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Marriage Equality Supporters Celebrate U.S. Supreme Court Rulings @ The Grand

by Joe Mello
LBREPORT.com Community Correspondent



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(June 26, 2013, 11:26 p.m.) -- An exuberant crowd of over 500 people converged on The Grand Event Center tonight (June 26) for a free public event organized by Long Beach's LGBTQ Center to celebrate U.S. Supreme Court rulings earlier that day which ended CA's voter-enacted (Nov. 2008) Prop 8 and struck down down portions of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Photo by Joe Mello

LBREPORT.com carried LIVE VIDEO of the event and now offers on-demand VIDEO excerpts (LIVE streaming video by Joe Mello) plus on-scene still photos and webcast screen-saves.

The celebratory event, organized by Long Beach's LGBTQ Center, was wedding themed. The Center's Ron Sylvester offered champagne toasts...(webcast screen save, right)

...with same sex figures atop a large wedding cake.


Photo by Joe Mello

Photo by Joe Mello

Screen save from webcast

Those speaking from the podium included Vice Mayor Robert Garcia...(webcast screen save, right)

...and Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske (Long Beach's first openly gay elected official) (photo right courtesy Justin Rudd via his Facebook page)

Other speakers included [not a complete list] a representative of the ACLU [who predicted today's rulings would help in advancing rights for other groups], Signal Hill Mayor Mike Noll and Councilman Larry Forester and Cory Allen, President of the LB Lamda Democratic Club and field representative for state Senator Ricardo Lara.

Also present (not a complete list of electeds) was Councilman Gary DeLong, LBCC Trustee Roberto Uranga and spouse/former Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga.

A number of speakers noted that despite the day's Supreme Court rulings, same sex couples in over thirty states do not have the right to marry, and speakers said they would continue to press to make marriage equality lawful nationwide.

The event included a ceremonial "first dance" for committed couples...and the song played was Etta James' "At Last."



Webcast screen saves

ON-DEMAND VIDEO excerpts below:

Ron Sylvester, Long Beach LGBTQ Center:


Video streaming by Ustream

Long Beach Vice Mayor Robert Garcia:


Video streaming by Ustream

Councilman Patrick O'Donnell, and Individual Speakers: "Tale of Two Couples" (One Gay, One Straight)


Video streaming by Ustream

Community Activist Brad Shore And Volunteer Leader With Human Rights Campaign


Video streaming by Ustream


Related LBREPORT.com Coverage:

  • Marriage Equality Supporters Invite Public To Free Event Tonight @ The Grand; LBREPORT.com Will Carry LIVE WEBCAST VIDEO
    AND
  • What's Next For Marriages in CA; UPDATE: Includes Letter From CA Att'y Gen'l Harris to Gov. Brown With Instructions To County Clerks re Same Sex Marriages; At News Conference, AG Harris Urges 9th Circuit To Lift Stay Immediately by Joe Mello, LBREPORT.com Community Correspondent
    AND
  • Reactions As Received To U.S. Supreme Court Rulings On Prop 8 and Defense of Marriage Act
    AND
  • CA Same Sex Marriage Pioneer Robin Tyler Pleased With Prop 8 Outcome For CA, But Urges Continued Focus On Ensuring Marriage Equality Nationwide AND
  • CA's Prop 8 (Banning Same Sex Marriage) And Fed'l Defense of Marriage Act (Barring Fed'l Benefits For Same Sex Couples) Are Dead; See Full U.S. Supreme Court Rulings Here

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