OC Pride TODAY!

Orange County PRIDE -- SATURDAY -- August 14 -- NOON-10 p.m.

HIDDEN VALLEY, IRVINE (Right next to Verizon Amphitheatre)
8808 Irvine Center Dr. Irvine, CA 92618

Check out the OCPride website for more information ... and do note that Bishop Mary Glasspool will be speaking from the main stage at 1:25 p.m. Come show your support, visit the St. A&H booth, witness to God's inclusive love for absolutely everybody ... and watch this blog for "film at eleven!"

BREAKING NEWS: Bishop Bruno on Landmark Marriage Equality Ruling

Bishop Bruno issues statement on Prop. 8 decision

Bishop J. Jon Bruno of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles has issued the following statement on federal Judge Vaughn R. Walker's Aug. 4 decision on Proposition 8.

"Justice is advancing thanks to today's ruling affirming Californians' constitutional right to marriage in faithful, same-gender relationships.

"Although the appeal process will now challenge U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's decision on Proposition 8, my continuing prayer will be -- as the prophet Amos said -- for justice 'to roll down' and to prevail.

"To reiterate my statement of November 5, 2008: 'Proposition 8 is a lamentable expression of fear-based discrimination that attempts to deny the constitutional rights of some Californians on the basis of sexual orientation. It is only a matter of time before its narrow constraints are ultimately nullified by the courts and our citizens' own increasing knowledge about the diversity of God's creation.' "

Contact: Robert Williams, Canon for Community Relations
Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
213 308 0222
rwilliams@ladiocese.org

DECISION DAY PRAYER RALLY: Tomorrow night downtown at Olvera Street

Prop. 8 Court Decision Response:
Over 15 LGBT and Ally Community Groups will gather at Los Angeles’ Center
in a Union of Communities Working Together for Social Justice

What: Los Angeles Rally and Community Response to Prop. 8 Ruling
Members of Latino, Asian/Pacific-Islander, African-American, Middle-Eastern, LGBT and other communities gather to show their solidarity for social justice after the District Court announces its decision on Proposition 8, the California legislation that bans marriage between same-sex couples.

When: August 4, 2010, 8 pm – 10 pm

Where: Olvera Street, across the street from Union Station. Take the Metro to Union Station,
Media van parking off Los Angeles Street from Alameda.

Who: People of Color Community leaders
Music by: Metropolitan Community Church LA Voices
Moral Compass to Justice, Latino Equality Alliance, Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles, Love = Love, The Latino Democrats of LA County, The Wall Las Memorias, Love Honor and Cherish, CA Faith for Equality, Jordan/Rustin Coalition, Proyecto Orgullo of BIENESTAR, Equality California, HRC Los Angeles, Christopher Street West, El Centro Del Pueblo, Gay Straight Alliance

Why: Proposition 8 has the unique quality in that it denies Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender individuals, that come from every neighborhood in Los Angeles and from across the world, from marriage. Individuals of any religion, race, ethnicity, or gender, can agree that excluding any group of people from participating in society is wrong. The event will be held on Olvera Street as a tribute to the deep roots of diversity in Los Angeles.

“Community groups continue the hard work in our people of color communities to increase acceptance for LGBT people and issues. In spite of the court’s decision in our favor or not, this trial is not a "Mission Accomplished," explained Ari Gutierrez, Co-Chair of the Latino Equality Alliance. “Community groups gather on the day of the decision at Olvera Street to recommit to the necessary public education work and invite other social issue advocates to join in a shared prayer for social justice,” she added.

###

The Latino Equality Alliance is a coalition of Latino and other organizations dedicated to reaching out to the Latino community. The mission of the Latino Equality Alliance is to promote liberty, equality and justice for the Latino LGBT community.

La Alianza Latina para la Igualdad es una coalición de grupos Latinos y otras organizaciones dedicadas a hacer alcance a la comunidad Latina. La mission de la Alianza Latina para la Igualdad es promover la libertad, justicia y la igualdad para la comunidad Lésbica, Gay, Bisexual y Transgénero.

Diocese of Los Angeles Adopts Adoption Agency

Thanks to Episcopal Cafe for picking up this well-worth-re-telling story of Holy Family Adoption Agency and its good work here in Los Angeles:

The Huffington Post reports on the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and Bishop Jon Bruno helping an adoption agency when the Roman Catholic Church withdrew funding when the agency allowed same sex couples to adopt:

Community-based nonprofit organizations are struggling for their organizational lives these days. ... Maintaining one's donor base is supremely critical for any struggling nonprofit group.

Which is exactly why the recent story of a tiny organization named Holy Family Adoption Services in Los Angeles is pretty courageous.

Holy Family Adoption Services provides adoption, foster care, and family support services for infants and toddlers who are often born into very high-risk situations and require placement into a loving home. Since 1949, they have been helping these children whose mothers have been victimized themselves by family violence, or who suffer from addiction, or who are just ill-prepared for motherhood.
...
In 2007, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles made it clear that Holy Family would have to stop placing children with same-sex couples. Instead of giving in, the Holy Family Adoption Services board of directors ultimately decided that nothing was more important than providing loving and supportive homes for at-risk infants and children and that no otherwise qualified home should be closed to these children simply because of the gender and sexual orientation of the family members within it.

Enter Bishop Jon Bruno of the Episcopal Diocese. When Bishop Bruno learned of Holy Family's courage and fate, he invited the organization to be housed under the auspices of his church. This kept the organization alive.

Read the rest here ... and visit the Holy Family Services website to find out more about their great work and how you can support it!

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*headline credit goes to Tom Smarek, Jr. via his comment over at Episcopal Cafe! (Thanks, Tom!)

The Rt. Rev. Mary Glasspool Wows West Hollywood in Christopher Street West Gay Pride Parade

LGBT Lutherans and Episcopalians joined together on the streets of West Hollywood this morning to celebrate Eucharist and then march in separate contingents in the 40th anniversary edition of the annual Gay Pride Parade. Lutheran Bishop Emeritus Paul Egertson presided at the street Eucharist and newly consecrated Episcopal Bishop Suffragan Mary Glasspool preached while approximately 75 congregants sang, prayed and received communion amidst the noise of motorcycles and amplified music from other nearby entries in the parade staging area.

Following the Eucharist, the groups then marched in the parade with the bishops riding in convertibles and greeting the enthusiastic crowd who recognized the Episcopal Church as being a leader in welcoming and affirming LGBT people in the life of the church. Applause and cheers met Mary Glasspool as she waved at the crowd while riding down Santa Monica Blvd. She later said, "That was so affirming! There was a lot of recognition - not so much of me as of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Los Angeles - people know how supportive our church has been of this community."

Some pictures from the day's celebration:

Los Angeles City Council Honors Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles for Contributions to the City's LGBT Community

As part of Councilmember Bill Rosendahl's celebration of Gay Pride month, the Los Angeles City Council honored Bishop J. Jon Bruno and diocesan leaders at its Friday 4 June meeting in council chambers. Bishop Bruno, Malcolm Boyd and Jack Plimpton each were asked to make brief remarks to the council while a gathering of diocesan LGBT leaders stood behind them at the podium. Each one present received a commendation from the council that reads:

On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, we are pleased to recognize your contributions to the City's LGBT community. Bishop Glasspool's ministry and the Diocese's 25+ years of LGBT ministries represent a collective commitment to justice and equality for LGBT Angelenos.

Presented by [signature] Bill Rosendahl, Councilmember, 11th District

Others in attendance included Mark Halahan and Vicki Mouradian (former chairs of the Bishop's Commission on Gay & Lesbian Ministry [BCGLM] - now the Program Group on LGBT Ministries), Michael Bell, Randy Kimmler, Mark Thompson (Malcolm Boyd's partner), Jim White and Bob Williams, as well as Joanna Satorius and Luis Garraban (both of the Diocesan staff).

Here are a couple of pictures I shot while we were there - I've asked Bob Williams to send me more that others may have taken. I'll post those if/when I receive them.

- Jim White

More Parade Info

Here is some more information on the Pride Parade, Sunday, June 13.

-- It is confirmed that the Episcopalians and the Lutherans will be marching next to each other, as both groups requested.

-- Our staging area is Romaine. After the Eucharist, marchers should meet our group on N. Crescent Heights Blvd, in the the block between Santa Monica Blvd. and Romaine St., no later than 10:30. Parade start time is 11:00. Here's a map of the area.

--The parade route is down Santa Monica Blvd., from N. Crescent Heights Blvd. to N. Robertson Blvd. At the end, the organizers will send the marchers south down Robertson and our car down another street. Everyone should proceed to the end (and not stall on San Vicente Blvd.).

-- Parking: the "permit only" parking restrictions will be lifted for the entire city of West Hollywood during Pride weekend. It is recommended that those going to the festival after the parade park in the Design Center parking lot (San Vicente Blvd. & Melrose Ave.). To those not attending the festival, organizers recommend parking toward the middle of the parade route and south of Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood city limits extend only a block or so north of Santa Monica. Parking north of that border will put you in Los Angeles, which is not lifting permit-only requirements.

--There will be three minutes of silence at exactly 12:00 p.m., to commemorate those who have gone before us. Horns and whistles will sound to signal its start and end. All attendees are asked to observe that time of silence.

-- We remind everyone that it is likely to be very hot and very sunny that day, and marchers will be in those conditions for four or five hours. Everyone should wear protective clothing, like hats, sunglasses, long-sleeve shirts and/or lots of sunscreen. They should also hydrate themselves well, even a day before the parade, and bring lots of water and snacks.

But most of all, have fun! It will be a fun and exciting day.