The UK-based group Iraqi-LGBT is reporting that approximately 128 individuals have been arrested and sentenced to death for nothing more than being LGBT. And according to Iraqi-LGBT, executions are scheduled this week to start in "batches of 20."
If true, this is shocking, and quite possibly one of the gravest consequences of the Bush administration's War in Iraq. Groups like Amnesty Internationa...
The full House is scheduled to hold its first vote on Thursday. The House will be taking up the budget bill first, and it is impossible to predict how long the discussion will take. It could take the better part of the day, or it could move along quickly. In either event, you can be sure that the chamber will fill up quickly. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE A VISIBLE PRESENCE IN THE ROOM. Plan to ...
The leaders of a nonprofit LGBT donors group in Florida are calling on members of Congress to introduce a far-reaching omnibus LGBT rights bill that combines all of the gay- and transgender-related bills that have been pending before Congress, some for as long as 30 years.
Called the Equality & Religious Freedom Act, the combined measure also includes new provisions, including a clause that requi...
A complex mix of personalities, career ambitions and individual motivations led to the defeat of civil unions for gay couples in Hawaii.
In the end, it was a political soap opera, full of emotion, strong characters and plot twists.
Some of the reasons state senators voted to scrap the measure Wednesday had more to do with politics than principle.
How else could 18 of 25 Democratic senators clai...
Japan has given the green light for its nationals to marry same-sex foreign partners in countries where gay marriage is legal, a justice ministry official said Friday.
Japan does not allow same-sex marriages at home and has so far also refused to issue a key document required for citizens to wed overseas if the applicant's intended spouse was of the same gender....
Homophobia is damaging people's health and careers across Europe and the problem may be worse than reported because victims are scared to draw attention to themselves for fear of a backlash, an EU study said.
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights said police in most countries were incapable of dealing with homophobic crime -- ranging from verbal abuse to deadly attacks -- and said many...
Openly gay Vermont state Rep. Jason Lorber, a former Victory Fund endorsee, expressed cautious optimism about the prospect of passing marriage equality legislation in the state, despite Gov. Jim Douglas' declaration that he would veto such a bill.
"We need to just stay focused on getting this bill passed," Lorber told GayPolitics.com. "We're certainly disappointed with the governor, but we need t...
Gays and lesbians may not be able to get married in New York - but they can get divorced.
In what is believed to be the first ruling on the issue of gay divorce in the state, a judge in Binghamton, New York has granted a divorce to a lesbian couple.
Justice Molly R. Fitzgerald based her ruling on an executive order issued last May by Gov. David Paterson recognizing the marriages of New York gay...
A Northern California family is expected to be torn apart on Friday when Shirley Tan is scheduled to be deported back to the Philippines, leaving behind her life partner and their 12 year old twin sons.
Tan and Jaylynn "Jay" Mercado were married in San Francisco in 2004. Their marriage was voided, but even if it still were in effect the federal Defense of Marriage Act prevents Mercado from sponso...
The House Judiciary Committee voted 8-2 Tuesday morning to approve a same-sex marriage bill.
Seven Democrats on the committee were joined by a single Republican in approving the bill, which comes after more than a week of testimony. The bill is expected to be debated on the floor of the Vermont House Thursday and Friday.
"It's no secret where I stand on this issue," said Rep. William Lippert, D-...
The Libertarian Party of California has formally endorsed the Domestic Partnership Initiative (DPI), a proposed state measure that would replace the word "marriage" with "domestic partnership" throughout the California constitution and statutes. The DPI was approved on March 9, 2009 by the California secretary of state for petition signature gathering....
The General Assembly's Judiciary Committee on Monday afternoon voted 30-10 to codify last October's landmark state Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage.
If approved by the Senate, then the House and signed into law by the governor, the legislation would create a transition period for those same-sex couples who joined together in civil unions.
Couples could either end those existing unions or aut...
An unscientific survey taken by state. Sen. William Doyle shows that 55 percent of Vermonters support gay marriage, 38 percent oppose it and 7 percent are undecided.
Meanwhile, Douglas is getting a lot of mail in the wake of his announcement that he plans to veto a same-sex marriage bill....
Following the Vermont Senate's vote to support a bill to end the exclusion of gay couples from marriage last week, Vermont's Gov. Douglas said he would veto the civil rights bill. But with the right work we can make that threat irrelevant!
Vermont Freedom to Marry is urging anyone who supports equality for all families to take action now, wherever you are, to tell the Vermont legislature to conti...
LGBT civil rights groups in Vermont are mounting a massive campaign to secure a veto-proof House vote on gay marriage.
The House is expected to vote later this week on a marriage equality bill. The measure passed the Senate last week with a massive 26-4 vote. It is expected to pass the House with a much narrower majority.
Following Senate passage of the bill, Gov. James Douglas (R) announced he...
A boisterous crowd cheered former Gov. Howard Dean's support of Freedom to Marry legislation and health care reform Saturday at a Vermont Democratic Party reception at the Hilton Burlington.
Dean's emotional endorsement of both issues headlined his acceptance of the 10 annual David W. Curtis Award.
The event celebrated Dean's tenure as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee -- and his...
Debate was intense, tempers flared and emotions ran high during committee hearings in the Nevada Senate and State Assembly on Friday as several bills dealing with same-sex domestic partnerships and discrimination based on sexual orientation and "gender identity or expression" were discussed.
Last week, Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, introduced two of these bills into committee... Senate Bill 283,...
So there it is...the story of three governors in the states that very well could be the next three states in the country to recognize marriage equality. One could be a potential ally (Maine's Baldacci), one is certainly an obstacle (Vermont's Douglas), and one is still unknown (New Hampshire's Lynch). But as these three individuals demonstrate, the Governor's office is a critical component in th...
Vermont and California appear to be sliding in opposite directions these days, and we're not talking about tectonic plates. As the institution of marriage undergoes seismic shifts, Vermont is moving from civil unions for same-sex couples toward full marriage, while the California Supreme Court is weighing whether to uphold Proposition 8, which stripped marriage rights from gay and lesbian couples....
He added that Monday was his proudest day as a legislator, a father, a husband and a Vermonter. There will be enough votes to override Douglas' veto, Shumlin promised, adding, "We are not a distraction, we are Vermonters."...
Immigration Equality today spoke out about a California family that may soon be torn apart. Due to immigration laws that discriminate against lesbian and gay couples, Shirley Tan will likely be deported April 3, separating her from her life partner Jay Mercado, their twelve-year-old twin sons, and Jay's mother, for whom Shirley is the primary caretaker. The deportation will send Shirley back to ...
Vermont was the first state to outlaw slavery. Neighboring New Hampshire declared its independence from England before any other colony. Maine led the way with Prohibition.
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These days, Yankee activism has another cause - gay rights.
Two states in New England already allow same-sex marriage, and lawmakers in three more are considering it, although passage is far from certa...
Same-sex marriage supporters vowed Friday to protest Gov. James Douglas wherever he travels until he reverses his vow to veto a bill working its way through the Vermont Legislature.
Hundreds of supporters turned out at the Statehouse Friday morning to rally support for the bill legalizing gay marriage, two days after the Republican governor made the surprise announcement that he would reject the ...
The New Hampshire House voted Thursday to legalize same-sex marriage, narrowly approving a bill that faces an uncertain future in the State Senate and, should it pass there, most likely a veto by Gov. John Lynch.
Only hours after the measure had failed by one vote, a handful of legislators reconsidered, allowing it to clear the Democratic-controlled House by 186 to 179.
The vote followed by a da...
At a news conference Thursday, the groups said their research shows that children thrive in homes where the parents have loving and committed relationships. Dr. David Lilly of the Maine Psychological Association says the development, adjustment and well-being of children does not differ markedly whether their parents are gay or straight....
By issuing his veto threat, Douglas passes up the opportunity to be the leader who helps bridge the gulf between Vermonters on opposite sides of this issue. By focusing on the need to attend to other issues after the bill passed the Senate, Douglas fails to give proper recognition to the fact that marriage equality is about civil rights....
"If I [were] to offer free political advice to the gay community in California," Schmidt said, "it would be don't spend your time looking for people about why it was defeated, but instead focus on what you could do next time and get ready to run the next campaign, because they were very, very close to succeeding."...
That said we're going to have to work even harder as a community, in a united, determined effort to open hearts and minds, secure support, and win back marriage....
Please attend a vigil in support of equal civil rights and the marriage equality bill. This will show strong support for equal marriage across Vermont, and to the nation at large. It is crucial to act now as the senate passed equal marriage, and the house is set to vote with the Governor threatening to veto....
Newly elected Assemblyman Marty Block, who has a long history of support for gay rights issues, is facing the ire of gays and lesbians over his failure to vote on a legislative resolution condemning Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.
Some are so incensed that they are organizing a protest at tonight's meeting of the gay and lesbian San Diego Democratic Club that Block sa...
Yes, if the CA Supreme Court upholds Prop 8 we will be angry. There is still anger in the community four months later.
I hear it, others do too, and yes, we need an outlet for that anger. But let's not allow the outlet to be violent and self-destructive.
Let's gather, yell, scream, march, stomp our feet, and other forms of getting the anger out.
Then let us come together as a community and do w...
Same-sex marriage resonates with many in the Palm Springs area, which has one of the largest gay populations per capita in the United States. About 1,200 same-sex couples have married in the Coachella Valley since June 17, the first day gays and lesbians could legally marry....
Atticus Circle and Soulforce are teaming up for seven weeks of action, starting on Sunday, May 17, involving LGBT equality advocates visiting faith communities across the United States. The actions will involve supporters of LGBT individuals, couples, and families, who will be visiting churches and other faith community gathering places, engaging those faith community members in discussions about ...
The House has voted to make New Hampshire the third state allowing gays to marry two years after they granted them the right to enter into civil unions.
The House voted 186-179 to send the bill to the Senate....
The president thinks Americans with partners from other countries should not be faced with a painful choice between staying with their partner or staying in their country. We will work closely with Congress to craft comprehensive immigration reform legislation....
There was a sense of déjà vu as former Rep. Tom Little testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday afternoon on the same-sex marriage bill quickly moving through the Vermont Legislature.
Little, a Shelburne Republican, was chairman of that committee nine years ago when it passed the first-in-the-nation civil union law.
Now, Little was back before the panel as the 11-member body kic...
"Mayor Bloomberg said Wednesday night he stands ready to ask the Legislature to allow gay marriage in New York State, but doesn't know when the time will be right."...
As Massachusetts goes, so goes New England.
That's the hope of gay marriage advocates who are getting closer to the goal of extending marriage rights to all New England states by 2012. We wish them luck in their quest.
It's been five years since Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage, and since that time approximately 10,000 gay couples have been married...
The move puts the pressure squarely on the House. It can override a governor's veto with a two-thirds majority. Speaker Smith says he works closely with Progressives and Republicans, but since gay marriage is such a personal decision, not all about political parties, he's not sure he has the votes. House Judiciary chairman Bill Lippert-- himself openly gay-- held back tears over his frustration.
...
Documents leaked to Californians Against Hate show in fascinating detail the calculated way Mormon spiritual leaders spearheaded Hawaii's gay marriage fight 10 years ago. The handful of memos from then-Elder Loren C. Dunn to various members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reveal a political machine within a patriarchy of faith:
Richard Wirthlin, not yet a general authority, polled the relat...
The chamber voted 186-179 to send a gay marriage bill to the Senate.
The bill's future is uncertain in the Senate. Also, Democratic Gov. John Lynch has said he opposes gay marriage, but hasn't said whether he would veto the legislation if it made it to his desk....
Along the way marchers plan to meet with minority and church groups in an attempt to woo people who may have voted for the same-sex marriage ban back in November. They would like to get them to now support the repeal of Proposition 8 if they need to get such an initiative on the ballot....
Equality Inland Empire plans to seek meetings with local state legislators and members of Congress, attend legislative open houses, hold community town hall meetings and get involved with education and other issues that are not gay-specific but affect members and their families.
The group began meeting in January. The group's first big event, a March 4 rally in downtown Riverside on the eve of t...
Appeals to the school's Dean, Judy Olian, to rescind the invitation have been denied; GLBA members are planning a protest.
The outcry stems from the fact that Ms. Whitman, who served as a campaign co-chair and advisor to the John McCain presidential candidacy, recently announced her run for the Governorship here in California and her support for Prop 8....
What this all begins to show is that for our detractors, it's NOT just about marriage, and marriage is not where they'll stop. They want to round it out by taking away jobs, civil rights, proper healthcare, safe schools, you name it....
Unmarried same-sex couples may suffer greater fear and anxiety around end of life issues than those in state-sanctioned unions, according to the findings....
The faith-based support comes on the heels of public support for the measure from civil rights and native Hawaiian organizations, said Paul Gracie, co-chairman of the Family Equality Coalition....
Little more than five years after the Supreme Judicial Court legalized marriage for same-sex couples in Massachusetts, gay advocates say they're coming closer to their goal of extending gay marriage to all New England states by 2012....
Today's debate lasted just over an hour and was marked by considerable decorum. But behind the scenes, there was also considerable drama. The son of Republican state Sen. Kevin Mullin came out as gay in a Vermont daily newspaper today, and it was Mullin who offered an amendment to put off the vote on the bill and, instead, put the issue before voters. That amendment was struck down 11 to 19, and M...
Van Capelle said that during the meeting, Schumer pledged his support to repeal DOMA and, in the interim, to work to provide federal recognition and portability of benefits to legally married same-sex couples.
Sen. Schumer is Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate's Democratic Conference and the highest ranking member of the Senate to endorse marriage equality....
On the broader topic of same-sex marriage, 44 percent opposed any legal recognition for same-sex couples, while 28 percent support civil unions but not full marriage rights. Twenty-one percent support full marriage rights....
"It's very difficult to predict outcomes to Prop 8 on the basis of arguments," said David B. Cruz, a University of Southern California law professor and constitutional law expert....
Mary Riemersma, the association's executive director, wrote, "The members of the CAMFT board have great respect for those organizations and individuals that have as their mission to act to protect the rights of same-sex couples, however that is not CAMFT's purpose. The various things that you have asked CAMFT to do would use resources intended to be used to assure parity for marriage and family th...
In what turned out to be the largest total contribution from a single organization, $1.4 million of the Yes on 8 campaign's coffers came from the tax-exempt Knights of Columbus, based in New Haven, Connecticut. The Catholic Church operates its legislative efforts through the little understood entity, of which nearly all Catholic bishops and priests are members.
But the church's involvement in rep...
The memos -- 10 of which appear to have been written by the late Loren C. Dunn, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy at the time -- reveal key aspects of the LDS Church's strategy in fighting same-sex marriage in Hawaii. Karger contends they also reveal a kind of electoral blueprint that the church modified for use in California.
Whether the documents bear any relevance to the Prop 8 effo...
Organizer Laura McFarin said, "If we are victorious and the California Supreme Court overturns Prop 8, then the rally will be a celebration [and will take] the victory and press our advantage as much as possible. This can be done is such a way that the possible victory in California promotes further victories elsewhere."
If the court upholds Prop 8, the rally will become a protest.
QL founder an...
"The bottom line is that those who reside in states that do not recognize relationships or sanctioned marriages between same-sex couples feel less cared for and less cared about and must take extra legal steps to prepare for their later years," deVries said....
The proponent for this measure, Charles Lowe, must collect signatures of 694,354 registered voters - the number equal to 8% of the total votes cast for governor in the 2006 gubernatorial election - in order to qualify it for the ballot. The proponent has 150 days to circulate petitions for this measure, meaning the signatures must be collected by August 17, 2009....
We do not ask for a handout. We do not ask for special favors. And we gladly and lovingly accept taking care of children cast away by others. All we ask is to be treated like everyone else....
The full Senate is expected to take up the bill next week.
Gov. Jim Douglas has said he opposes the measure, but has not indicated whether he would veto it.
If approved, Vermont would join Massachusetts and Connecticut as the only U.S. states that allow gay marriage....
Vermont's experience with civil unions since 2000 has shown us that people are more than ready to accept the idea of two people of the same gender should receive legal recognition for a committed relationship. The world as we knew it hardly changed at all for the larger population, though it did for that portion seeking a measure of equality. The fact that civil unions are so unremarkable today is...
A spokesman of the Springfield, Mass., company says the change was made in 2003 to reflect the popularity of the term "same-sex marriage" in print and common usage....
A coalition of clergy members who support gay marriage in Maine attempted to persuade lawmakers at a meeting Tuesday, the day the Senate referred the bill to a committee....
Tuesday's split decision means that the bill goes to the whole House next week for a debate and vote without any recommendation from the committee.
The Legislature passed a civil unions bill for same-sex couples two years ago and the state began issuing civil unions last year....
Patten handed the Committee a new UCLA research study released last week projecting Vermont would see $31 million in new consumer spending, and 700 new jobs, in the first three years following passage of same-sex marriage. The study was based on Vermont's experience with civil unions, and data from other states with gay marriage rights....
The main takeaways:
- Volunteers given tools to create their own local groups
- Keep volunteers interacting in the real world, not just online
- Provide structure -- let people communicate info about when and where things are happening
- Provide materials -- training, talking points, logos, help with permits, etc
- Help volunteers find other local volunteers (Blue State Digital's Neighbor-to-Neig...
The Obama administration will endorse a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality that then-President George W. Bush had refused to sign, The Associated Press has learned....
A new petition by the Courage Campaign is calling upon Obama to allow the federal government to provide the same health benefits to same-sex spouses and partners of federal employees that other federal employee spouses receive....
The court will provide notice 24-hours in advance of issuing its ruling. That evening, DayofDecision.org actions across the country to either protest a decision that upholds Prop. 8 or that celebrates the invalidation of Prop. 8 will take place....
Gay couples could have the same rights and responsibilities as married couples, under a bill introduced in the state Senate.
Senate Bill 283, sponsored by Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, calls for a new type of civil contract for domestic partnerships, under which domestic partners would have the same rights, protections and benefits as spouses, former spouses, widows or widowers....
House Bill 1260, known as the "designated beneficiaries" bill, would make it easier and less expensive for two unmarried people -- gay or not -- to file paperwork with their county clerk allowing them to share benefits and plan their estates.
Senate Bill 88 would enable same-sex partners of state employees to be eligible for health, life and dental insurance benefits, which is expected to cost $1...
This proposal has no place in a pluralistic society. Imagine Jewish businesses refusing to serve Arabs or Muslims or conservatives blacklisting liberal customers....
Married couples in Massachussetts say they're being unfairly penalized by the federal government's Defense of Marriage Act. We talk with the widower of former Congressman Gerry Studds, whose marriage is not recognized at the federal level and thus he is not able to collect Studds' congressional pension just like any other surviving spouse. Ross Palombo reports....
Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee is hearing testimony about equality issues, other states' experiences and the conclusions of a study on the matter. More hearings are scheduled for later in the week....
The petition drive was featured on EndtheLies.org, launched by the Human Rights Campaign to confront what HRC said are lies and distortions repeatedly used to defeat LGBT equality measures.
Starr has referred to the struggle for marriage equality as "seizing and hijacking the marriage relationship in order to achieve apartheid-type values."...
Anti-gay incidents accounted for more than half of hate-crime cases last year -- 56 percent -- a big jump from only 15 percent in 2007. There were 14 anti-gay cases out of 25 hate-crime cases in 2008, compared with only 3 out of 20 in 2007....
Although the government may not have intended to invest civil marriage with a public health role, in practice, it has become the vehicle for delivering such fortifications. People who are married have access to enhanced protections at those times of greatest human vulnerability: birth, death, illness, disability and unemployment. The government gives special treatment to civil marriage because it ...
The strain of the status quo on gay and lesbian binational couples should not be discounted. Because their relationships are not legally recognized by the United States, some couples have resorted to illegal marriages where the foreign nationals marry Americans to get green cards that allow them to stay in the country permanently. In other cases, Americans have exiled themselves to be with their p...
However, one could argue that those married elsewhere between June 16 and Nov. 4 - when gay marriages were performed in California - should be recognized if those couples move here, she said....
The Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force has hired the Montpelier lobbying firm of Kimbell, Sherman & Ellis, and began airing TV commercials March 5 that feature couples talking about marriage equality.
It has held news events all week: On Tuesday, it was mental health and human service organizations saying children of lesbian and gay parents are as likely as those of heterosexual parents to flour...
As a means of gearing up for the upcoming California State Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8, a host of LGBT rights activists and organizations have launched "The Day of Decision," a nationwide call to organize demonstrations and rallies across the U.S. on the day that the Court announces its opinion over whether Prop 8 is valid or discriminatory. As the organizers call it, this day will eith...
It is past time for the Administration to continue mouthing its good intentions to do something in the future. The issue is here and it is time for action. A motion to dismiss the Gill case would be an unfriendly act against the LGBT community, most certainly, in terms of immediate strategic decisions facing the Administration, since it would require arguing that Congress had a legitimate justif...
The Vermont Psychological Association, the Vermont Psychiatric Association, the Vermont Association of Mental Health Counselors, and the Vermont chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, all say legalizing gay marriage would help the children of same-sex couples....
Maloney joined about 25 colleagues of varying Christian denominations at a news conference at City Hall in Burlington Wednesday to voice their support for marriage equality. They released a roster of Christian and Jewish clergy from across Vermont who signed a statement of support for same-sex marriage rights, framing the issue as one that protects their religious freedoms....
Democratic Sen. Dennis Damon of Trenton said those lining up in support of his bill include representatives from Maine's smallest towns and its largest cities....
Gilchrest came out of political retirement to share a personal view of the issue -- his brother David is gay and married to his longtime partner in Massachusetts. Gilchrest, who opposed changing the U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage, argued that the unions should be allowed as a matter of "social justice, civil rights and a more viable democracy."
Britt, who met his wife while on a freedom ri...
As a presidential candidate, Mr. Obama said he would "fight hard" for the rights of gay couples. As a senator, he sponsored legislation that would have provided health benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.
Now, Mr. Obama is in a tough spot. If he supports the personnel office on denying benefits to the San Francisco court employees, he risks agitating liberal groups that helped him ...
Jacobs is trying to organize a new, grassroots-oriented gay-rights movement in California. After November 4, the top-down management style of the campaign, which was headed up by such longtime gay leaders as Geoff Kors of Equality California and Lorri Jean of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, was widely seen as a weak link in the failed effort. Over the past few months, the Courage Campaign has been ...
Groups have begun planning a response to the California Supreme Court decision that will decide the validity of prop 8 and the existing 18,000 same-sex marriages that have been performed during the months of May-November....
Anti-gay extremists are gathering at the Capitol in Sacramento tomorrow, March 11, to lobby against the Harvey Milk Day Bill. Members of the Capitol Resource Institute will lobby "to urge lawmakers to oppose the 'homosexual indoctrination' presented by SB 572, which would create a Harvey Milk Day in public schools . . .," according to the Capitol Morning Report....
Washington will join California and Oregon in having Domestic Partnerships that possess identitical state rights and responsibilities as marriages. And none of the federal ones....
While the Vote No folks sat there and watched one African American church leader after another take the Vote Yes bait and come out in favor of Prop 8, the Vote No folks had perhaps the greatest weapon that they could ever want in their back pockets: a letter from the man that ended up winning over 95% of a massive and historically large African American vote. And they did NOTING WITH IT!...
Steve Smith, a consultant who worked for the campaign, was recently called out on his ineptitude, and he had this to say:
Smith acknowledged that the campaign should have used then-presidential candidate Barack Obama's stated opposition to Prop 8. Instead, little use was made of Obama's opposition in a letter last June to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, and right before Election Day...
This is unacceptable, that a non-student, non-Hawaiian hate group is allowed to come onto a campus to harass students. Please contact the chancellor immediately to revoke their permit to enter the campus, this is a safety issue, as well as a violation of the universities principles....
Marc Solomon - the highly regarded executive director of MassEquality - will be EQCA's new "marriage director."
EQCA also hired Andrea Shorter, who recently lead the post-Prop 8 Equality Summit. Shorter is co-founder and director of And Marriage For All, a public-education campaign that engages communities of color in dialogue about the freedom to marry for same-sex couples, and the co-founder an...
Legislators could also compromise by approving a watered-down version of civil unions that affirms gay partnerships but reserves some marital rights for heterosexual couples only. That version would permit same-sex couples or family members to enter into a relationship that provides hospital visitation, inheritance and auto insurance benefits but denies adoption and other parental rights. Addition...
Included in the materials distributed at the news conference was a July 2006 article in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics that concluded: "There is ample evidence that children raised by same-gender parents fare as well as those raised by heterosexual parents. More than 25 years of research have documented that there is no relationship between parents' sexual orientation and any me...
The point of the legislation would be to properly respond should the Iowa Supreme Court rule that the state's Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. If that is the case, same-sex marriage would be legal in Iowa and the language in laws would have to reflect that....
The Field Poll of 761 registered voters found that 48 percent of those surveyed would support a new ballot initiative repealing Proposition 8, while 47 percent would favor keeping the ban in place. The remaining 5 percent were undecided....
Recognizing that win or lose, the LGBTQ community must have an immediate response to the forthcoming California Supreme Court decision on whether or not to uphold Proposition 8, veteran activists Robin Tyler and Andy Thayer have called for "Day of Decision" actions the night that the court releases its decision. Volunteers for the effort are being coordinated through the new website, www.DayofDec...
Citing DOMA, the U.S. government says that it would be illegal to count same-sex partners and identify them as gay and lesbian couples, since same-sex unions aren't recognized on a federal level. Moreover, for same-sex couples who have children, the injustice is even graver. Same-sex couples with kids won't even be listed as "families" on the 2010 U.S. census, and children will be listed as "bel...
After successfully leading the effort to preserve marriage equality in Massachusetts and overseeing his organization's transition from a single-issue political campaign into a broad-based LGBT political organization, MassEquality executive director Marc Solomon is leaving to head up Equality California's (EQCA) effort to restore marriage equality in that state....
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, announced today the sponsorship of "Camp Courage," an intensive two-day training institute organized by the California-focused Courage Campaign. The training program will provide grassroots activists the practical, hands-on skills to organize in their communities on marriage eq...
"Ten years ago, this (debate) was about rights and benefits," said Mike Marshall, a political consultant. "Thursday it was about love, commitment and family."...
An Avalanche of negative reaction has hit The Incline Village General Improvement District after this North Lake Tahoe, Nevada resort town voted last month to rescind health care insurance benefits to domestic partners of its employees.
According to Incline Village General Improvement District financial research, the move to take back domestic partnership benefits will only save the district abou...
In short, it's time to take decisive action to do what we did not in the campaign leading up to the Prop 8 vote: change hearts and minds. And our most effective tool to reach those very segments of the population we need to most is to utilize the same tool they are using: social media....
A demonstration of Love and Support for GLBTQ families is in the planning stages for the May 2, 2009 Southern Utah University (SUU) Commencement in Cedar City, Utah. LDS Church President Thomas Monson will be a speaker and receive an honorary degree. Some SUU student organizations see Monson as an inappropriate choice for the commencement speaker. Alumni and other organizations see this is as an o...
A ruling that upholds both voters' November decision to ban gay marriage and the 18,000 same-sex marriages conducted earlier in California could come off as a safe compromise. But it also promises to keep alive an issue that has split the state as few others have.
Such a decision would give same-sex marriage advocates an avenue to pursue a federal appeal, and an argument for compelling the state ...
This week in an effort to sway voters in that state and prevent other of Equality Utah's legislative initiative's remaining bills from going down in flames, Equality Utah has come out swinging with a major multimedia ad blitz that turn the tables and proclaims...
"The Church does not object to rights for same-sex couples ..."...
Last month, after 15 hours of hearings, the Senate Judiciary and Government Operations Committee tied 3-3 on whether to advance the bill to the full Senate.
Senate leaders could move the bill from the committee directly to the Senate floor for a vote if they had nine of the Senate's 25 members agreeing.
Privately, at least nine senators have told LGBT groups they support the legislation, but are...
Equality California, a gay rights group, is already making plans to hire field organizers to persuade more Californians to accept same-sex marriage. If necessary, activists say, they'll be the ones to take the issue to the ballot box next time.
"Regardless of what the court does, we have to change hearts and minds," said Geoff Kors, Equality California executive director....
At the same time, the gay married couples may help educate Americans about same-sex marriage, Davidson said.
"They will be kind of living examples of the fact that no one else is harmed by the existence of married same-sex couples," he said....
With a razor-thin Republican majority and new leadership in the House, legislative sources told Dallas Voice this week they believe at least two pro-equality bills have a chance of passing this year -- and possibly even making their way through the Senate to Gov. Rick Perry's desk.
If Perry were to sign the bills, it would mark the first time since 2001 that any pro-equality legislation has becom...
Lawmakers want this done quickly. They will take up gay marriage in a week-and-a-half and they plan to hold a public hearing at the Statehouse. But the discussion might not matter. Lawmakers say the opposition had an opportunity to weigh in during statewide public meetings held in the fall of 2007. Opponents say they boycotted the meetings because it was a quote "dog and pony show," and point out ...
Given where we are now, with thousands of California marriages hanging in the legal balance, and marriage equality rolled back for the time being, we should learn from mistakes; what I'm reading from Michael and Dan is a frustration that the LGBT leadership in place doesn't learn. It wasn't Obama's fault that his letter wasn't used effectively. It was a gift and the ball was dropped by those in ch...
Conservatives often claim that they don't oppose granting equal rights to gay couples; they want to preserve the institution of marriage. Well, this bill would preserve "marriage." So these ads--this fight--isn't about protecting their sacred word or their unions: They're blatantly fighting to deny equal rights....
He also praised equality campaigners in the UK for "changing opinion" about same-sex unions.
"You have shown how the legislative process, by your pressure, can respond," he said....
What needs to happen? Supporters of domestic partnership who live in swing districts--i.e., outside of Seattle--need to make personal contact with their senator and representatives. Tell them about how your same-sex relationship is lovely and you support domestic partnership rights, or say that you want your lesbian daughter to have the same rights as your straight son (or whatever is personal to ...
A bill that would define marriage as a civil contract between "two persons," rather than a man and a woman, was introduced in the state Senate, sponsored by five DFL members.
It has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, but no hearings have been scheduled....
A same-sex marriage bill has already been introduced in the Senate, but a different version will be introduced after lawmakers return from the two-week Town Meeting Day break on March 16 and start a week of hearings on the topic before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
A draft of the bill posted on the Legislature's Web site says town clerks would be authorized to issue marriage licenses for gay an...
It's depressing to think - after having just lost an expensive and exhausting campaign - that repealing Proposition 8 could mean going back to the ballot. It is unfair and unjust that a slim majority of California voters took a fundamental right away from a minority, jeopardizing equal protection. But the state Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the City Attorney's lawsuit yesterday, and the si...
It would create a separate legal framework that offers many marriage-like benefits for gay couples, including the right to visit their partners in hospitals, make medical decisions and more. The bill would also recognize legal gay marriages and civil unions performed elsewhere as civil unions....
The picture shown is of a projected boycott sign on the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel whose owner Doug Manchester donated $125,000 to prop 8. This is a beautiful display of non-violent resistance....
If I had to guess, I'd say that those married between June and November 4, 2008 will still be married. Going forward, forget it. It's time to dive back into the political process....
"It felt like a smack in the face," said Pope, who knew her family opposed gay marriage but, at 31, didn't expect their longtime differences would get to her. "It's funny that those things still bother me, but it did."...
During a three-hour televised hearing in San Francisco, only Justices Carlos R. Moreno and Kathryn Mickle Werdegar suggested that the court could overturn the marriage ban as an illegal constitutional revision....
At today's Prop 8 rally in SF's Civic Center, the geographic fringe turned out to be across the street from the main event and its Jumbotron simulcast of the Supreme Court hearing, and involved school kids, teenagers, on both sides....
In its endless quest to honor its Dirigo motto, Maine will soon have a chance to become the first state to legislate marriage equality.
And so I've been thinking lately about the gay couple I've known the best and certainly the longest. Anna died in 1983 at age 90; Ruby, 12 years younger, passed on recently just short of 100. They had been together, in that confined way society permitted, since t...
Stonewall Democrats is working with the Obama Administration to address a wide-range of pro-equality issues such as employment protections, hate crimes enforcement, military readiness and family policy. What are your priorities for the White House?...
In an effort to tailor the case to concrete examples of citizen's rights being denied for purely discriminatory reasons, GLAD has chosen not to challenge DOMA as a whole. This means that all of the discriminatory practices that don't fall under Social Security laws, benefits programs for federal employees, retirees and their surviving spouses, and the regulations and practices governing issuance ...
03/04/09 Cal Law Legal Pad: The Recorder's blog will offer live updates through Twitter, starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
03/04/09 San Francisco Citizen: "It appears that former California Governor Jerry Brown will be a-Twittering away tomorrow to keep Twitter-ees appraised of Proposition 8 developments at the California State Supreme Court in San Francisco."...
The three-hour hearing is a critical legal test for both sides. But opponents of Proposition 8 also used Thursday's hearing as a prime moment to rally their forces and demonstrate resilience after a stinging election loss that many among them believe could have been avoided.
"It's a need for the community to show that we will not be passive participants to our own struggle," said Kate Kendell, ex...
Vigils were held in more than 30 cities throughout the state with the biggest in San Francisco.
Called "The Eve of Justice," organizers said the turnout exceeded expectations....
What is the chance that this lawsuit will be successful? To me, the more interesting question is what is the likelihood that this lawsuit will become moot before it is finally decided?
Federal civil litigation presenting politically contentions issues tends to take a long time if there is no immediate requirement of a speedy disposition....
By now, the court already has drafted a decision on the case, with an author and at least three other justices willing to sign it. Oral arguments sometimes result in changes to the draft, but rarely do they change the majority position. The ruling is due in 90 days....
Both the Assembly and the Senate considered identical resolutions, which stated that the Legislature "opposes Proposition 8 because it is an improper revision, not an amendment, of the California Constitution."...
A broad spectrum of civil rights groups, including the NAACP, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the National Organization for Women, have submitted friend-of-the-court briefs in the case, saying other minorities could have their rights put up for a vote if the measure is upheld....
I do think it's very important for our community and allies to stand in solidarity, opposed to Prop. 8. To certainly attend rallies or activities if community members are interested- but just as important is to have private and personal conversations with neighbors, friends, co-workers, family members, to write letters to the editor, to write letters to your church newsletter or your school newspa...
Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) said the initiative is a fundamental revision to the document, not an amendment, and therefore required deliberation by the Legislature and a two-thirds vote of both houses to put it on the ballot....
Across the state on March 4th, thousands of Californians will stand in and march by candlelight to overturn Proposition 8 on the evening before the CA Supreme Court hears oral arguments about the validity of the Proposition.
To find an event near you, visit www.eveofjustice.com or www.marriageequality.org.
Many of these events feature faith leaders and are organized by people of faith. Join CA Fai...
Laurence Tribe, a constitutional law professor at Harvard Law School, said the lawsuit is a "plausible challenge" to DOMA.
"It's a question of whether Congress oversteps its bounds and engages in irrational discrimination when it draws a line in terms of concrete benefits for individuals who are otherwise eligible simply because the marriages they have entered involve same-sex couples rather than...
But Prop. 8 backer John Eastman, dean of the Chapman Law School, says that because of that strategy, the campaign's argument against gay marriage lacks durability and could eventually break down among the coalition of voters that supported the measure. That could lead to a subsequent ballot measure ending the gay marriage ban....
The new report, in the words of MEUSA's Media Director Molly McKay, "adopts the Obama field campaign's mission statement as our own mission statement for the marriage equality movement going forward. It embodies what we missed the first time around in the No on 8 Campaign and creates a new vision where everyone is at the table and empowered and encouraged to participate in this civil rights momen...
Who makes law in a democracy? What should we do when laws contradict one another? Who is the ultimate sovereign in the state of California -- the people at the polls or their written Constitution or their appointed judges or their elected legislators? Can fundamental constitutional rights -- inalienable rights -- be withdrawn from one group but not another?
These are big, thorny questions with im...
Emotions still run high on the issue, but more Californians now say they know gays and lesbians, and approve of same-sex marriage. The shift is particularly pronounced among residents ages 18 to 29....
Unfortunately, the very purpose of our state Constitution has been called into question as its guarantee of equal protection under the law is at risk. Proposition 8, passed last November by a slim majority of voters, took a fundamental right away from a targeted group. Most supporters of Prop. 8 would like to tell us it's only about marriage for same-sex couples, but in reality, Prop. 8 is about s...
