Results tagged “San Francisco California” from A Swede in SF

Yesterday, it was 30 years ago since Harvey Milk, the Mayor of Castro Street was murdered together with San Francisco mayor George Moscone. Same day the movie MILK opened as a commercially available movie to go and see in your local cinema - if it isn't at a Cinemark movie. Cinemark's CEO donated $9,999 to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign.

I have now seen the movie two times, and I really like it. Tuesday, when I saw it for the second time, Milk's nephew was in the audience. He said that he cried more and more for every time he saw the movie - and it is true.

Tonight there is a memorial march scheduled, from City Hall to Milk's store on Castro Street. It's held to commemorate the light vigil that happened after Milk's assassination.  To learn more, go to ManiWOG's site

In reviews in both New York Times and The San Francisco Chronicle, the movie gets excellent reviews. Another review can be found in the Los Angeles Times.

Articles in the two papers describe how people see the movie as an important tool in the fight for LGBT rights today and an interview with Senator Dianne Feinstein about the events that day. The news clip where Feinstein announces the murder is the one of the grim scenes that starts the MILK movie.



    

Related articles by Zemanta

• The man who blew up America's closets

In the aftermath of the passing of Proposition 8, that defines marriage in California as the one between a man and a woman, still torments me and the LGBTQ community and our allies in. The blaming has in many cases focused on the role of the Mormons - the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; the critique has focused on the involvement in another state's internal affairs, being involved in political issues (that an organization with their tax exemption shouldn't) - etc. Issues that have been raised is to question the tax exemption, boycott of business from Utah and a boycott of the Sundance film festival.

Today, the SF Chronicle - finally - brings out the role the Archbishop of San Francisco, George Niederauer, has played as the former Bishop of Salt Lake City: Catholics, Mormons allied to pass Prop. 8 Salt Lake City in Utah is the headquarters of the Mormon church.

I am sickened, angered, frustrated by the role Niederauer may have has played in this. This time he stabbed the members of his diocese by "ecumenical work" with the Mormons. A year ago, he visited Most Holy Redeemer parish in the Castro. He was all happy and nice then - until it was leaked to the conservative media that two Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence had been present. He then turned around and was appalled.

It's time that the Roman Catholic Church and the California Catholic Conference starts paying for their involvement and being 'pleased' about the Prop 8 passing, and a definition of "traditional marriage".

I'm sorry, George, but your actions have denied me equality with a "separate but equal" decision, and you want me to support and respect you?

Related articles by Zemanta

• Catholics, Mormons defend support for same-sex ban
• Did Mormons provide California's Proposition 8 its margin of victory?
• Mormons And Catholics Upset At Being The Target Of Prop 8 Protests

The results finalized a lot during the day today, and Prop 8 passed with 52.2% against 47.8% - a difference by 400,000 votes.

The consequences of this are both hard to foresee and estimate. The immediate result was that no more same-sex marriages will be performed. The question about the more than 16,000 marriages that have been performed remains to be decided - from that they are valid to that they should bee annulled. At the same time, the opponents of Prop 8 have sued to block the measure to take effect [SF Chronicle].

Tonight, a crowd of 2,000 women and men of all ages, queer and straight gathered outside San Francisco City Hall to hold a vigil over the lost vote. But the fighting spirit was there: "Yes we will!". [SF Chronicle]

Friday, I was invited to lecture for 16 master students in gerontology at San Francisco State University (SFSU). One new line on the CV!
The talk was based on the pilot study I did last year.

First it was a bit nervous since one of the experts in my field of research was present during my talk. But the expert seemed interested and asked questions that built on what I have found - he didn't shoot me down!

The students asked good and interesting questions.

In an article in the SF Chronicle there is a critique of the "gawking" tourists, looking at the people living in the are like they were at animals in a zoo.

It is interesting when the gay life becomes the exciting and adventurous to come and see... What will be the next: safaris to the Folsom Street Fair?



On the other hand, gay marriages have become so mainstream in San Francisco that my local grocery store sells cards with same-sex couples in their wedding section.