Rallies planned to celebrate Supreme Court ruling (9097)

Celebrations in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's striking down of Texas's antigay sodomy law--and thereby all remaining sodomy laws on the books in 12 other states--have been planned in cities across the country. All events listed below are for Thursday, June 26, unless otherwise noted:

Atlanta: Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Atlanta LGBT and allied community will hold a "Lick for Liberty" reception at Jake's Ice Creams & Sorbets, 970 Piedmont Ave. (near 10th and Piedmont), at 6 p.m. For more information, contact Lambda Legal at (404) 897-1880 or on its Web site at www.lambdalegal.org.

Austin: Celebration in Republic Square Park with speakers including LGBT community leaders and Texas lawmakers (past and present) at 6:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas. For more information, go to www.lgrl.org/lawrence.

Boston: A celebration at Copley Square at 6:30 p.m., cosponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, QueerToday.com, and the Freedom to Marry Coalition of Massachusetts (www.equalmarriage.org). For more information, E-mail Thoppe@NGLTF.org; phone Trevor Hoppe at (617) 492-6393; or go online to www.QueerToday.com or www.Milo200@aol.com.

Charleston, S.C.: A meeting at the offices of the Alliance for Full Acceptance, 1818 Elsie Drive, at 7 p.m. Cosponsors: AFFA and the Lowcountry Gay and Lesbian Alliance.

Chicago: A gathering at the corner of Halsted and Roscoe at 7 p.m. Cosponsored by the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network and Equality Illinois. For more info, send E-mail to CABNstopthehate@aol.com; phone (888) 471-0874; or go online at www.cabn.org.

Cleveland: A celebration at 5:30 p.m. sponsored by the Lesbian/Gay Community Center of Greater Cleveland. Location to be determined. For more info, go online to www.lgcsc.org, phone (216) 651-LGBT or (888) GAY-8761, or send E-mail to info@lgcsc.org.

Columbia, S.C.: An informational meeting at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center, 1108 Woodrow at 7 p.m. Info: South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement, (803) 771-7713.

Dallas: A gathering with many prominent local speakers at the Main Parking Lot, John Thomas Gay and Lesbian Community Center, 2701 Reagan St. (at Brown), at 5:45 p.m. Info: call Lambda Legal, (214) 219-8585.

Detroit: A gathering at the federal courthouse, 231 W. Lafayette, at 6 p.m. Sponsored by the Triangle Foundation. Info: (313) 537-3323.

Fairbanks, Alaska: A gathering at the intersection of University Avenue and Geist at 7 p.m. Sponsor: Midnight Sun United Church. For more information, call (907) 456-2516 or E-mail FairbanksLT@yahoo.com.

Galveston, Tex.: A gathering in front of the county courthouse on 21st street at 5 p.m. Organized by the Galveston Stonewall Democrats. For more information, send E-mail to Galveston@stonewalldemocratics.org.

Houston: A gathering on the steps of City Hall (901 Bagby) at 5 p.m. Join John Lawrence and Tyron Garner for this important occasion. Speakers will include GLBT leaders, lawyers, and public officials. Info: Contact Mitchell Katine at (713) 981-9595 or at mkatine@wba-law.com.

Lawrence, Kan.: Queers and Allies of Kansas are sponsoring three events: a Speak Out forum on Saturday for people to share their views on sodomy laws; a "parade of information" on Mass Street following the rally; and a Freedom Celebration party on July 2. For more info, go online to www.ku.edu/~qanda/sodomy/ or contact Queers and Allies by E-mailing jimmiemanning@yahoo.com.

Los Angeles/West Hollywood: A celebration at the West Hollywood Auditorium (located on San Vicente between Santa Monica and Melrose) at 7 p.m. Many influential activists, city officials, and lawmakers will attend and speak at the event. Rally info, contact: Ryan Gierach (323) 650-2879 or Ryan.G@Journalist.com. Press contact: Ivy Bottini (323) 574-4407 or Irene71@aol.com.

Miami: A rally sponsored by SAVE Dade, at the American Legion Bar, 6445 N.E. Seventh Ave., Miami, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. For more information, please contact: Jacqueline Baker, 305.751.7283, GreenJacqueline@yahoo.com, www.SAVEDade.org

New Orleans: A gathering at Lafayette Park (across from the federal courthouse) at 6 p.m. For more information call Courtney Shark at (504) 669-7508, or E-mail stressgone@aol.com

New York: A gathering at Stonewall Park (Seventh Avenue at Christopher Street) at 7 p.m. Sponsored by Queers for Peace and Justice NYC. Info: QueersForPeaceAndJustice@yahoo.com

Oklahoma City: A rally sponsored by the Stonewall Democrats of Central Oklahoma and GAYOKC.COM at the Finishline at the Habana Inn in Oklahoma City at 7 p.m. To keep updated go to GAYOKC.COM

Palm Springs, Calif.: A rally sponsored by the Stonewall Democrats of Palm Springs on Arenas Road at 7 p.m. For information, phone (760) 320-5787 or E-mail info@desertstonewall.org

Philadelphia: PLGTF Year 25 Equality and Justice Public Forum on the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions re: the Texas sodomy law and the Michigan affirmative action cases, 6 p.m. sharp to 8 p.m., Monday, June 30, at the Friends Center, 1501 Cherry St. (accessible, parking lots available). For information: (215) 241-7000 or (215) 772-2000, or plgtf@plgtf.org and www.plgtf.org

Pittsburgh: A gathering at Senator Santorum's office, 1 Station Square, at 5 p.m. For information: David Meieran, (412) 421-7716, dmeieran@123mail.org, or check out RESYST's Web site, https://www.thomasmertoncenter.org/resyst/sodomy.

Richmond, Va.: A press conference at the Bell Tower at the Capitol at 3 p.m. Info: Dyana Mason, Equality Virginia, (804) 643-4816

Salt Lake City: A gathering rally at the Capitol Building, 4130 State Office Building (at the end of State Street in Salt Lake City) at 6 p.m. Sponsored by Utah Lawyers for Human Rights (ULHR). For more information, E-mail bardoi@yahoo.com Press contact: Marlin Criddle, attorney; E-mail marloncriddle@aros.net, (801) 474-2299 or cell (801) 661-2623.

San Francisco: A press conference and rally at Harvey Milk Plaza (Castro and Market streets) at 5 p.m. Many influential activists and politicians will speak at the event. For more information: (415) 552-6031 or Mecca44@aol.com

Seattle: A gathering on the steps of the federal courthouse on Fifth Avenue at 5:30 p.m. Cosponsors include Lambda Legal, the ACLU of Washington, and Seattle LGBT Community Center. Info: jamiep@prestongates.com

Tucson: A gathering across the street from Wingspan LGBT Community Center, 300 E. Sixth St. (in the parking lot of Muse), at 7 p.m. The rally is sponsored by Wingspan, the Arizona Human Rights Fund, and the City of Tucson Commission on GLBT Issues. For more information, contact (520) 624-1779 or visit www.wingspan.org.

Washington, D.C.: A rally at Dupont Circle Park at 7 p.m. Cosponsored by Queers for Racial and Economic Justice and DC Radical Faeries. Contact: Jench1977@hotmail.com or (301) 277-1854.