Petrelis Files

SF Gay Rally Over UN Vote on 12/11;
'Over the Rainbow' Offers Hope

The gay community of San Francisco will gather in the heart of the city to demonstrate their outrage at and forcefully condemn a recent vote at the United Nations removing gays from a statement condemning extrajudicial and arbitrary executions.

South Africa, with a new and enlightened constitution, ought to be ashamed of their vote. South Africa should be leading the world when it comes to civil rights, not aligning itself with the likes of Zimbabwe, Uganda, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The rally is designed to also offer a beacon of hope to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people around the world.

WHAT: Rally For Global Gay Rights
WHEN: Saturday, December 11 at noon
WHERE: United Nations Plaza
LOCATION: Market Street near 7th Street

Speakers will include Clinton Fein, South African-born gay political artist; Veronika Cauley, African-American transgender AIDS advocate; Michael Petrelis, member of Gays Without Borders; Davina Kotulski, lesbian advocate and writer; and Molly McKay, LGBT marriage equality activist. Supervisor Bevan Dufty will be the emcee.

After the speeches, lyrics to the unofficial gay anthem "Over the Rainbow," a powerful song of hope for LGBT people everywhere, will be distributed. There will then be a rousing, proud and uplifting sing-a-long.

This important rally takes place rain or shine.