Breaking Marriage Equality News Headlines from Box Turtle Bulletin

	OMG: New Hampshire Republicans may not vote to repeal marriage!! Hot-button social issues like gun rights, immigration and labor reform were all absent from the agenda, but the biggest hole was left by gay marriage, which is the target of several bills aiming to repeal it. ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Feb 2, 2012

	WA Senate to Vote On Marriage Equality Wednesday The Washington State Senate has scheduled a vote on SB 6239, the bill to provide marriage quality, on Wednesday.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 31, 2012

	Ex-Gay Leader: "99.9% Have Not Experienced A Change In Their Orientation" The majority of people that I have met, and I would say the majority meaning 99.9% of them, have not experienced a change in their orientation or have gotten to a place where they could say that they could never be tempted or are not tempted in some way or experience some level of same-sex attraction.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 10, 2012

	Alliance Defense Fund Celebrates Pending Criminalization of Consensual Relationships and LGBT Advocacy in Nigeria The bill which ADF is so keen on celebrating criminalizes all LGBT advocacy by organizations or individuals with ten years imprisonment.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Dec 2, 2011

	From NOM to NOME Louis Marinelli, the former coordinator for National Organization for Marriage's "Summer for Marriage Tour" who has since left NOM and announced his support for marriage equality, has launched a new group. He's calling it the National Organization for Marriage Equality, and his web site indicates that NOME "is registering as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization."Marinelli will be hitting the road onc... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jul 22, 2011

	Bachmann Is First To Sign Iowa Anti-Gay Pledge Footnote 8 of the document includes an explicitly pro- ex-gay plank, indicating the political utility that social conservatives find in the movement: "No peer-reviewed empirical science or rational demonstration has ever definitively proven, nor even has shown an overwhelming probability, that homosexual preference or behavior is irresistible as a function of genetic determinism or other forms of ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jul 8, 2011

	Liechtenstein Voters Approve Civil Partnership Law With a 74% turnout, Liechtenstein voters overwhelmingly approved a new Civil Partnership law for same-sex couples today with a 69% to 31%.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jun 20, 2011

	Rhode Island Civil Unions Includes Strange Reciprocity Clause Rhode Island will recognize a couple joined in a civil union from New Jersey, but married couples from just a few miles across the border in Connecticut and Massachusetts will be legal strangers to each other.... Box Turtle Bulletin • May 19, 2011

	House gives gay Congressmen special rights So legally married same-sex couples have special rights in Congress, the right to ignore disclosure laws. Ironically, back in 2008 conservative Republicans were screaming their heads off about how Barney Frank's relationship with a Fannie May executive was a conflict of interest. And they were right. But now that it comes to applying the rules that Frank must comply with, they're back to saying ... Box Turtle Bulletin • May 8, 2011

	The man who will judge Judge Walker Ware does appear to have genuinely been involved in the civil rights movement and quite often those who experienced the battle - as opposed to some who have inherited the mantle - see rights and discrimination in terms of oppressor and oppressed. And considering that Judge Ware's marriage was not recognized in his home state of Alabama prior to 1967, he may intimately know what it is like to be to... Box Turtle Bulletin • Apr 29, 2011

	Olson responds to Prop 8′s "hide the tapes" motion On Wednesday, they fired up an indignant motion for the courts to put all video of the Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial under lock and key, signed by none other than lead counsel Chuck Cooper. I noted that this was but part of their desire to keep any evidence of their testimony locked in the closet, where they think gay people should be. On Thursday, Judge Walker (an advocate for accountability) us... Box Turtle Bulletin • Apr 17, 2011

	Judge Walker responds to the "Oh, Noooes! Teh Ghehs Will Recognize Me" hysteria The Perry case involved a public trial. As Chief Justice Berger observed some years ago, "People in an open society do not demand infallibility in their institutions, but it is difficult for them to accept what they are prohibited from observing."... Box Turtle Bulletin • Apr 15, 2011

	Liechtenstein parliament approves same-sex partner recognition The law does not mirror marriage, disallowing adoption or reproductive rights, but does provide parity for inheritance, social security law, in occupational pension plans, the Immigration and Naturalization law, tax law and other public law. The parliament also amended the bill to bring forward the start date from January 1, 2012 to September 1, 2011. However, within 30 days after the publishing... Box Turtle Bulletin • Mar 23, 2011

	Maryland House moves closer to marriage; NOM offers bribe for votes In response, the National Organization for Marriage has publicly offered a bribe to legislators: If you vote the way we want, then we will spend a million dollars on your reelection.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Mar 10, 2011

	DOMA: recap, summary, and analysis Should the House intervene, a not-unlikely possibility, then the House will be allowed to present arguments that only rational basis be applied and that DOMA's discrimination achieves a governmental function. However, they will do so with the additional burden or explaining why not only the plaintiffs but the Department of Justice are incorrect in their interpretation of the Constitution.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Feb 25, 2011

	The DOJ's buddies - Part I The Supreme Court has found that defending "traditional notions of morality" is not an adequate reason for enacting law. In fact, to do so would be to invite judicial rejection. So it is definitely to our advantage to remind the court that the sole purpose of anti-gay laws - including anti-marriage laws - is based in a desire on the part of one segment of society to impose their religious beliefs... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 28, 2011

	Civil Unions process starts anew in Hawaii There are two versions of civil unions presented, SB 232 which is identical to last year's bill that Lingle vetoed (with an updated effective date) and SB 231 was crafted by the Governor's staff to address concerns that some had with last year's bill.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 26, 2011

	WaPo predicts Maryland marriage this year I have been frustrated with Maryland politics for years, but it does look like this year may be the year in which the Democratic Party in Maryland places equality for gay citizens as a higher priority than the religious beliefs of specific individual legislators. I will be delighted to joyously let bygones be bygones if they come through for our community.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 9, 2011

	NOM's secret funding sources NOM is the project of a small number of very significant contributors. Three donors alone gave more than a million dollars each and comprise 65% of the total revenues. Eleven additional major donors ranging from $400,000 to $5,000 bring the total of major donor contributions to 75%.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 7, 2011

	Rules for oral appeal layed out for Perry The Court orders that oral argument in these appeals be conducted in the following manner: The argument shall be divided into two hour-long sessions, with a brief recess in between. In the first hour, the parties shall address each appellant's standing and any other procedural matters that may properly be raised. In the second hour, the parties shall address the constitutionality of Proposition 8.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 16, 2010

	Pew Research: for first time, majority of Americans do not oppose same-sex marraige The Pew Research Center has released its annual report on public opinions on same-sex marriage. And while Pew does show support levels for marriage equality that have been observed in other polls, they are reporting the same sort of uptick in support that others have shown. According to Pew, marriage is now supported by 42% and opposed by 48%, the first time that they have observed less than half ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Oct 8, 2010

	More amicus, more animus Those who oppose civil equality simply can't restrain themselves from supporting the Proponents of Proposition 8. Although history is going to be rather unkind to them (and we will both document and remember), there is almost a sense of desperation to the compulsion to go on record as favoring inequality, supporting supremacist attitudes and expressing dismay that their views may be held up to ins... Box Turtle Bulletin • Oct 6, 2010

	FRC files their amicus brief on Perry v. Schwarzenegger Proposition 8 does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. Homosexuals may marry someone of the opposite sex, and heterosexuals may not marry someone of the same sex.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Sep 24, 2010

	California no longer looking for "causes and cures of homosexuality" Now there is no reason to believe that California, either through the Langley Porter Clinic or anything else, has at any point in the past several decades attempted to conduct any scientific research into the causes and cures of homosexuality. But it's nice to know that they officially have given up. But more importantly, this bill passed unanimously in the Senate (where it was sponsored by the n... Box Turtle Bulletin • Aug 26, 2010

	Schadenfreude Alert: Liberty Counsel STILL Blames ADF For Prop 8 Decision Almost immediately after U.S. Federal District Judge Vaughn Walker handed down his decision declaring California's Proposition 8 unconstitutional, Matt Staver's Liberty Counsel, which is closely aligned with Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, blamed the Alliance Defense Fund for losing the case. As I said earlier, you can tell Staver was furious because they didn't get around to blaming it on ju... Box Turtle Bulletin • Aug 18, 2010

	American Bar Association endorses marriage equality Today the American Bar Association, the nation's leading legal organization, voted at their annual meeting to endorse marriage equality.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Aug 11, 2010

	Prop 8 Supporters React Newt Gingrich, who believes in the sanctity of marriage between on man and three consecutive women, warns that this should be another knock against confirming Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court:... Box Turtle Bulletin • Aug 5, 2010

	Schadenfreude Alert: Liberty Counsel Blames ADF For Prop 8 Decision This is hilarious. Matt Staver's Liberty Counsel, which is closely aligned with Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, issued a press release blaming the Prop 8 decision on the Alliance Defense Fund:... Box Turtle Bulletin • Aug 5, 2010

	Prop 8 Report: The "Danger To Children" Theme Proved Decisive The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Mentoring Project has just released a massive report which analyzes more than 10,000 pages of unreleased data from the California Prop 8 campaign. The report's author and project founder, Dave Fleischer, concludes that many common conceptions of why the No on 8 campaign lost the November 2008 ballot measure are factually wrong. In particular, Fleis... Box Turtle Bulletin • Aug 3, 2010

	Why the Obama Administration Must Appeal DOMA Rulings As it stands, there are only three ways to get rid of DOMA nationwide. Barring appeals by Obama's Department of Justice, the first option is to get another forty-nine sets of similar rulings by federal judges in forty-nine more states. While it's true that these Massachusetts rulings would serve as a precedent for subsequent rulings by other federal judges, those judges aren't bound by them in the... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jul 11, 2010

	Observations about DOMA Cases Taken together, it seems clear that Tauro finds that a distinction based on marriage is permissible. But one that is based on sexual orientation is not. This would seem to suggest that because states can determine marriage laws (Commonwealth), it can either allow or refuse same-sex marriage (until otherwise restricted). So those legally married same-sex couples in Massachusetts, Iowa, Connecticut,... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jul 9, 2010

	Maggie predicts that she'll lose Perry And while Maggie's beliefs about what the Supreme Court will do have no greater validity than her beliefs about the definition of marriage (I have no presumption how they will decide), I do agree with her that it is likely that Judge Walker will find Proposition 8 to be in violation of the US Constitution.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jun 24, 2010

	Study: Children of Lesbian Parents May Be Better Off Than Their Peers That's the conclusion of researchers who followed a group of families headed by Lesbian couples for twenty-four years. This month, the journal Pediatrics, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, posted online the latest installment of the long-running longitudinal study which recruited and followed the children of 154 prospective lesbian mothers who joined the study between 1986 and 1992.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jun 7, 2010

	The IRS changes tax rules to recognize CA same-sex relationships For several years, California law has treated couples in domestic partnerships exactly the same as marriages, including in how income tax returns were filed. But the federal government's DOMA has banned any recognition of same-sex couples as married and the Internal Revenue Service has treated them as though they were two unrelated individuals. This has resulted in the peculiar situation in which ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jun 4, 2010

	CA Assembly Calls for DADT Repeal The California Assembly approved a resolution calling for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in a 51-17 bipartisan vote. The resolution now heads to the state Senate for a concurrence vote., which will likely take place on Monday.... Box Turtle Bulletin • May 13, 2010

	Anti-8 Campaign must reveal internal memos As this order has no value on the merits of the case, it appears to be purely political in nature. I'm not suggesting that Justice Spero is engaging in judicial activism, but rather this seems to be an order purely to be "fair" so that "both sides can see each others' secrets". But legal proceedings are to be based on the law, not on making both sides happy. "Making everyone happy" is not a stand... Box Turtle Bulletin • Mar 7, 2010

	Perry v. Schwarzenegger: day eleven summary Miller admitted that some people voted for Proposition 8 based on stereotypes, but he could not say to what extent. Then it got unpleasant for Miller. He has a new book that came out in 2009 in which he argues that initiatives that disadvantage minorities "can easily tap into an anti-minority sentiment". He even gave examples including initiatives directed towards restricting the rights of homose... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 27, 2010

	Perry v. Schwarzenegger: day nine summary On stand today is Dr. Greg Herek, a leading authority on the psychology of sexual orientation. Herek will discuss three opinions: * Nature of sexual orientation and how it is understood in sociology and psychology * The immutability of sexual orientation * Stigma and prejudice against gays and lesbians and how that intersects with Proposition 8... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 23, 2010

	Perry v. Schwarzenegger: day six summary We now find out why Professor Douglas Allen withdrew as a witness. It appears that he was to tell the court that since marriage equality came to the Netherlands that the total number of marriage decreased. However, he also noted that it was part of a greater trend rather than an effect of marriage equality. Badgett used Allen's testimony to argue that comparison to Massachusetts is more reasonable... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 20, 2010

	Perry v. Schwarzenegger to be reenacted on YouTube After the Supreme Court blocked video broadcast of the federal trial to decide the constitutionality of a gay marriage ban last Wednesday, freelance journalist and filmmaker John Ireland decided he'd produce his own version and post it on YouTube. "People want to see this drama unfold and there is a tremendous narrative that was propelled by that first day of testimony," Ireland told On T... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 19, 2010

	Blankenhorn: A Brief Summary It appears that David Blankenhorn will be the primary witness for the defense of Proposition 8. ProtectMarriage.com's attorney, Chuck Cooper, has said that Blankenhorn will * show that the preponderance of historical and social leaders agree that this the naturally procreation sexual act that is protected, that it's pro-child * show that if gay marriage is legal, it will lead to higher di... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 14, 2010

	Perry v. Schwarzenegger: day three synopsis The Defense's cross-examination of History Professor George Chauncey continued. Prop 8's David Thompson sought to get Chauncey to agree that gay people are not really subject to discrimination. This is an attempt to battle Olson/Boies' goal of establishing sexual orientation as a subject class and thus more highly protected from discrimination.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 14, 2010

	Prop 8 Leader admits that "traditional marriage" really only means "no gays" Yep, "traditional marriage" is only traditional to the extent that it excludes gay people.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Dec 1, 2009

	The Democratic National Committee Boycott: Count Me In Frustration is boiling over concerning the Democratic Party's ongoing neglect of LGBT issues. The latest insult to injury? The Democratic National Committee and Organizing for America set emails to Mainers urging them to vote, but didn't ask them to vote against Question 1. In fact, the email didn't mention Question 1 at all. The DNC then sent another email urgently asking Mainers to get involved ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 11, 2009

	Prop 8 Campaign Attitudes to be Revealed The most relevant information will be in relation to what messages the campaign decided not to present to voters as this will put those they did use in perspective. But I'm sure that the virulent homophobia and blind hate expressed in the communications will also go far to illuminate the attitudes of the campaign against marriage.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Oct 4, 2009

	Judge Dismisses DOMA Case Which Prompted Controversial Obama DOJ Brief Judge David O. Carter dismissed the case on a technicality, ruling that that the suit had been improperly filed in state court before transferring to Federal Court. For the case to go forward, it must be re-filed in Federal Court. Plaintiffs' lawyer Richard Gilbert said he would re-submit the suit again.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Aug 25, 2009

	Olson / Boies Prop 8 Trial Date Set Those concerned that the time is not right for this case to be tried before the SCOTUS may wish to consider how the referendum movement to overturn Proposition 8 could impact the case. It appears that this case could reach the Supreme Court between 2010 and 2012. Those who fear a loss at the top of the judicial system may find it beneficial to try and derail the case by reversing Proposition 8 bef... Box Turtle Bulletin • Aug 19, 2009

	Boies and Olson to go after 'Yes on 8′ Campaign Today, all parties to the suit filed another round of "case management statements," proposals that outline what the trial will cover, what legal questions will be addressed, and which sort of evidence will be gathered and presented. What is interesting about these statements is that the case is shaping up to be much broader than the state challenge to Prop. 8, which hinged on the technical distin... Box Turtle Bulletin • Aug 19, 2009

	DOJ Files Reply Brief In DOMA Challenge Case This case particular case challenging the constitutionality of DOMA is considered by many legal experts as rather weak. Another case filed in Massachusetts by the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defendersis considered a much stronger case. Last month, the Massachusetts Attorney General announced a second lawsuitto challenge DOMA's constitutionality.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Aug 17, 2009

	Congrats, Wisconsin Couples This day is historic in that Wisconsin became the first midwestern state to grant recognition of same-sex couples by legislation and it is the first state with a clause banning "legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage" to offer any limited recognition at all.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Aug 4, 2009

	MUST-READ: CA Gay Groups Advise Waiting, Waiting I'm not saying that we should have committed huge sums or that we should have exhausted our resources, but we should have made the citizens of those states face this question for the rest of their long-lasting lives until they tired of their own bigotry and - faced with scorn from their children - reversed their position and removed discrimination from their constitution. Had we been battling in ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jul 14, 2009

	Three Pro-Gay Groups Respond To AFER's Letter "People can disagree about when and whether to jump into the pool, but once you do it makes sense to swim as hard as possible to get to the other side. . . . We're all in the pool; it's not just those plaintiffs."... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jul 11, 2009

	Texans Support Couple Recognition Most Texans don't oppose equal unions, but they're split in their support for marriage or civil unions. While more than a third (36%) oppose either arrangement, 32% said they would support civil unions and another 25% think equal marriage should be permitted.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jun 26, 2009

	CA Attorney General Brief: Prop 8 Violates 14th Amendment On the same day in which the Obama administration filed a brief before the U.S. Supreme Court defending the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act," California Attorney General Jerry Brown filed a very different brief in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the Prop 8 challenge brought by Ted Olson and David Boies.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jun 14, 2009

	LGBT Activists Call for March On Washington October 11 is Columbus Day. Congress won't be in session and the President will be out of town. This raises the question: exactly who do we expect to hear us when we march? Who will receive our petitions or issue statements of support? Who will be held accountable before the press? With everyone gone for the holiday weekend, it will be all to easy for our representatives and President to duck resp... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jun 8, 2009

	Rhode Island Senate Votes for a Single Domestic Partnership Right Domestic Partners may be recognized in Rhode Island. But only once they are dead.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jun 3, 2009

	Are Lawsuits The Best Way To Go? Rather than filing premature lawsuits, we need to talk to our friends, family and neighbors, and help them understand why denial of the freedom to marry is wrong. We need to build a vigorous, aggressive campaign to overturn Prop 8 and restore the freedom to marry in California. This is the moment to convince California and America that we should have the freedom to marry.... Box Turtle Bulletin • May 27, 2009

	Obama To Be In Los Angeles Day After Decision Day Do you think he can make it through the entire visit without mentioning Prop 8?... Box Turtle Bulletin • May 22, 2009

	Obama's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" On Marriage In the past several weeks, there has been a remarkable sea-change on marriage equality. Four (possibly five) states are being added to the marriage equality column. This was unimaginable just a few months ago in the wake of California's passage of Prop 8. But these remarkable development has been utterly invisible to the White House. Obama promised bold leadership on these issues but we haven't s... Box Turtle Bulletin • May 7, 2009

	California Marriage Drive to Include Religious Protections The Courage Campaign, currently the most vocal activists seeking to organize an overturn of Proposition 8 in either 2010 or 2012, say that things will be different this time around. The parties who spearheaded the opposition to Prop 8 will not be involved in the effort.... Box Turtle Bulletin • May 6, 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

	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

	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

	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

	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

	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

	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

	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

	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

	US To Call for Worldwide Decriminalization The Obama administration will endorse a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality that then-President George W. Bush had refused to sign, The Associated Press has learned.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Mar 17, 2009

	Washington Domestic Partnership Upgrade Advances Washington will join California and Oregon in having Domestic Partnerships that possess identitical state rights and responsibilities as marriages. And none of the federal ones.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Mar 11, 2009

	What Was No on 8 Thinking? Yes on 8 didn't win the election. No on 8 lost it.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Mar 7, 2009

	Utah Legislators Kill Two More Common Ground Bills After lengthy public hearings yesterday, House committees rejected two more bills: HB288, which would have allowed same-sex couples and other unmarried pairs to adopt and foster children; and HB267, which would have protected LGBT people from discrimination in housing and employment. Both bills were badly needed.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Feb 18, 2009

	Wisconsin Governor Calls for Domestic Partnerships The governor called for a domestic partner classification and offering limited legal protections for same-sex couples, such as allowing domestic partners to take family and medical leave to care for a seriously ill partner, make end-of-life decisions and add health care coverage. Domestic partners would register with counties and they would be treated like other vital records.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Feb 17, 2009

	Lesbian Couple Obtain Marriage License In Arizona In what was supposed to be a demonstration on National Freedom to Marry day yielded a surprising turn of events for one Tucson couple... Box Turtle Bulletin • Feb 12, 2009

	Calling Mormon's Bluff Last week, a Utah Senate committee killed a bill allowing individuals who rely on a breadwinner to sue for wrongful death. The vote to kill the measure was on a strict LDS-membership vote. Equality Utah isn't taking that set back lying down.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Feb 3, 2009

	Steele: Republican Party Needs to Reach Out to Gay Supporters The new chairman of the Republican Party, Michael Steele, told Chris Wallace this morning that the party needs to reach out to supporters of abortion rights and gay rights:... Box Turtle Bulletin • Feb 1, 2009

	Mormon Utah Legislators Oppose Even the Slightest of Gay Rights The more I experience the actions of those in leadership positions or those who have power withing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the more I become convinced that this organization is an instrument of organized homophobia and that there are no rights, no equalities, no measures of freedom for gay men and women that are too small for them to let pass unopposed.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 27, 2009

	Gene Robinson, Obama Inaugural Committee Address Snub It seems to me that so many people fully expected to see Bishop Robinson's very public presence as an acknowledgement that LGBT concerns were being taken seriously by the incoming administration -- especially after the seething anger over Rick Warren's pick to deliver the invocation at the Inauguration just days after he compared gay relationships to incest, child rape and polygamy. Seeing Bishop... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 19, 2009

	Why Can't We Talk About Black Homophobia? Failing to recognize homophobic attitudes in the black community is not only dishonest, it fails to acknowledge the unique hardships that African-American LGBT individuals face: in many surveys, African-American gays and lesbians have reported greater pressure to hide their identity and homosexual behavior and identify as straight. It has further been speculated that the hostility toward homosexua... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 14, 2009

	Reaching Communities: What You Can Do Today Many of us may not "speak the language", know the culture, or have the connections necessary to bring about change in communities other than that in which we live. But we each have the power to support those who do have the language, culture, and connection to bring about a greater understanding of the concerns of gay men and women. The following is a small selection of groups who are dedicated t... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 13, 2009

	Unions Support Overturning Proposition 8 The listing of participating parties is impressive. And while I'm not particularly shocked by the support from the Screen Actors Guild or the Association of Flight Attendants, I'm happy to see ironworkers, cement masons, and teamsters giving their support to our cause as well.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 13, 2009

	Warren's Counterproductive AIDS Efforts in Africa The more I learn about Rick Warren's AIDS efforts in Africa, the less I respect him. He has endorsed policies that he knows are not the most effective and he has befriended and supported some of the most homophobic religious leaders in Christendom in their anti-gay political actions. It is commendable that Rick Warren feels compassion for those suffering from AIDS in Africa. It is not commendable... Box Turtle Bulletin • Jan 7, 2009

	Phoenix City Council Approves Domestic Partnerships Equality Arizona just sent out an email announcing that the Phoenix city council approved a limited form of domestic partnerships. The only benefit enumerated in the new registry consists of hospital visitation rights...... Box Turtle Bulletin • Dec 17, 2008

	Colin Powell Thinks DADT Should Be "Reevaluated"; Ken Blackwell Thinks He Knows Better But it's been 15 years and attitudes have changed and so I think it is time for the Congress, since it is their law, to have a full review of it, and I'm quite sure that's what President-elect Obama will want to do.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Dec 11, 2008

	TWO Calls Out Becket Fund in Full Page Ad TWO responds by including some rather shameful anti-religious sputterings by three of the Becket Fund ad's cosigners:... Box Turtle Bulletin • Dec 10, 2008

	U.S. Catholic Groups To Hold Vigils At Cathedrals Three Catholic groups which support LGBT equality have announced plans to hold vigils in five U.S. cities today to call attention to the Vatican's opposition to a U.N. resolution calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Dec 10, 2008

	A Patronizing "Pastoral Message" This is not by any reasonable definition a "pastoral message". There is no recognition of the harm caused. There is no salve for the wounds in his flock. There is not even an admission that this polical endeavor had the slightest of negative consequences on gay people. There is only self-justification, lies about the intent and result of the campaign, and blame assigned to those who disagree with ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Dec 6, 2008

	NY Dems: Thanks for the Money but Forget the Promises Democrats in New York have taken the State Senate for the first time in 40 years, to a significant extent due to a flood of contributions from gays and lesbians wanting marriage equality. Now it looks as though this was not money well spent.... Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 28, 2008

	No On 8 Answers Charges of Incompetence With Incompetence ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 26, 2008

	Palm Center Warns of Bias in Obama Military Advisor ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 25, 2008

	Civil Disobedience in San Francisco ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 17, 2008

	Melee In the Castro ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 17, 2008

	Conversations At A Temple Protest ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 17, 2008

	Readers Send In Their Protest Pictures ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 15, 2008

	Mormons Don't Oppose SOME Gay Rights.... Unless they Can ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 14, 2008

	El Coyote: An Uncompromising Faith ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 12, 2008

	HRC's Self-Parody ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 11, 2008

	More Protests Yet To Come (Tuesday, Wednesday) ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 11, 2008

	Mounting Protests Against Prop 8 ... Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 9, 2008

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