Welcome to the L-Word online!
We're happy to have this space to share some of what we put in the paper plus things that we find out about too late to get them in. We update the site at least monthly, so when the L-word's paper publication comes out you should see some changes reflected here as well. And there are often changes in between when we find out about something exciting, so check back.
Our site holds a local calendar of intriguing events, archives of Kulture Klatch, Ruth's Review, and Montanna's spirituality column, and a summary of last month's Queer news as reported by "the other barb", as well as local resources. If there's something else that you think is important to get up here, please, don't hesitate to contact us! We are always looking for the next best idea.
Gen Silent 5 pm June 8
Area 1 Agency on Aging (A1AA), Humboldt Pride, and Humboldt State University's Department of Social Work invite you to the screening of the acclaimed documentary "Gen Silent." This film shares the experiences of 6 LGBT elders with the residential/assisted living care system, and their conflicts and choices about hiding who they are to get care. http://gensilent.com/. After the film, there will be a panel discussion about issues, experiences, and concerns about LGBT elders in residential care facilities/paid care. Saturday, June 8, 5 p.m. at the Native Forum on the Humboldt State University campus. Tickets $8 general; $5 for elders, at the door. Parking on the HSU campus is FREE.please note that the film is at 5 pm, not 8 pm as it says in the L-word calendar.
Celebrate Marriage! (maybe)
The Supreme court is expected to announce a decision on California's prop 8 sometime in the first two weeks of June. Local members of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer Community (LBGTQ) and their straight friends, families and allies will rally at 6 p.m. at the Eureka Courthouse and the Arcata Plaza the day of the decision. It will be a celebration, a protest or maybe a little of both.
The ruling could result in the immediate overturn of Proposition 8 and the resumption of same gender marriages in California.
If the Supreme Court upholds Prop. 8 as constitutional, supporters of marriage equality will try to put a referendum restoring same-gender marriage on the 2014 or 2016 ballot.
The Supreme Court will also rule on the Defense of Marriage Act which defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman and therefore keeps legally married gay Americans from collecting federal benefits that are available to married people.
There are five ways the Supreme Court could rule on Proposition 8. They could uphold it, they could state that it should not have taken the case in the first place or they could overturn it in three ways. The broadest ruling would apply across the country, in effect invalidating constitutional provisions or statutes against gay marriage everywhere. The second option is a “middle option". The court could choose to view this as a states-rights issue, where the federal government has no business meddling. The narrowest of these potential outcomes would apply to California only. The justices could adopt the rationale of the federal appeals court that found that California could not take away the right to marry that had been granted by the state Supreme Court in 2008 before Proposition 8 passed later that year.
Organizers ask that supporters bring banners, flags, music, drums, noisemakers, signs and everyone they know.
For more information, call Susan McGee at 707-601-6042.