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 developed because
of Prop. 8 is that it includes a ton of “straight allies.” Alex Gorman–the guy in
the story wearing the nun costume–is one. So is Felicity Figueroa, the
Orange County Equality Coalition's membership chair, as are a number of other board members. Groups that don't
have marriage equality as their stated mission, like Americans United
for Separation of Church and State, have also played a big role in activism
here.
– OCEC is full of newbies. There's an old guard in Orange County
gay activism. People like Jeff Letourneau, Harvey Liss, Misha Houser, Zoe Nicholson
and even Weekly contributor Dave Barton–as well as groups groups like the Elections
Committee of the County of Orange and institutions like The Center
OC–paved the way in the 1980s and 1990s with their work on AIDS
awareness, gay visibility and the opposition of maniacs like Bill
Dannemeyer. They all remain involved in some way, but one
of the noteworthy things about gay activism since Prop. 8 has been the
emergence of completely new leaders–most of whom show up in this week's
cover story.
– You can see it all in action this weekend. Read on…
]
At 7 p.m. Friday, the Human Rights Campaign, OC Equality Coalition, Equality California, Courage Campaign and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) are teaming up for an event coinciding with the International Transgender Day of Remembrance.
To raise awareness about hate crimes against transgender people, the
groups will be holding a candlelight vigil and hosting a number of
speakers. It's all at The Center OC, a storied OC LGBT institution, in Santa Ana.
And on Saturday? A party!
The occasion for our cover story is that OCEC is turning one year old. The celebration goes down from 5 to 8 p.m. at Tia Juana's in Irvine. Here's how OCEC board member Cas Gregory described it in an e-mail:
The party is focusing on OCEC past, present and future. To illustrate the PAST we will have numerous stations around the room showing the things OCEC has been involved with over the past year, we will also have a memory board where people can write things they remember about OCEC. For the PRESENT the OCEC Storytellers will tell their stories as a sample of the work that OCEC currently does… and for the FUTURE we will have a wall of paper where people can write their ideas about what they want to see.
And yes, there'll be food and drink.
