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NY: Senate Passes Family Health Care Decisions Bill

scott — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:45:00 +0000

After being stalled in the Legislature for 17 years, the New York State Senate has finally joined the Assembly in passing the Family Health Care Decisions Act that enables a loved one to made health care decisions when the patient is not able to do so. The bill places a same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partner, just like a spouse, ahead of a surviving child or parent in making these decisions. Governor Paterson has said he will sign the bill into law when it is sent to him.

New York has been one of just two states where without a health care proxy, no one-not a domestic partner, spouse, or family member-could make health care decisions when the patient lacked the ability to do so. This gap in state law has sometimes forced loved ones to seek medical decision-making authority from a judge at the very time they should be focusing all their attention on caring for their partner.

The enactment of this legislation will allow loved ones including same-sex spouses who were married out-of-state or fit the domestic partnership definition to have the ability to make these decisions.

Full Story from Outcome
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NY: 50 Straight Couples Get Unmarried to Protest Gay Marriage Ban

scott — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:29:00 +0000

Central Park’s Bethesda Angel looked out at scores of brides wreathed in crowns of fake white hydrangea and grooms in thrift-store formalwear. “Enjoy the last two minutes of your marriage,” Rev. Billy Talen of the Church of Life After Shopping yelled, as on the most romantic day of the year the blissful couples prepared to negate their nuptials in solidarity with the same-sex marriage movement.

The happy twosomes — some married, some in long-term relationships — arranged themselves before a floral trellis. The theatrical activist and former mayoral candidate, who typically preaches an anti-consumerist gospel, then stepped forward to take a rather slushy pulpit, officiating the Valentine’s Day mass “unwedding.”

“Can I have a same-sex-elujah?” the Reverend bellowed, as his ashy blond pompadour bounced.

Full Story from the Village Voice
Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.
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NY: Anti Gay New York Senator Expelled From Legislature

scott — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:24:00 +0000

Late on Tuesday, the New York state senate voted 53-8 to expel Senator Hiram Monserrate, convicted last year of attacking his girlfriend, slashing her face with glass, and dragging her through his apartment building.

As you may recall, Monserrate is a Democrat from Queens who voted against the marriage equality bill when it came up late last year.

The NYT: “…rather than bringing the issue to a close, the expulsion vote could be the beginning of a lengthy legal fight that could create further instability in Albany’s volatile political atmosphere. Mr. Monserrate said on Tuesday that he planned to run in the special election. Even as the Senate moved forward with the vote, Mr. Monserrate’s lawyers were drafting a temporary restraining order seeking to have him reinstated. One of the lawyers, Norman Siegel, said the order would be filed Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan.”

Full Story from Towleroad.com
Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.
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NY: New Gay Marriage Play Opens Off Broadway

scott — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:06:00 +0000

“When Joey Married Bobby”, starring Lady Bunny, two-time S.A.G.Award Nominee Tina McKissick and introducing former Detroit Tiger Pitcher Matthew Pender as Joey, opened on February 6, 2010 for an open-ended run at Off-Broadway house Theatre 80 St. Marks, between 1st & 2nd Avenues. In attendance at the opening night were Fred Schneider (The B-52′s), Frank DeCaro (Sirius Radio), Randy Jones (The Village People), singer Athena Reich and Mike Diamond (LOGO).

From the comic mind, of GLAAD Award winning playwright, William Wyatt (Peachtree Battle, A Sunday Afternoon At Loehmans, The Limousine Ride and Veranda) comes a tale about gay marriage in an ultra conservative household. Bright-eyed hunk Joey (Matthew Pender) has finally met the man of his dreams and ready to take a plunge into marriage.

The thought of a gay wedding has Joey’s southern socialite mother Sarah Edwards (Tina McKissick) in quite a tizzy. Worried that the news of her son’s nuptials might jeopardize her chances of winning “Christian of the Year,” Sarah stops at nothing to protect her name, image and reputation. The legendary Lady Bunny co-stars in the play as the power-wielding, Baptist Minister’s Wife, Charity Divine.

Full Story from Broadway World
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Senator Gillibrand Introduces Bill to De-Fund Don't Ask Don't Tell

scott — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:55:00 +0000

A bill that would withhold the cost of implementing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is expected to be announced tonight by New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at a gay fundraiser, the New York Times reported. Gillibrand is the keynote speaker at the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) ninth annual greater New York fundraiser in Manhattan. HRC, the nation’s largest gay rights advocate, recently endorsed Gillibrand’s 2010 candidacy.

The bill seeks to deny funding to the military for the costs of implementing the policy that bans gay troops from serving openly in Armed Forces. Gillibrand is expected to introduce her proposal as an amendment to the federal budget.

The policy has come under heavy scrutiny since President Obama called for an end to the law during his first State of the Union address. On Tuesday, the Pentagon’s top brass – Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates – told a key Senate panel considering the issue that the military should end the policy.

Full Story from On Top Magazine
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NY: NoH8 Holds Photoshoot in New York City

scott — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:42:00 +0000

You’ve certainly seen the photos — white backdrop with white t-shirts, mouths taped shut, glossy bright eyes and the standard “NOH8″ logo on the cheek. Since November 4, 2008 (the night Prop 8 passed in California), Adam Bouska (the photographer) and his partner, Jeff Parshley (the visionary), have been photographing thousands of individuals in California for the photo project and silent protest known as the NOH8 Campaign. The project has grown exponentially over the last year to include notable celebrities and politicians: Jane Lynch, Kathy Griffin, Cindy McCain, Meghan McCain, Ashlee Simpson, Pete Wentz, Marlee Matlin, and Isaiah Washington have all posed for the campaign.

However, until this week only those in LA LA land had the opportunity to participate (shoots have also been held in San Diego and Palm Springs). On February 1, an open shoot was held at the Empire Hotel in New York City, inviting everyone and anyone to throw on their best white t-shirt and strike a pose. Over 500 New Yorkers lined up from 2 – 8pm (despite the cold) to have their photo taken by Bouska and during the time I was there, I saw a healthy mix of ages, races and gender.

While in line among strangers, I chatted with two adorable men living in Brooklyn, Steven and Abdul, ages 31 and 26, who had been following the campaign since the beginning: “I had been following them online and just waiting for them to come to New York, just stalking them til they got here. We stand and get photographed for tons of other things that aren’t important at all, so why not be photographed for something and make a statement? We support the idea of marriage quality.”

Full Story from Autostraddle
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.

NY: Possible Ousting of Anti Gay Marriage Queens Senator

scott — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:15:00 +0000

A special New York Senate committee is likely to recommend that his fellow Senators consider ousting state Sen. Hiram Monserrate for beating up his domestic partner.

You may remember, Monserrate, a Queens Democrat, was convicted in October of misdemeanor assault, and was sentenced to 3 years probation, ordered to serve 250 hours of community service and undergo a year’s worth of counseling for jealousy and anger issues, for slashing his live in girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, in the face with a broken glass last year after dragging her across the lobby of his apartment building.

You may also remember Monserrate joined Republican senators last month to “defend traditional marriage” and vote against marriage equality legislation for New York State.

Full Story from Lez Get Real: http://lezgetreal.com/?p=24354

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.

NY: Governor Paterson Bans Discrimination Against Transgender State Employees

scott — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:35:00 +0000

Governor David Paterson received a standing ovation at the LGBT Community Center in lower Manhattan earlier today as he signed an executive order to ban discrimination against transgender state employees. “For far too long… the transgender community has had to wait for the same equality others enjoy based on employment,” he said. “That ends today.”

Empire State Pride Agenda executive director Alan Van Capelle, Michael Silverman of the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, Melissa Sklarz of the New York Transgender Rights Organization, Glennda Testone of the Center and Pauline Park of the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy were among those who joined Paterson on the stage. State Sen. Tom Duane, state Assemblymembers Deborah Glick, Dick Gottfried, Micah Kellner and Danny O’Donnell and City Councilmember-elect Danny Dromm were also in attendance.

“Transgender people, like all New Yorkers, need stability, and it starts in the workplace,” Sklarz said.

Full Story from Edge Boston: http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=100172

Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.

NY: Republican Explains: I Voted Against Gay Marriage Because of Politics

scott — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:53:00 +0000

Is it enough to have your heart in the right place even if the decision you make is wrong? Or, in local state Sen. Jim Alesi’s case, if the vote you cast is unjust? He left me wondering about that question yesterday after we spoke about the clip, now making the YouTube circuit, of him holding his head in his hands while voting no to legalize same-sex marriage in New York.

Lots of people want to speak to the Perinton Republican these days. The New York City papers are beckoning. So deluged Thursday morning was his Albany office with venomous calls, he says, that staff there summoned State Police to monitor the lines. Comments left on his Facebook page changed from appeals to support marriage equality to warnings that he’s going to lose the next election.

Alesi says he’s planning now to visit with a few people he’s disappointed in hopes of rebuilding frayed ties.

Full Story from the Democrat & Chronicle: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20091204/NEWS0203/912040331

Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.

NY:Jewish Groups Split Over Gay Marriage Vote

scott — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:10:00 +0000

Orthodox leaders commended and Reform leaders condemned the New York State Senate’s vote to defeat a measure legalizing same-sex marriage. Agudath Israel of America and the Orthodox Union lauded Wednesday’s 38-24 vote against the bill.

“While we must always respect all individuals as created b’tzelem Elokim, in the image of G-d, Jewish teaching clearly opposes homosexual conduct and the legal recognition of such relationships as being akin to traditional marriage,” the Orthodox Union said in a statement. The OU also said it must “respectfully repudiate those who misquote or misappropriate Jewish law or thought in support of this legislation.”

Agudah noted the work its members did in advocating against the measure. “When our community comes together to respond to challenges, good things happen,” said Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel, the group’s executive vice president. New York Reform leaders were disheartened by the vote.

Full Story from JTA.org: http://jta.org/news/article/2009/12/03/1009517/orthodox-laud-reform-disappointed-by-ny-gay-marriage-vote

Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.