Marriage Equality Supporters Celebrate U.S. Supreme Court Rulings @ The Grand
by Joe Mello
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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." 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:
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