The Year of the

Part 1

Silver Lining

Cerritos College

Spring 2009

Fight On:
Why Equality is a Gay Thing

Why Gay Rights?

The on? It is our generations time to questionofnow isofwhose fight is on. The be part one the side are you
most important civil rights movements of our time. This issue is more than just to make you aware of the injustices the gay community is facing; it is a call to all of you that this is your opportunity to save the idea of love and hope. When did regulating a final commitment of love become such a moral issue? And when did it become OK for religious groups to monopolize the idea of marriage? Alas I cannot be a bystander waiting for an answer. I must demand it, which is why Ive made the commitment to by an advocate for the queer community and the basic civil rights entitled to its members. As the future of America we can break down the barriers of traditional and ancient ideas of what a holy and honest relationship is. The cover is a photo illustration of what I believe is a portrayal of how the gay community feels inside, beat up and thrown down.
-Tanya Bermudez

Check out more of this issue at www.wingsmagazine.wordpress.com

Published by the Cerritos College Journalism Program

562-867-2200 x2619

2009

EB6

1951: First national gay organization, The MATTACHINE

Society is formed by Harry Hay. Hay is considered the founder of the gay rights movement.

1951

1962: The state of Illinois becomes the first state in the

Union to decriminalize private homosexual acts between consenting adults.

1962

Gayer Times
1973: Homosexuality is removed of the official list of
mental disorders by the American Psychiatric Association.

1973

1982: Wisconsin is the first state in the U.S. to outlaw

discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

1982

2000: Vermont becomes the first state in the union to

legalize civil unions, giving gay couples the same rights as married couples.
Source: www.infoplease.com

2000

Check out more online at www.wingsmagazine.wordpress.com

Video Feature: Cerritos College GSA talks about its controversial club name change.

If fighting for gay rights is a crime, some willingly break that law.

guilty as charged

VLOGS: Watch what Steve Rosa and Damaris Pereda have to say about becoming active in the gay civil rights movement.

!
Opinion: Read what Erick Galindo has to say about the legality of gay marriage.

Photos and Words by Tanya Bermudez

In 1969, a group of gay protestors fought back against a police raid in New York City, which came to be known as the Stonewall riots. In the 1970s, gay activists fought against the attacks on the gay community by Anita Bryant. In 2008, California gay supporters fought against overturning a ruling by the California Supreme Court that allowed gay marriage. Its 2009 and the gays are still fighting. When such a huge mass of people or thoughts come against me I have no choice but to fight back, said UCLA student Steve Rosa. Im not going to just lay down and let them beat me down. I have to fight back; I have to change things. But the will to fight hasnt always been a priority for Rosa who is a former Cerritos student. Like other members of the queer community, Rosa lived his life in the closet. Now, as an open gay member of society Rosa feels because of the diversity in Southern California, it is easier to be accepted. He also recognizes that acceptance is a luxury here in Los Angeles and that in order for the country to be the great free country it proclaims to be, it must run

with the idea of equality for all. Azusa Pacific University, a private We have to make hope, we have no Christian university, states in its student choice. I dont want to be living day-toAs support for the GLBT community day fighting for our rights but feel like its grows so does the awareness of the consti- handbook that gay students who attend must follow its code of conduct in not never going to happen, Rosa said. tutional violation of civil rights. But I cant think that way. I have to Cerritos College Gay Straight Alliance acting gay or participating in any form of homosexual activity even off campus. be more positive and have trust in society president Alex Aguayo said, Its really Students who have objected to follow- even though it failed me and most everyamazing that we have to make the case ing the student handbook have been asked one in the queer community. to people simply for our love. We have to to leave to another school where their Yet, Rosa feels there is a chance that a make the case that were normal to have lifestyle could be more acceptable. society run primarily on Christian beliefs rights. I cannot justify gay rights within the can change. Organizations like the Human Rights Christian conservative community for all Across Los Angeles on APU campus Campaign and YES! On Equality are just a Christians, APU student Damaris Pereda there may be proof. few groups that are not only making prosaid. I can say though that Jesus loved On our campus, having discussions gressive actions to reverse the ban against those who were broken, outcast and most about what the Biblical text says about gay marriage, but also strive to educate looked down upon at this time. Jesus and homosexuality, or doesnt say about it, the general public about the inequalities the early Christians were known for their is pivotal because most of the students the GLBT community faces at home, work love, not their hatred. against the gay rights movement here, and school. Pereda grew up in a traditional Chris- are against it because of what they would One common solution these organizaargue is a firm aspect of faith, tions advocate is Pereda said. for all queers But as ironic as it may I draw a lot of my strength from the fact that the more I fight to come out the closer that future is to becoming a reality. I live for those sound, my involvement with to their famthe gay civil rights movemoments where Ill have everything I dream of. ily, friends ment began to increase with a -Alex Aguayo and work. As greater understanding of my Harvey Milk, a own Christian beliefs. former politiThough the battle concian and an icon of the gay rights movetinues, what 2009 may hold is still untian church, and although she attends a ment, once said, if you let them know foreseen, but support grows and there is a conservative Christina university, it has who you are, they will see that you are not been her experiences as a global studies silver lining. sick, that you are not evil, and that you are major that has moved her to become more There are brief moments where I everywhere. despair, Aguayo said. I draw a lot of my involved with social issues. strength from the fact that the more I fight Even non-gay supporters of the gay As the queer community continues the closer that future is to becoming a community who recognize the injustices its fight against hate, discrimination and reality. I live for those moments where Ill are working diligently alongside even if it disapproval, it looks for those spurts of have everything I dream of. goes against their own religious beliefs. hope of which it can latch on to.

Yes On 8 Donors
Here is a list of the donors that helped collect $36 million to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign that banned same sex marriage. A full list can be seen on the Californians Against Hate Website. Knights of Columbus, New Haven, CT $1,425,000 Howard Ahmanson, Jr., Irvine, CA $1,395,000 John Templeton/Josephine Templeton, Bryn Mawr, PA $1,100,000 National Organization for Marriage, Princeton, NJ $1,041,134.80 Alan Ashton, Lindon, UT $1,000,000

Harvey
(1931-1978)

MILK
He was shrewd. He was charismatic. He was skilled at business and politics, but he was gay so on Nov. 27, 1978 Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, was murdered. He was 48. Milks murder, by Dan White, and the subsequent trial led to the White Night Riots, as several of Milks supporters took to the streets of San Francisco in reaction to the light sentence White received. Since his election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Milk became a face for gay civil rights. In his 11 months in office, Milk passed one of the first anti-gay discrimination ordinances in the country, for the city if San Francisco. Milk also led the fight against Anita Bryants public campaign to criminalize homosexuality and in doing so helped defeat the Briggs Initiativea California ballot initiative that would prevent California public schools from employing homosexuals. Despite his short career, Milk has gone on to become an icon in the gay civil rights movement and his life has inspired numerous works of art, documentaries, civil rights groups and an Academy Award nominated film. Milk, originally a closeted businessman from New York City, moved to San Francisco to be part of the growing gay community migrating to San Francisco and, at age 40, finally be an openly gay man. As his second life began as a gay San Francisco politician and his profile rose, Milk received a growing amount of death threats. This prompted him to record a tape to his followers in the case of his murder. Hoping that he could still lead even in death Milk had a final wish to his supporters. If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.

Source: www.californiansagainsthate.com