November, 2010

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DADT Study: Little Impact From Repeal

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

Don't Ask Don't TellDefense Secretary Robert Gates told Pentagon reporters on Tuesday that existing policies such as housing and spousal benefits for military service members “can and should be applied equally to homosexuals as well as heterosexuals.”

Gates says he does not expect the Pentagon would have to rethink those policies to accommodate gays if they are allowed to serve openly in the military.

He said a majority of concerns associated with repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” provision against gays serving openly could be addressed through increased training and education.

Full Story from the Washington Post

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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IL: House Approves Civil Unions Bill

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

Illinois Civil UnionsIllinois took a major step Tuesday night toward allowing civil unions for same-sex couples, a sign that gay rights keeps gaining momentum inside a Capitol where it languished for decades.

As onlookers broke out into cheers, the House for the first time ever approved civil unions, with one vote to spare. Supporters expect the Senate to follow suit Wednesday, and Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn campaigned this fall on a pledge to sign it into law.

“We have a chance here, as leaders have had in previous generations, to correct injustice and to move us down the path toward liberty,” said sponsoring Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, one of two openly gay lawmakers, his voice breaking with emotion. “It’s a matter of fairness, it’s a matter of respect, it’s a matter of equality.”

Full Story from The Chicago Tribune

Click here for gay marriage resources in Illinois.

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: Boston, New York, Chicago

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

Here’s our list of events today and tomorrow around the world relating to marriage equality, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and other LGBT equality issues. If you know of any other events – rallies, meetings, phonebanking, etc – please use the link below to add your event to our list!

–USA, IL, Chicago: 12/01, Wicked Opening Night Party – Equality IL Benefit, Crimson Lounge, 8 PM.
–USA, MA, Boston: 11/30, Phone Bank for Marriage Equality in RI, Mass Equality offices, 5-9 PM.
–USA, NY, New York: 12/01, MENY General Meeting, LGBT Center, 6:30-7:30 PM.

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

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European Court Turns Down Austrian Couple’s Marriage Equality Lawsuit

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

Austria Gay MarriageThe European Court of Human Rights has refused permission to appeal in a challenge to the ban on gay marriage in Austria. The effect of the decision is to make the court’s rejection of the same-sex couple’s claim final.

The decision means that the European Court of Human Rights will not force states to allow same-sex couples to marry, for now at least. This has a potential bearing on the UK, where a number of same-sex and heterosexual couples are currently bringing claims against UK laws which permit civil partnerships for same-sex couples but prevents them from marrying.

Horst Michael Schalk and Johann Franz Kopf claimed that the Austrian system – which from 1 January 2010 allowed for “registered” partnerships along similar lines to civil partnerships in the UK – breached their human rights. Specifically, they argued that the laws breached their article 12 “right to marry and found a family”, their article 8 rights to family life and their article 14 rights to be protected from discrimination.

Full Story from The UK Human Rights Blog

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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IL: Civil Unions Bill Set for Assembly Vote Tuesday

Monday, November 29th, 2010

The Illinois General Assembly is expected to vote on same-sex civil unions legislation Tuesday in Springfield. Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has said he expects state lawmakers to approve the bill and the governor has voiced his support.

The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (SB 1716), which is co-sponsored by openly gay Illinois State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), does not recognize same-sex marriages, but will provide the same spousal rights to same-sex partners when it comes to surrogate decision-making for medical treatment, survivorship, adoptions, and accident and health insurance.

The crucial piece of legislation has come under fire from conservative groups, including the Catholic Conference of Illinois and Washington D.C.-based National Organization for Marriage (NOM), which have lobbied hard against the bill.

Full Story from GoPride

Click here for gay marriage resources in Illinois.

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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New Poll: 58% Favor Allowing Gays to Serve Openly in Millitary

Monday, November 29th, 2010

Don't Ask Don't TellAccording to a Pew Research Center survey released today, 58% of Americans are in favor of allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. Among self-identified Republicans, however, 40% are in favor, while 44% are in opposition.

One last twist: Only 38% of Republicans and Republican leaners who say they agree with the tea party movement support allowing gays to serve openly, while 48% of tea partiers are opposed. But, still, the idea that nearly forty percent of even a radical makeshift Republican fringe group believe gays should just serve openly already is pretty remarkable.

These new numbers come two days before a Pentagon survey regarding “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which bars gays from serving openly in the military, falls on Obama’s desk.

Full Story from NYMag

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: Judges Chosen for Proposition 8 Appeal

Monday, November 29th, 2010

A staunch California liberal, a conservative Idaho Republican and a moderate Arizona Democrat were announced Monday as the members of the federal court panel that will hear next week’s appeal of a ruling striking down California’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Judges Stephen Reinhardt, N. Randy Smith and Michael Hawkins of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear two hours of arguments next Monday in San Francisco over Proposition 8, the 2008 initiative that defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

The panel was chosen by random selection several months ago but was not disclosed until a week before the hearing, a court policy designed to limit the parties’ ability to seek grounds to disqualify the judges.

Full Story from SFGate

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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MN: Judge Rejects Minnesota Family Council’s Intervention in Marriage Equality Lawsuit

Monday, November 29th, 2010

A judge has rejected an attempt by the Minnesota Family Council to intervene in a lawsuit challenging state law that bans same-sex marriage. Three same-sex couples filed a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota earlier this year arguing that the Defense of Marriage Act signed into law in 1997 violates the state Constitution.

The Family Council argued that it should be part of the lawsuit, in part, because if DOMA is ruled unconstitutional, it will cost them millions to fight same-sex marriage. The court said the group has no standing to defend DOMA.

Peter J. Nickitas, the Attorney for the couples, said, “This decision is a great victory for the plaintiffs and their families, marriage equality, and the integrity of the court system.”

Full Story from Lez Get Real

Click here for gay marriage resources in Minnesota.

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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TX: Wedding of Gay Couple Married on Skype Declared Invalid in DC

Monday, November 29th, 2010

Mark Reed-Walkup and Dante Walkup, of Texas, are the first same-sex couple in the U.S. to use Skype to become legally married. But now their marriage has been ruled unacceptable.
The men, who have been together for more than 10 years wanted to get married, but same-sex marriages are not performed or recognized in Texas.

They wanted their wedding to take place in their home town of Dallas, so they did some research and found that they could be married by an officiant in Washington, D.C., via Skype. “We travelled to the District of Columbia in May and went to the marriage bureau and got our licence,” said Reed-Walkup, 51.

Full Story from Lez Get Real

Click here for gay marriage resources in Texas.

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: Dublin, Palm Springs, Boston

Monday, November 29th, 2010

Here’s our list of events today and tomorrow around the world relating to marriage equality, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and other LGBT equality issues. If you know of any other events – rallies, meetings, phonebanking, etc – please use the link below to add your event to our list!

–Ireland, Dublin: 11/29, LGBT Diversity National Conference, Westbury Hotel, 9:30 AM-4:45 PM.
–USA, CA, Palm Springs: 11/30, March for Military Equality, Welwood Murray Memorial Library, 12 PM.
–USA, MA, Boston: 11/30, Phone Bank for Marriage Equality in RI, Mass Equality offices, 5-9 PM.

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

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