Our homemade ad for marriage equality is literally votes away from becoming a finalist in “Project: Pushback” … but we need your help. Would you vote for us?

All you have to do is click on the “HEART/I LIKE” icon on the vid below (or here), or pass it on to a few friends.

Just Like Anybody Else from Project Pushback on Vimeo.

First Look: at my shortened marriage equality spot. I submitted it to Project Pushback. You can also help by embedding or forwarding the ad using the tools in the player below.

Thanks everyone!

After the disastrous No on 8 campaign (which Robin Tyler and I talked about), I’m really glad to see cool new grassroots sites like this one launched by my buddy Rick Garman.

Here’s a little background about this important site and how you can help:

How did you come up with the idea for Citizens for Equality and the “We Are” Campaign?

RICK: I actually came up with the idea of an elected body of representatives for the gay community a long time ago when I got frustrated with what I saw as a lack of true leadership and leaders. But it was what I believe was a disorganized and poorly run campaign against Proposition 8 (along with my questions about whether gay marriage is the actual battle we should be putting all of our resources and energy behind) that made me finally do something about it.

The “We Are” campaign became the launching pad for Citizens For Equality as a way to get people involved and engaged.  I got that idea from the sorryeverybody.com website where people sent in pictures of themselves with sign apologizing to the works for the 2004 election of George bush.

I love that all the images use the words, “We Are” — why did you choose that language?

I wanted “We Are” for it’s positivity.  To show the world that we are just like everyone else.  We are doctors and lawyers, mothers and fathers, husbands, wives, strong, weak, young, old, worried about the economy, worried about the environment, bowlers, card players, Christian, Jewish… We are human and if people can see that, they may be a little less inclined to do things like vote yes on Prop 8.  Imagine hundreds, thousands…. More… of those photos saying We Are… What a statement that will make!

What are you asking folks to do?

People can get involved in a variety of ways.  They can send in a picture through the website and encourage others to do the same.  All of the instructions and guidelines plus a bunch of suggestions are on the site.  And remember, our straight friends can participate too. People can also join the organization by filling out a simple form.

We are also actively seeking people to be on the steering committee that will set up the elections for (hopefully) late 2009 and people will be able to register and vote for their representatives and on other issues.  We’ll be seeking candidates and advisors also of course.  But the best way to stay informed is to join on the website.

The restaurant manager who created controversy with her $100 contribution to the “Yes on Prop. 8″ campaign has resigned from the legendary El Coyote Mexican Cafe in Los Angeles.

Marjorie Christofferson, who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is also resigning as a member of the restaurant’s board of directors, according to a news release issued by Frontiers.

Will Christofferson’s resignation be seen by the LGBT community as reason enough to cease a boycott of El Coyote?  We’ll soon find out.

Billy Schoeppner, the restaurant’s acting manager, told Frontiers: (more…)

by Bronson Page

Brothers and sisters, we are off-topic, and losing style points.  This is not a Marjorie Christofferson issue.  It’s not an El Coyote issue.  It’s a civil rights issue.  We need to remember that and keep our eyes on the ball, lest we devolve further into angry mobs for whom nobody could feel compassion.  Attacking an elderly woman in Palm Springs?  Seriously, that’s despicable.

Defending our position against all sorts of fire-breathing ignoramuses has really crystallized this issue for me.  I’m clever, but I didn’t go to law school, and I can’t say it any better than this, (more…)

The recent efforts to boycott Los Angeles’ historic El Coyote Mexican Cafe remind me of the Coors beer embargo in the late 90s. The gay community was largely in support of the boycott, but at HERO Magazine, we took some heat for accepting advertising from Coors when it was demonstrated that the company (as distinct from the Coors family) was actually very supportive of LGBT causes.

The best result for an LGBT boycott of El Coyote would be a real apology by the co-owner, Marjorie Christofferson, coupled with an action that shows she’s sincere (e.g., a big donation to the Lambda Legal Defense Fund). A manager at El Coyote told me that the restaurant already plans to make hefty donations (a $10,000 figure was volleyed) to Lambda Legal and the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center.

But I wouldn’t hold your breath for an outright apology from Ms. Christofferson, a lifelong Mormon.  She made it clear to me that she would not apologize for her faith, nor could she change her convictions. “I will not [make a contribution to repeal Prop. 8],” she said. “I cannot change a lifetime of faith.”

Watch the video of Ms. Christofferson’s speech, and my follow up question. (Thanks to Lisa Derrick at Firedoglake.com for the video).

The gay community is angry about the passage of Prop. 8, and we have a right to be. We have a right to demonstrate, and yes—even a right to boycott. We can bring giants down if we want to.  But I submit that an El Coyote boycott isn’t the right place to put our energy right now. (more…)

Here’s part 1, Marjorie’s Christofferson’s remarks:

Here’s part 2, where I ask Ms. Christofferson: “Would you be willing to make a personal donation to repeal the amendment?” Video after the jump… (more…)