Under a blazing sun on July 19, a longtime dream of housing for gay and lesbian seniors took an important step toward reality, as ground was broken for Encore Hall, a 104-unit facility to be built in Hollywood. A crowd of over 200 gathered to hear speeches by Queer as Folk stars Hal Sparks and Robert Gant, actress and Chair of First Federal Bank of California Executive Community Reinvestment June Lockhart, Los Angeles City Councilmember Eric Garcetti, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Many potential residents were at the ceremony, and were excited about the prospect of moving in when Encore Hall is completed. "It's important, because there's nothing like being with people who understand you," said Harry Bartron. "I'm 87 years old, and it's changed so much -- it's better now to be together." Fifteen of the units in Encore Hall will be set-aside for Section 8 vouchers, which assists lower income individuals and people living with HIV. "As I've gotten older, with places I've moved into, there's been a lot of abuse of the elderly," said 73-year-old Nancy Valverde. "They steal from you and you're not treated well. I've been looking for a place to move to, but the places that I like don't take Section 8 and that's what I have." Jack Reavley, 82 and Bob Craunch, 80 will celebrate their 54th anniversary in September and hope to move into Encore Hall. "We'd like to be with people of our own ilk -- that will also make a difference to us," said Reavley. "For so long, there were situations where people would prefer not to have gay people in their buildings. This is a sign of recognition that we are good people and that we don't have anything to hide and that we're very proud of our background, as well as our love for each other," Craunch said proudly.

"Writer Somerset Maugham once wrote, ÔSometimes, a man hits upon a place to which he mysteriously feels that he belongs. Here is the home he sought, and he will settle amidst scenes that he has never seen before, among men he has never known, as they were familiar to him from his birth. Here at last, he finds rest," said Gay and Elder Housing Founder and Founder and Executive Director Brian Neimark to the assembled crowd. "I would like to think that this is the type of development that Encore Hall is meant to be. While so many in our community have fled our families and our hometowns -- sometimes out of desire and other times out of necessity -- to find ourselves in faraway places, chasing down our uniform identities and true souls, it is nice to know that there will be a place with beautiful surroundings and a vibrant community space that we will be able to call our home."

As the groundbreaking ceremony approached, L.A. City Councilmember Eric Garcetti, whose district encompasses Encore Hall, reflected on the significance of the day. "It feels good to make history, but it is also a challenge to each one of us -- not just to take one step out there as those pioneers did at that first march on Hollywood Boulevard -- to put one foot in front of another until this template becomes something that spreads throughout the United States," he said. "It becomes something that opens those doors and those gates of freedom for an entire country, and one day, we will all walk through those gates together."

Finally, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gave a short address before the assembled dignitaries dug their ceremonial shovels into a patch of dirt to mark the beginning of the project. "It was nearly a decade ago that a number of us were working in the legislature to say that we should ensure that in this state, we should ensure that gays and lesbians could apply to work and get housing free from discrimination," he said. "It's not lost on me that the name of this wonderful unit of housing is called Encore Hall, and it means that we want more. And so, I am committed to working with the housing department; visionaries like Councilmember Garcetti; McCormick, Baron, and Salazar; and all of the people who were a part of this effort to find other places where we can have housing for gay and lesbian elderly people, people with HIV and AIDS -- housing that's affordable, housing where people can actually say that the city has partnered with them to make this a better place." -- Joseph S. Amster

Medical Marijuana activist Steve McWilliams honored

On July 19, medical marijuana activists in San Diego, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and several other cities staged protest rallies to commemorate the life of Steve McWilliams, who committed suicide rather than go to federal prison for cultivating 25 marijuana plants.

Federal authorities raided McWilliams' home in 2002 and arrested him for growing pot for the small medical marijuana collective he operated for himself and six other seriously ill patients. The collective, Shelter from the Storm, had been recognized by the city of San Diego as in compliance with California's voter-passed Compassionate Use Act.

Facing up to 40 years in prison since marijuana use for medicinal purposes is not recognized as a valid defense in district court, McWilliams pled guilty with the right to appeal. He was sentenced to six months, but released pending the appeal, though he was denied use of medical marijuana.

However, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2005 that the federal government had the right to prosecute medical marijuana patients, McWilliams grew despondent, convinced he would not win an appeal nor survive prison. Additionally he was experiencing increased chronic pain from a motorcycle accident and taking higher doses of strong prescription medication, according to friends and Americans for Safe Access, which organized the protests. On July 11, on his 51st birthday, McWilliams committed suicide using those prescription substances.

More than 100 people, many AIDS patients and cancer survivors, some in wheelchairs, attended the noon demonstration at San Diego City Hall, according to the Union-Tribune. Barbara MacKenzie, McWilliams' life partner and co-director of the Shelter from the Storm resource center, urged crowd to continue fighting for patients' rights and to convince Congress to pass compassionate laws.

"This was an injustice not only to him but to thousands of patients who can't use their medicine," MacKenzie said before reading aloud McWilliams' suicide note, much of which criticized the federal government for their actions.

"This was my last chance to help the medical marijuana movement and others that I care about," MacKenzie said, choking back tears as she quoted McWilliams' note. "That's what so much of this has been about -- my right to use a medicine that worked for me."

According to Americans for Safe Access, about 50 people marched from the Supreme Court to the Capitol in Washington D.C. carrying signs that read "The Federal Government Killed Steve McWilliams. Let Me Tell You How." -- Karen Ocamb

Equality California Honors Set for August

Brian Graden and Marina Gatto

Equality California (EQCA) has announced the selection of the NAACP, MTV's Brian Graden and 17 year-old social activist Marina Gatto as the recipients of Equality California's 2005 Equality Award. Given annually to select individuals and organizations who have been critical to the advancement of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality, this year's award also celebrates the NAACP's historic support of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, legislation sponsored by Equality California. Awardees will be recognized at the Fourth Annual Equality Awards & Gala at 8 p.m. on August 20, 2005, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

"This year's honorees have made important contributions to the struggle for LGBT equality," said John Duran, EQCA board president, long-time social activist, and member of the West Hollywood City Council. "Their contributions range from furthering the positive and accurate portrayal of LGBT people in the media, to supporting legislation for marriage equality, to advancing an understanding of the need for equality for families headed by same-sex couples. It's a privilege to recognize these individuals and organizations who are bringing the idea of social and legal equality to the forefront of both the local and national civic dialogues."

The California Chapter of the NAACP is awarded the Gavin Newsom Visionary Award for the organization's support of EQCA-Sponsored marriage equality legislation. The award is named after the mayor of San Francisco who last year had the vision to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing authority of the Equal Protection Clause of the California Constitution. "By putting a human face on our families, his action moved the issue of marriage equality a major step forward," said EQCA Executive Director Geoffrey Kors. "By standing with the LGBT community at our time of need, the NAACP has once again demonstrated that their historic vision of equality and inclusiveness is one we should all aspire to follow."

The California Chapter of the NAACP was the first state chapter in the organization's storied history to support marriage equality by supporting the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, legislation sponsored by Equality California. The president of the California NAACP testified with EQCA in support of the bill.

"The NAACP's support of the AB-19 Marriage Equality Bill is a milestone for the organization and for LGBT African-Americans in the state," commented Duran. "Although there are fundamentalists who have denounced their action, the NAACP's support is critical because LGBT rights transcend the boundaries of color and ethnicity. The support for LGBT equality among the African American community is a critical part of the fight for social justice."

MTV's Brian Graden receives an Equality Award for helping shape a generation's attitudes about LGBT people through programming on MTV. The accurate portrayal of LGBT individuals on MTV has reduced prejudices, increased tolerance, and led to the result that most young people in America today (ages 18-25) support marriage equality for same-sex couples. Graden has produced the irreverent hit cartoon South Park (which included a host of LGBT characters among its many episodes) and has launched LOGO Networks, the country's first 24-hour LGBT programming on cable network stations across America.

The third recipient of the 2005 Equality Award is Marina Gatto, the 17-year-old daughter of lesbian parents and a champion for the rights of LGBT people and their families. Two years ago she received a certificate of honor from Assemblymember Mark Leno in front of the California State Assembly and was later made a Grand Marshal in the 2003 San Francisco Pride Parade. She has testified before the State Assembly Judiciary Committee and worked with EQCA staff to gain support for the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act. Ms. Gatto has appeared on The Today Show, a Nickelodeon special entitled My Family Is Different with Linda Ellerbee and Rosie O'Donnell, Mornings On Two with Ross McGowan, and The Montel Williams Show. This year, she was inducted into the San Mateo California county Women's Hall of Fame. Through her activism, she has won the hearts and minds of many elected officials in the capitol, taking her family to the forefront of the issues surrounding LGBT equality.

Founded in 1998, Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure the dignity, safety, equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. Equality California is one of the largest and fastest growing statewide LGBT organizations in the country. For more information, go to www.eqca.org.