Hodgepodge

Usually I focus upon one topic; this week I thought I would change it up and give our readers three small messages.

Equality California

I had the opportunity to have lunch with John O’Connor, the new executive director of Equality California (EQCA). The organization is having an event in San Diego June 1 at the Prado in Balboa Park to raise money for its mission. Many have questioned the viability of the organization due to recent financial difficulties, as well as the revolving door in the executive director position. I asked John to give me an update.

My first question was how O’Connor would define Equality California’s mission. Given that I believe that we will be able to get married again in late June or July, what would be EQCA’s focus? Marriage will give Californian gay and lesbian people all the rights granted other couples, thereby eliminating the need for pieces of legislation to protect our rights.

O’Connor outlined EQCA’s agenda; youth and safe schools, transgender equality, seniors, immigration and health. Their current legislative portfolio includes a bill, (SB 323) that clarifies that nonprofit youth organizations will only be rewarded with special tax exemptions if they comply with California’s existing nondiscrimination laws and the School Success and Opportunity Act (AB 1266), that makes clear the obligation of California schools to allow transgender students to participate in all school activities, programs and facilities.

It is apparent that EQCA’s mission and activities are now in alignment with the new LGBT equality fights. Simply put, equality for all LGBT people.

Since O’Connor has come on board, the organization has also gotten its financial house in order. In addition, he has brought a renewed focus on San Diego because of the many nationally recognized and statewide LGBT leaders within our community.

While EQCA has had its troubles in the past, it now seems the wind is at its back. That means we will see progress in California for the transgender community, LGBT youth and seniors, as well as those with foreign partners. That is a good thing.

If you want to help the renewed Equality California continue the fight for our equality, go to the event at the Prado June 1.

Marriage equality

Another domino falls in our pursuit of marriage equality; the state of Rhode Island. Rhode Island joined the equality states of Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Iowa and Washington state. Notice anything unusual? I guess it is a lot better for gays and lesbians in the northeast of the United States. Delaware joined the states allowing same-sex marriage just a couple of days ago. I thought California was supposed to be the “Promised Land” for LGBT people; you know, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, even San Diego. The California electorate failed to lead the fight.

California, the so-called “state of the fruits and nuts,” showed its conservative roots with the vote on Prop. 8 and it is now really embarrassing. Embarrassing because our state has the most populated LGBT city in America; embarrassing because more than 16 percent of the American population can enter into a same-sex marriage but not in our state, and finally when the story of same-sex marriage is told, California will be on the wrong side of history.

When the Supreme Court grants us marriage rights this June, it will not be because our residents agreed; it will be because the law is unconstitutional.

I have never been so ashamed and embarrassed.

Jason Collins “Buycott”

NBA free agent Jason Collins came out last week. Unless you live under a rock, you could not have missed the coverage because it was relentless. Collins, a male member of a major sports league, announced he was gay and African American too. That last part was obvious.

The fact that Collins added the obvious highlighted the perception that many African Americans are on the “down low,” or fighting against their sexual orientation. Whether that is true or not, I like to say I came out in the first trimester; Collins has now given many African American LGBT people a hero.

Collins is not a stereotypical effeminate gay, he is an NBA player who can dunk a basketball and has played in the league for 12 years. He has proven that gay men can perform admirably in one of the most male oriented environments.

Now we owe Collins. Any product he endorses, we should buy. Every magazine he is on, we should buy. Whatever team signs him, we should buy blocks of tickets.

I will be the first to buy the Nike’s that he endorses and will sport them proudly. I am going on a Jason Collins “buycott.”

Stampp Corbin

Publisher

San Diego LGBT Weekly

LGBTweekly.com