Towleroad Guide to the Tube #552: National Equality March Speeches

I didn't get a chance to post these over the weekend. Eight speakers from the National Equality March: Cleve Jones, Cynthia Nixon, Judy Shepard, Lieutenant Dan Choi:

Lance Black, Lady Gaga, and Julian Bond, AFTER THE JUMP...

Major Rallies For and Against Marriage Equality Ring Out in New York

 

Thousands of people attended a rally on Avenue of the Americas near Times Square yesterday sponsored by Broadway Impact in support of marriage equality in New York. A short time before that, state Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. bussed in approximately 10,000 evangelical bigots for an anti-gay rally of his own on Third Avenue in front of the Governor's office.

Attending the marriage equality rally were  Paterson, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell, Empire State Pride Agenda executive director Alan van Capelle, statee Senator Tom Duane, and entertainers Cynthia Nixon (who announced her engagement to fiancee Christine Marinoni), Cheyenne Jackson, Audra McDonald, and Gavin Creel and the cast of Hair.

Joe.My.God has posted some great photos of the event. World of Wonder has an excellent gallery as well.

NYT: "Mr. Paterson, who appeared along with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (right: image NYDN) and other state and city leaders at a rally of gay rights activists near Rockefeller Center on Sunday afternoon, did not initially plan to attend. His last-minute appearance, which came just a few hours after thousands of same-sex marriage opponents held a much larger demonstration outside the governor’s Midtown Manhattan office, underscored the high stakes at issue in the Senate vote. 'We’re in a race right now in New York,' the governor told a crowd of several hundred people who gathered along Avenue of the Americas. 'The time for justice, the time for equality, the time for equal rights can never be any more urgent than right now.'"

The state legislature adjourns in six weeks. Sen. Tom Duane pleaded to the crowd: "There are 18 days left in the Senate session. I need your help."

Video blocks, AFTER THE JUMP... A compilation of speakers at the event - Governor David Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Cynthia Nixon, Audra McDonald, the cast of Hair performs "Let the Sunshine In", and Cheyenne Jackson sings "If I Can Dream", AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Right Whales, Carrie Fisher, Adoption, Northampton

Travolta son Jett dies while vacationing with parents...

Black gay activists: Ebenezer Baptist should dump Warren as speaker for MLK Day service. Atlanta Black LGBT Coalition: "Rev. Warren’s hateful opposition to civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and reproductive rights for women, and his intolerance of diversity contradict the values of freedom and equality that this day represents...Bestowing Rev. Warren such a prominent role does not foster greater understanding between divided communities. Instead it drives more wedges between disenfranchised communities that are continually pitted against each other by the agents of racism and homophobia."

Scientists discover important endangered Right Whale breeding ground off coast of Maine: "In early December, surveyors counted 44 right whales in one day about 70 miles south of Bar Harbor, Maine, in an area known as Jordan Basin. On a day in mid-December, they counted 41 whales just west of Jordan Basin. Surveyors counted three right whales on Dec. 6 at Cashes Ledge, about 80 miles east of Gloucester. Surveyors in recent years have counted from three to five right whales each day prior to this, said National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration spokeswoman Shelley Dawicki."

Eternal bachelor George Clooney has found love for 2009.

Pride & Joy: Longstanding gay-themed shop in Northampton, Massachusetts to close.

Michigan's LGBT community center, Affirmations in Detroit, cuts back staff, hours as it struggles to survive: "Thompson said she's been running nonprofits for more than 20 years and 'I've never seen a year end as bad as this one,' she said."

FOX runs "magic negro" ticker on New Years Eve telecast.

Sources to AP: Kennedy likely pick by Paterson for Clinton Senate seat.

Activist Peter Tatchell condemns homophobic BBC program: "Within the programme, which was broadcast in two parts on BBC3 on 30th and 31st December, lesbians were described as 'munters' and viewers were told that female Hollywood superstars should be saved for heterosexuals."

Looking to start a photography hobby in the new year? Here's a brand new auction from an old Towleroad friend...

Cynthia Nixon and family end year on a roller coaster.

Boy Culture looks at Carrie Fisher's new memoir, Wishful Drinking.

114 World's new oldest person Gertrude Baines voted for Obama in November - VIDEO.

BUSHED: Medic attends to Beckham after Milan work-out...

Tampa-area couple with two foster daughters profiled as state waits on adoption laws...

Half of Roman Catholic adoption agencies in UK that said they would refuse to abide by laws forcing them to consider gay and lesbian couples as prospective adoptees now say they will comply: "he agencies were given an 21-month exemption from the anti-discrimination laws, which came into effect in 2007, but that expired on 1 January. They said the law, which makes it illegal to discriminate against gay applicants, went against their beliefs. Five of the 11 agencies will now comply with the rules, while one is to close...Another two of the agencies are seeking exemption from the law by having themselves registered as charities explicitly serving heterosexual and single people. The position of the remaining three agencies is not known."

Cynthia Nixon on Marriage Equality and Prop 8

Joy Behar, filling in for Larry King, devoted a large segment of the show to Proposition 8. She spoke with Cynthia Nixon. They discussed Proposition 8, Obama's position on civil unions, and the Mormon church. If anyone can find the continuation of the show, please forward me the link.

And if you missed our gallery of protests across the nation, check it out HERE.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

Cynthia Nixon Makes Swing-State Stump for Obama

Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon told a crowd in Wilton Manors, Florida on Saturday that it was her first time ever campaigning for a candidate. Dan Renzi covered the appearance for the South Florida Blade.

Said Nixon: "I understand there are some die-hard Hillary fans out there, who loved her personally, and it meant the world to them that a woman was running, and there was a chance that a woman would be our next President. But I would say, 'What would Hillary do?' Hillary would vote for Obama."

She also cited her efforts as a parent, using some strong language to slam the current administration.

"I have two kids--one is six and one is twelve--and my twelve-year-old daughter has not known anything but George Bush. At least (adults) have a memory of somebody different, and a prospect that there will be somebody different in the future. It's been horrible for her to listen to the President, and listen to this fear-based, war-mongering, torture-supporting, homophobic, anti-immigrant bullshit."

Go Cynthia!

The New Activist [south florida blade]