Civil rights organizations across Pennsylvania today commended Pennsylvania State Senator Daylin Leach for his intention to introduce legislation that would grant full marriage equality to same-sex couples. The Value All Families Coalition praised Senator Leach’s longstanding dedication to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, calling the proposed legislation an inspiring glimpse into the future of equality for all Pennsylvania couples.

“We absolutely look forward to the day when all Pennsylvania families can enjoy the same benefits and protections under the law that heterosexual couples currently have,” said Jake Kaskey, policy and outreach coordinator of Equality Advocates Pennsylvania. “We are grateful for all of the work that Senator Leach has done on behalf of the LGBT community over the years and look forward to seeing full equality reached for all LGBT people.”

Senator Leach’s decision to introduce an inclusive marriage bill comes as other states, including Iowa and Maine, pass same-sex marriage legislation and one day after California’s Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, an amendment to California’s constitution prohibiting marriage between same-sex couples. It also comes at a time when the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is debating House Bill 300, legislation to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pennsylvanians from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Full Story from Out in Harrisburg – Click Here

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For gay marriage resources, click here.

Opponents of same-sex marriage have formally requested a referendum to block the District of Columbia from recognizing gay marriages.

The D.C. Council voted earlier this month to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. Congress has until July to review the council measure, and if it takes no action the legislation becomes law.

The group Stand 4 Marriage D.C. filed paperwork with the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics on Wednesday. The group says it wants to begin collecting signatures.

Full Story from Fox News – Click Here

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For gay marriage resources, click here.

Attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies, who argued against each other in the landmark 2000 case Bush v. Gore, have teamed up to bring another contentious issue to the Supreme Court.

The pair filed suit in federal court Wednesday on behalf of two gay couples who say California’s Proposition 8, a measure that bans marriage between homosexual couples, violates the U.S. Constitution.

Earlier this week, the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8′s validity. But the Court also upheld the rights of gay couples that had been married before the law went into effect, upholding some 18,000 marriages.

Full Story from The Hill.com – Click Here

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The National Organization for Marriage, a conservative Christian group that has fought efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in California and in the Northeast, has set its sights on New York with its latest media campaign.

Beginning Thursday in the New York City and Albany markets, the organization will run a 30-second television commercial that warns of unanticipated social consequences if the state allows gay couples to marry.

Echoing a theme that was used in turning public opinion against same-sex marriage in California in a vote last fall, the commercial suggests that children will be taught about homosexuality in schools.

Full Story from NY Times – Click Here

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For gay marriage resources, click here.

This morning’s state Supreme Court decision to uphold the Prop 8 gay marriage ban has one gay rights group thinking about the next ballot box battle. The question: When should gay marriage supporters put their own initiative up for a vote?

Equality California, which says it’s the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender-rights advocacy organization in the state, has concluded that sooner is better than later. Here’s why, according to a release the group put out this morning:

Full Story from SacBee.com – Click Here

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For gay marriage resources, click here.

Just got back from the big gay marriage rally that started in Ciciv Center at the steps of City Hall, and ended at Yerba Buena Park in SOMA.  Several thousand people showed up starting at 5 PM for stirring speeches from city officials, clergy, and gay and lesbian couples.

Several Prop 8 supporters heckeled the proceedings, but were roundly ignored.  One guy was so brazen as to stand in the middle of the steps holding a sign that said “Pow [sic] to the voters – we did it! Stop the sinners.”  He tried to hold his sign up in front of the podium, but four or five ouf our folks held their signs up in front of his.  After 15 or 20 minutes, the cops stepped in and escorted him away from the rally.

After the initial rally, the crowd, which reached from the steps halfway back into the plaza, started off past the courthouse (double barricaded and fronted by 20 or 30 cops side by side, as if we’d try to overrun the court), and down to Market Street, where we filled the whole street, side to side, for blocks – it was like Pride in reverse.

Hundreds of onlookers lined up along the streets to watch us march by, many shouting words of encouragement or giving us the thumbs up.

We ended at Yerba Buena, not far from the MLK monument, where there were more speeches, songs, and some couples dancing at the end.  It was a good end to a sad day… happy that we’re still married, devastated that the Court affirmed the hateful Prop 8, comforted by being among friends.

We’ve been in the middle of the civil disobedience at Van Ness and Grove St. here in San Francisco. The protesters, many of them from the equal rights group One Struggle One Fight, took over the intersection at about 10:30 this morning, after the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8 banning gay marriage in the state.

About 80 protesters staged a peaceful sit-in in the middle of the intersection, with several hundred other supporters gathered around chanting “One Struggle, One Fight, Equal Justice, Equal Rights.”

The sit-in was peaceful, although one of the anti-gay-marriage protesters started shouting at the group at one point about how the people of California weren’t haters, but just protecting marriage.  The croud was in an angry mood, and one protester engaged in an angry debate with him for about a minute, but many of the gay and lesbian attendees surrounded the man as peacekeepers, and encouraged hiom to step away, which he did.

The poilce monitored the rally, and at about 1 PM, they stepped in and began to arrest the seated protesters one by one, asking them to stand, and then binding their hands behind their backs.

They were then led off to a line for processing, and put into the back of paddywagons, in a scene eerily reminiscnt of the raids on gay bars that happened routinely before and for awhile after Stonewall.

As each protester was led off, the croud applauded their courage and willingness to stand up for their convictions.

The police, for their part, showed restraint, and one policman who spoke with us expressed regret that this even had to be an issue in this day and age.

The protesters will be taken to the city jail, cited, and released.

I’m including some of the pics we took of the protest and arrest with this post.  There’s another rally tonight at 5 PM at Civic Center, marching to Yerba Buena Gardens at 6, and then a rally there from 7-8:30 PM.  If you can make it, come!

Here’s our partial list of events for the California Supreme Court’s Day of Decison on Proposition 8 on 5/26/09. You’ll find other lists of events here:

http://dayofdecision.wetpaint.com/?t=anon

http://www.marriageequality.org/

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CANADA:

Vancouver: 5/26: Gather at 6pm at Morton Park (corner of Davie Street and Denman Street). More Info

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USA, ARIZONA:

Phoenix: 5/26: Gather at 6pm at the southwest corner of Camelback at 7th Avenue for a rally and then march. More Info

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USA, CALIFORNIA:

–northern california->

Auburn: 5/26: Gather at 5:30pm at the Placer County Courthouse (101 Maple Street). More Info

Davis: 5/26: Gathering at Central Park at the new stage south of the carousel from 6-7:30pm. More Info

Eureka: 5/26: Gather at Arcata plaza and County Courthouse in Eureka.  6PM. More Info

Palo Alto: 5/26: Gather at Corner of El Camino Real and Embarcadero (across from Stanford University entrance at Galvez/El Camino).  11AM. More Info

Sacramento:

–5/26: Gather at 5:30pm at the Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center (1927 L Street, Midtown). More Info

San Francisco:

–5/26: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. More Info

San Jose: 5/26: Gathering at 5:30pm at the Billy de Frank LGBT Center at 938 The Alameda. For more information, contact Gloria Nieto at glorianieto@comcast.net or 6 PM, gather at Plaza de César Chávez  at S. Market St. and Park Ave. We will march to SJ City Hall at 200 E. Santa Clara St. for a rally. More Info

Santa Rosa: 5/26: Gathering on the steps of the Santa Rosa City Hall (100 Santa Rosa Avenue and corner of 1st Street) at 6pm. More Info

Ukiah: 5/26: Gather at 6pm at Alex Thomas Plaza (State Street). More Info

–central california–>

Bakersfield: 5/26: Gathering in three locations at 5pm. Rally location #1 – Mall View & Mt Vernon; Rally location #2 – Outback Steakhouse on Stocdale Hwy; or Rally location #3 at Rosedale and Coffee. More Info

Delano: 5/26: Gather at Delano Cecil Park at 5:30pm. More Info

Fresno:

–5/26: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

–Saturday after 5/26: Meet in the Middle – statewide gathering in Fresno with Charlize Theron attending. More Info

Modesto: 5/26: Community gathering at 5:30 pm at Graceada Park, 401 Needham St. downtown Modesto. More Info

Monterey: 5/26: Gather at 5pm at Colton Hall at 580 Pacific Street.  Event is co-sponsored by the Monterey County Chapter of Marriage Equality and Salinas Valley Equality.  More Info

Salinas: 5/26: Gather at 4:30pm at the Monterey County  Courthouse at the corner of W. Alisal Street & Church Street.  Event is co-sponsored by Salinas Valley Equality and the Monterey County Chapter of Marriage Equality USA. More Info

Visalia: 5/26: Gather at 6pm at the Tulare County Courthouse (221 S. Mooney Blvd). More Info

–southern california–>

Costa Mesa: 5/26: Gather at the Fairview Community Church, 2525 Fairveiw Road from 5:30 to 7 p.m. More Info

Long Beach: 5/26: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. More Info

Los Angeles:

–5/26: Two Locations: Gathering in two locations at 6pm: Rally location #1 in Hollywood at 647 N San Vincente Boulevard (Santa Monica and San Vincente); Rally location #2 in Santa Monica Courthouse (1725 Main Street). More Info

Rancho Cucamonga: 5/26: Gathering at the corner of Day Creek and Foothill Boulevard at 7pm.  More Info

San Diego:

5/26: Two Locations: Gather at 6pm at the Escondido City Hall (201 North Broadway) in Escondido; Gather at 5pm at Balboa Park (6th Ave & Laurel Street) in San Diego. Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. More Info

San Luis Obispo: 5/26: Gather at 5:30pm at the City Hall Steps (990 Palm). More Info

Santa Ana: 5/26: Gather at 6pm at the Old Orange County Courthouse (211 W. Santa Ana Blvd, Santa Ana). More Info

Ventura: 5/26: ather at 5:30pm at the Ventura County Government Center on the corner of Telephone Road and Victoria Avenue.  More Info

West Hollywood: 5/26: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

———————————————-

USA, COLORADO:

Denver: 5/26: Gather at the Wellington Webb Building (intersection of Colfax and 15th). More Info

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USA, FLORIDA:

Tampa: 5/26 Gather at 6:30pm at the Joe Chillura Courthouse (corners of Morgan, Kennedy, Pierce & Madison). More Info

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USA, GEORGIA:

Atlanta: 5/26: Gathering is being planned. More Info

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USA, ILLINOIS:

Chicago: 5/26: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. More Info

Springfield: 5/26: Gather at 5:30pm at the Illinois Supreme Court Building (202 E Capitol). More Info

———————————————

USA, INDIANA:

Indianapolis: 5/26: Gather at City County Building – Corner of Washington and Delaware St. 2PM until nightfall. If you can’t make it at 2PM, We will be there ALL DAY. Please join us as soon as you are done with Work or School. We need EVERYONE out in FORCE to make this a success!!! More Info

———————————————

USA, MASSACHUSETTS:

Boston: 5/26: Gather at 7pm at Copley Plaza. More Info

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USA, NEW YORK:

Albany: 5/26: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source

New York: 5/26: Gathering planned the 5/26. More Info

———————————————–

USA, NORTH CAROLINA:

Charlottesville: 5/26: Gathering planned at 6pm. More Info

———————————————–

USA, PENNSYLVANIA:

———————————————–

USA, TEXAS:

Dallas: 5/26: 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 5/26, when the CA Supreme Court announces their decision. More Info

Houston: 5/26: Gathering planned at 5:30pm on the 5/26. For more information, contact Meghan Baker: More Info

San Antonio: 5/26: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. More Info

———————————————–

USA, WASHINGTON

Seattle: 5/26: Gather at 5pm at Westlake Corner Park, 400 Pine Street. More Info

———————————————–

fini

Just left the civil disobediende rally going on outside city hall in San Francisco.

Here’s a quick run-down of the events of the morning.  A prayer service for Prop 8 supporters was held this morning at St. Francis Church near the Castro, with many interfaith ministers in a variety of beautiful rainbow sashes.

After the rally, a march formed, with faith leaders, community members, and several of the Sisters in attendance.  We had a police escort, and we marched right up Market Street, stopping traffic, probably 5-600 strong.  We sang “We Are Marching in the Light of Love”, “We hall Not Be Moved”, and chanted “Gay, Straight, Black, White, One Struggle, One Fight”.  I’m not ashamed to say I cried a couple times on the march, overwhelmed with the feeling of being a part of something bigger than myself, and being among such a supportive crowd.  We don’t get that much back home.

As we reached the Civic Center, we met up with the crowd already there, and waited, nervously, for 10 AM to roll around.  There were families, couoles, straight allies, and many more; there were also maybe 20 anti-gay marriage opponents carrying signs like “Gay = Pervert”, obnoxiously using the HRC symbol for “=”

QWhen the decision came out, scores of people poured out with paper copies in hand, reading it furiously.  Strangely, no one thought to address the waiting crowd; instead, they turned to talk to reporters.

Five minutes later, the news had started to penetrate the crowd – the court upheld Prop 8, but also upheld the 18k marriages, just as expected.

The boos erupted immediately, followed by cries of “Shame on You, Shame on You” to the court.

The crowd started to move, led by One Struggle, One Fight, who had planned a civil disobedience action in case Prop 8 was not overturned.

On the way, we ran onto a straight couple marching in support of our rights.  Mark and I hugged them and thanked them profusely, and we both cried.

Since about 10:30, the crowd has been entirely blocking the intersection of Van Ness and Grove, and the police almost immediately rerouted traffic and cordoned off the area.

Protesters sitting down have a lawyer’s phone number written in indelible ink in case they get arrested, and the crowd is thick around them, still chanting “What do we want? Equality. When do we want it? Now”

 
To subscribe to this blog, let me know at info@purpleunions.com. You can also now find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

For gay marriage resources, click here.

When the Democrat-controlled state House of Representatives pronounced a constitutional amendment barring gay marriage dead on arrival last year, the Republican-controlled Senate reconciled itself to that declaration.

Not this year, says state Sen. John Eichelberger, R-30th, of Bedford, Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon and Mifflin counties. He has introduced an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution similar to the gay marriage ban proposed in the Senate last year, but he has no intention to halt his efforts if the House stays reluctant.

“I’ve already told people I’m not going to agree to that,” he said, adding that passage in the state Senate should be relatively easy.

Full Story from The Bulletin – Click Here

To subscribe to this blog, let me know at info@purpleunions.com. You can also now find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

For gay marriage resources, click here.