Archive for November 14th, 2008
Worldwide ‘Prop 8′ Protests Set for Saturday
The passing of Proposition 8 in California last week instituted a ban on same-sex marriage, despite a huge financial and political campaign to prevent its passing.
Similar limits on same-sex rights were also instated in Florida, Arkansas, and Arizona.
Since then, pro-gay marriage activists have mobilized in defense of their cause to stage widespread protests and demonstrations across the state of California and the United States.
Now the group JoinTheImpact.com are coordinating an global series of protests against Proposition 8 to be held on November 15.
Nationwide protests are in the final stages of being planned in every American state and, internationally, in more than 16 cities around the world.
For ongoing coverage of this issue, please see NowPublic’s Proposition 8 Scan and featured coverage.
Leaders of the campaign against Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California, raised nearly $40 million and ran a careful, disciplined campaign with messages tested by focus groups and with only a few people authorized to speak to the media.
They lost.
In the week since, California has seen an outpouring of demonstrations ranging from quiet vigils to noisy street protests against Proposition 8, including rallies outside churches and the Mormon temple in Westwood as well as boycotts of some businesses that contributed to the Yes on 8 campaign.
Many of those activities have been organized not by political professionals and established leaders in the gay community, but by young activists working independently on Facebook and MySpace.
The grass-roots activism is a tribute to political organizing in the digital age, in which it is possible to mobilize thousands of people with a few clicks of a mouse. It has generated national attention — and set up a series of Saturday demonstrations that organizers hope will attract tens of thousands of people to city halls throughout California.
While California suffers the effects of Proposition 8’s passing, Connecticut became only the third state ever to issue same-sex marriage licenses as of November 12th.
And the even better news for same-sex couples in Connecticut? This won’t likely be a fleeting decision subject to a ballot initiative — same sex marriage is legal in the state and “it appears likely to stay that way”.
A week after ballot initiatives banning same-sex marriage passed in Arizona, California, and Florida, bringing the total number of states with constitutional amendments barring gay marriage to 30, the fierce battle over this culture war issue appears to be far from over. Yesterday, Connecticut became the third state ever to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a month after the state’s Supreme Court ruled that gays and lesbians have the right to marry under the state Constitution.
Unlike California, where the state’s Supreme Court issued a similar ruling earlier this year only to see it overturned by ballot initiative, there is no statewide initiative process in Connecticut that would allow the ruling to be reversed. Connecticut voters could have supported a measure on last week’s ballot that would have called for a convention to amend the state’s Constitution, but the measure failed. Under the state Constitution, the question can go on the ballot only once every 20 years. Connecticut joins Massachusetts as one of only two states where same-sex marriage is legal, and it appears likely to stay that way.
Tags: California | Culture | Politics | Los Angeles | Florida | Arizona | Connecticut | Arkansas | Gay Marriage | Same Sex Marriage | United States | World | UK | Prop 8 | Proposition 8 | gay marriage ban
Angelina Jolie Retires from Acting
So many celebrities, so little time for their careers…
Angelina Jolie is allegedly retiring from acting.
Jolie is the latest celebrity to announce her retirement from the profession that earns her millions of dollars per year and has made her one of the most public personalities in the world.
Is Jolie to be believed when she claims that she is finished with acting? Your guess is as good as ours.
But if the alleged retirement of other actors and rappers are to be believed, it won’t be long before Jolie in back on the big screen.
Following in the footsteps of Joaquin Phoenix, who recently announced that he was giving up acting to pursue music, Angelina Jolie says she’s hanging up her career in order to be a full-time mother.
“First and foremost, I have a lot of children, and I need to make sure they’re growing right and they’ve got us there for them,” Jolie told the BBC.
Tags: Culture | Movies | hollywood | Celebrity | Angelina Jolie | actor | Brangelina | acting | angelina jolie retires | jolie retirement
Miriam Makeba Public Memorial Planned for Saturday
A public memorial will be held in Johannesburg on Saturday for acclaimed South African singer and activist Miriam Makeba, who died last week at the age of 76.
For additional background on Miriam Makeba’s life and music, please see NowPublic’s additional coverage by djbatman and reggaewire.
A memorial service for South African singer Miriam Makeba, who died last weekend after a concert in Italy, will be held on Saturday in Johannesburg.
The service, which Makeba’s family will attend, is also open to the public.
It will take place in the Coca Cola Dome, one of South Africa’s top concert venues, with room for 20,000.
Tags: France | Culture | Music | Africa | Italy | Johannesburg | South Africa | Singer | Miriam Makeba | Public memorial | makeba memorial | miriam makeba music
Abby Elliott and Michaela Watkins Join SNL Cast
How Many SNL Comedians Does it Take to Replace Amy Poehler?
Two, in fact.
Abby Elliott (daughter of comedic actor Chirs Elliott) and Michaela Watkins will both join the cast of Saturday Night Live beginning this weekend.
With the inevitable Poehler/Fey as Clinton/Palin comparisons to come, it will be interesting to see if a post-election and pro-Obama SNL can be just as funny and, more importantly to the network, just as popular as it has been in recent months.
Tune in to NBC on Saturday night to see how the new cast members fare.
“Saturday Night Live,” feeling the loss of Tina Fey and now Amy Poehler, has added two women to its roster—Abby Elliott and Michaela Watkins.
“SNL” bypassed Second City to find the pair, instead dipping into the talent pools of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and the Groundlings Theater.Elliott, the daughter of onetime Letterman sidekick Chris Elliott and granddaughter of veteran comic Bob Elliott (of “Bob and Ray” fame), is from Wilton, Conn. She worked at the improv theater founded by Poehler, L.A.’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. She also trained at the Groundlings Theater in L.A. According to reports, she does impressions of Drew Barrymore and Chicagoan Joan Cusack.
Michaela Watkins was born in Syracuse, N.Y., and raised in Boston, NBC says. She is a Groundlings Theater alum as well, and has appeared on CBS’ sitcom “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” where she played Matthew’s girlfriend (right).
Tags: New York | Culture | snl | Saturday Night Live | Second City | Tina Fey | Amy Poehler | Abby Elliott | Michaela Watkins
50 Cent ‘Self Destruct’ Album Pushed Back to 2009
50 Cent is opting out of a repeat album release battle with rap rival Kanye West and pushing his new album, Self Destruct, back to 2009.
Fiddy claims this is in order to give his fans “something more for their hard earned dollars”.
That “something more” looks to be a couple of bonus DVDs: one honouring the life of deceased Run-DMC member Jam Master Jay, who was apparently a friend and mentor to 50 Cent, and the other to be a theatrical “Self Destruct” DVD starring Mr. Half a Dollar.
Who knows whether this will have any impact on the sales of the album. After all, this is coming from the same rapper who said he’d retire from rap if he was outsold by Kanye the last go round.
He was outsold. He didn’t retire. And now here he is, pushing his album back to ‘09. Go figure.
Mega rap star 50 Cent has decided to push his highly anticipated album Before I Self Destruct to next year.
The platinum-selling artist will leave fans waiting a bit longer as he moves his fourth and final Interscope solo project back from its’ original release date in December. However, the rapper-turned-actor will also be offering fans a bonus DVD to accompany the deluxe edition album called Two Turntables and a Microphone: The Life and Death of Jam Master Jay Documentary. In addition to the doc, 50 will also include a full-length, theatrical DVD, sharing the same name as the album title, written, directed and starring himself.
“Times are hard,” 50 said in a statement. “Everyone is trying to make the most of what they have. I want to give my fans something extra for their hard earned dollars. They’ll get a free bonus when the pick up the album.”
Tags: Culture | Music | DVD | 50 Cent | rap | hip-hop | 50 cent self destruct | 50 cent album 2009 | self destruct release date | jam master jay | run dmc
Kanye West Arrested In LA Over Paparazzi Clash
Kanye is allegedly at it again with the paparazzi and, this time, he’s been arrested in LA on suspicion of vandalism.
Police say they have arrested Kanye West at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of vandalism after an altercation with a photographer.
An airport spokesman says police also arrested West’s bodyguard shortly before 8 a.m. on Thursday.
Tags: Culture | Los Angeles | Photographer | LAX | paparazzi | Kanye West | kanye west arrested | alteraction | kanye los angeles
