LGBT Issues

Could Gerrie Schipske Be Long Beach's First LGBT Mayor?

The councilwoman stands on the cusp of making that title a reality. But getting there hasn't been easy

Connie Boardman and Bob Foster, Mayors of Huntington Beach and Long Beach, Put Ink to Marriage Equality Paper

Huntington Beach Mayor Connie Boardman and her Orange County-adjacent colleague Bob Foster in Long Beach are among 25 California mayors who have signed a Courage Campaign letter supporting gay marriage.All the other OC mayors--it seems as if there are 50 or so--apparently could not find pens with in ... More >>

Candlelight Vigil for Marriage Equality Tomorrow in Santa Ana

Tomorrow, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the legal challenge to California's Proposition 8. But instead of taking the rallying, angry, and sign-pumping approach to fighting for gay marriage--although that's perfectly legit as well!--equality warriors in Orange County have decided to hold a candle ... More >>

OC LGBT: A History Archived

UC Irvine documents the struggles of our local gay history—yes, we have one!

New UCI Archive Shows How Truly Gay (and L, B & T) Orange Country Truly Is and Was

Orange County isn't exactly San Francisco, West Hollywood or Palm Springs when it comes to a thriving LGBT community, but we will always have Laguna Beach, which was a gay mecca for years before gays were priced out, and nearby Belmont Shore in Long Beach. There's also now a local LGBT Archive at UC ... More >>

Is John Eastman Hiding Homo-Haters?

Former presidential candidate Fred Karger wants the former Chapman University law professor to reveal who's donating money to his fight against gay marriage

Chris Kluwe's Game Changer

The Los Al High grad and Minnesota Vikings punter is prying open America's last closet: major-league sports

Christian Legal Eagles Vow to Fight Enacting of State Law Ending "Pray the Gay Away" Therapy

Governor Jerry Brown over the weekend signed a bill championed by the LGBT community that make California the first state to outlaw therapy to "pray the gay away." "We're grateful to Governor Brown for standing with California's children," reads a statement from Chad Griffin, president of the Human ... More >>

Orange County Gay Group Calls For Boy Scout Boycott

Being gay doesn't mean you're happy, especially if you can't be a Boy Scout. And an Orange County advocacy group isn't happy with the Boy Scouts of America's decision Tuesday to cement its ban against gay members.The Orange County Gay and Lesbian Center is calling for a boycott of the youth organiza ... More >>

Federal Appeals Court Won't Touch California Gay Marriage Ruling

Because a majority of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals' 26 judges declined to revisit a three-member panel's ruling striking down Prop 8, the court will not reconsider the decision to overturn California's same-sex marriage ban.Proponents of Prop 8 earlier indicated they would appeal next to th ... More >>

OC LGBT Community's New Grand Poobah: Our Gays Are Better Looking!

​Kevin O'Grady is the new executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center of Orange County. O'Grady comes to Santa Ana-based advocacy group after serving as the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, Orange County/Long Beach region, where he oversaw programming, ... More >>

Bush-Appointed Federal Judge Tosses Out Defense of Marriage Act

​During the five months when gay marriage was legal in California in 2008, Karen Golinski, a staff attorney for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals--the most liberal court in America--married her long-time girlfriend, Amy Cunninghis, and attempted to enroll Cunninghis in her federal medical insuran ... More >>

Let Them Eat (a Gay Wedding) Cake: Gay Activists Get Their Valentine's Day on at Orange County Courthouse

​Linda May said it took her a long time to bake the "domestic partnership" cake she displayed Tuesday outside the Orange County Courthouse at 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd. in downtown Santa Ana.She said the cake is symbolic of the gay community's efforts to overturn laws against same-sex marriage. " ... More >>

Teach Your Children Well, Anti-Bullying and -Homophobia Documentary, Screens Tonight

​A short documentary about homophobia, bullying and school violence screens tonight in Huntington Beach.Admission is $5 to Teach Your Children Well at 7 p.m. in Huntington Beach Central Library, with proceeds going to the Huntington Beach Human Relations Task Force.

Quick Ruling for Gay Marriage in California Expected Despite Today's Prop 8 Ruling

​The California Supreme Court ruled today that gay marriage foes can fight the reversal of Prop 8.Because the offices of the governor and state attorney general refuse to defend the same-sex marriage ban, legal scholars such as UC Irvine School of Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky had opined that Prop 8 ... More >>

[UPDATED with Not Enough Signatures:] OC Groups Rally to Overturn Gay History Law

In the children's book King & King, a prince falls in love with a prince. ​UPDATE, OCT. 13, 4:17 PM.: Stop SB 48, the group that aimed to repeal the so-called Gay History Law, was unable to gather enough signatures from voters by this week's deadline.    "Despite the overuse of the ... More >>

Lou Sheldon Holds Anti-Gay News Conference and Only 3 Gay Rights Activists Show Up

​What if a vehement, Bible-thumping, anti-gay crusader--so vehemently anti-gay that many question his own sexual orientation--held a press conference to denounce what he considers the LGBT intrusion into public education and only three people showed up?And what if the trio hailed not from TV, radi ... More >>

Fred Karger Delights OC Crowd in Presidential Bid

This is Fred​With a sparkling blue Pacific Ocean backdrop at his Laguna Beach house before sunset tonight, Republican presidential candidate Fred Karger delighted a politically diverse crowd with his trademark humor and determination to make gay and lesbian equality an acceptable stance within the ... More >>

[BREAKING:] Judge's Right to Rule on Prop. 8 Affirmed

​The chief federal judge in San Francisco has ruled that his retired colleague Vaughn Walker was under no legal obligation to step aside from ruling on California's same-sex marriage ban because he is a gay man.Walker ruled in August that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

In Fred Karger's Presidential Run, GOP Stands for Gay Old Party

The OC resident and onetime Republican hatchet man hopes his quixotic campaign can push his party to become more gay-friendly

Decision Against Resuming Same-Sex Weddings Emboldens Prop. 8 Backers But Fails to Deter Foes

​Three federal judges ruled today that gay marriage cannot resume in California until state and federal appeals courts decide the fate of Proposition 8--something that may be more than a year away.Judges Stephen Reinhardt, Michael Daly Hawkins and N. Randy Smith of the U.S. Court of Appeal for t ... More >>

[UPDATED] Federal Government Will No Longer Defend Defense of Marriage Act

​UPDATE, FEB. 23, 4:18 P.M.: The couple who filed the first marriage equality case in California and later became petitioners to overturn Prop 8, Diane Olson and Robin Tyler, said today's decision by the Obama administration to stop defending the federal government's anti-gay marriage law is "a hu ... More >>

Barbara Coe Calls U.S. Federal Court Judge Vaughn Walker a 'Homo'

​California Coalition for Immigration Reform head witch Barbara Coe sends so many damn e-mails to her minions that some inevitably fall behind the radiator--like the one I just found that's dated Aug. 6, 2010. The occasion was the repealing of the anti-gay-marriage Proposition 8 by U.S. District C ... More >>

[UPDATED] Chick-fil-A Isn't the Only Food Company With Anti-Gay Claims. Here Are Five More!

​UPDATED, FEB. 7, 11:02 A.M.: We heard from a representative of Brown-Forman, who confirmed that the company does offer same-sex domestic partner coverage and has long supported the LGBT community. We regret the inaccuracy. ORIGINAL POST, FEB. 3, 9:30, Chick-fil-A, trusty maker ... More >>

Proposition 8 Ruling: One Challenge Rejected, Another Bounced Back to State Supreme Court

​In at least a partial setback for the h8rs, the Los Angeles Times reports that a federal appeals court has rejected Imperial County's challenge to Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling that California's Proposition 8 ballot initiative, which banned same-sex marriage, is unconstitutional.The 9th Circuit Co ... More >>

[UPDATED:] Gay Cameraman Sues Sacha Baron Cohen Over Prop 8 Riot in Bruno

​Update, November 26, 3:51 p.m.: A cameraman has dropped his lawsuit against Sacha Baron Cohen over an alleged assault at a Prop 8 rally in West Hollywood.Mike Skiff, who is openly gay, cited his own "emotional well being" as being the reason for ending the legal claim filed last month in Los Ange ... More >>

Gay Cameraman Sues Sacha Baron Cohen Over Prop 8 Riot in Bruno

​This time "Bruno" went too far, claims a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.Funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen's alter ego and his crew assaulted a man at a Prop 8 rally, alleges the suit that seeks $25,000 in punitive damages and reimbursement for medical expenses and general damages.

Help Remember Young Suicide Victims on Coming Out Day

​DeColores Orange County, which is composed of students and community members raising awareness about the struggles of LGBTQ Latinos and Latinas, is calling on all Orange Countians to come out tonight--in honor of six LGBTQ youths who took their own lives recently around the country.DeColores joi ... More >>

Prop 8 Debate Devolves Into Gay Whac-A-Mole

Happily tossing everything but the kitchen sink at gay citizens​Nothing drags out the vitriol like a discussion about homosexuality, and the ongoing debate over the constitutionality of anti-gay marriage Prop. 8 in California has driven sentiment to new lows.We know that here at the Weekly, where ... More >>

First a Victory, Now a War

Same-sex marriage supporters and detractors react to Proposition 8 ruling, what happens next

OC's Top Law School Deans Spar Over Prop 8

Mary Bell/ OC Weekly​The culture clash sparked by Proposition 8 places a premium on sound legal interpretation and commentary.Two of Orange County's preeminent legal scholars are attracting considerable attention from local and national media outlets alike, from CNN to the Weekly. Mirroring the Ca ... More >>

Prop 8 Argued in Law & Order Court, Paddy's Pub (of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)

​The legal war over Prop 8 is still fresh fodder for Sunday news snore fests, daily chat spat shows and late night laugh offs, so it was only a matter of time before California's controversial gay marriage initiative filtered its way into scripted television programming.But the two shows that will ... More >>

Jerry Brown: Gay Weddings Can Resume

​"With Prop 8 resoundingly rejected in federal court, there is no reason marriages can't resume now."Jerry Brown, who wants to be California's next governor (again) posted that on his Twitter page less than an hour ago.However, as the Golden State's current attorney general, he has done much more ... More >>

Hit the Target

[Trendzilla] Forget the awesome merch, the politics stink

Prop 8: Twitter Reacts

​We took to Twitter to check out some of the reactions to the overturning of Proposition 8. Read through for some of the best and worst tweets out there.friedmanjon: Prop 8 is overturned! This is the best Shark Week ever! Jesus_M_Christ: A California judge overturned Prop 8? Sometimes you humans ... More >>

Ex-Rated Criticism of Exodus International

Michael Bussee and other activists denounce the upcoming conference of the 'ex-gay' ministry

Closing Arguments in Prop. 8 Trial Begin Today

​Today marks the beginning of the closing arguments in the trial brought in San Francisco federal court against California's voter-approved same-sex marriage ban, Proposition 8.A few developments from recent weeks in the Prop. 8-watching world if you haven't been following along:

Long Beach Pride Parade

Ocean Blvd., Long Beach

What Prop 8? Poll Finds OC Supports Gay Marriage, Gays in Military

Our Nov. 19, 2009 cover story on OC gay activists.​In 2008, 57.7% of Orange County voters supported Proposition 8, the law banning gay marriage.Today, if a poll from Brandman University--the new spin-off of Chapman--is to be believed, 52% of county residents are fine with gay marria ... More >>

Jew-Bashing, Gay-Trashing La Voz de Aztlan Harasses Long Beach State Chicanas

May this image sear the homophobic minds of La Voz de Pendejos anew...​Ever since KPFK-FM 90.7 (where I host a radio show every Thursday at 3 p.m.) booted off an anti-Semitic radio show that had close ties to the notorious La Voz de Aztlán, Southern California's premier spewers of bile have had a ... More >>

OC Activist Compiles Prop. 8 Trial Tweets

​Anyone who thought the trial in the federal lawsuit challenging California's ban on gay marriage would be a dry, legalistic affair has been proven wrong by accounts of the first two days inside the San Fransisco courtroom. It's a case about the constitution, but the testimony thus far has delved ... More >>

Proposition 8 Is Keeping Same-Sex Couples From Marrying, But It Has United OC's Gay Community

More on OC's Reinvigorated Gay-Rights Movement

Jennie Warren / OC Weekly​A few ideas I couldn't quite fit into this week's cover story on gay-rights activism in Orange County: - LGBT-rights doesn't necessarily mean LGBT: Most of the LGBT activists working in Orange County told me that one of the most remarkable thing about the network that has ... More >>

UPDATED: ACLU Announces Settlement of Suit Tied to Corona del Mar High's Production of "Rent"

Photo by Matt Coker Karyl Ketchum and Mike Wiggins talk about the hell their 17-year-old daughter Hail endured at Corona del Mar High School last school year.​Three varsity football players at Corona del Mar High School posted a video on the school's Facebook page in January in which they describe ... More >>

Resurrected, Boisterous OC Pride Festival "a Smashing Success"

Photo by Christopher VictorioPark rangers talk with OC Pride participants about the noise at Mason Regional Park in Irvine on Saturday.​The crowd was small but boisterous, there was a minor issue with the noise and some participants did not know at first that the showy police presence was for thei ... More >>

Groups on Either Side of Prop. 8 Blast 2012 Same-Sex Marriage Initiative

Equality California's decision to hold off on pursuing a same-sex marriage voter initiative at least until 2012 is not being cheered by groups on either side of the Prop. 8 debate.Reports the San Francisco Chronicle:But the organization's decision appears to collide with other progressive groups fig ... More >>

Orange County LGBT Pride Festival "Revival" Starts Small

Sasha Baron Cohen's comedy has nothing to do with OC pride festivals. We just can't find photos from past fests. ​Orange County's first-ever gay and lesbian pride festival was held in Santa Ana's Centennial Park in 1988, when angry Christian conservatives showed up not because they'd finally come ... More >>

NY Times Reporter WAS in Anaheim for Gene Robinson Exclusive (Apparently)

Bishop Gene RobinsonThis previous post concerns Arkansas Democrat-Gazette religion editor Frank Lockwood exposing New York Times reporter Laurie Goodstein for not being at the Episcopal Church's Anaheim convention to cover the vote to ordain gay bishops--even though her story and dateline made it ap ... More >>

LGBT Groups Seek to Intervene in Prop. 8 Challenge

This just in from the ACLU, which believes the action taken today will help a judge hearing a challenge of Prop. 8 understand the unequal rights inherent in the ballot initiative . . . SAN FRANCISCO -- Lambda Legal, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and the American Civil Liberties Union ... More >>

The Unhappy Marriage (Opposite Marriage?) of Art and Politics In the Proposition 8 Debate