Now on to this week’s Gay Marriage Watch. The blog is now organized almost entirely by area, with news of the week, upcoming marriage equality events, and great recent articles and columns. For a longer history of past news stories, just click on one of the older Gay Marriage Watch blogs from our archives.

To subscribe to this blog, or if you have any thoughts about how we can make this feature better or easier to use or any updates on the issues covered here, let me know at info@purpleunions.com.

–Scott

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CHILE:

–news–>

2/14: Santiago’s Plaza de Armas was the setting of something never before seen in Chile: a mass wedding for the country’s sexual minorities. Source

NIGERIA:

USA:

–news–>

2/16: ABC’s “All My Children” featured daytime’s first lesbian wedding. Source

–articles–>

Is Gay Divorce a Reason Not to Have Gay Marriage? by Lez Get Real Source

Same-sex marriage movement looks to ‘Obamify’, by Joe Garofoli Source

Overcoming the ‘ick’ factor by Diane Silver Source

America must change its views on homosexuality by Andy Source

Abby: Couples separate church, state in marriage, by Dear Abby Source

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USA, CALIFORNIA:

–news–>

2/15: Bill Clinton took a six figure fee to undermine a boycott of Doug Manchester’s San Diego Hyatt on Sunday. Source

2/16: Protesters gathered at California’s State Capitol on Feb. 16, 2009 and rallied against Proposition 8 that banned gay marriage in the November 2008 general election. Source

2/18:

–700 gay rights advocates journeyed to Sacramento to lobby for a pair of resolutions saying that Proposition 8, the ban on same-sex marri
age in California approved by voters in November, was an illegal revision of the state Constitution and should be overturned. Source

–The Assembly Judiciary Committee managed to get its meeting in and passed HR5, by rookie Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco, on a 7-3 vote. Source

–Floor sessions forced the state Senate’s Judiciary Committee to cancel a hearing on SR7, the anti-Prop. 8 resolution by San Francisco’s Mark Leno. Source

–In an effort to build public support for marriage equality, the “I Do” education campaign was launched last weekend to start conversations among family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors about why same-sex couples should have equal rights. Source

–upcoming events–>

2/25: Family Law Conference, San Francisco, CA, February 2009 co-sponsored by: Legal Aid Association of California & Administrative Office of the Courts, San Francisco More Info

2/25-2/29: One Struggle One Fight’s march from San Francisco to Sacramento More Info

2/26: 6:30-9 PM, A Town Hall-style meeting addressing what went wrong with Prop 8, at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco. More Info

3/3: Laguna Beach’s anti-gay marriage supporters are planning a rally outside the city council to protest the city’s support of the lawsuit against Prop 8, Laguna Beach. More Info

3/4: March Forth on March 4th – A Candlelight Vigil for True Equality, Sacramento More Info

3/4: March Forth on March 4th – Gather at Olvera Street in Downtown from 5-7pm for vigil program, recommittment ceremoney and speakers, walk to CA Supreme Court (Ronald Reagan Building 300 South Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90013) at 8:00pm for moment of silence, Los Angeles More Info

3/4: March Forth on March 4th – 7:00 p.m. at 1010 10th Street in Downtown Modesto. Walk to the CourtHouse. Walk kicks off at 7:15ish. Rally at the Courthouse at 7:30 p.m, Modesto More Info

3/4: March Forth on March 4th – San Diego will have a community rally with speakers and singing converging on the Hall of Justice at 330 W Broadway, San Diego CA 92101 from 4-6pm .  A candle light vigil will then line the streets of Downtown San Diego Starting at 6pm, San Diego More Info

3/4: March Forth on March 4th – Gather at Market and Castro from 5-6pm for pre-march rally, step off at 6pm, arrive at CA Supreme Court (Civic Center) at 6:30pm for short program. San Francisco More Info

3/4: March Forth on March 4th – 6:00pm meet at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 2737 Pacific Ave Stockton, CA 95204 (209) 466-7743, Stockton More Info

3/5: The state Supreme Court has scheduled a March 5 hearing date for oral arguments in a series of lawsuits seeking to overturn Proposition 8, San Francisco. More Info

3/13: Movie for Equality, Los Angeles More Info

3/15: Dining Out for Equality, West Hollywood More Info

4/20: Queer Youth Advocacy Day, State Capitol, Sacramento More Info

5/16-5/17: Long Beach Pride More Info

5/30: Statewide Rally at Capitol Building to Kick off Pride, Sacramento, More Info

6/12-6/14: Los Angeles Pride More Info

6/27-6/28: San Francisco Pride More Info

7/18-7/19: San Diego Pride More Info

11/7-11/8: Palm Springs Pride More Info

–articles–>

How Constitutional is Proposition 8? by Mengfei Chen Source

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USA, COLORADO:

–news–>

2/17: A House committee yesterday backed legislation that would make it easier for unmarried couples to make end-of-life and estate planning decisions for each other. Source

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USA, FLORIDA:

–news–>

2/20: The School Board of Nassau County has come under fire for prohibiting gay-straight alliances at Yulee High School and Yulee Middle School. Source

–upcoming events–>

3/16: Rally in Tally: 11 am-2 pm, Tallahassee More Info

USA, HAWAII:

–news–>

2/18: House lawmakers voted 33 to 17 on the measure that could put Hawaii alongside just three other states that allow the legal unions. Source

–articles–>

The hate debate, by Adrienne LaFrance Source

Ex-judge proud of stance on gays, by Ken Kobayashi Source

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USA, ILLINOIS:

–news–>

2/14: Over 300 Chicago activists for lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual (LGBT) civil rights celebrated Valentine’s Day this year with a loud, spirited picket of the Cook County Marriage License Bureau in protest of the state’s same-sex marriage ban. Source

2/20: An openly gay Illinois state representative, Greg Harris (D-Chicago), has authored and introduced legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry in that state. Source

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USA, MAINE:

–news–>

2/15: An estimated 1,000 people gathered Sunday for the Stand for Marriage Rally, an anti gay marriage rally, at the Augusta Civic Center. Source

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2/19: Senator Benjamin B. Downing is spearheading an effort to protect transgender residents under the state’s hate crime statutes. Source

–upcoming events–>

3/8: 4-7 PM, GLAD Winter Party – Join us to hear about the next chapter in our fight for marriage equality! More Info

3/13: Beyond (Straight and Gay) Marriage: Valuing All Families Under the Law, with Nancy Polikoff, Boston More Info

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USA, MICHIGAN

–news–>

2/20: Michigan courts can oversee a custody dispute between lesbian parents who adopted in Illinois even though Michigan doesn’t formally recognize gay relationships, the state Court of Appeals said Friday. Source

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USA, NEW JERSEY

–news–>

2/19: A new poll of registered voters in New Jersey finds there is a 10 point spread in favor of same-sex marriage. The survey, by Monmouth University for Gannett newspapers, found 50 percent of voters support marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples, while 40 percent said they were opposed. Source

–upcoming events–>

2/28: Garden State Equality’s 2009 Legends Dinner will include Andrea McArdle, the original Annie who has done sold-out concerts across the world, Fran Drescher, Ugly Betty’s Judith Light, Star Trek’s George Takei, Queer As Folk’s Michelle Clunie, Hairspray’s Marc Shaiman, Movin’ Out’s Miche Braden, public service legends Jeannine LaRue, Steve Rothman and Christine Quinn in an evening you’ll never forget. Source

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USA, NEW YORK:

–news–>

2/17: The Ulster County Legislature last week rejected by a vote of 24-5 a proposal to extend county health insurance to the unmarried partners of heterosexual county employees. Source

–upcoming events–>

2/24: Weddings, Civil Unions, Love and Politics: The LGBTQ Community and Marriage Rights? A diversity, dialogue, and desserts event at Hofstra University, Long Island, More Info

5/9: 7:30pm, Off Center will present “Are We Tying the Knot Too Tight?: Gains and Losses in the Rush to Normalcy.” This moderated panel will address some of the issues the LGBT community faces when dealing with whether and how to support the movement for same-sex marriage, New York More Info

9/9: Family Law Day, In Conjunction with Lavender Law 2009, Brooklyn, NY, Co-sponsored by the National Lesbian & Gay Law Association and the National Family Law Advisory Council of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Brooklyn More Info

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USA, OHIO:

–news–>

2/18: Presbyterian church leaders from central and southern Ohio have approved the idea of clergy members who are in same-sex relationships. Source

2/19: After failing in their effort to abort a gay partner registry from taking effect, a group of ministers in Cleveland say they are resolved to ending it. Source

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USA, TENNESSEE:

–news–>

2/20: A controversial ad is calling on West Virginia lawmakers to take immediate action and amend the Constitution to rule out same-sex marriage. Source

–upcoming events–>

3/1: Anti-gay marriage groups are organizing churches for a rally. More Info

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USA, UTAH:

–news–>

2/17:

–Utahns opening their Sunday editions of The Salt Lake Tribune or the Deseret Morning News were shocked to discover a full-page ad, created by the group America Forever, imploring them to “Stand Up & Stop the Homosexual Movement”. Source

–Salt Lake County will again take up the issue of benefits for domestic partners with a proposal that would grant health benefits to domestic partners and live-in adults. Source

2/18:

–A bill that would have offered unmarried couples – straight or gay – inheritance rights and the power to make medical decisions when the other partner is incapacitated, Wednesday in the legislature. It was the fifth defeat for a group of bills called the Common Ground Initiative that would have expanded LGBT civil rights in Utah. Source

–Defending his wife’s $100,000 gift for California’s anti-gay marriage Prop. 8, Robert Garff, of the Ken Garff car dealerships, said: “We do believe in the proposition of marriage as being between a man and a female. … But we reserve the rights of others to believe and act as they wish. … We want our friends who are gay to know that we respect them.” Source

2/20: Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, was kicked off a judicial committee he chaired after he drew criticism for comparing gay activists to radical Muslims in an interview aired this week. Source

–articles–>

What’s Up, Utah? by Marty Davis Source

Regarding Queer Issues by Jennifer Henke Source

———————————————–

fini

Gay Marriage Watch:

Now on to this week’s Gay Marriage Watch. The blog is now organized almost entirely by area, with news of the week, upcoming marriage equality events, and great recent articles and columns. For a longer history of past news stories, just click on one of the older Gay Marriage Watch blogs from our archives.

To subscribe to this blog, or if you have any thoughts about how we can make this feature better or easier to use or any updates on the issues covered here, let me know at info@purpleunions.com.

–Scott

———————————————-

———————————————-

CANADA:

–news–>

2/2: The bishops of the diocese of Toronto are proposing that “a limited number of parishes” be given episcopal permission to offer prayers and blessing “but not the nuptial blessing” to same-sex couples “in stable, long-term, committed relationships.” Source

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———————————————-

NIGERIA:

–news–>

2/2: Lawmakers in Nigeria are being urged to reject a bill in the Assembly that stretches beyond defining marriage as a heterosexual union to crimi
nalizing gay unions. Source

———————————————-

———————————————-

USA:

–news–>

1/30: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey signaled action, ambition and inclusion in her “State of the Movement” speech at the 21st annual Creating Change conference in Denver on Friday. Source

2/2:

–The Human Rights Campaign Foundation released a comprehensive state-by-state report detailing LGBT-related legislation in 2008 and what is expected for 2009. Source

–Presbyterian churches are voting over the next few months on a resolution to allow the ordination of gay clergy in the church. Source

2/3:

–The Republican Party will continue to support a gay marriage banaccording to Michael Steele, the new party chairman. Source

–USA Network, the most-viewed cable channel during primetime last year, has launched a public affairs campaign that backs gay marriage and asks viewers to go online and sign a tolerance pledge. Source

2/6:

–ABC’s All My Children is planning to walk down the aisle on February 13th and 16th with a wedding to remember, the first gay nuptials in daytime television’s history. Source

–The Episcopal Church is considering blessing same-gender relationships, especially in states that grant some legal status to those relationships. Source

2/7:

–Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is one of the first in Hollywood to start wearing a white ribbon as a show of same-sex solidarity. Source

–Gay and lesbian spouses of federal employees are entitled to receive the same health coverage and other benefits as traditional straight couples, a federal judge ruled. Source

–upcoming events–>

2/12: On National Freedom to Marry Day, Thursday, February 12, 2009, at local marriage counters in cities all over the country, same-sex couples will request marriage licenses at their local County Clerk’s Offices to raise awareness of the harms and impact that the inability to marry causes on their families. More Info

2/13: Every college campus in the USA and beyond leave your classes but show up to school! We will all together express our desire to support equality for all humans. More Info (Facebook Login Required)

Legislators Rush To The Gay Marriage Altar, by Carlos Santoscoy Source

Shutting the closet door to gay rights, by Dallas Harris Source

Religious interference with state ballot proposals, by Bob Ciaffone Source

Satire: The Case for Banning Heterosexual Marriage, by Diana Hartman Source

———————————————-

USA, CALIFORNIA:

–news–>

1/31: About 40 members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus received a warm welcome at their Saturday sing-out at the Vallejo farmers market. Source

2/3:

–The Sacramento City Council voted Tuesday afternoon to join other California cities in supporting the position that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. Source

–The California Supreme Court announced that it will hear oral arguments on the legality of the state’s gay marriage ban on March 5. Source

2/4: Acting on advice from the National Football League, a Los Angeles TV station refused to run an ad promoting same-sex marriage during the Super Bowl. Source

–upcoming events–>

2/14: Help a Sister Out benefit for lesbian Richmond rape victim – Sacramento More Info

2/16: Huge Statewide Rally at State Capitol Building, Sacramento More Info

2/17: 2009 Marriage Lobby Day in Sacramento More Info

2/25-2/29: One Struggle One Fight’s march from San Francisco to Sacramento More Info

3/5: The state Supreme Court has scheduled a March 5 hearing date for oral arguments in a series of lawsuits seeking to overturn Proposition 8. Source

4/20: Queer Youth Advocacy Day, State Capitol, Sacramento More Info

5/30: Statewide Rally at Capitol Building to Kick off Pride, Sacramento, More Info

–articles–>

Same-sex marriage in the hands of seven justices, by Brent Begin Source

Bans on same-sex marriage won’t stand, expert says, by Dante Mozie Source

Bans on same-sex marriage won’t stand, expert says, by Dante Mozie

Life after 8 – one mom’s thoughts on family, by Amanda8 Source

———————————————-

USA, COLORADO:

–news–>

2/3: New information released this week by the California Secretary of State shows that Focus on the Family gave $657,000 in money and services to support a 2008 California ballot initiative against a court ruling allowing gay marriage. Source

2/5: A state Senate committee in Colorado is facing opposition to a new plan to extend health insurance benefits to the gay and lesbian partners of state employees from Focus on the Family. Source

———————————————-

USA, FLORIDA:

–news–>

2/3: The Florida Bar’s board of governors voted unanimously to file an amicus brief before the 3rd District Court of Appeal supporting a Miami-Dade circuit judge’s ruling that declared unconstitutional the state’s ban on gay adoptions. Source

2/5: Organizers of Winter Pride Tampa Bay this week canceled its annual gay festival, saying they were unable to raise enough money for the event. Source

2/6: A gay woman not allowed to visit her dying partner at Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2007 hopes a federal judge will allow her claims of emotional distress and negligence to go to trial. Source

–upcoming events–>

3/16: Rally in Tally: 11 am-2 pm, Tallahassee More Info

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USA, HAWAII:

–news–>

2/2: The Hawaii Legislature will hear a bill on 2/5 that would
permit gay civil unions. Source

–articles–>

Civil Unions Reawaken Gay Marriage Divisions, by Gina Mangieri Source

———————————————

USA, IOWA:

–news–>

2/3: The Sioux City Council has gone on record as backing the definition of marriage as solely between a man and a woman. Source

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USA, LOUISIANA:

–news–>

2/5: A gay advocacy group says it fears Louisiana’s marriage and family commission, which met for the first time Thursday, would work to restrict gay and lesbian rights to adopt children. Source

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USA, MAINE:

–events–>

2/15: The Family Research Council, based in Washington, D.C., has organized a Stand for Marriage Rally from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Augusta Civic Center. Source

–articles–>

Gay marriage supporters, opponents ready for fight, by Judy Harrison Source

———————————————–

USA, MARYLAND:

–news–>

2/3:

–Gov. Martin O’Malley has proposed extending health care benefits to same-sex partners of state employees, fulfilling a campaign promise to gay-rights activists despite this year’s strapped budget. Source

–State Senator Bryan Simonaire (R-Dis.t 31) says he will support moving the repeal of the death penalty out of committee, where it has been stalled for the past couple of years, if the committee also moves a constitutional ban on gay marriage out of committee. Source

———————————————–

USA, MASSACHUSETTS:

–news–>

2/3: A lesbian couple who led the fight for gay marriage in Massachusetts has filed for divorce. Source

2/4: The Massachusetts legislature is considering a number of gay rights bills, including a transgender civil rights bill, bullying prevention, LGBT elder issues, pension benefits, and codifying the Goodridge decision into the Massachusetts General Laws. Source

———————————————–

USA, MICHIGAN

–news–>

–2/4: John Corvino and Glenn Stanton debated gay marriage in front of about 150 Saginaw Valley State University students and faculty. Source

–articles–>

Marriage equality most important in states like Michigan, from Pride Source Source

———————————————–

USA, NEW HAMPSHIRE

–news–>

2/4: Laws to repeal civil unions and ban gay marriage and to legalize gay marriage will be on the docket in hearings before the House Judiciary Committee on 2/5. Source

2/6: The U.S. Episcopal Church’s first openly gay bishop is supporting a bill to allow same-sex marriage in New Hampshire. Source

———————————————–

USA, NEW JERSEY

–news–>

2/6: Gay marriages performed o
utside New Jersey are recognized in the state for the purpose of divorce, according to a ruling Friday by a judge deciding whether a lesbian couple married in Canada can split. Source

–events–>

2/28: Garden State Equality’s 2009 Legends Dinner will include Andrea McArdle, the original Annie who has done sold-out concerts across the world, Fran Drescher, Ugly Betty’s Judith Light, Star Trek’s George Takei, Queer As Folk’s Michelle Clunie, Hairspray’s Marc Shaiman, Movin’ Out’s Miche Braden, public service legends Jeannine LaRue, Steve Rothman and Christine Quinn in an evening you’ll never forget. Source

———————————————–

USA, NEW MEXICO:

–news–>

2/3: A domestic partnership bill on Monday fell short of the votes it needed to clear a state Senate committee. Source

———————————————–

USA, NEW YORK:

–news–>

2/4:

–Artist Maureen Mullarkey, known in the gay community for paintings depicting drag queens and scenes inspired by gay pride parades, doated $1,000 to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. Source

–Recognizing the validity of a same-sex marriage between New Yorkers contracted in Canada, a Manhattan surrogate has ruled that a man is entitled to inherit the entire estate of his deceased male partner. Source

2/6: A reader who lives in Sen. John Flanagan’s district (2nd SD, Long Island) reported that he received a phone call at home earlier this week from a pollster seeking his opinion on gay marriage and the Republican lawmaker. Source

–articles–>

Gay Marriage In New York Unlikely in ’09 or ’10, by Ryan J. Davis Source

———————————————–

USA, OHIO:

–news–>

2/2: Clergy at a church are protesting Ohio’s ban on gay marriage by refusing to sign state marriage licenses for heterosexual couples. Source

USA, TENNESSEE:

–news–>

2/4: A new bill, SB 0078, filed by State Senator Paul Stanley (R-Memphis) would dictate: “a minor may not be adopted if the individual seeking to adopt is cohabiting outside of a marriage that is valid under the constitution and laws of this state.” Source

———————————————-

USA, UTAH:

–news–>

2/2: The Mormon church has revealed in a campaign filing that the church spent nearly $190,000 to help pass Proposition 8, the November ballot measure that banned gay marriage in California. Source

2/6:

–Hundreds gathered at Thanksgiving Point to hear the presentations from the conservative think tank against gay rights and gay marriage. Source

–A Utah lawmaker has decided not to try and change Utah’s Constitutional Amendment 3, which states that marriage is between a man and a woman. Source

–articles–>

Legal experts question gay-rights foes’ fears, by Rosemary Winters Source

–articles–>

Time to approve marriage equality, by Nan Dubin & Tony Masuck Source

———————————————–

USA, WASHINGTON:

–news–>

2/5: In Olympia, the House held hearings on a bill to create domestic partnerships in the state. Source

–articles–>

Same-sex couples seek more rights, by Ashley Mitchell Source

Gay marriage, the incremental approach, by CR Douglas Source

———————————————-

USA, WYOMING:

–news–>

2/6: The Wyoming House of Representatives voted down a bill on Friday that would have allowed state voters to decide whether to amend the state constitution to deny state recognition of same-sex marriages. Source

–articles–>

Let gay couples marry, by Chris Bacon Source

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fini