It is a rare occasion to have the opportunity to experience a watershed moment like the one that took place last week with the California Supreme Court's decision to strike down discrimination against same-sex couples. 

We all felt it at one point: that uncertainty about whether it had all actually happened. Really? They decided in our favor?

The whole community seemed ready to take in the history of the moment that same evening.  It certainly had all the trapping of a Where-were-you-when-you-heard kind of day.

Photo Credit: Bill Wilson

In some ways, the California Supreme Court's ruling last week is still surreal, especially after Californians LGBT communities had just received news earlier this month of the coming battle over same-sex marriage on California's November ballot. 

It is as if history is reminding us that progress toward equality is neither steady nor linear, but knotted and twisted, filled with bursts forward, steps back, and a number of unexpected turns. 

Even this most recent victory took four years of a prolonged legal battle to make possible. And with the court's pronouncement, four years of creative legal strategizing suddenly culminated in a swift shift in the direction of the historical current.

History figured into the Court's decision.  The majority opinion referenced the 1948 Perez v. Sharp, heard by the same court, which found that California's statutory provisions prohibiting interracial marriage were inconsistent with the state constitution.

And yet, in spite of its complex path, there appears to be a general direction to this sometimes varied momentum of the LGBT rights movement.

So, how did we get here?

The six consolidated appeals looked at by the California Supreme Court all arose out of Mayor Gavin Newsom's decision...

[Click here for more on the Marriage Decision]

Cyndi Lauper will be appearing at San Francisco Pride as a Celebrity Grand Marshal, joining Charo and Stuart Milk, the nephew of Harvey Milk.

After winning a Grammy in 1985 for best new artist and becoming the first artist in history to have five top ten singles from a debut album, Cyndi Lauper continues to win critical acclaim as a singer, musician, actor and writer.  

A devoted advocate for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community for over 25 years, Cyndi Lauper launched the annual True Colors Tour in 2007.  In partnership with organizations like the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), this North American tour brings people together to voice their solidarity for GLBT equality and raise awareness about the continued discrimination the community still faces. 

From Cyndi and her openly gay sister Elen taking part in a highly successful national public awareness campaign for PFLAG to participating in countless events to raise funds and awareness for the fight for GLBT equality, Cyndi is committed to this vital community that has loved and supported her throughout her career.   In appreciation for her work, Cyndi has been honored by many organizations including HRC, PFLAG and the Matthew Shepard Foundation.  

Cyndi is also a tireless participant in the struggle to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic that has ravaged the world.   Participating in efforts and events for organizations like AMFAR, Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS, the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, Cyndi  continues to speak out about the need for education and greater resources to fight this disease.

Cyndi’s new album “Bring Ya To The Brink” is in stores May 27th.

May 22 marks what would have been former San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk's 78th birthday. 

Milk has been widely referred to as a martyr for the LGBT movement, but it is not his death that first launched Harvey into the public's eye.

Milk's election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1978 was an historic moment.  His win came after two unsuccessful bids in 1973 and 1975. 

In 1977, when voting for San Francisco City Supervisors transitioned from city-wide elections to district elections, Milk managed to win a seat on the Board and in so doing became the first openly gay elected official of any major U.S. city.

When Milk addressed a crowd of supporters after his victory, he noted the significance of his election for the LGBT community, "This is not my victory -- it's yours. If a gay man can win, it proves that there is hope for all minorities who are willing to fight."

As a supervisor, Milk rallied the city council in 1978 to pass the city's landmark Gay Rights Ordinance, which barred employers from firing employees because of their sexuality.  Milk's fellow supervisor Dan White resigned from the Board in opposition to Milk's bill. 

White would later return to City Hall and shoot then-Mayor George Moscone and Milk, killing them both.

White was arrested and tried in a trial that would make famous the "Twinkie defense" (which formed part of White's diminished capacity defense).  When White's 7-year prison sentence for manslaughter was announced, the San Francisco LGBT community was outraged. Many in the community saw the sentence as excessively lenient for the dual assassinations.

On May 21, 1979, members of the San Francisco LGBT community gathered in San Francisco's Civic Center, chanting, "We want justice!," and "Remember Harvey Milk!," to protest the verdict. Protestors' outrage spilled over into property destruction, and the White Night Riots broke out.  Twelve police cruisers were burned and both car and store windows were smashed.

So if you have access to a social networking site and you would like to help spread the word about this history, just copy and past the code available here  into your posting, bulletin, or blog.
 

	Photo Credit: Jonathan Rivera

According to a Reuters newswire, theirs is the first transgender wedding in Mexican history.

Mario del Socorro, an FTM transman, and Diana Guerrero, an MTF transwoman, told media that they hoped media coverage from their marriage would help push the Mexican Congress to pass a law currently under consideration that would let people access sex change operations at hospitals and allow for changes to one's gender on official government records.

Mexican LGBT people have seen a number of advances in terms of rights in the past few years.  In 2006, the state of Coahuila and the Federal District (Mexico City) legalized same-sex civil unions.  Mario and Diana, however, chose to marry under their given names and birth-assigned genders in order to access additional benefits not available through civil unions.

Photo Credit: Bill Wilson

Visit: http://register.sfpride.org to register to participate in this year's celebration.

For Parade questions, please e-mail: parade@sfpride.org.

For Exhibitor questions, or questions concerning the online registration form for either exhibitors or parade contingents, please e-mail: exhibitor@sfpride.org or call (415) 389-1515.

	Proposed 2008 Pocket Pride cover

Pocket Pride, a concise guide of the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration, was a huge success at San Francisco LGBT Pride 2007 and will once again be distributed at San Francisco Pride LGBT Pride 2008.

Advertising in Pocket Pride will bring even more visibility to those participating at the event or allow those not at the event to reach thousands of attendees. More information can be found at: pocketpride.sfpride.org. For additional information email exhibitor@sfpride.org or call (415) 389-1515.

The deadline to advertise has been extended to May 30.

Every year, SF Pride partners with event organizers throughout the Bay Area to assemble a calendar of Official Events for the month of June. These events help both the event organizers and the Pride Celebration Committee reach out to the many diverse sectors of our community to make June a truly empowering and celebratory month. There’s something for everyone: family outings, performances and exhibits, parties and club events, business and networking functions, and much more! Here are just a few of the exciting events that are coming your way:

June 7 – The Center | Start Here, Go Anywhere: The San Francisco LGBT Community Center invites you to attend a building-wide celebration launching Pride month activities! Music. Performances. Films. Edibles & Refreshments. Info about... (more)

June 10 – GGBA Pride Business Expo: GGBA's Pride Business Expo is one of the largest LGBT business trade shows in the nation. This event is the premier showcase for our members, with over 100 exhibitor displays from the top LGBT supporting companies... (more)

June 14 – Project Eden Gay Prom: Gay Prom is a drug-free dance for LGBTQ youth & allies 20 years of age & younger. This dance is attended by youth from the Bay Area as well as... (more)

June 21 – Transgender Parent Support Group: Are you or your partner a transgender parent or considering parenthood? This group... (more)

June 21 – Black Pride and Juneteenth Extravaganza: Presented by Club Rimshot and cosponsored by The Black LGBT Professionals Network, activelyOUT and The Bayard Rustin Coalition, this will be the party of all parties... (more)

Visit our website for a complete Official Events Calendar and start planning your Pride Month today! Please support the events that support Pride and the community, and help us be United by Pride, Bound for Equality in 2008!

Call for Entry:
Artists* Performers* Artist Demonstrators*

San Francisco LGBT Pride 2008 artSpace
Exhibition Event: San Francisco Pride “United by Pride, Bound for Equality”

Submission Deadline:
Friday, June 6th, 2008

Looking for San Francisco Bay Area LGBT visual artists, performance artists and artist demonstrators working in any creative discipline to submit work(s) for Pride 2008 Art exhibition space. Submissions should reflect the 2008 Pride theme: “United by Pride, Bound for Equality.” We encourage creativity, innovation, thought provoking and imaginary, and boundary pushing art. This is a great opportunity for artists to participate in a World Class international gay pride celebration.

EVENT DETAILS
Pride 2008 ArtSpace Coordinator/Curator: Robert Melton
Exhibition Event Dates: Sunday June 29^th, 2008
Exhibition Time: Noon -7:00 p.m.
Location: San Francisco Civic Center Plaza, site location (TBA)

PLEASE NOTE
-   A max of 2 works can be submitted.
-    Exhibiting artists must attend the event to set up and take down art pieces
-    Accepted artists must submit an brief artist/statement/bio
-    Accepted artists must drop work/s off at the LGBT Center during business hours
      (TBA).  
-    Accepted artists must pick up work/s at the closing event or at the LGBT Center

SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY: to multon@mindspring.com in the following formats Jpeg, QuickTime, PDF, MP3 or in-person to Robert Melton, Art Pavilion Coordinator/Curator or Brendan Behan, Community Mobilization Specialist & Volunteer Coordinator. 

Please copy the following text into your email submission:

Name:

Your Email:

Title of Work(s)/Date:

Medium/Media:

Dimensions:

Brief Description of work(s):

Briefly explain how your creative work project reflects the Pride theme:

QUESTIONS?
E-mail: multon [at] mindspring.com or brendanb [at] sfpride.org

SUBMISSION FORM: can be sent electronically or in-person by scheduled appointment. 

Access the electronic version of the submission form here.