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Sunday, January 10th, 2010
New Jersey’s fight over gay marriage was cast as a debate over civil rights and a new chapter in America’s culture wars. But Thursday’s state Senate defeat of the controversial bill, considered a “slam dunk” to pass just a few months ago, also was a simple case of what happens in the bare-knuckle world of New Jersey politics.
Supporters and opponents said everything changed when Gov. Jon Corzine lost to Republican Chris Christie on Election Day. “A chilling effect,” said Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts (D-Camden).
What happened on the way to Thursday’s vote is also a tale of turnabout in a Legislature where personality conflicts, political intrigue and religious beliefs trumped what advocates called a “vote of conscience.”
Full Story from NJ.com: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/01/gay_marriage_in_new_jersey_onc.html
Click here for gay marriage resources in New Jersey.
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Posted in bill, Gay Marriage, Jon Corzine, lame duck, marriage equality, new jersey, nj, same sex marriage | No Responses »
Thursday, January 7th, 2010
Gay Ugandans likely won’t face the death penalty after the president said he opposed the provision in proposed legislation, but an international gay rights group said Thursday even a watered-down bill would be repressive. President Yoweri Museveni has told colleagues he believes the bill is too harsh and has encouraged his ruling National Resistance Movement Party to overturn the death sentence provision, which would apply to sexually active gays living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape according to a copy of the draft law.
The proposed bill, though, says anyone convicted of a homosexual act – which includes touching someone of the same sex with the intent of committing a homosexual act – would face life imprisonment. It is unclear whether Museveni supports that provision or not.
Gay rights activists say the bill, introduced in the fall of 2009, promotes hatred and could set back efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in the conservative East African country. Protests already have been held in London, New York and Washington.
Full Story from WRAL.com: http://www.wral.com/news/national_world/world/story/6757695/
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.
Posted in bill, death penalty, gay rights, president, uganda | No Responses »
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010
Gay-rights advocates in New Jersey made what could be a last-ditch push yesterday to persuade lawmakers to legalize gay marriage quickly. At a time when lawmakers are calling the issue a matter of conscience, activists have been pushing the idea that some religious leaders are accepting of same-sex marriage.
“It’s not about religion,” said the Rev. Joseph Harmon, pastor of the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation in Jersey City. “People who won’t want to do it for religion reasons don’t have to.”
A group of about 150 clergy of various faiths sent lawmakers a letter making a similar argument and asking them to support gay marriage.
Full Story from the Philadelphia Inquirer: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20100105_N_J__rally_backs_gay_marriage.html
Click here for gay marriage resources in New Jersey.
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.
Posted in assembly, bill, Gay Marriage, new jersey, nj, senate | No Responses »
Friday, January 1st, 2010
The mayor of Mexico City has refused to veto the bill introducing gay marriage, the Informador reported. The law, which was approved on 21 December, has suffered consistent criticism, with opponents urging Mayor Marcelo Ebrard of the progressive Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) to exercise his mayoral right to veto. The Roman Catholic archbishop of Mexico, Cardinal Noberto Rivera Carrera, deemed the bill “immoral” and “reprehensible.”
Ebrard, however, has refused to overturn the new rules, which include specific rights for gays to adopt and are scheduled to take effect in March.
Alejandro Rojas, the city’s tourism secretary said: “Mexico City will become a center, where people from all over the world will be able to come and have their wedding, and then spend their honeymoon here”.
Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/31/mexico-city-mayor-refuses-to-veto-gay-marriage-legislation/
Click here for gay marriage resources in Mexico.
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.
Posted in bill, Gay Marriage, mayor, mexico, mexico city, refuses, veto | No Responses »
Friday, January 1st, 2010
Rhode Island lawmakers will try to override the governor’s veto of legislation allowing same-sex couples to plan the funerals of their partners. The bill received near-unanimous support from both chambers this year.
But it was vetoed by Republican Gov. Don Carcieri, who said it represented an erosion of the principles behind heterosexual marriage.
The governor said rights for domestic partners should be decided by voters, not by the General Assembly. The bill is among those scheduled to be dealt with before the House and Senate start their new sessions on Tuesday.
Full Story from the Nashua Telegraph: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/statenewengland/509373-227/ri-lawmakers-plan-override-vote-on-gay.html
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.
Posted in bill, funeral rights, gay, governor carcieri, lesbian, override veto, rhode island, ri | No Responses »
Friday, January 1st, 2010
In a setback for same-sex marriage in New Jersey, a bill to legalize it will not get an Assembly hearing on Monday. WNYC’s Bob Hennelly has this update.
REPORTER: In a statement released on New Year’s Eve, outgoing Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts said the marathon public hearing on the bill, held in early December by the Senate Judiciary Committee, was sufficient. That committee narrowly approved the marriage equality measure.
Roberts did say that if the full Senate passes the controversial bill, he’ll allow an up-or-down vote on it by the full Assembly before the end of the current session. That’s when Governor Corzine leaves office, and he’s pledged to sign the bill.
Full Story from WNYC: http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/147371
Click here for gay marriage resources in New Jersey.
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.
Posted in assembly, bill, Gay Marriage, new jersey, nj, senate | No Responses »
Monday, December 28th, 2009
Some gay rights advocates are upset with a Chicago congressman who’s trying to spearhead an overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws. Congressman Luis Gutierrez says he supports a proposal to allow lawful U.S. residents to sponsor the immigration of a same-sex partner.
GUTIERREZ: If you’re gay and you’re married, if you’re a man and man or a woman and a woman, I think the government should recognize that marriage.
But a sweeping immigration bill that Gutiérrez unveiled this month leaves same-sex families out. A statement from the congressman’s office says he does remain committed to ending discrimination against gay immigrants.
Full Story from Chicago Public Radio: http://www.wbez.org/Content.aspx?audioID=39071
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.
Posted in bill, Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Gay Marriage, immigration, marriage equality, reform, same sex couples | No Responses »
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Legislation that would grant gays and lesbians the right to marry in New Jersey appears dead. It’s a question of arithmetic. At least four of the state Senate’s 23 Democrats are expected to vote against the legislation, leaving it two shy of the 21 votes needed to get it through the Senate. That means two Republican votes are needed for the Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act to pass.
It has to pass both houses of the Legislature — it appears to have the votes in the Assembly — and get to Gov. Jon Corzine’s desk before his successor, Christopher Christie, takes office on Jan. 19. Mr. Christie has said he will veto the legislation.
State Sen. Bill Baroni, a Hamilton Republican who represents parts of Mercer and Middlesex counties, voted in favor of the bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee and will do so again if the bill ever makes it to the Senate floor. Expectations were that at least one moderate Republican — one of the five others who backed the state’s civil unions bill — would join Sen. Baroni on the right side of history.
Full Story from CentralJersey.com: http://centraljersey.com/articles/2009/12/22/opinions/doc4b31590dcd59f799453819.txt
Click here for gay marriage resources in New Jersey.
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.
Posted in bill, dead, Gay Marriage, new jersey, nj | No Responses »
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
As reports emerge that Uganda’s president has promised to veto the “kill the gays” bill, five GOP Congressman have spoken out against the legistlation:
“Five Republican representatives – Chris Smith, Frank Wolf, Joe Pitts, Trent Franks and Anh ‘Joseph’ Cao – have written a letter to Ugandan President Yoweri Mouseveni pressing him to stop pending legislation that would severely criminalize homosexuality and sometimes impose the death penalty for homosexual acts. In the letter, which you can read in full here, the men say their religious faith requires them to oppose the legislation because it contradicts the ‘foundational Christian belief in the inherent dignity and worth of all men and women.’”
The letter invokes the anti-gay Manhattan Declaration: “As Members of Congress and as men of faith, we support the principles set forth in the declaration and are thankful for the principled position of these faith leaders on a host of issues, from the sanctity of life for the unborn and others, to religious freedom, to human dignity, to the belief that marriage is an institution between one man and one woman.”
Full Story from Towleroad.com: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/12/gop-reps-invoke-antigay-manhattan-declaration-in-condemnation-of-ugandan-kill-the-gays-bill.html
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.
Posted in bill, death penalty, gay rights, gop, manhattan declaration, republicans, uganda | No Responses »
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
After the dramatic February defeat of a proposed domestic partnership bill, a New Mexico senator is sponsoring a bill that would ban gay marriage in the state, the New Mexico Independent reported. Senator William Sharer, a Republican from Farmington, has pre-filed legislation that would define marriage as a heterosexual union in the New Mexico Constitution.
The bill proposes adding the following text to the constitution: “Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman.” Voter approval is needed to alter the state’s constitution.
Similar attempts in the last two sessions of the Legislature have died in committee.
Full Story from On Top Magazine: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5030&MediaType=1&Category=26
Click here for gay marriage resources in New Mexico.
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.
Posted in ban, bill, Gay Marriage, lawmaker, new mexico, republican, William Sharer | No Responses »
