Thursday, January 19, 2012
Marriage News Watch
Washington, Colorado, New Jersey -- state legislatures are moving even faster than we thought on marriage equality. But it's not all good news. Meanwhile, Canadian turmoil calls thousands of marriages into question, and preparations continue for the impending decision in the Prop 8 case.
NOM Pledges $250K to Stop Marriage Equality in Washington State
NOM is reaching into its coffers as Washington prepares to vote on a marriage equality bill.
The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), the nation's leading pro-marriage organization, today announced that it will spend $250,000 to help fund primary challenges to any Republican legislator who crosses the party platform and votes in favor of same-sex marriage. NOM will also work with pro-marriage grassroots organizations to ensure that the people of Washington have the chance to vote on marriage in November 2012.
"It's fairly incredible that some legislators would try to legalize homosexual marriage so soon after giving same-sex couples all the rights and privileges of marriage through Domestic Partnerships. This effort proves that the question is not one of rights but preserving marriage as a child-focused institution that has served families since the dawn of time," stated Brian Brown, NOM's president. "We intend to hold every legislator accountable for his or her vote on marriage. Any Republican who votes to redefine marriage can count on funding of a primary challenge to them. All legislators need to know that the same-sex marriage lobby wants to destroy the institution of marriage, redefining not just marriage, but also 'husband,' 'wife,' 'mother,' and 'father.'"
The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), the nation's leading pro-marriage organization, today announced that it will spend $250,000 to help fund primary challenges to any Republican legislator who crosses the party platform and votes in favor of same-sex marriage. NOM will also work with pro-marriage grassroots organizations to ensure that the people of Washington have the chance to vote on marriage in November 2012.
"It's fairly incredible that some legislators would try to legalize homosexual marriage so soon after giving same-sex couples all the rights and privileges of marriage through Domestic Partnerships. This effort proves that the question is not one of rights but preserving marriage as a child-focused institution that has served families since the dawn of time," stated Brian Brown, NOM's president. "We intend to hold every legislator accountable for his or her vote on marriage. Any Republican who votes to redefine marriage can count on funding of a primary challenge to them. All legislators need to know that the same-sex marriage lobby wants to destroy the institution of marriage, redefining not just marriage, but also 'husband,' 'wife,' 'mother,' and 'father.'"
Colbert Super PAC Endorses Herman Cain
Now that Stephen Colbert is no longer in charge of Colbert Super PAC, the new head, "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart, is free to endorse a candidate. And in a new ad released Monday evening, Colbert Super PAC endorses former GOP hopeful Herman Cain.
"He's such a Washington outsider, he's not even running for president," the ad's announcer proclaims. Cain, of course, dropped out of the race after numerous sexual allegations were made against him. But since he's still on the ballot and Colbert isn't, he'll clearly have to do.
On Monday night, Colbert Super PAC sent out an email to its supporters to inform them that Jon Stewart, who is "really settling into this Super PAC thing," had a big announcement to make on behalf of the newly renamed "The Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC." Within the email was a link to a video encouraging South Carolina republicans to vote for Herman Cain.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Prop 8 play coming to a theater near you
The pro-gay marriage American Foundation for Equal Rights and partner Broadway Impact are sponsoring dozens of productions of Dustin Lance Black’s play starring local actors across the country this election year. It’ll be shown in states where marriage battles loom, including Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire and North Carolina.
LGBT Pepperdine Students Fight For Recognition
In an effort to make Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., a safer environment for LGBT students and allies, a petition has been started online by Alexander Cooper, a senior and member of the unrecognized Gay Straight Alliance group Reach OUT.The GSA applied to become an official student organization on Nov. 9, but was rejected four days later by the Catholic university's administrators. In the message accompanying his petition, Cooper said, “this is the fourth time that a gay-straight alliance has been denied or discouraged from applying.”
Cooper launched a Change.org petition over the weekend, which has garnered 640 signatures as of Tuesday morning, with a goal of hitting 1,500 signatures. The petition urges administrators to consider officially recognizing Reach OUT.
Pepperdine's Office of Student Affairs said in a statement that recognizing Reach OUT would “imply to many that Pepperdine is not honoring our affiliation with the Churches of Christ.”
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges' 2011 accreditation report said “Pepperdine’s ‘climate of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ prevents it from appearing ‘safe for open discourse.’”
Rick Santorum's Wife Dated the Doctor Who Delivered Her, an Abortion Provider 40 Years Her Senior
Nancy Hass at The Daily Beast on the odd past of Karen Santorum, who is now as strictly anti-abortion as her husband:
But Mrs. Santorum, 51, apparently wasn’t always committed to the cause. In fact, her live-in partner through most of her 20s was Tom Allen, a Pittsburgh obstetrician and abortion provider 40 years older than she, who remains an outspoken crusader for reproductive rights and liberal ideals. Dr. Allen has known Mrs. Santorum, born Karen Garver, her entire life: he delivered her in 1960.
“Karen was a lovely girl, very intelligent and sweet,” says Allen, who at 92 uses a walker but retains a sly smile. A wine aficionado who frequented the Pittsburgh Symphony and was active in the local chapter of the ACLU, he lives with his wife of 16 years, Judi—they started dating in 1989, soon after he and Garver split—in the same large detached row house where he lived with the woman who would become Santorum’s wife.
But Mrs. Santorum, 51, apparently wasn’t always committed to the cause. In fact, her live-in partner through most of her 20s was Tom Allen, a Pittsburgh obstetrician and abortion provider 40 years older than she, who remains an outspoken crusader for reproductive rights and liberal ideals. Dr. Allen has known Mrs. Santorum, born Karen Garver, her entire life: he delivered her in 1960.“Karen was a lovely girl, very intelligent and sweet,” says Allen, who at 92 uses a walker but retains a sly smile. A wine aficionado who frequented the Pittsburgh Symphony and was active in the local chapter of the ACLU, he lives with his wife of 16 years, Judi—they started dating in 1989, soon after he and Garver split—in the same large detached row house where he lived with the woman who would become Santorum’s wife.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Anti-Gay Cracker Barrel Founder Dies
Cyndi Lauper Unhappy "True Colors" Used in Romney Attack Ad
Lauper has released a statement, saying: "Yesterday, I learned that my version of 'True Colors' was used in a negative political ad focused on Mitt Romney without my knowledge and approval.
While I am in no way a fan of Mitt Romney, my music is meant to lift people up, especially 'True Colors.' The song has been a tremendous source of healing and acceptance for so many people and for it to be used in such a negative way dishonors its history and intention.
I am a huge supporter of President Obama and his re-election, but I have let the responsible party know how disappointed I am the song was used and asked that it be removed from the ad."
ABC Cancels Work It
Stephen Colbert's Super PAC Unleashes South Carolina Ad
Last week, Stephen Colbert announced his intention to form an "exploratory committee" in advance of his potential run for the GOP presidential nomination in South Carolina. (SC hosts its primaries next Saturday.) In doing so, he had to hand over control of his Super Pac to somebody else, lest he run afoul of campaign finance laws. He drafted Jon Stewart for the gig, and now the Stewart-led Super PAC -- which is technically called "Americans For a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow," but to which the comedians currently refer as "The Definitely Not Cooridnated With Stephen Colbert Super PAC" -- has launched its first ad.
Monday, January 16, 2012
“Make Room At The Table Of Brotherhood And Sisterhood” For Gays
My husband, Martin Luther King Jr., once said, “We are all tied together in a single garment of destiny… an inescapable network of mutuality,… I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be.” Therefore, I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people.
Gays and lesbians stood up for civil rights in Montgomery, Selma, in Albany, Ga. and St. Augustine, Fla., and many other campaigns of the Civil Rights Movement. Many of these courageous men and women were fighting for my freedom at a time when they could find few voices for their own, and I salute their contributions.”
—Coretta Scott King, speaking at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Creating Change Conference on November 9, 2000.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
'I Wanted to Make Sure I Heard Him Right'
A caller to C-SPAN asks Wayne MacDonald, Chairman of the New Hampshire Republican party, about the size of Mitt Romney's penis.
Friday, January 13, 2012
New Hampshire legislature expected to vote on repealing gay marriage law
A senior legislative assistant, speaking on the condition of anonymity, indicated that a vote on the measure has tentatively been scheduled for next Wednesday, Jan. 18.Both sides of the same-sex marriage debate expect the Republican-controlled House to pass a bill that would replace the law legalizing same-sex marriage with civil unions for any unmarried adults. The measure would also allow anyone to refuse to recognize civil unions.
The measure is also expected to pass in the Republican-controlled Senate.
Democratic Governor John Lynch, who, in 2009, signed the bill legalizing same-sex marriage in New Hampshire, has publicly stated he will veto any effort to repeal the law.
“If Forced To Make A Decision On It, I’ll Make A Decision”
While NJ legislators haven’t brought a marriage-equality bill to a vote in the state House or state Senate, Governor Chris Christie has finally broken his silence on the issue.
“They have a right to set their agenda, I’ll set mine, [and] we’ll see who gets there first,” he said yesterday in Camden, reports NJ.com. “When forced to make a decision—if forced to make a decision on it—I’ll make a decision.”
In New Jersey, a bill becomes law if it reaches the governor’s desk and languishes for 45 days.
“They have a right to set their agenda, I’ll set mine, [and] we’ll see who gets there first,” he said yesterday in Camden, reports NJ.com. “When forced to make a decision—if forced to make a decision on it—I’ll make a decision.”
In New Jersey, a bill becomes law if it reaches the governor’s desk and languishes for 45 days.
State Senate Hearing on N.J. Marriage Bill Nears
The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee will take up a marriage equality bill during a Tuesday morning hearing at the statehouse in Trenton.
State Senate Hearing on N.J. Marriage Bill Nears
The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee will take up a marriage equality bill during a Tuesday morning hearing at the statehouse in Trenton.
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