Breaking Marriage Equality News Headlines from August 2011

	The First Big Test: Will The Obama Administration's New Deportation Rules Come in Time for Brian & Anton? Brian and Anton's case will be the first real test of the administration's commitment to stop deportations involving same-sex binational couples since the August 18 announcement by DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, promising to set-aside low-priority deportation cases. It will also give us a first opportunity to confirm whether individual ICE Deportation Officers implement the LGBT-inclusive prosecu... Stop the Deportations • Aug 31, 2011

	Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage on legislature's table in September To be placed on the ballot, constitutional amendments must be passed by a three-fifths majority of both chambers of the General Assembly, meaning 72 out of 120 House members and 30 of 50 senators must endorse it. If lawmakers put the amendment on the ballot, a majority of state voters would have to approve the change next year for it to become part of the constitution.... Star News Online • Aug 30, 2011

	Gay marriage at a standstill in Pennsylvania Cowden suggested getting in touch with representatives, signing petitions, voting and supporting gay-marriage Senate Bill 461, which according to a June Philadelphia Weekly article "PA at Embarrassing Standstill on Gay Marriage," was introduced by state Sen. Daylin Leach (D-17) and has been sitting in committee since February 2011.... Temple News • Aug 30, 2011

	Same-sex marriage opponents stage protest in Fayetteville If three-fifths of lawmakers in each chamber approve the amendment - some Republicans have said they have enough votes - the proposal would go before voters in November 2012. That would mean a rancorous 14-month public campaign at a time that would be better spent fixing the economy, said Alex Miller, interim director of Equality North Carolina, which advocates for gay, lesbian, bisexual and tran... Fay Observer • Aug 30, 2011

	Australia: Why the same-sex marriage consultation mattered Sure, the majority of MPs who reported back said they and their constituencies oppose same-sex marriage. But this doesn't mean a majority of MPs, let alone a majority of Australians, oppose reform. The sample sizes were tiny and in stark contrast to all the large-scale national opinion polls which show at least 60 per cent support for marriage equality. The best we can say about most of the surv... ABC News • Aug 30, 2011

	Battle takes shape over gay marriage An April poll from the conservative Civitas Institute in Raleigh found that 7 in 10 North Carolina voters supported a constitutional amendment. A February Elon University Poll found that only 35 percent of respondents opposed "any legal recognition for same sex couples," and 29 percent favored civil unions or legal partnerships but not full marriage rights. When asked if they would support or opp... News & Record • Aug 30, 2011

	NZ: civil unions 'not enough' LegaliseLove have planned a march to the New Zealand Parliament on October 20.... Star Observer • Aug 30, 2011

	Religious Millennials Increasingly Support LGBT Equality Traditionally, people assume that religious groups generally oppose LGBT equality. However, the survey found that all people in all major religious groups support employment discrimination protections for gay and lesbian Americans. Even among the more contentious issue of marriage equality, major religious groups fall on both sides of the debate. Dr. Robert P. Jones, CEO of Public Religion Researc... GLAAD • Aug 30, 2011

	Minnesota: VOTE NO AT THE FAIR! The Minnesota House of Representatives is hosting a straw poll at the State Fair, asking if Minnesotans support the upcoming anti-marriage constitutional amendment. Go to the fair this week to vote in the straw poll and then tell your friends to do the same!... Minnesotans United for All Families • Aug 30, 2011

	Brian Elliot: Four Lessons from New York on Engaging Straight Supporters The central tool of our campaign was the Friend-setter page, a personalized click-to-call tool that lobbed over 8,000 supportive calls into Albany. These pages worked much like an all too familiar marathon fundraising page but, instead of raising money, these pages raised political actions. Anyone could set up a Friend-setter page for free, set a goal for how many friends of theirs they wanted to ... David Mixner • Aug 30, 2011

	Census: New Mexico, Rhode Island Heavily Gay New Mexico had 9.8 same-sex couples per 1,000 households, making it one of the gayest states, behind Vermont with 10.9, Massachusetts with 10.2, California with 9.98, and Oregon with 9.9. Rhode Island, where lawmakers failed to pass a marriage equality bill this year but did approve civil unions, had 8.9 gay couples per 1,000 households. The largest concentrations of gay couples in New Mexico were... Advocate • Aug 30, 2011

	Gay marriage? State lawmakers wonder if votes are there Two key Democratic state lawmakers are considering a major push to try and pass a gay-marriage law in Washington next year. Sen. Ed Murray and Rep. Jamie Pedersen, gay lawmakers from the 43rd District in Seattle, said they're in early discussions and have to run the idea by community and legislative leaders. The Legislature convenes in January.... Seattle Times • Aug 30, 2011

	2 sides clash on release of Prop. 8 trial videos Ware said he would rule in the near future. He told lawyers seeking release of the videos that he would have to weigh the need for public access against the effect on "the integrity of the judicial process" when one judge promises secrecy and a second judge overrides him. Ware was handed the dispute by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is reviewing the constitutionality of Prop. 8. S... SF Gate • Aug 30, 2011

	Judge mulls unsealing videos of gay marriage trial The legal sparring over California's same-sex marriage ban returned to a San Francisco courtroom Monday with a federal judge hearing arguments on whether he should unseal video recordings of last year's landmark trial on the constitutionality of the voter-approved measure.... Forbes • Aug 29, 2011

	AP Interview: Gronstal opposes gay marriage vote Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal said he intends to block efforts in the Iowa Legislature next year to refer a gay marriage ban to voters.... AP • Aug 29, 2011

	What are they Trying to Hide? Just what are the Prop 8 proponents trying to hide, and why are they afraid to let the public see their witnesses being cross-examined? We may find out after a hearing on Monday. John Boehner's defense of DOMA is found to be full of junk science, a semi-reprieve for LGBTs fearing deportation, and there's lots of work still to do in Maine. By the time you watch this, a judge in San Francisco has p... MNW • Aug 28, 2011

	Same-sex marriage supporters, foes stake out ground at state fair The Minnesota State Fair always features a buffet of politics, and this year fairgoers have a new issue to chew on: a constitutional vote on marriage. Voters will decide in November of 2012 whether Minnesota should add a constitutional amendment that would prohibit same-sex marriage. There's still one more state fair before the 2012 elections, but proponents and opponents of the amendment are bo... Minnesota Public Radio • Aug 27, 2011

	Grant helped anti-gay marriage effort Federal grant money awarded to a social conservative group to provide marriage counseling also helped pay some of its operational expenses while it was leading an anti-gay marriage campaign, according to grant documents obtained by the Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act. The $2.2 million received by the Iowa Family Policy Center between 2006 and 2010 helped hundreds of Iowans re... Omaha World-Herald • Aug 27, 2011

	Judge to Weigh Release the Prop 8 Trial Tapes A federal court judge will hear arguments Monday on whether to make public the tapes of last year's Prop 8 trial, which up to now has been accessible to the public mainly via transcripts and staged readings. In fact, at the hearing, Ted Boutrous, a member of the legal team challenging Prop 8, plans to use video some of the reenactments to make the point that it's time to release the real thing.... Variety • Aug 27, 2011

	Going to the Videotape The demand to keep the videotapes secret is as flimsy as the arguments for denying gay people the fundamental right to marry. The proposition's backers will not be hurt in any way if the footage is released. The American public, on the other hand, stands to lose something very valuable if it is denied the chance to see and hear what happened in a critically important case on marriage equality.... NY Times • Aug 27, 2011

	Throw open the Prop. 8 video records Any time a court deals with a request to protect witnesses, it must weigh the potential harm to them against the potential disservice to the public interest. In this case, the plaintiffs in Perry argue there is no weighing of interests to be made: The trial is over; the witnesses have testified and their identities and testimony are already part of the public record. There is no record of harassme... LA Times • Aug 27, 2011

	Census: More same-sex couples in more places Researchers from Alfred Kinsey to local nonprofits have tried for decades to count the United States' gay, lesbian and bisexual population, and still, there were no hard numbers. But for the first time, the decennial census results report counts of same-sex partners and same-sex spouses, regardless of whether same-sex marriage is legal in their states. Headlines from across the country reveal comm... CNN • Aug 25, 2011

	Boehner's DOMA lawyer cites anti-gay "experts" using science that "echoed Nazi Germany" John Boehner's DOMA lawyer, former Bush solicitor general Paul Clement, has been having a bad week. Yesterday, one of the authorities he cited in a legal brief defending DOMA publicly accused Clement of having "completely misrepresented my research." Today, we find out that Clement is citing an anti-gay study that is based in part on the work of a man, Paul Cameron, who once mused about the exte... AmericaBlog • Aug 25, 2011

	MPs report back on marriage Only 31 out of the 150 Members of the House of representatives have reported back to the Parliament on their consultations with constituents on same-sex marriage. Speaking in federal Parliament this morning, Bandt led the discussion on marriage equality, following a motion he moved last year requesting MPs "take the temperature" of their electorates on the issue. He branded Prime Minister Julia Gi... Star Observer • Aug 25, 2011

	Boehner's DOMA defense contains junk science, bad sources Diamond's complaint is detrimental to this pursuit. But I think I have found another potentially huge problem. There is a portion of Clement's documentation which bears much scrutiny. It is the section called "Plaintiff Misstates the Science on Same-Sex Parenting" and it is a huge mess.... LGBTQ Nation • Aug 25, 2011

	SF judge may allow recording of Prop. 8 hearing A federal judge in San Francisco is thinking about allowing the next court hearing dealing with California's same-sex marriage ban to be broadcast, a move the measure's sponsors are opposing.... SF Gate • Aug 23, 2011

	Study Author To Boehner's DOMA Defense Team: You Know Nothing Of My Work Professor Lisa A. Diamond, whose work was cited by the legal team arguing on behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives that the Defense of Marriage Act is constitutional, filed a declaration in federal court stating that the legal team "misconstrues and distorts my research findings, which do not support the propositions for which BLAG cites them."... Talking Points Memo • Aug 23, 2011

	Prof. says Boehner's DOMA lawyer "misconstrues and distorts my research findings" In what amounts to a legal bombshell, Diamond maintains that Boehner's crack legal team misconstrued and distorted her writings. She stated, "They have completely misrepresented my research." ... AmericaBlog • Aug 23, 2011

	Minn. Independence Party opposes gay marriage ban The Independence Party of Minnesota is opposing a 2012 ballot measure that would ban gay marriage in the state constitution.... Houston Chronicle • Aug 23, 2011

	Gay marriage advocates gather petition signatures Local activists for Equality Maine rallied throughout southern York County over the weekend to collect signatures for a petition to put gay marriage on the state ballot in 2012.... Seacoast Online • Aug 23, 2011

	Martin O'Malley On Gay Marriage Bill: I Think It Should Pass Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley says he believes his state is past civil unions. An upcoming gay marriage debate was among the topics the 48-year-old Democratic governor discussed during a Tuesday morning appearance on WTOP's Ask the Gov program.... On Top Magazine • Aug 23, 2011

	Opinions evolve on gay marriage One of the few issues on which opinion has moved left over the last few years is same-sex marriage. In 1996, Gallup found that Americans opposed it by a 68 percent to 27 percent margin. Last May, Gallup found Americans in favor by 53 percent to 45 percent. That's a huge change in 15 years. ... Boston Herald • Aug 23, 2011

	Top Conservative: Divorce, Not Gay Marriage, Real Threat To Family A top conservative pundit has come out in support of same-sex marriage, stating that divorce, not same-sex couples marrying, is the real threat to the American family. Michael Barone, 67, a long-time conservative columnist, political analyst, pundit, Fox News commentator, and author, in an extremely-widely syndicated column, "Our Gay-Marriage Experiment," today says, "the institution of the f... The New Civil Rights Movement • Aug 23, 2011

	Indiana stage collapse lawsuits could challenge state's rules on gay marriage Attorney Kenneth Allen said his clients were recently married in Hawaii, a state that allows same sex civil unions. Beth Urschel was injured in the stage collapse. Her spouse, Tammy VanDam, died from the incident.... WBEZ • Aug 23, 2011

	Udall joins growing list of lawmakers in support of marriage equality Colorado U.S. Senator Mark Udall at a gay-rights event this weekend in Denver said he supports marriage equality for all Americans. Udall joins a growing list of lawmakers who have gone on record in support of ending the era where the federal Defense of Marriage Act and where constitutional bans like Colorado's Amendment 43 blocked LGBT couples from the legal protections and advantages provided by... Colorado Independent • Aug 23, 2011

	Tolerance Wave? Multiple Polls In Red and Purple States Show Support For Gay Rights As gay rights advocates have made gains over the last few years, the public seems to be moving in the same direction. Friday saw the release of a new poll sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Citizens for Equal Protection showing citizens deep in the middle of conservative America - in Nebraska - are solidly for non-discrimination protections for members of the gay, lesbian bisexual an... Talking Points Memo • Aug 23, 2011

	Obama's promising move on immigration When the Obama administration last week announced its intention to review the cases of 300,000 immigrants ensnared in the nation's deportation process, as well as to institute new guidelines going forward -- with the goal of distinguishing between those who pose threats to public safety from those who are merely in the country illegally -- reaction reverberated along well-worn lines. Enforcement h... LA Times • Aug 22, 2011

	Maine gay marriage supporters get 5,200 signatures Gay marriage supporters in Maine gathered more than 5,000 signatures during the first official day of petition-gathering around the states.... Houston Chronicle • Aug 22, 2011

	Some Deportations Halted for Gay Immigrants Some binational same-sex couples received good news about pending deportation orders this week, thanks partly to the Obama administration's new policy making certain deportations low priority. Denver immigration judge Mimi Tsankov Friday halted the deportation of Sujey Pando and scheduled a new hearing in January based on her marriage to U.S. citizen Violeta Pando, attorney Lavi Soloway reported ... Advocate • Aug 22, 2011

	Family Research Council decries government spending while affiliates take in millions The Family Research Council, a religious-right outfit some watchdog organizations have called an anti-gay hate group, has recently become quite vocal in its opposition to government spending and has called for drastic cuts to social programs. But a survey by The American Independent shows that FRC's state-based affiliates, called family policy councils, have raked in nearly $6 million in state and... Washington Independent • Aug 22, 2011

	Morgan Freeman & Friends to the Rescue! This week's all about Minnesota, Maine, North Carolina, Colorado, and Broadway. All four of those states have months of bitter fighting over marriage to look forward to, with millions of dollars likely to be spent on both sides. Fortunately, we've got a secret weapon: Morgan Freeman. I have to apologize for another lo-res video this week -- there is a lot going on and I'm rushing to get this vide... MNW • Aug 22, 2011

	Immigration Change Could Help Gay Foreign Nationals Facing Deportation The Obama administration unveiled on Thursday new immigration policy that could enable many undocumented immigrants facing deportation to stay within the United States -- a move that could enable bi-national same-sex couples at the risk of separation to stay together within the country. Under the new guidance, immigration authorities within the Obama administration will conduct a case-by-case rev... Washington Blade • Aug 19, 2011

	Anti-Gay Groups Gear Up For Religious War Against Civil Same-Sex Marriage In Minnesota The fight over a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota could cost up to $10 million before voters go to the ballot in November 2012. And while the measure only seeks to define civil marriage as "a union of one man and one woman," proponents of the amendment have begun waging a campaign that blurs the line between civil and religious unions. ... Think Progress • Aug 19, 2011

	Gay marriage debate: Brace for a 15-month brawl A full 15 months before Minnesota voters decide whether to cement a ban against same-sex marriage into the state Constitution, the campaign over the amendment is already heating from a simmer to a full boil. Groups on both sides of the proposed amendment have ramped up their fundraising machinery -- amid suggestions the campaign could top $10 million -- and have boosted their efforts to enlist ar... Minneapolis Star-Tribune • Aug 19, 2011

	New York Advocates Ready For National Same-Sex Marriage Push Nadler added the 121st sponsor to his Respect for Marriage Act last week, Democratic Rep. Jim Langevin of Rhode Island, and said a handful of House Republicans are close to signing onto the bill - even though that party's presidential candidates show little sympathy for same-sex marriage.... New York Capitol News • Aug 18, 2011

	NOM spent $709,000 in Minnesota on 2010 marriage ads Findings by the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board show that the National Organization for Marriage spent $709,000 on radio and television ads during the gubernatorial campaign in 2010. Those ads targeted DFLer Mark Dayton and Independence Party candidate Tom Horner for their support for marriage equality and lent support for the campaign of Republican Tom Emmer who supported a... Minnesota Independent • Aug 18, 2011

	Campaign disclosure board dismisses two complaints against anti-gay marriage groups The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board has dismissed two complaints against anti-gay marriage organizations over an ad campaign last fall. In a ruling issued Wednesday, the Campaign Finance board dismissed the complaints brought by nonprofit Common Cause Minnesota, which alleged that the Minnesota Family Council (MFC) and the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) teamed up ... Politics in Minnesota • Aug 18, 2011

	Debate on gay marriage constitutional amendment heats up Supporters and opponents of a state constitutional amendment that could ban gay marriage are continuing to push their message. Alex Miller of Equity North Carolina said the proposal would be a mistake.... North Carolina News Network • Aug 17, 2011

	North Carolina's Thom Tillis Says Let's Put Gay Marriage Up For A Vote Tillis said he personally believes "data" show that heterosexual marriages are more stable and nurturing when asked his view on gay marriage.... On Top Magazine • Aug 17, 2011

	Opponents of constitutional amendment banning gay marriage set up Asheville phone banks Opponents of a proposed state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage have launched a series of phone-bank events targeting people in districts represented by Republican Reps. Tim Moffitt in Buncombe County and Chuck McGrady in Henderson County.... Asheville Citizen-Times • Aug 17, 2011

	Oregon Group Not Ready To Announce Gay Marriage Repeal Effort An Oregon gay rights group is correcting media reports that it will launch an effort in the fall to put the state's constitutional gay marriage ban up for a vote. On Top Magazine was among the outlets reporting that Basic Rights Oregon will begin collecting signatures in October for a possible 2012 ballot campaign.... On Top Magazine • Aug 17, 2011

	Majority of Coloradans support LGBT relationship recognition A new report from Public Policy Polling has once again confirmed what several other recent polls have discovered: A vast majority of Coloradans - 71% according to this PPP poll (PDF) - support relationship recognition for same-sex couples in the state. And while Colorado Republican support for granting full marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples hovers at just 13%, 44% of Colorado Republicans ... Examiner • Aug 17, 2011

	Morgan Freeman and Anthony Edwards Will Appear in '8' Reading on Broadway A new play by Dustin Lance Black, about a trial to overturn California's voter-approved ban on gay marriage, has found its first cast members for a one-time staged reading on Broadway. Morgan Freeman and Anthony Edwards will be among the actors performing in "8," written by Mr. Black, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of "Milk," and adapted from reporting and trial transcripts from the case o... NY Times • Aug 17, 2011

	Connecticut's Leaders in Congress have Evolved Their Views on Gay Marriage When the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was passed in 1996, all but one member of Connecticut's congressional delegation voted for the legislation that defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. Times have changed. Connecticut has legalized gay marriage. Today, all but one member of Connecticut's delegation supports repeal of DOMA.... Fairfield Weekly • Aug 17, 2011

	Secretary of State Approves Marriage Statute, Clearing Way for Signature Gathering Today, same-sex marriage advocates in Maine announced that a citizen initiative campaign for a law allowing same-sex couples to marry cleared its first major hurdle with the Secretary of State's approval of the language of the proposed statute. This allows campaign volunteers and supporters to begin collecting the signatures required to put "An Act to Allow Marriage Licenses for Same-Sex Couples a... Good As You • Aug 17, 2011

	Prop. 8 film debuts in Long Beach Long Beach filmmaker Charlie Gage's documentary "Inspired: The Voices Against Prop. 8" follows several people who joined various protest movements after the Nov. 4, 2008, passage of California Proposition 8, which outlawed marriage for same-sex couples.... Long Beach Press-Telegram • Aug 17, 2011

	Debunking Mitt Romney's Wrong Beliefs There's a lot of news this week and almost all of it's good: from NOM's legal slapdown; to Irish protests for marriage equality; to warming attitudes in, of all places, Utah. We'll also take a look at Mitt Romney's stance on parenting, which is precisely incorrect; and the fight is on in Oregon. I'm Matt Baume, and welcome to Marriage News Watch for August 16, 2011. Lots of news this week from c... MNW • Aug 17, 2011

	Scottish Support for Marriage Equality Jumps Support for same-sex marriage rights in Scotland has risen significantly in the past few years, leading gay rights groups to call for marriage equality legislation, as they consider the current system of civil partnerships for gay couples discriminatory.... Advocate • Aug 16, 2011

	Nepal's Version of a Gay Rights Rally Gay rights proponents gathered in Nepal this weekend to call for their inclusion in a new constitution being drafted for the country, the Associated Press reports. ... Advocate • Aug 16, 2011

	Grassroots group gears upfor Prop 8 fight in 2012 Love Honor Cherish, an organization that was unsuccessful in its efforts to repeal Prop 8 at the ballot box in 2010, will try again in 2012, the group's board chair recently told the Bay Area Reporter . ... Bay Area Reporter • Aug 16, 2011

	Only 9 couples enter into civil unions in Rhode Island during first month of new law Few Rhode Islanders have entered into civil unions since the state began offering them to gay couples. Only nine couples were joined in a civil union in July, the first month civil union licenses were available, according to numbers obtained by the Associated Press on Monday.... Washington Post • Aug 16, 2011

	Australian clergy for marriage equality A group of prominent Australian Christian clergy have put their support for same-sex marriage on the record a day before Christian opponents of marriage equality stage a rally in the Great Hall of Parliament in Canberra.... Star Observer • Aug 15, 2011

	Intense lobbying underway in Raleigh over gay marriage bill An Elon University poll in February found that 37 percent of the state's residents support or strongly support a marriage amendment, down from 43 percent in March 2009. A December poll of registered voters by the Civitas Institute, a Raleigh think tank, found that two-thirds supported an amendment.... News & Record • Aug 15, 2011

	Fight gears up on same-sex marriage in North Carolina The Raleigh-based gay-rights group hopes to have 50,000 to deliver to legislators in September, when lawmakers return for a session to consider constitutional amendments, including a ban on gay marriage. Full-fledged campaigns over the proposed constitutional ban are washing over the state. They include petitions, messages from pulpits, rallies, billboards and phone banks. Unlike traditional ele... Charlotte Observer • Aug 15, 2011

	Prague Hosts First Pride March Several thousand people marched in the first LGBT Pride parade in the Czech capital Saturday as riot police contained antigay protesters assembled to decry the event. ... Advocate • Aug 15, 2011

	Ireland: Protesters call for marriage equality Thousands of people took to the streets of Dublin yesterday to demand civil marriage equality. Holding banners with slogans such as "marriage is magic", "I want for my sister what I have for myself - equality", and "73% support gay marriage", an estimated 4,000 people marched to the Department of Justice on St Stephen's Green where a rally was held.... Irish Times • Aug 15, 2011

	Oregon gay-rights supporters aim for 2012 marriage vote The 2012 general elections may be more than a year away, but Basic Rights Oregon -- the state's largest gay-rights organization -- already is planning a voter-education campaign on same-sex marriage. The group plans to begin collecting signatures in October for a possible 2012 ballot campaign, said Jeana Frazzini, executive director of Basic Rights Oregon.... Statesman Journal • Aug 15, 2011

	Australia: Hundreds rally for same-sex marriage Hundreds of same-sex marriage advocates, some dressed as Jesus Christ and the Pope, have gathered in Brisbane as part of a national day of protest. Gay and lesbian rights' protests were held across the country on Saturday ahead of the ALP National Conference in December. Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters was among the speakers at the rally in Brisbane's Queens Park. She encouraged them t... Sydney Morning Herald • Aug 15, 2011

	Gay man, transgender woman marry in first LGBT wedding in Cuba Same-sex marriage is illegal in Cuba, however the government has recently permitted marriage between transgendered individuals who have changed their sex and wish to marry someone of the opposite sex. Although Triepa, previously Alexis, is now a woman, the couple consider their union a gay marriage.... LGBTQ Nation • Aug 15, 2011

	New poll, same message: Coloradans strongly favor equal rights for gay couples Survey results released by Public Policy Polling this week underline broad support in Colorado for some form of legislation that would grant gay couples equal partnership rights. Although Republican members of the House Judicial Committee last year quashed a popular civil unions bill, PPP found that even among Colorado Republican voters, support for civil unions-style legislation is now nearing 60... Colorado Independent • Aug 15, 2011

	Chile Lawmaker Gustavo Hasbun On Civil Unions: Approaching Gay Marriage The Life Partner Agreement (Acuerdo de Vida en Pareja or AVP) would allow gay and straight couples who have lived together for more than one year to enter the union.... On Top Magazine • Aug 15, 2011

	Poll: Support, acceptance of gays is growing in Utah Seventy percent of respondents said they know someone who is gay or lesbian. And 42 percent said their feelings about LGBT people have become more accepting over the last five to 10 years. (Seven percent said they have become less accepting.) Nearly 70 percent of men and 77 percent of women said they could be close friends with a gay or lesbian person. More than half, 55 percent, said they would b... Salt Lake Tribune • Aug 12, 2011

	Tartan hitch: The Scottish National Party is confused about same-sex unions Research has found that since then Scottish opinion has moved, like views in the rest of Britain, towards greater acceptance of same-sex relationships. Data from the Scottish Social Attitudes survey published on August 11th showed that 61% of Scots agreed that same-sex couples should be able to marry; only 19% disagreed.... The Economist • Aug 12, 2011

	Census shows surge in gay couples in D.C. area; officials cite more honesty The number of people who identify themselves as part of a same-sex couple has soared over the past decade in what demographers say is the product of an aggressive outreach effort by the Census Bureau and growing cultural acceptance. Census figures released Thursday show 17,000 same-sex couples live in Maryland, a 51 percent increase over a decade ago. That accounts for 1.5 percent of couples in t... Washington Post • Aug 12, 2011

	Is Acceptance of Homosexuality Inevitable? What the Czech Republic Tells Us. The higher approval in 1994 may have been a result of the invisibility of the gay community during the communist era, which had ended only a few years prior. "Homophobia actually doesn't exist in this country," gay activist Jiri Hromada told The Prague Post in 1993, because "for 40 years people had no information about homosexuals." With the increasing visibility of gays since 1994, a backlash may... The New Republic • Aug 12, 2011

	Rights group pushes for same-sex military benefits Pentagon officials have maintained that even after the "don't ask, don't tell" law is repealed, they'll have limited flexibility to offer benefits to same-sex military partners because of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. But at least one group believes that military officials can do more. In a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday, officials from the Servicemembers Legal Defens... Stars and Stripes • Aug 12, 2011

	61 per cent of Scots support gay marriage According to the 2010 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey, published yesterday, 61 per cent of people believe gays and lesbians should have the right to marry.... Pink News • Aug 12, 2011

	Iowa debate: GOP pushing hard to the right on marriage for same-sex couples It was a highly contentious debate -the third nationally televised debate for Republicans seeking the party's nomination for president in 2012. There were several head-turning zingers, and combative attacks on fellow candidates (and reporters asking the questions). None of the eight candidates on the stage strayed from their already stated positions on marriage for same-sex couples, but there was ... Keen News Service • Aug 12, 2011

	Anti-gay marriage group loses appeal of R.I. court ruling A federal appeals court panel Thursday rejected an anti-gay marriage group's bid to block its need for compliance with Rhode Island campaign disclosure laws. The National Organization for Marriage had challenged Chief U.S. District Judge Mary M. Lisi's refusal in October to grant a preliminary injunction that would have allowed the group to avoid disclosing money it spent to support various candi... Providence Journal • Aug 12, 2011

	Court Sides with Maine in Election Law Dispute There was a win for Maine's election laws today in the form of a decision handed down by the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston. The court has upheld the constitutionality of Maine's reporting requirements for political action committees, rejecting a challenge brought by the National Organization for Marriage.... Maine Public Broadcasting Network • Aug 12, 2011

	Gay Marriage a Boon for Small Business An increase in marriages subsequently means an increase in people clamoring to buy wedding-related goods and services. It's estimated that the U.S. spends more than $80 billion on weddings a year, and it's no small wonder that some businesses might want to try to cash in on this increase. ... Reuters • Aug 11, 2011

	New Yorkers Still Good With Gay Marriage: Poll 44% of registered voters in New York report they are more likely to vote for a state senator who voted to pass the same-sex marriage law. Three in ten are less likely to do so while 19% say it makes no difference and seven percent are unsure.... New York Daily News • Aug 11, 2011

	Same-sex couple households up 76% since 2000 The number of same-sex households in Iowa grew 76 percent between 2000 and 2010, according to new government data. The 6,540 same-sex households still are a small fraction of the 1.2 million total, but advocates for gay and lesbian couples say the increased visibility will boost acceptance among Iowans for same-sex marriage. "As they see couples together, as they see them in a loving, committed re... Globe Gazette • Aug 11, 2011

	Bedding the Cast & Creatives of "Husbands," a New Marriage Equality Sitcom What would happen if "Will and Grace" had a baby with "Mad About You," with "Dr. Horrible" acting as surrogate? You'd have "Husbands," a brand new marriage equality sitcom premiering September 13. MarriageNewsWatch.com visited the set of the show for a chat with executive producer Jane Espenson (Buffy, Firefly, Dollhouse, Battlestar Galactica), Brad "Che... MNW • Aug 11, 2011

	March will call for marriage equality Thousands will take to the streets of Dublin this Sunday, August 14, to march for marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Ireland.... Irish Echo • Aug 10, 2011

	AFL-CIO votes unanimously to oppose anti-gay marriage amendment The Minnesota AFL-CIO, the state's labor federation, voted on Monday to oppose a ballot measure that would add a ban on same-sex marriage to the Minnesota Constitution. The vote of the general board was unanimous in oppositon to the amendment which will be on the ballot in 2012. The AFL-CIO is made up of 1,000 affiliated local unions and represents more than 300,000 workers.... Minnesota Independent • Aug 10, 2011

	GOP's Kittleman all alone supporting gay marriage With state Democrats poised to launch another battle for gay marriage in next year's assembly, Mr. Kittleman said he is willing to lend support and that he might not be the only Republican who ends up aiding the cause. "I know of [Republican] legislators who have told me they agree with me on the issue," he said, adding that some have kept quiet out of deference to constituents and party leaders.... Washington Times • Aug 10, 2011

	Chile president offers to legalize gay unions Chile's conservative president proposed legislation Tuesday to recognize gay civil unions, granting them some of the same rights as married couples in the ultra-Catholic country. "All forms of marriage deserve respect, dignity and the support of the state," said President Sebastian Pinera, who signed the proposal and sent it to Congress.... AFP • Aug 10, 2011

	Where Bachmann and Other GOP Candidates Stand on Gay Marriage GOP presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann attended a non-denominational church service in Iowa on Sunday where the pastor gave a 30-minute presentation that included his church's disapproval of homosexuality, NBC News reported on Monday. Bachmann is already known for being against same-sex marriage, but what of the other GOP candidates? As it turns out, not all GOP presidential contenders are on t... International Business Times • Aug 9, 2011

	S.F. gay married couple loses immigration battle Citing the Defense of Marriage Act, the Obama administration denied immigration benefits to a married gay couple from San Francisco and ordered the expulsion of a man who is the primary caregiver to his AIDS-afflicted spouse.... SF Gate • Aug 9, 2011

	Gay marriage wins support THE national campaign for same-sex marriage had a win in Tasmania yesterday with resounding support at the ALP state conference. The move will gain momentum in the lead-up to the federal Labor conference in December. The support came a day after the Tasmanian Labor faithful voted in favour of the right of gay couples to adopt children.... The Mercury • Aug 8, 2011

	Congress Lashes out at Gay Families It's been a busy week, with an incredibly offensive anti-gay brief coming out of Congress. But a surprise announcement from the American Psychological Association could put a stop to such briefs in the future. Time's running out before North Carolina votes on banning civil unions, a tribe in Washington state votes unanimously to recognize LGBT marriage, and a survey in New Jersey proves that we'r... MNW • Aug 8, 2011

	Same-sex marriage and 'Unnatural Acts' across the river from N.J. Perhaps after the November elections, a new bill will be introduced and passed by both houses of the state legislature. But Governor Christie is a stumbling block. After New York legalized same-sex marriage, he said he would not sign a similar law in New Jersey.... New Jersey Newsroom • Aug 8, 2011

	Marchers urge gay marriage equality Singer Brian Kennedy was among the hundreds who will take to the streets of Dublin next Sunday to march for marriage equality for LGBT - lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender - people.... Belfast Telegraph • Aug 7, 2011

	As Wash. gay couples expand, so does marriage push Activists and lawmakers are currently strategizing how and when to best push the issue. Democratic state Sen. Ed Murray, who has consistently filed bills to approve gay marriages since 1997, said the Senate does not have the votes right now to get it approved in 2012. He hopes that will change and isn't ruling out success in the coming session of the Legislature.... Seattle PI • Aug 6, 2011

	Does N.J. support or oppose gay marriage? It depends Bottom line: This poll provides clear evidence of the "softness" in public opinion on gay marriage in New Jersey. About 4-in-10 are solidly for it and 4-in-10 are solidly against it, but the remainder are liable to change their opinion. And with this changeable group rests the majority. Therefore, as the public debate on this issue resumes, public opinion will continue to shift.... My Central Jersey • Aug 6, 2011

	IRS to Gay Newlyweds: Not So Fast This cumbersome process applies to all married same-sex couples in the U.S. It comes courtesy of the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, which defines marriage as "a legal union between a man and a woman as husband and wife." The Obama Administration, saying DOMA is unconstitutional, has instructed federal agencies to do what they can under existing law to extend benefits to same-sex partnerships. S... Business Week • Aug 5, 2011

	http://ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=9112&MediaType=1&Category=26 A constitutional amendment that seeks to define marriage as a heterosexual union was not heard in the North Carolina General Assembly's regular session, but proponents insist the measure will be considered during a special session in the fall.... On Top Magazine • Aug 5, 2011

	Colombian political parties define stances on gay rights Various representatives proposed their campaigns in the House of Representatives regarding the possibility of gay civil unions in response to Colombia's Supreme Court's call for legislation. Miguel Gomez (Partido de la U., Bogota) announced on behalf of Guillermo Rivera (Liberal Party, Putumayo) the creation of an initiative that would consider marriage as a bond between two people, regardless of... Colombia Reports • Aug 5, 2011

	Boehner And Clement's Brief to the Court On DOMA Is An Anti-Gay Masterpiece This is the week that John Boehner's bizarre personal crusade to use the House to continue defending DOMA in court despite another office of the same government, the Department of Justice, declaring it unconstitutional, comes to fruition. Paul Clement, the super-expensive lawyer who left his original law firm just to be able to take on this case, is presenting a pretty familiar argument in the cas... Autostraddle • Aug 4, 2011

	Did HRC Drive Off with the NOM Defector's Marriage Equality Tour? Last week, we broke the story that Kitty Lambert, one of the very first lesbians legally married in New York State, would be joining NOM defector Louis Marinelli, once a staunch opponent of gay marriage, on a national marriage equality bus tour. Curiously, within hours of our story and Marinelli's announcement (via his new group, the National Organization for Marriage Equality), the Human Rights... Village Voice • Aug 4, 2011

	Tax Changes for Gay Married New Yorkers Of course, since the federal government does not recognize same-sex unions, that equal recognition still does not apply for federal tax purposes. So couples will need to maintain a double identity of sorts: one for the state, another for the federal government. So how will couples' tax lives change? And what do they need to do differently? The state tax department recently issued guidance for the... NY Times • Aug 4, 2011

	Citing new research, psychology group supports gay marriage The world's largest organization of psychologists took its strongest stand to date supporting full marriage equity, a move that observers say will have a far-reaching impact on the national debate. The policymaking body of the American Psychological Association (APA) unanimously approved the resolution 157-0 on the eve of the group's annual convention, which opens here today.... USA Today • Aug 4, 2011

	Congress Claims 'Rational Basis' for Challenged DOMA Restriction Under the rational basis test, Mr. Clement said, Congress could have acted rationally "in the face of the unknown consequences of a proposed novel redefinition of the foundational social institution," and it could have acted rationally to "protect the public fisc" in the balance it strikes in allocating federal burdens and benefits, and providing "consistency in eligibility for federal benefits ba... Law.com • Aug 3, 2011

	Human Rights Campaign forms PAC to fight anti-gay marriage amendment The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT advocacy group, registered a political action committee (PAC) with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board on Monday with the purpose of defeating a ballot measure that would place a ban on same-sex marriage in the Minnesota Constitution. The PAC joins three others working to defeat the amendment. Currently, only one ballot ca... Minnesota Independent • Aug 3, 2011

	Top Five Homophobic Statements From Boehner's DOMA Briefs This week we get a first look at how House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) intends to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court. If the briefs filed by attorney Paul Clement yesterday are any indication, the House Republicans will be pushing every anti-gay message possible to ensure the federal government continues to discriminate against same-sex couples. And of course, taxpayers are covering the ... Think Progress • Aug 3, 2011

	Suquamish Tribe approves same-sex marriage Should Heather Purser decide to marry her partner, she can do that in Suquamish now. On Monday, the Suquamish Tribal Council formally changed its ordinances to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples. The Suquamish ordinance means gay couples are afforded all the rights heterosexual couples are allowed on the reservation and other places in which gay marriages are allowed.... Kitsap Sun • Aug 2, 2011

	Brisbane poll backs equality Brisbane Liberal MP Teresa Gambaro has reported on her website that 73 percent of 1532 people who responded to her survey of constituents supported same-sex marriage.... Star Observer • Aug 2, 2011

	More N.J. voters support same-sex marriage than oppose it, poll says The poll, by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, found 47 percent of voters wanted to legalize marriage between same-sex partners, while 42 percent wanted to keep it illegal. ... NJ.com • Aug 2, 2011

	Widow Fights With Wife's Parents for Benefits The parents of a deceased woman are using the Defense of Marriage Act against their daughter-in-law, claiming that she is not entitled to her late wife's profit-sharing plan. ... Advocate • Aug 2, 2011

	Among Conservative Rabbis, a Wide Disagreement Over Same-Sex Marriage All but several Orthodox rabbis, from Modern to Hasidic, oppose same-sex marriage largely because of the explicit ban against homosexual sex in Leviticus and would never officiate at a Jewish wedding ceremony, while most, but not all, Reform and Reconstructionist rabbis will do so. The Reform movement and the Reconstructionist movement, an outgrowth of Conservative Judaism, have allowed or encour... NY Times • Aug 2, 2011

	Q&A with Christine Johnson, director of S.C. Equality Q: Do you see gay marriage or civil unions ever being a possibility in South Carolina with the constitutional amendment, affirming that marriage is between a man and a woman, on the books? A: Yes, I think eventually it is a possibility. In the meantime, it's our goal to secure protections where we can and educate the public; demystify the LGBT community so that when marriage occurs, South Carolin... Post and Courier • Aug 1, 2011

	Prop. 8 Standing Arguments to be Televised Oral arguments on a legal standing question in the Proposition 8 case will be televised live in September, according to a California Supreme Court spokeswoman. Of the September 6 hearing, SF Appeal reports that "because of public interest in the case, the court has approved a live statewide television broadcast of the arguments on the California Channel, a public affairs network," according to sp... Advocate • Aug 1, 2011

	The Latest Wrinkle in the Prop 8 Trial A new twist in the Prop 8 case, with a court date coming just days after a controversial new judge is expected to join the Supreme Court. New York launches its own attack on the Defense of Marriage Act, and polling brings mostly good news, and a little bad. Well that didn't take very long. After just one day of marriage equality, ... MNW • Aug 1, 2011

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