San Diego
alliance for Marriage
equality (SaMe)
Community Grand marshal
the San Diego alliance for Marriage equality was founded by a group of young
activists during a Proposition 8 debriefing at the San Diego lgBt community
center, shortly after the november 4th elections. its mission in the face of the state
amendment’s passage: “to fight for lgBt rights, including marriage equality.”
Since their first meeting, the democratic-run organization has mobilized
hundreds of San Diegans in support of same-sex marriage and lgBt immigration
rights. in January, it helped plan a march in San Diego against the Defense of Mar-
riage act, which drew nearly 700 participants. and in april, it successfully called
upon supporters for a rally celebrating the iowa State Supreme court’s ruling
in favor of gay marriage. in addition, the group earlier this year took part in the
cesar chavez Day Parade, an antiwar march and a city college rally for immigrant
and lgBt rights. although the organization didn’t officially form until november,
many of SaMe’s members worked diligently on the no on 8 campaign in the
month’s leading up to the elections. today, its members meet on the second and
fourth tuesday of each month at Bamboo lounge in Hillcrest, while also strength-
ening its electronic “announcement” database and passing out flyers within the
community about upcoming events.
San Diego
equality caMPaign (SDec)
Community Grand marshal
the San Diego equality campaign (SDec) was born from the massive local
response to the passage of california’s Proposition 8, which rescinded the right
of same-sex couples to marry within our state. from that response event on nov.
15th, new local transplant Sara Beth Brooks spearheaded organizers to form SDec,
which has since conducted marches and candlelight vigils calling for direct action
for lgBt rights. the organization’s first event was held on Dec. 20th, involving five
candlelight vigils held concurrently throughout San Diego county. a month later
in January, SDec organized a Defense of Marriage act march from the county ad-
ministration Building, which drew nearly 1,000 participants. the march included
a stop at downtown’s Manchester grand Hyatt, which had donated $125,000 in
support of Prop 8. in addition, SDec helped organized freedom to Marry Day
in february and an eve of Justice event in March, launched in conjunction with
Marriage equality uSa and the San Diego alliance for Marriage equality. SDec is
a volunteer-run organization comprised of activists and several board members
based throughout San Diego county. it is funded largely out of pocket, with some
monetary assistance provided by Stonewall young Democrats. its mission extends
also to educating the public about equal rights and allowing lgBt individuals to
serve in the armed forces freely and openly without prejudice.
“we use electronic media and also hand out a lot of flyers to local bars and
businesses to get the word out for our events,” says Brooks, who moved to San
Diego only a month prior to november’s elections and serves as SDec’s executive
chair. “i’ve never been to San Diego Pride, so i’m very excited and honored to be
participating with our group.”
Buy & Print festival tickets online at
sDpride.org
Stonewall 2.o activism for equality 21
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76