COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
Knots or Not?
Since the May 15 decision of the California Supreme Court, the phones have been ringing like wedding bells! Lesbian and gay couples who have seen our Hollywood Wedding web site, or visited "My Big Fat Gay Church Wedding" booth at the West Hollywood Christopher Street West Pride festival are thinking of "tying the knot" in a religious ceremony.
We are in a five month “window” during which lesbian and gay couples are able to legally marry. The Supreme Court's decision would have stood as the final decision were it not for a ballot initiative that is to be on the November 2008 ballot attempting to amend the state's constitution to forbid same-gender marriage and therefore reverse the Court's decision.
Whether this initative (largely funded by very conservative outside organizations in Arizona and Colorado) will get a majority vote remains to be seen. Mayor Vilaraigosa, Governor Schwarzeneggar and other leading organizations are opposed to Proposition 8, saying that it would take away basic civil rights essential to lesbian and gay couples to protect themselves and their families.
This congregation has welcomed gay/lesbian blessings before, most recently on March 30. Until June 17, however, these religious ceremonies had no binding force in the absence of a valid marriage license. But now that they are legal, couples are stepping forward hoping to sign a legal document and have a Christian service at the same time. Pastor Dan has about six such weddings "in the works" between now and the end of October. He also presided over one in West Hollywood on the first day they were allowed.
The congregation will have a meeting on Sunday, September 7 to discuss Proposition 8, and whether or not to endorse the efforts of Marriage Equality California, which is trying to defeat this measure. So that everyone understands the law, churches and other tax-exempt "501.c.3" organizations may legally take a position of ballot measures and matters of public policy. the only thing which we cannot do under IRS regulations is endorse a candidate for office.
Yikes! Would you be willing to pay $40 a year just to look for a parking place on the street in front of your apartment? This could happen in your neighborhood: |  |
There is a movement afoot to establish a “Preferential Parking District” in our neighborhood, which would require residents to pay for an annual permit to park on the street. Supporters think it will keep out the “riff-raff.” But the local Neighborhood Council is opposed. What do you think?
Presently there are more than 100 such "PPD's" in Los Angeles, with another 95 applications in the pipeline. Often driven by homeowners groups, people believe that have a special permit district will keep outsiders outside, and therefore leave more parking for locals.
But this is not always the case, especially in neighborhoods which have a constantly-shifting range of housing options from large single-family homes to condominiums to cramped apartment buildings. The current effort, being proposed by Ms. Dana Cremins, would span from Los Feliz to Hollywood Blvd., and from Normandie to Vermont. Ms. Cremins believes that commercial encroachment deprives all residents of adequate street parking in the evenings and on weekends. But it is far from clear how many customers or patrons at the area's many stores, restaurants and clubs actually live outside of the designated area.
If you have ever gone shopping, dining, or to a movie in West Los Angeles, for example, you know how frustrating it is not to be able to park anywhere, and then wind up shelling out more for your parking than for your movie ticket.
Pastor Dan is rallying area pastors to speak out against the PPD, because it would adversely affect not only our own church members (although Sunday mornings are exempted) but every community organization which meets in our buildings throughout the week. A PPD would require our church to buy a 4-month permit for $15 for every car parked in the evening on New Hampshire or any surrounding street. We would then have to employ staff to give out (and get back!) those permits every night. And then drivers would still be competing to find an actual parking space!!
The Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council is on record as opposing PPD's because they tend to pit one group of residents against another --- contributing to the "balkanization" of neighborhoods in the city. And PPD's do not actually create any new parking spaces, nor do they require business owners to construct, buy or lease off-street parking for their patrons.
SCREENING OF AWARD-WINNING FILM "FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO"
This important documentary film was recently shown in a limited engagement in Westwood, and at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Burbank, but it should be seen by thousands more. We are trying to bring this film to Holywood Lutheran Church for a special screening.
Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity be too wide to cross? Is the Bible an escuse to hate?
Through the experiences of five very normal, very Christian, very American families--including those of former House Majority Leade Richard Gephardt and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robsinson-- we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child. Informed by such respected voices as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard University's Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steven Greenberg and Rev. Jimmy Creech,
For the Bible Tells Me So offers healing, clarity, and udnerstanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.
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