SANTA CRUZ, CA, April 26, 2007— The Santa Cruz Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is proud to present MARRIAGE, EQUALITY AND THE LAW, a community forum to be held on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 7pm at the First Congregational Church, 900 High St., Santa Cruz. Co-sponsors for this event are the First Congregational Church, The Diversity Center, and the GLBT Alliance of Santa Cruz.

Americans have deep convictions about marriage, and about equality before the law. More and more these days, however, these convictions appear to be in conflict. How can we honor and grant legal status to voluntary unions formed by people who love and undertake commitments to one another, without continuing to grant legal status to, and even institutionalize, the practice of discrimination?

Come join our local Santa Cruz chapter for an event that promises to be both fun and fascinating. Held at the Seymore Discovery Center at Long Marine Lab on the west side of Santa Cruz, this annual fundraising event will feature great music, great food, great company, and the presentations of the Bell of Freedom, Hammer of Justice, and Statue of Liberty awards to 3 persons or organizations here in our community who have done wonderful and powerful things to protect and advance the civil liberties of us all. And all this comes with the great ocean view and wonderful setting of the Long Marine Lab. Suggested donation of $25-$50+ can be made at the door.

Hope to see you there!

OPENING RECEPTION with the Artist

Bill of Rights Day Celebration 2007

Celebrating the Bill of Rights,
Achieving Justice for All!

PROGRAM - 1:30 PM
registration opens at 1 pm

RECEPTION - 3 PM
light refreshments, no-host bar

THE WESTIN ST. FRANCIS
335 POWELL STREET (Union Square), SAN FRANCISCO
wheelchair accessible

JOIN US in Honoring:

Harry Belafonte


with the Chief Justice Earl Warren Civil Liberties Award

Multi-Venue EXHIBIT of Portraits by ROBERT SHETTERLY
Exhibition Dates: Nov 10 - Dec 21, 2007

• LOUDEN NELSON CENTER, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz
  Hours: M-Sat. 9a.m.-9:30p.m.
• CENTRAL LIBRARY
  224 Church St., Santa Cruz. Hours: M-Th 10-8; Fri. & Sat. 10-5, Sun. 1-5.
• THE ATTIC
  931 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Hours M-Sat. 9-9, Sun. 10-9.
• SANTA CRUZ COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION
  324 Front St., Santa Cruz. Hours: M-Thurs. 10-4,Fri. 10-6.

The GLBT Alliance of Santa Cruz County is planning an educational forum focusing on legislation enacted in 2007, how it will effect the glbt community, and what we can expect in 2008. The topics will include the changes in state tax codes in relation to Domestic Partners, discussion of immigration issues for binational same-gender couples, and an update on the state marriage case, as well as why the coming year is important politically.

UC Santa Cruz’s 24th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Convocation on January 30, 2008 features a talk by Julian Bond, chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Bond will speak on the topic “Civil Rights, Then and Now.” For more information, see the notice on the University of California at Santa Cruz website:

http://www.ucsc.edu/news_events/text.asp?pid=1800

The event, which is open to the public, will take place at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.

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