by Peter DelVecchio

Let California Ring launches petition letter to governor

It is not such a distant memory—that joyous revolution sparked four years ago when approximately 4,000 same-sex couples wound around San Francisco City Hall on Valentine’s Day, waiting for their turn to be legally married.

On the eve of this Freedom to Marry Week (Feb. 9-16), however, same-sex couples and marriage equality advocates who believe denial of marriage to gays and lesbians constitutes unconstitutional discrimination are holding their breath in anticipation of a ruling by the California Supreme Court on a case stemming from that San Francisco event.

Twice the state Legislature has passed a marriage equality bill, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it both times.

In anticipation of oral arguments before the Supreme Court, a coalition of LGBT groups called Let California Ring has launched a petition letter asking Schwarzenegger to intercede.

“Imagine if a law had prevented you from marrying your wife because you were born in another country. How would you have felt?” the letter asks the governor. “Well that is the everyday reality for millions of lesbian and gay people who can’t marry the person they love. And right now you have an opportunity to change that reality.

“As a defendant in the marriage case before the California Supreme Court, you can change history,” the letter continues “We are writing to request that you please tell the Court at oral arguments that you believe the current law is unconstitutional and that all loving couples deserve the freedom to marry. It’s that simple. Just say it: that all loving couples deserve the freedom to marry and the dignity, respect and understanding that come with it. You won’t be alone. Every one of us who have signed this letter has said it too.”

Let California Ring intends to send the letter on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. (To add your name, visit www.letcaliforniaring.org).

Court-watchers are uncertain how the justices will rule. In the meantime, an anti-gay marriage coalition called ProtectMarriage.com has launched a paid-signature gathering drive to get the “California Marriage Protection Act” on the state’s November 2008 ballot. The initiative does not include domestic partnerships, but would write the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman into the California constitution.

Bearing in mind the old saying that as California goes, so goes the nation, the nonprofit, educational arm of Equality California has been slowly working on a unique, pro-active effort to change the hearts and minds of Californians through an emotional, humorous commercial.

On Jan. 24, about 150 people braved the pouring rain to witness an unprecedented gathering of top national LGBT leaders committed to helping Let California Ring succeed. Geoff Kors (Equality California Institute), Patrick Sammon (Log Cabin Republicans), Joe Solmonese (Human Rights Campaign), Matt Foreman (National Gay & Lesbian Task Force), Jody Huckaby (PFLAG) and Lorri Jean (L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center) talked about the commercial and helped raise money for its distribution. —Karen Ocamb

Center’s safer-sex soap opera gets tongues wagging

An online soap opera called In the Moment, created by the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, has attracted more than 11,031 visitors worldwide, says Jim Key, the Center’s chief public affairs officer.

The soap opera’s webisodes, which feature five young gay men living in an apartment complex, where they all face decisions about their sex lives, are designed to get young gay men talking about safer sex (www.weholife.org).

“Traditional methods of HIV prevention, like condom distribution, remain incredibly important,” says independent filmmaker Dave O’Brien, 31, who wrote, directed and co-developed the program. “But what’s missing among a younger generation of gay guys is any real discussion about HIV and safer sex. In the Moment is a sexy and entertaining way to capture their attention and stimulate dialogue regarding real-world sexual situations many gay men face today.”

The unique HIV prevention and education program, funded by the city of West Hollywood, comes at a time when there are growing concerns regarding the HIV infection rate among young gay men. According to a Center press release, New York City health officials recently reported that new HIV infections among gay and bisexual men under the age of 30 rose 32 percent between 2001 and 2002. During the same period, new infections among older gay men there dropped 22 percent.

WeHo goes postal

The 90069 post office on San Vicente in West Hollywood, known as the West Los Angeles Branch Station, will be renamed the West Hollywood Branch, effective Feb. 19, reports a release from the office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). States the release, “The move is good for WeHo residents who for years have been illegally subjected to City of Los Angeles business license and utility users taxes because of the overlapping, confusing post office branch name—an issue … brought to the attention of Councilman Jeff Prang six years ago to much public fanfare.”

Black AIDS Institute to host Heroes in the Struggle gala

The Black AIDS Institute will host a gala Heroes in the Struggle event at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Feb. 7 from 6-10 p.m.

Heroes in the Struggle is “a photographic tribute to African-Americans who have made outstanding contributions in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Since its debut on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, 2001, the ‘Heroes in the Struggle’ exhibit has traveled around the country, raising awareness, challenging individuals and institutions to get involved in their communities, and generating critical conversation about HIV testing and treatment,” according to a Black AIDS Institute press release.

According to the Institute’s website, www.blackaids.org, nearly seven in 10 new AIDS cases are among African-Americans or Latinos, and African-Americans and Latinos die of AIDS at rates higher than Caucasians. Fifty-five percent of all AIDS deaths are among African-Americans; 14 percent are among Latinos. Additionally, nine in 10, or 86 percent, of new AIDS cases among females 13-19 are among African-Americans and Latinos. HIV/AIDS is rampant in sub-Saharan Africa.

Some African-Americans blame the Bush administration for the domestic black AIDS crisis; writing on blackaids.org, Rep. Donna Christian-Christensen (D-Virgin Islands) notes that the president has cut HIV/AIDS funding by 19 percent. “The silver lining is that what we are likely to hear in January or February of 2008 [when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) releases new HIV/AIDS figures] ought to galvanize the African-American community to demand an immediate and adequate response from the local, state and federal government,” she said. “The [Congressional Black Caucus] has requested [a] meeting with CDC officials to preview the report and to ensure a full and accurate reporting of the new numbers.”

California Supreme Court upholds firing for medical marijuana use

The California Supreme Court ruled Jan. 24 that employees may legally be fired for medical marijuana use, reports CBS News. California and 11 other states permit medical use of marijuana, but federal law does not. Gary Ross, an employee of Ragingwire Inc., was fired after testing positive on a mandatory drug test. The court held that the firing was legal because, Justice Kathryn Werdegar wrote for the 5-2 majority, “No state law could completely legalize marijuana for medical purposes because the drug remains illegal under federal law.”

State Senate kills Schwarzenegger healthcare plan

On Jan. 28, the California state Senate Health Committee killed a plan proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) that would have provided medical insurance to most of the state’s estimated 5.1-6.5 million uninsured, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The plan, which Schwarzenegger initially proposed in January 2007, would have cost an estimated $14.9 billion annually, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The plan, among other things, would have required all Californians to have health insurance, would have increased Medi-Cal rates for providers, hospitals and health plans “significantly,” and would have required health plans, insurers and hospitals “to spend 85 percent of every premium dollar on patient care.” The plan would have been financed by a proposed $1.75 hike in the cigarette tax. Only one in 11 senators backed the plan; no Republicans supported it. Legislators labeled the plan “fundamentally flawed,” and a “fairy tale,” largely out of concerns that it was not financially sound, and taxes might have to be hiked substantially to pay for it. Senators also considered the plan fiscally unwise given California’s looming estimated $14.5 billion budget deficit.

“It doesn’t matter if there are these good things in the bill if there isn’t the money to pay for them,” said Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica). “We can’t simply say to the people of California, ‘Go buy insurance.’” Kuehl chairs the health panel and has proposed that the state itself take over the provision of health insurance; Schwarzenegger vetoed her “single payer” bill.

Labor unions and consumer groups also opposed the plan, contending that it unduly favored insurers and would burden individuals with high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. In a statement issued after the Senate vote, Schwarzenegger said, “The problems will not disappear. In fact, they are likely to get worse.”