LA LGBT GREENS/OUT AGAINST WAR NEWSLETTER, JUNE, 2014-COME MARCH WITH US IN LGBT PRIDE!

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LOS ANGELES LGBT GREENS/OUT AGAINST WAR, 923 Levering Avenue Unit 102, Los Angeles CA 90024. Editor:Shane Que Hee. Phone: (310)208-1624; lgbtg...@hotmail.com; oa...@hotmail.com 
Other: www.cagreens.org/lacounty; www.gp.org; www.losanglesgreens.org; www.campusgreens.org; www.cagreens.org; www.greens.org; www.lavendergreens.org;
lavende...@green.gpus.org; lavender-...@green.gpus.org
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LA LGBT  GREENS/OUT AGAINST WAR  NEWSLETTER  JUNE 2014  Volume 14  #6

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SAME SEX MARRIAGE:
  A judge OKed same sex marriage in Arkansas but the state has appealed but this will not prevent marriages from occurring and some 200 marriages were legalized on May 12 as they were halted on May 16 (LAT May 10 AA2;May 13 A8;May 15 AA2;May 17 AA2). The suit was brought by 12 same sex couples who wanted to wed, and 8 same sex couples who were already married but who wanted the state to recognize their marriage.  The laws banning same sex marriage was passed by state lawmakers in 1997 and a constitutional amendment was also passed by voters in 2004.
   A judge declared in Idaho that the state’s ban on same sex marriage was unconstitutional in ca case filed by 4 couples (Time May 26 p10;  LAT May 14 AA2;May 16 AA2). The Governor filed a stay and an appeal. Marriages were stayed.
   A Lesbian navy vet Madelynn Taylor, 74, is fighting an Idaho law that forbids her to be buried with her spouse (married in California in 2008), Jean Mixner, who died in 2012 (LAT May 19 A5).
   Five couples filed suit on May 12 to overturn Alaska’s 1998 amendment that banned same sex marriage (Time May 26 p10).  North Dakota and Montana are the only US states where similar bans have not been challenged.
   Same sex couples began marrying in Oregon on May 19 after a judge agreed with the suit brought by 4 couples (LAT May 20 A6). Oregon is the 18th state to legalize same sex marriage, the District of Columbia also allowing it.
   A promo for The Case Against 8 appeared in Advocate June/July p32.
   Another same sex marriage ban fell on May 20, this time in Pennsylvania (Time June 2 p5; LAT May 21 A6;May 22 A9;May 25 A10). The state Atty General, a Democrat, will not appeal, and the Republican governor decided not to. The plaintiffs were 11 couples.  All the northeast states now allow same sex marriage. Marriages began as did same sex divorces (LAT May 25 A10).
    Republican Senator Orrin Hatch conceded that it was a matter of time before same sex marriage would be legal in the U.S. (LAT May 29 AA2).
Other:  LAT May 15 A17(cartoon); Advocate June/July p60-64; FILA May 29 p25
 

LGBT  NEWS
INTERNATIONAL  
   The Vatican continued its investigation into the sex abuses of its priests as the U.N. panel on torture entered the fray (LAT May 4 A4;May 6 A3).
    The Brunei adoption of sharia that includes death for sodomy was protested and boycotted throughout the world in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hotel Bel-Air (LAT May 6 A1; FILA May 15 p18).
    Journalist Glenn Greenwald published No Place to Hide:Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State (LAT May 13 D1).
    Conchita Wurst aka Tom Neuwirth said ‘I’m just a singer in a fabulous dress, with great hair, and a beard.” after he won the Eurovision song contest in Copenhagen on May 10 (Time May 26 p8; FILA May 15 p21).
   Types of African homosexuality were explored in Advocate June/July p22;. FILA May 15 p19.
   The homophobic history of the Boy Scouts was sketched in Advocate June/July p27.
   Scholarly items on the costs of homophobia are now appearing (Advocate June/July p28).
   Homophobia in English soccer was profiled in Advocate June/July p40.
   The numbered 1899 copy of Oscar Wilde’s annotated copy given to his jailer after his 2 years of hard jail labor from Nov 1895 will br auctioned on June 18 by Bonham in London (LAT May 27 D5).
   The LGBT aspects of the Soccer World Cup in Brazil were discussed in FILA May 29 p58, Winger Robbie Rogers (U.S., 2010), and out retired players Olivier Rouyer (France,1978) and Thomas Hitzlsperger (Germany,2006) were profiled.
    The LGBT scene in India was discussed in FILA May 15 p42.
    World LGBT pride celebrations were summarized in FILA May 15 p57.

NATIONAL
   The race for the 52nd Congressional District is very open and is one that include Gay Republican Carl DeMaio who is the companion of the publisher of the San Diego Gay and Lesbian News,  Jonathan Hale (LAT May 5 AA1).  DeMaio has polarized people and also has accepted Koch Bros funds.  The Victory Fund refused to endorse DeMaio for not being forthcoming on support of LGBT rights including being against Prop 8.  The incumbent is center-leaning Democrat Scott Peters, and there are 2 other Republican opponents.

   Transgenders were frontpage news in the Transgender Tipping Point issue of Time June 9 pp38-46. Among the transgenders mentioned were: Laverne Cox (Orange Is The New Black); Paisley Currah (Professor, Brooklyn College, City University of New York); Christine Jorgenson (the 1st high profile public trannie, 1952); Jamison Green (President, World Professional Association for Transgender Health); Susan Styrker (professor of woman’s and gender studies, U Arizona); Ashton Lee (Manteca, California transitioner); Cassidy Lynn  Campbell (Huntington Beach, CA, prom queen and her similar friend Victoria Avalos); Mara Keisling (executive director, National Center for Transgender Equality); Rose Hayes (San Francisco, software engineering director at Google); Teagan Widmer (computer programmer, Berkeley, CA); Jamie Ewing (former soldier discharged under DADT and now defense contractor); Mac Davis (schoolkid of Tacoma, Washington);
   Paul Masvidal, 43, and Sean Reinert, 42, of the Gay heavy metal band Cynic founded in 1991 were profiled in LAT May 8 A1. Cynic went on hiatus in 1994 but resurrected in 2006.  They were also members of Death.  The 1st openly Gay metal band star was Rob Halford of Judas Priest. He came out in 1998.  The 1st Gay Goth band leader was Gaahl of Gorgoroth.  They headline at the El Rey on Wilshire Blvd on July 12.
   The Hollywood casting couch re would-be actors being sexually exploited in return for acting promises continued in the case of acting aspirant Michael Egan, 31, now resident of Las Vegas (LAT May 10 D1; Out June/July p68; FILA May 15 p61). Egan sued 4 Hollywood elites including director Bryan Singer, and Hollywood executives Garth Ancier, David Neuman, and Gary Goddard.  He had already, as early as 2000 (when he was 17), filed suit of sexual abuse against 3 other men, Marc Collin-Rector, Chad Shackley, and Brock Pierce, for molestation when he was 15.  He and 2 co-plaintiffs won that case for $4.5 million after the accused did not respond to the charges.  Egan’s suit, filed in Hawaii where there is no statute of limitations, inspired another lawsuit by an anonymous 25 yr old British national on May 7.  The sexual exploitation of “pretty young things” is a well known open secret in Hollywood.
    Michael Sam of the U Missouri became the NFL’s 1st openly active Gay player when drafted by the St Louis Rams as the 249th selection in the 7th round on May 10 (Time May 26 p5;  LAT May 11 C1;  FILA May 15 p17,18). He cried when given the news.  Former Minnesota Vikings punter and outspoken Gay ally Chris Kluwe tweeted at one stage: “Michael Sam still not drafted? Clearly teams are worried about the fact a Gay player terrifies them…I mean his intangibles.”  Some 256 players were drafted, and the Rams selected Sam via a compensatory pick­no trading is allowed. NBA’s Jason Collins also congratulated Sam.  Kluwe, 32,  was also the subject of another profile (LAT May 12  C1).
    The love letters of Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy were published as The Animals: Love Letters between Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy, edited by Katherine Bicknell (LAT May 11 E8; Out June/July p14,60). They met on a Santa Monica beach in 1952, Isherwood (“Dobbin”) being 49 and Bachardy (“Kitty”) 18, and were still together, despite squalls and free love, in 1986 when Isherwood died.
    The 71 yr old opponent of Clay Aiken in the congressional primary in North Carolina died in a fall on May 12 leaving the former American Idol finalist as the sole Democratic Party contender alive in the primary but is still the underdog in the Nov runoff to the Republican incumbent Rep Reece Ellmers (Time May 26 p10;  LAT May 13 A6; FILA May 15 p18;May 29 p147).
    The art of Andy Warhol continues to collect high prices, topping over $100 million onone auction day (LAT May 15 D2).  
    Oprah Winfrey network announced it would produce a documentary series on the life of Michael Sam, the 1st open Gay Male NBA player (LAT May 15 D2).
    The forthcoming film of the play The Normal Heart by ACT-UP founder Larry Kramer was profiled in LAT May 18 D1; Out June/July p64,98; FILA May 15 p35;May 29 p23..
    A backlash against same sex marriage gains relative to the LGBT civil rights movement was the worry of Advocate June/July p18.
    Lesbian Houston mayor Annise Parker was profiled in Advocate June/July p66;FILA May 29 p25.
    LGBT Pride in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, pop. 2,000, was examined in Advocate June/July p48.
    The Harvey Milk stamp was unveiled on May 22, Harvey Milk day in California (LAT May 23 AA3; FILA May 29 p23).
    The role of Perez Hilton in raking internet blogging about stars like Tom Cruise was explored in LA Weekly May 23 p15.

CALIFORNIA
    Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) shepherded a bill 26-8 through the state Senate that allows a “kill switch” be installed on cell phones to allow disabling the phone if stolen (LAT May 9 AA1). The bill is to go tom the Assembly.
    Toni Atkins of San Diego was sworn in on May 12 as the 1st Lesbian speaker of the California Assembly succeeding the 1st open Gay male Speaker, John Perez (LAT May 13 AA1;May 26 A14;  Daily Bruin May 13 p3; FILA May 15 p20). Her spouse is Jennifer LeSar. 
    Outgoing California Speaker John Perez , the 1st out Gay male Speaker, received a rousing sendoff that doubled as endorsement for his race for State Controller in the June top two primary (LAT May 26 A17). FILA May 29 p41 also had a profile.

LOS ANGELES
In its People 2014, LA Weekly May 16 profiled the following open LGBTs: rapper Brooke Candy (p46); Celebration Theatre’s Michael Shepherd and Michael Matthews (p105) now performing at the Los Feliz Metropolitan Community Church; and ballet dancer/master Charlie Hodges of LA Dance Project (p112). 
    John Duran, 54, also HIV positive, (now on WeHo City Council­since 2001) was profiled in his race for election as Zev Yaroslavsky’s replacement as LA County Supervisor (LAT May 5 AA1;May 16 A15; FILA May 29 p42). He characterized himself as being “right of center” and  the only Latino/a,  whereas his major Democratic Party opponents in this “non-partisan” race Sheila Kuehl and Bobby Shiver, he labeled “traditional liberals.” There are 5 other candidates. The LA Times endorsed Duran (LAT May 15 A16;May 19 AA1;May 23 AA3).
   UCLA had a Safe Sex promotion week (Daily Bruin May 5 p1).
   The alternative night scene was covered (LA Weekly May 9 p64;May 16  p176;May 23 p62;    May 30 p59).
   The annual AIDS benefit S.T.A.G.E. (Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event) Goes to the Movies is having its 30th benefit (LAT May 7 D3). It was begun in 1984 by actors Michael Kearns and James Carroll Pickett and journalist/director David Galligan, who then elisted producer Susan Obrow.  The show was at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on Wilshire Blvd on May 10, and featured Richard Chamberlain, Mitzi Gaynor, James Darren, Helen Reddy, Rex Reed, Rona Barrett, Jason Gould, and Debby Boone, amongst others.
   The Dustin Lance Black commencement speaker contretemps with his alma mater Pasadena College received more attention as Rev Eric Walsh the homophobic replacement commencement speaker resigned officially on May 14 as Pasadena Health Director and his new job offer was withdrawn (LAT May 15 AA6;May 17 AA3;   ;Campus Circle May 8 p4).
   Young African-American Gay men and HIV infection was discussed in LA Weekly May 9 p15. Young Black Gay men are 3 times more likely to become HIV infected than White Gay men.  Some quoted in the article included: Black Gay activist Jeffrey King; AIDS Healthcare Foundation executive director Michael Weinstein; Black Gay physician Dr. Wilbert Jordan of OASIS Clinic (running since 1984); Black Gay activist Phill Wilson of the Black AIDS Institute; Black Gay Gregorio Millet of the White House’s Office of National AIDS Policy; Rev Carl Bean of Unity Fellowship Church and the Minority AIDS Project; Black Gay football player Nichael Sam of the U of Missouri; Gay Black NBA basketball player Jason Collins of the Brooklyn Nets; Black Gay Greg Wilson, deputy Director of Reach LA; Catch One disco.
    Lesbian Black Panther activist and former Communist Party member Angela Davis who was fired as  UCLA professor for being a member of the Communist Party in 1970 spoke at UCLA’s Royce Hall on May 8 (Daily Bruin May 9 p1).
    Sheila Kuehl and John Duran were highlighted in their race to replace Zev Yaroslavsky as LA County Supervisor as Mayor Garcetti and Supervisor Molina  endorsed Duran (LAT May 11 A25;May 12 AA1;May 29 AA3; FILA May 29 p23,24).
     Huell Howser’s California Explorations, his art work, rapes, videos, 2 houses, money, and papers, found a home at Chapman University (LAT May 24 D1). Howser died in Jan 2013 at age 67.
    The Groundlings Theater at 7307 Melrose, the 1st Improv Comedy organization, celebrated the 40th anniversary of its founding on May 20 by featuring alumni (LAT May 25 E1). Some LGBT ones included Pee Wee Herman (Paul Reubens), Actor Tim Matheson, Cassandra Peterson (Elvira, Mistress of the Night), Tracy Newman (now writer for Ellen and producer for Cheers), and fan Lily Tomlin.  The Groundlings was started by Gary Austin of the San Francisco group The Committee. in a Hollywood Theater.  The celebrations continue through to July 12.
   The American-Mexican Lesbian punk rock band La Bucherettes was profiled in LAT May 25 E1 with its stars Teri Gender Bender (Teresa Suarez), 24, and drummer Lia Braswell. The latest album is Cry Is For The Flies, released May 15.
   The AIDS Healthcare Foundation succeeded on May 27 in persuading the LA City Council to create a City Health Commission to review health services contracts (LAT May 28 A10).
Other:  La Cucaracha, LAT May 19 D9 (on the causes of earthquakes and equal time);
    The history of the church building at Franklin and Kenmore (4953 Franklin) now Buddhist included LGBT episodes (LA Weekly May 30 p10). In 2008 it became home to Founders Metropolitan Community Church, under Pastor Neil Thomas, part of SoCal MCC founded by Rev Troy Perry.  The congregation moved to a larger church on Prospect Avenue in 2013.  The current Buddhist. operators who bought the building in March 2013, Kadampa Meditation Center California, have the same integration of spirituality and sexuality as MCC.
    The campaign of Jeff Prang, 51, WeHo Councilman, for LA County Assessor was noted in LA Weekly May 30 p12.  Prang, endorsed by the Democratic Party and LA Mayor Garcetti, raised $285,000, the most of any candidate.  He was affiliated with disgraced Sheriff Baca and imprisoned County Assessor Noguez.  Prang’s job in part for Noguez was to limit the damage to Noguez as the scandal with tax agent Ramin Salari unfolded.  Rival Democrat candidate Omar Haroon, who has raised $105,000, sued Prang over Prang’s ballot designation of “deputy assessor” and won, and Prang was forced to change it to “special assistant”. FILA May 15 p22; May 29 p41 also contained profiles.
    Local Gay comedian Todd Glass, 51, who came out in 2012 on the podcast WTR with Marc Maron, now hosts the Nerdist Industries podcast The Todd Glass Show (LA Weekly May 30 p33). His memoir, The Todd Glass Situation, is being published on June 3 by Simon & Schuster.  He knew he was Gay by age 13. His struggle to succeed in LA alternative and mainstream comedy scene is the story.  The alternative spots included UnCabaret, Comedy Bang! Bang!, and Comedy Death Ray. Names are dropped like Rosie O’Donnell, Brian Posehn, and Patty La Belle. 
   The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center on May 27 was renamed the Los Angeles LGBT Center (FILA May 29 p23).  The original name by founders Morris Kite and Jim Kilhefner, was the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Community Services Center.  There was a 1996 protest when the just retired name was 1st used.
   The nightclub Avalon on Vine street has been remodeled (FILA May 15 p31).
   Long Beach LGBT Pride was covered in FILA May 15 p65
   Hot Rodeo 2014 was held in Banning on May 24 (FILA May 15 p84).  It is currently the only Gay rodeo in Southern California.
   Los Angeles LGBT Pride events were summarized in FILA May 29 p103ff.

LGBT PASSINGS
   Max Reno, 84, died in the Hollywood Hills on April 15 joining his companion of 50 years, Joseph Bobitz.  He enlisted and served 3 years in the South Pacific during World War II.When he returned home he worked with the American Medical Institute Laboratories (now AMI), and stayed there for 40 years, eventually elevating to its Executive level. 
   David Carlson, 57, died of cancer in Los Angeles on Apr 30 leaving his partner of 27 years, Thierry.  He was born in Maui, Hawaii
   Roger Cook, 85, died of a heart attack in Glendale, Los Angeles on Mar 27, leaving his long-time companion of 21 years, Richard Kennedy.  He was a US Army vet of the Korean War who was awarded 2 Purple Hearts. He worked at Jersey Maid Dairy for 22 years as a printer, and then turned into a music critic.
   Liberace’s outfit designer, Michael Travis (Louis Torakis), 86, died in Studio City Los Angeles on May 1. He also designed for Diana Ross & the Supremes; Nancy Sinatra; Dionne Warwick; Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In;  and others. He was given the Costume Designers Guild Achievement Award of 2010. He served 3 years in Europe in the post World War II army, stayed on to study fashion in Paris before leaving for New York where he did costume design for plays. He moved to Los Angeles in 1960 where he worked under Edith Head in her Academy Award shows. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the late 70s, and switched to the less taxing Las Vegas shows where he collaborated with Liberace for 13 years who died in 1987. 
    Hollywood film costume designer Milton Magnum, 73, died on May 13 in Los Angeles, leaving his long-time companion, Richard Fox.
    Poetess, actress (film-Porgy & Bess- ;TV –Roots and stage-Genet’s The Blacks), singer, writer, dancer, and film director (Down In The Delta of 1998), Maya Angelou (Marguerite Annie Johnson), 86, died on May 28 in  Winston-Salem, NC.   She had an appointment with Wake University.  She had at least 3 husbands and women lovers too.  Her best known writing of some 35 books and 12 books of poetry was her memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings of 1969.  She was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2000. She was friends with James Baldwin, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr. She received the Medal of Freedom in 2011.
  
 
GREEN PARTY NEWS
INTERNATIONAL
    Climate change continued to have its opposing camps in the science versus politics realms (Time May 19 p16; LAT May 4 A24;May 7 A1;May 8 A16;May 11 A22;May 12 A8;May 16 A15;May 22 B1;May 29 B2;May 30 B1).
    The European Community continued having economic and far-right wing problems as Portugal exited its bailout program, and as elections were held for the 751-member EU legislature in Brussels (Time June 9 pp30-32;  LAT May 8 A17;May 9 A2;May 17 AA2;May 26 AA2;May 29 A13).
    Unrest continued in Venezuela (LAT May 9 A4).
    The EU definition of privacy and a person’s civil rights came under scrutiny (Time May 26 p17;  LAT May 15 A16).
    The honeymoon for Pres Pena Nieto of Mexico is over (LAT May 21 A15).
     Columbia will hold a runoff Presidential election on June 15 between current President Juan Manual Santos and right-wing businessman Oscar Ivan Zuluaga (LAT May 26 A4).  There were 5 candidates in the primary election.
 
NATIONAL   
        Fourteen of the 17 candidates vying for Henry Waxman’s Beverly Hills House of Representatives seat in the 33rd Congressional District were at a debate in Torrance on May 24 (LAT May 25 A29).  Six have raised over $100,000 from donors not themselves.  The Green Party candidate was not mentioned or noted to be present.
    While the economic outlook improved with 6.3% unemployment in April and the deficit was still $49.4 billion on March (LAT May 7 B2), there was little movement on a increase in the minimum wage (LAT May 4 A19;May 21 A15;May 27 A5,B1;May 28 A11;May 30 AA1).
    ObamaCare is still not available to citizens below 38% minimum wage level, now about $16,000 per year, in 28 states that refused to cover their poorest citizens (Time June 9 p18; LAT May 4 B1;May 6 B1;May 7 B1;May 9 A8;May 11 A1;May 14 B1;May 21 A1;May 22 B4;May 27 A1;May 30 A15(cartoon); Daily Bruin May 6 p1).
   Botching the execution by chemical administration has enhanced controversy about the death penalty (Time May 26 p40;June 9 p14;  LAT May 6 A5,A11;May 7 A11,A14;May 21 A8;May 27 A13).
   Duelling state and Federal marijuana and hash laws continued to cause problems (Time May 19 p16;June 2 p10; LAT May 8 A1,A9;May 9 A11,A12;May 11 B9;May 20 AA6;May 26 A1;May 27 A1;May 29 A6,AA3).
   Immigration reform pace was torturous (LAT May 9 A18;May 10 A1;May 14 A6;May 25 A8;    May 29 A14;May 31 A10).
   The 1st case of MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, was reported on May 9, in Munster Indiana from a man who had been in Saudi Arabia, with another similar case reported in Florida on May 12, and another US transmitted case on May 18, later retracted (Time June 2 p13; LAT May 10 A1;May 13 A6;May 19 AA2;May 22 A19;May 29 AA2).
   Police use of force has reached epidemic propositions with some pushback in places like Albuquerque (LAT May 10 A6).
   Fracking is not the only cause of microquakes­heavy pumping of groundwater may also be (LAT May 15 A1).
   Internet neutrality was still being eroded (LAT May 16 A14;May 21 B1).
   Gun control was called for again after the May 20 Santa Barbara college student massacre (Time June 9 p9,14; LAT May 28 A2,AA1;May 29 A13(cartoon);May 30 A15).

CALIFORNIA
GPCA Greens in Spring 2014 Elections –PLEASE VOTE!

At least 30 Greens are running in the spring 2014 elections with at least nine elected so far

Statewide Office (5)
Luis Rodriguez, Governor  ( endorsed by the Green Party of California)
Jena Goodman, Lt. Governor ( endorsed by the Green Party of California)
David Curtis, Secretary of State  ( endorsed by the Green Party of California)
Laura Wells, Controller  ( endorsed by the Green Party of California)
Ellen Brown, Treasurer  ( endorsed by the Green Party of California)

U.S House of Representatives (3)
Barry Hermanson, District 12 (San Francisco County)  (endorsed by the San Francisco Green Party)
Michael Powelson, District 30 (Los Angeles County)  (endorsed by the Green Party of Los Angeles County)
Ian Sachs, District 33 (Los Angeles County)  (endorsed by the Green Party of Los Angeles County)
 
State Senate (1)
Jack Lindblad, State Senate (Los Angeles County)  (endorsed by the Green Party of Los Angeles County)
State Assembly (1)
Pamela Elizondo, State Assembly, District 2 (Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Sonoma, Trinity counties)
 
County Supervisor (2)
Dan Hamburg, Board of Supervisors, District 5 (Mendicino County) - incumbent
1 candidate for 1 seat
James BrownEagle, Board of Supervisors, District 3 (Lake County)  (endorsed by the Green Party of Lake County).  6 candidates for 1 seat - election June 3
 
Community College District (2)
Marshall Blesofsky, Board of Trustees, Area #1, Long Beach Community College, Long Beach (Los Angeles County)

2nd/2 for 1 seat - 2,674 votes, 44.4%  election April 8   (endorsed by the Green Party of Los Angeles County)

 April Clary, Student Trustee, Board of Trustees, Napa Valley College, Napa (Napa County) - election May 14-15
1/st 1 for 1 seat   ELECTED
 
Town Council (1)
Annette Keenberg, Town Council, Lake Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election March 25
2 candididates for 2 seats - ELECTED through appointment because race was uncontested

 
Neighborhood Council (14)
Amelia Anderson, Region 3 Representatives, Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council,  Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election March 8
4th/4 for 2 seats, 52 votes
Eugene Hernandez, Senior Representative , Sylmar Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election March 8
2nd/2 for 1 seat, 178 votes, 38.6%  
Janine Jordan, District 4 Business Representative, Mid-Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election March 20
1st/4 candidates for 1 seat, 80 votes, 52.3%  ELECTED
Jack Lindblad, At Large Community Stakeholder, North Hollywood Northeast Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election March 20
2nd/3 candidates for 3 seats - 7 votes, 35%   ELECTED
Andrew Coffing,  Central Atwater Resident Representative, Atwater Village Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election April 12
6th/6 candidates for 2 seats - 23 votes
David Sauerwald, District 3 Representatives, Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election April 12
4th/6 candidates for 3 seats - 25 votes
Johanna A. Sanchez, Secretary, Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election April 26
1st/1 candidate for 1 seat - 248 votes, 100%  ELECTED  election April 26
Johanna A. Sanchez, At-Large Director, Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election April 26
11th/24 candidates for 14 seats - 98 votes  ELECTED
Marisol Sanchez , Area 1 Seat, Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election April 26
1st/2 candidates for 1 seat - 55 votes, 55.6%  ELECTED
Amy Sims, Mount Washington Representatives, Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election April 26
6th/6 candidates for 4 seats - 12 votes
Sylvia Aroth, Outreach Officer, Venice Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election May 18
1st/2 candidates for 1 seat, 914 votes, 83.3%  ELECTED
Beth Allyn-Eilers, At-Large Community Officer, Venice Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election May 18
27th/38 candidates for 13 seats,  17 votes
Robin Doyno, At-Large Community Officer, Mar Vista Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election May 18
4th/7 candidates for 6 seats, 118 votes    ELECTED
Elva Ortega, Community Director, Mar Vista Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) - election May 18. 2nd/2 candidates for 1 seat, 49 votes, 26.4%
 
    LAT May 4 A23 in its Editorial on Secretary of State candidates did not mention David Curtis, the California Green Party candidate.
    Laura Wells, Green party candidate for state Controller (6 candidates, one of who is openly Gay Assembly Speaker Democrat John Perez) and Ellen Brown, Green Party candidate for state Treasurer (of 3 candidates), were mentioned and provided photo profiles in LAT May 12 AA1. Both candidates got the briefest of mentions compared with the other candidates, the only equality being in the photo description captions.
   Ellen Brown, Green party candidate for state Treasurer, was mentioned but not endorsed by the LA Times and her state bank plan was called ”too risky” but she was “thoughtful”(LAT May 16 A14).
   Greens known to be running in the November elections are:

Simon Timony, Supervisor, District 8, San Francisco
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Simon-Timony-For-District-8-Supervisor-2014/640763679341261
Jason "Shake" Alexander, Mayor, Oakland (one seat)
http://www.oaklandgreens.org/local-candidates/
Michael Parker, Mayor, Richmond (one seat)
http://mikeparkerforrichmond.net/
Jane Rands, City Council, Fullerton (two seats)
http://www.janerands.com
Gayle Mclaughlin, City Council, Richmond (three seats)
http://www.mayorgayle.net/
Jack Wagner, City Council, Sonoma (three seats)
http://votejack.org/
Jonathan Mann, City Council, Santa Monica (three seats)
Jesse Townley, Rent Stablization Board, Berkeley (five seats), incumbent

 
    Mail ballots were sent out beginning May 5 for the June 3 primary (LAT May 4 A29). There are state-wise offices, 53 seats in the House of Representatives, 80 Assembly seats, 20 state Senate seats, and 2 initiatives (bond to house veterans; constitutional amendment on government and public records). All of these are under the controversial Top Two scheme, the “jungle primary” (Time May 26 p36). The voter registration deadline was May 19. Registration was also done on-line through the Secretary of State website http://registerto-vote.ca.gov .  There are just 2 initiatives: an affordable housing scheme for veterans, and a call for local governments to pay for public access to agency meetings and records (LAT May 26 AA1).

California General News:
    The economic outlook in California slowly improved as the April unemployment was 7.8% (LAT May 5 A2;May 9 AA1;May 11 A1;May 12 A2;May 13 AA1;May 15 A2;May 16 AA3; May 17 AA1,B1;May 30 A1). Apparently the wealthiest 1% (earned more than $525,000/year) paid 50.6% of the state’s taxes in 2012 and 25% of the state’s income taxes.  Some 80% of the state income tax filers earning up to $90,000 per year paid 9.4% of the state income tax. The state budget is $155 billion, and a “rainy-day” fund is envisaged for emergencies.
    Labeling of GMO-containing food in State Senate Bill 1381 (Evans-S-Santa Rosa) has been called “unscientific” (LAT May 5 A13).
    Bullet train costs and lawsuits are growing (LAT May 8 AA1;May 24 AA3;May 31 AA1).
    Battles over San Onofre and who will pick up the $4.7 billion remediation tab continued (LAT May 10 B1).  The current proposed settlement allots the damage at: $3.3 billion paid by ratepayers; and $1.4 billion by utility shareholders. An extra $4 billion plus sum is also coming due to dismantle the defunct nuclear power plant, all of it planned to be borne by ratepayers.
    Prop 13 reform was bruited again (LAT May 14 AA1).
    Affirmative action re the Asian community was still a topic of discussion (LAT May 19 A1).
    Fracking the Monterey Shale deposit is less profitable because only 600 million barrels of oil is now extractable rather than the 1st estimate of 13.7 billion barrels (LAT May 21 A1;May 22 A18,B1;May 29 AA3).
    Despite complaints, the Kettleman City solid waste dump may be expanded (LAT May 22 AA1).
    All California police officers involved in on-duty shootings must be identified unless the officer’s safety is at stake (LAT May 30 A1).

LOS ANGELES
    The Undergraduate Students Association Council of UCLA chose  ranked choice voting in its 2014 elections (Daily Bruin May 6 p4).
    The County Sheriff’s Department continued to be in the news (LAT May 5 AA3;May 7 A2; May 13 AA1;May 15 AA1;May 16 AA1;May 17 AA1;May 18 A25;May 19 A11;May 20 AA1;   May 21 AA3;May 23 AA1;May 25 A27;May 28 AA1(2),AA3;May 29 A13,AA1;May 30 A1,AA1,AA2;May 31 AA1).
    Mayor Garcetti sought to harness news events for his own benefit as his $8.1 billion budget passed the LA City Council (LAT May 5 AA3;May 8 AA1;May 22 AA3;May 27 AA3).
    The homeless continued to attract attention (LAT May 14 AA3;May 25 A29,A30(photo);  Daily Bruin May 12 p1).
    Truckers in Long Beach want to be regarded as bona fide workers not casuals (LAT May 18 A2).
    Transit continued to be a worry, but infusion of Federal funds for the Purple light rail extension from Western to La Cienega was confirmed (LAT May 23 AA1;May 28 AA1; Daily Bruin May 22 p3;May 23 p2).
    Exide was cited by EPA for excessive lead emissions (LAT May 24 AA1).
    The City of Irwindale has dropped its lawsuit against its sriracha factory the latter being a focus for complaints about smells and inducing crying (LAT May 30 AA3).
 
 
OUT AGAINST WAR
    LGBT Greens-Out Against War will have a contingent in the Sun June 8 LA LGBT Pride (Christopher Street West) Parade. Ask for our contingent number at the Romaine St/Crescent Heights check-in by 10a.  We are staged on South Crescent Heights (south of Santa Monica Blvd).  After the Parade we will ear at our traditional meeting place at Flavor of India, 9045 Santa Monica Blvd.  Please bring your banners, friends, and energy. 
    Chelsea Manning will be transferred to a civilian prison to facilitate her transgender transition, a course opposed by her lawyers because of security reasons (LAT May 15 AA2).
    A Lesbian Navy volunteer, Tome Muir, in 1980 on Florida when she was 18 was let go under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell one year later because she was a Lesbian (Out June/July p57). Though 53 now and living in Washington State, she wants her discharge to be changed to honorable to be able to have her benefits.
 
WAR NEWS
INTERNATIONAL
  Then use of drones in places where Al Qaeda is suspected like Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, and Nigeria now is beset by internal disagreements between the CIA and the military (LAT May 11 A4;May 13 A4(2);May 20 AA2).
  Sectarian killings continued in Iraq as current prime minister Nouri Malilki was reelected in the 1st election since the U.S. withdrawal in 2011 (LAT May 11 A4;May 28 AA2).
  The CIA and the military disagreed over Afghanistan as the Spring Taliban offensive began and as the runoff Presidential election was set for June 14, as Obama visited Bagram Air Base on Memorial Day and announced that 9,800 troops would stay to “help” the country (Time June 9 p13; LAT May 9 A1;May 12 A3;May 18 A1;May 26 A3;May 27 A6;May 28 A1,A10).
  Pakistan continued to experience violence (LAT May 8 AA2;May 9 A4;May 16 AA2;May 22 AA2;May 27 AA2;May 29 A4).
  Bashar Assad will face 2 opponents in Syria’s next Presidential election on June 3 (Time May 26 p8;June 2 p9;June 9 pp20-29;  LAT May 5 A3), as violence continued (May 6 A4;May 8 A3;May 9 A3;May 10 A2 (photo);May 11 A7;May 12 A1;May 13 A3;May  18 A19;May 19 A3; May 20 A3;May 21 A1; May 23 A3,AA2;May 24 A6;May 25 A4;May 27 A4;May 28 A1; May 29 A3). Some162,000 have been killed in the civil war as of April 30 2014 (Time June 2 p8).
  Trials in Egypt continued as more arrests occurred, as former Pres Mubarak and his sons were found guilty of embezzlement, and elections were held for a new President on May 24 (Time June 2 p8;June 9 p13;  LAT May 4 A6;May 11 A4;May 19 A1;May 22 A3;May 25 A1;May 27 A3;May 28 A3;May 29 A4).  Field Marshal Abdel Fatah Sisi became the new President by a landslide, as expected (LAT May 30 A3).
  Ahmed Matiq is the next prime minister of Libya after some chaotic backroom deals in tune with the chaos and civil war after the murder of despot Muammar Gadafi in 2011, these also continuing after his naming, as an army chief rebelled claiming he would provide stability (LAT May 5 A3;May 17 AA2;May 19 A4;May 20 AA2;May 21 A4;May 22 A4;May 26 AA2;May 30 A15).
   The nuclear deal with Iran had hit predictable hurdles as Iran refused to stop uranium enrichment (LAT May 11 A3;May 14 A3;May 17 AA2;May 22 A3;May 24 A8).
   Israel and the Palestinians continued their death of death with both sides wanting untenable minimum goals as the Pope called for a 2-state solution (Time June 9 p13; LAT May 11 A22;May 12 A3;May 18 A21(2);May 20 A1;May 22 AA2; Daily Bruin May 19 p1,4; May 22 p5;May 23 p4;May 26 A3;  May 27 p5).
  The Ukraine continued to be a hot spot as separatist referenda occurred, skirmishes with pro-Russian dissenters increased, and the new President from 21 contenders was to be elected on May 25 (Time May 19 p30-35;May 26 p6,8;June 2 p9;June 9 p12;  LAT May 4 A3;May 5 A1;May 6 A3; May 7 A3;May 8 A4;May 9 A3;May 10 A3,AA2;May 11 A3;May 12 A3;May 13 A4;May 14 A3;May 15 A3;May 16 A4;May 17 A1;May 20 A3;May 21 A3,A14; May 23 A3;May 24 A4; May 25 A3(2);May 26 A1;May 27 A4,A13;May 28 A3,A11;May 31 A3). The election of millionaire candymaker Petro Poroshemko as President brought more violence as he also sought to negotiate with Putin (LAT May 27 A1).
   Force feeding prisoners at Guantanamo, with 150 still on hunger strike, was in the news (LAT May 18 A15;May 24 A12)
   Cyberspying is a concern (LAT May 30 AA2).

NATIONAL/STATE/LOCAL
   Commercial drone use is still lagging due to the slowness of the Federal Aviation Administration while drone use was banned in 2 National Parks (Time May 19 p16;  LAT May 5 A1;May 14 B4). Drone use by the LAPD is at hand (LAT May 31 AA3).
   The legal basis for targeting terrorists abroad by drones will be disclosed (LAT May 21 A19).
   The Sep 11 2011 Benghazi incident continued to inflame the Republicans hoping to find  something to tar Hillary Clinton with (LAT May 6 A11 (cartoon);May 9 AA2;May 10 A12;May 12 A13;May 16 A15(cartoon);May 19 A11(cartoon)).
   Does the Government or the citizens own their private data? Do private firms have the right to sell your private personal data? (LAT May 6 B1;May 18 A1).
   The Boston Marathon bombing case continued its slow progress (LAT May 7 A8;May 8 AA2;   May 13 A1;May 22 AA6;May 23 A16;May 31 A7).
   Former UCLA professor, radical, former communist party member, and Black Panther Lesbian Angela Davis was profiled in a hyped return (LAT May 7 A15; Daily Bruin May 8 p1;May 9 p1).
   Capital in the Twenty-first Century by Thomas Piketty, 43, has been dubbed Marx 2.0 (Time May 19 p46). It (in 650 pages) explores “does inequality diminish as the economy improves?”
   The NSA incident and Edward Snowden were dissected by books and documentaries as the legislative sequelae unfolded (LAT May 13 D1,D5;May 22 A7;May 23 A1;May 24 D2).
    Supporters are allowed to legally stand closer to the President than peaceful protestors according to the Supreme Court (LAT May 28 A9).
    Obama in a West Point graduation address, defended his foreign policy of restraint (Time June 9 p9; LAT May 29 A2).
 

OCCUPY
NATIONAL
   Wells Fargo settled its  ‘robo-signing” lawsuits for $67 million (LAT May 24 AA5).  The suits arose over dictated signings for Wells Fargo officials who had no knowledge of the mortgage transactions.


LAVENDER GREENS MISSION STATEMENT(June 24 2003):
The National Lavender Green Caucus (NLGC) is the Green Party's advocacy group on gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (GLBTIQ) issues. NLGC works for the elimination of heterosexism and all its manifestations such as homophobia, violence, prejudice, and injustice against GLBTIQ communities. NLGC also works for the elimination of racism and sexism and all their manifestations in GLBTIQ communities and in society as a whole, and our work is centered in ten key values and four pillars of the Green Party of the United States. The caucus recognizes that freedom and social justice for GLBTIQ individuals will only come with the liberation of all people, and we actively view ourselves as a part of a broader movement for social justice.


EVENTS:
ANTIWAR VIGILS:
Fridays 5-7p at Vista Theater at Sunset Bl./Hollywood Bl./Hillhurst Av./Virgil Av. junction; Echo Park, intersection of Glendale/Alvarado, S of the #2 freeway entrance; 5-6p at Pico/La Cienega; 6.30-7.30p at Mar Vista Park at Palms/McLaughlin.
ARLINGTON WEST MEMORIAL AT SANTA MONICA PIER BEACH: Sundays until Troops Come Home, 7:30-9:30a to 6:00-7:00 p at Santa Monica Pier (North Side)
OCCUPY LOS ANGELES GENERAL ASSEMBLIES, Mon, Wed, Fri 7:30-10:30p; Sat 4p-7p, Pershing Square. www.occupylosangeles.org
OCCUPY VENICE GENERAL ASSEMBLIES, https://www.facebook.com/OccupyVeniceCA

HELP CHELSEA MANNING
Sign the Chelsea Manning Presidential pardon at http://pardon.privatemanning.org
Write a letter for clemency for Chelsea Manning.  Directions and information are at http://www.privatemanning.org/featured/write-a-letter-supporting-pvt-mannings-request-for-clemency .   The letters must be printed, signed, then scanned (so that they have the signature) in pdf format, and e mailed to nat...@privatemanning.org . 
 
We also recommend general support of Trayvon Martin and anti-Syria War related actions.
 
Sun June 8 10a Crescent Heights/Romaine St: LA LGBT PRIDE.   Meet to march in the LA LGBT GREENS/OUT AGAINST WAR contingent in Christopher Street West, LA’s LGBT Pride Parade.  Green Party Candidate for Secretary of State David Curtis will be marching too.  Step-off is at 11a. 
PLEASE CHECK IN BY 10A AT THE ROMAINE-CRESCENT HEIGHTS CHECKPOINT.  ASK FOR LGBT GREENS-OUT AGAINST WAR’S PARADE STAGING NUMBER. WE ARE STAGED ON SOUTH CRESCENT HEIGHTS (SOUTH OF SANTA MONICA BLVD).  Please RSVP at lgbtg...@hotmail.com or oa...@hotmail.com if intending to march.  PLEASE BRING ALONG YOUR BANNERS & LITERATURE.

Sat-Sun June 21/22, 9a-5p,  GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY, University of California at Santa Barbara: Santa Rosa Dorm Formal Lounge, Isla Vista http://www.conferences.ucsb.edu/santa-rosa.  For the Agenda see: http://www.cagreens.org/ga/2014-06/agenda-draft-to-counties. 
To register see: https://cagreens.nationbuilder.com/reg_ga_jun2014
 
Mon Aug 25-Mon Sep 1 2014  International Radical Faerie Gathering and International Issues for Queer People Globally Symposium (3 days) on the State of Queer Rights Around the Globe: Saratoga Springs Community Retreat Center, Saratoga Springs, Northern California.  NOTAFLOF Registration required. More info:www.globalfaeriegathering.org, Terry@satoga springs.com or Terrypc...@gmail.com
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