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Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
Reports of improper balloting in areas that are heavily anti-Amendment One are coming in. Adam Bink at Courage Campaign reports via email:
All, we’re getting reports here in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Raleigh (which are base areas for us, e.g. anti-Amendment 1) of precincts handing out INCORRECT ballots.
In North Carolina, 17-year-olds can vote in the statewide primary (e.g., for governor, etc.) if they turn 18 by November 6th. However, they CANNOT vote on Amendment 1 in this primary — they can only vote for candidates — therefore they are being handed ballots WITHOUT Amendment 1. That is proper election procedure.
The problem is, the reports we are getting are that people OVER 17 are also being handed these ballots WITHOUT Amendment 1 in what would normally be heavily anti-Amendment 1 precincts (Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Raleigh). We are working on testimonials from voters who have experienced this — in the meantime, if you report on Amendment 1, PLEASE ask readers to call 1-866-OUR-VOTE if they experience this in NC, or know someone who did. That will enable the campaign’s field team to investigate and correct this as soon as possible.
Posted in north carolina, vote, votes | No Responses »
Tags: amendment one, ballots, Carrboro, chapel hill, north carolina, raleigh, Voter fraud
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
When the Church of England’s bishops defeated a clarification of the Equality Bill’s clause on religious exemption last month it was possible to construct a principled defence of their position. But the campaign to block the celebration of civil partnerships from other denominations’ buildings was wholly indefensible. Last night it failed by a spectacular margin in the House of Lords – 95 to 21; although the bishops’ votes were evenly split: of the serving ones, Bradford voted to block, and Newcastle to permit; of the retired bishops, Lord Harries voted for permission, and Lord Eames, the former Archbishop of Armagh, voted against.
The case in favour as put by Lady Butler-Sloss, who had earlier that evening been accused of putting down homophobic amendments that would have protected Catholic adoption agencies against the law, an accusation she angrily disputed. In this context, she said:
“Same-sex couples can have strong and devoted relationships equal to, but different from, marriage and they may wish to have those relationships sanctified by a religious ceremony. If there are churches and synagogues prepared to do that, why should we stand in their way? They have rights to be loved and rights to have their ceremonies recognised.”
Full Story from The Guardian
Click here for gay marriage resources.
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Posted in churches, civil partnerships, gay weddings, house of lords, lesbian weddings, uk, united kingdom, vote | No Responses »
Sunday, February 21st, 2010
The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia hedged on recognizing same-sex unions Saturday, instead voting to form a committee to set standards for church-sanctioned blessings of such unions once they are approved by the entire 2-million-member Episcopal Church. About 346 delegates to the dioceses annual council meeting at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria narrowly voted — by a show of hands – to form the committee.
It was a less radical choice for the 80,000-member Virginia diocese, the largest in the Episcopal Church. A substitute amendment suggesting the diocese allow openly gay clergy and same-sex blessings failed after a lengthy debate.
The vote was in response to last summer’s decision by the Episcopal General Convention, which met in Anaheim, Calif., to pass resolution C056, which empowered the denomination to begin “collecting and developing theological resources and liturgies” for same-sex blessings. The denomination is expected to endorse some kind of rite at its 2012 meeting in Indianapolis.
Full Story from the Washington Times
Click here for gay marriage resources in Virginia.
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 diocese, episcopal church, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, same sex marriage, VA, Virginia, vote | No Responses »
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
Gay marriage became legal in the state on January 1st but conservative Republicans quickly announced plans to seek repeal. They introduced two measures: a bill to repeal both gay marriage and the state’s 2007 civil unions law, and a resolution seeking a constitutional amendment to restrict marriage to one man and one woman. The first was defeated in the House by 210-109 and the second by 201-135.
Opponents hoped to capitalise on the fact that gay marriage rights in the US have never been granted by voters, and 31 states have constitutional bans on gay marriage.
According to the Union-Leader, the bill’s main sponsor Al Baldasaro argued that the state should not concede to gay couples. “Homosexuals can change their sexual preference at any time,” he argued.
Full Story from Pink News
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, marriage equality, new hampshire, nh, repeal, same sex marriage, vote | No Responses »
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
The New Hampshire House today rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have barred gay marriage in New Hampshire. CACR 28 defined marriage in this state by saying it can only be between a man and a woman.
It was rejected by a wide margin, 201-135, short of a simple majority and far below the three-fifths majority — 238 votes — it needed to advance to the Senate.
Sponsors tried to delay a vote on the bill until March 17, so local voters could weigh in on petitions at town meeting that ask for a popular vote on the amendment. “All we’re trying to do here is put this on the ballot,” Rep. David Bates, R-Windham, arguing voters should have their say.
Full Story from the Union Leader
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 defeated, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, new hampshire, nh, same sex marriage, vote | No Responses »
Monday, February 15th, 2010
Four Democratic state senators – Dennis Black of Grinnell, Keith Kreiman of Bloomfield, Rich Olive of Story City and Joe Seng of Davenport – broke with their party and signed on to a Republican petition to force a vote on same-sex marriage. But with last week marking the first self-imposed legislative “funnel week” deadline for bills to clear committee to stay eligible for consideration this year, the marriage amendment is officially dead, at least in this form.
Last week, Republicans attempted to use a procedural move, called a discharge petition, to pull Senate Joint Resolution 2001 out of committee and put it before the full Senate for debate and a vote. The bill would begin the process of amending the state’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage. All 18 Senate Republicans were joined by Democratic state Sen. Tom Hancock of Epworth in signing the petition.
A similar attempt was made in the state House that also failed to find enough votes to bring a gay marriage ban up for a vote.
Full Story from the Iowa Independent
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 Gay Marriage, ia, iowa, marriage equality, same sex marriage, senate, vote | No Responses »
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
City Council took a key and controversial step Tuesday in extending benefits to the partners of gay municipal employees. The move followed pleas for and against the motion by gay and straight members of the Asheville Police Department, civic leaders, ministers and others. Passions ran high with police at one point removing a speaker from the council chambers, which was filled to capacity with 70 people.
The council voted 4-2 to have city staff report March 9 on how workers’ same-sex domestic partners could get the same benefits as heterosexual employees’ spouses, including health insurance, bereavement leave and prescription drug coverage. A majority of council members said they expect to vote for a final measure after the report.
Councilman Gordon Smith advanced the proposal, saying the change fit Asheville’s tradition of being a friendly and diverse city. “Tonight we can continue that tradition and provide equal compensation for equal work,” Smith said.
Full Story from the Citizen Times
Click here for gay marriage resources in North Carolina.
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 asheville, city council, domestic partner benefits, nc, north carolina, vote | No Responses »
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
A House committee will recommend whether New Hampshire’s five-week-old gay marriage law should be repealed.
The Judiciary Committee also votes Tuesday whether to support a constitutional amendment banning gay unions. Gay marriage opponents know their chance of success is slim, but they want to keep the issue before voters in hopes Republicans will regain control of the Statehouse from Democrats in November and succeed then in repealing the law.
The House next acts on the recommendations. New Hampshire became the fifth state to legalize gay marriage on Jan. 1.
Full Story from WCAX
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, house panel, marriage equality, new hampshire, nh, repeal, same sex marriage, vote | 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 »
Friday, January 29th, 2010
The GOP-led Senate voted again Thursday to approve a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage in Indiana. Senate Joint Resolution 13 passed 38-10 with all local senators in support. The resolution must be approved again in 2011 before voters could make the final decision in a 2012 statewide referendum.
“Marriage is one of the foundations of our society and one I firmly believe needs to be protected,” said Sen. Carlin Yoder, R-Middlebury.
Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, expressed concern that the second sentence in the amendment could affect domestic violence protections afforded to unmarried Hoosiers. That provision says a “legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.” “This certainly will not say welcome to many people in our society,” Lanane said.
Full Story from the Journal Gazette
Click here for gay marriage resources in Indiana.
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, constitutional amendment, Gay Marriage, in, indiana, marriage equality, same sex marriage, senate, vote | No Responses »
