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MT: Senate Holds Hearings on Anti Gay Bill

Monday, March 14th, 2011

People lined up to testify in a Senate hearing against a proposal to overturn a Missoula city ordinance that protects gay people from discrimination.

House Bill 516′s sponsor, Republican Rep. Kristin Hansen, says Missoula’s ordinance is unconstitutional because it goes beyond a city’s local authority.

Other supporters said Monday the measure protects businesses from expensive and unnecessary lawsuits that are bad for business.

Full Story from The Republic

Click here for gay marriage resources.

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MT: State Senate Passes Repeal of Anti-Gay Sex Law

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Montana Gay RightsMontana voted to strike an obsolete law criminalizing gay sex on Wednesday:

The Montana Supreme Court struck down the law in 1997, and Senate Bill 276 carried by Sen. Tom Facey would remove it from state code. The Missoula Democrat said the measure would provide equal protection under the law for all Montanans.

The Senate endorsed the bill 41-9 with 19 of 28 Senate Republicans supporting the measure. It has one more usually procedural vote before it goes to the House. Republican backing for the measure goes against years of support for outlawing homosexual acts, which became part of the official party platform after the 1997 Supreme Court decision.

Full Story from Towleroad.com

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.

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MT: House Approves Anti Gay Rights Bill

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Harris HimesThe Montana House on Tuesday approved a bill that would repeal a gay protections law in Missoula, the state’s second largest city. Republican Representative Kristin Hansen’s bill cleared a key House panel on Monday.

If approved, the measure would effectively overturn Missoula’s 2010 ordinance banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity (transgender protections) by prohibiting local governments from enacting protections beyond those in the state’s Human Rights Act, which does not include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Sixty GOP members united to approve the bill. Seven Republican members crossed the aisle to join all 32 Democrats in opposing its passage, the Missoulian reported.

Full Story from On Top Magazine

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.

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MT: Anti Gay Ordinance Passes House Committee

Monday, February 21st, 2011

The Republican majority on the House Judiciary Committee approved a bill Monday that would effectively overturn Missoula’s 2010 ordinance banning discrimination against city residents based on their sexual orientation and gender.

House Bill 516, by Rep. Kristin Hansen, R-Havre, now moves to the House floor for debate this week.

It would prohibit local governments from enacting ordinances or policies seek to protect residents from real or perceived discrimination based on their sexual orientation and gender as the cities of Missoula did through an ordinance and Bozeman did through a policy.

Full Story from The Billings Gazette

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.

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MT: Legislators Engage in Fierce Debate Over Gay Rights

Saturday, February 19th, 2011

Montana Gay RightsTestimony at Montana’s legislature got ugly yesterday over a proposed bill that would kill Missoula’s anti-discrimination ordinance and prevent local municipalities in the state from enacting similar ordinances, instead forcing them to recognize state laws, which currently don’t recognize LGBTs.

A separate bill would expand the state’s law to include LGBTs.

The Missoulian reports:

Social conservatives supported a bill Friday to nullify Missoula’s ordinance that protects residents from discrimination because of their sexual orientation and gender, while human rights advocates lined up against it.

At issue was House Bill 516 by Rep. Kristin Hansen, R-Havre, to prohibit local governments from enacting ordinances or other policies like Missoula’s that include, as a protected class from discrimination, any groups not included under the Montana Human Rights Act.

Full Story from Towleroad.com

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.

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MT: Legislature Considering Bills to Expand, Restrict Gay Rights

Saturday, February 19th, 2011

Montana Gay RightsIt was a busy day for gay right activists in Montana yesterday, with gay rights advocates pushing to expand discrimination protection statewide while conservative religious groups were backing a bill that aims to repeal a Missoula, Montana city ordinance that extended discrimination protection in that city based on sexual orientation.

According the NBC Montana.com:

Two controversial civil rights bills are pitting gay rights activists against conservative groups in Helena. Neither side can agree on who should be covered under the state’s Human Rights Act. House Bills 514 and 516 could bring big changes to anti-discrimination cases in Missoula or across the state.

Ten months ago the Missoula City Council extended anti-discrimination protection to include gender identity and sexual orientation. Of the two bills introduced Friday, House Bill 514 would extend Missoula’s law statewide. The other, HB 516, would prohibit cities from drawing up such bills unless the legislature did so first.

Full Story from Lez Get Real

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.

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MT: Gay, Lesbian Couples Ask Judge for Quick Ruling on Domestic Partnership Request

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

Montana Domestic PartnershipsThe Advocate is reporting that six Montana lesbian and gay couples have filed a request asking a district court judge to issue a ruling in their case seeking domestic partnership recognition.

They have asked that there not be a trial. The couples are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, and they had filed a lawsuit earlier looking to protect lesbian and gay couples and their families under the equal protection clause in the Montana Constitution.

Currently, that state’s Constitution bars recognition of same-sex marriages or any other form of benefits.

Full Story from Lez Get Real

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.

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MT: State Legislature May Try to Dismantle Missoula Anti Discrimination Ordinance

Friday, January 21st, 2011

Supporters of Missoula’s anti-discrimination ordinance are bracing for a possible attack from the Montana Legislature. A bill – still being drafted – could nullify the local law that protects people from being fired from jobs or kicked out of homes because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Missoula City Council members Stacy Rye and Dave Strohmaier said many people are watching to see if the draft emerges, and if it does, they stand ready to defend local control and fend off infringements on the ordinance.

“At that point, they should look for a fight on their hands,” Strohmaier said Thursday. Said Rye: “We spent a lot of time on that in Missoula. A lot of people in Missoula love that ordinance.”

Full Story from The Missoulan

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.

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MT: Couples in Marriage Equality Lawsuit Ask for Pretrial Judgment

Saturday, December 11th, 2010

Montana Gay MarriageAttorneys for seven gay couples are asking a Montana judge to rule, prior to going to trial, that they’re being discriminated against by the state because it’s not allowing them the same rights as married couples under Montana’s Constitution.

In a motion for summary judgment filed in Lewis and Clark County District Court Friday, the attorneys say the couples aren’t seeking to be married, but simply want the same relationship recognition and abilities afforded to man-woman couples with that status – like decision-making authority in health care and end-of-life situations, filing joint tax returns and transferring assets if a partner dies without a will.

“The state can’t distinguish or give protections and benefits to one set of couples and deny it to another,” said Betsy Griffing, ACLU of Montana’s legal director. “With this motion, what we are saying is that we are entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”

Full Story from The Missoulian

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.

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MT: Attorney General Asks for Dismissal of Gay Marriage Lawsuit

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

Montana Gay Marriage LawsuitBack in July I posted about a lawsuit brought by the ACLU and seven same-sex couples in Montana, seeking the same rights as heterosexual married couples in the state.

The state’s attorney general today filed a motion for dismissal:

“Spousal benefits are limited by definition to married couples, and the Montana constitution defines marriage as being between a man and a woman, Attorney General Steve Bullock said. The court does not have the jurisdiction to require the state to extend spousal benefits beyond that definition, Bullock said in a motion to dismiss the case.

Full Story from Towleroad.com

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.

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