights, and CAN’T BE DEFEATED!
Why should you get riled up over a California issue and give up your Saturday afternoon to protest about marriage rights when we here in Pennsylvania struggle to beat down marriage amendments of our own and don't have the clout in Western PA to hold the Mayor accountable for his promises to appoint a gay liaison?
Well, that's exactly why. You can stay home and let the same few straggly group of advocates determine the priorities of our community and send that message to our legislators. Or you can get off your butt and take a stand. It just doesn't get any sadder that to realize our nation elected Barack Obama and, in the very same day, four anti-gay propositions were approved in their respective states. Fingers have been pointing at the various folks we could blame for that sad state of affairs — the Mormons, the Catholics, the African-American faith communities, etc.
The truth is that we must first accept our own share of the blame. Our opponents were better oganized and had an appealing message. Meanwhile, our community refuses to wrestle with the looming questions of the racism, transphobia and sexism which plague our community, not to mention the economic issues. We bury our heads in the sand and the best we get is a watered-down version of ENDA — it was appalling that Congressman Jason Altmire was APPLAUDED for his vote on that non-inclusive legislation (I like Jason, but we lost an opportunity to educate him when he got a pass on that one.)
So, what will a protest on Prop 8 do for Pittsburgh's queer community? For starters, it gets us out and mingling and tallking. It brings us together and builds a foundation and makes this battle more than the work of the same 5 or 6 local advocates. It makes the battle about all of us. It is our lives and I for one don't think its very acceptable that legalized gay marriage was bitch slapped back into the 20th century, even if I personally don't think marriage is the most important civil rights issue for the gay community.
So, we plan to be there on Saturday at 1:30. Hopefully, I can live blog if I find somewhere to rest my laptop.
How much will you tolerate before you come out?
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It looks like the Pgh location has been changed to Oakland if you go to the website…
It looks like the Pgh location has been changed to Oakland if you go to the website…
Why would it be moved to Oakland? I emailed the organizer and have had no response … this is frustrating. What does Oakland have to do with gay civil rights?
Why would it be moved to Oakland? I emailed the organizer and have had no response … this is frustrating. What does Oakland have to do with gay civil rights?
FYI: That was me who posted anonymously, Sue — only because I was on my work PC and which doesn't automatically log me in. Someone alerted me in the comment section on my blog and and I wanted to get the word to you ASAP but I didn't have your email address at work.
FYI: That was me who posted anonymously, Sue — only because I was on my work PC and which doesn't automatically log me in. Someone alerted me in the comment section on my blog and and I wanted to get the word to you ASAP but I didn't have your email address at work.
Thanks for the update, Maria. I've spent all day trying to get to the bottom of this and ended up exactly nowhere. Maybe I'll go to the movies on Saturday … LOL
Thanks for the update, Maria. I've spent all day trying to get to the bottom of this and ended up exactly nowhere. Maybe I'll go to the movies on Saturday … LOL
So now the Join the Impact site says the Pittsburgh protest will be at Schenley Plaza. SCHENLEY PLAZA???!!! WTF? It took forever for the gay pride parade to move from the “safe zones” of Mellon Park and Shadyside, and now we're back to the safe college zone of Oakland? People, it's not that difficult to get a permit to close Grant Street on a Saturday. And who are the speakers? Why should I bother to freeze my a** off if we're just going to troll out the old '60s “What do we want? Equality! When do we want it? Now!”
Sheesh. Where's Ted Hoover when you need him.
I'm with Sue…maybe I'll go to Warhol and pass the time in the Cloud Room. That will pretty much have the same effect. The gays in this city can't get their s*** together.
So now the Join the Impact site says the Pittsburgh protest will be at Schenley Plaza. SCHENLEY PLAZA???!!! WTF? It took forever for the gay pride parade to move from the “safe zones” of Mellon Park and Shadyside, and now we're back to the safe college zone of Oakland? People, it's not that difficult to get a permit to close Grant Street on a Saturday. And who are the speakers? Why should I bother to freeze my a** off if we're just going to troll out the old '60s “What do we want? Equality! When do we want it? Now!”
Sheesh. Where's Ted Hoover when you need him.
I'm with Sue…maybe I'll go to Warhol and pass the time in the Cloud Room. That will pretty much have the same effect. The gays in this city can't get their s*** together.
Whoa. That's a little rough. I think turning out a group of people who care enough to give up their Saturday afternoon is something. I can't even remember a “What do we want? Equality” event ever here in Pittsburgh. Except for the Dyke March. So maybe we get a small first step. Granted, I think Oakland is a less than desirable location. Grant Street may not be super busy on a Saturday, but it is the seat of government.
I'm more concerned that the organizers aren't in touch with folks like the GLCC and Steel City Stonewall.
Ledcat and I plan to show up on Saturday at Grant Street and see what organically happens.
Whoa. That's a little rough. I think turning out a group of people who care enough to give up their Saturday afternoon is something. I can't even remember a “What do we want? Equality” event ever here in Pittsburgh. Except for the Dyke March. So maybe we get a small first step. Granted, I think Oakland is a less than desirable location. Grant Street may not be super busy on a Saturday, but it is the seat of government.
I'm more concerned that the organizers aren't in touch with folks like the GLCC and Steel City Stonewall.
Ledcat and I plan to show up on Saturday at Grant Street and see what organically happens.