June 17, 2008: Marriage, Uprising & Contemporary Jazz

At 5.01 pm California time, yesterday, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom presided over the wedding of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon. Together for 50 years, this is the second time Phyllis and Del have been through the ceremony. This time, under the latest decision by the State Supreme Court, they hope it’ll stick. Is it a great day for equality? Sure! But marriage, as you’ll hear, is a very contentious topic…

Did you know that in Boston, legalizing same sex marriages invalidated domestic partnership? Meanwhile, in Ohio, "defending" heterosexual marriage has led to the gutting of common-law marriages? Longtime LGBTQ activists are explaining their nuptial choices en route to California. This isn’t your typical gay-marriage debate. Featuring activist/author KENYON FARROW, Prof LAURIE ESSIG, KERRY ELEVELD of The Advocate and CAROLINA CORDERO DYER, the "marriage ambassador for the Empire State Pride Agenda.

Then as Al Gore endorses Barack Obama, we talk to DAVID SIROTA about what’s changing and what’s not changing within the Democratic party ranks. Also, a musical interlude with composer/pianist VIJAY IYER. All that and a word on Iran from the Black Commentator’s BILL FLETCHER. Stay tuned.