Hollywood, CA – J-Lo to produce ABC TV Two-Mommy Drama
Actress Jennifer Lopez is soon to be producer Lopez in developing an hour-long drama for ABC Family TV. The proposed series is yet to be titled. It is about a lesbian couple that suddenly has their already full house turned upside down when an errant teenage girl moves in. One of the mothers is a teacher at a private school, and the other mother is a police officer. The couple already has one biological son (most likely procreated the “old fashioned” way) as well as adopted teen twins - one a girl, the other a boy. Known lately more as an American Idol judge, and not so much as a movie star, Lopez has said she plans to guest star in the show. No word as to her character’s sexual orientation. Let’s hope for lesbian! Lopez will executive produce the series, which the network is fast tracking, with Simon Fields, her partner at Nuyorican Productions. Peter Paige and Brad Bredeweg, the creators and writers of the show, will executive produce as well. Greg Gugliotta is also an executive producer. Hopefully this won’t be a “good ol’ boys” interpretation of lesbianism.

Source: Deadline.com

New York, NY – Marriage Equality in New York Survives Legal Challenge
A state appeals court rejected a challenge to New York’s year-old same-sex marriage law, ruling closed-door negotiations among senators and gay marriage supporters did not violate any laws. New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (which are anything BUT) attempted to challenge New York’s marriage equality law. New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (let’s just call them “bigots” for short) said NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo and another same-sex marriage supporter, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, met behind closed doors with the Senate’s Republican majority in violation of the open meeting law, which requires public access to the deliberations of legislative bodies; but Attorney General Eric Schneiderman argued that the Republican caucus with invited guests was exempt, even if the guests weren’t in the same party. In a 5-0 ruling, the court agreed.

Anti-marriage New Yorkers had been out-maneuvered by pro-marriage Democrats and their allies last summer. According to the appellate court’s decision: “In the event that we were to adopt plaintiffs’ limited definition of ‘guests,’ it would be impossible for a Democratic member of a governor’s office, such as a budget director, to speak to a majority Republican caucus.” Victory! 

Source: Huffington Post

Salt Lake City, UT – Flock of Mormons Leaves Church Over Marriage Issues
Approximately 150 Latter Day Saints resigned together publicly from their church in Salt Lake City. The defectors ventured from Utah, Idaho and Arizona to gather in a public park and tender their formal letters of resignation, which they collected to be mailed to LDS headquarters.

They hiked from the park up to Ensign Peak, where founder Brigham Young stood 175 years ago to gaze down at the place where his city would be built. Once there, the defectors hugged, laughed, cheered and yelled, “Freedom!”

Among the reasons cited by those resigning were the church’s vehemently political activism and massive fundraising against same-sex marriage; also its stance on multiple-partner marriage. The church, which renounced plural marriage over a century ago as Utah was seeking statehood, often downplays the prevalence of the practice by early faith leaders, including Smith, who some scholars say was married to more than 30 women. One man said polygamy was a factor leading him out of the church. When doing research on his family tree, he was disturbed to find that a female ancestor had married Smith, likely while she was still married to another man. 150 defectors! Well, it’s a start!

Source: Reuters

Houston, TX –Texas Republican Party Platform Officially Hates Homos
Texas GOP loves steers, hates queers. The Texas GOP branch brashly asserts “the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society.” It goes on to claim “Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable ‘alternative’ lifestyle, in public policy, nor should ‘family’ be redefined to include homosexual ‘couples.’ [Those are their nasty quote marks, as if to say: “not queers!”]. They believe “there should be no granting of special legal entitlements or creation of special status for homosexual behavior, regardless of state of origin.” They’re against “any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction or belief in traditional values.” Hatred is apparently a Texas GOP traditional value. 

Their definition of marriage is “a God-ordained, legal and moral commitment only between a natural man and a natural woman [Aretha Franklin?!], which is the foundational unit of a healthy society,” and they “oppose the assault on marriage by judicial activists.” God is love?

Nope! 

Source: 2012 State Republican Party Platform

Erie, IL – Illinois School Board Bans Family “Too Gay” Book
The Erie, Illinois School Board banned The Family Book because it mentions, on just one page, “Some families have two moms and dads.”

Horrors! The board then removed all materials from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). “The board’s further move to limit the use of our materials to grades 6-12 is both puzzling and deeply counter-productive,” said GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard.

“GLSEN has a stellar track record of providing educationally- and developmentally- appropriate resources to thousands of districts across the country for grades K-5, and our materials for the elementary grades enjoy broad support throughout the education and youth development worlds.”

“Public schools should not be coerced by outside groups into indoctrinating students into homosexual behavior by exposing them to inappropriate sexual materials,” rabid rightwing Alliance Defense Fund Attorney Jeremy Tedesco remarked regarding GLSEN’s curriculum.

“Schools are supposed to be places of learning, not places where schools push propaganda on students. The school is right under these circumstances to prohibit access to the GLSEN materials and not cave to the ACLU’s demands.”

GLSEN’s resources are produced in partnership with, and endorsed by, the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Association of Elementary School Principals. So there!

Source: GLSEN.org

Stop Feds’ Attacks on Medical Cannabis!
Medical marijuana activists want President Barack Obama to keep the commitment he made to stop the federal government’s attacks on medical cannabis. Back in 2008, then-presidential candidate and Sen. Obama promised, “I’m not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on” medical cannabis. Yet this is precisely what is occurring when the Feds orchestrate raids of cannabis dispensaries complying with state and local laws. Numerous SWAT-style raids have been made. More than 200 landlords throughout California have been threatened with federal seizure of their property. Even some local officials have been threatened for enacting strict dispensary regulations.

In San Francisco, at least nine landlords of permitted medical cannabis facilities and their tenants have been threatened. Five dispensaries that had been long-standing and respected businesses in the City were forced to close. Even more closures are scheduled to happen this month.

“San Francisco’s permitted dispensaries are being intimidated, and they are wondering what might be next. Frankly, so are we,” say Supervisors Christina Olague, David Campos and Scott Wiener. “We deplore all aggression against medical cannabis dispensaries.” They urge Obama to call off the US attorneys and have them cease the needless threats against local and state law-compliant Californians. They want to work with Obama on a public health solution for medical cannabis at the federal level, once he wins a second term. They call on activists to “Speak up! Press the president to respect our laws!”

Source: Interview by Dennis McMillan

SF Vigil Held for Lesbian Teens Shot in South Texas
Reacting to news of two teenage girls in a same-sex relationship who were shot in the head in a Portland, Texas park, approximately 100 people from the SF community gathered in Jane Warner Plaza in memory of Mollie Judith Olgin and praying for recovery for critically wounded Mary Christine Chapa. Placards stated: “Rest in peace” and “We deserve to be safe.” Many local officials spoke. Supervisor Scott Wiener said, “As many laws as we have passed 
 there is still so much we have to do to support our community and keep queer people safe.” Community organizer Cleve Jones said, “I want Southern Texas to know that we’re paying attention, and I know sometimes justice doesn’t happen unless we speak out.” Supervisor David Campos said, “We want the state of Texas to know that the rest of the country is watching how they handle this investigation.” D.A. George Gascon wrote, “We join millions of Americans to condemn this brutal act of violence and demand justice. Hate is not an American value.” Senator Tom Ammiano urged that everyone continue shining light on “bullying and violence within the LGBTQ youth community.” 

Castro Community on Patrol added a plea to find the killer of Steven “Eriq” Escalon– murdered June 12, and last seen in the Castro the Monday before. He may have left the gayborhood by taxi. Contact SFPD to help identify whom he left the area with. SF police need all clues: homicide (415) 553-1145; SFPD info center 553-1071; anonymous tips 575-4444.

Source: Reported by Dennis McMillan