Breaking Marriage Equality News Headlines from April 2009

	A Tale of Two Press Conferences Black and Hispanic respondents were most likely to view the struggle for LGBT civil rights as a continuation of the civil rights movement of the 1960's. 63% of Hispanics and 45% of Blacks (a plurality) agreed with the statement, "ending discrimination against gay men and women is as necessary today as ending discrimination against blacks was in the 1960s."... Pam's House Blend • Apr 30, 2009

	Marriage Equality Legislation Moving in Albany! Just two days after 2,000 LGBT New Yorkers and our allies went to Albany to show the power of our community, our voices have been heard: the marriage equality bill has moved through committee and has been put on the Assembly calendar as a live bill, meaning that marriage could be brought to the floor for a vote at any time starting next week. We need YOU to call your Assemblymember and ask them t... NCLR • Apr 30, 2009

	Maine Senate Backs Same-Sex Marriage If the Maine Legislature approves same-sex marriage, opponents will try to collect enough signatures to suspend the law until a public referendum can be held -- probably in June 2010 -- asking voters if they want to overturn it. But Mary Bonauto, the lawyer who argued the case that led to the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, said gay rights groups would wage an exhaustive campa... NY Times • Apr 30, 2009

	NH gov mum on marriage bill Lynch has said he believes the current civil union law works fine, but is avoiding questions on what he will do when the marriage bill hits his desk. On Wednesday, the state Senate passed the marriage equality bill on a 13-11 vote. It passed the House last month 186-179.... 365Gay • Apr 30, 2009

	Rapid, radical opinion changes on gay marriage The cause of same-sex marriage has made big strides in recent weeks.... Seattle PI • Apr 30, 2009

	Maine Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill This morning, April 30, the Maine Senate voted 20-15 in favor of LD 1020, a marriage equality bill. It now moves to the House of Representatives. The Senate defeated an amendment to the bill that proposed putting the question of marriage equality for same-sex couples before voters. According to most polls, the Maine electorate is about evenly divided on the issue.... Edge • Apr 30, 2009

	BREAKING NEWS: Gay Marriage Bill Passes Maine Senate Maine's Senate has passed a gay marriage bill by a 20 - 15 margin.The senate also rejected an amendment to the bill that would require a referendum on same-sex marriage to be placed on the ballot at the November elections. The House still needs to vote on the bill, and Governor John Baldacci, although publicly opposed to same-sex marriage, has been said to be keeping an open mind.... The New Civil Rights Movement • Apr 30, 2009

	Maine: Gay Marriage Bill Passes Preliminary Approval Debate on the bill began Thursday morning. In an initial vote it was 20 to 15 in favor of passing the bill.... WCSH • Apr 30, 2009

	Maine Senate To Take Up LD 1020 TODAY Maine Senate Video link:http://www.maine.gov/legis/senateV.html Maine Senate Audio link: http://www.maine.gov/legis/senate/audio/AudioPlayer.htm Twitter links (Shenna Bellows of MCLU and mine): http://twitter.com/shennabellows http://twitter.com/LouisePHB... Pam's House Blend • Apr 30, 2009

	Maine's Governor Reportedly Backs Same-Sex Marriage Louise was left with the distinct impression that Gov. Baldacci would sign the same-sex marriage bill if it should reach his desk. The state Senate is expected to vote on the bill this morning.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Apr 30, 2009

	Changing Views on Gay Marriage, Gun Control, Immigration and Legalizing Marijuana Take gay marriage, legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut and now Iowa, with Vermont coming aboard in September. At its low, in 2004, just 32 percent of Americans favored gay marriage, with 62 percent opposed. Now 49 percent support it versus 46 percent opposed -- the first time in ABC/Post polls that supporters have outnumbered opponents. More than half, moreover -- 53 percent -- say gay marriages ... ABC News • Apr 30, 2009

	Gay marriage in Iowa is stirring Minnesota Advocates are hoping the momentum from Iowa will spill over into a number of marriage debates on the East Coast. In the weeks following the Iowa ruling, New York Gov. David Paterson introduced a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. In Vermont, the Legislature overruled Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of a bill that recognizes same-sex marriage. And the Washington, D.C., City Council unanimously voted to rec... Minneapolis Star-Tribune • Apr 29, 2009

	Gay man says he was forced out of partner's room at Oregon Health and Science University As Christopher was laying close to death, Patrick was told he had to leave the room and couldn't believe what the nurse was telling him. "The nurse said, 'Christopher is very ill. There are some life and death decisions that have to be made and now is not the time for friends to be in the room.' I'm like, 'we don't have any friends in the room,'" recalled Patrick. Under Oregon law, Patrick had ... KGW • Apr 29, 2009

	Gay marriage in Iowa: Court ruling gives hope that Illinois could follow "I think what we're seeing now is people greeting this progress as an opportunity to do marriage the way they always envisioned it, not under the pressure caused by newness or the threat that it might, at any moment, be taken away," said Evan Wolfson, executive director of the national advocacy group Freedom To Marry. "In some sense, I think we're seeing a more normalized response on the part of g... Chicago Tribune • Apr 29, 2009

	N.H. Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill It is unclear whether Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, will veto the law or whether the new language will persuade him to endorse it. Mr. Lynch has consistently opposed same-sex marriage, but has never said whether he would veto the bill or let it be enacted without his signature, as state law would allow. He has said that the state's civil-union law provides sufficient rights and protections for gay ... NY Times • Apr 29, 2009

	Marriage Equality Is Inevitable he explanation for such a dramatic shift is actually quite simple: Americans began to come out--in droves. Suddenly, it seemed, gays and lesbians were everywhere: friends, family members, co-workers, characters on TV and in the movies, celebrities. Seven in 10 Americans know someone who is gay, and nearly half say they have a gay friend, colleague or family member, up from less than 40% only a dec... Forbes • Apr 29, 2009

	Maine committee endorses gay marriage bill A vote in the Senate could come as early as next week. In New Hampshire, a vote on a similar bill is set for an initial vote Wednesday in the state Senate.... 365Gay • Apr 29, 2009

	The cost of gay marriage in Vermont The figures show that the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task force spent more than $168,000 on advertising and lobbying. The Vermont Freedom to Marry Action Committee spent $60,000. The Human Rights Campaign, the country's largest LGBT civil rights organization, reported it spent just over $2,000 on lobbying.... 365Gay • Apr 29, 2009

	Maine: Vote on Gay Marriage Expected Eleven of the 14 committee members voted in favor of the bill, two voted against it and one proposed letting voters decide the matter in a referendum. Gov. John Baldacci, a Democrat, has not said whether he will sign the bill.... NY Times • Apr 29, 2009

	Brian Moran Gambles on Same-Sex Union Issue Moran's decision to push out ahead of his opponents on the issue suggests he is counting on a shift in an electorate that in past years has backed avowed centrists. He is gambling that Virginia Democrats, testing their strength after winning the governor's mansion twice and helping to deliver the White House, will now embrace the candidate they see as their most progressive option in the June 9 pr... Washington Post • Apr 29, 2009

	Signs G.O.P. Is Rethinking Stance on Gay Marriage More significant is evidence in polls of a widening divide on the issue by age, suggesting to many Republicans that the potency of the gay-marriage question is on the decline. It simply does not appear to have the resonance with younger voters that it does with older ones.... NY Times • Apr 29, 2009

	Poll: Support For Same Sex Marriage Grows Forty-two percent of Americans now say same sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds. That's up nine points from last month, when 33 percent supported legalizing same sex marriage. Support for same sex marriage is now at its highest point since CBS News starting asking about it in 2004.... CBS • Apr 29, 2009

	New Poll Shows Majority of New Hampshire Voters Continue to Support Marriage Equality for Lesbian and Gay Couples A poll released today by New Hampshire Freedom to Marry shows that 55% of New Hampshire Voters support marriage for lesbian and gay couples, while 39% are opposed. The poll, conducted by UNH Survey Center, surveyed 491 New Hampshire voters from April 13 through the 22.... NCLR • Apr 29, 2009

	Pass gay marriage bill and end discrimination In the end, there is no compelling reason for the government to deny gay couples the same status afforded straight couples. We urge the Senate to approve the marriage equality bill, thereby sending two powerful messages: Gay couples and families are as worthy as anyone else. And New Hampshire does not discriminate.... Concord Monitor • Apr 29, 2009

	Same-sex marriage at a tipping point? Gay activists are saying it's possible, even likely, that the issue is far enough along to have reached an unquantifiable inevitability now that same-sex marriage is legal in four states (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Iowa). But last year's bitter loss in California (Proposition 8's approval on the November ballot outlawed same-sex marriage there, which had been legal since a state Supre... Washington Blade • Apr 27, 2009

	First same-sex marriage license issued in Iowa Gay and lesbian couples flocked to county buildings throughout Iowa today to marry legally for the first time in the wake of the state supreme court's landmark same-sex marriage decision.... USA Today • Apr 27, 2009

	Field trip firestorm continues "When I saw the exploitation of children by the Yes on 8 campaign, I was outraged," Nava said in a statement. "The use of the images of these children without parental consent is a violation of their right to privacy. This bill makes that right clear by prohibiting these commercials all together."... SF Gate • Apr 26, 2009

	Democrats vote for gay marriage platform New Mexico Democrats are one step closer to adding gay marriage to the official party platform. A vote Saturday by the Democrat Central Committee approved the marriage equality measure 309 to 35. Democrats' support for gay marriage comes after a setback for gay rights in the state earlier this year. A little over a month ago, lawmakers shot down a domestic partnership bill during the last legisl... KOB • Apr 26, 2009

	Iowans unsure of benefits gay marriages will bring Just what tangible benefits those couples will gain from marriage remains uncertain. Gay marriage advocates said some advantages are clear, including shared employer benefits, streamlined life and other insurance policies, and the ability for couples to make health care and end-of-life decisions for one another.... AP • Apr 26, 2009

	Will Gay Marriage Pit Church Against Church? So while both men are calling for courage and compassion among their flocks, it's not clear yet whether their message that homosexuals are sinners by definition is resonating beyond their staunchest supporters.... Time • Apr 26, 2009

	Gay-marriage momentum building, activists say "It feels like it's very much a historic time," said Michael Westley, media and special events coordinator for the Utah Pride Center. "I've been out in Salt Lake City for 15 years, and I've never seen the rallies and marches and the energy that I have since the passage of Proposition 8." Momentum, however, might be all the shifts in Vermont and Iowa offer Utahns. Legal experts say the decisions w... Desert News • Apr 26, 2009

	SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR NEWSOM OPENS NEW GAY MARRIAGE FRONT - THE U.S. CENSUS Newsom told attendees at a gay and lesbian political caucus at the state Democratic Party's annual convention today that he wants the U.S. Census to count same-sex couples who say they are married.... San Francisco Sentinel • Apr 25, 2009

	ACLU of Iowa supports gay marriage opponent's right to speak while opposing what he says Caught in an interesting position between State Sen. Merlin Bartz (R-Grafton) on one side and same-sex marriage advocates on the other, the Iowa ACLU determined today that it would represent any same-sex couples who are denied marriage licenses by a county recorder while also offering to defend the man who is asking county recorders to deny them. Borrowing from Voltaire, Iowa ACLU Executive Direc... Iowa Independent • Apr 25, 2009

	No delays expected on same-sex marriage legislation House Speaker Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, a co-sponsor of the bill, said she expects that after Tuesday's committee vote, it will take about a week for the legislation to get to the Senate. After that, votes likely would be taken in both chambers by mid-May, she said. Lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn the session on June 17. How the bill is handled once it gets to the full Legislature will l... Portland Press Herald • Apr 25, 2009

	New Hampshire: Marriage Bill Setback The committee voted 3 to 2 against the measure. But since committees cannot kill legislation in New Hampshire, the full Senate will still vote on it, possibly next week. The House of Representatives narrowly passed the bill in March.... NY Times • Apr 24, 2009

	BREAKING NEWS: NY Gay Marriage Back In The Game The New York State Senate Judiciary Committee is taking up the governor's gay marriage bill on Tuesday. After a grand introduction by Governor Paterson last week, the governor announced Wednesday he would defer to the state senate majority leader and not demand the bill receive a vote without knowing if there were enough votes to pass.... The New Civil Rights Movement • Apr 24, 2009

	Frank: Don't Ask, Don't Tell Will Probably Wait Till Next Year "I believe we should and will do 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' next year," Frank said. "We haven't done the preliminary work, the preparatory work. It would be a mistake to bring it up without a lot of lobbying and a lot of conversation."... Talking Points Memo • Apr 24, 2009

	Wedding boom in states with same-sex nuptials Gay ceremonies, of course, come in all stripes, depending on the couple planning them. Audra Weisel, a gay rights activist and owner of Let 'em Eat Cake, a custom cake company in Avon, Conn., has seen an emerging trend of gay couples wanting traditionally fancy white wedding cakes. "Many gays and lesbians have dreamed their whole lives about being able to get married like everyone else," she says.... MSNBC • Apr 24, 2009

	New York Marriage Bill Gets GOP Boost The development may be particularly important in the senate, where Democrats hold a slim 32-30 majority, four Democrats have already said they will vote against the marriage bill, and equality advocates will need to pick up several GOP votes in order to pass the legislation. Strategists expect the legislation to sail through the assembly, which already passed an identical bill in 2007 by a vote of... Advocate • Apr 23, 2009

	Standing ovation greets Maine gay marriage bill Sen. Dennis Damon received a roar of approval at a crowded hearing Wednesday when he said the time has come to recognize same-sex marriages. He says his proposal "recognizes the worth of every man and woman among us." It is backed by 60 co-sponsors.... SF Gate • Apr 23, 2009

	Nevada Senate passes partner bill The Nevada Senate has approved a legislation that would allow same-sex couples to register as domestic partners and receive many of same rights as married couples have in the state. The bill also would include opposite-sex couples who do not wish to marry. The measure still needs approval by the Assembly. But, even if it passes, Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) has threatened to veto it. The Senate's 12 - ... 365Gay • Apr 23, 2009

	Vote caps decade-long gay marriage fight in Conn. A decade-long battle for marriage equality in Connecticut ended when the General Assembly voted to update the state's marriage laws to conform with a landmark court ruling allowing gay and lesbian couples to tie the knot. "It feels so good. It really does feel like the book is closing," said Anne Stanback, president of Love Makes a Family, a gay-rights group that has led the fight for same-sex ma... AP • Apr 23, 2009

	Same-sex marriage: Gay couple sues over license denial A gay couple in New Orleans is suing over being denied a marriage license in Louisiana, claiming their rights are being violated by a state constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. Advertisement Kristoffer Bonilla, 33, and John Thomas Wray, 18, are asking a federal judge to strike down the constitutional amendment, which lawmakers and voters overwhelmingly approved in 2004.... Shreveport Times • Apr 23, 2009

	Media mavens discuss Prop 8 coverage California media professionals discussed coverage of the Proposition 8 same-sex marriage campaign and its aftermath last Wednesday, April 15, in a forum sponsored by the Commonwealth Club. Responding to a question from moderator Scott Shafer, host of KQED's California Report, Bay Area Reporter news editor Cynthia Laird said the November election was "very challenging" to cover. While clearly an a... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 23, 2009

	Poll finds NJ voters support gay marriage This poll finds 49 percent supporting gay marriage; 43 percent are opposed. Women and whites tend to favor a gay marriage law, while blacks, men and those who attend religious services weekly are more likely to oppose it. New Jersey lawmakers are likely to consider a gay marriage bill later this year. The state now offers same-sex couples civil unions, which offer legal benefits but not the title... Philadelphia Enquirer • Apr 23, 2009

	Masters and Johnson Gay "Cures" Were Likely Faked Biographer Thomas Maier was looking into the Masters and Johnson data for his new book Masters of Sex, and he encountered considerable evidence that the data had been faked:... Box Turtle Bulletin • Apr 23, 2009

	Miss California, come on down! Prejean has stated in numerous post-pageant interviews that she believes her response to the question posed by gay blogger Perez Hilton cost her the Miss USA crown; she was named first runner-up. "Miss California probably doesn't realize how hurtful her statements are, especially to LGBT youth," Kors said in a statement. "But this is about something much bigger than the issue of marriage alone, a... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 23, 2009

	Thousands fill same-sex marriage hearing in Augusta Same-sex couples from around the state urged Maine lawmakers to pass a bill that would allow them to marry, while opponents asked that it be rejected. A hearing is being held today before the Judiciary Committee at the Augusta Civic Center. Supporters outnumbered opponents roughly four to one as the legislative hearing got under way about 9:30 a.m. About 3,000 people filled the auditorium.... Bangor Daily News • Apr 22, 2009

	Gay Marriage Spreads Without Backlash "It's almost like the silence is deafening," said Tony Fabrizio, a GOP pollster. "This is the first time in probably 15 years that the social right has really no levers of power, and they are watching their agenda get rolled back."... ABC News • Apr 22, 2009

	Large crowds expected as Maine takes up gay marriage bill Maine's tourism industry has said legalizing same-sex marriage in the state could save them from disaster as the state's economy continues to turn sour. Industry spokespeople pointed to a recent study by the Williams Institute, a think tank at the University of California Los Angeles, that found extending marriage to same-sex couples would boost Maine's economy by $60 million over three years, wh... 365Gay • Apr 22, 2009

	Groups Want Faith Exemption On Same-Sex Marriage Issue "If you run a business that's open to the public you cannot discriminate."... Hartford Courant • Apr 22, 2009

	Prop 8 opponents not waiting for Supreme Court A coalition of state gay rights groups plan to begin in-depth political polling to gauge public sentiment and to strategize about a possible ballot initiative as early as next year.... Desert Sun • Apr 21, 2009

	Steve Schmidt's Family Values When we start seeing more and more prominent Republicans--ones who don't have gay or lesbian siblings or children--backing marriage equality, adoption rights, repealing DADT, etc., that will be a significant development in the evolution of the GOP. Same goes for when Rush Limbaugh comes out for marriage equality, Dick Cheney comes out for stem-cell research, and Nancy Reagan comes out against inca... The Stranger • Apr 21, 2009

	Has Being Anti-Gay Become Uncool: Dr. Laura, Rick Warren & Many Others Now Think So Several major media personalities have either renounced their past homophobia or have attempted to distance themselves from it, as evidenced by the recent statements by Dr. Laura Schlessinger and the Rev. Rick Warren. Many in the LGBT community were stunned when Schlessinger, a conservative talk show host and author, told CNN that while she's no supporter of gay marriage, she supports same-sex re... Edge • Apr 21, 2009

	California's gay marriage trailblazers look East for signs of progress Opinion surveys show a majority of younger voters are supportive of same-sex marriage. It's a matter of time, gay activists say, before public opinion shifts enough that they can win a gay-marriage initiative at the ballot box.... Sacramento Bee • Apr 21, 2009

	Broad support for New York gay marriage bill: poll The bill has broad support in New York's lower house, the assembly, where Democrats have a comfortable majority. But the party holds a slim majority in the Senate, and several Democratic senators have said they will vote against it. New York Republicans generally oppose the legislation as do large numbers of older and African-American voters, the poll found. It said 53 percent of Protestants were... Reuters • Apr 20, 2009

	Rudy: GOP Becoming "Ideologically Narrower" Giuliani said that means running candidates who are more centrist on social issues like gay rights and abortion, while maintaining a stronger focus on fiscal, military, and foreign policy stances.... Republican Leadership Council • Apr 20, 2009

	Most New Yorkers favor gay marriage, new poll finds By a margin of 53 percent to 39 percent, respondents to the Siena College Research Institute poll believe the Senate should pass a measure introduced by Gov. David A. Paterson to let gays marry. Eight percent were unsure or had no opinion. The poll comes as Senate Democratic leaders are trying to determine how to move forward on a new push over the past week by Paterson to legalize gay marriage;... Buffalo News • Apr 20, 2009

	Former NJ Governor Tells Republicans to Stop Fighting Gay Marriage The former Republican Governor of New Jersey Christine Whitman in speaking to the Log Cabin Republicans has called for a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, and for the Republican party to remove their opposition to same-sex marriage from the GOP platform.... Queers United • Apr 20, 2009

	Gay Marriage in Vermont: Three Progressive Lessons Politics, like baseball, is often a game of inches. Individuals can make a difference. Getting people to the polls and on the phones can be the critical difference between victory and defeat.... Huffington Post • Apr 20, 2009

	BUT HIS GUY PALS PLAN TO WED While Rudy Giuliani is waging war on gay marriage, his pals Howard Koeppel and Mark Hsaio are planning to go to Connecticut next month to tie the knot.... NY Post • Apr 20, 2009

	Young adults 'don't want to be defined by gender, orientation' "Today, girls are free to do sports and be competitive. No one thought they had to play dumb to get a boyfriend. The women's movement has done great things for middle school girls," she says. "It's another story with boys. I feel like we're in a time warp. We have not dealt with men and masculinity in a serious enough way," she says. "Boys police each other. There's no room not to do anything no... USA Today • Apr 19, 2009

	The Bigots' Last Hurrah As marital equality haltingly but inexorably spreads state by state for gay Americans in the years to come, Utah will hardly be in the lead to follow Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont. But the fact that it too is taking its first steps down that road is extraordinary. It is justice, not a storm, that is gathering. Only those who have spread the poisons of bigotry and fear have any reaso... NY Times • Apr 19, 2009

	Studies: Children of gay parents just like other kids Sociologists Judith Stacey and Timothy Biblarz published an analysis in 2001 in the American Sociological Review of 21 studies of children raised by homosexual parents and found that, overall, they were no more likely to suffer from psychological problems than kids raised in conventional homes. Ultimately, their findings were generally endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American ... Miami Herald • Apr 18, 2009

	State to counties: Obey gay marriage ruling, issue certificates Some Iowa county recorders say they have contemplated refusing to give a marriage license to gay couples who walk into the office, but so far none is vowing to do so. "This is putting us in a very, very difficult position here," Wayne County Recorder Angela Horton said Thursday in an interview. "But sometimes you have to put aside your personal beliefs, your religious beliefs, when you're doing a... DesMoins Register • Apr 18, 2009

	Defense of Marriage Act is becoming indefensible Married in the eyes of Iowa, single in the eyes of Washington. Eligible for a pension, health care, family leave in the eyes of the state; ineligible in the eyes of the feds. DOMA is doing it. The so-called Defense of Marriage Act passed in the panic of 1996 when it looked as if Hawaii would become the first state with gay marriage. The purpose was as obvious and discriminatory as Rep. Henry Hyde... Seattle Times • Apr 18, 2009

	We can't be afraid of the debate We need to seize that momentum every where we can in order to force the debate.... 365Gay • Apr 17, 2009

	Same-sex marriage at a tipping point? Gay activists are saying it's possible, even likely, that the issue is far enough along to have reached an unquantifiable inevitability now that same-sex marriage is legal in four states (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Iowa). But last year's bitter loss in California (Proposition 8's approval on the November ballot outlawed same-sex marriage there, which had been legal since a state Supre... Washington Blade • Apr 17, 2009

	McCain adviser calls on GOP to back gay marriage "There is a sound conservative argument to be made for same-sex marriage," Schmidt will say during the speech at the Log Cabin Republicans convention this afternoon, according to excerpts obtained by CNN. "I believe conservatives, more than liberals, insist that rights come with responsibilities. No other exercise of one's liberty comes with greater responsibilities than marriage."... USA Today • Apr 17, 2009

	Top G.O.P. Consultant Endorses Gay Marriage It would be a watershed moment in American politics if other Republicans began supporting gay marriage, just as it would be if President Obama joined some of his fellow Democrats and got on board.... NY Times • Apr 17, 2009

	Same-sex marriage spotlight on Maine Maine will be front and center next week in the nation's deliberations over same-sex marriage. The state will enter the national spotlight a few short weeks after the Iowa Supreme Court overturned laws barring same-sex couples from marrying. Vermont lawmakers recently passed a bill similar to the one proposed in Maine. At least 2,000 supporters and opponents are expected to turn out Wednesday, A... Bangor Daily News • Apr 16, 2009

	NY Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. Calls 'Emergency Summit' on Gay Marriage Benjamin also reports that "Sen. Tom Duane, who was initially not pleased with Paterson's decision to push gay marriage, now says he believes the bill will pass 'with bipartisan support,' although he isn't naming the names of any GOP supporters. So far, four Senate Democrats, including Diaz Sr., are on the record as saying they will oppose the bill."... Towleroad • Apr 16, 2009

	Do people realize how complicated life has become for some same-sex couples caught up in the marriage wars? One of the problems imposed on same-sex couples because of the Defense of Marriage Act and the widespread refusal of other states to recognize same-sex marriages contracted in those states that allow them (or contracted in other countries, such as Canada, where hundreds of US-resident same-sex couples have wed since 2003) is the inability to get divorced. Look at the Rhode Island situation, where... Leonard Link • Apr 16, 2009

	Big Wins Re-Energize Gay Marriage Activists Same-sex marriage advocates have racked up big recent victories in Iowa and Vermont, where legislators on April 7 approved a same-sex marriage measure by overriding a gubernatorial veto. They joined Connecticut and Massachusetts as states where gay marriage is recognized. Similar efforts are well under way in a handful of other states, including New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine and New York, wher... NPR • Apr 16, 2009

	Paterson: Same-sex marriage is civil right Newly installed Archbishop Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York said he would challenge any efforts legalizing same-sex marriages in New York. The bill also appears to lack the necessary support in the state Senate. Paterson has seen a same-sex bill fail before in Albany. In 2007, when Paterson was lieutenant governor, then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer's gay-union bill passed the Assembly. It died... Newsday • Apr 16, 2009

	NH Sen. committee takes up gay marriage bill At least 500 people crowded into New Hampshire's Statehouse on Wednesday for an emotional and sometimes boisterous Senate committee hearing over whether allowing gay marriage would weaken or strengthen the institution.... Chicago Tribune • Apr 15, 2009

	Domestic Partnership Bill Passes By a 62-to-35 margin, the state House just passed a sweeping bill that extends every state-granted right of marriage to same-sex domestic partners. The state Senate passed the bill by a 30-to-18 vote last month. Governor Gregoire is expected to sign the bill, Gregoire's staff says.... The Stranger • Apr 15, 2009

	Vote in Doubt as New Hampshire Senate Takes Up Gay Marriage There are more votes in doubt here than there were in Vermont last week, when supporters needed five House members to change their minds and override Gov. Jim Douglas's vote of the bill allowing same-sex marriage there. In New Hampshire, Democrats control the 24-member Senate, but many have not disclosed how they will vote on the bill, which would take effect in January. None of the nine Republic... NY Times • Apr 15, 2009

	Gay marriage in the Heartland "We needed those folks to contact their elected officials," he said, which they did, both before and after the vote. Lambda attorneys used a new strategy when they filed the case in Iowa: They included children of the couples as plaintiffs. They also called psychologists. "We took a lot of care in making as complete a record as possible of the social science of gay and lesbian parenting," Taylor s... Salon • Apr 15, 2009

	Organize now, EQCA told While the report states that one person needs to be in charge, it also noted that grassroots groups are going to be active in any campaign and that it's more effective to "channel" and "focus" those groups, rather than "control" them. "Right or wrong, there is a feeling that volunteers were too restricted in what they were asked to do and that sentiment will carry forward to the next effort," the... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 15, 2009

	Debunking The Religious Freedoms Vermont's Gay Marriage Won't Take Away Groups like the National Organization for Marriage and Yes On 8 have nearly perfected the ability to disseminate half-truths and blatant lies about what legalizing same-sex marriage entails. Despite their YouTube videos, marriage equality legislation does not hamper religious freedoms. For example, churches will not lose their tax exempt status for refusing to let a same-sex couple wed under its c... Queerty • Apr 15, 2009

	If we don't act decisively, America's next Proposition 8 could happen in Iowa. Iowa state leaders, led by Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and House Speaker Pat Murphy, have been heroic in recent days. HRC played an instrumental role in electing and protecting fair-minded majorities in the Iowa legislature, and we are seeing the fruits of our labors: so far, these courageous lawmakers have been successful in stopping a marriage ban, which would need to be placed on the b... California Gay Marriage Blog • Apr 15, 2009

	Gay Marriage = Religious Freedom A point-by-point analysis of the avalanche of falsehoods that is the National Organization for Marriage's "Gathering Storm" ad, by Rob Tisinai.... The Stranger • Apr 15, 2009

	Today in Traditional Marriage This is the same governor currently embroiled in a nasty divorce, whose wife has accused him of having affairs with two different women, and who was accused of assault and attempted rape during his campaign for governor.... The Stranger • Apr 15, 2009

	Nevada Governor on Domestic Partnerships: "I Don't Believe In It" Republican Governor Jim Gibbons of Nevada has vowed to veto legislation that would give some of the rights of marriage to same-sex couples through domestic partnerships legislation.... Queers United • Apr 15, 2009

	Congressional Leaders Mull Partial DOMA Repeal Legislative aides familiar with the discussions say a handful of congressional leaders have been hashing out the details of the legislation, which would accomplish two goals: repeal section 3 of DOMA as it relates to the federal government's ability to confer some 1,100 federal benefits on same-sex partners; and provide a way for same-sex couples living in states that do not allow them to marry le... Advocate • Apr 15, 2009

	New Hampshire Holds Same-Sex Marriage Hearing The New Hampshire senate judiciary committee will hold a hearing today on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. If approved, New Hampshire would be one major step closer to becoming the sixth state to recognize marriage equality (including California, whose same-sex marriage ruling was later overturned by Prop. 8, the constitutionality of which is currently under consideration by the state supreme... Advocate • Apr 15, 2009

	How Gays Won a Marriage Victory When taking the court route, the activists identify same-sex couples to bring test cases, typically after meeting and spending time with scores of couples. They prepare the selected couples for what is likely to be intense, sometimes harsh media attention. They study the state's constitution and review past court rulings, waiting to move until they feel the political and legal climate is favorable... Washington Post • Apr 15, 2009

	We've Already Won the Battle Over Gay Marriage More and more Democrats, and eventually even Republicans, will announce that where they once supported laws like the Defense of Marriage Act (signed by Clinton in 1996), they have come around to support marriage equality. But try to picture a politician going in the other direction -- saying that though he used to support same-sex marriage, he no longer does. It's almost impossible to imagine, bec... American Prospect • Apr 14, 2009

	GAY MARRIAGE'S EARNED VICTORY "Same-sex marriage," wrote Maggie Gallagher in National Review, "asks religious Americans," by which she means Christian Americans, "to surrender a core belief -- not only Leviticus (disapproval of gay sexual acts), but Genesis (the idea that God himself made man as male and female and commanded men and women to come together in a special way to image the fruitfulness of God)." But Christians are ... NY Post • Apr 14, 2009

	Mormons for Marriage at Sunstone West Clark Pingree shared his experiences and viewpoints on proposition 8 as well as the personal impact the Church's involvement in gay marriage issues has had on him, an openly gay Mormon.... Mormons for Marriage • Apr 14, 2009

	Illinois gays not betting on marriage Advocates for the gay and lesbian community in Illinois are rallying behind a civil unions bill sponsored by state Rep. Greg Harris (D- Chicago). The bill, which would grant same-sex couples many of the same rights as married couples, awaits a vote in the House and would then need to clear the Senate. This political path is similar to that taken by activists in Vermont, where gay marriage was leg... Chicago Tribune • Apr 14, 2009

	Paterson's Gay-Marriage Gamble Paterson's introduction of the bill to the legislature doesn't mean it will soon go for a vote. Even though it has enough support in the State Assembly to easily pass, Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith has said he won't put a bill on the issue on the floor unless he knows all the votes are there. And gay activists, who are aggressively pushing to score more supporters from both parties, private... New York Magazine • Apr 14, 2009

	Gay-Rights Outreach Grows in California Last month, 200 gay-rights activists gathered at a Holiday Inn in this city at the heart of California's conservative Central Valley for a two-day training course on how to pair Internet-based social networking with old-fashioned canvassing to promote a gay-friendly agenda. It is part of a wider effort to reach out to the state's more conservative precincts, with polls showing Californians are eve... Wall Street Journal • Apr 13, 2009

	Memo to the GOP: Go Gay Republican resistance to gay marriage goes against conservative values--and our own self-interests.... Daily Beast • Apr 13, 2009

	Boycott over Prop 8 targets local auto dealereships Leaders of a gay and lesbian political organization in the Coachella Valley are calling for a boycott of four auto dealerships whose part-owner in Utah donated $100,000 to support the Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage, spokesmen said today. Advertisement "You can't take gay dollars and spend them against us,'' said Roger Tansey, vice-chair of the Desert Stonewall Democrats. "Not without retributi... Desert Sun • Apr 12, 2009

	$1.5m anti-gay marriage campaign slammed for 'half-truths' "All three examples involve religious people who enter the public sphere, but don't want to abide by the general non-discriminatory rules everyone else does," HRC fired back in a release. "Both (1) and (2) are really about state laws against sexual orientation discrimination, rather than specifically about marriage. And (3) is about two pairs of religious parents trying to impose their beliefs on ... Raw Story • Apr 12, 2009

	Wis. high court asked to review gay marriage vote The Wisconsin Supreme Court was asked Thursday to decide whether the state's 2006 ban on gay marriage was properly put to voters. William McConkey, a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh political science instructor, claims the referendum illegally put two issues to voters at the same time: whether to ban gay marriage and whether to outlaw civil unions. A Dane County judge dismissed the case last year... Chicago Tribune • Apr 12, 2009

	New Hampshire Marriage Hearing on Wednesday New Hampshire would be the sixth state to allow gay couples to marry and the fifth in which same-sex marriages could still be performed.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Apr 12, 2009

	Interview: He Brought Same-Sex Marriage To Iowa One of the reasons this case was filed in Iowa [was that the state has a] history of being, progressive, of protecting individual liberties. If you read the opinion, they make references to decisions as early as 1839 [like the one] prohibiting slavery in Iowa. They were pretty mindful of that. The fact that they were unanimous - I wasn't completely surprised by that. I've been before these justice... The Atlantic • Apr 12, 2009

	More from "Nation for Marriage:" the talking points revealed Through extensive research (okay, I browsed their web site), I discovered the secret (these people are really not at all subtle) agenda behind the web site "Nation for Marriage."... Pam's House Blend • Apr 12, 2009

	Help Elect Bud Martin to New Hampshire State Senate Marriage Equality is on the horizon in the state of New Hampshire. House Bill 436 has passed by 7 votes, leaving only the senate to pass it and the governor to sign it into law. Democrats do control the New Hampshire senate, but must solidify votes to ensure the passage of this important and historic piece of civil rights legislation. On April 21st there is a special election and we must elect Bu... Queers United • Apr 11, 2009

	Same-Sex Marriage Could Have Major Economic Impact in D.C. This month, the Williams Institute is out with a study on Washington, D.C., and what it would mean for the District's economic forecast if it were to legalize same-sex marriage. Hint: Boatloads of money. And the study comes on the heels of D.C.'s city council unanimously voting to recognize same-sex marriages from other states, and Mayor Adrian Fenty's pledge that same-sex marriage will happen i... Change.org • Apr 11, 2009

	Gay Marriage Issue Steering Clear of the Supreme Court In other contexts, this sort of turmoil might amount to an invitation for the United States Supreme Court to step in. But there are all sorts of reasons the court is likely to keep its distance, and a central one is the endlessly debated 1973 decision that identified a constitutional right to abortion. "The concern about creating another Roe v. Wade looms large," said Nathaniel Persily, who teach... NY Times • Apr 11, 2009

	Domestic partnership legislation advances Nevada is prohibited by its constitution from joining states, most recently Vermont and Iowa, where gay marriage is legal. But legislation is making its way through Carson City that would give same-sex couples who enter domestic partnerships the same benefits as married couples. Advocates of the bill, however, are careful to distinguish their proposal from traditional marriage, given Nevada voter... Las Vegas Sun • Apr 11, 2009

	Ore. gay rights backers eye 2012 marriage vote Basic Rights Oregon says it will wait until 2012 at the earliest to try to take the issue back to Oregon voters. The group's director, Jeana Frazzini, says she thinks next year would be too soon to ask Oregonians to reconsider their 2004 vote banning gay marriage.... KTVZ • Apr 11, 2009

	Paterson Wants Public Debates on Gay Marriage Gov. David A. Paterson has been saying that a bill legalizing same-sex marriage should come to a vote in the State Senate even if the measure does not have enough support to pass. But is this really a good thing for gay rights advocates, a constituency that Mr. Paterson has solidly supported for most of his political career? Mr. Paterson's logic, which he explained in separate radio interviews o... NY Times • Apr 11, 2009

	Gay candidates victorious in municipal elections Tuesday Good news for gay candidates last night all across the country:... Gay Politics • Apr 11, 2009

	Bloomberg, Quinn call for gay marriages to be counted in Census New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and city Council Speaker Christine Quinn are blasting a Census Bureau decision not to count same-sex couples, saying it will make it harder for the city to balance its budget. Quinn, a lesbian, is the second highest elected official in New York City. The next census will take place in 2010, but in July the bureau said it would report legally married same-sex coup... 365Gay • Apr 11, 2009

	Iowa's G.O.P. Lawmakers Take Aim at Gay Marriage All of Iowa's House faces re-election in 2010, as do some senators and Governor Culver, now in his first term. Mr. Culver, who says he personally believes marriage should be between a man and a woman, said he was unlikely to support a constitutional amendment. "After careful consideration and a thorough reading of the court's decision," he said, "I am reluctant to support amending the Iowa Consti... NY Times • Apr 11, 2009

	Winning the Freedom to Marry? Cue the Attack on the Gays! Though they wrap it in marriage, the opposition is actually about gay - and they are attacking the idea that civil rights laws should protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation at all.... Huffington Post • Apr 11, 2009

	Faith Groups Increasingly Lose Gay Rights Fights "We are not required to pay the price for other people's religious views about us," said Jennifer Pizer, director of the Marriage Project for Lambda Legal, a gay rights legal advocacy group.... Washington Post • Apr 9, 2009

	Iowa Reps That Must Be Contacted to Vote Against HJR 6 (The Iowa Marriage Amendment) Iowa legislators are being bombarded with phone calls and emails from people across the nation supporting HJR 6 (The Iowa Marriage Amendment). To get out of committee the bill needs 51 votes, same-sex marriage opponents currently have 43 on their side.... Queers United • Apr 9, 2009

	EQCA Prop 8 report finished, but not released Geoff Kors, EQCA's executive director and a member of the No on 8 executive committee, told the Bay Area Reporter in a March 30 e-mail that the report "was expected to be received tomorrow and released in its entirely sometime soon."... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 9, 2009

	Wis. high court asked to review gay marriage vote A ruling striking down the Wisconsin amendment would not legalize gay marriage here because state law still defines marriage as a union between husband and wife. However, it could pave the way for lawmakers to eventually allow it or advocates to file additional lawsuits seeking that right. The referendum asked whether to rewrite the state constitution to define marriage as between one man and one... Oshkosh Northwestern • Apr 9, 2009

	Delayed Gratification for Same-Sex Marriage Enthusiasts in Iowa A syndicated column by Cal Thomas, a conservative, generally anti-gay, commentator, published in newspapers this week, suggests that the fight against "gay marriage" is lost, and that at this point conservative "family values" types should probably be focusing their attention on preventing easy divorce if they want to bolster traditional families. I think the Iowa decision is causing the more tho... Leonard Link • Apr 9, 2009

	N.Y. Gov. to Renew Same-Sex Marriage Push New York governor David Paterson said on Wednesday that he would reintroduce legislation to legalize same-sex marriage.... Advocate • Apr 9, 2009

	Marriage Turns a Corner Jennifer Pizer, a national gay rights advocate, said this week would be seen as "a moment when our entire country turned a corner." Maine should also turn this corner, not because Vermont did, but because equality, which is guaranteed by our Constitution, demands it. Separate is "inherently unequal." That language from the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education, is... Bangor Daily News • Apr 9, 2009

	Paterson To Introduce Same-Sex Marriage Bill Gov. David Paterson said Wednesday he plans to re-introduce legislation to make same-sex marriages legal in New York. The legislation is expected to mirror a gay-marriage bill introduced in 2007 by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who -- with Paterson as his running mate -- campaigned in 2006 on a platform that included marriage equality. "We'll put a bill out and let the people decide one way or the ... WGRZ • Apr 8, 2009

	Vermont Equality Creating a separate legal structure to confer some benefits on gay couples falls short of granting true equality.... NY Times • Apr 8, 2009

	After Iowa ruling, LV churches take differing views on gay marriage Many local couples crossed the border to make their relationships legal. That window closed in November, when California voters passed Proposition 8, limiting marriage to heterosexual couples. About 18,000 same-sex marriages were validated in California before then, and they still have the same legal rights there.... Las Vegas Sun • Apr 8, 2009

	Urge California Governor to Sign Harvey Milk Day Bill Whether you live in Palm Springs, the Central Valley, or far northern California, let the Governor know that Milk was an LGBT hero who truly changed the world and is worthy of a state day of special significance.... Queers United • Apr 8, 2009

	Welcome to the Anti-Gay Auditions! The Human Rights Campaign has released a report detailing the ad's inaccuracies, which is great. But the HRC has outdone itself this time by tracking down the audition reels of actors stumbling over ridiculous NOM lines like "the clouds are dark and the winds are strong, and I'm afraid." The auditions are after the jump.... Washington City Paper • Apr 8, 2009

	What She Said Lurleen dismantles the false witness (and witnesses) in NOM's ad in this comments thread...... The Stranger • Apr 8, 2009

	We're Almost There On Monday, BTB's Timothy Kincaid reported on some number crunching by Nate Silver to determine the last year in which such a ban would be supported by a majority in each state. To those who are more visually inclined, the results, according to Silver's model, looks something like this:... Box Turtle Bulletin • Apr 8, 2009

	D.C. Council Votes To Recognize Gay Nuptials Elsewhere The D.C. Council unanimously voted yesterday to recognize gay marriages performed elsewhere, joining a growing number of states to loosen restrictions on the unions. The District's actions came the same day as Vermont became the fourth state to recognize same-sex marriages and a week after the Iowa Supreme Court legalized such unions. The moves generated a sense of momentum and hope among gay act... Washington Post • Apr 8, 2009

	Williams Institute releases studies on economic impact of marriage equality in Vermont and D.C. Extending marriage to same-sex couples would boost the District of Columbia's economy by over $52.2 million over three years, which would generate increases in local government tax and fee revenues by $5.4 million and create approximately 700 new jobs, according to a new study by the Williams Institute at UCLA Law School. Another study finds that newly legal same-sex marriage in Vermont will gene... Sexual Orientation and the Law Blog • Apr 8, 2009

	NY, NJ Marriage Advocates "Embarrassed" Last year, an official New Jersey state commission, established at the time civil unions were enacted in 2007, concluded, based on witness testimony in a series of hearings around the state, that the separate institution failed to meet the mandate of equality set out in a State Supreme Court ruling in late 2006. Legislative action is possible in both states this year, and Van Capelle and Goldstei... Gay City News • Apr 8, 2009

	Triumph for Equality Gay couples in the great majority of states do not enjoy the basic benefits that often are automatically bestowed on married heterosexual couples, such as the right of inheritance or the right to make medical decisions for, and be by the bedside of, a hospitalized spouse. Gay couples usually have to take extra, often extraordinary and usually expensive legal steps just to protect their loved ones.... Washington Post • Apr 8, 2009

	Constitutional convention opens a very wide door If Iowans choose to open the hood on the Iowa Constitution, it could invite all sorts of tinkering, law professors and state lawmakers said Tuesday. Voters soon will have a once-a-decade chance to step around lawmakers and update the Constitution on their own. A constitutional convention is a heady thought for Iowans who see that as a possible way to put the brakes on gay marriage in Iowa. "I'm... DesMoins Register • Apr 8, 2009

	Day of Decision Nears We are looking for couples, families, advocates, single folks, youth, and others to join our Speaker's Bureau and speak out on D-Day and after. If you are conversant in English or an API language, particularly in Mandarin/Cantonese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese, please sign-up to join us. We will provide training and talking points to all potential speakers.... API Equality • Apr 7, 2009

	Gov. Culver not to Support Marriage Ban Amendment With the Senate and House leadership unwilling to bring an amendment up for a vote and the Governor unwilling to support their efforts, anti-gays are finding few available options left.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Apr 7, 2009

	Same-sex couples seek equal rights before Nevada lawmakers The two women were part of a group of gays and lesbians who filled a legislative hearing room to deliver emotional testimony in support of Senate Bill 283. The bill would create a Nevada Domestic Partnership Act, largely giving same-sex couples the same legal rights as granted to heterosexual couples. Couples would register their relationship with the secretary of state's office. Opposite-sex co... Las Vegas Review-Journal • Apr 7, 2009

	Md. Senate backs tax break for same-sex partners The Maryland Senate has endorsed exempting gay domestic partners who co-own homes from state inheritance taxes. The Senate voted 28-19 Tuesday to approve a bill that would add same-sex domestic partners to the list of family members who can inherit homes without paying taxes on that property. The exemption would only apply to the couple's primary residence and the property must be jointly owned t... Baltimore Sun • Apr 7, 2009

	Gay marriage ruling has Iowans weighing their values Legalization, however, means something different for Iowa than for its predecessors. The ruling is destined, for one thing, to reposition the heartland state as more progressive than it's usually perceived, especially by people who have never been to Iowa and dismiss the entire region as "fly-over" territory. There is also the economic capital: Because legal status is granted only to residents, s... Christian Science Monitor • Apr 7, 2009

	Why Gay Marriage Matters Here's to marriage, a "supremely important civil institution." And here's to including, not excluding, kind-hearted people like my brother David, who want nothing more than to find the right person, settle down, and one day perhaps get married.... Wall Street Journal • Apr 7, 2009

	Hawaii civil-union bill revision is proposed State Sen. Brian Taniguchi, D-10th (Manoa, McCully), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Government Operations Committee, where the bill is stalled, said the Senate would have to act by the Thursday deadline to have bills set for second crossover with the state House next week. Taniguchi, who met with gay rights advocates yesterday afternoon, said he had no personal opinion yet on the draft ... Honolulu Advertiser • Apr 7, 2009

	D.C. Council recognizes gay marriage Council members voted 12-0 in favor of an amendment to a bill introduced by Phil Mendelson, at-large Democrat. Members also approved separate legislation that recognizes relationships that are similar to domestic partnerships in the District and have all "the rights and responsibilities of marriage" in another jurisdiction. Another provision in the legislation allows the mayor to certify relation... Washington Times • Apr 7, 2009

	Focus on the Family narrator arrested for luring teenage girl for sex on Net Ovalle "came to know the Lord at the age of 14," according to a Web site offering his Spanish Bible narration for sale, and founded Spanish Christian Audio in 2001 to "help Christian organizations with their audio needs." After first encountering the officer who was posing as a 15-year-old girl on the Internet last week, Orvalle made "sexually graphic statements in a chat room to a person he beli... Colorado Independent • Apr 7, 2009

	Vermont legalizes gay marriage with veto override The vote came nine years after Vermont adopted its first-in-the-nation civil unions law. It's now the fourth state to permit same-sex marriage. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa are the others. Their approval of gay marriage came from the courts.... AP • Apr 7, 2009

	Iowa court legalizes gay marriage as California watches Gay rights activists and a legal scholar said Friday's ruling could provide ammunition for overturning Proposition 8, either in court or at the ballot box. During a hearing last month, a majority of the California court appeared ready to uphold the ballot measure. In the Iowa decision, Justice Mark Cady wrote: "We are firmly convinced the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution o... LA Times • Apr 6, 2009

	Which love comes first: Spouse or country? The Uniting American Families Act has been proposed before with little success. This time could be different with the backing of President Barack Obama, who has expressed support for immigration reforms that would allow foreign-born gays easier access to permanent residency.... Orlando Sentinel • Apr 6, 2009

	Iowa Legislative Leaders: Iowa Has Always Led In Civil Rights It doesn't look like there's much of a threat to this ruling. To amend the Iowa Constitution, the proposed amendment has to be approved by the Iowa legislature in two successive sessions before it is put before the voters. Sen. Gronstal has already announced that "there will not be a vote as long as I am the majority leader." So this pushes the first vote in the Senate out until the 2011-2012 sess... Box Turtle Bulletin • Apr 6, 2009

	Heads of Sugarbush and Ben & Jerry's Urge Override We are presidents or CEOs of some of the most successful Vermont businesses and business organizations. We're writing to you today because your vote to override the Governor's veto of S. 115, An Act to Protect Religious Freedom and Promote Equality in Civil Marriage, affects the ability of all businesses in Vermont to recruit the talented people we need to ensure the continued development of vita... Press Release • Apr 6, 2009

	Marriage ruling may boost Iowa economy Businesses could see $160 million in new wedding and tourism spending over the next three years, according to a study from researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles. "Iowa pretty much has the Midwest all to itself," said Lee Badgett, a University of Massachusetts economist who co-authored the 2008 report. "It's in the middle of a lot of states that have a lot of same-sex couples.... DesMoins Register • Apr 6, 2009

	Silver: Marriage Supported in All States in About 15 Years Silver sees a trend in which anti-gay bans lose about 2% support each year. And he projects the date at which such a ban could not be passed in each state (for example, California's Proposition 8 would have failed in 2010).... Box Turtle Bulletin • Apr 6, 2009

	The Meaning of Iowa's Gay-Marriage Decision "This class of people asks a simple and direct question: How can a state premised on the constitutional principle of equal protection justify exclusion of a class of Iowans from civil marriage?" Justice Mark S. Cady asked. The answer? It can't.... Time • Apr 6, 2009

	Vt. Governor Could Veto Gay Marriage Bill Monday Senate is sure to have enough votes to override a potential veto. The House vote was tighter, and legislators were out trying to sway opinion.... WPTZ • Apr 6, 2009

	Distracted In Vermont Because marriage equality for same-sex couples is, as the governor of Vermont surely knows, going to continue to "distract" elected officials until we achieve it in Vermont and every other state. If we fail to win marriage equality this session, we'll be back next session, and the session after that, until we we win.... The Stranger • Apr 6, 2009

	Gays killed in Baghdad as clerics urge clampdown Homosexual acts are punishable by up to seven years in prison in Iraq. A gay Iraqi man said any alleged crimes should be left to the law to deal with.... Reuters • Apr 5, 2009

	Governor Culver: Don't Amend the Iowa Constitution! We need all Iowans who support equality to e-mail Governor Culver today and let him know that Iowans support the court's decision to grant the freedom to marry for same-sex couples and oppose amending the Iowa Constitution.... Queers United • Apr 5, 2009

	When a Court Decides Who Can Marry The Iowa decision, like the Connecticut decision, splits the difference. It does not subject legislation burdening gays to the "strict scrutiny" that legislation classifying on the basis of race triggers. But it does subject legislation burdening gays to something more than the highly deferential "rational-basis review" drawn by ordinary legislation. None of these similarities should eclipse the ... NY Times • Apr 5, 2009

	A Push Is On for Same-Sex Marriage Rights Across New England Across New England, advocacy groups have been raising money, training volunteers and lobbying voters and lawmakers as part of a campaign they call "Six by Twelve," led by the legal advocacy group that persuaded the Supreme Courts in Massachusetts and Connecticut to allow same-sex marriage in 2003 and 2008.... NY Times • Apr 5, 2009

	Lawmakers gear up for gay marriage override vote The Senate has passed the bill by a wide enough margin to get the two-thirds support needed to override a gubernatorial veto. But the House as of late last week was a handful of votes shy of the two-thirds majority. Supporters and opponents of gay marriage were expected to spend the weekend calling and e-mailing lawmakers in hopes of persuading them to vote one way or the other.... WCAX • Apr 5, 2009

	Every Child Deserves a Mother and a Father Moms and dads are great--I had one of each myself, and I love my opposite-sex parents. But a child deserves more than a set of mix-matched parental genitalia. A child deserves what my siblings and I had growing up: fit, capable, attentive, sane, non-abusive parents.... The Stranger • Apr 5, 2009

	Six Gay Iraqis Murdered After Clerics Demanded Crackdown Reuters is reporting that two gay men have been found murdered in Baghdad's Sadr City, and four other bodies have turned up elsewhere following sermons by clerics demanding a crackdown on LGBT people in Iraq. Anti-gay sermons have been read at the last two Friday prayer gatherings in the Shi'ite slum of Sadr City.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Apr 4, 2009

	What impact could Iowa ruling have on Calif. justices? It is unclear what impact, if any, the ruling will have on the California Supreme Court, which is weighing the validity of Proposition 8, a voter initiative that amended the state constitution to say marriage was only between a man and a woman. A decision is expected by early June.... Desert Sun • Apr 4, 2009

	White House 'response' to Iowa ruling It's pretty clear that the president chooses to follow, not lead on this one.... Pam's House Blend • Apr 3, 2009

	Iowa Poll Results on Gay Marriage and Civil Unions A new University of Iowa Hawkeye Poll shows that only about one-third of Iowans oppose both gay marriage and civil unions. The random statewide telephone poll of 978 registered voters found that 36.7 percent of Iowans oppose recognition of gay marriage and civil unions. Overall, 26.2 percent of respondents support gay marriage and 27.9 percent oppose gay marriage but support civil unions. The pol... WOWT • Apr 3, 2009

	Could new moderate Senate group threaten LGBT bills? The formation of a moderate Democratic working group in the U.S. Senate is raising questions about whether the group could obstruct the advancement of pro-LGBT legislation. Dan Pinello, who's gay and a government professor at the City University of New York, said he doesn't think the group's formation is "a good sign for LGBT rights." "Anything ... that splinters the Democratic majority, however... Washington Blade • Apr 3, 2009

	For U.S. immigration, 'partnered' doesn't count Shirley Tan has been with her partner, Jay Mercado, for 23 years. The Pacifica women have twin 12-year-old sons and have been registered domestic partners since 1991. That means nothing to the federal government, which recognizes only a marriage between a man and a woman. Federal authorities ordered Tan, who is not a U.S. citizen, to be deported from San Francisco to her native Philippines this m... SF Gate • Apr 3, 2009

	Gay couple's dispute with Glen Ridge Country Club renews calls for same-sex marriage Barry Schrager, president of the country club's nine-member board, said Norton and his partner, Stewart D. Grossman, 62, were victims of an unfortunate misunderstanding that stemmed from the employee's error in stating the club's membership policy. The club abides by state law, which recognizes same-sex couples as civil unions and domestic partners, he said. Grossman and his partner did not pursu... New Jersey On-Line • Apr 3, 2009

	Emergency Phone Bank for Vermont! The Vermont House just took its final vote on the marriage equality bill, passing it 94-52. This is 6 votes shy of the 100 we need to override the governor's veto. You can help make the veto override happen! Scott Gortikov, Executive Director of MassEquality, tells how:... Pam's House Blend • Apr 3, 2009

	Celebrate Iowa court marriage decision tonight Supporters of same-sex marriage will join Marriage Equality USA at Castro and Market streets from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. tonight (Friday, April 3) to celebrate the Iowa Supreme Court's unanimous decision to uphold same-sex marriages in that state. There will be an update on plans for California's "day of decision," when the state Supreme Court announces whether it will overturn Prop 8, the measure p... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 3, 2009

	Iowa: We Were Pretty Awesome in the 19th Century and We're Gonna Have an Awesome 21st! Openly gay Iowa state senator Matt McCoy walks us through Iowa's record on civil rights--Iowa's courts issued tons of ahead-of-the-curve judicial decisions back in the 19th century (who knew?)--and what we can expect over the next few years...... The Stranger • Apr 3, 2009

	Our Radical Left-Wing Pro-Gay Judges - Who Is Appointing These People? So, the state supreme court justices who authored the four decisions finding that same-sex couples are entitled to marry on the same basis as different-sex couples were appointed by three Republicans and a formerly-Republican independent.... Leonard Link • Apr 3, 2009

	It's time for New York to join the battle So with divorce rights and support from major political hitters, it's time for New York to get on the front lines when it comes to marriage rights. While polls seem to show that voters are supportive, it's foolhardy to think a gay marriage push would be a walk in the park. Just ask Senate speaker Malcolm Smith. The topic almost killed his leadership bid and he announced at an early February Human... 365Gay • Apr 3, 2009

	MAJOR NEWS: Iowa upholds gay marriage rights Iowa's Supreme Court has ruled that a ban on same-sex marriages in the US state was unconstitutional. The judges rejected an appeal against a lower court's 2007 ruling that the ban violated the rights of gay men and women in the state. The case stems from a 2005 suit filed by a New York-based gay-rights group on behalf of six gay and lesbian couples. Iowa now becomes the third US state to allo... BBC • Apr 3, 2009

	Marriage backers have much to do before returning to ballot, Kendell says In terms of work that needs to be done, areas Kendell identified are: public education, rural outreach, faith outreach, and outreach to communities of color by LGBTs of color. All of those cost money and require an infrastructure to be in place, she noted. "We don't have the depth of resources to execute all of those need areas. To do that, to run a grassroots, viral [campaign] in 18 months is a ... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 2, 2009

	Special or equal treatment for domestic partnerships? The sponsor of Senate Bill 5688, Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, has not disguised the fact he sees it as a step toward legalized gay marriage in Washington state. That openness of purpose has riled opponents, including state Sen. Janéa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, whose district includes Goodloe and Madlem's home. After her side lost the Senate vote, Holmquist released a statement saying the new legislat... Yakima Herald • Apr 2, 2009

	Vermont House deals a blow to equal marriage opponents The Vermont House voted 52 to 96 Thursday to defeat a measure seeking to toss the same-sex marriage question to voters. The amendment was an effort to stop passage of a bill that cleared the Senate last week. The bill would allow gay couples to obtain marriage licenses the same as heterosexual couples.... Bay Windows • Apr 2, 2009

	Iowa Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage set for release Friday The case, Varnum vs. Brien, involves six same-sex Iowa couples who sued Polk County Recorder Timothy Brien in 2005, after his office denied them marriage licenses. Polk County District Judge Robert Hanson sided with the couples in a ruling last year, but he suspended his decision until the high court speaks. The case would have consequences outside the state's borders. Iowa would become the firs... DesMoins Register • Apr 2, 2009

	BREAKING: VT House to vote on marriage tomorrow Congratulations to House Judiciary Committee Chair Bill Lippert for his years of work for GLBT equality. With Governor Jim Douglas (R) threatening to veto the bill, supporters of marriage equality need to get as close to 100 votes as possible in order to have a solid chance to override the expected veto.... 365Gay • Apr 1, 2009

	D.C. activists launch grassroots campaign for same-sex marriage About 25 volunteers with D.C. for Marriage collected nearly 600 signatures Saturday from people who support enacting same-sex marriage in the nation's capital. Organizers called their ability to gather so many signatures in less than two hours on a rainy Saturday a positive start to a campaign that aims to build support for a same-sex marriage rights bill expected to be introduced soon in the D.C... Washington Blade • Apr 1, 2009

	Case could go all the way to Supreme Court A Bridgewater couple is at the center of the first major legal challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act in a case that could ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. The lawsuit, filed on March 3, challenges section 3 of the 1996 federal law, which defines marriage as a union between a man and woman for the purposes of all federal laws, rules and regulations and has been interpret... Bridgewater Independent • Apr 1, 2009

	Sweden Passes Same-Sex Marriage Legislation We've just been informed that minutes ago, the Swedish Riksdag (Parliament) passed a reformed marriage bill that includes same sex marriage. The measure passed 261-22, with 18 abstentions. The change will go in effect in one month.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Apr 1, 2009

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