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Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
Both sides of the gay marriage issue are planning events for the start of the new legislative session in January. The Iowa Family Policy Center announced Monday it will hold a two-day event beginning at the state capitol on the second day of the legislative session January 12th. Center spokesman, Brian English, says the event if called “Two Days For Marriage.”
He says, “The 12th is an opportunity for the people of Iowa who support marriage, the only definition of marriage, which is one man and one woman, and or the constitutional separation of powers, to come together at the capitol building when all three branches of government are in the same place at the same time.” English says it is a show of solidarity asking the elected leaders to let Iowans vote on the Iowa marriage amendment.
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled in April that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage violated the state constitution, and Democrats who control legislative debate say they will not allow a vote on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. English says they encourage everyone to turn out and tell the elected leaders to allow a vote on the amendment.
Full Story from Radio Iowa: http://www.radioiowa.com/2009/12/29/groups-on-both-sides-of-gay-marriage-plan-events-for-legislatures-opening/
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.
Posted in 2010, anti, Gay Marriage, ia, iowa, legislature, marriage equality, pro, rallies, rally | No Responses »
Saturday, December 5th, 2009
Gays and lesbians can go ahead and scratch Civil Unions off their holiday wish list this season, as a Nov. 30 deadline for moving on Civil Unions legislation passed with almost no action by the Democratic-controlled Illinois legislature — except to create a new deadline nearly half a year away.
The fact that the deadline was missed comes as no surprise, considering the state legislature has been adjourned for weeks and is not scheduled to meet again until Jan. 12. Still, this is just one more turn in a complex holding pattern the state Democrats have locked this bill into.The Nov. 30 deadline was set near the end of the Spring legislative session. For months prior to that, the state House had sat on HB2234, a Civil Unions bill proposed by Rep. Greg Harris, an openly gay Democrat serving Chicago’s North Side.
Then all the sudden on May 26, there was a political earthquake in California. The California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, a controversial ballot initiative that banned gay marriage in the state. Gays and lesbians throughout the nation were stunned, frustrated, even angry. In Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, the heart of Chicago’s gay community, protesters gathered on the streets and demanded justice.
Full Story from the Independent Political Report: http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/12/in-illinois-and-ny-democratic-electeds-put-off-lgbt-rightsagain/
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.
Posted in civil unions, delay, IL, illinois, legislature | No Responses »
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
New Jersey voters oppose gay marriage legislation by a slim margin, according to a poll released this morning by Quinnipiac. The poll, conducted between Nov. 17 and Nov. 22, found that 49 percent of adult residents are opposed to giving gay couples the right to marry while 46 percent are in favor of it. Six percent were undecided.
A large crowd, some with signs, gathers at the New Jersey Statehouse Monday in Trenton in support of proposed legislation legalizing same sex marriage.
A poll conducted by Quinnipiac earlier this year had almost the opposite results — 49 percent of voters supported gay marriage while 43 percent did not. “When we asked about gay marriage in April, it won narrow approval. Now that it seems closer to a legislative vote, it loses narrowly with the public,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
Full Story from NJ.com: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/nj_poll_shows_opposition_to_ga.html
Planning to marry your partner? 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, gay mariage, lame duck session, legislature, new jersey, nj, poll, quinnipac | No Responses »
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
The New Jersey Legislature kicked off the lame duck session Monday with Democrats picking new leaders but both houses failing to advance a gay marriage bill that will die with the Republican governor-elect unless it’s signed before his Jan. 19 inauguration.
South Jersey Sen. Steve Sweeney beat out Sen. Dick Codey for the Senate presidency, the chamber’s most powerful post. Sen. Barbara Buono of Edison was selected majority leader.
Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver of East Orange will become the first African-American woman to be Assembly speaker, succeeding Joe Roberts, who is stepping down. Assemblyman Joe Cryan of Union was chosen majority leader in the Assembly.
Full Story from 1010wins: http://www.1010wins.com/NJ-Legislature-Readies-for-Leadership-Changes/5738491
Planning to marry your partner? 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 corzine, cristie, Gay Marriage, legislature, new jersey, nj, stalling | No Responses »
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
Now that gay marriage has been defeated in Maine, attention again shifts to New Hampshire, where lawmakers say momentum from Tuesday’s vote may fuel legislation to repeal the state’s law and give voters a say.
Two proposals are being drafted in the N.H. House: One would repeal the law Gov. John Lynch signed in June and re-establish civil unions; the other is a constitutional amendment that would charge voters with deciding if “the state shall only recognize the union of one man and one woman as marriage.”
Supporters of same-sex marriage are strategizing and gearing up for a fight, said Rep. Jim Splaine, D-Portsmouth, who sponsored the gay marriage law. He said momentum doesn’t rest with gay-marriage foes.
Full Story from Fosters.com: http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091105/GJNEWS_01/711059674
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in New Hampshire.
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 Gay Marriage, legislature, new hampshire, nh | No Responses »
Friday, October 30th, 2009
Gays in Rhode Island would get the right to plan the funerals of their late partners under a bill heading to Gov. Don Carcieri’s desk.
The legislation approved Thursday by the state Senate would give gay men and women the same right to plan the funerals of their partners as if they were married. Rhode Island is the only New England state that does not recognize gay marriage.
It would also allow the medical examiner to release a body to the late person’s domestic partner.
Full Story from WJTV: http://www2.wjtv.com/jtv/ap_exchange/special_-_medical/article/RiLawmakersBackFuneralPlanningRightsForGaysRi/49888/
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Rhode Island.
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, legislature, lesbian, rhode island, ri | No Responses »
Monday, October 26th, 2009
Governor David Paterson announced Sunday that he is convening the state Legislature on November 10 to address New York’s growing budget deficit.
Before the extraordinary legislative session, Paterson is holding a public leaders meeting in the city this Thursday.
The governor will address the leaders of the State Senate and Assembly on November 9 in Albany to outline what he feels the state needs to do to ensure long-term fiscal stability.
Full Story from NY1: http://ny1.com/7-brooklyn-news-content/news_beats/politics/107896/paterson-to-convene-special-budget-session/
Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.
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 Gay Marriage, governor david paterson, legislature, new york, ny, special session | No Responses »
Sunday, October 4th, 2009
The timing of a gay marriage bill introduced in the Illinois Senate Thursday is drawing more attention than the issue of gay marriage. If approved, Illinois State Senator Heather Steans’ Equal Marriage Act would legalize gay marriage in the Land of Lincoln. Assemblyman Greg Harris introduced his Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act in January. Steans has called her senate version a companion bill to Harris’.
But considering the 96th Illinois General Assembly is in its final throes and Harris’ bill has languished in the Rules Committee, political opponents – gay and straight – are questioning Steans’ political motivations.
Her openly gay opponent Jim Madigan called the bill’s introduction a “publicity stunt” to attract gay voters from Chicago’s gay neighborhood of “Boys Town,” which is included in the 7th District she represents.
Full Story from On Top Magazine: http://ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=4636&MediaType=1&Category=26
Planning to marry your partner? 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.
Posted in bill, Gay Marriage, IL, illinois, legislature, senate, senator heather stearns | No Responses »
