The national gay group Log Cabin Republicans is gearing up to help fight the anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment on California's November ballot. The group is in the process of forming a state political action committee to collect donations and is talking to staffers of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on what role the state's leading Republican politician may play in defeating the marriage ban.

At its recent national convention in San Diego, Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon was able to get Schwarzenegger to say on tape that he opposes the constitutional amendment. In a recent interview with the Bay Area Reporter, Sammon would not disclose the specifics of his conversations in Sacramento.

"Certainly it is a priority for us to figure out how he can help with this campaign. Certainly, he has said things on video that can be used in television ads," said Sammon.

As for his Q & A session with the governor, Sammon said he had given Schwarzenegger advance notice that the question would be asked. As for his response Sammon said he only had an inkling of what Schwarzenegger would say.

"I wanted to ask him about marriage but thought there wasn't much point re-looking at his decision for vetoing the marriage bills. He did know the question would be asked. I wasn't sure what he would say," said Sammon. "I thought he would take the middle road. Based on what he said while we were waiting in the Green Room I was optimistic. Certainly, I was pleased and excited by his response."

Because of his stance in support of the state Supreme Court's recent 4-3 ruling overturning California's anti-gay marriage laws and his urging voters not to overturn the decision at the ballot box, Schwarzenegger has been given a reprieve, of sorts, from the city's Pride Committee.

Initially, the Pride board had been set to publish a response to the governor's Pride letter, as it has done for the last three years in the Inside Pride guide due to his vetoing marriage bills sent to him by the Legislature. Mikayla Connell, the board's president, said she had already written it prior to his statements in San Diego.

"We still wish he hadn't vetoed the legislation the last couple of years, it still is a positive step. So we decided we will call it a wash," and scrapped publishing the response, said Connell. "As long as he continues to oppose the marriage ban and support the California Supreme Court decision, we will support him."

Sammon expects to have Log Cabin's new California PAC up and running by early July. With the resignation of California director James Vaughn, whose is leaving the organization at the end of June to return to the private sector, Sammon will be overseeing the group's statewide efforts for the time being.

Log Cabin's strategy will include having its members write guest opinions in newspapers throughout the state and talking to Republican groups about why they should support same-sex marriage.

"As an organization we are committed to doing all we can to help defeat this amendment," Sammon said.

As for replacing Vaughn, Sammon said it would depend on the outcome of the November election. Should the amendment be defeated, he said the group may decide to refocus its resources elsewhere.

"In the short-term we will not replace him. Our focus is entirely on the marriage amendment campaign," said Sammon.

Pelosi to skip Pride

Once again House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be a no show at Pride. But the Democratic politician from San Francisco did issue a Pride statement and sends warm wishes to those celebrants recently betrothed.

"The speaker regrets that she will not be able to participate in this year's Pride festivities, but looks forward to continuing to celebrate marriage equality in California while strongly opposing any ballot initiative that would seek to write discrimination into the State Constitution," wrote spokesman Drew Hammill in an e-mail response to questions.

In her Pride letter released Monday, June 23, Pelosi took a strong stance against the anti-gay marriage measure.

"I take great pride in this significant milestone, and am full of joy for the many loving couples who are formalizing their unions across our great state. I encourage California citizens to respect the court's decision and join me in strongly opposing any ballot measure that would write discrimination into our state constitution," wrote Pelosi.

As for other issues, Pelosi pledged to continue to work on repealing the military's anti-gay "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, ending discrimination against same-sex couples in federal immigration laws, and ensuring that "fully-inclusive" hate crimes prevention and Employment Non-Discrimination Acts become law.

"In a Democratic Congress, unlike previous Congresses, malicious measures intended to divide the American people or to undermine the rights of the LGBT community are off the table," wrote Pelosi.

Foodie site reverses gay censorship

The Web site Chowhound found itself dealing with a Pride week fuss after a user's post on wanting to find gay-owned restaurants in San Francisco was deleted.

The Eater SF Web site mentioned last week that the June 19 post by user SarahKC had been deleted and published a copy of it. Her post said that in honor of Pride, she "was thinking of going to some excellent places that have owners or e. chefs or just leadership from the queer community."

Chowhound's code of ethics states that moderators ensure that its public message boards do not have "anything that has the whiff of self-interest" and that the "focus is where to find great chow." But it also states that the job of its moderators "is not to shield all users from anything they might find offensive."

So Political Notebook e-mailed the CNET-owned site to ask why users couldn't share tips on the best gay-owned eateries in San Francisco. Editor-in-chief Jane Goldman, on holiday in the wine country up north, e-mailed to say that after her staff reviewed the issue, the posting was added back to the site.

Goldman said that the posting initially had been deleted because it was marked OT for off topic.

"Chowhound's policy has always been to keep the discussion on the food," e-mailed Goldman. "The moderators are diligent about making sure the discussion doesn't veer off the Chowhound theme – food, specifically the pursuit of deliciousness – at all."

But after being informed about the posting's deletion, Goldman said the site's staff discussed whether or not wanting to patronize a gay-owned restaurant could be considered on-topic.

"The gist was this – is background info about a chef or owner relevant to the food? Answer was – sometimes. There are lots of factors about how you choose a restaurant. And on an occasion like Pride, the gay-friendliness of the restaurant or the sexual orientation of the chef might be a factor. So the post went back up," wrote Goldman.

A note posted to the site June 22 from the staff informs users that, "There's been lots of flags and debate (including amongst the moderators and staff) about this thread, but it's a sincere question, and one we're going to allow. We'd like to ask that anyone who feels that the question is non-chowish please take that discussion to the Site Talk board. This thread should focus on where one can both eat great chow and support the SF Bay Area gay community."

As of Tuesday, June 24 several people had posted, suggesting that lesbian-owned restaurants CAV Wine Bar and Citizen Cake were not to be missed. Bon appetit and happy Pride!