GAY MARRIAGE FOR ALL: WEEK IN REVIEW FEB 1-FEB 7

Hey all,

A little something different this week.  Instead of the usual state by state format, I'm gonna break it down by the good, the bad, and the other.

Let's start with the good.

In San Francisco, the State Supreme Court announced that they would finally hear arguments in the gay marriage case brought by the City of San Francisco in 2004, after the court shut down the weddings there on 3/11/04.  It's gonna happen on March 4th, and by June 4th, the court will hand down a ruling.  All we have to say is that, after four years, it's about time.

In Cuba, a member of the ruling Politburo came out (pardon the pun) in support of gay marriage.  Even the communist countries are getting there before us.

In New York, a judge ruled that the state had to recognize gay marriages performed in other jurisdictions, so even though gay and lesbian couples can't legally marry within the state, they can now have their marriages performed in Canada and Massachusetts recognized in New York.

In Florida, a pro-gay-marriage group has set up a searchable database where you can see if your neighbors signed the anti-gay marriage amendment petition - you can find it here.

In Oregon, the hold was finally lifted on the domestic partner law there, and couples lined up at courthouses across the state this week to register.

In a profile in courage, Ball State University faculty voted to stand up against the proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage in Indiana - our sincere thanks to these brave folks who are willing to take a stand against prejudice in the Heartland.

And in Utah, a group of gay Mormons is seeking a meeting with the new leader of the church, hoping to begin a conversation and help end the church's historic, active opposition to the gay and lesbian community.  We wish them Godspeed.

Now the bad.

In Senegal, the editor of the magazine Icone published an article about a gay wedding and received death threats, and five men who attended the wedding and were pictured in the article were arrested by authorities.  All five were just released, but may still face charges.

In Spain, the Catholic Church is once again making trouble, trying to unseat Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodrigo Zapatero in an effort to overturn Spain's recent legalization of gay marriage.  We commend the Church on this great example of Christ-like behavior.

In Florida again, the anti gay marriage amendment that would also strip away insurance coverage and hospital visitation rights is likely headed to the November ballot as organizers gathered many more signatures than the 22,000 shortfall reported in January.  This mean-spirited measure requires a 60% vote to pass, so there's still hope.

In Pennsylvania, lawmakers with lots of time on their hands and no other pressing issues to address are cooking up a plan to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage there.  To make the change, the bill will have to be passed in two consecutive sessions, and then be put before the people of Pennsylvania for a vote - the earliest this could happen will be in 2011.  Let's hope these legislators find some more important work that needs doing before then.

In Maryland, where a quarter of legislators recently announced plans to sponsor gay marriage legislation, a member of the House of Delegates, Donald H. Dwyer Jr., announced plans to try to put an anti gay marriage measure on the November ballot.

In West Virginia, legislators are proposing an amendment to the state constitution to ban gay marriage, and half the sponsors are Democrats - DINO's.  Sickening.

What all this bellyaching in US state houses boils down to is yet another tired attempt by Republicans around the country, scared out of their minds by the massive wreckage left by the Bush Presidency, to play the gay card to drive frightened Republicans to the polls in November.  If it wasn't so disgusting and transparent, it might almost be comical.

And what's really sad are the so called democrats lining up to support them.  Can't these idiots see they're being used?  We'd be better off without these "democrats" who believe in discrimination against their own gay and lesbian constituents.

And finally the other.

Word of a 2004 incident involving Barack Obama and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom resurfaced this week.  Supposedly, Obama declined to be photographed with Newsom during a fundraiser there, not wanting to appear to be involved in the gay marriage issue.  Former SF Mayoe Willie Brown confirmed the story, whole the Obama camp downplayed it.

And cheers to Stephen Colbert for shooting holes in the conservative arguments on gay marriage in a two part interview with Joe Solomnese, the head of the HRC.

That's it for this week!

--Scott