L.A., NYC, S.F. rallies planned to protest Bush amendment speech, February 24

Gay rights leaders in Los Angeles and New York have reacted quickly to President Bush's press conference today pushing for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution banning same-sex marriage by scheduling rallies in both cities. "Today is a day that will live in infamy in the history of our republic," said Lorri Jean, chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. "For the first time, a president of the United States has used his office to urge that the most sacred document in our democracy be amended to permanently require discrimination against an entire class of people. This unprecedented, extremist act flies in the face of the very principles upon which this nation was founded. The U.S. Constitution is no place for the politics of bigotry and discrimination." NEW YORK WHEN: Tuesday, February 24, 6 p.m. WHERE: LGBT Community Center, 1st Floor 208 W. 13th St. SPONSORED BY: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; Empire State Pride Agenda; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center; Mano a Mano; NYC Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project LOS ANGELES WHEN: Tuesday, February 24, 7 p.m. (gather at 6:30 p.m. for press conference) WHERE: Corner of Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards, West Hollywood (In case of rain, rally held inside West Hollywood Auditorium inside west Hollywood Park, just south of Santa Monica Blvd., on San Vicente) For more information about the rally, call (323) 860-5858. SPONSORED BY: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center; City of West Hollywood; National Black AIDS Institute; Metropolitan Community Church; Bienestar; Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund SAN FRANCISCO WHEN: Tuesday, February 24, 5:30 p.m. WHERE: Castro at Market SPONSORED BY: Marriage Equality California; Freedom to Marry Coalition