March, 2009

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Gay Marriage Watch: March 22nd-March 28th

Sunday, March 29th, 2009

Here’s the latest news on gay marriage from around the world. My favorite thing of the week? One Struggle One March’s march from San Francisco to Sacramento to fight Prop 8 – see their blog here. Congrats to these great folks taking so much time to fight for our marriage equality rights.

Hero of the Week:

My hero this week – 17 year old James Neiley, who testified on behalf of a gay marriage bill working its way through the Vermont legislature:

“Without marriage equality, the boys in the locker room during gym class who harassed me are encouraged to believe that my sexuality means there is something different, wrong, and lesser about me,” he said. “They know I don’t have the same rights as they do, and they know I can’t have a big, tacky, expensive wedding filled with family and friends no matter how much I may want to.”

Way to go, James!

Woody Award:

Our woody award this week goes to David R. Usher, a sad closet case who claims “having been invited to a few gay parties”, and bases his knowledge of all gay people on these experiences. Because straight folks never have sex parties. And if they did, they should surely never be judged as a group based on the behavior of a few. Right?

Mister Usher’s article is titled “Being Queer is a Sexual Disorder”, and he apparently knows better than the American Psychological Association of what he speaks. He compares being gay to “crack, heroine, and other mood-altering addictive substances”, and says we don’t teach “crack studies” and “smoker’s rights” in schools.

This article is a real gold mine. Check out this little quote: “The (AIDS) epidemic is spreading into the heterosexual community at an alarming pace, most likely enhanced by swinging lesbians.” Swinging lesbians? Really?

Mister Usher wraps up his little hate fest by demanding that “States should quickly enact health laws making homosexuality illegal and sending those who insist on practicing it into sexual addiction recovery programs until they get well.”

Enjoy your woody, Mister Usher – it sounds like you really need one.

Runner-up goes to Timothy Kane, a middle school teacher who sent a rather hateful email to two gay CT legislators over proposed legislation that would affect Catholic Parishes:

“Hey McDonald and Lawlor, your bill has NO shot of passing tomorrow, and you’re cowards for canceling a public hearing. Gay marriage is a farce, as are your careers and your support of the twisted, despicable act that is homosexuality. The first admenment (sic) outlaws this bill, and if needed, the U.S. Supreme Court would overwhelmingly outlaw S.B. 1098. You better hope that myself and other Catholics don’t find out where you live, cause there’s hell to pay for your attack on the church. F*** off. God hates gay sex.”

Lovely Christian attitude, huh? For his troubles, Mister Kane has been ordered into mental health evaluation, and a restraining order has been placed against him. No woody for you!

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.

Enjoy the rest of the Watch!

–Scott

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AUSTRALIA:

–news–>

3/24: Same-sex couples claiming benefits and welfare payments have three months to voluntarily register their relationships with Centrelink. Source

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JAPAN:

–articles–>

3/27: Japan has given the green light for its nationals to marry same-sex foreign partners in countries where gay marriage is legal, a justice ministry official said Friday. Source

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UNITED KINGDOM:

–news–>

3/24: Britain’s Queen Mother’s former home has refused to allow gay couples to marry on its premises. Source

–upcoming events–>

10/4: Cardiff: Gay wedding show. More Info

10/18: Manchester: Gay wedding show. More Info

11/15: Brighton: Gay wedding show. More Info

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USA:

–news–>

3/24:

–World Net Daily “broke” the story that the online version of the Game of Life allows two women (or two men) to marry. Source

–John McCain’s daughter Meghan McCain says she supports gay marriage. Source

3/25:

–Sen. John Kerry has sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder asking him to grant asylum to a Brazilian gay man who’s married to an American man still living in Massachusetts where they wed. Source

–The American Family Association and PFOX (an “ex-gay” group) are calling for a boycott of PepsiCo over a donation given to PFLAG. Source

3/27: Steve Schmidt, who was John McCain’s chief political strategist during the campaign, came out in favor of marriage rights for same-sex couples and called for the Republican Party to be more inclusive of gays and lesbians. Source

3/28: More than 12 years after voting in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act while a member of the US House of Representatives, New York Senator Charles Schumer has concluded that law must go and that same-sex couples should be given the right to marry. Source

–upcoming events–>

4/15: Same Sex Kiss Day: Show up at a Starbucks on Tax Day at 7:15 AM, 12:15 PM, 5:15 PM, or 8:15 PM , buy a cuppa joe, then share a kiss with your sweetie, or a friend, or even a long-time crush! More Info

6/28: Million Gay March: Annual event on the 40th anniversary of Stonewall in all 50 states. More Info

Day of Decision: Rallies country-wide on the day of the CA Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. More Info

–articles–>

At tax time, gays are second-class citizens, by Drew Wilson Source

A Ban On Mormon Marriage And Their “Religious Fascism”!, by Michael Musto Source

Congress Prepares To Tackle Gay Rights, by Carlos Santoscoy Source

Gay marriage effort shifts back to New England, by John Curran Source

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USA, ARIZONA:

–news–>

3/28: The first annual March for Equality was held in Casa Grande, AZ. Source

–upcoming events–>

6/27-6/29: Driving Equality Arizona, 12 AM 6/27 to 11 AM 6/29. Contact Email

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USA, ARKANSAS:

–news–>

3/26: An Arkansas judge says a lawsuit can go forward challenging the state’s ban on unmarried couples adopting children. Source

3/27: A bill banning cities and counties from creating domestic partner registries has failed before a House Committee. Source

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USA, CALIFORNIA:

–news–>

3/23: Yes on 8 proponentshave officially filed suit, challenging the state’s campaign-finance reporting rules, claiming widespread harassment and intimidation. Source

3/24: A journey of 100 miles by foot, from Berkeley to the state capitol, began Wednesday morning by supporters of same sex marriage. Marchers say they’re prepared for a backlash from voters who helped push through Proposition 8. Source

3/25: Several organizations and churches have banded together to form Equality Inland Empire, which members say is the first broad-based gay political coalition in the Inland area. Source

3/26: Newly elected San Diego Assemblyman Marty Block, who has a long history of support for gay rights issues, is facing the ire of gays and lesbians over his failure to vote on a legislative resolution condemning Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage. Source

3/28: On April 14, the St. Helena city council will discuss a resolution stating that “the City does not support discrimination and finds that all people regardless of gender should be able to enter into the legal contract of marriage and receive the same social and legal benefits and recognition as conferred by the State of California.” Source

–upcoming events–>

3/29: Sacramento: Courage Campaign voter canvassing, 2 PM. More Info

3/29: San Francisco: Courage Campaign voter canvassing, 2:30 PM. More Info

3/29: Fresno: Courage Campaign voter canvassing, 3:15 PM. More Info

3/29: Hollywood: Courage Campaign voter canvassing, 4:30 PM. More Info

3/29: San Francisco: The hear+art proposition will close this historic month with an afternoon of art, story, and performance given by folks who are engaged in either honoring or questioning traditional notions of love, union, sexuality and intimacy, 4-9 PM, 111 Minna Gallery. More Info

3/30: Sacramento: One Struggle One Fight rally at the California Capitor Building, 2-5 PM. Source

3/30: Cameron Park: First meeting of Marriage Equality USA – El Dorado County Chapter, at the Cameron Park library at 6:30 PM. Contact Email

4/1: Los Angeles: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center. More Info

4/2: San Diego: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at the San Diego LGBT Community Center. More Info

4/3: Palm Springs: At this special reception, contact elected officials about LGBT supportive legislation while having fun before Margaret Cho’s show opens at the Dinah! 5:30 to 7:30 p.m, Sidebar and Patio Lounge. Contact Email

4/3: Placerville: An Evening with Blame Sally, A Concert to Benefit Equality California, Come Celebrate & Support Marriage Equality. 8 PM, Placerville Shakespeare Club. More Info

4/4: Alameda: Courage Campaign voter canvassing, 1 PM. More Info

4/4: Palm Springs: EQCA/NCLR Dinah Brunch, Join Kate Kendell and Geoff Kors at Dinah Shore for our annual brunch, 11 am-1 pm. $100. RSVP Email

4/4: Berkeley: Case Study: Marriage Equality, UC Berkeley, 3 PM. More Info

4/4: Mountain View: Courage Campaign voter canvassing, 1-5 PM. More Info

4/4: Irvine: Courage campaign voter canvassing, 10 AM-2 PM. More Info

4/4: Venice: ‘Marriage Equality’ Voter ID Walk, 9:30 AM. More Info

4/5: Delano: Courage Campaign march for immigrant rights – bridge building with the immigrant community. 10 AM at Cesar Chavez P
ark. More Info

4/5: South Los Angeles: West Adams/South Los Angeles Equality Team Kickoff, 2:00 PM. More Info

4/9: Santa Barbara: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at Pacific Pride Foundation. More Info

4/14: St. Helena: On April 14, the city council will discuss a resolution stating that “the City does not support discrimination and finds that all people regardless of gender should be able to enter into the legal contract of marriage and receive the same social and legal benefits and recognition as conferred by the State of California.” More Info

4/16: Fresno: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at the Fresno City College Diversity Club. More Info

4/16: San Francisco: A Necessary Evil (Special Presentation), A new play by John Fisher, a mother and son in a battle of wills, a lover caught in between. a play about how Proposition 8 threatens to destroy one family, at Theater Rhinoceros, 8-10 PM. More Info

4/17-4/20: Sacramento: GAYLA (GSA Advocacy & Youth Leadership Academy) will take place in Sacramento from April 17th to April 19th, culminating in QYAD (Queer Youth Advocacy Day) on April 20th. More Info

4/8: Dana Point: OC Equality Team Canvass, 10 AM. More Info

4/18: Oakdale: Wine Tasting Fundraiser for Marriage Equality USA: Savor a hand-picked selection of wines from Gnekow Family Winery, and enjoy the picturesque estate of vintner Sean Gnekow. Come prepared for a delectable menu and a generous silent auction. 2-5 PM. More Info

4/18-4/19: San Diego: The Human Rights Campaign is sponsoring a two-day training to provide grassroots activists hands-on skills to organize their communities on marriage equality for same-sex couples. More Info

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

4/21: Sacramento: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at The Center OC. More Info

5/7: Orange County: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at Pacific Pride Foundation. More Info

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

5/18: Sacramento: EQCA Equality Awards at the Sheraton Grand, VOP Reception 5 PM, General Reception 5:30 PM-7 PM. Source

5/22: Statewide: Harvey Milk Day. More Info

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

5/31-6/6: Across California: AIDS Life Cycle – Team Marriage Equality. Contact Email

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

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

7/9-7/19: Los Angeles: Outfest is the oldest continuous film festival in Southern California. Since its founding in 1982, Outfest has presented more than 4,500 films and videos for audiences of over half a million people. More Info

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

8/1: Los Angeles: Equality Awards. More Info

10/17: Palm Springs: Equality Awards More Info

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

Day of Decision: Fresno: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

Day of Decision: Long Beach: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

Day of Decision: Los Angeles/West Hollywood: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

Day of Decision: Rancho Cucamonga: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

Day of Decision: San Diego: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

Day of Decision: San Francisco: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

Every Monday: Fresno: Meet in the Middle 4 Equality Planning Meeting, 6 PM, at the Wesley United Methodist Church. More Info

Every Monday: Los Angeles: LA Equal Roots Meeting. More Info

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USA, CONNECTICUT:

–news–>

3/27: A restraining order has been placed against a local teacher who sent a hate-filled email to two gay CT legislators. Source

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USA, DELAWARE:

–news–>

3/26: Senate Bill 27, which would have reinforced Delaware’s ban on gay marriage, failed in the Senate Thursday. Source

3/27: The Delaware House, for the fourth time, approved a measure that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, employment, public works, contracting, public accommodations and insurance. Source

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USA, FLORIDA:

–news–>

3/25: An initiative in Gainesville, Florida that would have repealed the city’s decade-old gay protections ordinance has failed, 58% to 42%. Source

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USA, GEORGIA:

–upcoming events–>

5/2: Atlanta: Human Rights Campaign’s 2009 Atlanta Gala & Dinner. More Info

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USA, HAWAII:

–news–>

3/26: A procedural motion in the Hawaii Senate fell three votes short of the number required to bring a civil union bill to the floor, killing it. Source

–articles–>

Who won and who lost in battle over civil unions, by Richard Borreca Source

Christians in Hawaii credited for gay civil unions defeat, by Michael Foust Source

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USA, ILLINOIS:

–upcoming events–>

Day of Decision: Chicago: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

–articles–>

Same-sex marriage: At Loyola University, advocates of same-sex marriage find a voice, by Mary Schmich Source

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USA, LOUISIANA:

–news–>

3/25: A federal judge gives Louisiana 15 days to add the names of both fathers to the birth certificate of a boy born in Shreveport and adopted by a same-sex couple from out-of-state. Source

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USA, NEVADA

–news–>

3/27: Nevada lawmakers debated bills dealing with same-sex domestic partners and discrimination based on sexual orientation and “gender identity or expression.” Source

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USA, NEW HAMPSHIRE

–news–>

3/26:

–Colin Manning, a spokesman for New Hampshire Governor John Lynch, hedged on Lynch’s plans regarding a gay marriage bill close to passage in NH. Source

–The New Hampshire House voted on Thursday to send a same-sex marriage bill to the Senate. Source

–articles–>

Same-sex marriage bill would provide equal rights to all, by Rep. Jim Splaine Source

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USA, NEW YORK:

3/26: NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg says that he’s prepared to ask the State Legislature to allow gay marriage in New York State when the time is right. Source

–upcoming events–>

4/24-26: Utica: 2009 Pride and Joy Families Weekend Conference to be held April 24-26. More Info

4/25: Goshen: Rally for Marriage Equality, 2-4 PM at Church Park, Contact Email

4/28: Albany: Equality & Justice Day, 6 am-8 PM, Albany Legislative Buildings Contact Email

5/9: New York: 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. More Info

9/9: Brooklyn: 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. More Info

Day of Decision: Albany: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

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USA, NORTH CAROLINA:

–news–>

3/23: Half of the respondents to the latest Elon University public opinion poll would oppose an amendment to the state constitution banning same-sex marriages, while 43% support a constitutional ban. Source

3/26: The Boone Town Council voiced their opposition to Senate Bill 272 March 19, which would legally define marriage between a man and a woman in North Carolina. The resolution to oppose the bilal passed unanimously. Source

–upcoming events–>

4/9: Durham: city attorney Patrick Baker will present a recommendation on the gay marriage resolution to the council April 9. More Info

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USA, PENNSYLVANIA:

–news–>

3/27: House members are sharply divided over a bill that would outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation, and a legislative battle over the bill could come to a head soon. Source

–upcoming events–>

4/27-5/3: Philadelphia: Equality Forum celebrates international gay culture and politics with parties and educational events made possible by more than 75 regional, national and international organizations. More Info

5/3: Philadelphia: National Equality Rally at Independence Hall More Info

5/15-5/17: New Hope: Pride More Info

6/14: Philadelphia: Pride More Info

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USA, TEXAS:

–upcoming events–>

Day of Decision: Dallas: Queer Liberaction, a local direct action group organized in the wake of Prop 8′s passage last November, is already planning to hold a rally at 7 p.m. at the intersection of Cedar Springs Road and Oak Lawn Avenue on the Day of Decision. , when the CA Supreme Court announces their decision. More Info

Day of Decision: San Antonio: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

Ongoing: Dallas: Queer Liberaction meetings, 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at Buli Cafe, located at 3908 Cedar Springs. Meetings start at 7 pm. More Info

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USA, UTAH:

–news–>

3/27: Utahns are split on the Legislature’s rejection of arguably the most comprehensive push for gay rights in the state’s history, a new Deseret News/KSL-TV poll shows, with 48% opposed to the decisions to strike down each of the bills and 45% in favor. Source

LDS elders showed seasoned political savvy on California’s Prop. 8, by Rebecca Walsh Source

–upcoming events–>

4/4-4/5: Ogden: Leaders in the LGBT community plan an event they are calling “General Service Weekend” during the upcoming general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint – meet at the Utah Pride Center, 361 S. 300 West, or at the Unitarian Church, 705 23rd St. in Ogden, at 10 a.m. both mornings. More Info

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USA, VERMONT:

–news–>

3/26: Gov. Jim Douglas-R has promised to veto a gay marriage bill being considered by the Vermont legislature. Source

3/27: Supporters of the same sex marriage bill are planning a highly visible public campaign over the next two weeks to try to persuade Governor Jim Douglas not to veto their legislation. Source

3/28: Jon Stewart, the iconic media critic and political satirist from television’s “The Daily Show,” had a sold-out crowd howling Saturday night at the University of Vermont’s Patrick Gymnasium — and mined Vermont’s marriage-rights debate for material. Source

–articles–>

The time for marriage equality is now, by Deb Markowitz Source

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USA, W ASHINGTON

–news–>

3/26: Senate Bill 5688 will be considered in an Executive Committee meeting in the House, afterwhich it can move to the floor for a full vote. Source

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USA, W ASHINGTON, DC

–news–>

3/27: An e-mail circulating among the city’s gay-supportive religious leaders says D.C. Council member David Catania (I-At Large) plans to introduce a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in early April. Source

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fini

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Gay Marriage Watch : March 15th-21st

Sunday, March 22nd, 2009

Here’s the latest news on gay marriage from around the world. My favorite thing of the week? This moving essay by Rene Franco, s straight high school student from Providence High School in Burbank, California. I got a lump in my throat reading this, and thinking how far we’ve come since I was in High School in the 80′s.

Mister Franco, you are my hero.

Take Action:

Organize a Day of Decision protest for your city – everyone needs to come out and celebrate (or protest) after the California Supreme Court rules on Prop 8. Find all the info here.

Woody Award:

Our woody award this week goes to Joan Johnson, a letter writer in Hawaii who shares these wonderful sentiments:

“Since they can’t procreate, all kinds of false ways have to be found, including taking other folks’ children by indoctrination to fill their minority ranks.”

Lovely – the old “coming for your children” argument.

“The homosexual lifestyle is miserable, shortens life, and invites disease, loneliness and weirdness.”

I love the last one. Weirdness. As if Disease, sadness and a short lifespan weren’t enough, I gotta worry about weirdness? Why was I never told???

And finally:

“Yes, homosexuals want what the rest of us have, but they have chosen to try to destroy what we have since they have convinced themselves they can’t ever have it rather than admit they need help and change.”

Oh yes, we want what you have… quickie divorces, a 50% failure rate, and hatred of anything new and different. Don’t kid yourself, Miss Johnson – and enjoy your woody.

Gay Marriage Watch:

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.

Enjoy the rest of the Watch!

–Scott

———————————————-

AUSTRALIA:

–articles–>

–Debate over gay marriage heats up, by Rachel Cook Source

———————————————-

CHINA:

–articles–>

–Expert: Chinese society’s demand for marriage may be helping the spread of AIDS, by Xiong Tong Source

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DENMARK:

–articles–>

3/20: Denmark’s Parliament has passed legislation allowing same-sex couples to adopt children. The bill puts gay and lesbian couples on the same footing as opposite-sex couples. Source

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NIGERIA:

–news–>

3/16: A group of gay activists stormed the National Assembly complex in Abuja to demand legislation to protect their interests. Source

3/18: The chief Imam of Damaturu Central Mosque, Ustaz Hudu Muhammad, has chided members of the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Human Rights, Women Affairs and Justice for giving an opportunity to the openly gay people last Wednesday to justify their “gory act” of seeking for a law that would allow same-sex marriage. Source

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UNITED KINGDOM:

–news–>

3/18: The Scottish Parliament was asked yesterday to review the Marriage Act with regard to gay marriage. A request from the Public Petitions committee has asked MSPs to reexamine the act and detail any reasons for refusing to amend it. Source

–upcoming events–>

10/4: Cardiff: Gay wedding show. More Info

10/18: Manchester: Gay wedding show. More Info

11/15: Brighton: Gay wedding show. More Info

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USA:

–news–>

3/16: The recently passed $676-billion omnibus spending bill includes language urging the federal government’s Office of Personnel Management to “consider” federal health benefits for same-sex domestic partners of federal employees. Source

3/16: Even if all of the states in the U.S. legalize same-sex marriage, legal experts and religious leaders at a March 13 forum agreed religions will not be forced to perform gay wedding ceremonies. Source

3/19: The United States, in a reversal of Bush administration policy, has decided to sign on to a U.N. declaration that calls for the decriminalization of homosexuality, the State Department said on Wednesday. Source

3/19: The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today launched a website to confront right-wing lies and distortions repeatedly used to defeat LGBT equality measures. EndtheLies.org will counteract these mistruths with respectful dialogue and grassroots action. Source

3/19: The Uniting American Families Act would allow gay and lesbian Americans and permanent residents to sponsor their foreign-born partners for legal residency in the United States. Source

3/20: M. John Berry, President Barack Obama’s choice to head the Office of Personnel Management, supports benefits for same-sex partners of federal workers and a repeal of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. While his nomination has roused special interest groups, it hasn’t drawn public criticism on Capitol Hill. Berry is openly gay. Source

3/20: Sen. John Kerry has asked Attorney General Eric Holder to grant asylum to a gay man married in Massachusetts who was deported despite his rape in Brazil. Source

3/20: On Tuesday, the conservative site World Net Daily News took Merriam-Webster to task for redefining marriage to include same-sex couples, even though publishers made the change in 2003. Source

–upcoming events–>

6/28: Million Gay March: Annual event on the 40th anniversary of Stonewall in all 50 states. More Info

Day of Decision: Rallies country-wide on the day of the CA Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. More Info

–articles–>

–Catholic bishops revealed as key in marriage battle, by Dan Aiello Source

–Same sex marriage a civil right, by Kevin Welsh Source

–A Push to Count Same-Sex Couples in Census, by Sewell Chan Source

–Courts must act regarding gay marriage, by Estrich Source

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USA, ARIZONA:

–news–>

3/18: A 14-year-old Peoria student says he was ordered by a principal to turn his rainbow wristband inside-out or stop wearing it to school. Source

–upcoming events–>

6/27-6/29: Driving Equality Arizona, 12 AM 6/27 to 11 AM 6/29. Contact Email

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USA, CALIFORNIA:

–news–>

3/16: Copies of an online petition electronically signed by 46,000 people has been hand-delivered to the Washington, DC offices of Kirkland & Ellis where Ken Starr is counsel. Source

3/18: Members of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists are urging the state organization to come out against Proposition 8. Source

3/20: Jam DeMaio, an out gay Republican San Diego City Council member, refuses to answer press questions about whether or not he supports Proposition 8. Source

3/20: Equality California, one of the lead groups in the failed campaign to fight off Prop 8 last year, is trying to remake itself by bringing in Marc Solomon, the executive director of MassEquality, the Massachusetts group that preserved a court decision opening marriage to gay couples from facing a referendum. Source

3/20: Sponsors of a ballot measure to repeal the ban on same sex marriage got the go ahead to start collecting signatures. A group called “Yes on Equality” needs 700,000 signatures by August 17th to get the initiative on the ballot in 2010. The initiative would not only repeal the amendment that defines marriage as only occurring between a man and a woman. It also states that same sex marriage will not affect any school curriculum or force anyone to perform a service that is against their religious beliefs. Source

–upcoming events–>

3/22: Los Angeles: Youth Today: Walking For Equality: This Event is for High School LGBT Youth and Supporters. For Youth by Youth. March Against homophobia, discrimination, abuse, forced homelessness of queer youth and for marriage equality. 12-3 PM, meet at Gold Line Train Station, ent at LA City Hall. More Info

3/23: Courage Campaign hosts a conference call with CA Attorney General Jerry Brown at 7PM. More Info

3/26: San Jose: Courage campaign voter canvassing, 1-5 PM. More Info

3/24: San Francisco: One Struggle, One Fight march from San Francisco to Sacramento kicks off with a rally at San Francisco City Hall, 12:30 PM-1 PM. More Info

3/25-3/29: One Struggle One Fight’s March from San Francisco-Sacramento. Itinerary More Info

3/27-3/29: San Diego: 2009 Transgender Leadership Summit. More Info

3/28: Citrus Heights (Sacramento): Bowling Team to raise money for youth in foster care – building bridges for the glbt community, 1-4:30. Contact Email

3/30: Sacramento: One Struggle One Fight rally at the California Capitor Building, 2-5 PM. Source

3/30: Cameron Park: First meeting of Marriage Equality USA-El Dorado County Chapter, at the Cameron Park library at 6:30 PM. Contact Email

4/1: Los Angeles: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center. More Info

4/2: San Diego: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at the San Diego LGBT Community Center. More Info

4/3: Placerville: An Evening with Blame Sally, A Concert to Benefit Equality California, Come Celebrate & Support Marriage Equality. 8 PM, Placerville Shakespeare Club. More Info

4/4: Palm Springs: EQCA/NCLR Dinah Brunch, Join Kate Kendell and Geoff Kors at Dinah Shore for our annual brunch, 11 am-1 pm. $100. RSVP Email

4/4: Berkeley: Case Study: Marriage Equality, UC Berkeley, 3 PM. More Info

4/4: Mountain View: Courage Campaign voter canvassing, 1-5 PM. More Info

4/4: Irvine: Courage campaign voter canvassing, 10 AM-2 PM. More Info

4/5: Delano: Courage Campaign march for immigrant rights – bridge building with the immigrant community. 10 AM at Cesar Chavez Park. More Info

4/9: Santa Barbara: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at Pacific Pride Foundation. More Info

4/16: Fresno: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at the Fresno City College Diversity Club. More Info

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

4/21: Sacramento: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at The Center OC. More Info

5/7: Orange County: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at Pacific Pride Foundation. More Info

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

5/18: Sacramento: EQCA Equality Awards at the Sheraton Grand, VOP Reception 5 PM, General Reception 5:30 PM-7 PM. Source

5/22: Statewide: Harvey Milk Day. More Info

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

5/31-6/6: Across California: AIDS Life Cycle – Team Marriage Equality. Contact Email

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

8/1: Los Angeles: Equality Awards. More Info

10/17: Palm Springs: Equality Awards More Info

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

Day of Decision: Fresno: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

Day of Decision: Long Beach: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

Day of Decision: Los Angeles/West Hollywood: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

Day of Decision: Rancho Cucamonga: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

Day of Decision: San Diego: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

Day of Decision: San Francisco: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

Every Monday: Los Angeles: LA Equal Roots Meeting. More Info

–articles–>

–We may govern ourselves very unwisely, by Michael Sulluvan Source

–Prop. 8: Tyranny of the Majority, by Byron Williams Source

–If marriage ban is upheld, what–and who–is next?, by Roger Brigham Source

–Winning By Losing On Prop. 8, by Jeff Amestoy Source

———————————————-

USA, CONNECTICUT:

–articles–>

–Holy War, by Andy Bromage Source

———————————————-

USA, DELAWARE:

–news–>

3/20: Sen. Robert Venables, D-Laurel, has scheduled Senate Bill 27, a constitutional amendment that would make heterosexual marriage the only type allowed or recognized by the state, to come before the Senate Small Business Committee. Source

–upcoming events–>

3/25: Dover: Hearing on gay marriage ban scheduled for 1 p.m. on March 25 in the Senate Chambers. More Info

———————————————-

USA, FLORIDA:

–news–>

3/16: About 1,000 people stood under the threat of rain outside the Capitol building in Tallahassee to rally for gay marriage. Source

———————————————

USA, ILLINOIS:

–news–>

–Q and A with lawmaker on gay marriage chances in Illinois, by Dante Mozie Source

–upcoming events–>

Day of Decision: Chicago: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

———————————————

USA, IOWA:

–news–>

3/17: State Reps. Dwayne Alons, R-Hull, and Dolores Mertz, D-Ottosen, have proposed a bill to amend Iowa’s Constitution and define marriage as being between a man and a woman. It was introduced in response to another bill making Iowa’s marriage laws gender neutral by removing the words “husband” and “wife” and replacing them with “spouse.” Source

———————————————

USA, MAINE:

–news–>

3/17: A coalition of clergy members who support gay marriage in Maine attempted to persuade lawmakers at a meeting Tuesday, the day the Senate referred the bill to a committee. Source

–upcoming events–>

3/22: Belfast: “Just Married! (the Musical)” with Jon Arterton and James Mack will be presented 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 22, in the sanctuary of Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller St. Suggested donation is $10, but the sponsors emphasize that that suggestion should not stop anyone who wants to from coming to the show. More Info

———————————————

USA, MARYLAND:

–news–>

3/20: Time is running out for Maryland lawmakers to advance two key bills — one barring anti-transgender discrimination and another enacting marriage rights for same-sex couples. Source

———————————————

USA, MASSACHUSETTS:

–news–>

3/20: Five members of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), an anti-gay church based in Topeka, Kansas, were met with chants of “Hey hey, ho ho, homophobia has got to go,” by a crowd of HLS students who gathered to protest WBC’s message of hate outside Gannett House, the historic home of the Harvard Law Review. Source

———————————————

USA, MINNESOTA:

–news–>

3/17: The Minnesota Family Council kicked off its campaign to get an amendment added to the state constitution to ban any marriage that isn’t between a man and a woman. Source

———————————————

USA, NEVADA

–news–>

3/17: A state Senate bill would provide a level playing field for gay couples and married couples. Source

———————————————

USA, NEW HAMPSHIRE

–news–>

3/19: The House Judiciary Committee voted 10-10 on a bill that would make the state the third one to allow same-sex couples to marry. Source

–upcoming events–>

3/23-3/27: New Hampshire lawmakers will vote next week on two LGBT rights bills – one that would allow same-sex couples to marry and one extending the state’s human rights laws to include protections for transpeople. More Info

———————————————

USA, NEW JERSEY

–news–>

3/19: Garden State Equality Chair Steven Goldstein said he expects legislators will pass a marriage bill this year. Source

le="font-family:verdana">———————————————–

USA, NEW YORK:

–upcoming events–>

4/24-26: Utica: 2009 Pride and Joy Families Weekend Conference to be held April 24-26. More Info

4/25: Goshen: Rally for Marriage Equality, 2-4 PM at Church Park, Contact Email

4/28: Albany: Equality & Justice Day, 6 am-8 PM, Albany Legislative Buildings Contact Email

Day of Decision: Albany: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

———————————————–

USA, NORTH CAROLINA:

–news–>

3/21: Durham City Council has agreed to consider a resolution supporting same-sex marriage. Source

–upcoming events–>

4/9: Durham: city attorney Patrick Baker will present a recommendation on the gay marriage resolution to the council April 9. More Info

———————————————–

USA, PENNSYLVANIA:

–news–>

3/18: Hundreds of people, many waving signs and singing civil-rights-era protest songs, filled the Capitol Rotunda yesterday to call for legislation to end discrimination based on sexual orientation. Source

–upcoming events–>

5/3: Philadelphia: National Equality Rally at Independence Hall More Info

5/15-5/17: New Hope: Pride More Info

6/14: Philadelphia: Pride More Info

———————————————–

USA, TENNESSEE:

–news–>

3/19: Tennessee lawmakers have put off voting on a bill that would bar elementary schools from “any instruction or materials discussing sexual orientation other than heterosexuality.” Source

———————————————–

USA, TEXAS:

–upcoming events–>

3/25: Dallas: Kate Kendall, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, headquartered in California, will be the keynote speaker at the North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce’s fourth anniversary dinner and Business Excellence Awards program. The event, being hosted by Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, 5410 LBJ Freeway, begins with cocktails and networking at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the program from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 for general admission and $65 for chamber members and guests. Source

Day of Decision: Dallas: Queer Liberaction, a local direct action group organized in the wake of Prop 8’s passage last November, is already planning to hold a rally at 7 p.m. at the intersection of Cedar Springs Road and Oak Lawn Avenue on the “Day of Decision.”, when the CA Supreme Court announces their decision. More Info

Day of Decision: San Antonio: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

Ongoing: Dallas: Queer Liberaction meetings, 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at Buli Cafe, located at 3908 Cedar Springs. Meetings start at 7 pm. More Info

———————————————-

USA, UTAH:

–news–>

3/20: A California group is urging election authorities to widen a probe into whether the LDS Church failed to report the full extent of its financial involvement last year in supporting a successful ban on same-sex marriage. Source

———————————————–

USA, VERMONT:

–news–>

3/16: Hundreds of Vermonters flooded the Statehouse to protest legislation that would allow same-sex couples to get married. Source

3/20: A state Senate committee unanimously approved a gay marriage bill on Friday, moving Vermont one step closer to allowing same-sex couples to legally wed. Source

–upcoming events–>

3/23-3/27: The Senate is expected to debate a gay marriage bill next week that could make Vermont the third U.S. state that allows same-sex couples to legally wed. More Info

–articles–>

–Gay Marriage Debate Draw, by Kristin Carlson Source

–Religious Leaders Split On Marriage Bill, WPTZ TV Source

———————————————–

USA, WEST VIRGINIA:

–news–>

3/19: The West Virginia Senate passed a bill banning discrimination in housing or employment based on sexual orientation, with members delivering impassioned speeches on the floor. Source

3/20: The Family Policy Council of West Virginia, a conservative Christian group opposing an LGBT equality bill and pressing for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage has been accused of trying to intimidate two West Virginia lawmakers. Source

———————————————–

fini

Posted in Uncategorized | No Responses »

Gay Marriage Watch: March 8th-14th

Monday, March 16th, 2009

Here’s the latest news on gay marriage from around the world. The big news this week? Civil union/domestic partnership/gay marriage legislation being considered in Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Vermont. While all of these are far from passage, it’s encouraging to see so many states considering gay rights in a positive light.

Take Action:

Wanna make a difference for gay marrisge? Try Same Sex Kiss Day, a nationwide event to highlight glbt inequality on tax day, 4/15:

“Show up at a Starbucks on Tax Day at 7:15 AM, 12:15 PM, 5:15 PM, or 8:15 PM , buy a cuppa joe, then share a kiss with your sweetie, or a friend, or even a long-time crush!”

Woody Award:

Our woody award this week goes to the jerk who carried a sign to the rallies outside the California Supreme Court saying “Dan White Hero Killing a Queer”. This is so far beyond the pale, it’s not even human. Shame on this horrible excuse for a human being who probably calls themselves a Christian.

Can you imagine the uproar if we had held up a sign saying… sayimg… hell, who on their side have we killed in the last 100 years?

Enjoy your woody, idiot.

Our runner-up: The Church of Nigeria, who filed this brief with the parliamentary committee considering a draconian criminalization of gay marriage (where “marriage” is defined as any two guys living together, where the happy couple gets 5 years in jail, and where any “witnesses” also go to jail for a year):

“Same sex marriage, apart from being ungodly, is unscriptural, unnatural, unprofitable, unhealthy, un-cultural, un-African and un-Nigerian. It is a perversion, a deviation and an aberration that is capable of engendering moral and social holocaust in this country. It is also capable of existincting [sic] mankind and as such should never be allowed to take root in Nigeria. Outlawing it is to ensure the continued existence of this nation. The need for doing this is urgent, compelling, and imperative.”

Lovely, huh? No woody for you!

Gay Marriage Watch:

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.

Enjoy the rest of the Watch!

–Scott

———————————————-

CANADA:

–articles–>

The Story About Gay Marriage in Canada: There is No Story, by Kilian Melloy Source

———————————————-

CHILE:

–news–>

Chile: A Sliver of Transformation, by Matthew Link Source

———————————————-

CHINA:

–news–>

China’s Quiet Gay Revolution, by Japhy Grant Source

———————————————-

ISRAEL:

–articles–>

Gay Israeli couple wins adoption, by the AP Source

———————————————-

NIGERIA:

–news–>

3/12: Nigerian human rights groups and gay activists are outraged by a bid to introduce legislation which would criminalise gay marriage, claiming it would violate their fundamental rights. Source

3/13: The Church of Nigeria is urging that a proposed new anti-gay marriage bill be changed to increase the penalty to 5 years, and to include a year in jail for any witnesses to such a union. Source

–articles–>

Homosexuals storm House to oppose Anti-gay Bill, by
James Ojo & Oluwole Akinboyewa Source

———————————————-

UGANDA:

–news–>

3/11: Scott Lively president of “Defend the Family”, a group on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s list of hate groups, is working in Uganda to “to equip Ugandans with information and skills to fight what it calls spiraling promotion of homosexuality in the country.” Source

———————————————-

UNITED KINGDOM:

–upcoming events–>

10/4: Cardiff: Gay wedding show. More Info

10/18: Manchester: Gay wedding show. More Info

11/15: Brighton: Gay wedding show. More Info

———————————————-

USA:

–news–>

3/12: The 2010 Census will not ask respondents about their sexual orientation, and households with same-sex couples married by law must still be defined as “unmarried partners,” reports the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Source

–upcoming events–>

6/28: Annual event on the 40th anniversary of Stonewall in all 50 states. More Info

–articles–>

Christians Attack “Gay Agenda” in PC Game, by Mike Grace Source

Obama Faces Choices Regarding Gay and Lesbian Federal Workers’ Rights, by Kilian Melloy Source

DOMA suit draws praise, criticism, by Joe Siegel Source

The Fight to Let Gay Foreigners Stay In the U.S. With Their Spouses, by David Hauslaib Source

———————————————-

USA, ARKANSAS:

–news–>

3/9: A judge has ruled that that a lawsuit challenging an Arkansas law banning unmarried couples from becoming foster or adoptive parents can proceed - and that the conservative group behind the measure can present arguments in the case. Source

3/13: State Rep. Bryan King introduced a bill to stop the City of Eureka Springs from issuing certificates under its Domestic Partnership Registry. Source

———————————————-

USA, CALIFORNIA:

–news–>

3/9: The San Francisco Archbishhop who invited Mormon involvement in California’s Proposition 8 campaign intervened in the staging of a play with gay themes that had been scheduled for a performance at a Castro district Catholic church. Source

3/9: Reports are surfacing that the No on 8 campaign neglected to use a letter from Barack Obama saying that he was opposed to Prop 8. Source

3/10: A new field poll of 761 registered voters shows 48 percent in favor of a constitutional amendment to allow same-sex marriages, with 47 percent opposing and 5 percent undecided. Source

3/11: A constitutional amendment initiative to replace the word “marriage” with “domestic partnership” under state law was cleared by Secretary of State Debra Bowen to gather petition signatures for a potential statewide ballot. Source

3/12: Republican San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders announced the engagement of his
daughter Lisa and her girlfriend, Meaghan Yaple, at a large rally March 4. Source

–upcoming events–>

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

3/18: Sacramento: Free Seminar for Same Sex Married Couples & Registered Domestic Partners. Sacramento City Hall council chambers, 5:30-9 PM. More Info

3/21: Los Angeles: Always a Bridesmaid… A Rally on Behalf of Marriage Equality, 1-5 PM at LA City Hall. More Info

3/27-3/29: San Diego: 2009 Transgender Leadership Summit. More Info

3/28: Citrus Heights (Sacramento): Bowling Team to raise money for youth in foster care – building bridges for the glbt community, 1-4:30. RSVP Email

3/30: Cameron Park: First meeting of Marriage Equality USA-El Dorado County Chapter, at the Cameron Park library at 6:30 PM. RSVP Email

4/3: Palm Springs: At this special reception, contact elected officials about LGBT supportive legislation while having fun before Margaret Cho s show opens at the Dinah! 5:30 to 7:30 p.m, Sidebar and Patio Lounge. RSVP Email

4/3: Placerville: An Evening with Blame Sally, A Concert to Benefit Equality California, Come Celebrate & Support Marriage Equality. 8 PM, Placerville Shakespeare Club. More Info

4/4: Palm Springs: EQCA/NCLR Dinah Brunch, Join Kate Kendell and Geoff Kors at Dinah Shore for our annual brunch, 11 am-1 pm. $100. RSVP Email

4/4: Berkeley: Case Study: Marriage Equality, UC Berkeley, 3 PM. More Info

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

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

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

8/1: Los Angeles: Equality Awards. More Info

10/7: Palm Springs: Equality Awards More Info

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

–articles–>

Prop. 8 backer claims Chronicle caused hate mail, by Carla Marinucci Source

Sacramento gay man who led straight life now urges others to confront their sexuality, by Ed Fletcher Source

Prop. 8 debate lofty and painful, by Marcos Breton Source

Prop 8 decision has global reach, by Kelvin Lynch Source

Gay, straight – it’s marriage that counts, by Jill Duman Source

———————————————-

USA, COLORADO:

–news–>

3/10: A Colorado House committee voted Tuesday afternoon to approve a bill that would extend health insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners of state employees. Source

———————————————-

USA, CONNECTICUT:

–news–>

3/12: The General Assembly’s judiciary committee is considering a bill that would remove gender references in current state laws and transform same-sex civil unions into legally recognized marriages as of October 2010. The bill was the subject of a committee hearing Friday. Source

———————————————-

USA, FLORIDA:

–news–>

3/13: Stuart Milk, the nephew of slain gay rights leader Harvey Milk, is scheduled to speak at a rally in Florida on Monday in support of gay rights. Source

–upcoming events–>

3/16: Tallahassee: Rally in Tally: 11 am-2 pm. Where to Stay More Info

———————————————

USA, HAWAII:

–news–>

3/9: About 2,000 civil union supporters rallied in downtown Honolulu on Saturday, urging lawmakers to grant gay partners the same benefits as married couples. Source

3/9: Hawaii senators who had vowed to rescue a stranded gay civil unions bill from a deadlocked committee and pass it this legislative session have begun to backpeddle. Source

3/12:Hawaiian churches are using copies of a report issued by Brian Camenker of MassResistance, an anti-gay group fighting gay marriage in Massachusetts, to try to block civil unions in Hawaii. The report, “What Same-Sex ’Marriage’ Has Done to Massachusetts”, makes many false claims, including that cases of HIV/AIDS increased in Massachusetts after gay marriage was legalized there. Source

———————————————

USA, ILLINOIS:

–news–>

3/9: A bill to grant gay and lesbian couples in Illinois, US, the right to civil unions will proceed to the House floor for a vote. Source

———————————————

USA, IOWA:

–news–>

3/13: Legislation that would make marriage gender neutral in Iowa appeared dead Friday after it was stripped from the list of measures to be take up by lawmakers this session. Source

———————————————

USA, KENTUCKY:

–news–>

3/12: A governing body of the Presbyterian Church (USA) for the Kentucky region voted on Tuesday to overturn a national ban on gay ministers. Source

3/12: A measure that would ban unmarried couples from adopting children or becoming foster parents in Kentucky, Senate Bill 68 (SB 68), was passed by the Kentucky Senate Judiciary Committee and sent to the full Senate. Source

———————————————

USA, MAINE:

–articles–>

3/12: The author of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Maine says more than 60 legislators from both parties have signed on as co-sponsors. Source

———————————————

USA, MARYLAND:

–news–>

3/12: One bill heard before the committee would open the door to the recognition of same-sex marriages in the state by amending Maryland’s current statute to apply to any two individuals not otherwise prohibited by law. A second bill called for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as being between a man and a woman. Marylanders would vote on the issue in the November 2010 general election. Source

3/13: A freedom rider, a former Republican congressman and the state’s chief legal officer banded together yesterday to testify in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage in Maryland – evidence that proponents say shows the issue is gaining momentum. Source

———————————————

USA, NEVADA

–news–>

3/13: Reversing an earlier decision, the Incline Village General Improvement District Board of Trustees reinstated health benefits for domestic partners of district employees in a 4-1 vote Wednesday night. Source

———————————————–

USA, NEW YORK:

–upcoming events–>

4/24-26: Utica: 2009 Pride and Joy Families Weekend Conference to be held April 24-26. More Info

———————————————–

USA, NORTH DAKOTA:

–news–>

3/12: Senate Bill 2278, initiated by North Dakota Sen. Tom Fiebiger, would amend the state’s policy on discrimination, expanding the policy to include the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Source

———————————————–

USA, PENNSYLVANIA:

–news–>

3/12: A state House committee narrowly passed a bill Wednesday that, if enacted, would extend the same anti-discrimination protections to gay men and women that have long been the law for racial, ethnic and religious minorities. Source

–upcoming events–>

5/3: Philadelphia: National Equality Rally at Independence Hall More Info

5/15-5/17: New Hope: Pride More Info

6/14: Philadelphia: Pride More Info

———————————————–

USA, TEXAS:

–upcoming events–>

Ongoing: Dallas: Queer Liberaction meetings, 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at Buli Cafe, located at 3908 Cedar Springs. Meetings start at 7 pm. More Info

———————————————-

USA, UTAH:

–news–>

3/11: The Sundance Film Festival will now be headed by a gay man: John Cooper. Source

–articles–>

Common Ground bills fail to make it out of committee, by Carole Mikita Source

———————————————–

USA, VERMONT:

–news–>

3/11: 182 members of Vermont’s clergy have signed on to a declaration in support of same-sex marriage. Source

3/11: The Vermont chapters of four national mental health organizations say the best research suggests a range of benefits to children of same-sex parents granted equal access to civil marriage under state law. Source

3/13: Vermont’s Republican Gov. Jim Douglas urged state lawmakers to focus exclusively on job creation and economic growth in the final weeks of their session. Douglas said there is no time for “divisive issues” like same-sex marriage this spring. Source

–articles–>

Vt. gay marriage bill backers shouting louder, from the AP Source

———————————————–

USA, VIRGINIA:

–news–>

3/12: A Virginia woman is continuing her lengthy battle to deny child-visitation rights to her former lesbian partner. Source

———————————————–

USA, WASHINGTON:

–news–>

3/11: Same-sex domestic partners would have all of the rights and benefits that Washington offers married couples under a measure passed by the state Senate. Source

———————————————–

USA, WASHINGTON, DC:

-
-news–>

3/12: Volunteers with D.C. for Marriage met at the D.C. Center late last week to outline early strategies for engaging churches, universities and the black community in conversations about gay marriage in anticipation of a bill expected before the D.C. Council later this year. Source

———————————————–

USA, WEST VIRGINIA:

–news–>

3/12: Arguments began, Wednesday, in a lesbian couple’s appeal to adopt a 15-month-old child temporarily placed under their foster care after her biological parents’ custody rights were terminated. Source

———————————————–

USA, WISCONSIN:

–news–>

Drop in religion signals changed political scene, by Sam Clegg Source

Lift Ban on Gay Marriage, by Chris Walker Source

———————————————–

fini

Posted in Uncategorized | No Responses »

Gay Marriage Watch: March 1st-7th

Sunday, March 8th, 2009

Here’s the latest news on gay marriage from around the world. My favorite thing this week? This great article by Tina Morrison, where she tweaks an internet video about how bigoted straight people can still get along with gay neighbors after they vote to take away our rights.

Also interesting this week – famous photographer Annie Lebovitz is in serious financial distress after the passing of her partner in 2004. Her partner left her estate to Lebovitz, who has since had to sell rights to many of her photographs to pay the huge inheritance taxes because the two were not married. If they could have legally married, she would have paid nothing when she inherited her parthers’ estate. It’s a double tragedy for Lebovitz, and our hearts go out to her.

Take Action:

From one of our friends: “One of our members who lives in Vermont sent me a link to a newspaper poll being done in Montpelier, Vermont. Democratic legislators in that state are trying to push through a marriage equality bill. The poll asks whether “same-sex marriage” should be a priority for the legislature. Right now “no” is beating yes by about 30%, but only 4300 votes have been cast. If everyone in our group casts a “yes” vote it can change the margin substantially. Here is the link:”

http://www.timesargus.com/

Fun Thing of the Week:

Our friend Gino Meriano and his partner, Mike, have just released “Civil Partnership – A Guide to the Perfect Day” and have included everything from drag queens being the new toastmasters to having two aisles in a same sex wedding.

Gino has been active lately in trying to bring civil partnerships to Arizona, and together he and his partner run Pink Weddings in the UK. Congrats, guys!

Woody Award:

Our woody award this week goes to “Proposition 8 – Made Simple”, a snarky little piece of work that shows how the “real” victims of the gay marriage debate are the poor married straight couples. Watch for the keywords “lifestyle choice” during the video. It all sounds very reasonable, and is a great sell for the bigoted idea that gay folks choose to be gay, already have all the rights they need, and are COMING AFTER THE CHILDREN. The most personaly disgusting part of the video to me, however, is the last part, where the gay neighbors come over to have a BBQ with their bigoted neighbors, and all is forgiven.

The implication here is that, hey, it’s no big deal that their heterosexual neighbors just vited to strip them of their civil rights. Gays and lesbians should just shut up and be happy with what they’re given (or not given).

Pardon my French, but Bullshit. This is a free country. Everyone has the rtight to their opinion and their vote. But there are consequences. I’m sorry, but if you voted against my own basic civil rights, you no longer have the right to be called my friend.

I’ve decided not to link to the video on principle, but you can google it yourself if you want to see it.

Enjoy your woody, supporters of Prop 8.

And special mention to Jen Shroder, blogger at RenewAmerica.com, for this: “Gay marriage has NEVER been a battle to persecute homosexuals, it is a battle to protect the innocence of our children…”

Oh really. And what are we in this fight, exactly? Collateral damage? Sorry, Miss Shroder – no woody for you.

Gay Marriage Watch:

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.

Enjoy the rest of the Watch!

–Scott

———————————————-

CANADA:

–news–>

3/2: Husband-and-wife publishing team Brandon and Christine Jones have decided to stop publishing Wedding Essentials For Same-Sex Couples. Source

3/3: At least half of the congregation at St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Nanoose Bay are holding Sunday services at the local library after parishioners voted to split from the Anglican Church of Canada over same sex marriage. Source

3/6: Bishop John Chapman of the Diocese of Ottawa has appointed a doctrine and worship committee to determine whether same-sex unions can be blessed on a limited basis in the diocese. Source

———————————————-

COLUMBIA:

–news–>

3/2: Members of the gay civil rights advocacy group Colombia Diversa just celebrated their fifth anniversary with a big event, which the occasion clearly merited due to a recent landmark decision by the Constitutional Court recognising equal rights for heterosexual and same-sex partners in common-law unions. Source

3/3: Gay and lesbian couples in Colombia still face challenges after a ruli
ng granting them increased rights. The decision by the Constitutional Court means that same-sex partners will now have all of the guarantees and benefits offered to unmarried heterosexual couples, except adoption. Source

———————————————-

JAMAICA:

–news–>

3/4: Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has told Parliament his government will not yield to “perhaps the most organized lobby in the world” and will not abolish prison sentences for sodomy. Source

———————————————-

NETHERLANDS ANTILLES:

–news–>

3/5: A Saban resident has turned to the Dutch Government and to the Second Chamber to address the problem of registering his marriage to a person of the same sex. Source

———————————————-

NORWAY:

–news–>

3/5: Humanists in Norway are claiming to have conducted their first legal same-sex marriage ceremony. Cecilia Patricia Stensland, 24, and Janne Lemvig Abrahamsen, 38, wed in Oslo last week. Source

———————————————-

UNITED KINGDOM:

–upcoming events–>

10/4: Cardiff: Gay wedding show. More Info

10/18: Manchester: Gay wedding show. More Info

11/15: Brighton: Gay wedding show. More Info

———————————————-

USA:

–news–>

3/4: Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., introduced The Uniting American Families Act, which would allow U.S. citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration purposes. Source

3/5: Representative Ellen Tauscher (D-California) reintroduced her bill this week to seek repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Source

3/6: The only out lesbian in Congress intends to drop legislation this month that would benefit the partners of gay federal government employees. U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) said during a Center for American Progress conference call Thursday that she intends to introduce the Domestic Partner Benefits & Obligations Act “shortly” in the U.S. House. Source

–articles–>

NPR Reporter Bashes Gays, by Dan Savage Source

Global gay survey is a mixed bag, by Richard J. Rosendall Source

Benefits Denied, by Ben Furnas & Josh Rosenthal Source

On Gay Marriage, the Right Was Right (and Wrong), by A. Barton Hinkle Source

Adultery, not same-sex monogamy, is the real threat to marriage, by Deroy Murdock Source

———————————————-

USA, ARIZONA:

–news–>

3/6: Arizona Civil Partnerships is getting ready to gather the 230k signatures needed to put a Civil Partnerships bill on the 2010 ballot in Arizonam which will include a provision that bar these partnership ceremonies from being held during any religious ceremony. Source

———————————————
-

USA, ARKANSAS:

–news–>

3/6: The Arkansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union asked Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Chris Piazza to deny the state’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit over the new anti-gay abortion law, which went into effect Jan. 1 after voters approved the ban in November. Source

———————————————-

USA, CALIFORNIA:

–news–>

3/3: California’s state legislature has passed two resolutions requesting that the state Supreme Court strike down the result of the vote in Proposition 8. Source

3/3: Equality California (EQCA) today launched a television ad campaign that will air statewide on the history of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) movement. The ad educates Californians about the discrimination faced by LGBT people throughout history to provide hope for the future. Source

3/3: 40 vocal supporters of Laguna Beach’s support of the lawsuit against Prop 8 turned out, with one demonstrator after another rushing to the podium to praise the City Council’s unanimous decision during a previous meeting to join in the legal challenge. Only two opponents showed up. Source

3/3: The San Francisco Labor Council unanimously endorsed the March to Sacto to repeal Prop 8 that’s being sponsored by One Struggle One Fight. Source

3/4: On Wednesday night, around 200 people gathered at Centennial Plaza behind Long Beach City Hall for a rally and candlelight vigil supporting marriage equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Source

3/4: About 70 other opponents of Proposition 8 gathered in front of the Tulare County Courthouse in Visalia. Source

3/4: Candles flickered in the hands of about 30 gay marriage supporters last night outside the Rude Guerrilla Theater Company in Santa Ana as a sign of a peaceful protest against the passing of Proposition 8. Source

3/4: Gay rights activsts gathered at the intersection of Winchester and Stevens Creek Boulevards Wednesday night as the California Supreme Court prepares to argue over the validity of the same-sex marriage ban. About 150 protesters held a candlelight vigil against Proposition 8. Source

3/5: The California Supreme Court heard arguments for and against overturining Prop 8 in a three hour session. Source

3/6: At the first LGBT reception ever held at No. 10 Downing Street, which is the UK equivalent of the White House, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown condemned the passage of Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that stripped LGBT Californians of the right to marry, and described the legislation as simply “unacceptable”. Source

3/6: The recently formed GetToKnowUsFirst.org has created five 30-second commercials featuring same-sex couple headed families with the message “Marriage promotes families. Support marriage equality.” Source

3/6: On a drizzly day in downtown Fresno, dozens marched in the cold to put heat on the Supreme Court. Source

–upcoming events–>

3/11-3/14: West Hollywood: The Global Arc of Justice: Sexual Orientation Law around the World: Topics covered will include international efforts to advance legal recognition for same sex couples; the repeal of sodomy laws in former British Colonies; efforts by national governments to end homophobia and advance LGBT equality etc. More Info

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

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

3/18: Sacramento: Free Seminar for Same Sex Married Couples & Registered Domestic Partners. Sacramento City Hall council chambers, 5:30-9 PM. More Info

3/28: Citrus Heights (Sacramento): Bowling Team to raise money for youth in foster care – building bridges for the glbt community, 1-4:30. RSVP Email

4/3: Placerville: An Evening with Blame Sally, A Concert to Benefit Equality California, Come Celebrate & Support Marriage Equality. 8 PM, Placerville Shakespeare Club. More Info

4/4: Palm Springs: EQCA/NCLR Dinah Brunch, Join Kate Kendell and Geoff Kors at Dinah Shore for our annual brunch, 11 am-1 pm. $100. RSVP Email

4/4: Berkeley: Case Study: Marriage Equality, UC Berkeley, 3 PM. More Info

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

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

5/30: Sacramento: Statewide Rally at Capitol Building to Kick off Pride 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–>

Restoring Federalism In Marriage Law, by Andrew Sullivan Source

No on Prop 8 admits mistakes, by Seth Hemmelgarn Source

Santa Cruz Mormon family’s quiet struggle illustrates complexity in Prop 8 fight, by Kurtis Alexander Source

Lawsuit over gay-marriage speech at L.A. City College spurs reactions, by Gale Holland Source

The Slippery Slope to Robot Love, by Steve Benen featuring Hilzoy Source

Gay Marriage. Thumbs-up? Thumbs-down?, by Dave Muskera Source

Analysis of Yesterday’s Supreme Court Hearing on Prop 8, by Robert Cruikshank Source

Nothing to Fear From Gay Marriage, by Susan Estrich Source

Prop. 8 debates flare at Civic Center viewing, by Rachel Gordon & Steve Rubenstein Source

Ruling could mean civil unions for all in Calif., by Lisa Leff Source

Existing gay marriages now on a great divide, by Maura Dolan & Jessica Garrison Source

———————————————-

USA, CONNECTICUT:

–news–>

3/6: Connecticut lawmakers plan a public hearing on updating state laws to reflect last year’s state Supreme Court decision allowing same-sex marriages. Source

3/7: Concerned that the state’s new same-sex marriage law would infringe on religious liberties, the Connecticut Catholic Conference today proposed some broad exemptions which it believes are necessary to protect those rights. Source

–articles–>

Same-sex marriage still not on books, by Mark Davis Source

———————————————-

USA, FLORIDA:

–news–>

3/1: Florida state senator Sen. Nan Rich (D) has introduced two bills that would repeal the state ban on adoptions by gays and lesbians. Source

–upcoming events–>

3/16: Tallahassee: Rally in Tally: 11 am-2 pm. Where to Stay More Info

———————————————

USA, HAWAII:

–news–>

3/6: State Senate leaders are wavering on whether to revive a civil-unions bill by pulling it from committee and are discussing possible amendments to advance it while preserving the integrity of the committee process. Source

———————————————

USA, ILLINOIS:

–news–>

3/3: A Gay Rights Activist in Chicago has been fined $500 by a Chicago judge for a permit violation related to a Proposition 8 Protest in Chicago’s Loop in November. Source

3/4: The Mormon Church is meddling in pending civil unions legislation in Illinois. Source

3/6: A bill giving gay couples the right to form civil unions squeaked through a legislative committee Thursday. Source

———————————————

USA, KENTUCKY:

–news–>

3/6: Legislation that would bar unmarried couples in Kentucky from adopting or fostering children has passed a key committee and now advances to a vote on the floor of the Senate. Source

———————————————

USA, LOUISIANA:

–news–>

3/1: On January 15th the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth District, upheld a lower court ruling that the city of New Orleans was within its authority when it granted health benefits to domestic partners of city employees and established a domestic partner registry for city residents. Source

———————————————

USA, MAINE:

–news–>

3/6: Maine Tourist Industry representatives this last week began a lobbying drive to support the legislation to legalize gay marriage in the state. Source

–articles–>

Same-sex marriage can help Maine, by Rogier van Bakel Source

———————————————

USA, MASSACHUSETTS:

–news–>

3/6: This week, fifteen gay people filed a class action law suit against the United States government, stating that the equal marriage rights extended to them in Massachusetts are not recognized on a federal level; thus being an unconstitutional rights violation. Source

–upcoming events–>

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

———————————————–

USA, MINNESOTA

–news–>

3/6: Minnesota state Sen. Scott Dibble is proposing one of two marriage-equality bills in the state Senate and says now is as good a time as any to propose gay marriage legislation because there is also an economic aspect to the debate. Legally married couples, he says, are generally in better financial shape overall. State Sen. John Marty has also introduced a bill that would create gender neutral marriage laws. Source

———————————————–

USA, MISSOURI

–news–>

3/3: The Councilman whose religious beliefs prompted him to repeatedly vote against alcohol sales in the city cited those same convictions in voting against the inclusion of gayss in Kirksville’s fair housing policy at Monday’s meeting. The Council approved a measure 3-1 to add “sexual orientation” to the fair housing discrimination language, making the policy unbiased to gayss. The vote updated the city’s policy to mirror the federal one, amended in 2007. Source

———————————————–

USA, NEVADA

–news–>

3/3: The Incline Village General Improvement District Board of Trustees may revisit its Wednesday decision to stop providing health insurance to domestic partners of district employees. Source

———————————————–

USA, NEW JERSEY

–news–>

3/4: Last Thursday, the College of New Jersey was taking part in the push for equality with PRISM’s annual Queer Wedding, held in the Allen Drawing Room. Source

3/6: “I’m a Democrat and I’m straight and I believe in marriage equality,” Gov. John Corzine told an enthusiastic crowd at the Garden State Equality (GSE) Legends Dinner on February 28 in Somerset. “If we work together, 2009 will be the year when I will take this pen out of my pocket and we will sign the marriage equality bill.” Source

———————————————–

USA, NEW YORK:

–upcoming events–>

4/24-26: Utica: 2009 Pride and Joy Families Weekend Conference to be held April 24-26. More Info

———————————————–

USA, NORTH CAROLINA:

–news–>

3/5: After anti-gay marriage protesters — numbering at least 3,000 by police estimate — ended their rally with the chants “Let us vote! Let us vote!” in near-freezing temperatures outdoors, Democratic leaders in the House required that an anti-gay-marriage amendment bill co-sponsored by 66 of the chamber’s 120 members go through four committees before floor debate can begin. Source

———————————————–

USA, OHIO:

–news–>

3/6: Under a new and controversial policy in Butler County, “traditional” married couples are given preference over single parents, couples who co-habitate and same-sex couples looking to adopt children through the foster-care system. Source

———————————————–

USA, PENNSYLVANIA:

–news–>

3/4: A programme of events has been announced for America’s National Equality Rally at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on Sunday May 3rd. There will be personal appearances by Volker Beck and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Source

3/5: Legislation prohibiting discrimination on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in housing, employment, and public accommodations has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Source

–upcoming events–>

5/3: Philadelphia: National Equality Rally at Independence Hall More Info

5/15-5/17: New Hope: Pride More Info

6/14: Philadelphia: Pride More Info

———————————————–

USA, RHODE ISLAND:

–articles–>

New legislative session, same marriage debate, by Emily Donahue Source

———————————————–

USA, SOUTH CAROLINA:

–news–>

3/5: Four term South Carolina Representative Gresham Barrett announced his candidacy for Governor of South Carolina Wednesday morning. Barrett, who has a long anti-gay voting record, is considered a rising star in the Republican Party. Source

———————————————–

USA, TENNESSEE:

–news–>

3/2: State lawmakers in Tennessee have revived a debate about adoption that proposes a measure to prevent gays from adopting children by banning any unmarried couples from becoming adoptive parents. Source

———————————————–

USA, TEXAS:

–upcoming events–>

Ongoing: Dallas: Queer Liberaction meetings, 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at Buli Cafe, located at 3908 Cedar Springs. Meetings start at 7 pm. More Info

———————————————-

USA, US VIRGIN ISLANDS:

–news–>

3/5: Changing what was characterized as a clerical error in a recorded vote from Wednesday, the 5th V.I. Constitutional Convention Thursday reversed the outcome of a Wednesday vote and put a ban on gay marriage into the draft constitution. Source

———————————————-

USA, UTAH:

–news–>

3/2: Californians Against Hate said on Friday it was ending its two-week-old boycott against Ken Garff Automotive Group after the company agreed to adopt a nondiscrimination policy for gay, lesbian and transgender employees. Source

3/5: This week in an effort to sway voters in that state and prevent other of Equality Utah’s legislative initiative’s remaining bills from going down in flames, Equality Utah has come out swinging with a major multimedia ad blitz that turn the tables and proclaims… “The Church does not object to rights for same-sex couples …”, quoting the Mormon Church’s own words after Prop 8 passed. Source

–articles–>

Fear and loathing at the Capitol, by Rebecca Walsh Source

———————————————–

"main2">

USA, VIRGINIA:

–news–>

3/6: State 1awmakers have decided to make passage of same-sex marriage their top priority while they hammer out the budget for the next year. Source

———————————————–

USA, WASHINGTON:

–news–>

3/6: Hundreds of LGBT people and their allies held a February 28 candlelight vigil and marched through the Capitol Hill neighborhood to stand up against a recent increase in anti-LGBT hate crimes. Source

———————————————–

USA, WISCONSIN:

–news–>

3/4: Same-sex couples could form domestic partnerships and receive dozens of the same legal benefits as married people under a proposal by Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle. Source

———————————————–

fini

Posted in Uncategorized | No Responses »

Gay Marriage Watch: February 22nd-28th

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

Here’s the latest news on gay marriage from around the world. Our top story this week – New Jersey as a cautionary tale for when the world tells us “it’s not the right time for civil rights legislation” and “just wait a little while longer.” Last year, Governor Corzine, who is pro gay mariage, told us to wait just a little longer, until 2009, so we wouldn’t interfere with the Presidential election. So we waited, ever hopeful.

Now that the new year has rolled around, we’re being told it’s still not time. The budget is a more opressing issue. And that’s probably the right move. Only now there’s a catch. Governor Corzine is up for reelection in 2009, and he’s currently behind in the polls. His challenger is against gay marriage.

So the upshot here is that we may lose out on the chance to have our marriage rights confirmed in the Garden State. Because we waited. Because we believed them when they said “just wait a little while longer.”

So I’m waiting for someone to answer these questions – “When will it be the right time for marriage equality? If not now, when?”

Fun Fact of the Week:

From Andrew Sullivan’s blog: “Eight of the top 10 pornography consuming states gave their electoral votes to John McCain in last year’s presidential election – Florida and Hawaii were the exceptions. While six out of the lowest 10 favoured Barack Obama. Residents of 27 states that passed laws banning gay marriages boasted 11% more porn subscribers than states that don’t explicitly restrict gay marriage…” and “Utah is the country’s single biggest consumer of online porn.”

Woody Award:

Our woody award this week goes to the ten Democrats in the New Mexico Senate who voted against the domestic partnership bill there this week, after coming under pressure from the Catjolic Church. Shame on you, who are supposed to represent the least among your constituents, for letting the Church dictate who can have rights and who can’t.

And this was for domestic partnership, not marriage, so they can’t hide behind the old “it’s just the word” defense.

Here are the names of those who voted against rights for gays and lesbians in New Mexico:

Click on the link for each above and tell them what you think of their bigoted vote.

Enjoy your collective woodys!

Gay Marriage Watch:

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.

Enjoy the rest of the Watch!

–Scott

———————————————-

AUSTRALIA:

–news–>

2/25: Transgendered individuals with partners of their reassigned gender will be recognised as married from July 1, but only for those who marry as opposite-sex couples before the transgendered partner undergoes surgery. Source

———————————————-

CHINA:

–news–>

2/25: Beijing’s gay and lesbian community launched a campaign for gay marriage. Source

———————————————-

IRELAND:

–news–>

2/25: TV presenter Brendan Courtney is joining the campaign for gay rights in Ireland. The Off the Rails host, who is living in London, will help launch a report into gay marriages outside the Dail this week. Source

2/26: MarriagEquality, a group campaigning for full marriage rights for gay and lesbian people in Ireland, said 81% of those polled believe that all people living in Ireland should receive equal treatment from the state regardless of their sexual orientation. Source

———————————————-

ISRAEL:

–news–>

2/26: The Israeli Knesset is set to consider granting gay and lesbian couples the right to marry. Source

———————————————-

MALAYSIA:

–news–>

2/25: Viewers who caught recorded telecasts of the Oscars in the evening on STAR, an Asian satellite TV service that says it reaches more than 300 million viewers in 53 countries, noticed that the sound was removed whenever Sean Penn and writer Dustin Lance Black mentioned “gay” or “lesbian.” Source

———————————————-

NAMIBIA:

–articles–>

Gay marriage ends in heartache, by Donna Collins Source

———————————————-

PORTUGAL:

–news–>

2/24: The Bishops’ Conference of Portugal has reaffirmed its rejection of the government’s attempts to make gay unions equal to marriage after Socialist Prime Minister Jose Socrates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa promised he would support gay unions if re-elected. Source

———————————————-

UNITED KINGDOM:

–upcoming events–>

10/4: Cardiff: Gay wedding show. More Info

10/18: Manchester: Gay wedding show. More Info

11/15: Brighton: Gay wedding show. More Info

———————————————-

USA:

–news–>

2/24: RNC Chair Michael Steele on offering civil unions: “Why would we backslide on a core, founding value of this country? I mean this isn’t something that you just kind of like, ‘Oh well, today I feel, you know, loosey-goosey on marriage.’” Source

tyle="font-family:verdana">2/26: Judge Judy on gay marriage: “For me, it’s not only a legal issue, but an emotional issue. Two people work, pay taxes, act responsibly – as far as I’m concerned, the State should have no issue if they want to be married and have a union that allows them to inherit and take advantage of the tax benefits of marriage. I have no problem with that.” Source

–upcoming events–>

3/5: Following the arguments, Lambda Legal will be hosting a members-only teleconference with Jenny Pizer, Marriage Project Director and Lambda Legal’s lead counsel in Strauss, as well as Legal Director Jon Davidson. The call will begin at 3:00 PM PT (6:00 PM ET). More Info

–articles–>

Roadmap for Marriage Equality Proponents in Wake of Prop 8, Source

A Movement Permeated by Fear and Driven by Greed, by Time for Change Source

Homophobia – What are we afraid of? by Dr. Jeffrey Low Source

Time Has Come to Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’, by Joe Davidson Source

The transformation of ‘gay’ and ‘marriage’, by Scott Cohen Source

What Americans think about marriage equality, by Bob Roehr Source

A Reconciliation on Gay Marriage, by David Blankenhorn & Jonathan Rauch Source

———————————————-

USA, ARIZONA:

–news–>

2/22: Today was the first day couples could register as domestic partners in Phoenix, AZ. Source

–upcoming events–>

3/4: Phoenix: a vigil will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Camelback and Central, the evening before the California Supreme Court hearing on Prop 8. Source

3/4: Tucson: a vigil will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at UCC, 3295 West Speedway Boulevard. Source

———————————————-

USA, CALIFORNIA:

–news–>

2/22: Sean Penn at the Oscars: “For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that way of support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone.” Source

2/22: Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black at the Oscars: “I want to thank my mom, who has always loved me for who I am . . . ,” he said. “But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he’d want me to say to all the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures who have value. And that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you.” Source

2/24: Bar associations across California will not be joining the State Bar’s annual conference at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, a hotel targeted for boycott by supporters of same-sex marriage and organized labor. Source

2/24: The national president of the NAACP, America’s leading civil rights group has said banning gay marriage interferes with a “fundamental freedom.” Source

2/25: A state senate committee has added its voice to those in opposition to Prop. 8. Source

2/26: Two of the declared Republican candidates for California governor told the Bay Area Reporter that they oppose same-sex marriage. Source

2/26: State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Temecula), a strong proponent of Proposition 8 on the November 2008 ballot, maneuvered his way into the leadership of the Republican caucus after state Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Fresno) was ousted for his support of last week’s budget deal. Source

2/26: Gay marriage should be treated as any other civil
right, said Friday’s Live_Online guest, civil rights pioneer Charles Cobb Jr. “If people want to get married, I don’t care if they’re the same sex,” said Cobb. “Not all civil rights are racial.” Source

–upcoming events–>

3/3: Laguna Beach: 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: Bakersfield: Gathering in two locations. In Delano, gather at the south end of Cecil Avenue Park on Cecil Avenue from 4 to 6 p.m. and in Kernville, gather at Circle Park at 5 p.m. More Info

3/4: Costa Mesa: Gather at the Fairview Community Church, 2525 Fairveiw Road from 5:30 to 7 p.m. More Info

3/4: Delano: Gather at the South End of Cecil Avenue Park on Cecil Avenue [map] from 4-6 pm. More Info

3/4: Fort Bragg: Gather at Town Hall on Main Street and Laurel from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. More Info

3/4: Fresno: Gather outside the Fresno County Clerk’s Office at 2221 Kern Street 6 p.m. for a vigil program, recommitment ceremony, speakers and moment of silence. More Info

3/4: Kernville: Gather at Circle Park at 5pm. More Info

3/4: Los Angeles: 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 More Info

3/4: Modesto: 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 More Info

3/4: Napa: Gather at the United Methodist Church, 625 Randolph Street from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. More Info

3/4: Palm Springs: Gather at Tahquitz Canyon Drive and El Cielo Road in front of the Riverside County Courthouse from 4 to 6 p.m. More Info

3/4: Palo Alto: Corner of Embarcadero & El Camino Real [map] – 6:00pm-7:30pm. More Info

3/4: Riverside: Gather at City Hall at 7 p.m. Sponsored by Inland Empire Equality. More Info

3/4: Roseville: Gather at the Roseville Galleria Mall, 1151 Galleria Blvd from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for a peaceful candlelight vigil. Meet outside the mall entrance between the Cheesecake Factory (next to the JC Penny) and the Nordstroms. More Info

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

3/4: San Diego: 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 More Info

3/4: San Francisco: 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 More Info

3/4: San Francisco: Campout on the Civic Center lawn in front of the CA Supreme Court. This event is BYOE…Bring Your Own EVERYTHING! Bring your tent, your food, and your quarters for the 25 cent Port-o-Potty! More Info

3/4: San Jose: Gather at the intersection of Winchesterr Boulevard and Stevens Creek Boulevard, at Santanna Row and Valley Fair shopp
ing centers from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for a short progam. More Info

3/4: San Luis Obispo: Gather at the Downtown Center at 888 Marsh Street at 5:30 p.m. for a vigil program, recommitment ceremony, speakers and moment of silence. More Info

3/4: San Mateo: Corner of Hillsdale Blvd & El Camino Real [map] from 6:00pm-7:30pm. More Info

3/4: Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens, corner of Anapamu and Anacapa Streets [map] . 5:30-7pm. More Info

3/4: Santa Maria: North-East corner of Main & Broadway [map] . 5:30-7pm. More Info

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

3/4: Tuolomne: Meet 6:00 pm at B of A on Stockton Street and march to Courthouse Park for a Candlelight vigil with local ministers hosting prayers. More Info

3/4: Ukiah: Gathering in Ukiah at Alex Thomas Plaza at 6:00 PM for one half hour. More Info

3/4: Ventura: Gather at corner of Victoria and Telephone in front of the Government Center at 6pm. Bring candles and signs. More Info

3/4: Visalia: Gather at 221 S Mooney Blvd (Courthouse lawn) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for a vigil program, recommitment ceremony, speakers and moment of silence. More Info

3/4: West Hollywood- Gather at Santa Monica and San Vicente at 6 p.m. More Info

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

3/5: San Francisco: In an initiative begun by California college students, and joined by equality groups around the nation, we ask that you join us on March 5th for a moment that will make history! More Info

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

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

3/28: Citrus Heights (Sacramento): Bowling Team to raise money for youth in foster care – building bridges for the glbt community, 1-4:30. RSVP Email

4/4: Palm Springs: EQCA/NCLR Dinah Brunch, Join Kate Kendell and Geoff Kors at Dinah Shore for our annual brunch, 11 am-1 pm. $100. RSVP Email

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

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

5/30: Sacramento: Statewide Rally at Capitol Building to Kick off Pride 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–>

Prop. 8 strategy could backfire, says legal expert, by Martin Wisckol Source

Gay couples await Thursday’s Prop. 8 challenge, by Vik Jolly & Chris Caeser Source

Stop hiding behind religion to justify bigotry, by Joseph Glatzer Source

California gay marriage fight echoes past, by Aurelio Rojas Source

———————————————-

USA, COLORADO:

–news–>

2/23: Debating a gay-rights bill on the floor of the state Senate on Monday, a Republican lawmaker took the rhetoric to new heights by equating homosexuality as a sin with murder. “I’m not saying this (homosexuality) is the only sin that’s out there,” said Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Greeley. “We have murder. We have all sorts of sin. We have adultery. And we don’t make laws making those legal, and we would never think to make murder legal.” Source

2/23: After numerous delays, the Aurora City Council will debate, on Monday, whether to offer insurance benefits to same-sex partners of city employees. Source

2/24: Despite a heated debate in which one Colorado state senator linked homosexuality to murder, the Senate has approved a domestic partner bill. Source

———————————————-

USA, FLORIDA:

–upcoming events–>

3/16: Tallahassee: Rally in Tally: 11 am-2 pm. Where to Stay More Info

———————————————

USA, HAWAII:

–news–>

2/23: Religious leaders supporting civil unions gathered at the state Capitol on Monday, Feb. 23 to back a bill that would legalize same-sex unions in Hawaii. Source

2/24: Thousands of protesters on Sunday voiced their opposition to the controversial civil unions bill in Honolulu. Source

2/26: Hawaii legislators have stalled a proposal to bring same-sex civil unions to the islands, but Democratic leaders plan a bold move to bring the issue to a vote of the full Senate. Source

———————————————

USA, IDAHO:

–news–>

2/24: Idaho state Sen. Nicole LeFavour (D) left a Senate committee hearing in tears after a bill she sponsored that would have added protections for gays and lesbians to the Human Rights Act was defeated. Source

———————————————

USA, KENTUCKY:

–news–>

2/25: More than 100 people attended the “Kentuckians Value Fairness” rally in the Capitol Rotunda Wednesday afternoon protesting a proposed new law banning adoption by unmarried couples. Source

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USA, MAINE:

–news–>

2/26: Representatives of Maine’s tourism and wedding industries say legislation to allow same-sex marriage would give a lift to the state’s economy. Source

–articles–>

Same Sex Marriage Would Boost Maine’s Economy, by Melissa Noble Source

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USA, MASSACHUSETTS:

–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–>

2/19: On Feb. 19, the Michigan State Court of Appeals held that a Michigan family court cannot refuse to hear a child custody case simply because it involves children whose parents are lesbians, ruling that there is no gay exception to Michigan’s child custody laws. Source

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USA, MONTANA

–news–>

2/26: The Canyon Ferry Road Baptist Church of East Helena isn’t obliged to make campaign finance disclosures, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday, because its support for the Montana Marriage Protection Amendment — use of some printer ink and a foyer table — was “extremely minimal.” Source

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USA, NEW JERSEY

–news–>

2/22: A Monmouth University telephone poll of 402 New Jersey adults conducted earlier this month is saying that 48% of New Jersey residents now favor allowing same-sex marriage, while 43% oppose it. Source

2/27: The future of “gay marriage” in New Jersey may come down to who wins what likely will be a tight gubernatorial race this fall. Source

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USA, NEW MEXICO:

–news–>

2/25: Republicans conducted a push poll to skew the results on opinions about domestic partnerships in the state. Source

2/26: The domestic partnership bill failed 17-25, due in part to the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, which came out against the bill. Ten democrats betrayed their glbt constituents and voted with the Republicans against the bill. Source

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USA, NEW YORK:

–news–>

2/23: The Broadway community joined forces Monday night in a show of support for same-sex marriage. The special performance, held at Midtown’s Gershwin Theatre, was called “Defying Inequality.” Source

2/24: Only 33% of rabbis surveyed said their congregations held programs or events related to gay people. The most popular “program” was marriage equality, eclipsing events like gay pride
Shabbat and gay and lesbian havurah groups. Source

–upcoming events–>

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, NORTH CAROLINA:

–news–>

2/24: Supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in North Carolina packed a legislative press conference room on Tuesday to announce a push to get the issue out of the General Assembly this year and place it on the ballot this fall. Source

2/25: North Carolina’s two Roman Catholic bishops joined dozens of religious leaders, conservative state lawmakers and traditional-values activists seeking an amendment to the state constitution banning gay marriage. Source

2/26: North Carolina state Senator Jim Forrester announced his effort to ban gay marriage by saying, “Moms and dads are not interchangeable.” Forrester introduced Senate Bill 272 on Tuesday. The bill aims to amend North Carolina’s state constitution to limit marriage to heterosexual unions and ban any recognition of gay and lesbian couples. Source

2/26: The North Carolina Religious Coalition for Marriage Equality, an interfaith organization consisting of religious leaders from across the state, once again has stated its opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. Source

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USA, OKLAHOMA:

–upcoming events–>

3/4: Oklahomans for Equality in Tulsa, OK. will host a candlelight vigil for marriage equality on March 4, 2009. The vigil will take place at the Dennis R Neill Equality Center? located at 621 E. 4th St. (the corner of Kenosha and 4th) Tulsa, OK. 74120. On March 5th we will wear white in solidarity. More Info

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USA, PENNSYLVANIA:

–upcoming events–>

5/3: Philadelphia: National Equality Rally at Independence Hall More Info

5/15-5/17: New Hope: Pride More Info

6/14: Philadelphia: Pride More Info

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USA, RHODE ISLAND:

–news–>

2/23: Last week, the months-old Rhode Island affiliate of the National Organization for Marriage hit the airwaves with a spot that urges listeners to call their state legislators and tell them to: “Stop messing with marriage and get back to work.” Source

2/26: When Rep. Arthur Handy introduced his version of the same-sex marriage bill up for debate at the State House tonight, he had three co-sponsors. The revived bill he introduced yesterday carried the names of 30 of the 75 House members. Source

2/26: Five hours of testimony over two gay marriage bills in the Rhode Island Legislature – one backing, the other prohibiting – produced heated discussions last night. Source

–articles–>

R.I.’s dueling same-sex marriage bills elicit personal stories, by Katherine Gregg Source

Gay Marriage Needs a Vote, NYT Editorial Board Source

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USA, TENNESSEE:

–upcoming events–>

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

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USA, TEXAS:

–news–>

2/26: Representatives from two local LGBT organizations said this week they’re pleased with the outcome of a recent meeting with the president of Cinemark Theatres to discuss the fallout from CEO Alan Stock’s contribution of $9,999 to Yes on 8. Source

–upcoming events–>

3/2: Marriage Lobby Day, 8 AM-4 PM More Info

3/7: Dallas: Queer Liberaction rally following Prop 8 hearing, meet at the Grassy Knoll, 2 PM. More Info

Ongoing: Dallas: Queer Liberaction meetings, 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at Buli Cafe, located at 3908 Cedar Springs. Meetings start at 7 pm. More Info

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USA, UTAH:

–news–>

2/22: Controversial Sen. Chris Buttars was stripped of his Senate committee posts not because he went on an anti-gay tirade in an interview with a documentary filmmaker but because the West Jordan Republican broke a deal with Senate leaders not to talk about gay issues. Source

2/26: An inflammatory e-mail circulating around the country saying Salt Lake City police officers are preparing for up to 200,000 protesters during the LDS General Conference in April is apparently a fraud. Source

2/27: A Salt Lake City area man has a unique proposal to counter what he sees as growing homophobia among Utah politicians – a statue to Harvey Milk at the Utah Capitol. ef="http://www.365gay.com/news/harvey-milk-sculpture-proposed-for-utah-capitol/">Source

2/27: A California gay-rights group announced Friday it is formally ending a boycott of one of Utah’s most high-profile car dealerships. Source

–articles–>

What’s up with all these gay Mormons? by Mike Szymanski Source

The New “Social Conservatives”: Mormons On The Attack! by Daniel Vojir Source

Gay-rights group planning ’09 drives, by Aaron Falk Source

Herald Poll: Should Buttars be silenced? Daily Herald Editorial Board Source

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USA, WEST VIRGINIA:

–news–>

2/27: A recent poll by Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner Research found that 77% of Wisconsin voters support some recognition of gay couples. Only 20% felt that “there should be no legal recognition of a relationship between gay and lesbian couples.” Source

2/27: West Virginia officials maintain there is no need to consider legislation being promoted by a conservative lobbying group that would ban same-sex marriages in the state. Source

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USA, WISCONSIN:

–news–>

2/22: Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle said his budget proposal to allow domestic partner registrations in Wisconsin wouldn’t establish relationships that resemble marriage but would simply give same-sex couples some basic legal protections. Source

2/25: The Family Research Council and other gay marriage ban supporters are looking into whether Gov. Jim Doyle’s domestic partner budget proposal violates the constitutional amendment, after calling concerns that it would be used to prevent such benefits “absurd” when campaigning for the ban in 2006. Source

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