Why You Should Give A Damn!

Newsletter Archive

Newsletter #35, May, 2009

CA Supreme Court Ruling will be Tuesday May 26th at 10:00 AM followed by Rally and March

by Davina Kotulski, Ph.D.

Tuesday May 26th at 10:00 AM the California State Supreme Court will rule on the whether or not a group of voters can strip constitutional rights for a minority. I ask you for your thoughts and prayers as we await the courts decision.

If the judges vote to repeal Prop 8 we will celebrate justice with a march from San Francisco City Hall to the Martin Luther King Memorial at the Yerba Buena Center where we will hold a rally mindful that our work will not be done until marriage equality is the law of the land and all of our LGBT brothers and sisters are free to express themselves and free from violence and hatred.

If the judges uphold Prop 8 we will shake our heads, then hold them up high, strengthening our resolve and commitment to equal justice under law. We will mark the day with non-violent civil disobedience and march from San Francisco City Hall to the Martin Luther King Memorial at the Yerba Buena Center where we will hold a rally ever mindful of those who came before us and those we are committed to making a better future for. We will prepare ourselves to undo Prop 8 and declare November 2, 2010 the date when justice will be ours.

There may also be a third decision to eliminate marriage in California government altogether and only issue civil union licenses. They discussed this in the arguments. This will be the toughest outcome for many people. Again please put your intent out there that whatever the decision there will be peace.

Below is a list of the events that are happening with regard to the decision in the Bay Area. For more information visit www.marriageequality.org or dayofdecision.com for information about events throughout the country.

ON THE NIGHT PRIOR TO THE RULING:

- 7:00pm to 8:30pm: Interfaith Prayer service at Grace Cathedral (1100 California St. All peaceful loving people are invited to come together for this service, no matter what their position on the court case may be.

THE DAY OF THE RULING:

- 8:30am to 9:15am: Service/Blessing at St. Francis Lutheran Church (152 Church St, across from Safeway). - 9:15am to 10am: March from Saint Francis to Civic Center Plaza.

- 10:00am to 10:30: California Supreme Court steps (400 McAllister St. Everyone is invited to stand with us on the steps to receive the ruling. If you are a couple that married, or wanted to marry and will speak to media, please email your name, contact information, phone number and story to media@marriageequality.org. Please bring your families and allies with you.

- 10:30am: Circle of Care at Civic Center Plaza. If the marriage ban is upheld, a group of Bay Area clergy and congregants will engage in nonviolent civil disobedience immediately after receiving the ruling go to www.onestruggleonefight.org for details.

THE EVENING OF THE RULING - COMMUNITY GATHERING Emceed by Stuart Gaffney, John Lewis, Lawrence Ellis, Molly McKay and Davina Kotulski

- 5:00pm to 6:00: Pre-March Rally at SF City Hall (speakers include Terry Stewart, Kate Kendall and others)

- 6:00pm to 7:00: March to MLK Memorial at Yerba Buena Gardens (4th and Mission, next to Metreon.

Follow http://twitter.com/stop8dotorg for live updates from the march.

- 7:00pm to 8:30: Post-March Gathering at Yerba Buena Gardens, (speakers including Rev. Amos Brown, Dolores Huerta...

May 30th MEET IN THE MIDDLE RALLY IN FRESNO AND MARCH WITH DOLORES HUERTA