No On 8 Executive Committee Names Revealed By Activist Michael Petrelis

Throughout the Proposition 8 battle, the No On 8 campaign refused to publicly identify its executive committee members, much to the consternation of many in the LGBT press. In December, San Francisco-based activist/troublemaker Michael Petrelis filed one of those fancy liberal Freedom Of Information requests with the state. And yesterday he got the names. According to Petrelis, the names were on a public state site all along, but were so effectively cloaked from any search, nobody could find them. The names were hiding in plain sight, all legal and shit.

"No on 8" Executive Committee, Principal Officers:

-Geoff Kors, executive director, Equality California
-Lorri Jean, chief executive officer, Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center
-Kate Kendell, executive director, National Center for Lesbian Rights
-Michael Fleming, executive director, David Bohnett Foundation
-Marty Rouse, national field director, Human Rights Campaign
-Heather Carrigan, ACLU of Southern California
-Oscar De La O, Beinestar Human Services in Los Angeles
-Sue Dunlop, Los Angeles
-Maya Harris, ACLU of Northern California
-Don Howes, Los Angeles
-Dennis Herrera, City Attorney of San Francisco
-Dr. Delores Jacobs, chief executive officer, San Diego LGBT Community Center
-Joyce Newstadt, San Francisco
-Tawal Panyacosit, director, Asian and Pacific Islander Equality in San Francisco
-Rashid Robinson, Los Angeles
-Kevin Tilden, communications/political consultant, San Diego
-"No on 8" treasurer, Steve Mele, founder of ML Associates in West Hollywood

Petrelis: "May they all spend the next year sweeping the streets of their gay neighborhoods and doing many acts of penance for squandering $45 million of gay community dollars and losing gay marriage quality in California."

I wouldn't go as far in condemning the No On 8 folks as Petrelis does, although he's never been known for subtle criticism. Mistakes were made, definitely. But keep in mind that these are all good people, in some cases, our very best. Rather than destroy them, we need to help them be more effective in the next fight.

Gay Activists Disrupt UN Secretary General Speech In San Francisco

Gay activists interrupted the San Francisco appearance of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon yesterday, protesting the United Nations' refusal to address the plight of LGBT people being murdered, attacked and imprisoned around the world. Led by local activist Michael Petrelis, activists disrupted Ban's speech to the World Affairs Council of Northern California, chanting, "Break the silence! Talk about gays!" (Photo credit: Clinton Fein.)

General Ban responded, "That is most unusual welcome for me . . . As Secretary General, I'm supposed to answer all questions . . . The gay rights issue is very sensitive."

Petrelis: "The UN has been silent for far too long, as our gay brothers and lesbian sisters are aggressively selected for human rights violations, torture and execution across the globe, simply due to their sexual orientation." A global day of solidarity for LGBT people is planned for August 4th. The NYC event is being organized by veteran activist Brendan Fay and I will attend.