October, 2009
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Saturday, October 31st, 2009
New York Gov. David Paterson says he expects to sign a same-sex marriage bill into law in the coming weeks.
Paterson says he expects the state Senate to give the measure final legislative approval in the coming weeks and then he will sign it. That would make New York the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage.
Paterson can’t force the Senate to take up the bill and admitted to reporters he can’t guarantee its approval, but he says he’s now confident it will pass, as advocates and sponsors of the bill in Albany have been quietly working to build support.
Full Story from The Chronicle: http://www.strausnews.com/articles/2009/10/31/the_chronicle/news/15.txt
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or 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.
Posted in Gay Marriage, governor david paterson, new york, ny, senate | No Responses »
Saturday, October 31st, 2009
Unmarried couples of whatever sexual orientation are now eligible to receive family benefits in Tallahassee, Florida, according to an Oct. 29 article posted at Tallahassee.com.
The change in city policy will being benefits to city employees who are in domestic partnerships and commonlaw marriages. Another change extends anti-discrimination and anti-harassment city policies to cover sexual identity and sexual orientation.
The article quoted the city’s human relations manager, Travis Parsons, as saying that the change amounted to much the same thing as when employees added to their families by other means. “It’s no different than adding new spouses or new children to their program.”
Full Story from Edge Boston: http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=98413
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Florida.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or 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.
Posted in city employees, domestic partner benefits, fl, florida, tallahassee | No Responses »
Saturday, October 31st, 2009
This is gonna be fun. First, everybody get naked.
Wow, that was fast. Now, to play the game all you have to do is guess which of these comments about Maine’s upcoming ballot Question 1 are real—i.e. from letters and opinion columns published in the Portland Press Herald, Bangor Daily News or Portland Daily Sun—and which are ones I just made up to sound crazy. This is tougher than it looks. Good luck!
1) Gay rights advocates sneer at the common-sense objection that homosexual relations cannot be considered natural or normal. One need merely look at human anatomy and consider the consequences if all sex were homosexual sex to grasp this obvious and intuitive fact.
Full Story from Daily Kos: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/10/30/798655/-Cheers-and-Jeers:-Candy-Corn-FRIDAY!
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Maine.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or 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.
Posted in election, Gay Marriage, maine, me, question 1 | No Responses »
Saturday, October 31st, 2009
States that allow gay marriage cannot force the federal government to provide benefits to those couples, the Obama administration argued yesterday in court papers in a lawsuit by the State of Massachusetts.
The Justice Department is at odds with Massachusetts – the first state to allow gay marriage – over a 1996 federal law defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Massachusetts sued in July, saying that law is discriminatory and deprives gay couples in the state of some federal spousal benefits.
The Obama administration agrees the Defense of Marriage Act is discriminatory and wants it repealed, but says it has an obligation to defend laws enacted by Congress while they are on the books and can be reasonably defended.
Full Story from Boston.com: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/10/31/us_says_mass_cant_force_spousal_benefits/
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or 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.
Posted in defense of marriage act, doma, federal benefits, Gay Marriage, massachusetts lawsuit | No Responses »
Saturday, October 31st, 2009
Thousands of gay rights supporters marched through Taiwan’s capital Saturday, calling for increased tolerance and the enactment of anti-discrimination legislation.
The seventh annual Taiwan Gay Parade in Taipei featured marchers decked out in costumes ranging from prom queens to sumo wrestlers, loud pulsating music, and bright orange and yellow banners.
Taiwan is considered to have one of Asia’s most vibrant gay communities, and its gay rights parade is the largest in the Chinese-speaking world.
Full Story from GMA News: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/176036/taiwans-gays-march-for-enactment-of-anti-discrimination-measure
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or 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.
Posted in china, Gay Marriage, gay marriage serbia serbian president gay rights march, gay rights, pride, taiwan | No Responses »
Friday, October 30th, 2009
Despite his last-minute endorsement of Maine’s gay marriage law when he signed it, Governor John Baldacci does not want it repealed, the Bangor Daily News reported.
At a Tuesday event in support of gay marriage, the governor said the issue was about equality, and urged Maine voters to reject Question 1.
“I think Maine people have recognized … that we are all unique people, we are all different,” he said. “But we are all under the same Constitution and we all want to make sure there is equal protection for all citizens.”
Full Story from On Top Magazine: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=4782&MediaType=1&Category=26
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Maine.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or 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.
Posted in Gay Marriage, governor, john baldacci, maine, question 1 | No Responses »
Friday, October 30th, 2009
A worker for SkyWest, a partner of Delta Airlines operating out of Palm Springs International Airport, says he wants the same benefits given to married couples in the company.
Gilbert Caldwell married his partner of 34 years last year, and now says he faces different rules when he and his partner want to fly. He says he is forced to pay a fare for his spouse, 72 year-old Rev. David Farrell, under a “companion” program designated for friends. Spouses of heterosexual couples do not have to pay the fare.
“SkyWest’s denial of equal travel benefits amounts to a reduction in gay and lesbian employees’ pay,” Lambda Legal has warned the employer. “SkyWest insists that its gay and lesbian employees with a state-registered domestic partner or spouse should not receive the same rate of compensation for their job performance, though Mr. Caldwell is not excused from any of his work hours or job responsibilities.”
Full Story from KESQ: http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=11409572
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or 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.
Posted in Gay Marriage, husband, skywest airlines, spouse, unequal treatment | No Responses »
Friday, October 30th, 2009
Gays in Rhode Island would get the right to plan the funerals of their late partners under a bill heading to Gov. Don Carcieri’s desk.
The legislation approved Thursday by the state Senate would give gay men and women the same right to plan the funerals of their partners as if they were married. Rhode Island is the only New England state that does not recognize gay marriage.
It would also allow the medical examiner to release a body to the late person’s domestic partner.
Full Story from WJTV: http://www2.wjtv.com/jtv/ap_exchange/special_-_medical/article/RiLawmakersBackFuneralPlanningRightsForGaysRi/49888/
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Rhode Island.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or 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.
Posted in bill, funeral rights, gay, governor, legislature, lesbian, rhode island, ri | No Responses »
Friday, October 30th, 2009
Fred Karger’s battle with the National Organization for Marriage has heated up considerably.
The anti same-sex marriage organization, which purports to be a 501(c) (4) “social welfare organization” for tax purposes but is actually a high-powered political organization — more on that later — has demanded that Karger appear for a deposition with all of the correspondence and financial records for his group, Californians Against Hate, from January to date.
NOM is suing the state of California and many state officials over public disclosure laws, and NOM apparently thinks Karger’s e-mails, faxes, correspondence, financial records and all information pertaining to Californians Against Hate will prove that adhering to state law opened up its donors to retaliation, because Karger launched several successful boycotts of donors’ businesses.
Now NOM on its website “calls out” Karger by name: “NOM to Fred Karger: NOM will not be intimidated by politically motivated harassment.” So this is obviously a punitive retaliatory action designed to “intimidate” Karger through legal means. Back at’cha.
Full Story from the Coastline Pilot: http://www.coastlinepilot.com/articles/2009/10/30/blogs_and_columns/lumberyard_logs/cpt-canyontocove103009.txt
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or 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.
Posted in californians against hate, fred karger, Gay Marriage, national organization for marriage, nom | No Responses »
