Happily married couple Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz are the latest celebs to join the NO H8 campaign to fight for marriage equality for same-sex couples in this country. Ashl33n were on hand to participate in a photoshoot here in LA yesterday to add their starpower to the cause … here is a pic of the pair on the set of their photoshoot:

Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz are keeping their mouths shut for gay marriage. The couple are the latest celebs to take part in NOH8, a campaign supporting efforts to overturn Proposition 8. They were shot by photographer Adam Bouska on Monday with the campaign’s signature look: “NOH8″ painted on their cheeks and duct tape over their mouths as a symbol of the pro-gay voices not being heard. Ashlee also holds a wedding veil in the pic. Which other rocker was in the studio with them? Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus also posed for NOH8. Like the Wentzes, Hoppus took part in the big Hollywood rally and protest shortly after the California Supreme Court upheld the ban on same-sex unions. “My son asked me one time, ‘Some guys have girlfriends and some girls have boyfriends, but do boys sometimes have boyfriends?’ ” Hoppus told us at the rally. “I said, ‘Yeah, all kinds of people love different kinds of people. And that’s the world we live in.’ ” Bouska launched NOH8 with his partner Jeff Parshley in November after the passage of Prop 8. Shanna Moakler and a gaggle of other former beauty queen titleholders posed for the campaign shortly after the Miss California Carrie Prejean controversy erupted in April.

Click HERE to see the impressive collection of photos that have been already taken for the No H8 campaign. I think it says a lot that so many straight allies are standing up for the rights of same-sex couples to marry in this country. While there has been much progress in the fight for marriage equality thus far (particularly in the New England States and Iowa), there is still so much work to be done. Much love and respect goes out to Ashlee, Pete, Mark and the rest of the folks who have stepped up to fight the H8.

[Source]

Protest rallies against the passage of Proposition 8, which legalized marriage discrimination in the State of California, have taken place every day since Election Day last week and will continue this week and in the weeks after. A few Pink readers who live outside of California have been asking for information regarding what can be done in their parts of the country to make their voices heard as well. I am happy to report that Join the Impact is organizing a National Day of Protest against the passage of Proposition 8 here in California and FOR THE NEED of marriage equality in this country as a whole. Here is the flyer that is being distributed (which can be downloaded HERE) by organizers who are asking that YOU put up in your cities to alert people of the protest:

You can find more information at jointheimpact.com about the National Day of Protest. For folks here in SoCal, you can click HERE to see an updated list of the protest rallies that are being planned for the coming week. Additionally, repealh8.org is a site that has been set up to update the ongoing plans for overturning the passage of Prop 8 here in California.

Because I will be in Grand Rapids, MI on Saturday November 15, I’m not sure if I will be able to make it out to the Michigan rally that is scheduled to take place in Detroit but YOU can click HERE to see a list of locations where the rallies will take place in your States on the 15th. The passage of Prop 8 here in California (and similar propositions in Florida, Arizona and Arkansas) does not just impact the citizens of those States — nor does it merely impact the lives of the GLBT community — its passage is an affront to Liberty and Justice For All in this country and threatens to undermine the very things that this country stands for. I feel it is very important to stand up for marriage equality in this country. Like so many times before in our nation’s history, the people are being called upon to oppose injustice and discrimination in this country. While we have made great strides in other areas, there is still much work to be done.

Pop star Xtina Aguilera has gone on the record this week to express her dismay that marriage equality was defeated in the State of California this past Tuesday. Xtina sat down with MTV and talked at length in a new interview about her disapproval of the legalization of discrimination in California:

On Thursday, pop star Christina Aguilera joined Fall Out Boy and other celebrities who’ve spoken out against Proposition 8. “Last night, there was a whole rally that I saw for Prop. 8,” she told MTV News. “A lot of people came out with their signs, and I think [Prop. 8] is discrimination and I don’t understand how people can be so closed-minded and so judgmental. We chose an African-American president, and it means so much … [it's] a time in history of great change and open-mindedness. Why is this any different? It just doesn’t make sense to me. Why you would put so much money behind something [aimed at] stopping from people loving each other and bonding together? I just don’t understand it. It’s hard for me to grasp. But I would’ve been out there with my rally sign as well.” A few moments later, she added, “Mormons aren’t gonna buy my album but, you know, what are you gonna do?”

Her interview with MTV comes as another night of protesters took to the streets of California to oppose the attempt to strip away same-sex marriage rights. The MTV report continues:

Demonstrators took to the streets of Los Angeles for a second straight night Thursday to protest Tuesday’s passage of California’s Proposition 8, a ballot measure amending the state’s constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry, which passed by a 52 percent margin. The measure supersedes a state Supreme Court ruling that briefly gave same-sex couples the right to wed. The Associated Press reported that more than 2,000 people convened outside the gates of a local Mormon temple to condemn the church’s role in getting the measure passed. Protestors contend leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spent millions in television ads and mailings in an effort to encourage its followers to vote in favor of the proposition. The protests continued in the face of questions about whether civil attempts to overturn the prohibition could succeed. The passage also puts the 18,000 same-sex marriages performed in California over the past four months in question. Some fear those marriages will be nullified, although supporters of the ban claim they won’t seek to invalidate marriages already performed. Demonstrators converged outside a temple in the city’s Westwood section Thursday night and made their way toward the western end of Los Angeles, chanting, “Separate church and state” and “What do we want? Equal rights,” according to the AP. Two people were reportedly arrested following a confrontation between the crowd and a man in a pickup truck, who was displaying a banner supporting the measure. One demonstrator ended up with a bloody nose in the fracas; seven people were detained during Wednesday’s protests. Three legal challenges were filed by gay-marriage proponents Wednesday, arguing that the measure was actually a dramatic revision of California’s constitution rather than a simple amendment; constitutional revisions must first pass the state’s legislature before going to the voters.

It’s clear that many people are still outraged by the passage of Proposition 8 here in California and are doing everything they can to work toward its repeal. I commend the people willing to actively participate in the struggle to achieve equality for all, not just in this State but across the country for all minorities who are discriminated against. Again, this fight for equality is far from over … the struggle will not end until marriage equality can be enjoyed by all citizens of the US, in all 50 States. After the jump, watch video of Xtina’s interview with MTV regarding the passage of Proposition 8 …

READ THE REST OF THIS POST »

Last night thousands of protesters took to the streets of LA and Sacramento, CA (among other cities) to protest the passing of California Proposal 8. My friends and I joined the folks in West Hollywood while Pink reader Courtney participated with her friends in Sacramento. This fight for equal rights is not going to end any time soon. While the US made great strides in Tuesday’s election of Barack Obama as our new President, the passing of proposals in California, Arizona, Arkansas and Florida to strip away the rights of the GLBT community shows how much work we have yet to do in order to create a more perfect union and offer liberty and justice for all Americans. Here are some of photos my friends and I took at last night’s protest rally in West Hollywood:

Three groups have petitioned the California Supreme Court challenging the passage of Proposition 8, contending the ballot initiative banning gay and lesbian marriages was “improperly used.” Californians passed the measure 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent in Tuesday’s general election, countering a state Supreme Court ruling in May that said the state constitution guarantees gay and lesbian couples the right to marry. Passage of Proposition 8 sent protesters into the streets of Los Angeles on Wednesday. The three groups are asking for an immediate stay or an injunction to prevent the initiative from taking effect. They said “such radical changes” as outlawing gay marriage cannot be made by ballot initiative, but must, “at a minimum, go through the state legislature first.” The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights argued in papers filed with the high court that the ballot initiative process “was improperly used in an attempt to undo the constitution’s core commitment to equality for everyone.” It did that “by eliminating a fundamental right from just one group — lesbian and gay Californians,” the groups said in a written statement. The organizations filed the legal challenges on behalf of Equality California and six same-sex couples who did not marry before Tuesday’s election, but would like to be able to marry now. In a separate statement released Wednesday, the three groups stated their conviction, which is shared by California’s attorney general, that California must honor the marriages of the 18,000 lesbian and gay couples who have already married … About 750 to 1,000 protesters staged a half-hour sit-in outside CNN’s Los Angeles bureau on Sunset Boulevard. The demonstrators chanted slogans and banged on the building’s glass doors but then dispersed without incident. Hundreds also gathered on the steps of San Francisco’s City Hall, according to an AP report. Some held candles and carried signs that read, “We all deserve the freedom to marry.” Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres said she is “saddened beyond belief” over the proposed amendment. DeGeneres, who wed actress Portia de Rossi in August, said in a statement Wednesday to The AP that she, “like millions of Americans, felt like we had taken a giant step toward equality” by electing Barack Obama as president. DeGeneres says that with the passage of California’s Proposition 8, “we took a giant step away.”

Some celebs came out to the rally last night to show their support … including author Christopher Rice, actress Pauley Perrette, comedienne Wanda Sykes and, of course, my boy Lance Bass:

Pink reader Courtney sent in some photos from the peaceful candlelight vigil that took place in Sacramento, CA last night:

She writes: Last night I went out to support my gay friends at the vigil in Sacramento. I have to say, it was the most moving experience I’ve EVER had. The mood was bitter-sweet, yet hopeful, because this fight is very far from being over. The crowd of about 1,000 was very peaceful, and managed to scare away the 5 of 6 Yes on 8-ers that appeared across the street. The word is that another one is happening tonight at 7, so everyone come out!

Organizers in San Francisco, CA are planning a protest march in that city tomorrow night:

Please invite all of your friends. Make your own signs!
Date: Friday, November 7th.
Time: Gathering at 5:30, march will begin shortly after.
Place: From Civic Center (Market and 7th) to Dolores Park.

It is a scary prospect that some people believe that they can merely vote away the rights of a group of people just because they are the majority. Under those circumstances, any group of people could have their rights stripped away by a mere popular vote. Can you imagine what the outcry would be if Atheists banded together to vote away the rights of the religious? Proponents of the discrimination against the GLBT community may believe that they have won some battle by stripping away same-sex marriage rights — even tho their marriage rights were never in danger — but I know ABSOLUTELY that marriage equality will be enjoyed by all citizens of this country some day. It will happen. I know this because Justice demands that it will happen. Freedom from discrimination is not easily won … but it can and will be won. There is much work to be done but I am very much looking forward to the day when the same people who flooded the streets in protest last night will, once again, flood the streets in celebration of the vindication of their rights. It will happen.

Folks interested in learning more about the fight for marriage equality can find up-to-date info at MarriageEquality.org

[Source]

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

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]

Earlier this morning I got up early and made my way to my polling place in order to cast my vote today. Because my polling venue is only 2 blocks away, I was able to walk to my polling place this morning. To be honest, I did not anticipate finding a line there. This is the third time I voted at my LA address and it was my experience that folks meandered in to vote thruout the day, never causing much of a line at any given time. This morning, I was met with a line of folks that stretched into the parking lot and out near the street. It was a very cool thing to see. Here are a few pics that I snapped of my voting experience this morning:

As you can see, I proudly cast my ballot for Barack Obama for President and I voted NO on Prop 8. So as not to unduly influence any other voters in the room, I wore a hoodie over my SuperObama t-shirt up until I voted and then happily affixed my I Voted sticker on my shirt as I walked home. It was an amazing feeling, y’all. I was able to campaign and vote for President Bill Clinton (’92, ‘96), Vice President Al Gore (’00) and Senator John Kerry (’04). I’ve voted in Michigan, Oklahoma (which is tough for a Democrat … my lurve goes out to the OKie Dems out there) and now California. I am so pleased with the level of enthusiasm that I’m seeing all over the place — not just on TV but in person. Democracy at it’s greatest.

I’m asking all Pink readers to send in photos of your I Voted stickers once you vote today. If your polling place does not have them (David’s precinct in NYC did not have them when he voted earlier), feel free to make one of your own … email your photos to pinkisthenewblog@gmail.com and I will post as many of them as I can on the site.

Make sure you know when your polling place closes. DO NOT BE FOOLED if someone tells you that voting has been extended to tomorrow. TODAY IS THE ONLY DAY TO VOTE! The first polls close in just under 4 hours, make sure you know where you need to be and what time they close AND VOTE!!! Click HERE for polling information if you’re still unsure where to go.

Bloggers have been asked to participate in Write To Marry Day today in order to highlight the campaign to OPPOSE the very discriminatory Proposition 8 ballot initiative that Californians will vote on next Tuesday. I have decided to take this opportunity to write up a post why I believe that Proposition 8 is harmful, not only to California but, to our country as a whole. As a person who would be directly affected by this hateful proposition, I feel incumbent to lend my support to the defeat of Proposition 8 in the State of California:

For me, the matter is a very simple one. It is absolutely wrong to legislate discrimination in this country. If Proposition 8 passes, the Constitution of the California will be amended to specifically deny the right to marry to same-sex couples. Not so long ago, it was the rule of law in this country to separate African Americans from Caucasians in schools, restaurants, buses, water fountains and more. It was legislated that “separate but equal” was fair and that segregation was just. The end of segregation in this country came from the Supreme Court. The highest court in the land ruled that denying the rights of minorities in any legislation was illegal under the terms of our US Constitution. Remember, it was legislatures in some States that drafted and passed laws that discriminated against African Americans. It was the executive branches of those states that enforced those laws. It was only when the high court stepped in to invalidate those laws and INSIST that all citizens of the United States be treated equally that our country was able to move forward towards ending segregation and discrimination against minorities. This Proposition 8 matter is the very much the same thing. We have learned that legislating unequal treatment is wrong. Even if you don’t believe in same-sex marriage, no matter who you are and for whatever reason, you have to agree that discrimination is wrong … it is un-American and it opposes everything that our country stands for. We live in a nation where we promise liberty and justice for all. Does it sound right that some citizens should not be allowed to marry just because other citizens think they should not be allowed to? No, it doesn’t — and that is why laws in some States that outlawed interracial marriage were struck down as illegal. It is the duty of our country to defend the rights of the minority in order to achieve equality for all. Allowing same-sex marriage rights WILL NOT AFFECT the marriage rights of anyone else … and for that reason alone it seems foolish to try and deny those rights to anyone. This would be the first time a Constitution would be amended to take away rights from a group of people. Even Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is voting against Prop 8. It’s just plainly wrong.

It really boils down to a simple matter of fairness. There were many, many people who vehemently opposed granting equal rights to women in this country. Our nation wouldn’t allow women to be discriminated against. There were many, many people who vehemently opposed granting equal rights to African Americans and other racial minorities in this country. Again, our nation wouldn’t allow those injustices to occur. Even tho there are many people out there who oppose granting EQUAL RIGHTS to same-sex couples, I honestly believe that our nation will not allow such discrimination to occur. The United States of America was founded on the fundamental belief that All Men are Created Equal. It’s as simple as that. I am Voting No on Proposition 8 because I want to see my country take the next step in fully realizing the principles it was founded on. Prop 8 is unfair and wrong. I believe that marriage equality should be enjoyed by all.

I know there are many people who would love to support the campaign to DEFEAT Prop 8 but they live outside of California. I would urge those folks to click HERE to donate whatever you can to help us Californians defeat this discriminatory proposition. I have donated a couple of times and I know the No on Prop 8 campaign can use all the money they can muster. It’s a tough time economically, but if you can donate anything I know it’ll help defeat legalized discrimination and uphold marriage equality for all.