Petrelis Files

(Photo credits, from top to bottom: Getty Images, SF Chronicle, and the NY Times.)

Global Gay Solidarity Via CA Marriage Ruling

As the gay community in San Francisco celebrates today CA Supreme Court ruling favoring full gay marriage equality, I'd like to inject a plea for us to remember our family members beyond the USA's borders, who are expressing good wishes and solidarity to us on this important day.

(Needless to say, I'm happy my global gay solidarity sign and message is getting out in the visual media regarding the court's decision today!)

This coming Saturday, May 17, is IDAHO, International Day Against Homophobia, and in plenty of countries, actions commemorating this day will happen, and in many of those countries, the gay activists will be at risk of violence just for coming out of the closet and publicly declaring their homosexuality.

Three USA cities will mark IDAHO and call on the Russian government to grant march permits to gay pride organizers in Moscow. From Nikolai Alexeyev we learn that the gay Russians will join in IDAHO events themselves:

Dear friends,

We managed to arrange for the press conference on Friday 16 May. it will be dedicated to the third Moscow Pride, International Day Against Homophobia and 15th Anniversary since decriminalisation of homosexuality in Russia. So everything is going well with that. Thanks for your efforts and solidarity with Moscow Pride.

Yours,
Nikolai

So, my fellow gay San Franciscans, I ask you to attend tomorrow's speak out at the Russian consulate over in Pacific Heights and add your voice to the handful of activists who will be at the consulate on Friday. And if you reside in Chicago or New York, or any of the other cities staging IDAHO actions, turn out for events in your area and engage in global gay solidarity.

Info on the three IDAHO events in the USA:

City: Chicago, IL
Date: Saturday, May 17
Time: 3:00 pm
Location: Women and Children First Bookstore
Action: Rally in front of store, then a march
Address: 5233 N. Clark Street, cross street is Farragaut
Contact: Andy Thayer; lgbtliberation@aol.com
Web site: GayLiberation.net

City: New York, NY
Date: Friday, May 16
Time: 12 noon
Location: Russian Consulate
Action: Speak out
Address: 9 E. 91st Street, cross street is Fifth Avenue
Contact: Brendan Fey; brendan@stpatsforall.com

City: San Francisco, CA
Date: Friday, May 16
Time: 12 noon
Location: Russian Consulate
Action: Speak out
Address: 2790 Green Street, cross street is Baker
Contact: Michael Petrelis; mpetrelis@aol.com