Rev. Ed Bacon of All Saints Church Talks Same-Sex Marriage With Oprah Winfrey

The Rev. Ed Bacon of the 4,000-member All Saints Church in Pasadena, Calif., told Oprah Winfrey this past Sunday that, if same-sex marriage were to become a dominant force in the United States, the institution of marriage would be "enriched" and not crumble, as some might fear.

"So a lot of people were afraid that this meant that the institution of marriage as we know it would fall apart," Winfrey told her panelists on this past weekend's "Super Soul Sunday" program. "Does this mean if gay marriage is legalized in more than 12 states, if it becomes a dominant force in the United States, does that mean that the institution of marriage has to be reexamined?"

"It's gonna be enriched," said the Rev. Bacon, who told Winfrey in 2009 that "being gay is a gift from God."

"I've never had a straight couple come to me and say, 'My marriage is in trouble because of the gay couple living next door.' To the contrary, I've had people come to me and say, 'Because of the love between Bob and Joe, I have learned how better to love my wife or my husband," he added.

The Episcopal priest, who was joined on the OWN network program by fellow guests Elizabeth Lesser and Mark Nepo, said he has officiated wedding ceremonies for "lots of" gay couples. Citing examples from his own parish, Bacon added that he believes exposure, such as heterosexual and homosexual couples worshipping together, helps to facilitate acceptance of the "other," in this case, gays and lesbians.

"The institution of marriage is already in trouble, long before gays were getting married," added Lesser, with Winfrey adding that "maybe the gay people can help it."

Robbie Rogers Takes Field and Gets Standing Ovation

Robbie Rogers made history on Sunday as the first openly gay man to play in a game in U.S. professional sports. If there was any concern about whether fans would be supportive, it was eased as the crowd stood and cheered wildly when Rogers took the field during the second half of the L.A. Galaxy's 4-0 win over the Seattle Sounders.

Rogers signed with the Galaxy on Saturday after training with the team for a month, and his first game came the next day in front of more than 24,000 fans. Upon coming out in February, Rogers had retired from the sport, saying it was time to "discover myself."

Brokeback Mountain Suite - Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles

What I Cannot Change - LeAnn Rimes + Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles

Moon Amtrack

White Trash Medley - Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles

Los Angeles mayor Villaraigosa joins campaign for marriage equality

Top Ten Questions about God, Jesus, the Bible and Gay Pride

In preparation for our L.A. Pride Festival this weekend, the team putting together the materials for our Diocese of Los Angeles booth at the festival came up with the following ten "frequently asked questions about God, Jesus, the Bible and gay people" -- and asked me to give them my best shot. And so I did.

Have I mentioned lately that I love my job?

1. Is being gay a sin?
No. Sins are acts that separate us from God and keep us from loving our neighbors as ourselves. Being gay is not a sin. Bullying is a sin. Being hateful to other people is a sin. Putting yourself in the place of God to judge others is a sin. Being gay is not.

2. What did Jesus say about gay people?
Jesus said the same thing about gay people as he said about all people: God loves you beyond your wildest imagining and calls you to walk in love with God and with each other. He also said a whole lot about loving your neighbor, welcoming the stranger, embracing the outcast and ministering to the marginalized.

3. Does the Bible really condemn homosexuality?
The short answer is no; no it does not. The handful of passages in the Old and New Testaments that talk about God condemning specific sexual acts have nothing whatsoever to do with sexual orientation and everything to do with contexts such as cultic prostitution or gang rape. To put it another way, using the Bible as a handbook on human sexuality makes as much sense as using it as a handbook on astronomy. Just as those who wrote the Biblical texts had no concept of the science that would prove the earth actually revolves around the sun, so they had no concept of homosexuality (which wasn't defined until the 19th century.)

4. How do I respond when people say "God hates "f--s"?
First of all, God's nature is to love, not to hate. We believe that what God cares about is not our sexual orientation but our theological orientation -- and that the question that matters is not "who do you love?" but "do you love?" Recognizing that homophobia causes some folks to project onto God their own fears, prejudices and biases against LGBT people, sometimes the best response is simply no response. It can be a challenge, but getting triggered by hate-mongers prevents us from being the change we want to see.

5. I thought gay men and women weren't allowed to be priests?
The Episcopal Church has been ordaining women to the priesthood since 1974 and we have women deacons, priests and bishops throughout the church -- including two women bishops here in the Diocese of Los Angeles. When it comes to gay men in the priesthood, the issue is not homosexuality -- it is honesty. The church has ordained gay men for centuries but finally the Episcopal Church added "sexual orientation" in the non-discrimination list in 1994 -- ending our version of "don't ask/don't tell." Because the Episcopal Church allows for diversity of practice, the leadership of "out" LGBT and women clergy is more prevalent in some places than others. But the Diocese of Los Angeles is proud to have been in the forefront of inclusion.

6. Can I still receive Communion in your church if I am gay?
Of course you can. In many of our churches you will hear a variation on the invitation "whoever you are and wherever you find yourself on the journey of faith there is a place for you here." God's love is radically inclusive and so is the Episcopal Church.

7. Despite what is happening legislatively, can my partner and I be married in the Episcopal Church yet?
The only accurate answer to this question is "that depends." It depends on which diocese you're in and whether you're in a state that has civil marriage equality. For example, New York State is a marriage equality state. In four of the six dioceses clergy can both solemnize and bless a civil marriage and in one of them clergy can bless but not solemnize (a judge or justice of the peace has to do the civil marriage part). Here in Los Angeles clergy both blessed and solemnized same-sex marriages in 2008 when it was legal and our bishops have been in the forefront of working to overturn Prop 8 and get marriage equality back. As Facebook might put it: "it's complicated."

8. What do I tell people when they say being gay is a sin and a choice?
Tell them that Jesus said absolutely nothing about being gay but he said a lot of things about judging other people. Then tell them that while there is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation there IS consensus that sexuality is a continuum. So the "choice" is not to be gay, straight or somewhere in between -- the "choice" is to build our own healthy relationships ... and give other people the grace to build theirs.

9. Should I try to "pray away the gay?"
No. If you need to pray away something, pray away homophobia. Homosexuality doesn't need healing. Homophobia does.

10. How do I respond when politicians condemn my sexuality, citing their belief in the Bible?
Remind them that the First Amendment protects them in believing whatever they want to about what God does or does not bless but it also prohibits them from using those beliefs to decide who the Constitution protects or doesn't protect. Tell them to stop confusing their theology with our democracy. And then campaign for and donate to their opponent in the next election cycle.

 Follow Rev. Susan Russell on Twitter: www.twitter.com/revsusanrussell

Queen Latifah Will Headline First Gay Pride Festival

Actress-singer Queen Latifah will participate as a performer at a gay pride celebration for the first time with a concert at Long Beach, California's annual LGBT Pride festival later this month.

Following her groundbreaking debut album All Hail the Queen, Latifah made the transition from rap star to accomplished actress with a string of acclaimed roles, including lesbian characters in films such as the 1996 crime drama Set It Off and the 2002 musical Chicago, for which she received an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress. Latifah also demonstrated her range as a vocalist, recording many jazz standards for the soundtrack to her film Living Out Loud and a collection of contemporary hits titled The Dana Owens Album. Latifah is currently executive producing and co-executive producing a remake of the 1989 tearjerker Steel Magnolias for Lifetime.

"From hip to R&B, pop to standards, Queen Latifah is the voice of our generation, and her concert here will be phenomenal, for her to make her worldwide Pride debut here in Long Beach is a tremendous testament to the popularity of our celebration and to the strength of our community,” says Long Beach Pride Co-President Pat Crosby in a statement.

Latifah's performance is scheduled for May 19.

Silver Lake Steps Dedicated to Pioneering Gay Rights Group 'Mattachine Society' on Harry Hay's 100th Birthday

The Cove Avenue steps have been renamed 'The Mattachine Steps' in honor of the pioneering gay rights group founded by Harry Hay and will be dedicated tomorrow on what would have been Hay's 100th birthday, Patch reports:

At 11 a.m. on Saturday, mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti will officially rededicate what we have long known as the Cove Avenue Steps. State senator Mike Gatto will also be join neighbors at the base of the stairs for the event. He'll present a proclamation honoring Hay, who many call "the father of the gay rights movement."

Karen Ocamb at LGBT POV has more:

A ceremony at the foot of the Cove Avenue Steps on Silver Lake Blvd. recognizing the site as a historic place by the City of Los Angeles. The dedication of “The Mattachine Steps” (which lead up to the house where pioneer gay activist Harry Hay founded the Mattachine Society in 1950) will be followed by a Radical Faerie-hosted picnic in an adjoining park overlooking the Silver Lake Reservoir (east side). Then, at 2:30, a book signing and reading of Stuart Timmon’s newly updated biography “The Trouble with Harry Hay” at nearby Stories bookstore, 1716 Sunset Blvd. (in Echo Park).

Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles Joins with the It Gets Better Project for a Nationwide Tour

For several years, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles has used music to share with high school students the importance of fairness and equality through their educational anti-bullying Alive Music Project. Now Executive Director Thom Lynch has announced a new collaboration with the It Gets Better Project and Speak Theater Arts to create a nationwide tour of a musical theater piece called “It Gets Better.” “We’re proud to be continuing in the mission to make our children safe,” says Lynch.

A six-member core group will collaborate with local performers and educational and governmental institutions to focus on bullying in local schools. “This show isn’t about going to towns and telling everybody it gets better,” says director Liesel Reinhart. “It’s about looking people in the eye, in each local community, and saying why isn’t it better now? What can we do to make it better right now?”

Revisiting the Black Cat

In 1967 the world forever changed for LGBTs, whether they knew it then or not, with a momentous night at an unassuming gay bar in Los Angeles.

The original photo of the protests (participants' names and photographer unknown.)

For the gay patrons of the Black Cat tavern in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, it was a disheartening start to 1967. As balloons dropped from the ceiling to mark the New Year, undercover cops ripped Christmas decorations from the walls, brandished guns, then beat and cuffed 14 people. Two men arrested for kissing were later forced to register as sex offenders; one bartender suffered a ruptured spleen. Violent police raids on queer bars weren't uncommon in the '60s, but this time the gays didn't let it slide. Weeks after the arrests, protesters stood for days in front of the Black Cat, demanding an end to LAPD intimidation, humiliation, and brutality. The actions at the Black Cat, now a Los Angeles historic-cultural monument, galvanized Richard Mitch and partner Bill Rau. They took over the newsletter of a local gay rights organization called PRIDE (Personal Rights in Defense and Education) and turned it into a small newsmagazine, which they renamed The Los Angeles Advocate. The first issue was dated September 1967. Two years later The Advocate reported on the Stonewall riots in New York City.

Details About Chris Brown Abuse Released

Court documents detailing the abuse of Rihanna by Chris Brown were released on Thursday. In the documents, a police statement outlines what Rihanna (referred to as ‘Robyn F. in the files) said happened during the events.


Statements in the documents were made by the responding LAPD officer:

“Brown was driving a vehicle with Robyn F. as the front passenger on an unknown street in Los Angeles. Robyn F. picked up Brown’s cellular phone and observed a three-page text message from a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with.
“A verbal argument ensued and Brown pulled the vehicle over on an unknown street, reached over Robyn F. with his right hand, opened the car door and attempted to force her out. Brown was unable to force Robyn F. out of the vehicle because she was wearing a seat belt. When he could not force her to exit, he took his right hand and shoved her head against he passenger window of the vehicle, causing an approximate one-inch raised circular contusion.
“Robyn F. turned to face Brown and he punched her in the left eye with his right hand. He then drove away in the vehicle and continued to punch her in the face with his right hand while steering the vehicle with his left hand. The assault caused Robyn F.’s mouth to fill with blood and blood to splatter all over her clothing and the interior of the vehicle.
“Brown looked at Robyn F. and stated, ‘I’m going to beat the sh– out of you when we get home! You wait and see!’
” The detective said “Robyn F.” then used her cell phone to call her personal assistant Jennifer Rosales, who did not answer.
“Robyn F. pretended to talk to her and stated, ‘I’m on my way home. Make sure the police are there when I get there.’ After Robyn F. faked the call, Brown looked at her and stated, ‘You just did the stupidest thing ever! Now I’m really going to kill you!’
“Brown resumed punching Robyn F. and she interlocked her fingers behind her head and brought her elbows forward to protect her face. She then bent over at the waist, placing her elbows and face near her lap in [an] attempt to protect her face and head from the barrage of punches being levied upon her by Brown.
“Brown continued to punch Robyn F. on her left arm and hand, causing her to suffer a contusion on her left triceps (sic) that was approximately two inches in diameter and numerous contusions on her left hand.
“Robyn F. then attempted to send a text message to her other personal assistant, Melissa Ford. Brown snatched the cellular telephone out of her hand and threw it out of the window onto an unknown street.
“Brown continued driving and Robyn F. observed his cellular telephone sitting in his lap. She picked up the cellular telephone with her left hand and before she could make a call he placed her in a head lock with his right hand and continued to drive the vehicle with his left hand.
“Brown pulled Robyn F. close to him and bit her on her left ear. She was able to feel the vehicle swerving from right to left as Brown sped away. He stopped the vehicle in front of 333 North June Street and Robyn F. turned off the car, removed the key from the ignition and sat on it.
“Brown did not know what she did with the key and began punching her in the face and arms. He then placed her in a head lock positioning the front of her throat between his bicep and forearm. Brown began applying pressure to Robyn F.’s left and right carotid arteries, causing her to be unable to breathe and she began to lose consciousness.
“She reached up with her left hand and began attempting to gouge his eyes in an attempt to free herself. Brown bit her left ring and middle fingers and then released her. While Brown continued to punch her, she turned around and placed her back against the passenger door. She brought her knees to her chest, placed her feet against Brown’s body and began pushing him away. Brown continued to punch her on the legs and feet, causing several contusions.
“Robyn F. began screaming for help and Brown exited the vehicle and walked away. A resident in the neighborhood heard Robyn F.’s plea for help and called 911, causing a police response. An investigation was conducted and Robyn F. was issued a Domestic Violence Emergency Protective Order.”

Gay Marriage is inevitable

“With more openly gay people and strong support for same-sex unions among the young, the war is over even as the fighting continues.” - Los Angeles Times

Adam Levine And Maroon 5 Boycotting Mexican Restaurant For Anti-Gay Marriage Stance

Adam Levine Starts Feud With Fox News

Adam Levine has long been a supporter of the LGBT community and once again he's putting his money where his mouth is -- this time in regards to gay marriage.

The Maroon 5 singer and "The Voice" star recently revealed that the band, which is up for the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance on February 12, has changed the location of their upcoming post-awards show party due to an unnamed Los Angeles restaurant's backing of Proposition 8, which made gay marriage illegal in California.

Levine told People magazine, "We used to go to this Mexican restaurant to celebrate after the Grammys but the place supported the movement to make gay marriage illegal [in California] so we bailed on that."

Levine, whose brother is gay, has lent his voice and face to other pro-LGBT causes like the "It Gets Better" campaign in support of gay teens and earlier this year he appeared on the cover of Out magazine.

The singer's outspokenness isn't limited to LGBT activism. In October he lashed out at FOX news on Twitter for using Maroon 5's music on the air saying, "Dear Fox News, don't play our music on your evil f***ing channel ever again. Thank you."

Shervin Lalezary On Ellen

Shervin Lalezary, the modest and endearing hero who caught the Los Angeles arsonist suspect on Jan. 2, on "The Ellen Degeneres Show" Monday.

Ellen asks him if he's single... he is!

Miss California USA Conducts GMCLA

Pickets Outside Lassen's Stop Some Shoppers

Many were upset when they heard organic food mart Nature Mart--based there for four decades--would be closing its doors.

Some became outraged when they heard Lassen's would take over Nov.1.

The family-owned chain had donated at least $30,000 to the campaign to support Proposition 8, a 2008 voter initiative that would have banned single-sex marriage.

Many in the Lassen's family--including president Peter Lassen--are Mormons, who had been very active in campaigning for and funding Prop 8.

More than 1,500 people have now signed an online pledge to boycott the store.