Prop 8 Debate Coming To C/R

This just in from the Humboldt County Human Rights Commission:

Humboldt County Human Rights Commission
Presents
Proposition 8 Debate
Thursday, October 30, 2008


Eureka, Calif. (October 22, 2008) – The Humboldt County Human Rights Commission is hosting a Proposition 8 debate on October 30th at the College of the Redwoods. Community members are invited to attend. In accordance with the Humboldt County Human Rights Commission's mission, offering the debate to the public is an effort to bring the community together from both sides of a heated issue to better understand one another's viewpoint as well as to help educate undecided voters on the issue.

Proposition 8 is on the California State Ballot for the November 4 election. The proposition, if passed, will eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry. It provides that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California .

Event Location & Time:
Thursday, October 30, 2008 7:30-9:30 PM at The Forum Theater, College of the Redwoods, 7351 Tompkins Hill Road, Eureka, CA 95501

The forum will be a formal moderated debate between informed, educated and respected members of the community. Questions will come from the audience, in writing, at the beginning of the event and presented to the moderator to pose to the panelists. There will be timed responses and the structure and decorum will be maintained by the moderator.

The debate is scheduled to be recorded by Access Humboldt for replay on Suddenlink Channel 11 as well as stream live on the Internet provided by the Venue Project (http://www.thevenueproject.com).

For more information, contact Stuart Altschuler, MFT, Commissioner, (707)786-9890 stuart@mfcc.com

Panelist information:
Moderator: Gary Sokolow, MA, JD
“Professor at College of the Redwoods Administration of Justice (1998 - present) - B.B.A. degree, Florida Atlantic Univ., M.A. (History), J.D., Univ. of South Dakota . Currently teach administration of justice and political science courses at CR. Former public defender, prosecuting attorney and private legal practice, both civil and criminal law from 1989-1998. Former tribal prosecutor, tribal court judge, and member of the South Dakota House of Representatives.”

Yes on Prop 8 Panelists:
Jim Rose
“I am an entrepreneur, I've also been an Indian Economic Development Consultant and CEO and COO of the largest Indian Tribe in the state. I've developed fuel stations and casinos in Indian Country. I've been involved in politics since I was 12 (1979) and am an avid political and law junkie. I was a coordinator for the Prop 22 effort, and am a member of ProtectMarriage.com”

Gene B Welling, D.D.S. (retired)
“Wife of over 51 years: Carol Lee Reynolds Welling. Four Children and 13 Grandchildren (including a set of triplets). General Dental Practice in Humboldt County for 38 Years
Board of Trustees, Executive Committee and President of California Dental Association. Active in Boy Scouts of America serving as Redwood Area Council President and recipient of Silver Beaver. Church activity (lay ministry) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: served as Bishop of Eureka 1st Ward, and in Stake Presidency and just released as President of Medford Oregon Temple serving Northern California and Southern Oregon .”

No on Prop 8 Panelists:
Terry Stewart, Esq.
“Third generation San Franciscan. BA from Cornell University ; JD from UC Berkeley. Was a partner at San Francisco law firm of Howard, Rice, where I practiced business litigation for 20 years. Joined City Attorney's Office in 2002, shortly after Dennis Herrera was elected City Attorney. I am Chief Deputy responsible for overseeing the litigation brought by and against the City and County of San Francisco . I was the lead attorney in defense of the Mayor and City in the suit by the State and anti-gay groups over issuance of the marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004. I also lead the team of attorneys from our office and Howard, Rice who represented the City in its suit against the State challenging the constitutionality of the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. I argued the case to the California Supreme Court in March 2008.”

Rev. Karen Harris
“Has been ministerial consultant at Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship since January 2006. Also am a lecturer in the religious studies department at HSU. Got my Masters of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School in 2004. Before that had a 20+year-long career in telecommunications management in upstate New York . BA from Stanford University . long-time single mom of two amazing grown-up kids, avid photographer with strong connections to nuns and nunneries in India , Nepal and Tibet . Current projects: gradually moving toward living off-grid, consuming locally, and staying connected to my global friends.”


The Humboldt County Human Rights Commission was initially established to aid in the eradication of discrimination in the county specifically in cases of employment, public services and housing. SB 381 expanded the purpose to include discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, civic interest, or other factors.