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CA: Love Honor Cherish Gives Up On 2012 Prop 8 Repeal Effort

Monday, February 13th, 2012

Prop 8 Repeal EffortThe efforts to collect signatures to qualify an initiative to repeal California’s Proposition 8 law, which bans same-sex marriage, have ceased.

Eric Harrison, interim executive director of Love Honor Cherish, which was leading the efforts, said via email today that the signature-gathering would cease.

“Following last week’s victory in the 9th Circuit, we are now hopeful that weddings of gay and lesbian couples will resume by the end of this year, or even, at the end of this month,” Harrison wrote. “And what an incredible day that will be when gays and lesbians are able to marry again in California!”

Full Story from SDGLN

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Will 2012 Be a Banner Year for Marriage Equality?

Friday, January 20th, 2012

Marriage Equality in 2012This could be a landmark year in the marriage equality movement, as several states appear close to enacting marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.

Advocates are working to legalize marriage rights for gay couples in Washington State, Maryland and New Jersey; efforts are also underway to pursue civil unions in Colorado. Meanwhile, opponents are hoping to repeal same-sex marriage in New Hampshire.

Washington State could be in the strongest position among other states where advocates are undertaking efforts to legalize marriage equality. The legislation was introduced last week by request from Gov. Chris Gregoire (D), who announced her support in a news conference Jan. 4.

Full Story from The Washington Blade

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Gay Rights Predictions for 2012

Friday, January 6th, 2012

2012 Marriage Equality Predictions2011 will go down as a huge year in the fight for LGBT rights, but that certainly wasn’t a guarantee last January, when the ink was barely dry on a complex process to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell; marriage equality in New York seemed like a football likely to be pulled from in front of our community again, and LGBT youth were in the headlines as victims of bullying and suicide. Fortunately, President Obama and Gov. Cuomo came through, and many in the nation have rallied against bullying.

As 2012 opens, there are similar opportunities and dangers. Below are the Politically Aware predictions for 2012, mixing the broad and the specific, based on information and aspiration.

There will be little legislative progress. As long as the current Republicans control the House of Representatives, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) will not pass, and the Defense of Marriage Act will not be repealed. Republicans also did very well in state legislatures in the 2010 elections, meaning there will be little progress at that level. Sadly, that may include California this year, given that EQCA still appears to lack an executive or political director. The lone bright spot may be Maryland, where Gov. O’Malley appears ready to put marriage equality before the legislature again.

Full Story from LGBT Weekly

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Australia: Marriage Equality Legislation Next Month May Split Labor

Sunday, January 1st, 2012

Australia Marriage EqualityTHE stage is set for a new internal brawl in the Gillard government over same-sex marriage, with a Labor powerbroker predicting that a private member’s bill to amend the Marriage Act will further undermine the Prime Minister’s leadership.

Labor backbencher and Left faction member Stephen Jones will introduce legislation aimed at legalising same-sex marriage when Federal Parliament resumes next month. His move comes after last month’s ALP national conference voted to reverse the party’s long-standing opposition to same-sex marriage.

But with Labor MPs allowed a conscience vote on the issue, Mr Jones’ bill is doomed to be voted down by the combined forces of its Labor opponents – including Prime Minister Julia Gillard – and the Coalition.

Full Story from WA Today

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Now or Never for Marriage Equality Push in Maryland?

Friday, December 30th, 2011

Marriage Equality in MarylandMaryland’s governor won’t be on the ballot, and the state is highly unlikely to play much of a role in the presidential election. But 2012 is nonetheless shaping up to be a riveting year in Maryland politics. Here are four major stories to watch in the year to come.

A bill to legalize gay marriage cleared the Maryland Senate relatively quickly in 2011, only to stall in the House of Delegates. Advocates will have some formidable advantages this time around. Building on the experience of lawmakers in New York, which legalized gay marriage a few months after the legislation failed here, advocates have developed a smart, coordinated campaign to win over a few more supporters. But their biggest coup was getting Gov. Martin O’Malley to agree to sponsor the legislation and make it a priority for this General Assembly session.

The key voting bloc is likely to be in the black caucus. Large, predominantly African-American churches, particularly in Prince George’s County, helped scuttle the bill last year, and advocates are clearly targeting their pitch to black voters.

Full Story from the Baltimore Sun

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After Loss, Maryland Marriage Equality Activists Soldier On

Saturday, December 24th, 2011

Maryland Marriage Equality EffortClose, but no cigar. Despite large socially conservative Catholic and African-American populations, heavily Democratic Maryland was seen by many at the start of 2011 as primed for marriage equality.

But the bill to legalize same-sex marriage died without a vote in the House of Delegates in March, despite passing what many believed to be its biggest hurdle – the more conservative-leaning Maryland Senate – in February 2011.

Since the defeat of the marriage bill, advocates, including the state’s LGBT civil rights group Equality Maryland, have vowed they will fight to pass a marriage-equality bill during the 2012 legislative session. Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) has since come out in support of such a bill.

Full Story from Metro Weekly

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IA: Openly Gay Senator Fears GOP Wins in 2012

Friday, December 9th, 2011

Iowa Marriage EqualityThe only openly gay member of the Iowa State Senate believes marriage equality in the state could “absolutely” be in danger, despite a recent win solidifying a Democratic majority in the chamber for the remainder of the year.

State Sen. Matt McCoy, who’s served in the legislature since 1993 — first as a House member and then as a senator — said marriage rights for gay couples could be in jeopardy in the 2012 election if Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal loses his seat or Democrats lose their majority in the chamber.

“We’ve got to make sure that we win some of those key seats that have allowed us to hold on to a majority,” McCoy told the Blade during an interview in Houston. “So we need to have a very strong Democratic year across the board, so that from the very top of the ticket on down, we’re going to need a strong ticket.”

Full Story from The Washington Blade

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Australia: Greens to Reintroduce Marriage Equality Bill in 2012

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

Australia Marriage Equality Bill 2012The Australian Greens have announced they will reintroduce their marriage equality bill into both houses of parliament when sittings resume next year.

The announcement comes in the wake of developments at the ALP national conference in Sydney today, where Labor delegates voted for a motion allowing MPs a conscience vote on gay marriage.

Greens MP Adam Bandt has indicated he will move amendments to the Marriage Act on the House of Representatives, and will seek co-sponsors from Labor, the Coalition and the cross-bench for the private member’s bill.

Full Story from GNN

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CA: Gay Rights Groups Split on Prop 8 Repeal Effort in 2012

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Prop 8 RepealEquality California said Aug. 12 that it does not support returning to the ballot to try to repeal Proposition 8 until 2012.

Other groups are preparing for a 2012 ballot fight. They include the Courage Campaign, Love Honor Cherish, Los Angeles’ Stonewall Democratic Club and at least 40 other organizations.

“Donors want to make sure their investments to win back marriage are wisely invested,” EQCA Marriage Director Marc Solomon said in an Aug. 12 conference call with reporters. “Monolithically, they are not supportive of returning to the ballot (in 2010).”

Full Story from Rex Wockner

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OR: Basic Rights Oregon Won’t Take Marriage Equality to Ballot in 2012

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Oregon Gay MarriageAfter a three-year campaign to build support for legalizing same-sex marriage, Oregon’s largest gay rights group has decided against putting the issue up for a vote in 2012.

Feedback from an online survey of over 1,000 people, door-to-door canvassing, community meetings and two statewide television advertising campaigns overwhelmingly say, “we must allow our education work to continue,” Basic Rights Oregon announced Wednesday.

“As far as we have come, which as been significant, we don’t yet have the kind of consensus that would indicate a reasonable expectation of success,” said Jeana Frazzini, executive director.

Full Story from Oregon Live

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