Monday, November 30, 2009

The Semantics of Marriage Equality

An editor for The American Heritage Dictionary reflects on the redefinition of marriage — shortly before the death of his own husband.

So often in the struggle for civil rights, gays and lesbians face criticisms from social conservatives regarding tradition. When asserting that marriage has always been solely a union between one man and one woman, our adversaries trot out old dictionary definitions to support their claims. But just because some dictionaries in the past defined marriage in this way does not mean that the word is used in the same way today. The job of dictionaries is primarily to describe how language is used, not to dictate how it should be used.

I'm the supervising editor for The American Heritage Dictionary and a lexicographer. In January the other dictionary editors and I revised several definitions relating to the word marriage to reflect the changes in legal status that have occurred over the past few years. For example, the definition of widower formerly read "A man whose wife has died and who has not remarried." I revised this definition to "A man whose spouse has died and who has not remarried."

Just two months later my own husband died unexpectedly and accidentally. We had been together almost 15 years. Because we were residents of Massachusetts, we had been able to marry in the fall of 2004. Suddenly I found myself to be a widower, and when our 2009 printing came off the presses in the spring, it included the updated definition of widower — a word that now applied to me. In the shattered aftermath of profound loss, an obsolete or incomplete definition of widower would seem an insignificant detail, but all such trivial details viewed together coalesce into a constant reminder of a two-tiered, unequal system. Therefore, having had the ability to revise the definitions that appear in a major American dictionary took on an important resonance for me.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

SARAH PALIN IS A NAIVE QUITTER WHO LOVES PORN AND UNPROTECTED SEX

DOMA Included in GOP "Purity Test"

A so-called purity test of conservative principles being circulated for consideration among Republican National Committee members includes a commitment to retain the Defense of Marriage Act.

The proposed test, reported by MSNBC’s First Read, outlines 10 conservatives principles, such as opposition to “Obama-style government run healthcare” and federal funding for abortion, a rejection of cap-and-trade legislation, and the retention of DOMA. Candidates would have to abide by at least eight of the 10, or face the withdrawal of endorsements and financial support by the RNC.

According to First Read, it remains unclear whether the document, called the “Resolution on Reagan’s Unity Principle for Support of Candidates,” will be formally introduced at the RNC’s winter meeting in Hawaii in January. The stringent proposal arrives shortly after internal GOP rifts were exposed by a congressional race in New York’s upstate 23rd district, where grassroots conservatives ousted a socially moderate Republican from the contest, but a Democrat ultimately won.

RNC committee member Jim Bopp Jr., the author of the resolution and general counsel to National Right to Life, told First Read that the purpose of the resolution was to reclaim “conservative bona fides."

Bopp Jr. added that the resolution aims to demonstrate that the party is open to diverse views — “but you have to agree with us most of the time,” he said.



GOP Leaders Circulate 'Purity Resolution' with DOMA Support

Adam Nagourney reports on a resolution being passed around by top RNC members meant to solidify conservative tenets of the party:

"According to the resolution, any Republican candidate who broke with the party on three or more of these issues– in votes cast, public statements made or answering a questionnaire – would be penalized by being denied party funds or the party endorsement. The proposed resolution was signed by 10 Republican national committee members and was distributed on Monday morning. They are asking for the resolution to be debated when Republicans gather for their winter meeting."

Here is the resolution’s list:
(1) We support smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama’s “stimulus” bill;
(2) We support market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run health care;
(3) We support market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation;
(4) We support workers’ right to secret ballot by opposing card check;
(5) We support legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants;
(6) We support victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges;
(7) We support containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat;
(8) We support retention of the Defense of Marriage Act;
(9) We support protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion; and
(10) We support the right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership.

Antigay Hate Crimes Increased in 2008

Statistics released Monday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation show that hate crimes based on sexual orientation in the United States increased by 11% in 2008 over the previous year.

The annual FBI data revealed that a total of 7,783 incidents involving 9,691 victims of hate crimes were reported last year, with hate crimes based on sexual orientation showing the largest increase. It was the third year in a row that hate crimes based on sexual orientation rose.

According to the blog Think Progress, the 1,706 victims in the sexual orientation category break down as follows: 57.5% were victims of an offender’s anti-male-homosexual bias; 27.3% were victims because of an antihomosexual bias; 11.6% were victims because of an anti-female-homosexual bias; 2% were victims because of an antiheterosexual bias; and 1.6% were victims because of an antibisexual bias.

Last month President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law. The legislation, among its other powers, will enable the FBI to begin collecting data on hate crimes motivated by gender and gender identity.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Kirchick: No More Subsidized Homophobia

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, created under George W. Bush in 2003, has distributed more than $50 billion for AIDS treatment and prevention funding worldwide, largely to Africa. But James Kirchick argues much of that funding goes to countries that promote homophobia, particularly Uganda, which goes to great lengths to punish gays and lesbians.

Kirchick writes in the Los Angeles Times, “Uganda’s campaign against homosexuality took a disturbing turn last month when a member of parliament in the nation’s governing majority introduced legislation that would stiffen penalties for actual or perceived homosexual activity, which is already illegal under Ugandan law. According to the proposed law, ‘repeat offenders’ could be sentenced to death, as would anyone engaging in a same-sex relationship in which one of the members is under the age of 18 or HIV-positive. Gay-rights advocacy would be illegal, and citizens would be compelled to report suspected homosexuals or those ‘promoting’ homosexuality to police; if they failed to do so within 24 hours, they could also be punished.”

Struggling Anglican leader in Rome for papal talks

The Archbishop of Canterbury sought Thursday to downplay the implications of the Vatican’s unprecedented invitation for Anglicans to join the Catholic Church as he arrived in Rome for his first talks with the pope on the new policy.

Archbishop Rowan Williams’ three-day visit, which began Thursday with a lecture and ends Saturday with a papal audience, was scheduled before the Vatican announced it was making it easier for traditional Anglicans upset over the ordination of women and gay bishops to become Catholic.

The Vatican has said it was merely responding to the many Anglican requests to join the Catholic Church and has denied it was poaching for converts in the Anglican pond.

But the move has already strained Catholic-Anglican relations and is sure to affect Williams’ 77-million worldwide Anglican Communion, which was already on the verge of schism over homosexuality and women’s ordination issues before the Vatican intervened.

In a speech at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Williams was gracious in referring to the Vatican’s new policy, which he called the “elephant in the room.” The policy was an “imaginative pastoral response” to requests by some Anglicans but broke no new doctrinal ground, Williams said.

He spent the bulk of his speech describing the progress that had been achieved so far in decades of Vatican-Anglican ecumenical talks and questioning whether the outstanding issues were really all that great.

“The ecumenical glass is genuinely half full,” the archbishop said.


In Related News: 4,000 Anglican priests to join Catholics

OVER 4,000 Anglican priests all over the world, including married ones, are expected to join the Catholic Church, Bishop Matthias Ssekamanya announced on Friday.

Ssekamanya, who doubles as the chancellor of Uganda Martyrs University, said this does not mean that the Catholic Church is removing the requirement for priests to remain unmarried.

“We are not becoming soft on celibacy for Catholic priests. We shall also not tolerate homosexuals and polygamous marriages in the Catholic Church,” he added.

He was officiating at the 15th graduation ceremony of the Nkozi-based university.

Vatican officials announced that married Anglican priests would be allowed to remain in the priesthood on a case-by-case basis as they join the Roman Catholic fold.

The Vatican’s decision to allow Anglicans to keep some aspects of their liturgy had raised questions over whether the Catholic requirement for celibacy might change.

The Vatican this month released rules and guidelines, known as the Apostolic Constitution, as part of efforts to make it easier for disillusioned, traditionalist Anglicans to cross over to the Roman Catholic Church.

Under the Vatican’s initiative, Anglicans, turned off by their own church’s embrace of gay clerics, women priests and blessing of same-sex unions, can join new parishes, called ‘personal ordinariates’, that are headed by former Anglican prelates.

“There is no change in the Church’s discipline of clerical celibacy,” Bishop Ssekamanya re-affirmed. He praised celibacy as “a sign and a stimulus for pastoral charity”.

The ceremony had 236 students graduating with masters, 522 with bachelors, 13 with advanced diplomas, 212 with diplomas and 10 with certificates.

N.J. Church Pushes for Marriage Equality

The Star-Ledger profiles Kevin Taylor, pastor of Unity Fellowship Church, a predominantly African-American and gay congregation in New Brunswick, N.J., that is leading the drive for marriage equality.

Taylor, who is also a producer for Black Entertainment Television, seeks to turn his eight-year-old church, one of 12 in a nationwide movement, into a political force for marriage equality in the Garden State, according to the Newark-based Star-Ledger.

“The political mission of Taylor’s parish has become the legalization of same-sex marriage in New Jersey,” Star-Ledger reporter Mary Fuchs writes. “For its members, the church is a place of both worship and possibilities — if rows of metal chairs lining a plain room in a medical building can become a sanctuary, why can’t prayers become reality?”

Unity Fellowship helped to raise $20,000 for marriage equality in a telephone fund-raiser this fall, according to the newspaper.

Supporters and opponents of gay marriage are in Trenton today pressing their cases with state legislators, who returned for the lame-duck session.

Gov. Jon Corzine, a Democrat, has pledged to sign a marriage equality bill if lawmakers pa

Monday, November 23, 2009

Adam Lambert For Your Entertainment at the American Music Awards 2009

N.Y. Court Upholds Marriage Recognition

The New York state court of appeals on Thursday upheld the recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions where they are legal, although the narrow ruling applies only to the specific cases under consideration and leaves open the door to future challenges.

The cases, involving the extension of benefits to same-sex partners of government employees who wed out of state, arose in response to the executive order from Gov. David Paterson last year to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other places, which include Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Iowa and Canada.

According to The New York Times, the ruling does not decide the broader issue surrounding recognition of same-sex marriages performed outside New York.

“In their majority ruling, four of the seven members of the court said they were making their decision on narrow grounds involving the specifics of each case, and not settling the broader question of whether same-sex marriages performed in other states should be recognized,” reportedthe Times. “Judge Eugene F. Pigott Jr., writing for the majority, expressed ‘hope that the Legislature will address this controversy.’


But in a concurring decision, three of the justices said that the court should have addressed the wider issue because New York law already allows for the recognition of marriages that are considered legal elsewhere.”

Trans Protections Approved in Tampa

The Tampa city council voted Thursday to extend antidiscrimination protections to transgender individuals over the objections of opponents, many of whom based their criticisms on religion.

Catholic bishops say gay marriage hurts society

The nation’s Roman Catholic bishops have affirmed that the church defines marriage between one man and one woman, and sex is meant for procreation.

The pastoral letter was issued Tuesday in Baltimore by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The bishops say they are disturbed that a growing number of people view marriage as a private or individual matter, instead of an issue critical to building a healthy society.

They say in the pastoral letter that redefining marriage to allow same-sex unions would damage the common good and would ignore the proper role of husbands and wives.

Texas' gay marriage ban may have banned all marriages

Texans: Are you really married?

Maybe not.

Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a Houston lawyer and Democratic candidate for attorney general, says that a 22-word clause in a 2005 constitutional amendment designed to ban gay marriages erroneously endangers the legal status of all marriages in the state.

The amendment, approved by the Legislature and overwhelmingly ratified by voters, declares that "marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman." But the troublemaking phrase, as Radnofsky sees it, is Subsection B, which declares:

"This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage."

Architects of the amendment included the clause to ban same-sex civil unions and domestic partnerships. But Radnofsky, who was a member of the powerhouse Vinson & Elkins law firm in Houston for 27 years until retiring in 2006, says the wording of Subsection B effectively "eliminates marriage in Texas," including common-law marriages.

She calls it a "massive mistake" and blames the current attorney general, Republican Greg Abbott, for allowing the language to become part of the Texas Constitution. Radnofsky called on Abbott to acknowledge the wording as an error and consider an apology. She also said that another constitutional amendment may be necessary to reverse the problem.

"You do not have to have a fancy law degree to read this and understand what it plainly says," said Radnofsky, who will be at Texas Christian University today as part of a five-city tour to kick off her campaign.

'Entirely constitutional’
Abbott spokesman Jerry Strickland said the attorney general stands behind the 4-year-old amendment.

"The Texas Constitution and the marriage statute are entirely constitutional," Strickland said without commenting further on Radnofsky’s statements. "We will continue to defend both in court."

Christian leaders issue ‘call of conscience’

More than 150 Christian leaders, most of them conservative evangelicals and traditionalist Roman Catholics, issued a joint declaration Friday reaffirming their opposition to abortion and gay marriage and pledging to protect religious freedoms.

The 4,700-word document, called “The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience,” sounds familiar themes from political and social debates over the health care overhaul and gay marriage battles.

While acknowledging that “Christians and our institutions have too often scandalously failed to uphold the institution of marriage,” the group rejects same-sex marriage. The declaration states that opening a legal door for gay marriage would do the same for “polyamorous partnerships, polygamous households, even adult brothers, sisters, or brothers and sisters living in incestuous relationships.”

President Barack Obama’s desire to reduce the need for abortion is “a commendable goal,” but his proposals are likely to increase the number of elective abortions, the document contends.

“The present administration is led and staffed by those who want to make abortions legal at any stage of fetal development, and who want to provide abortions at taxpayer expense,” it says.

Obama has said he wants to strike a balance on abortion coverage in the health care overhaul.

The declaration also cites threats to health care workers’ conscience clauses and anti-discrimination statutes it argues impinge on religious freedoms.

Signatories include 15 Roman Catholic bishops, including New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl; Focus on the Family founder James Dobson; National Association of Evangelicals president Leith Anderson; seminary leaders, professors and pastors

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Catholic ’Ex-Gay’ Program Criticized

Some anti-gay religious groups claim that gays can be "cured" and turned straight; others acknowledge that homosexuality is an innate trait, rather than a pathology, but still insist that gays are "called by God" to forsake family life and sexual intimacy and live celibate lives.

The Catholic Church follows the latter course, and in keeping with its views on the matter of gay sexuality has begun to offer a 12-step program designed to lead gays into sexless existences, reports a Nov. 17 Minneapolis Star Tribune article.

The program, however, refers to "reparative therapy," which is commonly associated with religiously based programs that purport to "convert" gays into heterosexuals. Such programs have vocal adherents who claim once to have been gay but now to be straight; health professionals, however, are skeptical of such "conversion" programs and warn that they may do more harm than good. The Star Tribune noted that the church’s programs are viewed as emblematic of a rightward shift on social issues since the start of Benedict XVI’s papacy. That shift has marginalized faith groups that previously had the support of the church, such as the Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities (CPCSM).

"[Retired Archbishop] Harry Flynn came to us--we didn’t go to them, they came to us--in the late 1990s and asked us to serve as resource people for the church," the executive coordinator of CPCSM, Michael Bayly, told the Star Tribune. "Then a new pope comes in. Now the archdiocese won’t even take our phone calls."

The CPCSM has scheduled a supper and discussion for Nov. 17 in Minneapolis, at Martin’s Table Restaurant and Bookstore. The topic: "pseudo-scientific organizations" that endorse reparative therapy. But those organizations may well include the church itself, which runs "reparative" therapy groups meant to help gays learn to live celibate lives.

One such group is called Courage; its web site quotes national director Rev. Paul Check, who claimed, "People are relieved to know the condition [of homosexuality] is both treatable and preventable."
The Courage site asks, "Are you or a loved one experiencing homosexual attractions and looking for answers?" and then goes on to promise, "From our website you will learn about homosexuality and chastity. By developing an interior life of chastity, which is the universal call to all Christians, one can move beyond the confines of the homosexual identity to a more complete one in Christ."

Friday, November 20, 2009

DC board won’t allow gay marriage ban on ballot

A measure to let voters decide whether to ban same-sex marriages in D.C. cannot go on the ballot because it would violate a city human rights law, the Board of Elections and Ethics ruled Tuesday.
The D.C. City Council is expected to approve gay marriage next month, but opponents wanted voters to weigh in.

The elections board said allowing residents to vote on a ban would conflict with the city’s 1977 Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination.

Errol R. Arthur, chairman of the two-member board, suggested as much at an October hearing. He said in a press release Tuesday that the "laws of the District of Columbia preclude us from allowing this initiative to move forward."

Similar ballot measures derailed same-sex marriage in Maine, where lawmakers passed a statute allowing gay couples to wed but voters repealed it, and California, where voters repealed court-sanctioned gay marriage.

Homosexuality no factor in abusive priests

A preliminary report commissioned by the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops on the roots of the clergy sex abuse scandal found no evidence that gay priests are more likely than heterosexual clergy to molest children, the lead authors of the study said Tuesday.

The full report by researchers at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice won’t be completed until the end of next year. But the authors said that their evidence to date found no data indicating that homosexuality was a predictor of abuse.

“What we are suggesting is that the idea of sexual identity be separated from the problem of sexual abuse,” said Margaret Smith of John Jay College, in a speech to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “At this point, we do not find a connection between homosexual identity and the increased likelihood of subsequent abuse from the data that we have right now.”

The question has been raised repeatedly within and outside the church because the overwhelming majority of known victims were boys. As part of the church’s response to the crisis, the Vatican ordered a review of all U.S. seminaries that, among other issues, looked for any “evidence of homosexuality” in the schools.

Yet, many experts on sex offenders reject any link between sexual orientation and committing abuse. Karen Terry, a John Jay researcher, said it was important to distinguish between sexual identity and behavior, and to look at who the offender had access to when seeking victims.

The bishops had commissioned the $2 million study as part of widespread reforms they enacted at the height of the abuse crisis. The scandal erupted in 2002 with the case of one predator priest in the Archdiocese of Boston, then spread to every U.S. diocese and beyond.

Nearly 14,000 molestation claims have been filed against Catholic clergy since 1950, according to tallies the bishops have released in recent years. Abuse-related costs have reached at least $2.3 billion in the same period.

Gay couples blast federal Defense of Marriage Act

Gay married couples suing the government over a federal law that doesn’t recognize same-sex unions say there is “no legitimate or plausible” reason for having a federal definition of marriage that excludes gay couples.

The lawsuit was brought by seven gay couples and three widowers, all of whom were married in Massachusetts after it became the first state in the country to legalize gay marriage in 2004.

In court documents filed Tuesday, the couples say the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution because it denies them access to federal benefits given to other married couples, including pensions, health insurance and the ability to file joint tax returns. They argue that the law “eviscerates” the historic power of the states to establish criteria for marriage.

“DOMA marks a stark, and unique, departure from the respect and recognition the federal government has long afforded to State marital status determinations,” lawyers for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders argue in a written response to the U.S. Department of Justice motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

In a court filing in September, Justice officials made it clear that the Obama administration thinks the law is discriminatory and should be repealed. But the department said it has an obligation to defend federal laws when they are challenged in court.

The law, enacted in 1996, was passed by Congress at a time when it appeared Hawaii would become the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. Opponents worried that other states would be forced to recognize such marriages.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Schwarzenegger rules out another run for office

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won’t say what his plans are when his term expires next year, but it won’t be running for another office.

“I have never labeled myself as a politician, so I am not going to run for anything else,” Schwarzenegger told reporters on Tuesday.

Schwarzenegger said he will spend the next year trying to solve problems including a projected multibillion dollar shortfall in next year’s budget.

California Church Asks: "Would Jesus Discriminate?"

In California’s San Joaquin, where Proposition 8 passed last year by double-digit margins, one gay-affirming church is preparing to challenge fellow resident’s prejudices against marriage equality.

Early next year, the Valley Ministries Metropolitan Community Church in Stockton, Calif. plans to launch its own “Would Jesus Discriminate” campaign, a nationwide MCC initiative under the website banner WhyWouldWe.org. Outreach to conservative counties in California is crucial, given an effort to repeal Proposition 8 next year, led by grassroots groups like Love Honor Cherish, next year is well under way. Marriage equality forces have until April to collect nearly 700,000 voter signatures by April 12, though organizers assert they likely will need to gather 1 million signatures.

But the Stockton effort will also tackle other issues of inequality, including discrimination in employment and housing, Valley Ministries MCC Rev. Terri Miller told The Stockton Record. “It’s meant to open dialogue with other communities of faith. Especially living in the San Jaoquin Valley, you have people who I would call very close-minded, who use God’s word to beat people up instead of [to] love people.”

Other MCC congregations have launched media campaigns, including a Dallas billboard effort that includes slogans like "Jesus affirmed a gay couple" -- a reference to the gospel story of Jesus healing the "servant" of a Roman soldier (his male lover, according to some biblical scholars) -- and "Ruth loved Naomi as Adam loved Eve."

The campaign is a play on the "What Would Jesus Do?" bracelet phenomenon, embraced by many evangelical Christians earlier in the decade. The predominately LGBT Metropolitan Community Church denomination, which has 250 congregations in more than 20 countries, has used the antidiscrimination message in previous campaigns in Texas and Indiana, among other states.

Oklahoma Lawmaker Wants State to Legislate Exemption from the Recently-Passed Federal Hate Crimes Bill

Comparing homosexuality to necrophilia, Oklahoma State Sen. Steve Russell (R-Oklahoma City) plans to introduce a bill that would exempt the state from having to abide by the recently passed Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act on the basis of the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The 10th amendment reads, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

Says Russell, who is upset that the bill was attached to a Department of Defense bill: “The bill gives the federal government power that was not given to them in the Constitution. I am aware of the supremacy of the federal government over state governments, but the federal requirements are vague enough for us to make actions. We just have to be very careful on how we proceed.”

Russell says he considered finding a way of still taking the $5 million in federal funds that the Hate Crimes Act provides state agencies but decided against it because it would "be a compromise in the values of his bill."

The Oklahoma Daily reports: "Russell said because the government has decided to intervene on issues of morality, he is worried that religious leaders who speak out against any lifestyle could be imprisoned for their speech. 'The law is very vague to begin with,' Russell said. 'Sexual orientation is a very vague word that could be extended to extremes like necrophilia.' Russell said he is also concerned if someone is attacked and killed for his or her sexual orientation, the suspect could pass the blame onto a religious leader who preached out against the lifestyle of the victim who was attacked."

Said Russell: “The federal government should not be creating a special class of people, and that is just what they did when they passed and signed this bill. All crimes against another person have some level of hate in them, and people can be assured that our laws that protect people against crimes such as murder are sufficient to protect everyone.”

Five New Initiatives Filed to Repeal Prop 8?

KSBW Sacramento reports that five new initiatives to repeal Proposition 8 received approval on Monday. Proponents must gather 694,354 for each: "All five measures begin with language stating that each would repeal current provisions in the state constitution that restricts marriage between a man and a woman."

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

N.J. Marriage Bill Stalls in Committee

A bill that would allow same-sex marriage in the Garden State may not make it to the governor's desk before his exit in January.

According to the head of the New Jersey senate’s judiciary committee, a bill that w
ould allow same-sex marriage in the Garden State does not have enough votes to move on to the full senate.

“Today, as I stand here, we do not have the votes in the judiciary committee,” state senator Paul Sarlo, chair of the judiciary committee, said Friday, reports the Associated Press. “Until somebody can demonstrate that we have the votes in the judiciary committee, it will not be posted.”

Gay rights activists are pushing lawmakers to adopt a marriage equality bill before the current governor, Jon S. Corzine, leaves office in January

Corzine, a Democrat, has said he would sign a same-sex marriage bill, while Governor-elect Chris Christie, a Republican, has stated he would veto such legislation.

The bill must clear the judiciary committee before the full senate can vote on the legislation. If it passes the senate and the assembly, the bill would move to the governor’s office to either be endorsed or vetoed. Assembly leaders are uncertain the bill has the votes to pass that chamber either.

Meghan McCain: Prejean Is a Hypocrite

Meghan McCain thinks Carrie Prejean is a hypocrite. Why? Because conservative media are giving her a pass for her eight sex tapes and numerous erotic photos because she’s against gay marriage.

In her latest piece for The Daily Beast, McCain talks about what she finds disturbing in the first stop on the former Miss California’s book tour — her visit to Sean Hannity’s show.

McCain writes, “This was Prejean’s first stop on her book publicity tour, and when the sex tape came up, he proceeded to ask her if she was ‘in love with her boyfriend at the time that she made [it].’ I’m sorry, why would being in love matter when it comes to filming yourself in a sexual context?”

She goes on to question why gay marriage is always the focal point of any situation in the Republican Party: “The problem I have with my fellow Republicans is why gay marriage is the trump card in any situation. It seems that as long as you are against gay marriage, any scandal in your life can be overlooked or overcome. When you are in favor of it, however — and I have been very vocal about my support — that position defines you.”

Ohio Episopalians open door to gay church weddings

The Columbus Dispatch reported last week that gay Episcopalians in central and southern Ohio will be able to marry in churches beginning Easter 2010.

Bishop Thomas E. Breidenthal of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio announced at the 135th diocesean convention that he would lift the prohibition of same-sex unions in the church.

The diocese includes about 25,000 Episcopalians in more than 80 churches.
Right Rev. Breidenthal put conservatives at ease by assuring them that no priest will be required to perform the same-sex blessing.

The General Convention this past summer approved openly gay bishops to serve in the Episcopal church.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Catholic Church Gives D.C. an Ultimatum

The Catholic archdiocese of Washington, D.C., has issued an ultimatum: It will end its social services program if the district doesn't change a proposed same-sex marriage law.

The social services program provides health care, adoption services, and shelter to the homeless for tens of thousands of people in the D.C. area. But the new bill would prohibit religious organizations from discriminating against gays and lesbians.

The story is similar to what happened in Massachusetts in 2006. There, Catholic Charities of Boston ended its adoption services after a state law was passed allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children.

"If the city requires this, we can't do it," Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the archdiocese of Washington, said Wednesday. "The city is saying in order to provide social services, you need to be secular. For us, that's really a problem."

Argentine Judge Rules for Gay Marriage

An Argentine judge ruled this week that a same-sex couple may marry, a decision that could advance a marriage equality bill stalled in the congress.

The ruling from Judge Gabriela Seijas in Buenos Aires likely makes Alex Freyre and Jose Maria Di Bello the first same-sex couple to be allowed to marry in Argentina, according to Reuters.

"The law should treat everyone with the same respect according to their singularities, without the need to understand or regulate them," said Seijas in her ruling, reported Reuters.

The ruling could be overturned by authorities in Buenos Aires, which in 2002 became the first city in the region to approve civil unions for same-sex couples.

According to Reuters, the new ruling could influence lawmakers, who remain deadlocked on a pending marriage equality bill.

UPDATE: Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri said on Friday following the ruling, that he supports gay marriage, and that the city government would not move to overturn the ruling because he wants to "improve the liberties of citizens."

"This is an important step, because we must learn how to live in freedom without hurting the rights of others," he said in a statement. "We must cohabit and accept this reality. The world is heading toward that direction."

Friday, November 13, 2009

Support for Same-Sex Marriage


Majority of Californians oppose putting marriage equality on the ballot in 2010

"Overall, 51% of California voters favored marriage rights for same-sex couples and 43% were opposed. Strikingly, however, almost 60% of Californians did not want to revisit the issue in 2010, just one election cycle after it last hit the ballot."

Thursday, November 12, 2009

NOM Puts New Jersey on Hit List

The antigay National Organization for Marriage, which provides significant financial backing to stall or repeal state-level marriage equality laws, has set its sights on New Jersey.

Analysis reveals Roman Catholic dioceses poured money into anti-marriage campaign in Maine

An analysis of state reports has revealed Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the nation made significant financial contributions to the campaign that nullified marriage for same-sex couples in Maine.

By a margin of 53 to 47 percent, Pine Tree State voters supported a referendum on Nov. 3 that nullified a law that had extended nuptials to gays and lesbians. Observers said the 55 percent turnout was exceptionally high in an off-year election.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland created a political action committee to collect funds for Stand for Marriage Maine, the campaign supporting the referendum. The church contributed close to $550,000. Almost half--about $250,000--came from dioceses, parishes, organizations and individual clergy from outside the state.

While the church was collecting out-of-state dollars, Marc Mutty, Stand for Marriage Maine’s campaign chair, criticized the No on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign for not being "home grown." Mutty ran the anti-marriage effort while on leave from his job as spokesperson for the Portland diocese.

The church’s out-of-state funds came from 65 separate contributions. Some were quite large. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Phoenix each gave $50,000. The Diocesan Assistance Fund in Providence, R.I., the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, and the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas each gave $10,000. Others were small--a number of priests gave less than $50.

We're Coming For You, Garden State Gays

The National Organization for Marriage confirms what we all expected: It's taking its Church-backed dollars to New Jersey.

With same-sex marriage suddenly a top priority in Jersey — with supporter Gov. Jon Corzine, seen here signing the civil unions law in 2006, leaving office in January to make room for bigot Chris Christie — NOM indicates it's going to put the state next on its hit list.

NOM president Maggie Gallagher, most recently seen sympathizing with Maine's gays, says: "New Jersey is at the very top of our list, and it's going to happen in the next few weeks if it happens at all. They're doing it in a lame duck, because it's as far away from an election as possible."

While same-sex civil unions have been legal since 2006 in New Jersey, their recognition has been found to be unequal to marriage. And while a lame duck legislative session might be enough to get marriage equality on the agenda, it's unclear what NOM's strategy in Jersey will be, aside from encouraging supporters to phone legislators and lobby them to vote against it.


Focus on the Family: New Jersey is next

The antigay group Focus on the Family was not only happy with the outcome in Maine – but with the election in New Jersey as well, where conservative Christopher Christie defeated Jon Corzine in the gubernatorial race. Corzine has promised to sign a marriage equality bill if the state Legislature gets it to his desk before Christie takes office Jan. 10, 2010. Steven Goldstein, Executive Director of Garden State Equality, says there is a new urgency to the push for marriage equality in New Jersey. Focus on the Family is lining up to stop it.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009


AMA: Repeal DADT

America’s largest organization of physicians and medical students has issued declarations against the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy and state same-sex marriage bans.

The American Medical Association declared on Tuesday that the “don't ask, don't tell” policy creates an ethical dilemma for gay service members and the doctors who treat them.

Survey raises doubts on ‘don’t ask’ policy

The Obama administration received more research yesterday to help make its case for allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces.

A survey of troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan concluded that having gay or lesbian soldiers in fighting units has no significant impact on unit cohesion or readiness.

The data raise new doubts about the underlying assumption of the congressional ban, namely that military discipline will fall apart if gays and lesbians are permitted to serve openly.

“Service members said the most important factors for unit cohesion and readiness were the quality of their officers, training, and equipment,’’ said Laura Miller, a military sociologist at the RAND Corporation, a private research group that has long advised the Pentagon, which conducted the study along with the University of Florida. “Serving with another service member who was gay or lesbian was not a significant factor that affected unit cohesion or readiness to fight.’’

The study, which was commissioned by the Palm Center at the University of California at Santa Barbara - whose researchers have advocated lifting the ban - is the latest high-profile assessment to question the validity of the “don’t ask, don’t tell’’ policy, which requires gays and lesbians to keep their sexual orientation secret or risk discharge.

RAND and the University of Florida found that “40 percent of the military members surveyed expressed support for the [current] policy, while 28 percent opposed it and 33 percent were neutral - less support than seen in previous surveys,’’ according to a release from RAND, which also advises the Pentagon on a host of security matters.

It added: “About 20 percent of those polled said they were aware of a gay or lesbian member in their unit, and about half of those said their presence was well known.

In addition, three-quarters of those surveyed said they felt comfortable or very comfortable in the presence of gays or lesbians,’’ it said.

The survey, which appears in the journal Armed Forces and Society, found no significant differences in the attitudes toward gays and lesbians among the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.

The study comes weeks after a scholarly journal published for the Joint Chiefs of Staff included an article by an Air Force colonel calling for repeal of the 1993 law, arguing that forcing gay soldiers to live a lie undercut the honor and integrity that are central to military service.

President Obama has vowed to press Congress to repeal the ban on gays - a key campaign pledge - but has yet to begin lobbying lawmakers to take action. A bill to repeal the law in the House has been sponsored by Representative Patrick Murphy, a Pennsylvania Democrat, but no Senate sponsor has come forward.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

N.Y. Senate Delays Gay Marriage Vote

The State Senate delayed a highly anticipated vote on same-sex marriage on Tuesday, putting off the issue indefinitely as gay rights supporters continued to lobby for additional votes.

Republicans and Democrats said that as of Tuesday afternoon, the measure was still several votes short of the 32 necessary for approval. About five Democrats remained either opposed or noncommittal, meaning that Republican votes were needed to secure passage.

But not enough Republicans have committed to voting yes, legislators said. The Democrats have a 32-30 majority in the Senate.

It was unclear when the Senate would take the issue up. Wednesday is Veterans Day, a holiday, meaning that it would be at least the end of the week before the Senate could vote on the bill.

“It sounds like today is just not going to be the day,” said Senator Eric T. Schneiderman, a Democrat from Manhattan, who has been one of the same-sex marriage bill’s main proponents. “There are a lot of us who want to see it voted on and passed as soon as possible. So if today’s not the day, I think our views on the overall strategy don’t change.”

Senators entered the chamber shortly after noon and took up a resolution honoring veterans. They left without addressing more substantive issues, and the Senate printing press had not begun printing any bills.

Other factors in addition to the lack of support were also at work in delaying a vote, which Gov. David A. Paterson and gay rights advocates have been aggressively pursuing. Mr. Paterson called the Legislature back to Albany this week for an emergency session to close a budget gap that now exceeds $3 billion. Lawmakers have said the budget — not same-sex marriage — was their first priority.

Americablog: Don’t Donate to DNC

The website Americablog launched a campaign Monday challenging LGBT Americans to take a pledge against donating money to the Democratic National Committee, its spin-off arm, Organizing For America, or the Obama campaign.


"We are asking voters to pledge to withhold contributions to the Democratic National Committee, Organizing for America, and the Obama campaign until the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is passed, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) is repealed, and the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is repealed -– all of which President Obama repeatedly promised to do if elected."

The bloggers have published a comprehensive list of reasons and say the money should "pause" to the organization until promises are kept: "We are not calling for a boycott of donations to the DNC. We are simply calling for a pause until the party follows through on its campaign promise to repeal DADT and DOMA, and pass ENDA. The party will get the same donations it would have gotten, when the promises are kept. The Democrats could choose to make good on their promise today. And by doing so, they will only further motivate the Democratic base to again turn out for the next election, a decidedly good thing."

Sweden Gets Lesbian Bishop

Sweden's Lutheran Church ordains first openly lesbian bishop:

"Eva Brunne was ordained as bishop of Stockholm's diocese in a ceremony on Sunday. She lives in a "registered partnership" with another woman, a civil union between gays used in Sweden before same-sex marriages were legalized this year. The couple also has a child. 'It is very positive that our church is setting an example here and is choosing me as bishop based on my qualifications, when they also know that they can meet resistance elsewhere,' the 55-year-old Brunne told The Associated Press by phone."

NY govenor says he has done everything he can for gay marriage

New York Gov. David Paterson says he has done everything he could do to get equal marriage in New York, he told Towleroad this weekend. Paterson scheduled a special session of the senate for Tuesday to take up issues – including marriage – but he does not have the power to force the legislature to take them up. The New York Assembly has passed the marriage bill; Paterson has said he would sign it should it cross his desk.

Should the Senate take up the bill, Paterson said, ” I have a feeling if it got on the floor it would be voted up.” But he also said that if it should be voted down, it would not be a “colossal failure” but would give activists a chance to see who needed to be persuaded. At least then, he said, the legislators would be on record.


NYC City Council Speaker Quinn Urges Marriage Equality Vote

Openly gay NYC City Council speaker Christine Quinn was asked at a press conference this morning about the potential for a vote on marriage equality by the State Senate tomorrow.

"It's an incredibly important piece of legislation...If the bill is voted on and passed tomorrow, a week after a referendum passed in Maine that took rights away from the residents of Maine...if seven days after that the New York State Senate stands up and says all New York families are equal, what a message that sends about what we believe as a state."


On Deck, New York Marriage Equality Bill's Fate in Albany Uncertain

The NYT's take on marriage equality's chances this week: unclear.

"Advocates on both sides of the issue lobbied senators over the weekend, but it was still unclear on Sunday whether the measure could attract the 32 votes needed in the State Senate for approval. (The Assembly has already passed the bill.) Only three state legislatures nationwide have voted, without the intervention of the courts, to approve same- sex marriage. In New York, Democrats hold a shaky 32-to-30 majority in the Senate, and some senators oppose allowing the legislation to come to the floor for a vote. Those who favor the bill say they realize they are risking another significant defeat but are determined to get legislators on record on the issue. They also say that now may be the best time to push lawmakers to take up the bill, given that next year all 212 members of the Legislature will face re-election. Estimates vary, but supporters of the bill believe they can count on about 25 votes for the legislation at this time."

Michelangelo Signorile makes an interesting point with regard to the recent NY-23 election: "I was actually wondering how the Dede Scozzafava debacle would play out and I did think in fact it would scare Republicans in the Senate on marriage for gays. The Republican Party in New York has known for some time that state Republicans will be dinosaurs soon, as all the surrounding states have marriage equality and the Northeast Republican is heading for extinction and needs to make changes. However, those with sites on national office, certainly saw what happened to Scozzafava and took notice. If the local party is, perhaps, ready for the change, the national party is light years away."


700 Clergy and Lay Leaders Call on NY Senate to Pass Marriage Bill

The Empire State Pride Agenda today released a list of 700 clergy and lay leaders from across New York state who are in support of the legislature passing a marriage equality bill.

ESPA writes: "The geographic list of clergy and faith leaders in support of New York State allowing same-sex couples access to marriage includes a number of denominations including Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist, United Church of Christ, American Baptist, Reformed Church in America and Reform and Conservative movements of Judaism. It also includes influential leaders like Bishop Prince Singh of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, Bishop Robert Rimbo of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, President of Union Theological Seminary."

Said executive director Alan van Capelle in a statement: "This list represents a diverse group of faith traditions and congregations from all corners of our state. The leaders of these religious institutions understand the spiritual value of respecting all members of their community, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. These faith leaders—a number of which are not allowed to perform marriages of same-sex couples themselves because of their faith traditions—consider this to be an issue involving the rights and protections of civil marriage, not the traditions and ceremonies of a religious marriage. Their commitment at this important moment in New York demonstrates that there is no one group that owns the pulpit when it comes to whether the state should be treating all families equally by providing same-sex couples access to marriage and the many hundreds of rights and responsibilities New York provides with a marriage license.”

Monday, November 9, 2009

Prejean Sex Tape Triggers Settlement

Carrie Prejean demanded more than a million dollars during her settlement negotiations with Miss California USA Pageant officials -- that is, until the lawyer for the Pageant showed Carrie an XXX home video of her handiwork.

The video the lawyer showed Carrie is extremely graphic and has never been released publicly. We know that, because TMZ obtained the video months ago but decided not to post it because it was so racy. Let's just say, Carrie has a promising solo career.

We're told it took about 15 seconds for Carrie to jettison her demand and essentially walk away with nothing. As we first reported, the Pageant is paying around $100,000 to her lawyers and publicist -- a fraction of her bills. She pockets nothing in the settlement.


Report: Carrie Prejean Called Her Sex Tape ‘Disgusting’... Before Realizing It Was Her

TMZ is milking the Carrie Prejean sex tape revelation, releasing a few details at a time. The latest snippet relates what happened when the Miss California USA lawyers allegedly showed it to her:

“When the video started playing, Carrie’s first reaction was ‘that’s disgusting’ ... and Carrie denied it was her. Then, the camera angle changed ... and panned up to her face. She was caught red-handed ... so to speak. Carrie was rendered speechless and immediately began talking with her lawyer. We’re told it took about 15 seconds for Carrie to drop her $1 million dollar demand.”

Ted Haggard Starts New Church

The minister who fell from grace in a gay sex scandal will lead a new congregation in his Colorado Springs home.

The Reverend Ted Haggard, who lost his pastorate at New Life Church in a scandal over his involvement with a male prostitute, is starting a new church at his home in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The conservative minister’s new church will hold its first service, which Haggard refers to as a prayer meeting, November 12, The Gazette of Colorado Springs reports. It hearkens back to the beginnings of New Life, which started in Haggard’s basement and grew into a megachurch,

Sunday, November 8, 2009

LAPD Dumps Boy Scouts Affiliate

The Los Angeles Police Department on Tuesday severed its ties to an organization linked to the Boy Scouts of America, which discriminates against gays.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Anti-gays Eye Repeal of Marriage Equality in New Hampshire

The recent victory of bigots in Maine has cause some anti-gay lawmakers in New Hampshire to consider a repeal of that state’s marriage equality law, which was signed by Governor John Lynch in June.

Foster’s Daily Democrat reports:

“Two proposals are being drafted in the N.H. House: One would repeal the law Gov. John Lynch signed in June and re-establish civil unions; the other is a constitutional amendment that would charge voters with deciding if ‘the state shall only recognize the union of one man and one woman as marriage.’ Supporters of same-sex marriage are strategizing and gearing up for a fight, said Rep. Jim Splaine, D-Portsmouth, who sponsored the gay marriage law. He said momentum doesn’t rest with gay-marriage foes.’ The momentum is on our side and those of us who support equality and love over hate,’ he said Wednesday. Even so, ‘we have a fight cut out for us in January’ when the Legislature reconvenes, he said. ‘But I think virtually everyone in the House and Senate who voted for marriage equality will stick with us and I’m hoping we’ll pick up some others.’”

According to the paper, “Only the proposed repeal would go to the governor’s desk in order for it to become law. Constitutional amendments head straight to the voters for two-thirds support upon being passed by the same margin in the Legislature.”

Friday, November 6, 2009

Anderson Cooper and Panel Debate Gay Marriage Loss in Maine

Harry Jackson on Maine’s Repeal of Gay Marriage Law

Dept. of Justice testimony on ENDA: Pass it now

Thomas E. Perez, head of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, testified before a Senate committee that the Obama Administration supports ENDA.

He said, “The Administration strongly supports fully-inclusive legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Perez thanked Congress for passing the Matthew Shepard hate crimes legislation and said that ENDA was just as crucial for law enforcement.

He said, “On an issue of basic equality and fundamental fairness for all Americans, we cannot in good conscience stand by and watch unjustifiable discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals occur in the workplace without redress.”

Perez noted that the same objections brought against ENDA had been previously brought against the 1964 Civil Rights Act and were found to be baseless.

The 1964 Civil Rights Act also prohibited discrimination in housing, public spaces, schools and government. ENDA is a much narrower bill and includes only employment.

Twenty-nine states currently provide no employment protections for gays, lesbians and bisexuals; 38 states provide no protections for transgender workers.

Mixner: We Are Out of Patience

David Mixner calls for action to the LGBT community as a response to the events in Maine.

Says Mixner, calling for a major shake-up: “How can we have any dignity, honor or pride in ourselves if we validate this continued process of ballot box terrorism? How can we stand tall next to each other if we explain away another’s cowardliness? How can we allow people to dehumanize our relationships and our very integrity if we give people passes to sit out the battle for our very freedom? No longer are political timelines a reason for delay, no longer are incremental approaches acceptable and no longer can the political process expect us to be patient and wait our turn. Our turn came long ago and there will be no more waiting.”

Mixner says our national organizations should be put on notice that they will be held accountable for their conversations with elected officals; the checkbooks should be closed to all elected officials not on our side and gay organizations supporting them; actions, not promises need to be demanded; and new tactics like civil disobedience must now be on the table.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

God has given us this victory?

Check out this photo of the "Yes on 1" people rejoicing after taking marriage rights away from millions of Mainers.

Said Rev. Bob Emrich of Palmyra: "God has given us this victory and it is very important for us to recognize that he is the one who put the energy into this campaign. So let's not be so arrogant to forget this. It's very appropriate to pause for a moment of prayer."

It never ceases to amaze me how people who profess to be Christian can be so un-Christlike.

The NYT on the loss:
"Maine became the 31st state to block same-sex marriage through a public referendum, a result that will force supporters to rethink their national strategy at a crucial time for the movement. With 84 percent of precincts reporting early Wednesday, the repeal proposal had 53 percent of the vote, even though polls had indicated the race was a dead heat.

This year three other states — Iowa, New Hampshire and Vermont — joined Massachusetts and Connecticut in allowing same-sex marriage, but only through court rulings and legislative action. Maine, with its libertarian leanings, had seemed to offer an excellent chance of reversing the long national trend of voters rejecting marriage equality at the ballot box.

Some said the loss was a sign that the state-by-state approach favored by the largest gay-rights groups had failed and that the focus should move to reversing the federal ban on same-sex marriage, which Congress can reverse without voter approval. Others argued that the defeat only reinforced the need to keep winning grassroots support.

Evan Wolfson, executive director of the national gay-rights group Freedom to Marry, said the loss in Maine underscores 'the fact that we need to continue those conversations and make ourselves visible as families in communities.'

He added, 'It shows we have just not done it long enough and deep enough, even in a place like Maine.'

But Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage, the conservative Christian group that is leading the charge against same-sex marriage around the country, read the outcome differently.

'It interrupts the story line that is being manufactured, that suggests the culture has shifted on gay marriage and the fight is over,' she said. 'Maine is one of the most secular states in the nation, it’s socially liberal, they had a three-year head start to build their organization and they outspent us two to one. If they can’t win there, it really does tell you the majority of Americans are not on board with this gay marriage thing."'

Waiting in Washington

In Washington State, where voters are being asked to decide whether to keep a newly passed domestic partnership law, the result is not likely to be known for several days. Voting in that state is done entirely by mail –though voters can drop off their ballots in person, too—and voters can postmark their ballots as late as anytime Tuesday.

The latest numbers are 51.1 percent approve domestic partnerships; 48.9 percent reject them.

Dave Ammons, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office, said the office is posting results at www.vote.wa.gov. But he added that they would have “probably no more than half of the expected total vote counted by the end of the evening.”

Openly gay Kleinschmidt is next Chapel Hill mayor

Mark Kleinschmidt emerged victorious in his campaign for mayor of Chapel Hill on Tuesday, with a 49.49 percent (4,006) to 46.53 percent (3,766) lead against chief opponent Matt Czajkowski with 21 of 21 precincts reporting.

Shortly after 9:00 p.m., Czajkowski conceded to Kleinschmidt.

A member of the Chapel Hill Town Council since 2001, Kleinschmidt will become the third openly gay man to hold mayoral office in the state, following Mike Nelson in Carrboro and Elic Senter in Frankinton.

Gay rights law passes in Kalamazoo

Ordinance 1856 is anti-discrimination law

Kalamazoo residents voted Tuesday evening to pass the highly debated anti-discrimination ordinance.

Sexual orientation and gender identity now will be added as protected classes to ordinance 1856. In addition, it will be illegal to discriminate against gay, lesbian and transgendered individuals in the areas of hiring, housing and public accommodation.

With the passage of the ordinance, all complaints filed will be investigated by the city manager's office. Violators of ordinance 1856 could face fines of up to $500 per day until the situation is resolved.

Though the wounds from Maine are still fresh

It's important to remember that it wasn't all bad news on Election Day.

Washington state probably managed to push through their "everything but marriage" domestic partnership law.

Kalamazoo, Michigan voted 62-38 to extend anti-discrimination protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina elected Mark Kleinschmidt, an openly gay man, as mayor.


With that said, there's one issue that's looming with an air of hope and potential despair. Republican Chris Christie beat out Jon Corzine in the New Jersey gubernatorial race. Corzine had recently promised to sign a marriage equality bill if it hit his desk, but Christie's been advocating for NJ voters to decide on the matter.

Garden State Equality is now upping their efforts to get same-sex marriage legislation approved before Corzine leaves office. Yesterday, they released a fantastic video that both reinforces that gay couples are just like their heterosexual counterparts and shows that some straight folks think that the idea of "preserving the institution of marriage" is completely ridiculous. Keep your fingers crossed!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Maine: Voters Repeal Law Legalizing Gay Marriage

Maine voters repealed a state law Tuesday that would have allowed same-sex couples to wed, dealing the gay rights movement a heartbreaking defeat in New England, the corner of the country most supportive of gay marriage.

Gay marriage has now lost in every single state -- 31 in all -- in which it has been put to a popular vote. Gay-rights activists had hoped to buck that trend in Maine -- known for its moderate, independent-minded electorate -- and mounted an energetic, well-financed campaign.

Maine rejects gay marriage law: Update

The vote tally in Maine today, while not complete and not official, suggests an effort to repeal the state’s newly passed marriage equality law has succeeded.

With 93 percent of the precincts reporting in as of 9:25 a.m., the “Yes” votes to repeal the law totaled 53 percent of the vote, while the “No” votes against repeal numbered 47 percent. The Bangor Daily News provided the tallies. The state’s Director of Elections, Melissa Packard, said her office would not report results publicly until they are certified –in about 20 days.

The apparent vote marks a significant defeat for marriage equality supporters, who were hoping to regain ground lost last year when voters in California narrowly approved Proposition 8 to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage and undermine a court ruling that had enabled some 18,000 same-sex couples to marry in 2008. (The vote in that 2008 initiative was 52 percent for, 48 percent against.) It also appears to provide momentum to the anti-gay marriage movement, which is now attempting to stage an initiative against same-sex marriage in Washington, D.C., and which has a bill pending before the New Hampshire legislature to repeal a bill enacted there earlier this year.

Secret Report Revealed: Bush Admin Determined CO2 to be Public Threat in 2007

In December 2007 the Bush administration found that greenhouse gases, especially those emitted by motor vehicles, were a danger to public health, and therefore should be regulated by the Clean Air Act. This finding was sequestered for years, the story of its suppression was well known. The 29-page report by Bush's EPA itself was only seen by a select few, copies were not allowed to be made, and the White House's Office of Management and Budget blocked an effort to make it public. The document has only now been released for the first time to the American public.

City of Los Angeles Approves Waterless Urinals for All Buildings

And not just any urinals, the lucky winner is the H2Zero waterless urinal by Caroma, which beat out the competition to win this huge endorsement from one of the largest cities in the United States. Plus, green builders looking to get their permit approved now have one more ally on their side as this system has already been stamped off by the city.

In a city that has long had its battles with water conservation, this is just one more way to save lots and lots and lots of water. So just how did this "vitreous china urinal" clear all of the hurdles? Well, by making a product that outperformed the other urinals in operation, odor management, durability and waste build-up. If the city was going to approve a system that might make some people a little queasy, they had to find something that wouldn't leave a mess for anyone to have to deal with.

Reform group seeks rewrite of Calif. Constitution

California’s government is so broken it can be fixed only by rewriting the state constitution, a coalition of business and civic groups said Wednesday as it filed language for two ballot initiatives that would begin the process.

The coalition, Repair California, wants to put the questions on the November 2010 ballot. The first initiative would amend the constitution to give voters the right to call a convention. If that passes, a second initiative spells out how more than 450 delegates would be selected and what they would discuss.

The topics include how to fix the state’s budgeting and ballot initiative processes, reducing the influence of special interests in elections, restoring the balance of power between state and local governments, and establishing ways to make government more efficient.

"California has become the laughingstock of our country," said Jim Wunderman, president of the Bay Area Council, a group that represents San Francisco-area businesses and is spearheading the reform effort. "The damage our state government is causing by not acting on the crisis in our state - in our education system, in our prisons, our water system, our budgeting system, our local governments and our economy - well, it’s not funny. It’s tragic."

Topics such as gay marriage, the death penalty and immigration will not be part of the debate. The panel also would be prohibited from proposing taxes or fees.

Three delegates would be chosen from each of California’s 80 Assembly districts, for a total of 240. Another 221 would be appointed by local government leaders from throughout the state, while four delegates would come from federally recognized American Indian tribes in California.

The California Fair Political Practices Commission, a political watchdog agency whose members are appointed by the governor, attorney general, secretary of state and controller, would enforce the rules and oversee the convention. Wunderman estimated the convention itself would cost $50 million to $75 million.

Supporters need to gather enough signatures to qualify the initiatives for next year’s ballot. If they succeed and the propositions are approved, the convention process is expected to take nearly two years, possibly culminating in a November 2012 ballot initiative that would ask voters to approve the changes.

Wunderman said there is little chance the state will have worked out its multiple challenges by then.
"I would hope that some of the problems will go away, but it’s not our expectation," he said.
Momentum for major government reform has accelerated over the past year, as California’s economy has tanked and its lawmakers have appeared increasingly inept.

Among the efforts to reform state government is one started by the Legislature itself. The Democratic leaders of the Assembly and Senate have appointed a committee that began hearings this month.

Bob Stern, president of the Los Angeles-based Center for Governmental Studies, said the toughest challenge will likely be persuading Californians to pass whatever recommendations emerge from the convention. Voters approve fewer than a third of all ballot initiatives.

"Is it the sexiest thing in the world? Obviously, it’s not. But I think if this convention can show they’re really serious, they represent all of Californians, I think there’ll be overwhelming support for it," he said.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Voter Turnout Higher Than Expected in Maine

Originally, Secretary of State Matt Dunlap had projected 35%.

Now, Ben Smith at Politico reports:
"Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap told me just now that turnout there is far exceeding his projections -- news that would be good news for backers of same-sex marriage. 'We're seeing heavy and very steady turnout,' he said, attributing the surprise to the contested vote on a 'people's veto' of a same-sex marriage law driving Mainers to the polls. The city of Bangor -- Maine's third largest, and likely to tilt against repeal -- is projecting turnout over 50%, he said, and local analysts have said that higher turnout would likely favor the marriage law."

Vatican to decide each case of Anglican priests

The Vatican said Saturday that married Anglican priests will be admitted to the Catholic priesthood on a case-by-case basis as Rome makes it easier for disillusioned conservative Anglicans to convert.

A surprise Vatican decision, announced 10 days earlier to make it easier for Anglicans to become Roman Catholics while retaining aspects of Anglican liturgy and identity, had left some wondering whether Rome would embrace married Anglican clergy in large numbers.

A Holy See statement Saturday quoted Cardinal William Levada, the Holy See’s guardian of doctrinal correctness, as saying the Vatican would consider accepting married Anglican priests into the Roman Catholic priesthood as it has in the past – evaluating each case on its own merits.

The Roman Catholic church requires its priests to be celibate, except in the case of the Eastern rite Catholics, who are allowed to be ordained if married. But over the last decades, it has also quietly allowed married Anglican clergy to stay priests when converting to Catholicism.

In no case could a married man become a bishop, and the new rules would exclude any married Anglican bishop from retaining that post.

As for possibly admitting married Anglican seminarians to the Catholic priesthood, Levada said “objective criteria about any such possibilities (e.g. married seminarians already in preparation) are to be developed” for approval by the Holy See.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi dismissed what he called some media speculation that there was “disagreement about whether celibacy will be the norm for the future clergy” among converting Anglicans.

He quoted Levada as saying “there is no substance to such speculation,” and that the only reason why the rules regarding the converting Anglicans haven’t been published yet was due to “technical” reasons. He predicted work on the new rules would be completed by the end of the first week of November.

Dobson Departs Focus on the Family

Focus on the Family founder James C. Dobson will end his 32-year tenure as the voice of the conservative Christian ministry at the end of February, the Colorado-based nonprofit announced on Friday.

Dobson has been gradually cutting ties with the organization. In 2003, Dobson stepped down as Focus on the Family’s president, and last February Dobson left the ministry’s board of directors.
Over the years, Dobson has become a key advocate for the religious right, promoting fierce opposition to abortion, gay rights, pornography, and President Barack Obama's candidacy.

According to Jim Daly, the current president and CEO of Focus on the Family, the decision was mutual between Dobson and the ministry's board of directors. Despite leaving the organization, Dobson will not go quietly into retirement. Dobson has agreed to return to Focus as a guest, said Gary Schneeberger, a ministry spokesman, reports The Denver Post.

A press release from the organization does not name a replacement for Dobson.

Gay Airline Employee Wants Equal Benefits

A baggage agent for SkyWest Airlines in California says that his employer refuses to give his husband the free fares it provides to straight spouses, in breach of a state law that requires employers to treat same-sex spouses equally.

Employee Gilbert Caldwell married David Farrell in June 2008, and existing marriages were upheld by the state supreme court in spite of Proposition 8. In a new kind of case, Caldwell, 56, is asking SkyWest to treat Farrell, 72, the same way it does the spouses of his straight coworkers, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

“The case is one of the first discrimination complaints to surface by any of the 18,000 same-sex couples who married in California before the November 2008 passage of Proposition 8, which amended the state Constitution to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman,” reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

Caldwell, who is being represented by Lambda Legal, plans to sue for damages unless SkyWest changes its policy.

Third-Grader Reports on Equal Rights

Ever wonder how a third-grader might have experienced the National Equality March on Washington? Thanks to Grace Hingston-Hurtado and her parents Brad Hurtado and Seán Martin Hingston, you can see the march through a third-grader’s eyes.

Grace reported on the march to her third-grade class. The family was joined in D.C. by Josh Lehrer and Jeffrey Seller and their kids May and Tom Lehrer-Seller.

From marching in the streets to learning a lesson or two from Abe Lincoln, watch Grace’s report on her trip to D.C.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Maine Poll: 51% Yes, 47% No on 1

With one day to go before the election, a new poll shows that voters in Maine favor repealing the gay marriage law by 51% to 47%, virtually a tie given the poll’s margin of error or plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.

The latest results released on Monday showed slight movement in favor of Question 1, the ballot initiative that would repeal the gay marriage law, since a poll two weeks ago showed the measure tied at 48%.

The polling company, Public Policy Polling, said the results indicate that the age of voters who turn out will be key to the outcome in Maine.

"The measure's fate could be determined by the age composition of the electorate on Tuesday," said Public Policy Polling in an announcement. "Senior citizens support it by a 59-40 margin while voters under 30 oppose it 51-48. Last year exit polls showed more voters under 30 turning out for the Presidential election than ones over 65 but we expect seniors to turn out at a much higher rate than younger voters this year, as is often the case in off year elections. If the electorate ends up being younger than we anticipate the fight could be even closer."

Cast Of Glee - USA National Anthem (Live At World Series Game 3)

Jon Stewart Takes On War Between Obama White House & Fox News

The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
For Fox Sake!
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
Daily Show
Full Episodes
Political HumorHealth Care Crisis