Winning Productions proudly announces Equalipalooza - a night of entertainment for equality. San Francisco’s Margaret Cho, internationally recognized comedienne and civil rights activist, will help raise funds to defeat Proposition 8 - which aims to amend California’s Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry - by hosting Equalipalooza on Oct. 15. Cho will be joined by fellow comedians Johnny Steele, Heather Gold, and Ali Mafi for an evening of comedy with a conscience. All proceeds will benefit the ‘No on 8 - Marriage Equality USA’ campaign to defeat Prop H8. In addition, Assemblyman Mark Leno, District Attorney Kamala Harris, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Deputy City Attorney Therese Stewart and her wife Carole Scagnetti will be acknowledged for their contributions to the marriage equality movement. Janice Mirikitani, San Francisco ‘s Poet Laureate, will read her poetry and Margot Duane, the producer of Equalipalooza, will exhibit her photographs of the same-sex wedding movement.

“We stand at a pivotal moment in history. The winds of change are blowing, and the polling numbers, though encouraging, are still too close to assure victory,” says Molly McKay, media director, MEUSA. “Equalipalooza - though light-hearted in its theme - is dead-serious in its aim. If we defeat Prop 8 in California, it will be the turning point in securing LGBT equality in our country.”

Duane, an internationally-published photographer, documents modern culture in the Bay Area. When Mayor Gavin Newsom issued marriage licenses in 2004, she captured many of these weddings as well as the events surrounding them. Some of these photographs were published in TIME Magazine as well as the book titled We Do (Chronicle Books), and an exhibition is currently showing at City Hall. Her work can be viewed at planetmargot.com.

“The challenges our world faces today are daunting. We should be focusing our efforts on positive, collaborative change, not stripping away the fundamental right of a group of our citizens to marry the person they love,” Duane says. “This is not a ‘gay issue;’ it is a matter of civil rights and equality for all - everyone should be engaged.”

Equalipalooza happens Wednesday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m. for VIP reception, and show at 8, Broadway Studios, 435 Broadway Street, SF. Tickets: $40 for show, $100 for VIP reception and show. Buy yours at brownpapertickets.com Make love, not 8!