TresSugar

Friends of Harvey Milk Talk Gay Marriage

LibertySugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:31:18 -0800

In 1978 Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person elected to major office in the US, led the fight against Proposition 6. The California ballot measure would have banned gay teachers, including those already teaching, from public schools. Milk's organization against Prop. 6 is featured in the upcoming movie MILK, staring Sean Penn. A group of close friends, including Cleve Jones and Anne Kronenberg, surrounded Milk in his quest to preserve the human rights of gay Americans. I recently got the chance to meet longtime civil rights activists Cleve and Anne and ask them what they make of today's gay rights movement.

How does Proposition 6 compare with today's Proposition 8 to outlaw gay marriage?

Anne: Proposition 6 was (about) a basic fundamental right of gay men and women being allowed to teach in our schools. It was based on a morality that gays would be recruiting the kids and trying to turn them over into homosexuals, which is so bizarre. I think the same right-wing, Christian, born-again (groups) certainly play a big role in Prop. 8 currently. But (now) we're talking about an equality issue. . . . If you think in 30 years the difference (between) the paranoia of "I have a teacher and they're going to make me a dyke," to now we're talking about marriage - I think Harvey is smiling that we are even there.

To find out if Cleve thinks Proposition 8 will be defeated tomorrow as well as what he makes of today's gay activists, read more.

Cleve: I think we're going to win, but I don't feel the level of fear that I felt then. I feel that history's on our side, that we are moving in the right direction. And that if we do lose it will be a setback and I will be angry and disappointed, but I won't feel the same gut-level fear that we felt then. If Prop. 6 passed, we were going down a slippery slope right to fascism. I mean, that was outrageous - how would they determine who was homosexual? How would they test us? And it also included language for those who advocated for homosexuals. There was much more . . . real fear in the pit of your stomach and of the violence that could be unleashed. . . . It's very different now. We are winning and winning and winning. If we lose this one, it will be a minor and temporary setback.

Do you think today's gay youth have the same passion?

Cleve: I often say to younger people, "you know things are only new once, and I'm sorry you missed it" (laughs). But I think you can look at all the economic changes in San Francisco. It was much easier to live in the city then, it was much cheaper. Artists, students, young people could live on very little money. . . . But things are only new once. And all of us that were participating in the movement were keenly aware that we were participating in something that had never been seen. . . . It was just an amazing time. And everything was brand new: the first marching band, the first gay synagogue, the first gay film festival, all of the institutions and structures we now take for granted.

Photo courtesy of Focus Films

Part II: Interview With Tom Sheridan, Lobbyist to the Stars

CitizenSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:00:49 -0700

Here's the continuation of our interview with Tom Sheridan, the lobbyist who works with Bono on his ONE campaign to end global poverty. Liberty took in a ONE campaign panel with Ben Affleck, Madeleine Albright, and Tom Daschle at the convention yesterday - more details on that event soon! Here's the continuation of our conversation with Tom:

Who else do you work with?

Julia Ormond is another great example, she's a client of ours who is doing work on human trafficking and slavery, and speaking out before anyone was really talking about. She wasn't only talking about it, but she was immersed, was deeply immersed in the substance of it. You know, what are the major policy issues that need to be launched in order to track people, things like a universal birth certificate. She was on top of that stuff before anyone really wrote about this.

What makes a celebrity seek you out?

To see his answer and more, read more.

What we look for and what we really love working with are celebrities who are about those two Cs. We're not your usual K Street lobbying firm. We represent almost only not-for-profits and are about taking those tough issues into the Washington environment. We're a little off the beaten path, so for people like Bono and Julia Ormond to find us, they really have to be committed in a much deeper sense. Bono doesn't need anyone to open a door for him, he's perfectly capable of opening his own doors - and he'll tell you that - that is not the hard part of my job with him. The hard part is how will we ask for what we want when we go in, how will we defend what we asked for last time, and why are we defending a taxpayer investment in a place called Africa and for a disease called AIDS. He's got to have real answers for those questions and thoughtful policymakers ask those questions. So my job is to make sure he is always well-positioned in the playing field and very well informed.

How does he become the perfect advocate for ONE?

To his credit, he gets on an airplane and he goes to Africa and gets on the ground so that he can say to people, "Look I just came from there and there's a village in Uganda where they've cut their maternal transmission of HIV rate from 70 percent to 10. He can speak to it with the level of passion that you can only have if you seen it and felt it. A good actor I guess can put on any emotion, but there's another whole dimension when it doesn't come from a place of craft.

We'll be unpacking more tidbits from Tom soon. Stay tuned!

Meet a Celebrity Lobbyist Committed to Star-Powered Activism

CitizenSugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:45:08 -0700

Parked in the intersection of politics and pop culture is the celebrity activist. There all kinds of ways celebrities get involved in causes from serving on boards to inspiring laws on Capitol Hill, and Tom Sheridan knows how to harness that fame and make the issue the real star. A lobbyist based in DC, he represents Bono and his work on the ONE campaign against global poverty. We sat down with him this week ahead of the big ONE event Kanye is headlining to benefit the organization here at the convention, and we couldn't have been more impressed. Tom Sheridan is using the intersection of fame and charity to inspire real change and a legion of committed issue advocates.

Can celebrities distract from an issue or a message? What are the hallmarks of a happy marriage between celebrity and activism?

It really comes down to two Cs. One is commitment and the other is credibility. I think if we go with alliteration and add in celebrity, I think that is where people will discern the difference between a celebrity using an issue to distract and/or promote themselves. There may be a fair trade in that but it doesn't always sustain a cause, and it doesn't get to the level of a policy change that we look for celebrities to engage in.

Well, we see celebrities speaking out on issues all the time. Is that enough to motivate change?

To see his answer, read more.

We're not interested in a 15-minute hearing on Capitol Hill with some press, that's not that difficult to achieve frankly, and you don't actually need any talent from people like me to achieve that. The question then becomes, "what for?" And that's where commitment and credibility become really important factors. Are they willing to sustain their interest in this, and what does that sustaining interest mean, and how much time does that take?

How much time does it take, and how does that help a cause?

Celebrities work, and like Bono, he's got a rather significant day job. Bono was at the convention four years ago [for ONE] and he's not here this year because he's recording an album, you know that's the day job, but the fact remains four years later he's still involved. It's very much taking the cult of ONE and not doing the predictable stuff with it that gives him both long-term commitment because he has great motivation to stay in this for a long time, and has been in it for a long time. I've been working with him for almost eight years. He's been at this for a long time and there's no one out there that doesn't believe that he's not only committed to it but that he's incredibly credible on the topic.

To see who else Tom Sheridan works with and how committed celebs inspire real change, check out part two of our interview with him later this week!

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Ex-US Ambassador Says US Must Back Georgia's Democracy

LibertySugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:00:40 -0700

The conflict between Russia and Georgia will likely have long-term consequences for the US. Former US Ambassador to Romania Jim Rosapepe thinks the US response to the Russian invasion will either provide hope or despair to supporters of democracy around the world. Reflecting on his time in the region, Rosapepe wrote in an op-ed:

Romanians would tell us: Wait till Russia is back. When its economy rebounds and its political leadership regains self-confidence, watch out. This week, our Romanian friends are thinking, though they are too diplomatic to say it: We told you so.

I spoke with the former Ambassador yesterday, and asked him to discuss America's past missteps in the region, as well as how the US should move forward. Here's what he shared with me.

What could the US have done differently after the fall of the USSR? The US could have provided more economic aid to the former USSR, just like we helped the economies of Western European right after World War Two with the Marshall Plan.

What should the US do now? The US needs to stay focused and consistent in sending the message to democrats in Georgia and around the world that the US supports them and democratic values. The US should not abandon faith in what America stands for.

To find out what the Ambassador thinks about the priorities of everyday Americans, as well as his thoughts on Russia's future, read more.

The Russian invasion came as a surprise to most Americans last Friday morning. Should the events in this region be more important to Americans? Americans can't stay on top of what's happening in every small country around the world, and that's understandable. But what happens next in Georgia should be a top priority to Americans. The more peaceful democracies there are in the world, the safer America is, whether the democracies be in Georgia, Asia, or Latin America.

Will Russia ever be able to get along with its neighbors? Russia decided to make a political statement on Friday for whatever reason. But Russia's interests are consistent with its neighbors. Russia can be a safe, respected, and prosperous country, and so can its neighbors. Germany and France have proven that historically warring neighbors can coexist and prosper together.

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Handle This: You're Not Sure What Your Status Is

DearSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0700

You have some serious feelings that are only continuing to grow for a man you’ve been on a few dates with. But every time things seem to heat up, he backs off. He's an amazing guy, and you really want things to work out, but you’re afraid he may not be feeling the same thing you are and it seems too early to bring up status issues.

When he calls to ask you out after he hasn't contacted you for two weeks, you’ve hit your limit. You could say something or just walk away, so how would you handle this?

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Relationship Protocol: Exclusivity or "The Talk"

DearSugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:00:00 -0700

So often I hear people refer to having the “the talk” in a new relationship to determine where the relationship is headed. Deciding to be in a committed, exclusive relationship is a big deal for many couples as they quickly move from single to taken. Even still I’ve always held onto the romantic notion that the exclusivity talk isn't always necessary; instead, a relationship can grow gradually, until you know he’s not seeing anyone else because he’s always with you!

On the other hand, making something official removes opportunity for confusion (or seeing other people), so in that context I can understand the desire to have “the talk.” In your own relationships, have you found a discussion about whether or not you’re exclusively together to be necessary? Or like me, do you prefer just to see what your relationship grows into?

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Exclusive! We Talk to SF Mayor, Mastermind of Gay Marriage

CitizenSugar — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:00:12 -0700

Last night at the San Francisco premiere of the short movie The Butler's in Love (directed by David Arquette) Pop shimmied up to Gavin Newsom, mayor of San Francisco and instrumental force in the brand new rights for all to marry in the state of California, and popped a couple of questions of our own.

Since we've been closely following the burst of new weddings, we had to ask the political trailblazer:

What’s next after the gay marriage victory?

The biggest most important thing is to defeat the initiative this November. It is absolutely critical we not allow this extraordinary moment in time where the Supreme Court has stepped up and adjudicated that the Constitution did not allow us to discriminate against same-sex couples for the public to then just a few months later write discrimination into the Constitution - so that’s the most important thing then, is to defeat it. And then to continue our efforts to expand rights and to expand opportunities for everyone regardless of their race, ethnicity, or their gender, or their sexual orientation and then to continue to build upon these efforts and to continue to address the issues of racial injustice and gender injustice that continue to this day - so there’s still a lot of work to be done.

Newsom supported Hillary Clinton during her campaign - now that Obama's the candidate, we asked the big unity question. To find out what he had to say, read more.

As a former Hillary supporter, do you think the Democratic party can unite behind Barack Obama?

I was just with him two days ago in Miami - wildly enthusiastic. . . Look, at the end of the day we’re going to be united, at the end of the day there's no question in my mind that Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States and there’s no question that the overwhelming majority of Hilary Clinton supporters will enthusiastically support Barack Obama. There is so much at stake and one of the most important things at stake is the next US Supreme Court - and if people care about the issue of choice, particularly women that say, ‘Well I just loved Hillary and what she represented and I’m just not ready to support Barack’ – just think about the alternative and think about the constitutional consequences of having a Supreme Court with all but one or two judges appointed by conservative Republican presidents, and the impact that will have on a generation. I mean beyond any other issue that should be an issue that should drive those that are unsure - particularly women - to the polls enthusiastically in support of Barack Obama. And let's just dispense with the issue of the war and the economy, education and health care and the environment - all fundamental issues to our party - that we have a real champion, and someone we can be proud of to support and endorse and again, I was one of her national co-chairs, I traveled across the country for Hillary Clinton. I appreciate her, and I admire her, and I can say as a Clinton supporter and I am an enthusiastic Barack Obama supporter and if I can come on this easily and readily as I have, still maintaining my admiration for Hillary Clinton I think so many others certainly can and I hope and expect they will.

He's definitely young, but . . . do you think he could be a contender in the Democratic Veepstakes? Obama/Newsom '08? It could be a wildly welcome change - in scenery at the very least - and maybe what the White House needs? What do you think?

View 10 Photos ›

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Exclusive Video: Same-Sex Couples Are "Spouses For Life"

LibertySugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Yesterday, more than 1,400 same-sex couples all over California tied the knot, and will continue to do so indefinitely. Along with taking some pictures of the scene in San Francisco, we filmed the newlyweds and their families talking about their love and decisions to get married. We even caught one couple exchanging vows! Watch the video to hear what impact California's decision to legalize same-sex marriage has had on families so far, in their own words. It's a very moving video!

After seeing this video, do your feelings toward marriage change? Is it possible to leave emotions aside, and support a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage? I guess we will find out in November, when California voters get a chance to adopt or reject a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

Exclusive Photos: San Francisco Celebrates Gay Marriage

LibertySugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:45:00 -0700

Not wanting to miss a historical moment, I went down bright and early to San Francisco's City Hall to check out all the wedding festivities. Today is the first full day of same-sex marriages, following the California Supreme Court ruling that legalized the nuptials. A romantic and emotional atmosphere surrounded the happy newlyweds. While I was there, snapping these photos of the enthusiastic participants, I noticed nothing but support for these unions between same-sex couples. Take a peek at this special day. Do you think we'll see more days like this throughout the country?

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A Mother/Daughter Wedge Issue? One's Pro-Hillary . . .

CitizenSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:00:53 -0700

The prospect of the first female president has raised tensions along the gender divide - it's not just boys vs. girls, older Hillary-loving moms are squaring off against their young, hip, hope-inspired Obama-voting daughters. Slate ran a piece on this very phenomenon, and we wanted to put it to the test.

We peeked in on one such mom and daughter, to see what happens when they stop being polite and start being real - true life: my mom's trying to get me to vote for Hillary! To see what happens, read more.

Is this a conversation you're familiar with? Do you think older women see the election differently than the younger generation? Are you just glad it's inspired passionate conversations like this? And how cute is the end of the conversation?!