Today in Wikincubate, the ever-expanding encyclopedia of ways to get engaged with socially conscious issues:

Social business

Social business multimedia, including this video of social business guru Muhammad Yunus:

Social entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurship multimedia

LGBT Rights

Portia de Rossi and Ellen Degeneris came out of the closet with their wedding plans! Thanks to the California State Supreme Court’s Decision overturning the ban on gay marriage (as unconstitutional) Ellen and Portia can finally say “I do. This, of course, is one small step towards equality for humankind. And one gigantic leap towards a wedding registry this couple. Yesterday, on her show, an emotional Ellen announced:

This is very exciting, I have to say. Yesterday, the California Supreme Court overturned the ban on gay marriage. So I would like to say right now, for the first time, I am announcing that I am getting married. [...] I’m so excited. It’s something that we’ve, of course, wanted to do, and we’ve wanted to be legal, and we’re very very excited.

The lucky gal, of course, is Ellen’s girlfriend Portia de Rossi. Check out the video below

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The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!

Katie Halper:

“The First Time I Every Saw Your Face” May Be the First Time You Hear About Ewan MacColl

California’s Gay Marriage Ban Overturned & 5 Ways To Take Action

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Nicole Hughes:

“Bottlemania” Book Takes Bottled Water Industry To Task

Arnold Tells Automakers To “Stop Whining” About Tougher California Emissions Standards

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Andy Kondrat:

Department of Energy Forecasts Large Increase In Wind Power Usage

Edward Norton & Gavin Newsom Speak To Congress About Environmental Building Practices

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Jon Popham:

Spencer Tunick Strips Hundreds Naked

Lichtenstein Sculptures At Fairchild Garden In Miami

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Giulia Rozzi:

Does Being Ethical Pay?

Is the Anti-Female Genial Mutilation Campaign Offensive?

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Gina Telaroli:

A Global Look At Media On Pangea Day

Everything Cinema: Brody Takes On the Working Life of Jean-Luc Godard

California’s Gay Marriage Ban was banned today by the California Supreme court! In the 4-3 decision, the court ruled that Proposition 22, a ban on gay marriage, is unconstitutional. This is great news for people who, you know, like, care about equal rights or whatever! Here’s why the court deemed it unconstitutional to tell people who they can and can’t marry:

In contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual’s sexual orientation — like a person’s race or gender — does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights. We therefore conclude that in view of the substance and significance of the fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship, the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples.

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The National Day of Silence, which challenges anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools, will be in memory of Lawrence King, a California 8th-grader who was shot and killed this year by a classmate because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. Tomorrow, hundreds of thousands of students will come together to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior. by signing up to participate in the National Day of Silence. Check out the video below and get the following free tools to spread awareness

1. DAY of SILENCE® Organizing Manual
In this manual, you will find information on everything from fundraising and publicity to the nuts-and-bolts of getting your classmates, teachers and administration on board. Download Manual » [650k pdf]

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Lance Bass of NSYNC talks about the importance of GLSEN’s National Day of Silence in this public service announcement, leading up to the Day of Silence on April 25, 2008 to address anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools.

This year’s event will be held in memory of Lawrence King, a California 8th-grader who was shot and killed Feb. 12 by a classmate because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. Hundreds of thousands of students will come together on April 25 to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior. and get involved at http://www.dayofsilence.org/

We want to tip our hat, or skull cap, to South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu who has fought against apartheid and for social justice. Last night the Archbishop attended A Celebration of Courage, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission’s (IGLHRC’s) annual gala awards ceremony at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. He was presented with an OUTSPOKEN Award for “his leadership as a global ally of the LGBTI community whose outspokenness has contributed substantially to advancing the rights and understanding of LGBTI* people everywhere.”The Nobel Prize winning Archbishop is no stranger to awards or to giving speeches. But this was Tutu’s “first time” addressing people at an LGBTI event. Tutu “condemn[ed] the persecution of LGBTI people, apologize[d] on behalf of his Church for ostracizing gay people,” and explained he could not remain silent “when people were frequently hounded…vilified, molested and even killed as targets of homophobia…for something they did not choose-their sexual orientation.”

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The message of universal equality (and great music!) is at the heart of the True Colors Tour, which features a stellar line-up, including performances by Cyndi Lauper, The B-52s, Joan Jett, Rosie O’Donnell, Wanda Sykes, and others. The Tour hopes to bring about awareness to the discrimination that that LGBT community still faces today.

A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to True Colors’ non-profit partners to increase funding for organizations that are working toward furthering LGBT equality. Tickets went on sale last week, and performances will happen around the country throughout the month of June.

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Groundspark Film Project (formerly Women’s Educational Media) works with social activists and educators to produce truly visionary films that inspire social action. A spirit of innovation and energetic activism colors their Respect For All Film Project and accompanying educational campaigns as they engage with youth and adults alike on topics of human diversity and preventing prejudice. The project offers a variety of resources for educators and service providers, including award-winning documentaries, a workshop series, and curriculum guidelines.

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The Oscars honored several films which highlighted several worthy causes worth paying attention to and taking action for.

If you like the Oscars and taking action, then follow this Top 10 list of actions inspired by the films, the speeches, the parties, and the outfits featured during the Academy Awards.

1. Julie Christie, who was nominated for her amazing performance in the amazing film Away From Her, directed by the Amazing actor/filmmaker Sarah Polley, wears an orange ribbon, representing the “campaign to close Guantanamo,” which Julie says is “a very, very important issue”¦ It’s affecting the whole world.”

with Amnesty International’s online interactive Tear It Down campaign.

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