July, 2011

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New Survey Shows Growing Support for Gay Rights in Conservative America

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Research released Monday on national attitudes regarding LGBT rights finds a slim majority in favor of marriage equality, yet a solid consensus on employment protections and adoption rights.

People in areas of the country with the least LGBT protections also appear to be more progressive than their elected officials, according to the recent survey, conducted by Anna Greenberg of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and commissioned by the Human Rights Campaign. Seventy-three percent of respondents in the South, for example, said they support employment protections for LGBT people, even though the vast majority of the region lacks state statutes banning such discrimination (78% of Midwest residents polled also support employment protections).

The national survey of 900 adults found 51% support for marriage rights; 58% further favor extending equal federal benefits to same-sex couples who have married in states where it’s legal to do so.

Full Story from The Advocate

Click here for gay wedding resources.

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More Celebrities Join NoH8 Campaign

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

‘Glee’ co-star Kevin McHale, comedian Margaret Cho, transgender actress Candis Cayne and Kiss frontman Gene Simmons have joined the NOH8 Campaign, which raises awareness and funds for gay rights causes, including ending California’s 2008 voter-approved gay marriage ban, Proposition 8.

The NOH8 Campaign, which is helmed by photographer-activist Adam Bouska and his partner Jeff Parshley, photographs celebrities and everyday folks with their mouths duct taped and the campaign’s familiar “NOH8″ slogan often written on one cheek.

In his photo, Simmons is wearing sunglasses and pointing with one hand while signing “I love you” with the other.

Full Story from On Top Magazine

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NY: Pop-Up Gay Weddings Planned for Central Park Saturday – Designs Chosen

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Pop-Up Wedding ChapelDesigns have been chosen from a competition for two “Pop-Up” chapels that will be constructed at Merchants’ Gate near 59th Street in Central Park this Saturday. 24 gay and lesbian couples have been selected to marry in them. Pop Up Chapel begins at 10 am.

Architizer, which sponsored the competition with The Knot, writes about the winning entries:

Z-A Studio’s “KISS” is a tulip-like volume, comprised of gently caressing waves of stacked recycled honeycomb cardboard. The ensemble is supported by a plywood base, while all materials will be affixed using common wood glue. The architects suggest that the union of the two delicate forms creates a “stable entity, that is more than the sum of its parts”-an apt description of marriage, we think. When abstracted the same sentiment speaks to the nature of architectonics and space, which, perhaps, is only made present by the joining of constituencies. The formal motif can also be extended to other parts of the site, with curving tables and benches accommodating guests and other couples. We also loved the architect’s adorable send off: “Give KISS a chance!”

Full Story from Towleroad.com

Click here for gay wedding resources in New York.

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NY: Attorney General Joins DOMA Fight

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

New York Attorney General Eric SchneidermanNew York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has filed briefs in the Edie Windsor lawsuit challenging the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Writes the AG’s office in a press release:

Schneiderman filed the papers in federal court in support of the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment in the case of Windsor v. United States. The plaintiff, Edie Windsor, was married in Canada in 2007 to her partner, Thea Spyer, who died two years later.

Following Spyer’s death, the federal government refused to acknowledge the couple’s marriage under DOMA and taxed the resulting inheritance accordingly. Windsor then filed suit, challenging the constitutionality of DOMA and seeking a refund of the estate taxes she was forced to pay as a result of the federal government’s refusal to recognize her marriage.

Full Story from Towleroad.com

Click here for gay wedding resources in New York.

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NOM Defector Claims Group Spent Money on Expensive Dinners, Gambling

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Louis MarinelliFormer National Organization for Marriage ally Louis J. Marinelli is now claiming that during last year’s dismal “Summer for Marriage” tour, the organization’s staff spent money on $500 dinners and gambling.

Marinelli was once affiliated with NOM, where he helped to plan and served as bus driver during the organization’s “Summer for Marriage” tour.

Louis Marinelli with the NOM Summer for Marriage 2010 tour bus.
It was during this tour, according to Marinelli, that he noticed that NOM’s staff were acting most un-Christian in certain ways:

… I noticed how money was being spent in ways that I didn’t consider to be very Christian-like, even though the face of their movement, their press releases, their highly scripted and scrutinized videos, their advertisements and their talking points are all appealing to many conservative Christians.

Full Story from LGBTQ Nation

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Colombia: Constitutional Court Gives Legislature Two Years to Implement Gay Unions

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Colombia Constitutional CourtColombia’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday mandated the legal recognition of gay couples.

A majority of the 9-judge panel agreed that gay and lesbian couples have the right to form a family and gave Congress two years to legislate on gay unions, Bogota-based El Tiempo reported.

“If by the 20th of July, 2013 Congress has not acted, gay couples can go to a notary and with the same solemnity of a heterosexual marriage enter a union similar to one between a heterosexual couple,” said Judge Juan Carlos Henao, the court’s president.

Full Story from On Top Magazine

Click here for gay wedding resources.

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US: Both Sides Think Gay Marriage Will Be a Winning Issue in 2012

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

The economy is king in 2012 politics, but in a close election, the issue of same-sex marriage could make a difference.

With New York recently legalizing gay marriage, the Pentagon processing the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and Congress battling over the Defense of Marriage Act, gay rights have gotten a lot of media attention, and activists on both sides of the argument believe they have a politically potent issue.

Voters who strongly support or strongly oppose same-sex marriage will likely be more apt to get out and vote next year and inspire others to do the same, particularly since several key states are already embroiled in the debate, with battleground state Minnesota adding a gay marriage ban vote to the state’s 2012 ballot, and Colorado, another swing state, close to adding a vote to repeal its marriage ban to the ballot, if advocates gather enough signatures. “Clearly the overriding issue in the next election is going to be the economy and jobs,” says Brian Darling, a senior fellow for government studies at the conservative Heritage Foundation. But when votes get close, he says, “issues like traditional marriage can make a critical difference in an election and may be a deciding factor.”

Full Story from US News

Click here for gay wedding resources.

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Italy: Parliament Rejects Anti Homophobia Bill

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Italian ParliamentActivists are calling on the European Union for help after Italy’s Parliament rejected a bill protecting LGBT people from hate crimes and discrimination, by a vote of 293 to 250.

Italy already bans discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, ethnicity and nationality but campaigners say rising numbers of homophobic and transphobic attacks means LGBT people need more protection.

Full Story from Towleroad.com

Click here for gay wedding resources in Italy.

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Marriage Equality Events Today/Tomorrow: Vancouver, NYC, Seattle

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Gay Marriage EventsHere’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!

–Canada, BC, Vancouver: 07/26-07/28, Vancouver 2011 Outgames Human Rights Conference.
–USA, NY, New York: 07/26, Gay Couples Marry for Free, Washington Square Park, 9 AM-12 PM.
–USA, NY, New York: 07/26 & 07/29, Gay & Lesbian Wedding Cruise, World’s Fair Marina, Flushing, 7-11 PM.
–USA, WA, Seattle: 07/27, Equal Rights WA Volunteer Night, Equal Rights WA Office, 6-9 PM.

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

India: Married Lesbian Couple Seeks Protection From Family

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

A recently married lesbian couple from Manesar, a small town near New Delhi, have asked a court to protect them from family members after receiving death threats.

“Our family members can take harsh steps against us,” they said. “They even threatened to kill us. We were married on the 22nd and are now in court seeking protection.”

The two women, aged 20 and 25, ran away from home and got married, despite objections from their families. While homosexuality is not illegal in India, same-sex marriages are not recognized by the law.

Full Story from The Advocate

Click here for gay wedding 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. We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.