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Gay Rights Activist Urges Younger Generation to Continue Harvey Milk's Fight for Equality

Cleve Jones speaks at UC Berkeley's Heller Lounge on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, in Berkeley, Calif. Jones is founder of the AIDS memorial quilt, a human rights activist and long-time friend of Harvey Milk. (Jane Tyska/Oakland Tribune Staff)

BERKELEY - Gay rights activist Cleve Jones, who is portrayed in the movie "Milk," spoke at UC Berkeley on Thursday, urging the younger generation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to continue the fight for equality that Jones' friend and mentor, Harvey Milk, began more than 30 years ago.

"In 1972, when I came to San Francisco, if someone had told me that I would be fighting for the right to get married or join the Army in 2009, I think I would have started dating women," said the 54-year-old Jones, jokingly.

Posted in Activism, Equality/Justice, glbt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2009
2:00 PM

CONTACT: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Inga Sarda-Sorensen, Director of Communications
(Office) 646.358.1463 (Cell) 202.641.5592
isorensen@theTaskForce.org

Advancing LGBT Rights at State and Local Level a Key Focus of Creating Change Conference Next Week in Denver

WASHINGTON - January 21 - On the heels of the presidential inauguration, more than 2,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights advocates will converge on Denver next week to strategize on how to advance LGBT equality in 2009. A key focus will be on how to achieve gains at the state and local level. The National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change, organized by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, is the nation's largest convening of LGBT rights activists.

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The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the grassroots power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. We do this by training activists, equipping state and local organizations with the skills needed to organize broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy Institute, the movement's premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge.
Posted in civil liberties, glbt

Maine Gay Marriage Law Proposed

Carla Hopkins holds the hand of her 3½-year-old son, Eli, who is in the arms of her partner, Victoria Eleftheriou, as they listen to Maine Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Trenton, during a press conference at the State House in Augusta on Tuesday afternoon. Damon introduced legislation to legalize gay marriage in the state. (Bangor Daily News photo by Gabor Degre)

AUGUSTA, Maine - A state senator from Hancock County is sponsoring a bill to allow same-sex couples to marry in Maine.

Sen. Dennis S. Damon, D-Trenton, announced at a press conference Tuesday that he is submitting legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. His proposed bill, which has not yet been drafted, would include language to allow "two persons to marry."

Posted in civil liberties, gay marriage, glbt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2008
3:45 PM

CONTACT: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Inga Sarda-Sorensen, Director of Communications
(Office) 646.358.1463 (Cell) 202.641.5592
isorensen@theTaskForce.org

Task Force Calls Rick Warren’s Stance ‘an Affront to Our Common Humanity’

WASHINGTON - December 22 - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force responds to Rick Warren’s comment over the weekend that “you don't have to see eye to eye to walk hand in hand.” Warren, who has been tapped to give the invocation at President-elect Obama’s Jan. 20 inauguration, is an outspoken opponent of marriage equality, reproductive choice and stem-cell research. He was a staunch supporter of Proposition 8 and has gone so far as to equate the marriages of same-sex couples with incest and pedophilia.
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The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the grassroots power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. We do this by training activists, equipping state and local organizations with the skills needed to organize broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy Institute, the movement's premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge.
Posted in glbt, Politics

US Balks at Backing Condemnation of Anti-Gay Laws

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual associations rally for the global decriminalization of homosexual relationships, in Seville December 15, 2008. The banner reads, \"The Vatican kills us, Global decriminalization of homosexuality\".(Reuters/Marcelo del Pozo/Spain)

UNITED NATIONS - Alone among major Western nations, the United States has refused to sign a declaration presented Thursday at the United Nations calling for worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality.

In all, 66 of the U.N.'s 192 member countries signed the nonbinding declaration - which backers called a historic step to push the General Assembly to deal more forthrightly with any-gay discrimination. More than 70 U.N. members outlaw homosexuality, and in several of them homosexual acts can be punished by execution.

Posted in glbt, Human Rights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2008
12:01 PM

CONTACT: Human Rights Watch (HRW)

'Sodomy' Laws Show Survival of Colonial Injustice

As India's High Court Mulls Reform, Nations Should Repeal This Legacy

NEW YORK - December 17 - More than half of the world's remaining "sodomy" laws -criminalizing consensual homosexual conduct -  are relics of British colonial rule, Human Rights Watch showed in a report published today.
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Posted in glbt, Human Rights

Prop. 8 Foes Set 'Day Without a Gay' Boycott

In this file photo from June 17, 2008, Curt Garman, left, and Richard Looke hold hands as they look for a quiet spot to hold their wedding at City Hall in San Francisco. On Wednesday Dec. 10, supporters of same-sex marriage across the country are being encouraged to stay home and call in 'gay' to work to protest the passage of Proposition 8. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

SAN FRANCISCO - Since California voters approved Proposition 8 last month and repealed the right of gay couples to marry, initiative opponents have marched, held rallies and blocked intersections.

On Wednesday, they're asked to do something different: nothing at all.

Posted in gay marriage, glbt, protest

Now Is the Time for Equality for All Americans

On Nov. 27, 1978, gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk was assassinated in San Francisco City Hall. Thirty years later, his struggle continues.

On Nov. 4, 2008, millions of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans of all races proudly cast their ballots for Barack Obama, helping to elect the first African American president of the United States. On that same day, voters in Arizona, Arkansas, California and Florida approved initiatives denying basic civil rights to GLBT citizens.

Posted in Activism, civil rights, gay marriage, glbt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2008
3:09 PM

CONTACT: Equality California
Ali Bay 916.284.9187

Governor Calls Proposition 8 Passage 'Unfortunate'

In CNN Interview, Gov. Schwarzenegger Says Prop 8 Should be Invalidated Because Court Has Ruled that Banning the Right to Marry is Unconstitutional

SAN FRANCISCO - November 10 - Equality California and National Center for Lesbian Rights are pleased Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has joined the millions of Californians who are disappointed with the passage of Proposition 8. In an interview with CNN Late Night on Sunday, the governor said the passage of Prop 8 is "unfortunate," and added that he believes the Supreme Court should invalidate Prop 8 because the state's highest court has already declared that denying same-sex couples the right to marry is unconstitutional.

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Posted in civil rights, gay marriage, glbt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2008
3:54 PM

CONTACT: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Inga Sarda-Sorensen, Acting Director of Communications (Office) 646.358.1463 (Cell) 202.641.5592 isorensen@theTaskForce.org

Task Force Action Fund Deeply Disappointed in Passage of California’s Proposition 8

WASHINGTON - November 6 - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund is deeply saddened and disappointed by the passage of California's Proposition 8, which will amend the state Constitution to eliminate the right to marry for same-sex couples.

Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund

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The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund, founded in 1974 as the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Inc., works to build the grassroots political power of the LGBT community to win complete equality. We do this through direct and grassroots lobbying to defeat anti-LGBT ballot initiatives and legislation and pass pro-LGBT legislation and other measures. We also analyze and report on the positions of candidates for public office on issues of importance to the LGBT community. The Task Force Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation incorporated in New York. Contributions to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund are not tax deductible.
Posted in civil rights, gay marriage, glbt
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