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Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Many of us were angered by Justice Jan Patterson’s recent attempt to give the rightwingers the majority of the Third Court of Appeals. Today, a case that shows why this court is so important to progressives illustrates the point for our anger at Patterson.
This week a second precedent setting case dealing with GLBT rights in regards to marriage and divorce occurred here in Travis County. Last year, a Dallas judge granted a divorce to a gay couple citing the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Monday, Judge Scott Jenkins granted the second. News 8 reported on Monday:
Travis County judge grants same-sex divorce: Though the State of Texas does not officially recognize same-sex marriages, a Travis County judge has approved a same-sex divorce. Angelique Naylor and Sabina Daly married in Massachusetts five years ago. Naylor sought a divorce, but Daly initially wanted to “void” the marriage. The Travis County Court clerk for Judge Scott Jenkins said the divorce was approved, and not voided.
Full Story from Burnt Orange
Click here for gay marriage resources in Texas.
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Posted in divorce, Gay Marriage, lesbian, marriage equality, same sex couple, same sex marriage, texas | No Responses »
Friday, February 12th, 2010
A fascinating CBS poll reveals that support for the repeal of DADT varies greatly depending on whether “homosexual” or “gay” is used in the wording of the question.
“In the poll, 59 percent say they now support allowing “homosexuals” to serve in the U.S. military, including 34 percent who say they strongly favor that. Ten percent say they somewhat oppose it and 19 percent say they strongly oppose it. But the numbers differ when the question is changed to whether Americans support “gay men and lesbians” serving in the military. When the question is asked that way, 70 percent of Americans say they support gay men and lesbians serving in the military, including 19 percent who say they somewhat favor it. Seven percent somewhat oppose it, and 12 percent strongly oppose it.”
John Aravois at AmericaBlog reacts:
“Bottom line: Homosexual is a nasty, clinical-sounding word with nasty connotations for far too many Americans. It’s what I’ve argued for years, and have been routinely beaten up by some in the gay community who claim I’m nuts – namely, that no one should use this offensive word and we should correct anyone who does. It now appears I’m not so nuts after all.”
Full Story from Joe.My.God
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 dadt, don't ask don't tell, gay men, homosexual, lesbian, poll | No Responses »
Friday, February 12th, 2010
Irish American lesbian Kitty Lambert (pictured above center) and her longtime partner Cheryl attempted to apply for a marriage license in Buffalo, New York yesterday. When her request was denied, Lambert turned to the crowd that had gathered.
With news cameras rolling, Kitty asked for any male who would be willing to get married to her. A gay man named Ed, a total stranger to her, stepped forward and volunteered. They briefly exchanged information and presented the appropriate documents along with $40.
City staff verified the information, and proceeded to give them a marriage license. Kitty’s point in approaching the City Clerk for a marriage license is that there is no religious basis for marriage, and it serves only as a legally binding contract in our society.
Full Story from Irish Central
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, lesbian, marriage equality, new york, protest, same sex marriage | No Responses »
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
ELLEN DEGENERES’ wife PORTIA DE ROSSI is thankful she’s one half of a Hollywood power couple – because she wants to use her fame to “make a difference” in the fight for gay rights. The openly gay pair wed in 2008, taking advantage of the Supreme Court ruling which legalised same-sex unions in California.
But their rights were revoked just months later after the passing of the Proposition 8 bill, which reversed the previous ruling permitting the marriages. De Rossi believes she has finally found her real calling as she steps into her new role as a gay rights campaigner – and hopes she can make a real change in the world.
She tells The Advocate magazine, “Ever since Ellen and I got together, I feel like I’ve been given an opportunity to actually – God, this sounds corny… Well, I feel like my life can actually kind of stand for something. And I don’t mean that in a self-aggrandising way, like, ‘Look at me, I can make a difference.’ But I feel like, maybe I get why I’m here. Maybe by sharing my life, I can make people more aware of how important gay marriage is.” And the former Ally MCBeal star is adamant fighting for gay rights is the number one priority in her life – even over-shadowing her acting career.
Full Story from Contact Music
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 ellen degeneres, Gay Marriage, lesbian, marriage equality, portia di rossi, power couple, same sex marriage | No Responses »
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI says he’ll visit England this year, even though he doesn’t approve of the British government’s plans to introduce stronger equality laws for gays and lesbians.
“Your country is well known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of society,” the Pope wrote to the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales. “Yet as you have rightly pointed out, the effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs.”
“In some respects it actually violates the natural law upon which the equality of all human beings is grounded and by which it is guaranteed,” he added.
Full Story from GayNZ.com
Click here for gay marriage resources in England.
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 england, equality bill, gay men, lesbian, pope benedict XVI, uk, united kingtom | No Responses »
Friday, January 29th, 2010
A proposal to change Leon County’s charter to add anti-discrimination protection for gays and lesbians moved forward Thursday. The county’s charter-review committee, which voted 10-3 in favor of the proposal, is expected to vote Feb. 11 on whether to move it on to public hearings and a vote by county commissioners. If approved, it would go to voters later this year.
Members of the committee debated whether the protections should take the form of a charter amendment or an ordinance. Some people in the gay community are concerned that if the measure goes to voters, it might not pass.
Ralph Mason, a member of the charter-review committee, proposed the amendment during a previous meeting. But he asked Thursday that it be taken up instead by the county’s human-relations advisory committee, which has been studying the issue.
Full Story from Tallahassee.com
Click here for gay marriage resources in Florida.
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 charter, discrimination, fl, florida, gay, gay rights, lesbian, ordinance, tallahassee, vote | No Responses »
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
The comprehensive state-by-state report provides a complete summary of all the state legislation introduced and passed in 2009 that affected lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families. The report indicates that despite disappointments in 2009, it was a banner year for positive legislation affecting the LGBT community, with as many positive bills passed this past year as in 2007 and 2008 combined. The report also details expectations for 2010.
Download the Report from HRC Here
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 2009, bisexual, gay, Gay Marriage, hrc, human rights campaign, legislation, lesbian, marriage equality, report, same sex marriage, transgender | No Responses »
Monday, January 25th, 2010
The government is facing allegations of duplicity over changes to the equality bill after a leaked document showed conflicting statements about the position of churches and other religious organisations.
Churches say the government has assured them the equality bill will preserve their “special status”, which allows them to turn down candidates for jobs as ministers or priests if they are actively homosexual, transsexual or, in the Catholic church, if they are women.
Statements in parliament have also presented the government’s position as preserving the existing law for religious organisations. “[The equality bill] will not change the existing legal position regarding churches and employment,” the leader of the House of Lords, Lady Royall, told peers recently.
But the Guardian has learned the government told the European commission it would toughen the law on religious organisations, making it harder for them to avoid equal treatment laws. A “reasoned opinion”, kept secret by the government, threatened the UK with legal action unless the grounds on which religious groups could discriminate were narrowed.
Full Story from The Guardian
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 catholic, churches, discrimination, england, equality bill, gay, lesbian, special status, uk, united kingdom, women | No Responses »
Friday, January 22nd, 2010
Department of Defense schools will now recognize same-sex relationships when transferring overseas teachers to new assignments, according to an agreement this month between the department’s Education Activity and two teachers’ unions.
The decision means gay teachers in domestic partnerships with other teachers must be given the same consideration when requesting to be transferred to new jobs in the same area that married heterosexual teachers receive, the Federal Education Association union and school officials confirmed Friday.
The change of DODEA rules was approved by the agency’s human resources director, Lenoir Graham, FEA president Michael Priser and Overseas Federation of Teachers president Marie Sainz-Funaro and will affect transfers later this year. It also applies to committed but unmarried heterosexual couples involved in domestic partnerships.
Full Story from Stars & Stripes
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 department of defense, dod, gay, lesbian, partners, recognition, teachers, transfers | No Responses »
Monday, January 11th, 2010
A British charity has witnessed a huge surge in gay Muslims fleeing arranged marriages, homophobia and family violence. The Albert Kennedy Trust, an organisation which houses homeless gay teens, has seen an increase in the number of Muslims coming to them for help over the past six months.
“They face threats of physical violence, actual violence and restriction of liberties,” said Trust support worker Annie Southerst, speaking to the BBC. “We’ve had people chased out of the house with knives and we have had issues around young people who had exorcisms planned to get rid of the gay demons, I suppose.
“They come to us because they’re homeless, or in danger of being homeless imminently. We sort out emergency accommodation for them.
Full Story from the Pink Paper: http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=2234
Click here for gay marriage resources in England.
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 arranged marriages, gay, Gay Marriage, lesbian, marriage equality, muslims, same sex marriage, uk, united kingdom | No Responses »
