News

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Openly Gay Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch Breezes to 2nd Term

 Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch breezed to re-election Tuesday, weathering a challenge from a senior prosecutor in her office and a storm of protest over the death of teenager shot by a sheriff’s deputy. Ravitch beat rival Victoria Shanahan 64 percent to 35 percent, with mail-in ballots and 366 of 366 precincts counted early Wednesday. Ravitch did not return calls Tuesday night. Shanahan, who ran a low-budget campaign, said her share of the votes was evidence of dissatisfaction with her boss.  Auditor-controller-treasurer-tax collector candidate Gary Wysocky, pictured third from the right on the top row, watches results come in […]

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President Barack Obama Releases Proclamation Declaring June LGBT Pride Month

  President Barack Obama has released a proclamation declaring June as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. Check out the statement in full below. As progress spreads from State to State, as justice is delivered in the courtroom, and as more of our fellow Americans are treated with dignity and respect — our Nation becomes not only more accepting, but more equal as well. During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, we celebrate victories that have affirmed freedom and fairness, and we recommit ourselves to completing the work that remains. Last year, supporters of equality celebrated […]

Houston City Council Approves Sweeping Nondiscrimination Protections

  After many hours of testimony from over 200 speakers, the Houston City Council voted 11-6 to approve the Equal Rights Ordinance, which creates nondiscrimination protections for many classes, including sexual orientation and gender identity. Houston was one of the only large cities in the country that had no municipal nondiscrimination policy. During the debate, supporters of the bill spoke to alliances across groups, noting how the ordinance would protect following identity classifications: sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, military status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, and pregnancy. Opponents argued that the protections would […]

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Sonoma County Pride 2014 Fills An Entire Weekend Where Everyone Is ‘Free To Be’

  Guerneville rolls out the rainbow carpet for the LGBTQI community the weekend of May 30 – June 1, 2014. ‘Official’ events include Sunday’s Pride Parade and Celebration on the Plaza. ‘Unofficial’ events fill the rest of the weekend with something for everyone. Highlights include Pandora Boxx performing at Buck’s River Mill Dinner Theater, welcoming receptions at local merchants & restaurants, a ‘Disco Deliverance Dance’ at the R3 Hotel, pool parties (for both families and the over 21 set) and an opportunity to participate in a Commitment Ceremony on Sunday after the Parade. Honored Grand Marshalls are openly-gay Mayor Robert […]

Equality California Announces Final Endorsements for 2014 June Primary

Today, Equality California is proud to announce its endorsement of incumbents Gov. Jerry Brown for governor, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom for lieutenant governor, Attorney General Kamala Harris for attorney general, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones for insurance commissioner and Superintendent Tom Torlakson for superintendent of public instruction. In addition, EQCA has endorsed former Speaker of the Assembly Bob Hertzberg for Senate District 18. They join a group of over 50 other candidates already endorsed by Equality California in the 2014 election cycle. In his current term, Brown has governed California since 2011 and he has been a tremendously effective advocate for […]

Equality California Applauds CalPERS Divestment from Russian Companies Tied to Anti-LGBT Violence and Neo-Nazi Website

Equality California applauds CalPERS, the country’s largest public pension fund, for divesting from the Russian companies MegaFon and Mail.ru due to the companies’ links to the neo-Nazi “Occupy Pedophilia” vigilante group, which has posted videos of torture and assault of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Russians on a company-owned social media network. “Californians raised their voices and CalPERS listened. We will not have our money supporting hate crimes against our LGBT brothers and sisters in Russia, and we are very glad to have made an impact on a global scale,” said John O’Connor, Equality California executive director. “This is a […]

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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