LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa To Chick-fil-A: "Love And Liberty Will Always Triumph"

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined the chorus of city officials speaking out against Chick-fil-A and CEO Dan Cathy.

The LA Times reports that late yesterday, deemed "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" by the right, Villaraigosa released a statement urging the fast food franchise to come over to the side of equality.

"Los Angeles has one of the most vibrant LGBT communities in this country," said the mayor. "I'm proud to support them as we call on Chick-fil-A's leadership to reconsider their position and join the growing majority of Americans who support marriage equality. In Los Angeles and in America, love and liberty will always triumph."

DNCC Chair Antonio Villaraigosa Says Democratic Party Platform Should Include Marriage Equality: VIDEO

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the chair of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, expressed his support for a marriage equality plank in the party platform in an interview with Politico.

Said Villaraigosa: “I do, I think it’s basic to who we are. I believe in family values and I believe that we all ought to be able to have a family and marry if you want to. I don’t think the government should be in that business of denying people the fundamental right to marry.”

Watch Villaraigosa discuss the marriage equality plank, AFTER THE JUMP...

At least 18 senators have expressed support for adding marriage equality to the platform. Freedom to Marry launched a campaign to that end last month.

Manifest Equality: L.A. Art Show Showcases Fierce Allies, Art

  

I stopped by the now former Big Lots on Vine the other night to check the progress of  Manifest Equality, an art show which is the culmination of an open contest focused on LGBT civil rights.  The organizers are Jennifer Gross, Apple Via and Yosi Sergant, who resigned as NEA director last fall, having served through Obama's campaign as somewhat of his "hipster publicist." All three are wired into the art and political scenes. Sergent brought Shepard Fairey and Obama together initially for the Hope poster, and this initiative grew out of the similarly structured Manifest Hope contest and show.

 

 

The pieces I saw -- by gay and straight artists, ran the gamut from kitsch to polemical, disturbing to banal, along with a few I can't get out of my head and will be back to have another look at once they're hung on the wall.

 

  

 

There's a private preview this evening for a small group of artists, collectors and media. It's open to the public with a schedule of events from tomorrow through the closing on March 7th. If you're in LA, it's worth a little effort to go by in the next few days. 

 

Saturday night, the space was simmering with activity. Organizers were moving pieces, strategizing traffic to the crowd pleasers, bars, and the bathrooms. Two guys were unselfconsciously focused on letter-spacing and leveling the two-foot high stencils near the ceiling that spelled "men", "equal", "endowed" and other words from the Constitution. Finding Roman Alonso, co-founder of Commune and "one of the hottest names in [design]" according a recent LA Times piece, with his sleeves rolled and paint roller in hand  doing his part to make the back wall look like a barn added to the "Hey, let's put on a show" feel. 

Amateur night, this is not. Picking 30 pieces from the hundreds submitted to show alongside works by established/invited artists fell to a masterfully constituted panel of judges including high-profile, straight and gay art world figures (Fairey, Lari Pittman, Ed Ruscha); Media reps; LA Times art critic Dave Pagel and Vogue's Senior West Coast Editor, Lisa Love; a senior curator from LACMA; the director of the Hammer; politicians on the inside (LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa) and fighting to get in; and Rick Jacobs, founder of Courage Campaign which will get a significant percentage of proceeds — rising to 50% after costs are covered.

 

 

 

 

Unwavering support like this has been a long time coming. It's nice to see MoveOn, which usually comes off as ambivalent on gay issues stepping up with Rock The Vote  to partner with national gay groups in support of the show. What? Straight allies who don't need to be taught or told how to be supportive? With initiative and passion of their own? Sounds like the way a "fierce advocate" might work. 

Some may not be ready for the 'age of Aqueerious' though. A friend told me he was trying to figure out the flier for Manifest Equality that someone handed him at the Farmers Market with his arm around a new guy. He looked up and a passer-by read his face and explained,

"It's a bunch of straight artists making gay-marriage art." 

And to some degree that is what it is...

...not that there's anything wrong with that.

Note: The first piece is Robbie Conal's.

 

 

SF Mayor Gavin Newsom Calls DOMA Brief 'A Big Mistake'

Prior to the start of the Los Angeles Pride parade which happened this weekend, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa both expressed concern over the disturbing Department of Justice brief filed last week in defense of DOMA.

Said Villaraigosa: "I'm concerned about some of the arguments being made by the Justice Department."

Added Newsom: "I think it's a big mistake."

The L.A. Times reports: "Newsom and Villaraigosa, potential rivals in next year's Democratic primary for governor, were both careful to avoid direct criticism of President Obama, who pledged during his campaign for the White House to repeal the marriage law."

L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Reaffirms Same-Sex Marriages at Rally

L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gave a powerful speech about marriage equality and renewed the vows of gay and lesbian married couples at a rainy Eve of Justice rally last night in Los Angeles marking today's Supreme Court challenge to the constitutionality of Proposition 8.

Watch and listen to Villaraigosa, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Twilight, Robert Pattinson, Dubai Book Ban, Giorgio Armani

Domestic partnership bill advances in New Mexico.

Hated liberals, gays: Knoxville church shooter's manifesto made public.

Dubai bans British author's book because of gay character: "Geraldine Bedell's book The Gulf Between Us was greeted with enthusiasm by organisers because of its setting in the Middle East, but the mood changed swiftly when they discovered a gay character...[International Festival of Literature director Isobel Abulhoul] explained that the book was unsuitable because one of the characters was a gay sheikh with an English boyfriend and the plot was set against the background of the Iraq War which 'could be a minefield for us'."

REPORT: Madonna gets involved in Twilight sequel.

Foes launch effort to recall Portland Mayor Sam Adams.

Facebook clarifies its evil new terms of service.

Massachusetts school informs parents of transgender janitor's transition from male to female. "Pro-family" groups apoplectic.

Cheney outraged Bush didn't grant Scooter Libby a full pardon: "Several sources confirmed Cheney refused to take no for an answer. 'He went to the mat and came back and back and back at Bush,' a Cheney defender said. 'He was still trying the day before Obama was sworn in.' After repeatedly telling Cheney his mind was made up, Bush became so exasperated with Cheney's persistence he told aides he didn't want to discuss the matter any further. The unsuccessful full-court press left Cheney bitter. 'He's furious with Bush,' a Cheney source told The News. 'He's really angry about it and decided he's going to say what he believes.'"

Does Britney Spears have a new Manny?

Giorgio Armani blogs.

Long Island Lolita Amy Fisher to become stripper, tour the country: "I love to dance, and I'm an exhibitionist. I am going to take this road until my fans tell me, 'Dear, please put your clothes back on. You're too old.'"

North Miami's openly gay mayor Kevin Burns to make run for U.S. Senate seat of Mel Martinez.

Michael Phelps won't be charged for smoking pot, and neither will his friends: "I’m glad this matter is put to rest. But there are also some important lessons that I’ve learned. For me, it’s all about recognizing that I used bad judgment and it’s a mistake I won’t make again. For young people especially – be careful about the decisions you make. One bad decision can really hurt you and the people you care about."

Michael Jackson's exploding head is part of massive Neverland auction.

Oklahoma to erect Ten Commandments monument on grounds of state capitol? "State Representative Mike Ritze said his bill would authorize installation of a monument similar to the one that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled could remain on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol. It would use the Ten Commandments text from the King James Version of the Bible."

Catholic bishop in Scranton, PA objects to Keith Boykin speaking appearance.

Robert Pattinson not a fan of fame.

Anti-gay Holocaust denier declines Pope Benedict's appointment as a bishop after public outrage: "Gerhard Maria Wagner said the "fierce criticism" had persuaded him to ask not to be named auxiliary bishop of Linz. Father Wagner has described Hurricane Katrina as God's punishment for the sins of New Orleans, and the Harry Potter novels as satanic. The Catholic news agency Kathpress says the Pope has agreed to the request."

L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Pastor Rick Warren have breakfast: "Evangelical minister Rick Warren brought a message of unity and civility to more than 1,000 people who attended the annual Los Angeles Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast today, avoiding mention of his outspoken opposition to gay marriage and abortion rights...Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was less circumspect, and acknowledged his support of same-sex marriage and 'a woman’s right to choose.' He mentioned that he had performed marriage ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples...'We won’t always agree,' Villaraigosa told the audience gathered at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel downtown. 'But we can agree on basic civil rights. We may not agree on Roe vs. Wade, but we both want to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortion.'"