The campaign to oppose Proposition 8, which seeks to amend the California constitution to specifically deny same-sex couples the right to marry, will not concede that the proposition has passed despite the news reports that claim that it has passed. Here is the full text of the No on Prop 8 campaign’s statement regarding the votes cast in California last night:

Roughly 400,000 votes separate yes from no on Prop 8 – out of 10 million votes tallied. Based on turnout estimates reported yesterday, we expect that there are more than 3 million and possibly as many as 4 million absentee and provisional ballots yet to be counted. Given that fundamental rights are at stake, we must wait to hear from the Secretary of State tomorrow how many votes are yet to be counted as well as where they are from. It is clearly a very close election and we monitored the results all evening and this morning. As of this point, the election is too close to call. Because Prop 8 involves the sensitive matter of individual rights, we believe it is important to wait until we receive further information about the outcome.

I wholeheartedly agree, the count is too close to call without taking into account the absentee ballots that have been cast in this matter. Even still, citizens of California WILL NOT STAND for the legalization of discrimination in this State and have organized at least 2 big rallies to take place today to protest the campaign to strip Californian citizens of their rights. Here is the info for a rally to take place tonight in West Hollywood, CA:

Hundreds to Attend “No on Prop 8″ Rally in West Hollywood Tonight

WHAT: With nearly 4 million votes still to be counted and the Proposition 8 race too close to call, hundreds of people who support equality for all and who oppose the amendment of our constitution to discriminate against any group, will gather in West Hollywood tonight to show their support for the freedom of same-sex couples to marry.

WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.

WHO: Speakers include: Lorri L. Jean, CEO, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, John Duran, President, Equality California, Reverend Neil Thomas, Metropolitan Community Church, Rabbi Denise Eger, Congregation Kol Ami

WHERE: San Vicente Blvd., between Melrose Ave. and Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, California

Additionally, I’ve received word that a candlelight vigil will take place on the steps of the State Capitol tonight … people interested in attending are requested to bring candles and as many people as they can.

If you are able, I urge all Californians to come out and stand united to oppose the attempts to STRIP CITIZENS OF THEIR RIGHTS. As we learned from last night’s election, change is possible and what was once believed inconceivable can become reality. GLBT citizens of the USA deserve to be treated like everyone else. While our country has made great strides in some respects (thank you President-elect Obama) we still have a long way to go … there is still much we need to fight for!

UPDATE: Here is a list of rallies that will be held in California tonight:

Los Angeles
7:00 p.m. | West Hollywood
Corner of Santa Monica Blvd and San Vicente Blvd

Sacramento
note location change
5 p.m. | Gay & Lesbian Center
1927 L St

San Diego
6:30 | The Center
3909 Centre Street
Co-sponsored by the Center, EQCA and HRC

San Francisco
6:30 | City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

[Source]

US Weekly compiled a fun batch of photos of fictional African American Presidents of the US from TV and film and I thought it’d be cool to share some of my faves. As I said before, the pessimist in me never believed that I’d live to see an African American elected to the highest office in the land and, yet, that day has come. But, before Senator Barack Obama became President-elect Obama we were introduced to a few fictional African American Presidents in movies and on TV:

James Earl Jones became “president” in the 1972 film The Man and Morgan Freeman became “president” in the 1998 film Deep Impact (about the improbability that a meteor could crash into Earth and destroy mankind). My fave fictional African American Presidents are the Palmer brothers, David and Wayne, who ruled the country in a few seasons of the hit FOX TV series 24. President David Palmer, I gotta say, is my fave fictional President of all time. But with the election of Barack Obama as our Nation’s leader, there is no longer a need for Hollywood to create fictional African American leaders … I guess they’ll have to resort to creating fictional female presidents (like in the upcoming new season of 24) instead. It’s pretty remarkable how far this country has come with one Presidential election.

[Source]

Michael Jackson, who has in recent weeks decided to come out of the hole he was hiding in for the past few years to enjoy the limelight of the paparazzi flashbulbs, was snapped doing a bit of shopping over the weekend at an establishment called Off the Wall which, as their sign says, specializes in selling “weird stuff” …

… clearly, Michael Jackson is this store’s target audience. It should also be noted that Michael Jackson’s first album was also titled Off the Wall so … I mean, have you ever seen anything more perfect in all your life? Yeah … he’s weird.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin]

It is my happy duty to announce the winners of the Autographed Rest Comic Book Contest that I announced last week … as you may recall, Milo Ventimiglia (of Heroes fame) generously signed two copies of issue #1 of his new comic book series Rest for a couple of lucky Pink is the new Blog readers and I asked for folks interested in winning a copy to submit fun Halloween photos for entry in the contest. I randomly selected two submissions from the pool of entries and want to publicly congratulate Jennifer (and her pug Chippy as Yoda) and Gina (who, with her boyfrend Jerry, dressed as Jessimo –Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo):

I hope you all will help me in congratulating these two folks on their win. They will be receiving emails from me this week so I can get the info to mail out their comics. And thank you all so much for participating and submitting your fun photos! Thanks for playing along!!!

Yesterday was a pretty amazing day, I think it’s pretty safe to say, but I spent most of it holed up in my apartment glued to the TV screen. I’ve been watching so much political coverage over the past few weeks and then yesterday felt like the calm before the storm. I didn’t want to leave my computer until I was able to happily report the Obama victory so I stayed in for most of the day. But once the election was called for Barack Obama, I made my way out to Steph and Alek’s place to get my celebration on. We toasted the new President and then watched him give his victory speech in Chicago, IL. It was a very special moment. Then, we bundled up and made our way to West Hollywood, CA to join the revelers there … here are a few pics from last night’s fun:

I was wearing the Vote Obama/Express Yourself t-shirt that Madonna has been selling on the US leg of her tour (I ordered it online and it arrived in time for me to be able to wear it on Election Day/Night) but had to bundle up because it was cold and breezy last night in WeHo. We joked that it was the Winds of Change that we were dealing with.

Last night was a night that millions of Americans will remember for the rest of their lives. It’s a night that will be taught about in schools, chronicled in history books and will be told to children not yet born … and I was able to spend it with dear friends. Life is pretty good right about now :)

• Ashley Olsen denies that she is planning to wed.
• Actor Tim Robbins literally had to fight for his right to vote.
• Will.i.am is planning to release an Obama Victory Song.
• The Killers team up with Elton John for an Xmas song.
• Click HERE to preview Beyoncé’s new album I Am … Sasha Fierce online now.
• No more women for Simon Cowell.
• If you thought $150,000 was a lot of money to spend on clothes, you ain’t heard nothing yet.
• ALL the ladies of The View celebrate Obama’s Presidential victory.
• Dancing with the Shirtless.
• Copies of The New York Times are nonexistent in NYC, unless you wait in line for one.
• The Victoria’s Secret Angels get fitted.
• Rock N Roll does not love Avril Lavigne.
• Celebs celebrate Election Night.
• Speidi to guest star on How I Met Your Mother?
• Ryan Adams is 34, Tilda Swinton is 48 and Bryan Adams is 49 years old today. Click HERE to see who else is celebrating a birthday today.
• Kylie Minogue to return to acting?
• First Lady-elect Michelle Obama wore an unfortunate Narciso Rodriguez dress last night.
• George Takei says the fight for marriage equality in California is not over.

Last month we got to see a new Got Milk? promo ad which featured Heidi Klum all dolled up as a milk maid (with pretty skanky shoes, IMHO) and today we get to see another Got Milk? ad featuring Ms. Klum. Heidi is featured in another Got Milk? promo ad which, I think, is a lot less comical and much more pretty:

The copy reads: “Model Mom. From the runway to my driveway, there’s one look that’s always in style. Studies suggest the nutrients in 3 glasses of lowfat or fat free milk a day can help you maintain a healthy weight. And the protein helps build muscle for a lean body. Which makes it a perfect fit for you and your family.”

Dang … homegirl must love her some milk to appear in two ads for the stuff within weeks of one another. I don’t recall other celebrities appearing in two ads at the same time but, hey, if the money’s right — the money’s right. Additionally, Heidi Klum is featured in a new TV ad for the video game Guitar Hero: World Tour where she dances around the living room a la Tom Cruise in Risky Business (you may be aware that a few sports celebs appear in a very similar ad for Guitar Hero: World Tour as well). Here is Heidi’s fun Guitar Hero: World Tour commercial which you’ll prolly be seeing on your TV sets very soon:

BUT … it has to be noted that there is a Director’s Cut version of this TV commercial that, depending on where you live in the country, you may NOT be seeing on your TV sets. After the jump, check out that version of the commercial in full …

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