COLAGE Bay Area

Town Hall Meetings on Marriage in the North Bay Jul 11 08

What Happens After Happily Ever After? Find out about Proposition 8, the Anti-Marriage Ballot Initiative

Spectrum LGBT Center of the North Bay is hosting two important town hall briefings in Marin and Sonoma focused on raising awareness about Proposition 8, a November ballot initiative that proposes to revise the state constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. COLAGE is pleased to be a co-sponsor of these events.

If Proposition 8 passes in November, it would override the recent California Supreme Court ruling that made same-gender marriage legal in this state.

Come on out to these events to discuss how we can all work together on the campaign to keep our marriages safe and legal come November. Ask questions, volunteer, bring your checkbooks, your small change, your supportive neighbors and friends, and sign up to do what you can to make California a state full of love and marriage. For more information on the statewide campaign to save same-gender marriage, visit www.equalityforall.com.

Suggested donation at both events: $5 - $10

RSVP for each event to 415-457-1115 ext. 209 or email events@spectrumlgbtcenter.org.

Event Details

SONOMA: Tuesday, July 15, 6:30 PM
The Glaser Center, 547 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa
Presenters: Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights; Maya Harris, Executive Director, ACLU of Northern California; Deb Kinney, Chair, Equality California Marriage PAC; Evan Wolfson, author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry.

MARIN: Thursday, July 17, 6:30 PM
The Lark Theater, 549 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur
Presenters: Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights; Maya Harris, Executive Director, ACLU of Northern California; Andy Wong, Director, API Equality. Special Guests: Betsy Gordon, Executive Producer and Geoff Callan, Producer/Director, PURSUIT OF EQUALITY; Jeanne Rizzo and Pali Cooper, plaintiffs in the marriage equality case decided favorably by the California Supreme Court on May 15, 2008.

FILM FEATURE (Marin Only): PURSUIT OF EQUALITY, an extraordinary documentary that goes behind the scenes of the 2004 San Francisco weddings authorized by Mayor Gavin Newsom and provides a telling 'fly-on-the wall' view of every turn as this historic event unfolds. By issuing same-sex marriage licenses, Newsom uproots the status quo, attempts to change the way the United States of America looks at life, love, and marriage, and ignites what is our nation's next great civil right issue.

Betsy Gordon, the film's Executive Producer and Geoff Callan, Producer/Director, will introduce the film. Also joining us will be Jeanne Rizzo and Pali Cooper, plaintiffs in the marriage equality case decided favorably by the California Supreme Court on May 15, 2008. The film follows their story before, during, and after the moment they are denied a marriage license at the counter. For more information about PURSUIT OF EQUALITY, visit the film's website at www.pursuitofequality.com.

Underwriting Sponsor: Fountaingrove Lodge, An LGBT Retirement Community

Community Co-Sponsors (partial listing): ACLU of Northern California; COLAGE; Disciples in Action of Christ Church United Methodist Church; DLK Law Group, LLC; Equality California; Kathleen Russell Consulting; Marriage Equality USA, Marin and Sonoma Chapters; National Center for Lesbian Rights; New Hope MCC, Santa Rosa; No on 8 Coalition Sonoma County; Social Action Committee of Congregation Shomrei Torah; Unitarian Universalist Congregation Santa Rosa.

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS:

Kate Kendell (Marin, Sonoma), Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights. NCLR is lead counsel on behalf of same-sex couples, Equality California, and Our Family Coalition in the marriage equality case decided favorably by the California Supreme Court on May 15, 2008.

Maya Harris (Marin, Sonoma), Executive Director, ACLU of Northern California, is a statewide leader on civil rights and civil liberties issues. As head of the 72-year-old organization, she oversees the work of 50 staff members, including nine attorneys and three lobbyists in Sacramento. With 55,000 members, the ACLU-NC is the largest affiliate in the nation.

Deb Kinney (Sonoma) is Chair of Equality California's Marriage PAC Committee, which is working in coalition with the Equality for All campaign to defeat Proposition 8. Equality for All is a coalition of civil rights, faith, choice, labor and community of color organizations working to stop and defeat any ballot measure that has the intent to discriminate against LGBT Californians.

Evan Wolfson (Sonoma) is the author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry. Recognizing his longtime civil rights leadership in the movement for marriage equality, in 2004 TIME magazine named Evan one of the "100 most influential people in the world."

Andy Wong (Marin) is the Director of API Equality. He serves on the Board of Equality for All, as well as the Executive Committee of Let California Ring, the largest campaign in history to open hearts and minds about the freedom to marry in the Golden State.

leCambiate autions Jul 7 08

Are you a youth with one or more LGBT parents who likes to sing? Then join leCambiate!

Audition for Year Two of leCambiate! The first chorus honoring the children of LGBT parents.
Audition Dates:
August 16 + 30 and September 13.
Call (415) 647-1510 for a registration packet.

leCambiate...a new voice for Children
Visit www.lecambiate.com