March, 2010

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MD: Hearing 3 PM on Possible Impeachment of AG Doug Gansler

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Just received this from Equality Maryland:

Dear Friends,

I’m writing to you from Annapolis with a quick update on Delegate Don Dwyer’s attempt to impeach Attorney General Doug Gansler.

As you know, Attorney General Gansler’s office released an opinion back in February indicating that state agencies should begin recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages. In response, anti-equality lawmakers have tried every legislative maneuver possible to counter the attorney general’s legally sound opinion. Thanks to your support and the dedication of our legislative allies, we have been able to successfully stop all of these attacks.

But sound legal advice and sheer common sense did not stop Delegate Don Dwyer from attempting to impeach the Attorney General over his legal opinion today on the floor of the House of Delegates. His resolution was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. The Committee will be holding a hearing this afternoon at 3:00 in the Lowe House Office Building, Room 100 – please consider joining us if you are able to get to Annapolis.

Delegate Don Dwyer’s circus today should have no place in any statehouse – let alone in Annapolis. You can help show Delegate Dwyer the door and other homophobic lawmakers come this November by supporting the Equality Maryland Political Action Committee (PAC). Your contribution to the PAC will provide Equality Maryland with the necessary resources to wage a pro-equality campaign in the upcoming state-wide elections. Click here to make your donation and stand with us in our efforts to elect fair minded lawmakers.

Only 11 days remain in the 2010 General Assembly session. Rest assured our team will continue to do all that we can to ensure that the Attorney General’s opinion is upheld and that pro-equality legislation advances, but we cannot do it without your support.

Please consider making a difference today by helping us kick Delegate Don Dwyer and his friends out through the voting booth come November!

Yours in Equality,

Morgan Meneses-Sheets
Executive Director

P.S. At the close of session on April 12th, we will have less than six months to really make a difference in the 2010 state-wide elections. Please, be generous in your donations to our political action committee. You can donate online by clicking here or send a check to 1201 Sharp Street, Suite 109, Baltimore, Maryland, 21230.

Gay Marriage Events Today/Tomorrow

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Full Events List: http://www.purpleunions.com/mn/gay-marriage-events-list.html

–USA, CA: 04/01, Last Prop 8 Signature Gathering, Statewide. http://bit.ly/a89Qkk
–USA, CA, Los Angeles: 04/01, Voter Canvass Training, The Village, 6:30-9:30 PM. http://bit.ly/cqeLcp
–USA, CA, Marina Del Rey: 04/01, Eat a LIttle, Give A lot! – Dine for Equality, IHOP, 4-10 PM. http://bit.ly/a89Qkk
–USA, CA, Palm Springs: 04/01, Dinah Shore Campaign Brunch – $100, 11 AM-1 PM. http://bit.ly/aEnfcq
–USA, CA, San Francisco: 04/01, One Struggle One Fight Meeting, 209 Golden Gate Ave, 7 PM. http://bit.ly/7HQ8D4
–USA, CA, Santa Cruz: 04/01, Prop 8 Signature Gathering, SC Coffee Roasting Co, 2-5 PM. http://bit.ly/a89Qkk
–USA, CA, West Hollywood: 03/31, Equal Network Meeting, Plummer Pk Comm Ctr, 7-9:30 PM. http://bit.ly/cmwONj
–USA, MS, Clinton: 03/31, Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride Stop, Mississippi Coll. http://bit.ly/chHIjx
–USA, OK, Oklahoma City: 03/31, LGBT Lobby Day, State Capitol, 9 AM-2 PM. http://bit.ly/9YPxB7

Survey: Attitudes About Homosexuality Improved Dramatically Since 1981, But Not in US

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

I’ve been hip-deep in World Values Survey data the last couple of days while working on a chapter on economic growth and liberalizing value change. Here are charts of trends in several wealthy liberal democracies on attitudes toward homosexuality and prostitution. What you see are changes through the five waves of the WVS in the percentage of the sample in each country that said these things are “Never justifiable” on a 1-10 scale running from “Never” to “Always.”

In the space of about 25 years, the proportion of the population in all these countries saying homosexuality is never justifiable drops precipitously. However, the overall trend in attitudes toward prostitution is not so clear and generally less dramatic. What accounts for the difference? Here are a few possibilities, about which I have no evidence.

(1) Being versus doing. People just are homosexual, and it’s not up to us if we are. Prostitution on the other hand is an activity we can more easily choose to avoid.

Full Story from Will Wilkinson

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.

Catholic Church Tries to Shift Blame for Pedophilia Scandal to the Gays

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

The Catholic League says the ongoing Church abuse scandal is a homosexual crisis. President Bill Donohoe singles out The New York Times for allegedly getting the story wrong saying, “The Times continues to editorialize about the pedophilia crisis while all along it’s been a homosexual crisis.”

Donohoe took out an ad in the op-ed section of The New York Times Tuesday to broadcast his anti-gay message.

In the ad he says that the Times has “teamed up” with a “radical lawyer” to weaken the Church authority and whose only agenda is women’s ordination, abortion and gay marriage.

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.

MA: Senator Scott Brown Casts His First Anti Gay Vote

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

D.C. marriage equality is safe, despite attempts from the new Senator, Republicans, to demand a referendum. Newly elected Massachusetts State Senator Scott Brown joined Republican peers in attempting to halt the performance of legalized same-sex marriages in the District of Columbia until the issue could face a referendum vote. The Senate considered the proposed amendment that included the stipulation for the referendum as a possible addition to President Barack Obama’s health care bill.

According to a March 25 vote tallied around 1:30 that morning, however, supporters of the saw their amendment fail. Of the required 60 votes, proponents garnered only 36. The 59 Senators in opposition to the measure included two Republicans – Maine’s Olympia Snow and Susan Collins. Three Republicans did not participate in the vote.

Sen. Bob Bennett, a Utah Republican, offered the proposed referendum as one of 41 amendments offered to reconcile last week’s landmark health care legislation.

Full Story from Bay Windows

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.

NY: Buffalo Approves Domestic Partner Benefits for City Employees

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

At the regular meeting of the City of Buffalo Common Council held today, Tuesday, March 31, 2010, the Council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance amendment sponsored by Council Members David Rivera and Michael LoCurto establishing Domestic Partnership Benefits for city employees.

After a thorough review of the potential costs associated with the domestic partnership benefit, the Council Members voted to approve the amendment with the following stipulations:

+Both domestic partner members are of the same sex
+Both persons currently share or have shared a common residence for at least six months as evidenced by proofs of residency required by the City’s medical insurance provider
+Both persons are financially interdependent as evidenced by proofs of financial interdependence required by the Cit”s medical insurance provider

Full Story from WIVB

Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.

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.

PA: Library Receives Threats Over Screening of “Out in the Silence”

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

The Kittanning Library is heightening security following threatening phone calls made to them because of tomorrow night’s showing of a film promoting homosexual lifestyles.

Library Director Amanda Gearhart said that an anonymous phone call came in yesterday at shortly before 5 PM. “Someone called and said ‘I hope your health insurance is paid up for Thursday’ and they hung up the phone,” she explained on last night’s Talk of the Town cable show.

The film entitled Out in the Silence is part of an overall campaign to increase the visibility of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) people in rural and small towns. The political agenda targets states that have not passed gay marriage amendments by appealing to core audiences including youth, civic, and faith-based communities.

Full Story from the Kittenning Paper

Click here for gay marriage resources in Pennsylvania.

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.

Russia: Court Supports Ban on Gay Free Speech

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

The Russian Constitutional Court has dismissed a complaint that the laws of Ryazan region prohibiting “propaganda of homosexuality” to minors are in contradiction with the the country’s Constitution.

Nikolai Baev, who was one of two gay activists arrested last September in Ryazan, said this morning that the decision of the Constitutional Court legalised official homophobia in Russia.

“The decision of the Constitutional Court legalized official homophobia in Russia,””Mr. Baev said in a statement to UK Gay News.

Full Story from UK Gay 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.

MD: GOP Lawmaker Tries to Impeach AG Over Marriage Equality Opinion

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

One Maryland politician is willing to jeopardize his own political career to end Attorney General Doug Gansler’s. Republican Don Dwyer said he plans on moving to impeach Gansler over his opinion on recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages. The Maryland General Assembly’s counsel said the House of Delegates doesn’t have the jurisdiction to impeach an attorney general; that means Dwyer’s efforts could result in his own removal from the chamber. Dwyer said that’s fine with him.

Gansler declared last month that Maryland will recognize gay marriages performed elsewhere in the country. His 50-page opinion states that a marriage that is valid in the place of celebration remains valid in Maryland.

Gansler’s decision does not actually change the law, and he has said that he expects the state’s highest court to offer a final verdict on the marriages.

Full Story from NBC Washington

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.

DC: Big Increase in Marriage Licenses Since Gay Marriage Law Took Effect

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Marriage applications have skyrocketed since the District started issuing licenses for same-sex couples this month, with droves of gay partners expected to relocate to the city from states where they can’t tie the knot.

About 1,100 marriage applications have been filed in the District since March 3, according to courthouse spokeswoman Leah Gurowitz, nearly six times the average monthly count.

Though the numbers are expected to fade in coming months, lawyers, politicians and gay activists say same-sex couples will continue to migrate to the District, leaving behind states where they aren’t recognized.

Full Story from the Washington Examiner

Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington, DC.

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.