Tuesday, December 09, 2008

LA's Prop 8 Town Hall:
Everyone Got to Speak

Gay community members and activists of all political stripes gathered in Los Angeles on Sunday for 3-hour meeting, according to event organizer and longtime agitator Robin Tyler. She sent along these photos of our beautiful brothers and sisters doing something that seems all but impossible to stage in San Francisco - a true open forum where anyone and everyone can speak.

Robin tells me every person who wanted some time to speak got the chance to do so. Good constructive criticism, angry rants about how the No on 8 leadership didn't engage the full breadth and diversity of the CA gay community, a few jokes, remembrances of old ACT UP demostrations and the more recent Join the Impact events - all this and more transpired in Los Angeles at this important meeting.

By the way, the meeting was taped and will air later this week on public access cable.

A big shout out to the fabulous folks in Southern California for setting an example San Francisco should follow, in terms of bringing different voices together in one room for a few hours to begin the accountability. Thanks much, LA!

Click on the pics for bigger viewing pleasure:


Facing the crowd. The reserved seats were for disabled
persons and seniors.



A shot from the back of the crowd.



From the left: Ari Gutierrez, Honor PAC; Jehan F. Agrama, Human Relations Commissioner; Stefan Johnson, Jordan/Rustin Coaliton;
Rick Jacobs, Courage Campaign.



The rather long tables of panelists.


Aw, shucks. Two forum participants strike a pose and
hug after the successful meeting.

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