Santa Ana’s Velvet Lounge is hosting a number of the decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding Prop. 8 and DOMA.
Here is an update from the Velvet Lounge about all of the activities they have planned for this afternoon and evening:
Today was truly a historic day! Prop 8 and DOMA’s federal bans are becoming a thing of the past, and the LGBT community can look forward to marriage equality! Continue reading
In a 5-4 ruling in United States v. Windsor, the court struck down a provision of the 17-year-old Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that denies federal benefits — like Social Security benefits or the ability to file joint tax returns — to same-sex couples legally married, according to CBS News.
The Supreme Court also cleared the way Wednesday for same-sex marriages to resume in California as the justices, in a procedural ruling, turned away the defenders of Proposition 8. Chief Justice John Roberts, speaking for the 5-4 majority, said the private sponsors of Prop. 8 did not have legal standing to appeal after the ballot measure was struck down by a federal judge in San Francisco, according to the Los Angeles Times.
These landmark decisions will be celebrated by Day of Decision Orange County today, June 26. 2013, in Santa Ana, at 6:30 pm at the Old Orange County Courthouse, located at 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd. Continue reading
Apparently the City of Santa Ana will be issuing a Certificate of Recognition honoring Harvey Milk, the slain San Francisco politician who has come to represent the gay movement in the U.S., on Monday, May 6, at the Council Meeting, according to an email I received from Archer Altstaetter, the promoter of the East End Promenade, in Downtown Santa Ana.
Archer wrote that “In 2010, Santa Ana was the first City in Orange County to recognize Harvey Milk Day and they have recognized it every year since. The recognition will take place at the beginning of the City Council meeting in City Council Chambers. City Council meeting is supposed to begin at 5:45 pm, but as most of you know, it sometimes is a little late getting started. Wear your GNFF shirts.” Continue reading
There will be a vigil at the Federal Courthouse during the oral arguments on the constitutionality of DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act), on Tuesday, March 26, at 6:30 pm.
On March 26th & 27, 2013 the Supreme Court of the United States of America (SCOTUS) will be listening to oral arguments on the constitutionality of DOMA, which states that marriage is between one man and one woman. Many now feel that it is time to show the depth of equality and justice for all. Continue reading
A 23-year-old Santa Ana man was convicted today of bashing in his gay lover’s skull to steal his flat-screen TV, car, stereo and other valuables. “Jose Fuentes, who is scheduled to be sentenced Friday, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole,” according to the City News Service.
According to the OC District Attorney, Fuentes murdered his lover by beating him to death with a rock in order to steal the victim’s car, money, and valuables. He was found guilty of one felony count each of special circumstances murder, first degree robbery, and first degree residential burglary. The special circumstance sentencing enhancements include murder by lying in wait, murder in the commission of a robbery, and murder in the commission of a burglary. Continue reading
Santa Ana Councilman David Benavides recently called for a review of city policies related to issuing public events permits to ensure such events are staged in a nondiscriminatory way,” according to the O.C. Register. They also reported that:
“If we don’t have a no-discrimination clause, the city attorney will come back with options on how we can ensure that a special event that takes place on city property is inclusive of all parties,” Benavides said Thursday.
Benavides said he and fellow Councilman Roman Reyna were scheduled to participate in this year’s parade but pulled out after the LGBT group was banned. “It was a discriminatory decision,” Benavides said. Continue reading
THEATRE OUT TO OPEN NEW VENUE WITH THE BROADWAY CLASSIC “Falsettos”
Santa Ana, CA (03/13/2013) Theatre Out, Orange County’s gay and lesbian theatre company is thrilled to open their new venue with classic Broadway musical FALSETTOS beginning April 13, 2013.
FALSETTOS, with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by James Lapine, is a musical examination of family dynamics and love in the age of Ronald Reagan and ignorance. Marvin has left his wife and child for his lover, Whizzer. Marvin’s wife, Trina, has started dating his psychiatrist and struggles daily with the idea of her ex-husband and his lover being part of her extended family. As their son, Jason, begins to prepare for his Bar Mitzvah, the strength of the family is tested at each turn and they soon realize that love defines a family. FALSETTOS premiered on Broadway in 1992 combining Finn’s two one-act musicals MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS and FALSETTOLAND into the first full-length musical to tackle the AIDS crisis head-on. FALSETTOS was hailed as “exhilarating and heartbreaking…” by The New York Times and still touches audiences with its surprisingly modern sensibility. Continue reading
Cinematheque will be taking over all programming at Downtown Santa Ana’s Fiesta Twin Theatre/Fiesta Teatro this coming September, according to the Long Beach Post.
Cinematheque is “a new film programmer coming to the cinemas–direct from El Long Beach–to fulfill indie-, student- and LGBT-movie dreams,” according to the OC Weekly.
The Fiesta Twin Theatre is the only movie theater in Santa Ana that shows new first-run movies in Spanish or in English with Spanish subtitles. Make no mistake about this – the Chase family is once again opting for “gaytrification.” Continue reading
Did the gay activists who insisted that their supporters who are elected officials boycott the Tet Parade, in Little Saigon, this past Sunday actually hurt their political allies? Rest assured that the Republican elected officials, including Assemblyman Travis Allen (pictured above) were very well received by the masses at the Parade.
RSCCD Trustee Jose Solorio, for example, showed up in a car he was sharing with Ken Nguyen, the leader of a local Vietnamese American charity. But Solorio jumped out of the car, to go hang out with the gay activists, leaving Nguyen to navigate his way through the rest of the parade, without Solorio (see the picture below). It made for a bizarre image. The worst part is that Solorio hopes to run for the 34th State Senate District in just two years – and now he has some explaining to do to the entire Vietnamese American community in Little Saigon! Continue reading
Update on 2/10/13: None of the Santa Ana City Council Members showed up to the Tet Parade nor did I see any of the gay activists.
The controversy that has brewed all week will continue at the Tet Parade scheduled for this Sunday, February 10, at 9 am, at the intersection of Bolsa and Magnolia.
They gay activists who were told by the parade organizers that they could not participate in the parade sued the organizers but a Judge found against them this week.
In the wake of that court decision a number of local elected officials have declared that they will be boycotting the parade. This is by the way a parade that almost didn’t happen, as the City of Westminster is broke and couldn’t pay for it. Volunteers worked very hard to raise the money to hold the traditional Lunar New Year parade, in Little Saigon. Continue reading
From the OC Politics Blog
“A coalition of gay and lesbian groups lost its bid in court Thursday to force the Little Saigon Tet Parade organizers to include the group in this Sunday’s event. Orange County Superior Court Judge Geoffrey T. Glass ruled against granting injunctive relief to the Partnership of Viet Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Organizations,” according to the O.C. Register.
“For three years, LGBT activists have participated in the colorful gathering in Little Saigon, but this year — with the event shifting from city sponsorship to private hands — they have been rebuffed and quietly told to make a “sacrifice” and stay away, members said,” according to the L.A. Times. Continue reading
OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 2, 2013
THEATRE OUT TO OPEN 2013 SEASON WITH ORANGE COUNTY PREMIERE OF THE MUSICAL “[title of show]”
Santa Ana, CA (01/2/2013) Theatre Out, Orange County’s gay and lesbian theatre company is thrilled to open their 2013 season with the Orange County premiere of the smash hit [title of show] beginning January 11, 2013.
[title of show], with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and book by Hunter Bell, follows Jeff and Hunter as they try to create an original musical in less than three weeks with the help of their friends Heidi and Susan. It’s a musical about two guys trying to write a musical about two guys trying to write a musical and it unfolds in front of the audience as it is happening. Will they be able to write a new and exciting musical without resorting to the “tricks of the trade”? Touching, heartfelt, kooky and hilarious, [title of show] is a tribute to friendship and a love letter to the American musical. Continue reading
Orange County Health Care Agency
World AIDS Day – “Getting to Zero” – Get Tested to Know Your Status
World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1st, a day to reflect and remember those who have lost their lives and those who are still living with HIV or AIDS. More than 60 million have been infected with the HIV virus and approximately 30 million people have died of AIDS worldwide. Continue reading
The Center OC Invites you to join us for a day of beautifying our space, collaborative arts and crafts, community history sharing, music, food, and FUN, at their Open House and Mural Party, on Saturday, Nov. 17, from 12 noon to 6 pm.
ECCO, one of the leading gay rights organizations in Orange County, announced today that their Political Action Committee has endorsed only one Santa Ana candidate – David Benavides, who is running for Mayor against incumbent Mayor Miguel Pulido.
ECCO coordinated Orange County’s efforts to pass state laws that: prohibit discrimination against Gays and Lesbians; establish a domestic partner registry; and give students an added level of protection in school, according to their website. They also have been involved in the fight against Prop. 8, which made gay marriage illegal in California. Prop. 8 passed overwhelmingly in Santa Ana. Continue reading