Fight the Hate.

Come to the Boulder County Courthouse Lawn (1325 Pearl Street), November 15, 11:30am, to be part of the largest LGBTQ protest and demonstration to ever occur. Inspired by the passage of Prop 8 in California, this is an opportunity to take our anger and turn it into action. It is a time for us to stand together with our allies and other oppressed groups in Boulder County and beyond. Boulder Pride has joined with a large coalition of local partners, including PFLAG, OASOS, Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Resource Center University of Colorado at Boulder, Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, Naropa, Safehouse Alliance for Progressive Nonviolence, Boulder Community United, and the list continues to grow to speak out against the legislation of discrimination in our community and communities across the country. If you live in or near Boulder, join us at the Courthouse. If you live somewhere else, go to that courthouse. Find other Colorado events at http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/Colorado. There are rallies across the country and we hope you will pass this on to everyone you know.

Over the last several days, tens of thousands of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and their Supporters have taken to the streets of California to show their outrage with the passage of CA Proposition 8. Prop 8 provides for a Constitutional Amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage rights. Similar amendments and propositions have been passed in AZ and FL.

The passage of these propositions has angered the gay community and their supporters. Many feel as if they are now second-class citizens in a country that has seen that change can happen
with this historic election. They do not feel that a majority should be able to vote on minorities' rights or vote to take anyone's rights away.

On Saturday, November 15, 2008 this community will again take to the streets in what could be the largest organized Protest / Movement since the Civil Rights Movement. To date, more than 250,000 individuals have pledged to take part in the nationwide event, in which they will descend upon the City Halls, State Capitols and the Nation's Capitol to make their voice heard. Signs, posters and numerous websites have already been created and the word is spreading quickly throughout the nation. Jointheimpact.com lists protest locations in all 50 States and the District of Columbia.

The message is simple, yet loud; Equal Rights for All. Signs seen at the many protests that have already taken place in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago and Salt Lake City read: "No More Mr. Nice Gay – Equal rights for all people", "Fight the H8", "Teach Acceptance – Not Hate", "I am now a 2nd class citizen", "I am a victim of H8" to name a few. The organizers of this nationwide event have stressed that it, like the protests that have taken place over the last week; will also be peaceful demonstrations. "The time has come here in America for all people to be afforded equal rights, and we will not stop until everyone receives Equal Rights."

The Protest / Movement is scheduled to take place across the nation at the same time: 1:30 PM Eastern, 12:30 PM Central, 11:30 AM Mountain and 10:30 AM Pacific on Saturday, November 15th, 2008. Those interested in attending this historical event may find their local protest location by visiting: http://jointheimpact.com

Horray for all of us! Wait...What?

This election was certainly historic. For many it was tragic. Gay voters poured out their pockets, time and energy to see our progressive president seated and were pained to see that the initiatives stabbed them in the back. Conflicted celebrants across the country simultaneously cheered for their new president, a man of color and youth and hope, while they grieved the losses of their individual freedoms. Couples who were recently married watched as their states voted to expand the racial possibilities, and at the same time told them that their marriages were not legal.

The questions began pouring in. In May the California Supreme Court said that sexual orientation, like race gender and religion "does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights." Now, less than a year later Arizona, Florida and likely California all pass laws banning same sex marriage. So why and how can we decide that race is no longer a defining factor in politics, and sex is? With all these liberal voters at the polls, how did this happen?

For people of color, race has ALWAYS been a more pressing issue than sexual freedom. This is evident in the lack of diversity in all of the gay, kink and swinger and fetish communities across the country.

I can put aside what kind of sex I have in my bedroom, but I cannot put aside my color. To be a gay person of color is to be an outsider among outsiders. That said, and because people of color have had to deal with so much oppression due to their color, we are a traditionally homophobic lot. It is a repressed, hidden and often shame filled existence.

The marvelous outpouring of voters of color this year is awe inspiring. I am so very proud to see that after 200 years, a person who is of a different race, has been elected to the highest political seat in the country. Simultaneously this turnout brought with it a flood of voters who also voted to oppress the rights of "others."

Is this a sign? I don't think so. I believe in society's evolution. It took a long time to get where we are. We didn't have to have a black vice president before having a president. This elections was a leap in our social evolution. The steps we will see being taken by this next administration will be the true test as to how far we have come. Will our new president make good on his pledge to bring us to a place of inclusion and equality? Will we see people being given equal rights across this great nation regardless of race, creed, religion, sexual orientation, OR color? Only time will tell.

Keep the hope that was shown last night. Keep your voice heard. Give to the NCSF. Support the Equal Rights Amendment. Find the Equality Now office near you. Come to the Creating Change conference and support the NGLTF.

The fight is not over and this momentum should not be wasted.