October, 2010

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WI: Lieutenant Governor Candidate: Gay Marriage Will Lead to Marrying Tables and Chairs

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Wisconsin Gay MarriageEver think “Wow, that’s one sexy little lamp, I’d like to commit myself to her forever!” Well, a lieutenant governor candidate from Wisconsin firmly believes that same sex marriage will lead to people marrying furniture and other inanimate objects. You know, because saying it would lead to polygamy or animal marriage just wasn’t shocking enough.

Via Blogging Blue, a newscast report on Scott Walker’s running mate Rebecca Kleefisch’s strange thoughts on gay marriage plays a radio clip of her saying:

The Gay Marriage debate heated up again today thanks to some controversial remarks made by one candidate on the trail. Kleefisch: “This is a slippery slope. In addition to that, at what point are we going to ok marrying inanimate objects? Can I marry this table or this, you know, chair? Can we marry dogs?”

Full Story from Care2

Click here for gay marriage resources in Wisconsin.

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Peru: Pro Gay Marriage Mayor Wins in Lima

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Susana VillaranThe battle to be mayor of Lima, finally won by Susana Villaran, may have been the tightest electoral race in Peru’s history. It was certainly one of the most drawn-out. Electoral officials took more than three weeks to recount 8,384 ballots that were challenged over technical errors such as missing fingerprints and signatures on tally sheets.

Exasperated Lima residents, who cast their votes on 3 October, took to the streets in protest just a day before conservative candidate Lourdes Flores conceded defeat to Ms Villaran. Ms Villaran, the candidate for a leftist movement known as Fuerza Social (Social Force), becomes the first elected female mayor of the Peruvian capital since it was founded in 1532.

Ms Villaran favours gay marriage and the decriminalisation of abortion, both deeply controversial topics in Peru. Her stance could have lost her votes. Nonetheless, her campaign slogan “hope will conquer fear” finally won through, albeit by the smallest of margins.

Full Story from BBC

Click here for gay marriage resources.

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UK: Gay Group Stonewall Reverses Course, Will Campaign for Marriage Equality

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Stonewall LogoGay lobbying charity Stonewall says it will campaign for lesbian and gay couples to have civil marriages in the UK. The charity has come under pressure in recent months from several of its co-founders and other gay campaigners to widen its remit on the issue.

In a statement posted on its website, the charity said: “Stonewall is pleased to be widening its campaigning objectives to include extending the legal form of marriage to gay people. We seek to secure marriage for gay people as a civil vehicle on the same basis as heterosexual marriage, available in a registry office but without a mandate on religious organisations to celebrate it. We seek to retain civil partnerships for lesbian and gay people recognising their special and unique status.”

It is not yet clear whether the charity supports giving heterosexual couples the right to civil partnerships.

Full Story from Pink News

Click here for gay marriage resources in England.

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.

Gay Marriage Events Today/Tomorrow

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

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

–USA, CA, West Hollywood: 10/26, Love Honor Cherish Meeting, Nat’l Council Of Jewish Women, 7:30 PM.
–USA, DC, Washington: 10/26, Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance Meeting, Sumner School Museum, 7 PM.
–USA, IA, Carroll: 10/26, Counter NOM Judges Tour – Fairness Fund, Carroll Co Courthse, 1 PM.
–USA, IA, Cedar Rapids: 10/27, Counter NOM Judges Tour – Fairness Fund, Linn Co Courthse, 12:30 PM.
–USA, IA, Clinton: 10/27, Counter NOM Judges Tour – Fairness Fund, Chancy Park, 5:45 PM.
–USA, IA, Mason City: 10/26, Counter NOM Judges Tour – Fairness Fund, Central Park, 5:30 PM.
–USA, IA, Sioux City: 10/26, Counter NOM Judges Tour – Fairness Fund, TBD, 10 AM.
–USA, IA, Waterloo/Cedar Falls: 10/27, Counter NOM Judges Tour – Fairness Fund, Lincoln Park, 10 AM.
–USA, IL, Chicago: 10/26, LGBT Persection Over the Years, Center on Halstead, 6:30 PM.
–USA, MA, Boston: 10/26, Get Out The Vote Phone Bank, Mass Equality Offices, 5-9 PM.
–USA, MA, Boston: 10/27, Get Out The Vote Phone Bank, Mass Equality Offices, 5-9 PM.
–USA, WA, Seattle: 10/27, Phonebanking for Pro-Equality Candidates, Equal Rights WA Offc, 6-8 PM.

CA: SF Gold’s Gyms to Leave Franchise Over GOP Contributions

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Gold's GymSan Francisco’s four Gold’s Gyms announced on Facebook today that they will be ending their franchise agreement with the company in response to the news that CEO Robert Rowling had donated millions to Karl Rove’s anti-gay American Crossroads PAC. The locally-owned Gold’s still have almost two years on their contract, but have vowed to “match every dollar” in their remaining franchise fees with “equal or greater” donations to LGBT causes.

Gold’s Gym San Francisco has long been a pillar of the gay community. We will continue to be. It is very unfortunate that the CEO of TRT holdings has chosen this course of action. We do not support it in any way. Our original contractual obligations to Gold’s Gym International were signed over 22 years ago and TRT holdings is just the latest in a series of ownership groups that has presided over Gold’s Gym.

Our company has worked for over twenty years to support our LGBT staff, members and community in everyway possible and we will continue to. We were as surprised by Mr. Rowling’s action as anyone but because our company believes in and lives up to the ideals of equality for all we are going to take the following actions.

Full Story from Joe.My.God

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.

IA: NOM Kick Out the Judges Tour in Des Moines: 42 People Show Up

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

NOM BusEquality supporters 98, NOM 42. That was the tally at the first stop for the NOM tour bus in Iowa.

NOM simply doesn’t give up, and sadly there has been a lot of money poured into Iowa to get rid of the judges responsible for marriage equality in that state. But the kickoff stop has proven that hate doesn’t draw crowds for Brian Brown or Maggie Gallagher. It’s embarrassing from a PR perspective. Prop 8 Trial Tracker has coverage:

This morning on the steps of the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, 98 equality supporters and several media outlets assembled to kickoff the Homegrown Justice Tour, a counter-tour organizing events in cities across Iowa to greet the Judge Bus.

Full Story from Pam’s House Blend

Click here for gay marriage resources in Iowa.

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.

Chile: 79% Say OK to Cohabitation Before Marriage, But Only 34% Say OK To Marriage Equality

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Chile Gay MarriageThe national survey, conducted by the Universidad Diego Portales’ Institute of Social Sciences between Sept. 11 and Sept. 30, polled more than 1,300 Chileans older than 18 on various political and social topics. Other topics that received wide public support were cohabitation before marriage, and divorce as the best alternative when a couple has exhausted all other possible solutions.

Nearly 79 percent said it was acceptable to live with a partner before marriage, yet the ultimate intention of marriage was still important. Only 56.7 percent said it was acceptable to cohabitate with a partner without the long-term expectation of marriage.

Nevertheless, questions dealing with homosexuality continued to divide the population, with only 54.7 percent of Chileans surveyed saying they believed it was as valid a sexual option as any other. Rights for gay individuals received even less support, with only 33.8 percent in favour of gay marriage, and a mere 22.5 percent supporting gay couples right to adopt.

Full Story from MercoPress

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.

Congo: Bishop Proposes Criminalizing Homosexuality

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

A Democratic Republic of Congo bishop and lawmaker said Monday he had put forward a bill that would make homosexuality a punishable offence, as being gay was an “abomination”.

“We would like the law to punish homosexuality, bestiality and necrophilia. Morally, homosexuality is a deviation, and spiritually, it is an abomination,” Ejiba Yamapiale said.

The bill comprises seven articles including imprisonment and fines for homosexuals, and will be debated by the National Assembly’s committee on society and culture.

Full Story from News24

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.

IA: New Poll on Keeping Justices: 36% Yes, 35% No

Monday, October 25th, 2010

Gay Marriage IowaIowa voters are closely split on the retention of three Iowa Supreme Court justices who were part of a unanimous ruling last year that allowed same-sex marriage, a new poll shows. Thirty-six percent of Iowa voters say they want to retain the justices, while 35 percent plan to vote “no,” according to the findings by Shaw & Company Research.

“These numbers track reasonably well with opposition to the Iowa Court’s decision to strike down legislation banning gay marriage,” pollster Daron Shaw said in a statement. “The retention elections are closer than one would typically expect, and while there are a lot of undecided voters there seems to be greater intensity on the ‘no’ side of the fight.”

The Nov. 2 election has received more attention than usual this year in light of the unanimous Iowa Supreme Court decision that overturned the state’s one-man, one-woman marriage law.

Full Story from the Des Moines Register

Click here for gay marriage resources in Iowa.

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.

HRC: Open Letter to President Obama On DADT

Monday, October 25th, 2010

Human Rights CampaignDear Mr. President:

Years from now, students of the movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality (LGBT) will no doubt see this fall as a pivotal period in the history of our struggle for fundamental fairness. In January, we were all inspired by your State of the Union pledge to end our nation’s discriminatory ban on open service by gays and lesbians.

Equally inspiring was the testimony in support of repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law by the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. We have come so far, but the only true measure of success is whether the thousands of brave gay and lesbian Americans who are serving their country, and the many more who want to serve their country, can do so openly and honestly. We have not yet met that goal, and without your leadership and unparalleled efforts, this historic opportunity to remove a stain of discrimination from our nation will pass all of us by.

Last week, lawyers for your administration asked for an emergency stay from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, seeking to end a worldwide injunction of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law while they work to overturn a federal judge’s conclusion that this law – one that you have called discriminatory and contrary to our national security on many occasions – offends the protections of our Constitution.

Full Story from SDGLN

Click here for gay marriage resources.

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