Gay Marriage Watch

Texans who attend church more than once a week are three times as likely to oppose relationship recognition for same-sex couples as those who don’t attend church at all. And Texans who didn’t complete high school are twice as likely to oppose relationship recognition as those with four-year college degrees.

Meanwhile, those who identify as “strong Democrats” are seven times as likely to support marriage equality as those who identify as “strong Republicans.” And Latinos in Texas are more likely to support marriage equality than either whites or blacks.

These are among the findings of University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll released this week. Overall, the poll of 800 registered voters found that a solid majority of Texans, about 63 percent, support some form of relationship recognition for same-sex couples, either marriage or civil unions. Only 30 percent of poll respondents said they oppose both marriage and civil unions, while 7 percent said they “don’t know.” The poll, conducted the first week of February, has a margin of error of 3.5 percent.

Full Story from the Dallas Voice
Click here for gay marriage resources in Texas.
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“Gay and lesbian couples have civil unions. A relationship uniquely and quite properly their own. A relationship that causes no confusion. A relationship that can be respected. Let’s return their relationship to a rightful institution that is clearly understood, and that can be respected by all in its own right.” – Rep. John Cebrowski, NH House floor, 2/17/2010

Rep. John Cebrowski (R-Bedford) was the first New Hampshire state representative to speak today on HB 1590, a bill that would have repealed New Hampshire’s marriage equality law. The bill was defeated by a vote of 210 to 109. A whopping 40 Republicans voted to defeat the bill, but not Cerbrowski.

Cebrowski’s speech was astonishing not just for the raw disrespect he showed to gays and lesbians (while repeatedly stating otherwise), but also for the talking points he used. Cebrokswi used the approach and language of Jim Crow: infantilization; patronization; segregation; debasement of allies. The only thing he forgot to say explicitly was “there goes the neighborhood”. Truly, it was a textbook example of how the mindset behind racism and the mindset behind homophobia can be one in the same.

Full Story from Pam’s House Blend
Click here for gay marriage resources in New Hampshire.
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Many berate me anytime I suggest that the successful “everything but marriage” campaign in the state of Washington may be a short-term blueprint for how our community should move forward on marriage equality. Of course, I try to explain that I believe in true marriage equality, but I also understand that “oatmeal is better than no meal.”

Given the current American voter climate of “throw the bums out,” it’s likely that the Democratic majority in Congress, and in state legislatures, will be significantly reduced or (god forbid) eliminated. As we continue our fight toward marriage equality, we should pursue interim steps that will ensure success in the new political environment.

Many marriage activists explain to me how separate but equal can never be equal. Separate but equal conjures up the vision of “colored” facilities that were hardly equal to those offered to whites. During segregation, separate but equal was a misnomer. However, because the concept was not effectively implemented does not mean that the concept is patently bad when applied to appropriate situations. Racial segregation was not an appropriate situation. Today, most of us experience separate but equal everyday in America and throughout the world. No, I am not talking about havens of prejudice or bigotry. Think about it, where do you experience separate but equal in your every day life?

Full Story from GLTNN
Click here for gay marriage resources.
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With the nation’s capital poised to begin allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry, opinions nationwide remain closely divided, but two-thirds of all Americans now say gay and lesbian couples should be able to have the same rights as heterosexual couples through civil unions. In a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, 47 percent say gay marriages should be legal, with 31 percent saying they feel that way “strongly.” Intensity is stronger among opponents, however: overall, half say such marriages should be illegal, including 42 percent who say so strongly.

Civil unions draw broader support. Two-thirds now say they favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to form civil unions that would give them many of the same legal rights as married couples. That’s an increase of 12 percentage points since a December 2007 poll that asked about civil unions for “homosexual couples.”

In the new poll, support for civil unions is at 50 percent or better across party and ideological lines. Support for such arrangements is now 15 points higher than it was a few years ago among conservatives; it’s up 13 points among Republicans.

Full Story from the Washington Post
Click here for gay marriage resources.
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Though the winner of the GOP gubernatorial nomination is still a toss up between Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady, front-runner Brady is already making plans for the Illinois gay community–he wants to change state Constitution to ban same-sex marriages. “I’m trying to give the government back to the people,” Sen. Brady (R-Bloomington) said regarding his proposal, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Apparently, he means the straight people.

The proposal would also ban civil unions in the state.

Brady’s opponent Dillard is also opposed to gay marriage and civil unions, but it was not clear whether he would try to change the Constitution over the issue.

Full Story from the Huffington Post
Click here for gay marriage resources in Illinois.
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Gay-rights advocates are preparing a lawsuit alleging that the state is violating the equal protection rights of same-sex couples by not passing a civil-unions law. Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai’i yesterday said they would bring the lawsuit after the state House voted on Friday to indefinitely postpone action on civil unions this session.

The lawsuit will be based on a 1993 Hawai’i Supreme Court ruling which held that denying same-sex couples the ability to marry was a violation of their equal-protection rights under the state Constitution.

Voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1998 that gave the state Legislature the right to define marriage — and lawmakers have defined it as between a man and a woman — so gay-rights advocates are unable to claim a right to marry.

Full Story from the Honolulu Advertiser
Click here for gay marriage resources in Hawaii.
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Hawaii lawmakers declined to vote today on a bill that would have allowed same-sex civil unions, effectively killing the measure. The state House of Representatives decided to indefinitely postpone a decision on whether to grant gay and lesbian couples the same rights and benefits the state provides to married couples.

The state Senate had approved a civil unions bill last week. But House leadership wavered on pushing the controversial issue. Last year, 33 of 51 House members voted in favor of civil unions. Civil union supporters in the crowded House gallery on Friday shouted, “Shame on you!” while opponents cheered.

“It’s an election year, and they’re more concerned about keeping their seats than doing what’s right,” said Stephen Nagle of Kaaawa, wearing a rainbow lei in support of civil unions.

Full Story from the Mercury News
Click here for gay marriage resources in Hawaii .
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REPUBLICAN state Sens. John Bonacic and William Larkin say the same rights provided to male-female married couples in New York could be extended to same-sex couples — but only under terms that identify the relationships as “civil unions.” Both senators oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York and voted it against it when the matter came up in their chamber last month. The Senate rejected the same-sex marriage bill just hours after the Assembly approved it on Dec. 2.

The five state senators who represent the Mid-Hudson Valley — Bonacic, Larkin, Stephen Saland, James Seward and Vincent Leibell — voted “no.” All are Republicans.

Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, said during a recent telephone interview that terms used to define marriage are “deep rooted in every religion in the country and in the world.”

Full Story from the Daily Freeman

Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.

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Illinois statewide gay rights organization has renewed its effort to pass legislation to recognize and protect same-sex couples in Illinois. During the first week of the new legislative session last week, Equality Illinois had its full lobbying team in place meeting with legislators and advocates at the Illinois Statehouse.

Last year, the Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act passed out of a House committee but never came to a full vote in the General Assembly. The Equality Illinois is renewing its push this year confident that the bill can get the necessary votes for passage and is working with a range of community, civil rights, religious and civic organizations to solidify support.

“I continue to lobby my legislative colleagues on civil unions and marriage equality, who have one eye on the financial melt-down of the State budget and their other eye on their upcoming re-election campaigns,” said State Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago) the sponsor of the bill in the House. “We have a lot of work to do but we are moving forward in a steady way.”

Full Story from the Vital Voice

Click here for gay marriage resources in Illinois.

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They have already weather decades of intolerance, so what’s a little wind and rain? About three dozen proponents of gay rights gathered Wednesday afternoon, waving oversize rainbow flags and holding signs with phrases like “What’s wrong with love?” and “Civil Union = Economic Justice” in front of the Historic County Building along Rice Street in Lihu‘e two days before the state Senate gathers for a potentially historic vote in Honolulu.

House Bill 444, if it becomes law, would extend the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities of spouses in a marriage to partners in a civil union.

“It needs to be viewed more as the government has a responsibility to treat all its citizens equally,” said Kipukai Kuali‘i, one of the event organizers. He said the issue has been “clouded by religious beliefs” and confusion will continue “until we stand up and provide education and provide examples of what the truth is.”

Full Story from The Garden Island

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.