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Boeing Said It Will Deny Equal Pension Benefits to Married Gay Couples
Today the Boeing Company told union negotiators that it intends to deny pension survivor benefits to same-sex married couples, even though Washington State voters decisively approved a marriage equality law earlier this month.
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The Stranger • Nov 26, 2012
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Polling there has us ahead among registered voters, 56 to 36 percent.
But what about the so-called "Bradley Effect" in which survey respondents are known to mislead pollsters on certain issues and candidates due to a "social desirability bias" (i.e. they don't want to appear prejudiced against, say, gay or black people)? For example, in 2009 the Washington Poll predicted that R-71 (domestic partnerships) would pass by a 17-point margin. It actually passed by only 6....
The Stranger • Oct 19, 2012
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WA:New Poll Finds Hurdles Facing Every Single Statewide Ballot Measure Except Eyman's I-1185
For Referendum 74, the vote on whether or not to uphold Washington's new gay marriage law, Elway sees voter confusion messing up the results. Some 52 percent of respondents support same-sex marriage rights, but only 49 percent say they'll vote to "approve" R-74. Which suggests that a lot of gay rights supporters don't understand that voting to "approve" means voting to uphold the same-sex marriage...
The Stranger • Jul 30, 2012
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New Poll Looks Bad for Gay Marriage
Going into an election with less than 55 percent support is considered a dicey gamble. But the poll released this week shows gay marriage doesn't even have a majority of support, which means that opponents need only keep the 7 percent of undecided voters afraid and peel off a fraction of support to defeat the measure in November. And while other polls have shown it doing slightly better--ranging f...
The Stranger • Jul 24, 2012
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Two Votes Away from Marriage Equality
State senator Ed Murray (D-43), who introduced the bill on January 13, says it's a nail-biter. "I think we have a very good chance," Murray says. "But we are not there yet. We could lose. There are a handful of votes we still need."
In other words, just a few hand-wringing state senators stand between marriage equality and no marriage equality....
The Stranger • Jan 19, 2012
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Ed Murray: Put the Champagne Away, Pull the Checkbook Out
State senator Ed Murray is concerned by the premature celebrations prompted by stories like this: "Gay Marriage Within Reach in Washington State." The marriage equality bill does not currently have the votes it needs to get out of the state senate, says Murray, and, even if it did, the fight would not be over.
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The Stranger • Jan 13, 2012
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It Gets Better With Green Cards
I have to say that between DADT, DOMA, anti-bullying initiatives, and now this, the Obama administration has turned things around. Was it Rahm's departure? Was it the realization that gay issues have become a wedge that divides Republicans? Was it panic over the drop in gay donations to Dems during the mid-terms and the rise in the percentage of the gay vote going to Republicans? Whatever it was, ...
The Stranger • Mar 30, 2011
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Prop 8 Trial -- Day 4: Gay Weddings Help the Economy and Discrimination Is Unhealthy
A San Francisco economist testified today that same-sex weddings would generate more than $35 million in annual spending in San Francisco and produce millions of dollars in additional tax revenue.
Edmund Egan, chief economist for the city and county of San Francisco, said he based his short-term projections on the revenue generated by more than 5,000 same-sex weddings in San Francisco during the ...
The Stranger • Jan 15, 2010
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Americablog On Today's "No" Vote On Gay Marriage in New York Senate: It Ain't Over
So, gays helped put the Democrats in control of the State Senate--and that is widely known. And, what did we get for that? A crushing defeat. This is so not over....
The Stranger • Dec 3, 2009
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Hate Crimes Down in Los Angeles County With One Exception....
Gay people sure are violent--just look at how we're always throwing our faces at the fists of gay bashers and how we make conservative religious people look bad by forcing them to strip us of our civil rights. How do we sleep at night?...
The Stranger • Nov 20, 2009
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What You Can Do Right Now To Protect Marriage Equality In Maine
The No on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign is hoping to make 500,000 calls to Maine voters between now and election day next Tuesday. You don't have to be in Maine to make the calls....
The Stranger • Oct 28, 2009
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http://obamasplanforgayrights.com/
There isn't one....
The Stranger • Jun 16, 2009
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Democrats To Gay Americans: Fuck You. Now Write Us a Check.
Obama is defending DOMA in the vilest possible terms--comparing equal marriage to incest and child rape--and he refuses to use the powers at his disposal right now to suspend enforcement of DADT. Harry Reid, speaking for the Democratic majority in Congress, says there will be no legislative action on DADT. But, hey, we're all invited to the Democratic National Committee's LGBT Leadership Council's...
The Stranger • Jun 16, 2009
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No One Could Have Predicted
Do you think the Obama administration is letting Bush holdovers work on healthcare reform? Do you think they're letting Bush holdovers work on Iraq policy? Do you think they're letting Bush holdovers work on economic policy? Do you think they're letting Bush holdovers manage Sotomayor's confirmation process? Of course not. Because all of those things matter to the Obama administration. They give a...
The Stranger • Jun 14, 2009
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We're Winning: Nevada & New Hampshire
If the plight of anti-gay florists is the best objection opponents of marriage equality have got... we're really winning....
The Stranger • Jun 1, 2009
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Ed Murray: Rallies Are Fine, Organizing Is Better
There's a sense that real progress is being made here, that we're gaining ground, not losing ground, so who needs rallies and protests?...
The Stranger • May 26, 2009
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We're Winning
We're going to go back to the ballot box in California in 2010 or 2012 and voters are going to repeal Prop 8....
The Stranger • May 26, 2009
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Today's First Gay Marriage Post
One of the chief reasons why more and more Americans support the rights of same-sex couples? More Americans know gay and lesbian people....
The Stranger • May 4, 2009
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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
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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
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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
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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
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What She Said
Lurleen dismantles the false witness (and witnesses) in NOM's ad in this comments thread......
The Stranger • Apr 8, 2009
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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
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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
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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
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Deceptive Ads on Domestic Partnerships
Conservatives often claim that they don't oppose granting equal rights to gay couples; they want to preserve the institution of marriage. Well, this bill would preserve "marriage." So these ads--this fight--isn't about protecting their sacred word or their unions: They're blatantly fighting to deny equal rights....
The Stranger • Mar 7, 2009
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Bible Thumpers Threaten Domestic Partnership Bill
What needs to happen? Supporters of domestic partnership who live in swing districts--i.e., outside of Seattle--need to make personal contact with their senator and representatives. Tell them about how your same-sex relationship is lovely and you support domestic partnership rights, or say that you want your lesbian daughter to have the same rights as your straight son (or whatever is personal to ...
The Stranger • Mar 6, 2009
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Wait, Wait, Don't Marry Me: How to Stop Worrying and Love Domestic Partnerships
"We need four things to move the marriage bill," said Josh Friedes, advocacy director for Equal Rights Washington. "A house that will pass the bill, a senate that will pass the bill, a governor who will sign the bill, and an electorate that will protect the bill when it goes up for referendum" (meaning a popular vote to repeal the bill). "What we do not have right now is certainty about the electo...
The Stranger • Feb 5, 2009
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The Withering Rural Resistance
"We have to celebrate that we can look at these terrible bills, which would have made us drop everything a few years ago to work to defeat, and now we can just look them and say "Ah, it's ridiculous they still think they can stop the march of progress and will of the poeple,'" says Equal Rights Washington spokesman Josh Friedes....
The Stranger • Feb 4, 2009
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Quite a Reach
This is the GOP's new position on gay rights: We will "reach out" to you, meaning "we will chat amiably with you about our efforts to deny you your rights." Michael Steele will use the word "gay" in the same sentence with the phrase "reach out." John McCain will go on Ellen and tell Ellen that he wishes her and Portia every happiness. But he wants to ban same-sex marriage, of course, so he's wishi...
The Stranger • Feb 2, 2009
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Third Increment's the Charm
What has struck Murray--a veteran of Olympia's pitched battles over gay rights--is how little opposition there is to completing Washington state's domestic partnership law.
"The most remarkable thing is how unremarkable this is," said Murray. "We're not having a culture war down here about domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian families. Even two years ago, three sessions ago, domestic partner...
The Stranger • Jan 29, 2009
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Pro-Gay Family Ads Rejected by Los Angeles ABC Affiliate
Apparently, some families need to be protected from the sight of other families....
The Stranger • Jan 22, 2009
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HBO Blames Obama, Obama Blames HBO
...sound and video were cut as Robinson approached the microphone yesterday. Only folks at the very front, right up against the Lincoln Memorial, heard Robinson speak.
And I could give a shit about prayers, or Robinson frankly. What matters here is that the Obama crowd really stepped in it with the Warren invite......
The Stranger • Jan 19, 2009
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Permission To Get Upset?
I don't see how straight Americans can recognize themselves in gay Americans if they're not allowed to see us, I don't see how this inauguration brings us all together if gay Americans are edited out of the festivities....
The Stranger • Jan 18, 2009
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All Protests Are Valuable Except for the Ones That Aren't
If ERW wants the event to be a success--or even avoid a spectacular embarrassment--then ERW needs to plan it, or provide the resources to make sure it's not a flop. Likewise, the national organizer, Jointheimpact.com, needs to make sure the groups that volunteer to produce a protest know how to make the event a success. The function of a march and rally is to demonstrate the movement's gravity in ...
The Stranger • Jan 10, 2009
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This Just In
Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern of "gay people are the biggest threat to America" infamy now has a twitter account....
The Stranger • Jan 5, 2009
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Diminishing Impact
Except for a small handful of protest junkies--constantly mistaking means for ends--marching isn't enough and it's not the point. People want visible results, observable change. Results, even if they're incremental, gives 'em--what's that word again? Oh, yeah: hope....
The Stranger • Dec 23, 2008
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Why Are Mormons So Fucking Homophobic?
Because, Alice Dreger argues, the Mormon "lifestyle" pumps out more gay boys while the Mormon religion pumps those gay boys full of self-hatred....
The Stranger • Dec 4, 2008
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Today in Traditional Marriage
...the courts have declared that marriage is so fundamental a right that it cannot be denied to convicted rapists or to serial killers. But it's a right that's denied to me and my boyfriend. Because we're both men and that ain't right....
The Stranger • Dec 2, 2008
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Speaking of the Utter Incompetence of the "No on 8" Campaign...
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The Stranger • Nov 26, 2008
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The "No on Prop 8" Campaign, Race, and Responsibility
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The Stranger • Nov 26, 2008
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Gay-jà Vu: The Political Lessons of Milk
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The Stranger • Nov 26, 2008
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Prop 8 supporters, opponents face off
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The Stranger • Nov 19, 2008
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