Marin County Religious Leaders Offer Interfaith Response in Support of Same-Sex Marriage
Interfaith Service Set for Sunday, November 2nd, First Presbyterian Church, San Rafael
SAN RAFAEL -- On Sunday, November 2nd, at 7:00 PM, leaders of diverse faith traditions invite the community to gather at First Presbyterian Church, 1510 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael for an interfaith gathering in support of same-sex marriage. Featured music will include singer and local Pastor Curran Reichert of the Community Congregational Church of Tiburon, and world-renowned musician Richard "Scrumbly" Koldewyn.
"It doesn't matter what one's sexual orientation is; what matters is that they are supported in their healthy, loving relationships," says Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr. "And what better place to be supported, than within their communities of faith?"
"Same-sex couples in California now have the right to marry, just as they should" says Paula Pilecki, Executive Director of Spectrum LGBT Center, which promotes equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. "Proposition 8 would eliminate that right. This event is a call to people of every faith, to say 'No' to injustice."
Service leaders and speakers include:
Rev. Sam Alexander, First Presbyterian Church, San Rafael
Michael Barenbaum, Rabbi Emeritus, former Rabbi of Congregation Rodef Sholom
Sylvia Boorstein, teacher, Spirit Rock Meditation Center
Rev. Annie and Dr. Victoria Steinberg Behrman
Rev. Judith Fleenor, Staff Minister at Golden Gate Center for Spiritual Living
David Hanson and Jeffrey Owen
Chris Highland, former Marin Interfaith Chaplain
Rev. Carol Hovis, Executive Director, Marin Interfaith Council
Father David Matz C.PP.S. Missionary of the Precious Blood
Sister Elizabeth Padilla, Brahma Kumaris Worldwide Spiritual Organization
Paula Pilecki, Executive Director, Spectrum LGBT Center
Rev. Sara Vurek, speaking from a Tibetan Buddhist Perspective
Please say NO to the elimination of same-sex marriage! Go to www.NOonProp8.com.
CONTACT: Paula Pilecki, Spectrum Center (415) 457-1115 ext. 209
Rev. Doug Huneke, Westminster Presbyterian Church, (415) 383-5272
Posted by About at 3:12 PM
Labels: Events, Marriage Equality
The 12th International Latino Film Festival Presents A Special LGBT Program
SAN FRANCISCO — The International Latino Film Society is proud to include several films dedicated to the LGBT experience as part of the programming of the 2008 International Latino Film Festival.
The first selection of the LGBT program, "Transvestites Also Cry," will be part of the special gala opening night at the Castro Theater. Another feature, "Spinnin' (6 Billion Different People)" will be co-presented by Frameline, No on Prop 8, and the Spectrum LGBT Center. The program is completed with the latest in Mexican cinema, "Burn the Bridges."
The acclaimed Festival, which celebrates the diversity of Latino culture through the timeless medium of film, runs from November 7 — 23, 2008. The program includes over 70 features, shorts, and documentaries from Argentina, Brazil, Belize, Bolivia, Cuba, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela and Spain. The Festival will present screenings in eight Bay Area cities: San Francisco, Redwood City, San Jose, San Rafael, Larkspur, Berkeley, San Mateo, and San Bruno. All films include English subtitles.
"This year we were able to bring together an amazing collection of films that truly reflects the diversity of Latino cinema throughout the world. We are especially excited to honor several outstanding artists this year including Lourdes Portillo, Gregory Nava, and Alex Rivera. These US-based filmmakers have all done extraordinary work that embodies the vital connection between Latino cinema in the US and in Latin America," said Sylvia Perel, Festival Director.
The LGBT programming for the 2008 festival will include:
"Transvestites Also Cry"
Dir. Sebastiano d'Ayala Valva, 2007, France, 54 min.
Raw emotions are revealed when the lives of two vibrant and outspoken Ecuadorian transsexuals are exposed over three years, as they work as prostitutes in Paris' gritty Clichy district. Both funny and moving, this award-winning documentary provides a glimpse at their struggle to assimilate despite economic hardships and the dual intolerance faced as illegal immigrants and sex workers.
Opening Night Gala
Castro Theater
429 Castro Street, San Francisco
www.thecastrotheatre.com
CinePride Tribute: A Celebration of Marriage Equality!
"Spinnin' (6 Billion Different People)"
Dir. Eusebio Pastrana, 2007, Spain, 110 min.
A whirlwind adventure that celebrates life, love, and everything in between as we follow a young gay couple in mid 1990s Madrid as they and their friends deal with issues of having children, marriage, divorce, and more. A collage of different stories revolve around the characters' turbulent lives as we encounter lovers who find, fight and feel the meaning of love.
Brava Theater for Women in the Arts
2781 24th Street, San Francisco
www.brava.org
Co-presented by No on Prop 8 and Frameline
Dominican University, Angelica Hall
50 Acacia Avenue, San Rafael
www.dominican.edu
Co-presented by Spectrum LGBT Center and Frameline
The Latest in Mexican Cinema
"Burn the Bridges"
Dir. Francisco Franco, 2007, Mexico, 100 min.
In a crumbling colonial mansion in Zacatecas, Mexico, teenage siblings Helena and Sebastián live isolated with their dying mother, a family held together by a close but dangerously dependent relationship. A profound look at family relationships, homosexual awakening and the choice between being trapped in the past or "burning the bridges" and following one's dreams.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts
2868 Mission Street, San Francisco
www.missionculturalcenter.org
The International Latino Film Festival's ongoing commitment to artistic excellence and to exploring a wide array of themes and issues is made evident through its diverse selection of shorts, documentaries and feature films. This year's films will inspire, illuminate, challenge, educate, motivate, excite, thrill, surprise, and entertain – they are everything Latino and everything universal.
THE INTERNATIONAL LATINO FILM SOCIETY/FILM FESTIVAL
Presented by the International Latino Film Society, The International Latino Film Festival was founded in 1997 by Sylvia Perel to benefit the San Francisco Bay Area
by promoting cinema of significant artistic merit created by, or about Latinos, and to celebrate cultural understanding through the art of film and filmmaking. The International Latino Film Festival began in Marin County with eight films over three days in one venue and has grown to more than 70 films over 17 days in eight cities across the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. For additional information about the Festival visit www.LatinoFilmFestival.org.
This year's sponsors are:
Macy's, Wells Fargo, Latino Leadership Council and the City of Redwood City, Castellano Family Foundation, Don Julio Tequila, Comcast, San Francisco Foundation, Marin Community Foundation, County of Marin Board of Supervisors, Alexander and June L.Maisin Foundation of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund, Fullerton Family Foundation, City and County of San Francisco Grants for the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts, San Francisco Tobacco Free Project, Bank of Marin, Southwest Airlines, Clear Channel, SF Municipal Transportation Agency, SF Metro Center, Univision 14, TeleFutura 66 y Recuerdo 100.3
In-kind sponsors:
Joie de Vivre Hospitality, Renoir Hotel, Hilton San Francisco, JW Marriott San Francisco, PINK Magazine, SFMTA, Thirsty Bear, Gloria Ferrer, Destino, Regalito, Alegrias, Aroma Buena Catering, Travelocity, Ramblas Tapas Bar
Consulates and Educational organizations:
Consulate General of Brazil, Consulate General of Mexico in SF and San Jose, Consulate General of El Salvador, Consulate General Bolivirian Republica of Venezuel, Consulate General of Spain, San Jose State University, City College of SF, Dominican University.
Religious Leaders Join Together to Support for all Families, including Gay Marriage at Interfaith Service
On Sunday, November 2nd, the Sonoma County Pride Planning Committee brings together leaders and musicians from diverse religious traditions within Sonoma County to participate in the Interfaith Service titled "Live Equally, Love Equally." The service is designed to be an interfaith response in support of all families, including same-sex marriage. It will be held at 7:00 pm at the Center for Spiritual Living at 2075 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa, CA. Web: http://sonomacountypride.org/
Rev. Kimberly Willis, Christ Church United Methodist
Rabbi George Gittleman, Congregation Shomrei Torah
Rev. Elizabeth Middelberg, Metropolitan Community Church of the Redwood Empire
Rev. Blythe Sawyer, Petaluma United Church of Christ
Rev. Joyce Duffala, Center For Spiritual Living
A special Children's Sermon will be provided for kids in the audience by Rev. Jean Lebbert of Thanksgiving Lutheran Church.
Choirs, song groups, and other religious leaders in our community will also be actively participating through music, prayer, affirmations, and call & response readings during the Interfaith Service.
These other participants include (alphabetical order):
Rev. Chris Bell, Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Rev. Carol Carter, Forestville United Methodist Church
Rev. Susan Fleenor, Knox Presbyterian Church
Rev. Leanna Hamilton, New Hope Metropolitan Community Church
Rev. Amy Seymour Haney, Windsor Presbyterian Church
Rev. Matthew Lawrence, Church of the Incarnation
Rev. David Parks Ramage, First Congregational United Church of Christ.
This is the second Interfaith Service hosted by the Sonoma County Pride Planning Committee. The first one took place in June 2008 as part of the County's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersexed Pride celebration, and was attended by over 300 people.
Center for Spiritual Living
2075 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa, CA
Free to the public. Children warmly welcomed.
Labels: Marriage Equality
Spectrum LGBT Center
Spectrum provides community leadership to promote acceptance, understanding, and full inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
www.spectrumlgbtcenter.org
Marin County Religious Leaders Offer Interfaith Re...
The 12th International Latino Film Festival Presen...
Religious Leaders Join Together to Support for all...