Grande Ecole

Director: Robert Salis / Not Rated /

Starring: Gregori Baquet – Jocelyn Quivrin – Arthur Jugnot

Alice Taglioni – Elodie Navarre – Salim Kechiouche

Reviewed By- Leon Velasco

Rating – Two Thumbs up

This is a very erotic drama. Very well written and any one who has had to hide their sexuality and be with the opposite sex will really appreciate the intense emotions the writer. When the person you’re seeing detects and confronts you with their suspicions is a one thing but to challenge you to a game of seduction is when things really get strange, twisted, dramatic, and in turn intriguing and erotic. I have played this game but it was a female friend from high school who suspected her husband was attracted to me and we had set him up for a rendezvous with me to see how far he would go. The out come was they got divorced and I lost my friends forever, although it was her idea. This movie hit the nail right on the button for me and maybe some of the readers as well.

Bill Moyers on HBO's Real Time With Bill Maher. It's too bad more Americans don't think like this man. The health care debate currently raging can be taken down to the simplicity of Moyer's statements. Why are we fighting against something we all deserve and that every other advanced Western civilization has already figured out? Shame on those of us who don't accept that we might have to wait a little longer in line so that everyone can have health care and shame on Obama and his administration for making deals with the drug companies.

The biggest threat in America, in my opinion, continues to be American Christians, those driven by fairy tales instead of logic and reason. What's really tragic is that so many Christians (or at least they appear to be) have moved into the LGBT fight for equal rights. How are we using our brains when we have so many people at the forefront of the battle who don't even deal in reality? But that's an entirely different discussion. As for Christians in general, and all people "of faith", these are my two favorite people to discuss it, Bill Maher and Sam Harris.

FORT WORTH, Texas—Texas' liquor board fired two agents and a supervisor, disciplined two other supervisors and changed several policies in the wake of a raid at a gay bar that left a customer seriously injured and led to protests, officials announced Friday.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission said agent Christopher Aller and agent trainee Jason Chapman, who participated in the June 28 raid at the Rainbow Lounge, were fired Friday. Their supervisor, Sgt. Terry Parsons, was not at the Fort Worth bar that night but also was fired, effective Sept. 2.

Aller and Chapman failed to report that they used force when arresting the customer or that he was seriously injured, according to a report on the agency's investigation released earlier this month. They also were accused of participating in the raid without their supervisor's approval, disrupting the business during the raid and wearing improper attire, the report states.

Parsons failed to ensure that the agents submitted a report on using force during the arrest, did not take appropriate action after learning they didn't wear proper attire during the raid and did not notify supervisors that multiple arrests had been made that night, the report states.

Read the rest of the story HERE

Fresno's REEL PRIDE celebrates September 16th-20th with its 20th ANNUAL GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL in the Tower District.  "For 20 years, Reel Pride has worked to increase the awareness of the gay and lesbian community through the exhibition of films and videos exploring gay and lesbian themes at an annual festival in Fresno.  Over these years it has grown to become one of the largest gay and lesbian film festivals in the US and a premiere cultural event in Central California."

Films screening this year include the documentary OUTRAGE,  "a blistering investigation into closeted gay politicians who push anti-gay legislation to hide their own sexual impulses", and Prodigal Son, which follows a high school football hero returning home to reveal his new identity, as a woman. Also screening is  Fruit Fly, about a woman searching for her biological parents and getting caught up a world of colorful characters, with an appealing cast performing 14 catchy musical numbers, bringing San Francisco’s vibrant art scene to vivid life. And Then Came Lola, is a fast paced lesbian "rom-com" following Lola, a chronic serial dater who runs, jumps, bikes, hikes, Muni’s and hitches with an array of strangers in order to finally come through for her girlfriend, Casey.

Visit the Reel Pride Website for more details.

Over the  past few years we have seen cuts to HIV/AIDS programs and we have learned to work with less.  We have learned how to get the Prevention message out, take care of those infected and keep working towards the goal of everyone infected getting proper care and stemming new diagnosis.  Every year we wondered  What would happen next year?.  Would next year be the year  services stopped?

Recently the Governor made changes in the budget.  that cut programs that affect children, senior citizens, and programs for people at risk or infected with HIV.  The cut to the budget for HIV services is over $60 million.  The results for Fresno County are astonishing and we are trying to find ways to keep programs going.  Almost all of the funding for Education and Prevention has been cut.

Fresno County Department of Public Health has notified that the mobile van will not be conducting sites until further notice.  The Living Room, A Project of WestCare, has been notified that all Education and Prevention grants are to be terminated.  These are devastating events.

Follow a recent debate between Maggie Gallagher, of the National Organization for Marriage, and Gavin Newsome, Mayor of San Francisco on PBS. There are questions, answers and rebuttals, and you can vote for who won the debate at the end. Check it out HERE

The infamous National Organization For Marriage has officially launched its Reclaim Iowa Project, which the organization calls a "multi-year campaign to pass a state constitutional amendment reversing last spring's same-sex marriage ruling from the Iowa Supreme Court".

This, along with the current campaign waging in Maine, is a prime example of why our only long term victory has to be legislation on a federal level which prohibits states from allowing civil rights to be put to a vote of the people, just as Vickye Ashton recently wrote about on this very site. Either that, or we're going to have to face going back and forth for years to come over our equal rights as American citizens.

Watch the NOM video below, then watch the latest video from GLAD , which is New England's leading legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status and gender identity and expression. Their video presents the American way of thought and progress.

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- A same-sex marriage lawsuit that created a public rift between President Barack Obama and his gay supporters was dismissed Monday on a technicality.

U.S. District Judge David O. Carter ruled the case - the first of several pending challenges to the federal Defense of Marriage Act - must be refiled in federal court.

Carter said the suit had been improperly filed in state court before it was transferred to his jurisdiction. As a result, the judge said, he would not entertain arguments on its merits, at least not yet.

"There is no point for us to go down the line of decision-making and waste time," he said during the hearing in Santa Ana.

Read the rest of this story HERE

(08-19) 14:10 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal judge has scheduled a trial for Jan. 11 on the constitutionality of California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage - the first trial on that issue in any U.S. court - and allowed the city of San Francisco to join the case against the ballot measure.

Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's decision Wednesday to hold a trial on whether Proposition 8 violates gays' and lesbians' rights to equality under the law was a tactical victory for opponents of the November 2008 initiative, who say experts and other witnesses can help them show that Prop. 8 was rooted in anti-gay bias.

Read the rest of the story HERE

The LA Times ran an editorial on Monday, August 17th, ruminating on the recent decision by Equality California to work towards a 2012 ballot initiative. The Courage Campaign, which multiple websites have falsely reported are set on a 2010 campaign, are merely collecting funds for more research.  This, despite the fact that the effort faces a deadline of late September to be eligible. Time has run out on the "research" strategy, or for that matter, any debate on which strategy should be taken. Any organization that has not come to a decisive conclusion at this point is most likely doomed, due to time constraints.

This timing debate continues to rage on a number of websites and blogs, often resulting in divisiveness and condemnation rather than progress. The 2010 camp, in comments and user blogs, regularly attacks those in favor of a 2012 strategy, calling them "lazy", "quitters" and worst of all, "apathetic". I've yet to find a comment online which opposes a 2010 campaign which is, at its core, hateful. The comments I've seen which are opposed to a 2010 movement point out the pitfalls of such an effort, often urging those in favor of 2010 to consider the pitfalls, while comments from 2012 supporters to those who question that date, begin and end at biting and dismissive.

Even in Fresno, very recently, the Fresno Bee quoted a well known local activist, who supports a 2010 campaign, as saying they hadn't come across any LGBT Activists who were in favor of 2012. This was completely false, of course, as I've had personal contact with this person and questioned a 2010 move from the start. Or consider the recent Marriage Equality "Get Engaged Tour" held at Fresno State, where many local activists in the room, including myself, raised their hands when asked if they supported a 2012 strategy, and you begin to see that not only are 2010 supporters not listening, they aren't playing fair.

It makes it clear that the effort to secure marriage equality in California has become more about egos and self serving victory than about strategy. Pity, since those in the 2010 camp are, for the most part, those who aggressively stood behind many of the failed strategies of our movement up to this point.

The following is an excerpt from the LA Times Editorial...

People shouldn't have to wait for their rights. They shouldn't have to campaign, raise money, create alliances or strategize to secure the basic recognition that others enjoy without effort. But history tells us that all of this is often necessary to overcome discrimination.

Thus our chagrin over the division in California's gay-rights movement about how best to challenge Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that banned same-sex marriage in the state. Federal lawsuit? Initiative to repeal Proposition 8 in 2010? Or 2012?

The most important objective should be a decisive victory, sending a clear message that this state no longer will tolerate separate but not-quite-equal status for families based on sexual orientation. Given the opinion polls, the lack of a coherent campaign strategy and the current makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court, this most likely means an unfortunate wait. A loss at the ballot box or in the nation's high court could set back same-sex marriage for years.

Read the full piece HERE

David Mixner takes on Bill Clinton for his recent explanation of Don't Ask Don't Tell. While I don't entirely agree with him, he has a point. It's interesting though, how he discounts the public and congressional support absent in the process of DADT, but for so many other issues, we're constantly told to call and write our congress people. If Congress is so easily relegated to the background, then why is Congress always the issue when we want something passed?

I'm not happy about Clinton's handling of the situation. Coupled with DOMA, those are the biggest blights on his Presidency, in my opinion. But I have to say this, at least he tried. at least he brought up an issue no one else ever would have. At least he got the debate going. I only wish that more gay activists would be as harsh (or harsher) on Christians as they are on politicians. That's the real enemy, those bunch of mentally challenged fantasy buffs...

From Mixner's blog...

President Bill Clinton still doesn't get 'it'. He never has gotten 'it'.

The 'it' in question is the struggle for LGBT civil rights and full equality. He has always missed the essence of our fight for freedom. Otherwise he never, ever would have said what he said to Lane Hudson in Pittsburgh last week. As I watched his defense of DADT at the public forum, I almost had to ask the nurse for more blood pressure medicine I was so shocked at his response.

Read the rest of this entry by clicking HERE

And Tango Makes Three ...a children's book about a couple of gay male penguins who create a family

For anyone who winds up in a debate with someone who is against homosexuality because it's not natural...a tool for your debate...from Wikipedia...

Homosexual behavior in animals refers to the documented evidence of homosexual, bisexual and transgender behavior in non-human animals. Such behaviors include sex, courtship, affection, pair bonding, and parenting. A 1999 review by researcher Bruce Bagemihl shows that homosexual behavior, has been observed in close to 1500 species, ranging from primates to gut worms, and is well documented for 500 of them.^[2][3]Animal sexual behavior takes many different forms, even within the same species. The motivations for and implications of these behaviors have yet to be fully understood, since most species have yet to be fully studied.^[4] According to Bagemihl, "the animal kingdom [does] it with much greater sexual diversity -- including homosexual, bisexual and nonreproductive sex -- than the scientific community and society at large have previously been willing to accept."^[5] Current research indicates that various forms of same-sex sexual behavior are found throughout the animal kingdom. ^[6] A new review made in 2009 of existing research showed that Same-sex behavior is a nearly universal phenomenon in the animal kingdom, common across species.^[7]

Read the complete Wikipedia listing HERE

While the Obama administration stands behind their request for a dismissal in the lawsuit against DOMA brought by a California couple, they also filed court papers Monday, August 17th, claiming that the Defense Of Marriage Act is discriminatory. The administration states they have no choice but to defend DOMA in the court case since it's Federal law, but hopes that Congress will overturn it. 

Not watching Real Time With Bill Maher on HBO? You're missing the most honest show on television...

The gay rights movement is in the midst of a perfect storm.  Hurricane Prop 8 has thrown our community into disarray.  How we get out of this is the question that is on everybody's mind.  I propose that we start listening to and stop talking past each other as has been the case between the Pro-2010 versus the 2012 camps.  As turbulent as it while in the eye of the storm, we should keep in mind that there's a rainbow after the rain.

Have we bothered to understand other people's struggles without slight in the form of a dismissive arrogance of their point of view and minimizing their plight?  If we can hold empathy, compassion and compromise in our hearts, we can truly engage and support each other in this Herculean task of winning marriage equality back in California. 

At the very least, we must admit that the world does not revolve around the LGBT community, and, specifically, the burden of loss and the pain of having our civil rights stripped away is not the White LGBT community's to bear alone.  One would be hard pressed if one looks at the Pro-2010 contingent with their go it alone at any cost mentality.  The sacrificing of the most vulnerable of our communities, people infected and affected with HIV and the POC LGBT communities, is a blind spot for most Caucasian LGBTs and is a demonstration of selfishness and self-centeredness to the extreme. 

That, I think, is the root of our problems and a besetting weakness!

Article and Photos by: Nigel Medhurst

Equality California (EQCA) celebrated the opening of their Fresno office in their “Win Marriage Back: Make it Real” campaign. The band “The In Flight Nymphs,” DJ Ms. Soul Flower, and Heinz performed, along with an auction of Chelsey Ramirez’ artwork. The event was covered by the press and greeted by different LGBT organizations although the primary audience was the residents of the Central Valley.

Scotti Maldonado and Vanessa Lopez, are the EQCA’s Fresno Regional Field Managers. Lopez said the office will serve as a home base for volunteers to phone-bank and canvas. The office will help sustain visibility of the fight to renew the right to same-sex marriages. Fresno played a significant role in the passage of the anti-marriage proposal with 70% voting in favor of it. Nurturing a grass-roots movement in the Central Valley is crucial to the success of legalizing same-sex marriage. “Who better to fight for the right to marry in the Central Valley than the people from the Central Valley,” an EQCA volunteer, Katrina, said.

The office also provides a conference room for other LGBT groups to meet. Zoyer Zyndel, the Chair of the Fresno Transgender organization, commented, “If it wasn't for the gay parade and the LGBT's I wouldn't even have realized I was transgender.” He explained the importance of a meeting place because “finding another transgender person who is comfortable being out is like finding a unicorn.” It wasn't until Zyndel discovered and joined a group at Fresno City College that he became more knowledgeable and was able to gain the strength to address his identity concerns.

Many other first-time visitors were on hand. Lopez said, “ I saw a lot of new faces.” The media was well represented by Fox, Univision, El Sol, Newslink, and McSweeney's. Nick Greene from McSweeneys, a San Francisco based publication, has been writing a story about the canvassing in the Central Valley. He observed about Fresno, “It's pretty conservative and reminds me a lot of back home in Michigan although there is no equality office opening up in Michigan.”

Michigan, like 30 other states, including California, has voted to ban same-sex marriages.

This is what it all comes back to and why the director of EQCA, Marc Solomon, was in Fresno throughout the celebration. “EQCA is making a commitment to the Central Valley by having organizers and opening an office, but we need the help of the Central Valley. This door-to-door campaign will only succeed if people are willing to take it on and do the work. I know we can win, but we need people to roll up their sleeves and get engaged. We're here to make it easy for people to volunteer.”

There are are plans to return to the ballots but a strong grass-roots movement needs to be in place first. Solomon believes same-sex marriage will be legalized in California,“It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.”

If you are interested in phone-banking or canvassing, contact:

Scotti Maldonado 593-6766 scotti@eqca.org or Vanessa Lopez 307-7470 or vanessa@eqca.org

Watch Fresno's own Scotti Maldonado, Regional Field Manager for Equality California, discuss EQCA's decision to work toward a ballot measure in 2012 instead of 2010.

Equality California (EQCA) has made the decision to focus on a 2012 ballot measure, rather than 2010. You can read and download their report on this by clicking here... Equality California Analysis & Plan

The following is from EQCA Marriage Director Marc Solomon...

People have been asking me for weeks, "What is EQCA’s position on when to go back to the ballot, 2010, 2012 or at a later date when we are confident we will win?"

As I've been saying all along, we've been doing our due diligence, listening to the full breadth and depth of opinions our diverse community has to offer, considering very carefully all sides of the discussion and gingerly crafting our best recommendations. Today we are ready to make our recommendation to the community.

For the first time, we have the opportunity to choose the best time to go back to the ballot, and we strongly think 2012 is the way to go. Here are the top reasons why:

To read the rest of this article click HERE ...

The other night as my crew and I were closing McDonald's I had an unexpected visit from a truly wonderful person. Although it may sound that this encounter was pure delight, I must add, it began bitter sweet.

Every night our lobby closes at 11pm. When we close our lobby we lock all the doors in our store. All except the side door that enables us to take food out to our parked cars. The other night after closing our lobby we had an unexpected visit from a middle aged man. He made his way into the restaurant through the side door and began to walk towards the front counter. Immediately as a manager I knew to take all precautions, after all; employees are the only people permitted in our lobby after closing by policy. I wasn't sure if this gentleman was just trying to grab a bite to eat or trying to rob the store. I began to examine everything about him.

He was a dark man with semi-long, black hair tied back into a messy ponytail. His jeans were dirty as if he had been working on a car or stealing one. He was a Middle Eastern man that hadn't shaved in a couple of days. He wore a grey shirt that displayed an American flag with the words "proud to be an American" under the flag.

People affected by or with HIV and AIDS, staggered by the news that California is dismantling its system of care and prevention, now have to face the prospect that all federal funding will disappear at the end of September.

Marriage is going to happen, within the next few years. But right now there are other issues, other priorities that should take precedence. The bottom line is: what use is marriage when the person you want to wed is now in danger of dying from AIDS?

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger blue-penciled 80% of the funding for education and prevention and testing programs, leaving only federal dollars available to continue testing efforts. However, the Ryan White Act program ends on September 30th, unless renewed by Congress.

Care and support systems for persons with HIV or AIDS have been gutted by Schwarzenegger. The elimination of these funds includes approximately 50% of the total funding for early intervention (primary medical care and transmission prevention counseling) and home and community based care (medical case management) programs. Again, the state is depending on federal funds to continue some services.

The AIDS Drugs Assistance Program, which many low-income patients rely upon, is only funded until the end of June 2010. After that, it's uncertain whether the program will continue.

California's HIV/AIDS funding was cut by $85 million.

If the Ryan White Act is not renewed by the end of September, there will be no funding in California for any HIV/AIDS services. What people fear would happen with Schwarzenegger's cuts would become a certainty--people will die.

The Bilerico Project Report printed an alert on August 7th. "AIDS Action is prompting the national HIV/AIDS community to take action and call President Obama and Secretary Sebelius to demand that Congress act to extend the Ryan White Care Act before it sunsets on September 30, 2009.

"Unless Congress and the President take action, the Ryan White AIDS Program will be terminated in 8 weeks and the federal government will shut the doors of access to critical care, treatment and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS.

"As America experiences a national crisis involving healthcare reform, conservative groups are actively disrupting town hall meetings for Members of Congress to listen to the challenges of people falling out of medical care simply because they are not eligible for health care coverage or they just find the system of care impossible to navigate. Call The White House and Secretary Sebelius and tell them to voice their support to Congress for extending the Ryan White Program. For talking points and contact numbers, click on the link for AIDS Action's Action Alert."

While the scope of service reductions due to Schwarzenegger's blue pencil cuts in Fresno County are not yet known, they are expected to be severe. The Fresno County Board of Supervisors was expected to terminate the county's contract for prevention services with The Living Room on August 11th.

The Bulldog Pride Fund @ Fresno State announces its 2009-10 scholars -- Allison Zulewski, Leonel Barajas and Julia Scott -- each receiving a $2,000! >> DETAILS + 2008-09 ANNUAL REPORT & HONOR ROLL OF DONORS: www.BULLDOGPRIDE.org

Hello everyone, this is Michael Gerald, Health Educator at PPMM, and I wanted to let everyone know that as of July 1st, 2009, PPMM Fulton Clinic in Fresno is now offering Transgender Healthcare Services. We accept most every insurance (including Blue Cross and Medi-Cal) and we are offering Male to Female (MtF) to Female to Male (FtM) hormone therapy (including anti-androgens).

There are three criteria to obtain these services at our clinic: must be 18 or older (we are currently working on a waiver for under 18); be able to give informed consent; and have either a referral from a psychotherapist (3 months of therapy or more) or 3 months of life experience as Transgender.

When clients call, they should tell the scheduler that they would like Transgender Services, this will allow the client to also give a preferred name and pronoun. When a person visits for Trans Services they will need to give a complete medical history, receive a physical exam, and undergo lab testing. All of these services are offered at our clinic, along with continued check ups with a clinician. If you have any questions about these services, please call 877-855-7526. They can also schedule an appointment at this number. Thank you.

Michael Gerald
Health Educator
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte
(559)-441-2744
michael_gerald@ppmarmonte.org

Dog Tags

Not Rated…Don’t ask- Don’t Tell - Written and Directed by Damion Dietz - Starring: Paul Preiss – Bart Fletcher – Amy Lindsay – Candy Clark - Review by: Leon Velasco - Rating of: One Thumb up

It wasn’t one of the greatest movies I’ve seen. It was ok, but if it’s between this and say getting my brows waxed…I’ll go for the waxing. It just seemed to drag, and you’re getting anxious to get to the end after 30-45 minutes. Who knows maybe someone else may like it, but for me, I had to keep replaying because it would put me to sleep.

Emotionally daring and bristling with powerful performances, Dog Tags explores the cost of self-discovery as two unlikely souls connect. Abandoned by his father and raised by his single mother (Candy Clark), handsome and sexually confused Nate (Paul Preiss) obligatorily joins the Marines to support his fiancée. On leave, the detached marine meets Andy (Bart Fletcher), a magnetic and seemingly free-spirited young man haunted by the mysteries of his past. Initially their bond is purely platonic, but the smoldering chemistry they share is undeniable as it sizzles into something sensual and intimate. Together they plunge headfirst into waters of vulnerability and desire, while the identity of Nate’s father finally rises to the surface.

“An effective and affecting drama…it sneaks up on you and hits you upside your heart” –Dallas Voice

“A visually stunning film…powerful performances.” –Courier Post

In just a few short weeks you can enjoy the crisp, clean air of the sequoias, sit around a campfire in the cool evening air and party with over a hundred other members of the LGBT community, but only if you attend Kamp-Out 2009 and we hope you will.

This year's Kamp-Out is the week-end of September 11 thru 13 at the Texas Flat campground.  This year's theme is "The Movies" and we encourage you to get into the spirit of the week-end by decorating your campsite with the theme of your favorite movie.  There will be prizes awarded for best campsite.

The entire week-end is filled with events you can participate in such as "Kamp Town Races", The Boat Regatta", and "Needle in a Haystack".  Or if you prefer, to just kick back at your campsite and visit with friends, you are more than welcome to do that too.

The cost for the week-end is just $25.00 per person (under 18 not allowed) and you will certainly get your monies worth.  This includes your campsite, a progressive cocktail party and beer bash on Friday night, full breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, dinner on Saturday and another beer bash on Saturday.  You can't eat and drink at home for that price!

The highlight of Saturday is of course the "Kamp Show", and we mean just that!  Bring you most outrageous costume and a CD that has a movies theme and enter the show.  Better yet, get a group together and do a group number.  While this is an adult event, we do ask that costumes and numbers are in good taste.

If you have never been to Kamp-Out and need to know what to bring (or a regular that needs a refresher), please be sure to visit our website (http://www.kampoutfresno.com/) to find out what you need to bring.  This is a very remote site and you pretty much need to bring everything to sustain yourself for the week-end.

In order to keep the cost down for attendees, we do our best to get donations, so we would like to thank in advance Virgil and The Red Lantern, Paul and The Den, James and The North Tower Circle and The Golden State Bears for their generous donations.

So start gathering up your supplies, get your costume and CD together and plan on having a wonderful
time at Kamp-Out 2009!

Ted Olson is, along with David Boies, bringing a challenge to the Supreme Court concerning the constitutionality of California's Prop 8. Olson has a staunchly Republican past, which makes his teaming up with Boies, a Democrat, more than fascinating, especially considering what they're fighting for. The LA Times recently talked things over with Olson..

From the LA Times Article...

When you've pleaded a case before the United States Supreme Court, your memento, your trophy, is a white quill. Some lawyers get one and treasure it forever. Ted Olson has enough to fletch an eagle, and he hopes to add one more -- legalizing same-sex marriage. During the Republican glory years in Washington, Olson was a GOP pillar: at the first meeting of the Federalist Society, on the board of directors of American Spectator magazine, stalwart of the Reagan administration. It was Olson who argued George W. Bush's case to the Supreme Court in Bush vs. Gore in 2000, securing the presidency. He grew up and was educated in California, elementary school through law school, and lived on the Palos Verdes peninsula before going all Beltway on us. And now he's back at his old law firm and working with an old adversary, David Boies, who argued Al Gore's side of the 2000 election. They've launched a challenge to Proposition 8 that could find them together again before the high court -- but on the same side, arguing that same-sex marriage should be part of mainstream America. Who'da thunk it?

California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno, who was the lone dissent against the upholding of Proposition 8, chats with UCI's Henry Weinstein about the logic behind his decision.

This is a short video clip taken from the full video. Watch the full video HERE . (The video clip runs 6:33, while the full video runs 65:12)

Saturdays from August 15th to September 19th, anyone entering the club between 9pm-12:15am will be entered into the $200 cash drawing for that night. Visit the Express Website for all the details. 

More voices are coming forward, decrying the latest shift in the LGBT movement, which allows a small number of self appointed leaders to call the shots in the battle for LGBT Equal Rights in America...

From the Gay & Lesbian Times...

Longtime GLBT activist Robin Tyler called for a more democratic marriage-equality movement at the Activist Town Hall forum at The San Diego LGBT Community Center, on Tuesday, June 23.

“This movement hasn’t become radical enough. This movement pretends to be democratic, but it’s far from,” Tyler said. Tyler, a pioneer within the GLBT civil rights movement and executive director of The Equality Campaign, was the first lesbian to sue the state of California challenging the ban on same-sex marriage.

Tyler put the spotlight on the Courage Campaign, an organizing network that fights for progressive change in California, including marriage equality, saying its structure is undemocratic.

“The Courage Campaign goes around and organizes these things in cities, and you sit around telling each other stories, your personal stories. You cry and share your stuff and then nothing. Nothing happens. It’s not democratic,” she said.

Read the rest of this story HERE

So are there still people out there who believe that the denial of legal same sex marriage, let alone the opposition to ALL equal rights for ALL LGBT people, is not upheld at the hand of prejudice and hatred, regardless of how judges and politicians are supposed to act? Then take a look at this story out of Portugal. FYI - Portugal's constitution FORBIDS discrimination based on sexual orientation. Still, they recently upheld a ban on same sex marriage. Let's understand what we're up against here...

LISBON, Portugal — Portugal's Constitutional Court on Friday upheld the country's ban on gay marriage, rejecting a challenge by two lesbians who are seeking to wed.

The court said its five judges ruled 3-2 against an appeal lodged by the women two years ago.

Teresa Pires and Helena Paixao, divorced mothers in their 30s who have been together as a couple since 2003, were turned away by a Lisbon registry office when they attempted to marry in 2006 because the law stipulates that marriage is between people of different genders.

Portugal's constitution, however, also forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation. The women took the case to a Lisbon court, which rejected their unprecedented challenge.

In light of the recent decimation of HIV Health Care in California by our Governor, this news is especially disturbing...

WASHINGTON — A new strain of the virus that causes AIDS has been discovered in a woman from the African nation of Cameroon. It differs from the three known strains of human immunodeficiency virus and appears to be closely related to a form of simian virus recently discovered in wild gorillas, researchers report in Monday's edition of the journal Nature Medicine.

The finding "highlights the continuing need to watch closely for the emergence for new HIV variants, particularly in western central Africa," said the researchers, led by Jean-Christophe Plantier of the University of Rouen, France.

TEL AVIV (Agence France-Presse) — A masked man opened fire on a crowd at a gay community center in Tel Aviv late Saturday, killing three people and wounding at least 10 others, the Israeli emergency services said.

A young man and a young woman were killed on the spot and the third victim died in hospital, the authorities said, and one of those who were wounded was in serious condition.

The gunman, who was dressed in black, unloaded an automatic weapon as he fired on the group of young gay men and lesbians near the entrance of the center, witnesses said, and he then ran away.

No one had been arrested by early Sunday.

CAMP PENDLETON — A sailor charged with killing and burning a Navy seaman during an arson attack at Camp Pendleton was found dead in the base's brig, according to Navy officials.

Petty Officer Jonathan Campos, 32, of Lancaster, apparently asphyxiated himself by ingesting toilet paper, said Brian O'Rourke, a spokesman for Navy Region Southwest.

Campos was charged with the June 30 shooting death of Seaman August Provost in an attack on the Marine base. Campos was on a suicide watch, and the few items in his cell included toilet paper and a “suicide-proof” blanket.

Brig staff members had checked on Campos about 11:45 a.m. Friday and found him in “satisfactory condition,” O'Rourke said. At 12:21 p.m., however, he was found unresponsive on his cot.

The staff administered CPR and took Campos to a hospital, but he was pronounced dead about an hour later. An autopsy will be performed sometime next week to determine his exact cause of death.