February, 2010

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China: Gay Life Legal, But Still in the Closet

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

It’s past midnight and hundreds of men pack Destination. They talk in smoky corridors, move to the beat on a crowded dance floor and play shirtless around a dance pole. Destination is a lot like any number of gay bars in the United States, but outside of the club, it’s a different world for gays in China.

Openness about homosexuality is seen by some as too much of a refutation of the Communist Party line in a country where men are pressured by the government and tradition to marry and father a child, gays say. Gay festivals are shut down and websites closed, and laws preventing discrimination do not exist. “If something’s different and you publicly promote it, (the authorities) worry it could get out of control and threaten their harmonious society,” says Bin Xu, director of Common Language, a lesbian, gay and transgender support group based in Beijing.

In January, authorities canceled the Mr. Gay China pageant an hour before it was to start. Police in Songzhuang, an artist’s colony in the suburbs of Beijing, sought last year to shut down a gay arts exhibition, which Xu’s group helped organize, because it was deemed “not proper,” Xu says. She negotiated with authorities and was allowed to hold the event after taking down four paintings.

Full Story from USA Today
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 life, gay men, hong kong | No Responses »

New Music Video Opposes Prop 8

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

Justice Through Music, www.jtmp.org, a national non profit that works with famous bands to bring attention to important social issues, teamed up the band Op-Critical in a music video called Prop 8, to oppose the California referendum that was used to overturn the state’s gay marriage law. The video, now on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0ls8cIRwuM, looks at the struggle for marriage equality through the lens of past struggles for women’s rights, civil rights and voting rights.

Op-Critical’s Storm wrote the tune in a 1930′s Delta Blues style and recorded it on a 1937 National resonator steel guitar. The video was filmed with Storm on a porch, sitting in a rocking chair playing the steel guitar like so many well known blues artists.

“The battle for marriage equality is historic in the same way as past civil rights struggles,” he said. “The best way for us to portray that was by channeling past blues masters who sang with conviction about the struggles they were seeing during their lifetimes. The next generation will look back on the gay rights battles with the same dismay we now look at previous civil rights battles. It takes a while for people prejudices to be overcome but they always are. We are hopeful that this video will help and give people a real perspective on what is occurring rather than seeing this as simply a matter of politics or religion.”

Full Story from PR Newswire
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, Justice Through Music, marriage equality, music video, OpCritical, prop 8, proposition 8, same sex marriage | No Responses »

Gay Marriage Watch: Gay Marriage Events List 2/21/10

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

Gay Marriage Watch Events List:

We now publish a weekly recap of all the upcoming gay marriage events we can find. Know about something that’s not on this list? Email us the information 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

Upcoming Gay Marriage Events (in Country, State, City Order)

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA

Australia, NSW, Sydney: 3/3: NMG’s Dinner at the Zoo, to raise money for Australian Marriage Equality (AME). http://tinyurl.com/yjcc8ks

Australia, NSW, Sydney: 3/20: National Year of Action Launch, Town Hall, 1 PM. http://bit.ly/mnINL

Australia, QLD, Brisbane: 3/20: Marriage Equality Rally, Queens Park, 1 PM. http://bit.ly/aAQSYv

Australia, VIC, Melbourne: 3/5: Marriage Equality Speakout, Crnr Bourke & Swanson, 5:30 PM. http://bit.ly/cT0LVn

Australia, VIC, Melbourne: 3/13: Marriage Equality Rally, State Libarary, 1 PM. http://bit.ly/cT0LVn

Australia, VIC, Melbourne: 5/15: National Day of Action, State Libarary, 1 PM. http://bit.ly/cT0LVn

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN MEXICO

Mexico, Merida: 2/28: Gay Kiss In, Plaza Grande, 2 PM. http://bit.ly/b1OC6B

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN MUMBAI

India, Mumbai: 4/22-4/25: Queer Film Festival. http://bit.ly/6kcDhP

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

UK, England, Brighton: 11/14: Gay wedding show, The Corn Exchange, 12-4:30 PM. http://bit.ly/rMWTT

UK, England, London: 3/7: Gay wedding show, St. James Hotel, 12-4:30 PM. http://bit.ly/rMWTT

UK, England, Manchester: 10/10: Gay wedding show, Ramada Piccadilly, 12-4:30 PM. http://bit.ly/rMWTT

UK, Wales, Cardiff: 10/3: Gay wedding show, Cardiff City Hall, 12-4:30 PM. http://bit.ly/rMWTT

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN ALABAMA

AL, Huntsvulle: 3/15: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Oakwood University. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN CALIFORNIA

CA, Hollywood: 2/21: Gather Prop 8 Repeal Signatures, Farm Mkt, 8 AM-1 PM. http://bit.ly/boXdDV

CA, Long Beach: 2/28: Courage Academy Workshop, TBD. http://bit.ly/aEAXJp

CA, Los Angeles: Every Monday: LA Equal Roots Meeting. http://tinyurl.com/ntkal4

CA, Los Angeles: Every Thursday: Voter canvass training, at The Village, 6:30-9:30 PM. http://tinyurl.com/yzl5bh3

CA, Los Angeles: 2/21: Gather Prop 8 Repeal Signatures, Farm Mkt, 10 AM-2 PM. http://bit.ly/boXdDV

CA, Los Angeles: 3/3-3/7: Manifest Equality Art Show, 1341 Vine St. http://bit.ly/8XAZ7E

CA, Los Angeles: 3/24: Los Angeles Awards Kickoff, East West Lounge, 6:30-8 PM. http://bit.ly/aPa1EY

CA, Los Feliz: 3/14: EQCA Fundraiser at Sowden House, 5-7 PM. http://bit.ly/94zZhB

CA, Palm Springs: Every Saturday: Equality Happy Hour, Hamburger Mary’s, 4-7 PM. http://bit.ly/bKvO8V

CA, Rancho Mirage: 2/28: Faith & Marriage Forum, Tolerance Ctr, 3-5 PM. jorge@eqca.org

CA, Sacramento: 4/26: Queer Youth Advocacy Day. http://bit.ly/9sleYK

CA, Sacramento: 5/11: Harvey Milk Day Org Meeting, Hamburger Patties, 6 PM. http://bit.ly/aon6jX

CA, Sacramento: 5/22: Harvey Milk Day Rally, State Capitol, 11-3 PM. http://bit.ly/aon6jX

CA, San Francisco: Every Thursday: One Struggle One Fight Meeting, 7 PM. http://bit.ly/7HQ8D4

CA, San Francisco: 2/25: Nor Cal LGBT Activism Conf Coalition Kick Off, 7-9 PM, 209 Golden Gate Av. http://bit.ly/bIq4HO

CA, San Francisco: 2/27: Courage Academy Workshop, Leonard Flynn Elementary School. http://bit.ly/bquTxM

CA, West Hollywood: Every Tuesday: Love Honor Cherish Meeting. 7:30 PM. http://tinyurl.com/r2kruq

CA, West Hollywood: Every Wednesday: Equality Network Meeting, at Crescent Hts UMC. 7-9PM. http://tinyurl.com/nlt3la

CA, West Hollywood: 3/7-3/8: CPK Fundraiser – 20% Goes to Equal Roots (bring flier), CPK Beverly Ctr. http://bit.ly/b0Ktxr

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN DC

Washington DC: 4/28: Supreme Court Hearing in WA State Petition Signer Case. http://bit.ly/ccJGKW

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN FLORIDA

FL, Daytona Beach: 3/22: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Bethune Cookman University. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

FL, Gainesville: 5/22: Harvey Milk Day Equality Protest, Bo Diddley Plaza, 12-5 PM. http://bit.ly/iHHwf

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN GEORGIA

GA, Atlanta: 3/25: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Morehouse College. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

GA, Atlanta: 4/11: Same Love Same Rights Wedding Expo, Hotel Palomar. http://tinyurl.com/ybpxxy6

GA, Atlanta: 5/17: Int’l Day Against Homophobia, VA Highlands Church, 6-11 PM. http://bit.ly/iHHwf

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN ILLINOIS

IL, Chicago: 4/18: Same Love Same Rights Wedding Expo, Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, 1-4 PM. http://tinyurl.com/ybwrvjj

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN INDIANA

IN, Mishawaka: 4/16: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Bethel College. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN IOWA

IA, Cedar Rapids: 3/29: Charity Bingo for One Iowa, Hamburger Mary’s, 8-10 PM PM. http://bit.ly/4qRStd

IA, Des Moines: 4/3: Marriage Equality Anniversary Party, Temple for Performing Arts, 6:30-11 PM. http://bit.ly/bTTCkV

IA, Iowa City: 2/25-2/26: Race, Gender, and Class Symposium, U of I. http://bit.ly/5bYy1J

IA, Iowa City: 3/26: Sweet Equality, Hotel Vetro, 5:30-8 PM. http://bit.ly/bbDKLH

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN MAINE

ME, Augusta: 5/28-5/30: LGBT Civil Rights March, Ends at Capitol Park. http://bit.ly/iHHwf

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN MARYLAND

MD, Annapolis: 2/22: Equality Maryland Lobby Day & Rally, Lawyer’s Mall, 5-8 PM. http://bit.ly/bv8Zqj

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN MINNESOTA

MN, Minneapolis: 2/22: House Civil Justice Committee hearing on Marriage Equality. http://bit.ly/99Ygjl

MN, Minneapolis: 3/26: Beyond the Boxes Therapist Convention, Univ of MN. http://bit.ly/duvWTg

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN MISSISSIPPI

MS, Clinton: 3/31: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Mississippi College. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

MS, Jackson: 3/29: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Belhaven University. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN MISSOURI

MO, Bolivar: 4/14: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, SW Baptist University. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN NEBRASKA

NE, Lincoln: 4/21: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Union College. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

NE, Omaha: 3/12-14: Building Bridges to the Future Pride Conference, Magnolia Hotel. http://bit.ly/9qtuXz

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN NEVADA

NV, Summerlin: 11/14: Same Love Same Rights Wedding Expo, JW Marriott, 12:30-3:30 PM. http://bit.ly/9cB2Us

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

NH, Portsmouth: 10/17: Same Love Same Rights Wedding Expo, Sheraton Harborside, 12:30-3:30 PM. http://bit.ly/9XPmfR

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN NEW JERSEY

NJ, Trenton: 2/22: Demolish the Divide Rally, Hughes Justice Complex, 6 PM. http://bit.ly/dBC8mY

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN NEW MEXICO

NM, Albuquerque: 5/22: Harvey Milk Day Equality Protest, TBD. http://bit.ly/iHHwf

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN NEW YORK

NY, Albany: 2/23: Marriage Education Day w/Marriage Equality NY. http://bit.ly/bCBKGx

NY, Houghton: 3/9: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Houghton College. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

NY, New York: 3/20-3/21: Same Love Same Rights Wedding Expo, Javits Center. http://tinyurl.com/ybpxxy6

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA

NC, Lillington: 3/18: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Campbell University. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

NC, Wake Forest: 3/17: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, SE Baptist Theological Seminary. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN OHIO

OH, Canton: 4/23: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Malone University. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN OKLAHOMA

OH, Oklahoma City: 3/31: LGBT Lobby Day, State Capitol, 9 AM-2 PM. http://bit.ly/9YPxB7

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN OREGON

OR, Statewide: 6/24: Bites for Rights Benefit for Basic Rights OR. http://bit.ly/4rN6UC

OR, Portland: Every Tuesday: Portland Equal Rights Coalition Meeting, Catholic Workers House. http://tinyurl.com/yfqd2pz

OR, Portland: 2/21: Veterans for Human Rights Meet & Mix, Crush, 6 PM. http://bit.ly/9tZQ2S

OR, Portland: 2/24: Building a Local Education Campaign for Marriage Equality, Whitaker School Blgd, 6 PM. http://bit.ly/aSAaZa

OR, Portland: 4/21: Oregonians Against Discrimination Business Leaders Luncheon, OR Conv Ctr. http://bit.ly/4XUsp6

OR, Portland: 10/2: Basic Rights OR Annual Dinner/Auction, OR Conv Ctr. http://bit.ly/4rN6UC

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN PENNSYLVANIA

PA, Langhorne: 3/7: Same Love Same Rights Wedding Expo, Sheraton Bucks Co. Hotel. http://tinyurl.com/ybpxxy6

PA, Phoenixville: 3/5: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Valley Forge Christian College. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN RHODE ISLAND

RI, Providence: 3/3: Marriage Equality Rally, State House, 4 PM. http://bit.ly/cSrjHh

RI, Smithfield: 2/27: Protest NOM, MFI & FRC, Ocean State Baptist Church, 12-1:30 PM. http://bit.ly/iHHwf

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN TENNESSEE

TN, Knoxville: 3/11: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

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>>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN TEXAS

TX, Abilene: 4/7-8: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Hardin Simmons University. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

TX, Abilene: 4/9: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Abilene Christian University. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

TX, Austin: 3/4: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Begins. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

TX, Waco: 4/6: Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Baylor University. http://bit.ly/chHIjx

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fini

Posted in events, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, rallies, same sex marriage, vigils, votes, wedding expos | No Responses »

India: 16 Groups Petitioning Supreme Court to Reinstate Anti Gay Law

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

Using fresh arguments that range from imperiling India’s defence to making its people delusional, 14 new organisations have joined the final legal battle against the decriminalisation of homosexuality. On Saturday, the number of petitioners in the Supreme Court – challenging the July 2009 decision of the Delhi High Court to strike down an anti-sodomy law – stood at 16 from the original two.

Two Christian church coalitions, three Muslim NGOs, two Hindu astrologers, a disciple of yoga guru Baba Ramdev, an NGO run by a former Delhi police officer, and an environmentalist, will be among those in the Supreme Court when it hears an appeal next month against the overturning of the Indian Penal Code’ section 377.

Only one person, film director and Rajya Sabha MP Shyam Benegal, has quietly joined the original petitioner, Delhi NGO Naz Foundation, in support of gay rights in the Supreme Court. With the government saying it will not oppose the Delhi High Court judgement, which experts consider legally strong, the new opponents are readying a range of fresh arguments:

· “Medical opinion” that only the vagina has the muscles required for sex, not the anus (Utkal Christian Foundation, Cuttack)

· Expanding the constitutional right to non-discrimination to include sexual orientation could lead to demands for job reservations (Apostolic Churches Alliance, Thiruvananthapuram)

Full Story from the Hindustan Times
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 anti sodomy law, appeal, gay rights, high court, india, supreme court | No Responses »

ME: Ethics Panel to Determine if NOM Violated Campaign Finance Laws

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

More than three months after Mainers voted down same-sex marriage, the organization that provided much of the money to the traditional marriage camp is still fighting to block the state from forcing disclosure of their donor lists. This past week, the National Organization for Marriage lost another skirmish in the larger legal battle over its campaign finances.

U.S. District Court Judge D. Brock Hornby in Portland overruled NOM’s objections to having to turn over donor lists and correspondence between NOM and Stand for Marriage Maine regarding the campaign to repeal Maine’s gay marriage law. The court has yet to rule on the larger case challenging Maine’s campaign reporting laws, however.

The documents being sought — and what they say about who donated to NOM and why — are key to a Maine Ethics Commission investigation into whether the group’s failure to disclose donors violated state campaign finance laws.

Full Story from istocknews
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 disclosure, donors, ethics panel, Gay Marriage, maine, marriage equality, national organization for marriage, nom, same sex marriage | No Responses »

GOProud Gets Mixed Reception at CPAC

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

It takes courage to walk into the lion’s den. While some lions might be friendly or tolerant, not all will be. For GOProud, the push to be included in CPAC is one that is a bold step in the direction of LGBT Rights. In many ways, the need has always been there to build support for the LGBT Community from the Left and the Right. While we may disagree on some points of policy, we can agree on the need for greater rights for gays, lesbians, transpeople, bisexuals, and all who are part of the LGBTQ Community, even if we cannot agree on what is suppose to go into our name, or even what order those letters should be in.

In fact, GOProud has been gaining support for the repeal of DADT while at CPAC, and they are working hard to get that support to show among Republicans who have been, until now, both reluctant and reticent about repeal.

The inclusion of GOProud in CPAC is not going without notice, or without commentary. Both those who have supported and opposed GOProud’s inclusion in CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) have spoken, and had their speakers booed or silenced. The National Organization for Marriage, which has been vehemently anti-LGBT, was first nice to Jimmy LaSilva of GOProud, and then trashed them when the cameras were off. To this, LaSilva stated “When the cameras were rolling they were very nice. Now that the cameras aren’t rolling, rather than walking 20 feet over to us, they fire off a news release. What kind of man can’t walk across the row to deliver a message? I just have a question for them: Who’s the pansy at CPAC? What wusses. Just come over. Don’t play nice if you’re not going to be nice.”

Full Story from Lez Get Real
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 convention, cpac, gay republicans, goproud | No Responses »

VA: Episcopal Diocese Delays on Recognition of Gay Marriages

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia hedged on recognizing same-sex unions Saturday, instead voting to form a committee to set standards for church-sanctioned blessings of such unions once they are approved by the entire 2-million-member Episcopal Church. About 346 delegates to the dioceses annual council meeting at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria narrowly voted — by a show of hands – to form the committee.

It was a less radical choice for the 80,000-member Virginia diocese, the largest in the Episcopal Church. A substitute amendment suggesting the diocese allow openly gay clergy and same-sex blessings failed after a lengthy debate.

The vote was in response to last summer’s decision by the Episcopal General Convention, which met in Anaheim, Calif., to pass resolution C056, which empowered the denomination to begin “collecting and developing theological resources and liturgies” for same-sex blessings. The denomination is expected to endorse some kind of rite at its 2012 meeting in Indianapolis.

Full Story from the Washington Times
Click here for gay marriage resources in Virginia.
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 diocese, episcopal church, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, same sex marriage, VA, Virginia, vote | No Responses »

Andrew Sullivan Asks Maggie Gallagher: What Am I Supposed to Do With My Life?

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Prominent blogger and political commentator Andrew Sullivan got to ask Maggie Gallagher, the leader of the conservative anti-gay National Organization for Marriage (NOM) the question he’s always wanted to ask her his week: “What do you think that am I supposed to do with my life?”

Suppose, he asked, that he found himself in agreement with her. Suppose he concluded that same-sex marriage was corrosive to society. Should he leave his husband? Should he send his adopted daughter back to the state? Should he enter ex-gay therapy, which isn’t likely to work? Should he tell his whole family that he’s single now, and that his husband Scott shouldn’t be welcome at family events? Should he live his whole life alone, and loveless? Should he hide? Where is the life he’s supposed to live?

Gallagher’s very simple answer was: “I don’t know.”

Full Story from Irish Central
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 Uncategorized | No Responses »

Malawi: Debate Over Whether to Legalize Gay Marriage

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

In late December, two gay men held an engagement ceremony – and were promptly arrested. The event prompted a public debate over the legalization of homosexuality. Sections 153 and 156 of the country’s penal code outlaw sexual intercourse between people of the same sex. But some human rights campaigners argue that the laws contravene the constitution and international conventions that guarantee equality and non-discrimination regardless of sexual orientation.

Section 20 of the Malawi Constitution says discrimination against persons in any form is prohibited and all persons are guaranteed equal and effective protection against discrimination because of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, nationality, ethnic or social origin, disability, property, birth or other status.

Crispin Sibande, a human rights lawyer for the Malawi Human Rights Commission, says he thinks the phrase “other status” includes sexual orientation. He also describes the penal code as inconsistent with the Constitution, which deplores any form of discrimination.

Full Story from VOA News
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 Uncategorized | No Responses »

New Study: Recession Drives Anti Gay Marriage Sentiment

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

The great recession may be to blame for stirring up the culture wars: according to a study in the winter issue of the American Sociological Review, resistance to gay marriage deepens significantly during hard times. In conservative parts of the 30 states that have blocked same-sex unions (where ballot measures tend to be won or lost), researchers found that each 10 percent drop in homeownership led to a 5 percent increase in support for a ban.

Other signs of a community in trouble – including spikes in the crime rate and the percentage of people moving – also tracked with heightened opposition. When people think their neighborhood is breaking down, says Notre Dame professor Rory McVeigh, a coauthor of the study, “they think gay marriage is only going to make things worse.”

That’s bad news for gay-advocacy groups, as much of the country remains racked by the housing crisis. In California, where foreclosure rates are among the highest in the nation, it could help explain how Proposition 8 squeaked by in 2008 – despite bills legalizing gay marriage in 2005 and 2007 (the governor vetoed both). A judge could soon overturn the state’s gay-marriage ban -but, as three new states consider restrictions in 2010, McVeigh’s analysis suggests another string of setbacks for same-sex unions.

Full Story from Newsweek
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, housing crisis, marriage equality, recession, same sex marriage | No Responses »

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