News

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Signs on as Co-sponsor for Bill to Curb “Panic Defense”

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has become an official co-sponsor for AB 2501, a bill authored by Assemblymember Susan Bonilla and designed to curb the so-called “panic defense” by making it clear that a defendant’s discovery of a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity is not sufficient provocation to reduce a charge of murder to manslaughter. Equality California is a sponsor of the bill. “Getting Attorney General Kamala Harris to co-sponsor AB 2501 is an exciting sign that California is serious about curbing these bogus ‘panic’ defenses,” said John O’Connor, Equality California executive director. ”A victim’s sexual orientation or gender […]

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Couples To Challenge Alaska Gay Marriage Ban As Unconstitutional

Five gay couples filed a lawsuit Monday challenging Alaska’s ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional. The Alaska lawsuit, filed in federal court in Anchorage, lists as plaintiffs four couples who were married outside Alaska and one unmarried couple. It alleges that Alaska’s ban on same-sex marriage violates their rights to due process and equal protection under the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit seeks to bar enforcement of Alaska’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. It also calls for barring enforcement of any state laws that refuse to recognize gay marriages legally performed in other states or countries or that prevent unmarried gay […]

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Food for Thought’s West Sonoma County Spring Home and Garden Tour Happens June 8

Food For Thought’s 19th annual Western Sonoma County Home & Garden Tour will feature eight wonderfully diverse locations on Sunday June 8th, from 10am to 5pm. During the tour, homeowners will open their private homes and gardens to a limited number of ticket holders.  This year’s distinctive locations embody the range of home and gardening lifestyles in West Sonoma County’s unique ecosystem. The tour will showcase spectacular homes and gardens, which include features such as old growth redwood trees, edible landscaping, a labyrinth and beautiful garden art. There will also be an opportunity to tour the food bank and garden […]

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LGBTQ Youth Rally in Sacramento for Opportunity to Stay in School

  More than 50 high school students from across California are in Sacramento April 29 to advocate for three bills that would help ensure all youth, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, have the opportunity to be themselves at school, do well and graduate. The youth are gathered for the 9th annual Queer Youth Advocacy Day, which unites LGBT and straight ally youth activists from Gay-Straight Alliance clubs across state. “Our goal is the same as our peers’: we wish to graduate high school and be successful, but bullying and unreasonable school discipline policies stand in the way of […]

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Sonoma County Pride Committee Announces Theme, Dates, and Events for 2014 Celebration

Sonoma County celebrates LGBTQI Pride the weekend of May 30 – June 1 in Guerneville, CA. This year’s theme is “Free To Be”. Highlights of the weekend include welcoming specials at local merchants and restaurants from Friday through Sunday, dance parties on Saturday night and a full day of celebration on Sunday with a parade down Main Street followed by a Pride Village on the town plaza with vendor booths. Other Sunday events include a Commitment Ceremony, Family Pool Party and an Interfaith Service. Grand Marshals for this year’s parade are Mayors Carol Russell of Cloverdale, Robert Jacob of Sebastopol and Guerneville’s ‘unofficial’ mayor, Rodger […]

Equality CA Welcomes New Executive Director

Equality California, the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization in California, announced today that its executive director, John O’Connor, will step down in July following a successful, 18-month tenure leading EQCA through a period of extensive organizational transition. EQCA also announced that board member Rick Zbur, a senior partner with the law firm of Latham & Watkins and an LGBT and environmental advocate, has been unanimously elected as the organization’s new executive director. “John has been an incredibly effective leader and the boards of directors of both Equality California and Equality California Institute are extremely grateful for […]

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34th Annual Russian River Women’s Weekend Happens May 15 – 19

The 34th Annual Russian River Women’s Weekend will be from May 15 – 19, this year.  We have an action packed weekend planned: Friday-Let’s get this party started pool party. 3rd Annual DRAGSTRAVAGANZA. Saturday-Wet Tease Pool Party, Burlesque Show and Dance Party, as well as Live Music.  Sunday – Liquid Church Pool Party, Tattoo Contest, Brunch and Rendezvous with Cool Beans. For more information please check out our webpage at www.russianriverwomenweekend.org or contact Melissa Black at rrwomensweekend@gmail.com or (707) 695-6708.

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Court Rules Against Ohio Ban on Same-sex Marriage Recognition

A federal judge has ordered Ohio to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages. A federal judge in Ohio on Monday ruled against the state law barring recognition of out-of-state same-sex marriages, although the order is temporarily stayed until state officials take further action. In a 45-page decision, U.S. District Judge Timothy Black determined the Ohio law barring recognition of out-of-state same-sex weddings violates protections under the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. “The record before the court, which includes the judicially-noticed record in Obergefell, is staggeringly devoid of any legitimate justification for the state’s ongoing arbitrary discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, […]

Bill to Modernize Birth Certificates Introduced

Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez introduced AB 1951, sponsored by Equality California, to modernize birth certificates to accurately reflect the gender of a child’s parent or parents. The new birth certificates would allow each parent to identify as mother, father or parent. “Birth certificates establish real rights and responsibilities, and it’s important to have them in sync with modern families,” said John O’Connor, executive director of Equality California. “Every child deserves a parent or parents who love them, and AB 1951 will give every child the dignity of respectfully and accurately representing them.” “The definition of a family needs to be more […]

New Group Helps Support School Boards Comply With Law

Today, the Support All Students campaign — including a broad coalition of nearly 100 state and national organizations backing California’s law that ensures all school children have a fair chance to do well — applauds the California School Boards Association’s new model policy to help districts comply with the law. The model policy released today lays the foundation for California’s 1,043 school districts to ensure that all children — including those who are transgender — have fair opportunities to do well in school following the January 1 start of the new School Success and Opportunity Act, also known as Assembly Bill 1266. […]

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