May, 2010

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Malawi: Gay Couple Sent to Separate Prisons

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

A gay couple jailed for 14 years in Malawi have been separated into prisons more than 40 miles apart with little hope of maintaining contact. Steven Monjeza, 26, and his partner, 20-year-old Tiwonge Chimbalanga, were last week convicted of gross indecency and unnatural acts and sentenced to the maximum 14 years with hard labour.

Monjeza has been sent to the 1938-built maximum security prison in Zomba, while Chimbalanga remains at Chichiri prison in the commercial capital, Blantyre.

“I can confirm that the two were separated,” activist George Thindwa said. “Steven was sent to Zomba on Sunday.” Thindwa said he was tipped about the move by a top prison authority, who phoned him to say: “Your friend Steve is going to Zomba maximum prison.”

Full Story from The Guardian

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Gay Marriage Events Today/Tomorrow

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Gay Marriage Events Today/Tomorrow (Full Events List & Details: http://www.purpleunions.com/mn/gay-marriage-events-list.html):

–Australia, NSW, Sydney: 05/18-05/29, IDAHO The Exhibition 2010, Kudos Gallery.
–USA, CA, Los Angeles: 05/25, Harvey Milk Day Girls Night, Standard Rooftop Bar, 7 PM-2 AM.
–USA, CA, Sacramento: 05/26, Phonebanking for Volunteers, Equality CA Office, 6-9 PM.
–USA, CA, West Hollywood: 05/25, Love Honor Cherish Meeting, Crescent Hts UMC, 7:30 PM.
–USA, CA, West Hollywood: 05/26, Equal Network Meeting, Plummer Pk Comm Ctr, 7-9:30 PM.
–USA, DC, Washington: 05/25, Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance Meeting, Sumner School Museum, 7 PM.
–USA, IL, Chicago: 05/25, Join the Impact Chicago Meeting, Underground Cafe, 7-9 PM.
–USA, NY, New York: 05/25, Empire City Men’s Chorus – MENY Benefit, Church of St. Ann, 8-10 PM.
–USA, NY, New York: 05/25, LBGT Happy Hour for Kristen Gillibrand, TBD, 7 PM.
–USA, NY, Rochester: 05/25, Civil Rights Front Rochester, Equal Grounds, 7 PM.
–USA, OR, Portland: 05/25, Tales from the Campaign Trail, Curious Comedy Theater, 5:30-8 PM.
–USA, RI, Providence: 05/25, Providence Equality Action Committee Meeting, Bell St. Chapel, 7-8:30 PM.

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FL: Transgender GOP Candidate for Congress Opposes Gay Marriage

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Remember Donna Milo, the Cuban transwoman who’s running as a Republican Congress? She believes marriage should be between “a man and a woman” and that her “triumphs are based on [her] abilities, not on a label or a crutch.”

That’s nice, except that the crutches she’s supposedly never used are the same ones that allowed her to become a US citizen, get married and have kids.

According to Milo’s website she was born in Cuba in the early 1960s and came to America at age three. As such, she benefited from the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act which changed the legal status of Cuban immigrants to grant them “permanent resident status” with access to legal work, medical care, government welfare, and unemployment benefits. So Milo’s right; she didn’t depend on a crutch so much as a automatic wheelchair.

Full Story from Queerty

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.

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HI: Governor Lingle Met With Anti Gay Group Privately While Civil Unions Bill Awaits Action

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

The governor wants to hear from both sides before she makes a decision on civil unions – and she held the first of two private meetings on Monday. She’s talking to people both for and against the measure that would extend the same rights as marriage to same-sex couples.

About 30 opponents of the measure attended a two-hour long private session in the governor’s office. “House Bill 444 is not about civil rights but about creating special rights,” said civil unions opponent Garrett Hashimoto.

Religious leaders and several youth were among the group. “For example, what comes next, same sex marriage? what comes next, homosexuality being taught in the schools?,” asked Ryan Mc Donald, civil union opponent.

Full Story from KHON2

Click here for gay marriage resources in Hawaii.

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.

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NY: Activists Crash Anti Gay Marriage Democrat’s Fundraiser

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Call it fairness. Call it karma. Call it Joseph Addabbo getting a run for his money. The New York State Senator is one of eight Democrats who voted against the marriage equality bill late last year. So when he celebrated his birthday with a fundraiser in Richmon Hill, Queens on Sunday, members of the LGBT community called him out on his actions and disrupted the shindig.

Members of the direct action group Queer Rising confronted Addabbo about the substantial financial and electoral assistance he received from gay groups in 2008. After much support, they were still disappointed when he voted against the marriage bill.

They yelled “Joe Must Go!” to a room that included the senator’s family. NBCNewYork reached out to Senator Addabbo’s office, where he was not available for comment.

[End of Article]

Full Story from NBC NY with Video

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.

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CA: Prop 8 Supporters Say Televising Arguments Might Make Judge Rule Against Them

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

The sponsors of California’s ban on same-sex marriage asked a federal judge in San Francisco today to refuse to allow a broadcast of closing arguments on whether the measure is constitutional. The closing arguments in a lawsuit challenging the voter-approved Proposition 8 are tentatively scheduled for June 16 in the court of U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker.

Charles Cooper, a lawyer for the Proposition 8 sponsors, argued in a letter to Walker that a U.S. Supreme Court order blocking televising of the testimony portion of the trial in January should also apply to the closing arguments.

Cooper wrote that possible negative effects of broadcasting on judges and lawyers include “distraction, grandstanding and avoidance of unpopular decisions or positions.” The letter asks that a request by 12 media organizations to broadcast the arguments should be “promptly rejected.”

Full Story from NBC Bay Area

Click here for gay marriage resources in California.

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.

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US: Deal on DADT Repeal Would Pass Now, Take Effect Over Several Years

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Congressional Democrats reached an agreement Monday with the White House and possibly the Pentagon on a key legislative step toward repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that bars openly gay soldiers from the military.

In a letter to President Obama obtained by CNN, three congressional sponsors of legislation to repeal the policy outlined the proposed agreement that would set contingencies based on completion of a military review of the matter already under way and subsequent final approval from the president and military leaders.

Specifically, the proposed agreement calls for repeal to become final only after completion of the military review expected by the end of 2010, followed by a review certification from Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen.

Full Story from CNN

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.

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Gay Marriage Events Today/Tomorrow

Monday, May 24th, 2010

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

–Australia, NSW, Sydney: 05/18-05/29, IDAHO The Exhibition 2010, Kudos Gallery.
–USA, CA, Beverly Hills: 05/24, LA Equal Roots Meeting, 360 South Canon, 7:30-9:30 PM.
–USA, CA, Los Angeles: 05/25, Harvey Milk Day Girls Night, Standard Rooftop Bar, 7 PM-2 AM.
–USA, CA, San Francisco: 05/24, Comm Reception w/Bishop Senyonjo, African Amer Arts/Culture Comp, 6:30-8 PM.
–USA, CA, West Hollywood: 05/25, Love Honor Cherish Meeting, Crescent Hts UMC, 7:30 PM.
–USA, DC, Washington: 05/25, Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance Meeting, Sumner School Museum, 7 PM.
–USA, IL, Chicago: 05/25, Join the Impact Chicago Meeting, Underground Cafe, 7-9 PM.
–USA, NY, New York: 05/25, Empire City Men’s Chorus – MENY Benefit, Church of St. Ann, 8-10 PM.
–USA, NY, New York: 05/25, LBGT Happy Hour for Kristen Gillibrand, TBD, 7 PM.
–USA, NY, Rochester: 05/25, Civil Rights Front Rochester, Equal Grounds, 7 PM.
–USA, OR, Portland: 05/25, Tales from the Campaign Trail, Curious Comedy Theater, 5:30-8 PM.

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Slovakia: Skinhead Attack Cancels First Gay Pride March

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Slovakia’s first ever gay pride parade was canceled today after skinheads attacked the participants with rocks, eggs and a tear gas grenade. Organizers are blaming police for not providing adequate protection. Eight neo-Nazis were arrested and there were no serious injuries.

Members of the neo-Nazi group Slovenska Pospolitost attacked the participants at a pre-parade rally for LGBT rights. A tear gas canister thrown by one of the approximately 80 neo-Nazis interrupted the rally, attended by 500 people, while the extremists also were throwing eggs at the participants, the Sme daily reported.

Two rally participants who were carrying a rainbow flag, the symbol of the parade, were attacked by the neo-Nazis at Hviezdoslav Square in Bratislava. They attacked the flag barriers with their fists in the face, the SITA newswire reported. The rally and parade had been announced long in advance and observers said that the police had enough time to prepare for the security and safety of the parade participants.

Full Story from Joe.My.God

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.

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US: Opposition to Gay Marriage Dips in Latest Poll

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Gay Marriage Poll graph

Opponents of legalizing same-sex marriage continue to outnumber supporters in the United States, by 53% to 44%. However, opposition is now tied for the lowest Gallup has measured. Support was slightly higher, at 46%, in 2007.

These results are based on Gallup’s Values and Beliefs Poll, which has tracked attitudes toward legal same-sex marriage annually since 2004. When Gallup first asked about the legality of gay marriage in a 1996 poll, 68% of Americans were opposed and 27% in favor.

Since that time, support has increased among the major political and ideological subgroups, though more among those on the left of the political spectrum than among those on the right. Currently, a majority of Democrats favor legal gay marriage, as do a majority of moderates and liberals, with liberals the most supportive of these groups, at 70%.

Full Story from Gallup

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.

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