Gay Marriage Watch: November 9th-November 15th
--Little Rock, AR (200) attendees --Phoenix, AZ (2,000) --Tucson, AZ (1,000) --Los Angeles, CA (12,000) --Palm Springs, CA (500) --Redlands, CA (400) --Sacramento, CA (1,500) --San Diego, CA (25,000) --San Francisco, CA (7,500) --Walnut Creek, CA (400) --Denver, CO ("hundreds") --Washington, DC (900) --Ft. Lauderdale, FL (1,000) --Miami, FL ("hundreds") --Orlando, FL (1,000) --Tampa, FL (100) --Atlanta, GA (1,500) --Chicago, IL ("thousands") --Wichita, KS (100) --Boston, MA (4,000) --Cambridge, MA (75) --Baltimore, MD ("hundreds") --Minneapolis, MN (1,000) --St. Louis, MO (500) --Raleigh, NC (1,400) --Wilmington, NC (140) --Albuquerque, NM (500) --Santa Fe, NM (100) --Las Vegas, NV (1,000) --Reno, NV (300) --New York, NY (4,000) --Cincinnati, OH (500) --Portland, OR ("several hundred") --Philadelphia, PA (2,000) --Dallas, TX (1,200) --Salt Lake City, UT (2,000) --Seattle, WA ("thousands")
On the flip side, there have been a few incidents of vandalism or harrassment by folks on our side (just as there were similar incidents from the Yes on 8 folks), and we have to say that violence and harrassment are never right, from either side.
In addition to the news of the week, you'll find our weekly woody award, links to some great articles and columns from the last seven days, and of course you'll also find our ongoing recap of gay marriage happenings worldwide over the last four months - for a longer history, just click on one of the older Gay Marriage Watch blogs from our archives. To subscribe to this blog, or if you have any thoughts about how we can make this feature better or easier to use or any updates on the issues covered here, let me know at info@purpleunions.com.
--Scott
Take Action
--Sign this petition to repeal Prop 8 --Participate in No Gays for a Day - December 10th --Join the Impact - Organizers of the Worldwide Rallies Held on November 15th --List of Prop 8 Rallies/Protests
This Week's Woody Award:
This week's Woody award honors goes to the three new Democratic Senators in New York who are trying to block appointment of a new Democratic Majority Leader who plans to bring a vote to the floor on gay marriage. Not only that, but they want to put a referendum before NY state voters to try to ban gay marriage in that state entirely. Shame on these three party turncoats - they should be drummed out of the Democratic Party. Wanna be fascists? The Republicans would LOVE to have you. Enjoy your collective woody!
Runner up is Matt Barber, a right wing idiot who offers this chestnut in a horrendously homophobic analysis of the post-election events:
"The left’s venomous reaction to the passage of Prop 8 has showcased these people for who they truly are. It has removed the sublime mask, revealing an ugly and desperate countenance below."
Funny, Mister Barber, we thought that ugly face was yours. He wraps up with what he undoubtedly thinks is a clever turn of phrase: "What God has cast asunder, let no man join together." The God I grew up learning about in church doesn't tear his loving children apart. And he has no place for those who do. Sorry, Matt - no woody for you!
11/9/08:
"It's unfortunate, obviously, but it's not the end," Governor Schwarzenegger said in an interview Sunday on CNN. "I think that we will again maybe undo that, if the court is willing to do that, and then move forward from there and again lead in that area." Source
USA: Fewer gays and lesbians voted for Obama (70%) in 2008 than for Kerry in 2004 (77%); McCain increased GLBT support to 27% from Bush's 23%. Source
USA, Connecticut: A legal opinion by state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said CT justices of the peace may not opt out of performing same-sex marriage ceremonies. Source
USA, Idaho: Campaign finance reports show Idaho residents contributed more than $400,000 to support Prop 8 in California. Source
11/10/08:
Drew Barrymore joined the protest against Prop 8 this past weekend in Los Angeles and gave a rousing speech. Source
Madonna said it was a shame the United States could put a black man in the White House but not allow same-sex marriage. Source
Morocco:
USA, California: The Court of Appeals in Rabat ruled to uphold the first court decision against Morocco's Al-Massae newspaper after its director, Rashid Nini, and newspaper staff were accused of "defaming and insulting" four deputies from the government's prosecution office. The case goes back to a November 2007 article published in Al-Massae about an alleged gay marriage that took place in Al-Qasr Al-Kabir, a city north of Rabat. Source
--A couple thousand people gathered outside the Capitol in Sacramento this afternoon to rally for the legalization of same-sex marriages just days after voters imposed a constitutional ban. Source
--More than 400 people gathered outside the distinctive Mormon Temple in Oakland to protest the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' support of Proposition 8. Source
--About 40 young gay rights advocates protested outside Fresno City Hall to protest the gay marriage ban. Source
--The San Luis Obispo County clerk stopped issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Source
11/11/08:
USA, California: Lynn Holton, a spokeswoman for the California Supreme Court, said she expected the court to rule as early as this week on a lawsuit that seeks to invalidate Prop 8. Source
USA, New Jersey: Governor Corzine wants to pass an economic stimulus package before the state takes up gay marriage. Source
USA, Vermont: It's unclear whether the Vermont legislature will take up gay marriage in the 2009 session. Source
11/12/08:
Paris Hilton: "They shouldn't make a law saying who you can be in love with," the heiress said. "Hopefully, they'll overturn it because it's not fair." Source
Sex and the City creator Darren Star: "There is no question in my mind that gay marriage is an inevitability. Californians like to think of themselves as socially progressive and were surprised and angry to wake up to find bigotry introduced into their constitution. Exit polls show gay marriage has overwhelming support among younger voters, so obviously this is just a matter of time." Source
Australia: A Labor Senator says she hopes the Federal Parliament will pass laws that will let same-sex couples get married. Source
USA, California:
--The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted this afternoon to join a lawsuit filed by the City of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Santa Clara County challenging the constitutionality of Prop 8. Source
--The artistic director at California's largest non-profit musical theater company resigned Wednesday amid protests over his donation to a campaign to ban gay marriage in the state. Source
--Gay rights groups in California may ask voters to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage they approved last week if legal challenges to Proposition 8 are unsuccessful. Source
USA, Connecticut: Gay and lesbian couples began marrying in the state today. Source
USA, New York:
--Three newly-elected Democrats in the state senate say they may not even allow any gay marriage discussion to reach the state senate floor. Source
--Hundreds of supporters of gay marriage gathered outside a Mormon temple to protest the church's support of Prop 8 in California. Source
--New Yorkers engaged in peaceful demonstrating against last week’s passage of Prop 8. Source
USA, Utah: Hundreds rallied on the UT campus demanding that the university provide domestic partner benefits. Source
US, West Virginia: The West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists has passed a resolution calling for an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Source
11/13/08:
George Clooney: "At some point in our lifetime, gay marriage won't be an issue, and everyone who stood against this civil right will look as outdated as George Wallace standing on the school steps keeping James Hood from entering the University of Alabama because he was black." Source
Elton John on Prop 8: "We're not married. Let's get that right. We have a civil partnership. What is wrong with Proposition 8 is that they went for marriage. Marriage is going to put a lot of people off, the word marriage." Source
Ireland: Cardinal Sean Brady suggested Ireland should ban same-sex marriages, like California. Source
Senegal: The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission announced its increased aid to Senegal's gay and lesbian community to "re-group, and to turn this tragedy into positive action." Source
USA: Bill Marriott, of Marriott Hotels, issued a release in which he assured company’s employees and guests that Marriott Hotels did not, as a company, contribute to the successful campaign to revoke the right of gay and lesbian families in California to marry. Source
USA, California:
--The Log Cabin Republicans, the nation’s largest gay GOP group, opposed Prop. 8 and is supporting lawsuits to have it overturned. Source
--The Mormon temple in Westwood was closed Thursday afternoon after an envelope filled with an unidentified white, powdery substance was delivered to temple employees. Source
--The No on Prop 8 campaign made a television ad that featured a lesbian talking about marriage but the commercial never aired. Source
--Cinemark Theaters' CEO Alan Stock donated $9,999 to Yes on 8, and activists are now calling for a boycott of the Cinemark chain. Source
--A lesbian mother in Fresno says she was forced to resign from her position as president of the parent-teacher association at her son's Catholic school after she spoke out against banning gay marriage. Source
--Artist Kemery, who does not use a last name professionally, plans to display artwork in opposition to Prop 8 from 7 to 10 p.m. Nov. 18 at Michael's on Naples Ristorante. Source
USA, Maine:
--Gay activists are laying the groundwork to bring forward a gay marriage bill during the 2009 legislative session, but say they are still mulling their options. Source
--Religious leaders across the state held news conferences Thursday to urge Mainers to end marriage discrimination against gay and lesbian couples and called for the state to create same-sex civil marriages. Source
USA, New York: Some Democrats are resisting the appointment of senate minority leader Malcolm A. Smith, a pro-marriage lawmaker, to the post of Senate Majority Leader. Opponents of marriage equality are pushing for a new senate majority leader who would be antithetical to allowing gay and lesbian families to marry. Source
USA, Ohio: Cleveland is taking up the idea of a domestic partner registry for gay and straight couples. Source
11/14/08:
“The idea that gay marriage is still an issue in this country is maybe the strangest thing I've ever heard.” - Jon Stewart Source
Christina Aguilera says, "They're (gay couples) constantly pushing to be heard and given equal rights. I think there's a lot of unfairness that goes along with being gay, so the more I can do to give them a voice, then I'll do so. But I think we'd be fooling ourselves if we thought that everywhere was accepting of gay rights and marriages. I think it's unfair there has to be some kind of standard for marriage. Marriage should be about two people celebrating their love for each other. It shouldn't have anything to do with someone's sexual preference." Source
Josh Brolin on Prop 8: "Who gives a s***! Who cares!... Doesn't mean (gay and lesbian people) are going to stop kissing in the streets, just cause they can't get married. And that's the issue for the religious, that it's visible and it's always going to be visible, it ain't going to go away. Gay life is more mainstream, but at the same time, things like this happen and you go, 'You got to be kidding me!' especially in California... I think it's awful, but I understand it, everybody has their perspective." Source
India: In the first known gay marriage at India’s legendary tribute to love, the Taj Mahal, two young Swedish women tied the knot following traditional Hindu rituals conducted by a priest at the Mahadeva Shiva temple in Agra. Source
Ireland: Boyzone's new video in which Stephen Gately is seen in a steamy clinch with a male model has sparked more debate amongst punters over just when 'Civil Unions' or same sex marriage will be passed in Ireland. Source
Norway: Lutheran Bishops are considering a new blessing for same-sex couples when gay marriage becomes legal in January. Source
Russia: The European Court of Human Rights said Wednesday that it would not consider the appeal of two men who claim they were denied the right to marry in Russia. Source
USA, California:
--The California Supreme Court has asked state Attorney General Jerry Brown to reply by Monday to lawsuits challenging the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage - a sign that the justices are taking the cases seriously and will not dispose of them quickly. Source
--County clerks across California are clamoring for legal advice to resolve confusion about when to begin the gay-marriage ban that voters passed last week in a ballot initiative. Source
--About 200 students and others have walked out of class at UC San Diego to protest the passage of Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in California. Source
--Californians Against Hate filed a complaint with California's Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), alleging The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints failed to report nonmonetary contributions that helped pass the measure. Source
--The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Mexican-American Legal Defense Fund, Asian Pacific American Legal Center and two other groups asked the state Supreme Court to issue a stay preventing the ballot initiative approved by voters last week from taking effect. Source
USA, Connecticut: As of Wednesday, the Episcopal church's laws and the state's laws concerning marriage no longer agree, and while priests are able to give pastoral blessings to gay marriages, they are unable to perform them. Source
11/15/08:
Comedian Wanda Sykes says the passage of a same-sex marriage ban in California has led to her be more outspoken about being gay. "You know, I don't really talk about my sexual orientation. I didn't feel like I had to. I was just living my life, not necessarily in the closet, but I was living my life," Sykes told a crowd at a gay rights rally in Las Vegas. Source
Saying he feels sorry for those affected by Prop 8, Darren Hayes, former Savage Garden frontman, posted a picture of himself and "husband" Richard Cullen hugging. "It's us, tearing down the fabric of good society and the sanctity of marriage in Paris." Source
--India: Gay men often blackmailed in India. Source
--Jamaica: The Upper House is considering legislation to define marriage as between a man and a woman only. Source
Pakistan: The Lahore high court has banned the screening of Bollywood flick Dostana across Pakistan, saying it has some highly objectionable “gay content”. Source
USA, California: Employees of the Los Angeles restaurant that came under fire this week after a manager gave $100 to the campaign to ban same-sex marriage in California said they had made a $500 contribution to the advocacy group that is raising money to challenge Proposition 8. Source
Great Articles/Columns Last Week:
^ Why the Prop 8 Polls Were So Wrong, by Shelby Grad ^ Church and State: The Issue of Prop 8, by James Brosnahan ^ Gay Marriage is a Question of Love, (Video Version), by Keith Olbermann ^ Pro gay-marriage film extraordinary, yet bittersweet, by Michael Janusonis ^ Allow Gay Marriage, by John Aloysius Farrell ^ Fear of a Gay Planet, by Violet Blue ^ Gay Marriage, Chickens, and How to Win, by Elayne Boosler ^ How Getting Married Made Me an Activist, by David J. Jefferson ^ Some areas of S.F. voted to ban same-sex marriage, by David J. Jefferson ^ Prop. 8 debate exposes divisions within families of gay couples, by Matt O'Brien ^ Rumors of Secret LDS Plot to Destroy Same-Sex Marriage Actually True, by Matt O'Brien ^ Office Star Discusses Prop 8, by Cynthia Laird ^ Mormons Tipped Scale in Ban on Gay Marriage, by Jesse McKinley & Kirk Johnson ^ Gay Rights: The President of Spain Talks About Gays & Lesbian Rights, by Jose Luis ^ Prop 8 Rips Friendship Assunder, by Rebecca Walsh ^ Why I'm Finally Crying ^ A DYKE ABROAD: Blaming Blacks (And Latinos, Whites, and Queers), by Kelly Jean Cogswell ^ If justices are recalled, remember who would decide on replacing them, by Chris Reed
History by Region (Last Four Months):
ARGENTINA Legal Status: Civil Unions (some areas) The Story So Far: On 8/18, Argentina extended its pension system to cover same-sex couples.
AUSTRALIA Legal Status: No Federal Recognition; Some Local Domestic Partner Australia Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far:
August: 8/3 marked the 4th annual National Day of Action for same-sex marriage in Australia - hundreds of people took to the streets in Sydney and Melbourne calling on the federal government to repeal its ban on same-sex marriage. On 8/14, the ACT Government has done a U-turn on the issue of same-sex unions and says it will not support a Greens push to reinstate its original legislation. On 8/20, Kogarah Council, in Sydney, moved to recognise same-sex marriages and unions in deciding benefits for council employees and residents. On 8/28, General Robert McClelland said changes to family law will make life easier for de facto couples - straight or gay - who are breaking up. A bill before parliament would allow de facto couples to sort out their finances and arrangements for children in the one court, in the one proceeding. On 8/29, Labor's new gay senator Louise Pratt, the first member of parliament with a transgendered partner, used her maiden speech to break from ALP policy and call for gay marriage to be legalised.
September: On 9/4, The Same-Sex Entitlements Bill was introduced in the Federal Parliament - the bill aims to ensure equal treatment for gay and lesbian couples. As of 9/13, Three progressive rabbis agreed to conduct a wedding ceremony in Sydney for bookshop owner Scott Whitmont, 47, and nurse Christopher Whitmont-Stein, 38. As of 9/14, a bill to start reforming over 100 Australian laws discriminating against same sex couples was working its way through the legislature, but may again be delayed by the Liberal Party. As of 9/17, lobby group Australian Marriage Equality (AME) launched a new push for gay and lesbian marriage rights, drawing the ire of Federal Labor ministers in the process. A same-sex commitment ceremony was held in a synagogue in Sydney, an Australian first. On 9/26, a new bill was been passed by the Australian lower house aimed at ensuring equal treatment for gay and lesbian couples. Now through Federal Parliament, the Same-Sex Entitlements Bill moves to the Senate. And Senator Brandis said the Coalition would support the changes - including the bill that passed the House of Representatives, that would alter 68 pieces of Commonwealth law.
October: On 10/13, The Australian Senate debated the first raft of same-sex reforms in light of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee's final report on the bills. On 10/14, Senator Cory Bernardi told the Senate legislation granting rights (but not marriage) to same sex couples would degrade the sanctity of marriage and that gay couples should be treated differently from heterosexuals because they were different. "Is is fair that same-sex couples be treated the same as married couples? I say no." On 10/16, Retiring gay High Court judge Michael Kirby has likened civil registration for same-sex relationships to a "dog or a busker's licence". On 10/21, Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland quashed the latest call for same-sex marriage by gay advocacy group Australian Marriage Equality. And a coalition of anti-gay groups in Australia asked the government to fund cures for homosexuality.
AUSTRIA Legal Status: Limited Civil Union Rights The Story So Far: On 10/18, it was reported that a right-wing politician who has fought against gay marriage and who just passed away was gay and was drinking at a gay bar on the night of his death.
BRAZIL Legal Status: Civil Unions (some areas) Brazil Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: "Gay couples exist and we must give them legal recognition", the President of Brazil said on 9/18.
BULGARIA Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far: As of 9/27, a proposed revision of the country's Family Code left out gay marriage entirely. As of 10/1, according to a new poll, 80% of all Bulgarians have negative attitudes towards gay people, and 59% are extremely homophobic.
CANADA Legal Status: Gay Marriage Canada Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: As of 10/1, police were investigating whether a federal candidate running as an Independent committed a hate crime by telling high school students in northern Ontario that homosexuals should be "executed." On 10/31, Canada's Anglican bishops sidestepped a request from the worldwide Anglican Communion to stop blessing gay marriages for now, despite warnings that failure to do so would imperil Anglican unity. As of 11/4, the Diocese of Montreal planned to take "an incremental step forward" and start preparing rites for the blessing of gay civil marriages.
CAYMAN ISLANDS Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act The Story So Far: On 9/7, Cayman Islands lawmakers voted in favour of a ban on same sex marriages following a debate Friday in the Legislative Assembly. Passage still requires the formality of a third vote. On 9/8, the anti-gay-marriage amendment here received its final, formal passage in the Legislative Assembly.
CHILE Legal Status: N/A The Story So Far: On 10/13, it was reported that the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation (MOVILH), Chile's leading sexual-minorities advocacy group, last weekend spoke out against what it claims is discrimination against sexual minorities by a Catholic bishop and a group of Evangelical professionals.
COSTA RICA Legal Status: N/A The Story So Far: On 8/9, the nation's highest court ruled that gay inmates in Costa Rica do not have the right to conjugal visits. The decision may be revisited if Costa Rica allows gay marriage.
ECUADOR Legal Status: Civil Unions The Story So Far: On 9/28, Ecuador approved a new constitution with a 64 percent yes vote, in the process legalizing civil unions.
ESTONIA Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far:
EUROPE The Story So Far:
FIJI Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far: On 9/10, Members of a local choir were freaked out after a mock-wedding featuring two women was held at a local resort where the choir was asked to sing.
FRANCE Legal Status: Civil Unions France Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: As of 8/28, Bertrard Delanoe, mayor of Paris and one of Europe's most high-profile gay politicians, planned to run for leader of France's Parti Socialiste.
GERMANY Legal Status: Civil Unions The Story So Far: As of 8/22, in the first five years after the introduction of registered partnerships, about 12,000 (about 20 percent) same-sex couples in Germany have entered into this lifetime bond.
GREECE Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far: On 9/28, dozens of gays and lesbians protested outside parliament on Monday against the conservative government's attempt to overturn Greece's first same-sex marriages.
HUNGARY Legal Status: Civil Unions The Story So Far: As of 9/3, the Constitutional Court placed the issue of registered partnerships for same-sex couples on its docket for its autumn session, and may declare a new domestic partner registration law unconstitutional before it is due to take effect ehre in January.
INDIA Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far: As of 9/19, gay activists were seeking the repeal of a decades-old law governing sexual behavior. As of 9/30, a high court in Dehli was considering arguments for and against legalizing homosexuality there. On 10/21, Irritated by the government's contradictory and unscientific stand on the issue of homosexuality, the Delhi High Court on Monday told the government that the homosexual trait in a human being cannot be termed as a "disease" and objected to the contention that if legalised, homosexuality would bring "devastation" to society.
IRELAND Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far: On 10/22, an Irish gay rights group said that civil partnerships were "a matter of immediate urgency." As of 11/5, the Roman Cahtolic Church in Ireland said they may support a legal challenge to new legislation that aims to give gay and lesbian couples the right to civil partnerships.
MALTA Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far: On 10/23, a woman who was refused the right to get married to her male partner because she used to be male challenged the decision in court.
MEXICO Legal Status: Civil Unions (some areas) Mexico Gay Wedding Vendors
MOROCCO Legal Status: Being Gay Illegal The Story So Far: On 9/29, an international congress on gay rights in Muslim countries was told that the north African nation of Morocco may grant rights to homosexuals "within fifty years."
NETHERLANDS Legal Status: Gay Marriage The Story So Far: On 8/12, the Justice Ministry proposed a new Dutch law would make it easier for the partner of a lesbian mother to become the legal parent of a child born into the relationship.
NETHERLANDS ANTILLES Legal Status: Gay Marriage The Story So Far: On 8/4, the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science Ronald Plasterk said the Netherlands Antilles wil ultimately have to recognize gay marriages performed in the Netherlands, even if they do not allow such weddings to be peformed in the islands. On 10/27, the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Ronald Plasterk said thatBonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius may have to register same-sex marriages in the future.
NEW ZEALAND Legal Status: Civil Unions New Zealand Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 8/25, the retiring MP who spearheaded the successful campaign to legally acknowledge same sex relationships in New Zealand, via the controversial Civil Unions legislation, has thrown doubt on whether legal same-sex marriage will become available to glbt Kiwis any time soon, or ever.
NORWAY Legal Status: Gay Marriage The Story So Far: As of 10/15, the bishops of Norway's state church have ruled that there will be no weddings in church for gay and lesbian couples.
PANAMA Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far:
PHILIPPINES Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far: On 8/29, the country's Supreme Court ruled that being gay is not a valid ground to have one's marriage annulled; hiding such a fact is. On 10/23, Comedian Jon Santos revealed that he has been married to West Stewart, an Italian-American man, for three years.
PORTUGAL Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far: As of 9/20, a conference for parliamentary leaders was been scheduled for October 10th on legal gay unions between two people of the same sex. As of 9/24, Portugese politicians differed on what rights to allow gay and lesbian couples. As of 10/3, the governing Socialist Party planned block an attempt by smaller parties to pass legislation allowing same-sex marriages in Portugal, a senior official said. On 10/10, Portugal's parliament rejected two motions Friday that would have allowed same-sex marriages in the conservative Roman Catholic country.
SAUDI ARABIA Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far:
SENEGAL Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far: On 8/29, a court in sentenced a same-sex couple to two years in prison for marrying in Belgium. As of 10/6, a West African man accused in the media of his home country of putting together a same-sex wedding was accepted as a gay refugee by the U.S. government.
SOUTH AFRICA Legal Status: Gay Marriage The Story So Far: On 8/29, what is believed to be the first lesbian divorce in South Africa since gay marriages were legalised in 2006 was finalised in the Cape High Court on Friday.
SPAIN Legal Status: Gay Marriage Spain Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 8/14, Laura Alabau, who has persistently refused to marry gay couples, stood down from her post. On 9/18, the disciplinary committe of the General Council of Judicial Power (CGPJ) delivered another controversial ruling by lifting a 305 euro fine imposed in May last year on Dénia judge, Laura Alabau, for publicly questioning the constitutionality of homosexual marriages and for refusing to officiate at them. On 10/31, the Queen of Spain was quoted in a new book: "If those persons want to live together, dress up as bride and groom and get married, they can do so, but that should not be called marriage because it is not."
SWEDEN Legal Status: Civil Unions The Story So Far: On 11/5, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said that Sweden might allow gays to wed in the Lutheran Church as of May 2009 if parliament adopts legislation due to be presented shortly.
TURKEY Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far: On 10/23, a court in Istanbul found that "Even if it shocks or brings discomfort to some members of society, gay intercourse between consenting adults is not criminal."
UGANDA Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far: On 9/14, a pastor at Makerere Community Church received an award for his fight against homosexuality and gay marriage.
UNITED KINGDOM Legal Status: Civil Unions England Gay Wedding Vendors Wales Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far:
August: On 8/4, it was reported that the Reverend Canon Rodney Bomford, 65, and gardener Paddy O'Neil were given approval by a Bishop to enter into a civil union because their relationship is not sexual. On 8/7, it was revealed that the Archbishop of Canterbury wrote letters in 2000 & 2001 disclosing his personal position supporting a sort of moral equivalency between homosexual paramours sexual activity and marital love. As of 8/8, it was reported that only about one percent of marriages between same-sex couples in the UK have so far ended in divorce.
September: On 9/4, Sir Cliff Richard called on church to bless gay marriage. As of 9/11, it was announced that UK Treasury Minister Angela Eagle plans to marry her long-term partner, Maria Exall. On 9/22 in Wales, a vicar carried out a church blessing of a lesbian "wedding", in defiance of Anglican rules.
October: On 10/7, a Church of England clergyman who wrote that gay men should be forced to have "sodomy" warnings tattooed on their bodies issued a "full and complete" apology for his remarks. Prossy Kakooza, 26, fled her homeland after her family found her in bed with her partner and marched both women naked to the police station where Ms Kakooza was raped and tortured by police officers. As of 10/20, the UK has granted her asylum. On 10/24, The London vicar who performed a gay wedding for two homosexual clergy in his church in the City escaped without any sanction or reprimand. As of 10/27, 45% of respondents opposed gay marriage and 40% wanted a higher age of consent for gay sex, according to The Observer Sex Poll 2008. And 24% wanted gay sex to be recriminalised.
UNITED STATES (see individual states below) Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act The Story So Far:
August: On 8/4, a new study was published by UCLA's Williams Institute that found that same-sex couples eagerly take advantage of the ability to marry or form civil unions when presented with the opportunity.. On 8/7, gay activists pushed the U.S. Census Bureau to reconsider its decision to ignore same-sex marriages. On 8/14, an all-but-final draft of the 2008 Democratic Party platform, approved by the full 186-member Platform Committee at an August 9 meeting in Pittsburgh, put the party on record in opposition to the federal Defense of Marriage Act, in support of a "comprehensive" Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and more generally in favor of the fight to end discrimination against numerous categories of Americans, including those who are gay, lesbian, and transgendered. As of 8/18, American voters oppose same-sex marriage 55 - 36 percent, but they don't want government to get involved in banning the practice, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. As of 8/20, a new poll shows that among LGBT registered voters Democrat Barack Obama has a clear lead - with 68 percent favoring the Illinois Senator. On 8/21, Hallmark came out with same-sex wedding cards - featuring two tuxedos, overlapping hearts or intertwined flowers, with best wishes inside. "Two hearts. One promise," one says. And it was reported that the Employment Non Discrimination Act contains a clause that would allow companies to continue to treat legally married gay couples differently than straight couples when providing benefits. As of 8/22, a new survey showed that more Americans now believe that religious institutions should stay out of politics, after a decade of support for church involvement in social and political issues. On 8/23, it's reported that 1,049 US newspapers now accept same sex wedding announcements.
September: On 9/2, a recently released CBS/New York Times poll showed a slight increase, compared to 2004, in the number of Republican delegates that support some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples. And the Log Cabin Republicans officially threw their support behind Sen. John McCain in the GOP candidate's bid for the White House this week amid festivities at the Republican National Convention. A new study release on 9/19 found that people who are frightened of spiders are more likely to support capital punishment and hate gay marriage. Recently published, Uncle Bobby's Wedding, a new picture book on gay marriage, adds to the ever-growing diversity in today's children's literature. As of 9/28, Christian fundamentalists were suggesting gays and lesbians are to blame for Wall Street's woes, a frequently made charge in the wake of national calamities.
October: As of 10/3, the Uniting American Families Act, a bill that would grant equal immigration rights to same-sex couples in bi-national relationships, made strides forward when four more senators and 16 more representatives joined in co-sponsoring the legislation. On 10/10, after months of pressure from an anti-gay-marriage group, McDonald's Corp. gave up a director's seat and will stop sponsorship of a national gay business organization. On 10/20, Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin says she supports a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, a break with John McCain who has said he believes states should be left to define what marriage is. As of 10/21, "Ex-gay" activist Greg Quinlan, founder of the Pro-Family Network, saw his mixed-gender marriage end and his credibility called into question after he made a claim that Nobel Prize-wining geneticist Francis Collins had declared that no "gay gene" exists, reported Ex-Gay Watch. As of 10/22, Members of the so-called ex-gay community are suing the Washington D.C. Office of Human Rights for failing to protest former homosexuals under its sexual orientation anti-discrimination law.
November: On 11/6, it was reported that anti-gay hate crimes increased 6 percent in 2007. On 11/7, a new Pew Poll showed that half of adults in the United States disagreed with the concept of same-sex marriage.
ALABAMA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act & Constitutional Amendment Alabama Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far:
ARIZONA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act & Constitutional Amendment Arizona Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far:
August: On 8/5, a Senate panel voted to hear from Sen. Jack Harper, R-Surprise, and the senator who filed an ethics complaint against him, but not anyone else for now, if ever. On 8/12, a legislative committee dismissed an ethics complaint Tuesday against a lawmaker accused of breaking rules to force a vote to put a same-sex marriage ban on the ballot. On 8/23, Secretary of State Jan Brewer went to court to avoid having to tell Arizona voters that state law already bars same-sex marriage, because that might cause voters to vote against the measure. And eight gay, lesbian and bisexual young people aged 19 to 28 walked 96 miles through the metro area to the state Capitol to raise awareness about gay rights and the fall referendum that would add a gay-marriage ban to the state constitution. On 8/27, Attorney Peter Gentala quietly dropped the lawsuit he had filed the day before to limit what information voters are given on the ballot of Proposition 102 - the description will still tell voters that gay marriage is already illegal in the state.
September: On 9/4, Wingspan, Southern Arizona's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community center, hosted an event that was the first step in a group effort to oppose Proposition 102. And Arizona's two Catholic bishops are urging the faithful to vote for Prop 102 to constitutionally ban gays from marrying in the state. On 9/18, more than 800 pastors, mostly evangelical Christian clergy, gathered at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix to hear how important they will be in getting their parishioners and the state's voters to make marriage limited to one man and one woman.
October: As of 10/1, a new survey by KAET-TV, the Phoenix PBS affiliate, showed that 49% said they'll vote for Prop 102, while 42% were opposed and 9% were undecided. And as of 10/3, supporters of Prop 102 had raised $6.9 million, 17 times more than opponents have raised. On 10/6, Opponents of Prop 102 released their first television ad. On 10/18, it eas reported thst contributors to Yes for Marriage include prominent East Valley Mormon families, who gave from $10,000 to $100,000 apiece for the effort. On 10/29, nearly 500 people gathered in Phoenix to rally against Proposition 102.
November: As of 11/3, Phoenix investor Bill Lewis had given $250,000 in opposition to Prop. 102. On 11/4, Arizona voters approved a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
ARKANSAS Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act Arkansas Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 9/23, anti-gay Tony Alamo Christian Ministries was raided by Arkansas and federal authorities Saturday, in search of child pornography. On 10/16, after losing the Governor's support for a ban on gay adoption, supporters of the measure are trying to demonize gays and lesbians to sway public support. As of 10/26, a poll released the week before by the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville indicated that 55% of registered voters opposed Proposed Initiative Act 1, the ban on gay adoption. 38% favored it, and 7% were undecided.
CALIFORNIA Legal Status: Constitutional Amendment California Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far:
August: On 8/1, the Grossmont Union High School District in San Diego went on record supporting Prop 8. As of 8/3, The San Leandro school board was considering a resolution to oppose Prop 8, and The American Family Association has given $500K to Protect Marriage Prop 8 group. As of 8/4, opponents of gay marriage raised about $3.7 million from Jan. 1 through June 30 in support of the ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage in California, some $1.2 million more than the $2.5 million raised by gay-rights activists who oppose the measure, As of 8/5, California's Roman Catholic bishops were urging parishioners to support Prop 8. And if voters approve a November ballot measure banning same-sex marriages in California, thousands of gay and lesbian weddings conducted since the state Supreme Court legalized the unions on May 15 will probably remain valid, Attorney General Jerry Brown said. As of 8/8, the San Diego county pension board planned to go ahead with a conference at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in downtown San Diego despite a plea yesterday from a board member offended by the hotel owner's opposition to same-sex marriage, and a Superior Court judge Friday rejected a suit filed by Prop 8 proponents against the ballot title proposed by Attorney General Jerry Brown: "Eliminates the Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry." Judge Timothy M. Frawley said Brown's language was neither false nor misleading. Frawley also said Prop 8 supporters would have to tweak their statement that teachers "will be required" to teach young children about gay marriage if the measure fails. The argument should read that teachers "may" or "could" be required to teach about gay marriage, Frawley ordered. On 8/9, a lesbian couple in Fresno has filed for a divorce just three days after getting married. On 8/10, A new Action News/SurveyUSA poll showed that 65% of central valley residents oppose gay marriage. On 8/11, The sponsors of Prop 8 said they won't ask the state's highest court to throw out the revised title and summary Attorney General Jerry Brown prepared for the initiative.On 8/12, it was reported that the Los Angeles Equality Awards last weekend raised $2 million to fight Prop 8, including $500k frin The Service Employees International Union (SEIU-California), $250K from the California Teacher s Association, and $25K from AT&T. And the Democratic National Committee gave $25,000 to help defeat Prop 8. On 8/13, Attorneys Shannon Minter and Therese Stewart, who fought successfully to overturn California s ban on same-sex marriage, were named the recipients of the National Lesbian and Gay Law Association s 2008 Dan Bradley Award.On 8/14, And Marriage for All, a newly formed same-sex marriage education campaign created to provide outreach primarily to African American communities throughout Northern California, was looking for dozens of newly married, engaged, or committed same-sex African American, or African American bicultural couples to act as media and community spokespeople. On 8/16, Let California Ring was airing its "What if you couldn't marry the person you love" ad in Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego. On 8/19, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the constitutional rights of religious freedom and free speech do not exempt doctors from state anti-discrimination laws. On 8/20, The Knights of Columbus, a Roman Catholic men's group, donated 1 million dollars to support a November ballot measure that would constitutionally ban same-sex marriage in California. On 8/22, A Yes on 8 rally drew several hundred people in Fresno, California. Some Mormons are voicing opposition to the proposed ban on the Internet saying in cyberspace what they might not be able to express in church buildings. It was reported that the Manchester Grand Hyatt has lost its second major conference in a week in large part because of owner Doug Manchester's stance against same-sex marriage. And after trailing in fundraising by $3 million, supporters of a proposed California marriage amendment have taken the lead over opponents, thanks in part to a series of gifts totaling nearly $2 million. As of 8/24, Religious organizers hoped to get 1 million Catholics, Mormons, Jews, Muslims, evangelical Christians, Sikhs and Hindus to post lawn signs supporting Prop. 8 in unison next month. And a new poll showed Latinos favor Prop 8 by 49% to 38% against. As of 8/28, a new poll showed that 54% of likely voters are against Prop. 8, with 40% supporting the measure. On the question of whether gay and lesbian couples should be aloowed to marry, respondents split 47% in favor and 47% against. It was also announced that gay inmates in state prisons and county jails would soon be able to marry their partners, as long as their spouse is not also incarcerated. The most powerful Orthodox Jewish umbrella group threw its support behind Prop 8. The Association of American Law Schools said Aug. 18 it will move the events of its January 2009 annual meeting from San Diego s Manchester Grand Hyatt to the Marriott hotel next door, honoring a gay rights boycott. Backers of Prop 8 have made a multimillion dollar television ad buy in eight media markets, while Prop 8 opponents said they have also made a substantial media buy.
September: As of 9/1, A new Log Cabin Republicans website aimed to highlight Republicans who are against Proposition 8 California's constitutional amendment which would once again ban gay marriage in the State. As of 9/3, Californians Against Hate was calling attention to companies whose employees have donated $5,000 or more in support of a November ballot initiative that would ban gay marriage in the state. As of 9/4, Prop 8 supporters had raised at least $11.9 million, while opponents have raised at least $11.6 million. And engaged couple Heather Matarazzo and Caroline Murphy, actors Tyne Daly, Christine Lahti, Camryn Mannheim and Wilson Cruz, Air America comediennes Frangela, labor organizer Dolores Huerta and Rev. Neil G. Thomas are among those who also contributed their time and voices to a new campaign for No on 8, against the same sex marriage ban. As of 9/7, Orange County donors had contributed $1.6 million for Proposition 8. On 9/8, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newson helped launch a pro-gay marriage campaign in San Francisco, spearheaded by a coalition of nearly sixty gay, civil rights, faith and labor groups called No on 8, Equality for All. On 9/10, Sacramento mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson announced that he opposes a Nov. 4 ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriage even though his personal belief is that marriage is "between a man and a woman." On 9/10, LAUSD, the largest school district in the state (and second largest in the country) voted to oppose Proposition 8. And San Diego City Councilwoman Toni Atkins married her longtime partner, Jennifer LeSar, in a small, private wedding ceremony over the weekend. On 9/14, two groups supporting marriage equality for same-sex couples held simultaneous walks across the Golden Gate Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge for the fifth year in a row. On 9/15, San Mateo County officials formally voted to oppose Prop 8. As of 9/16, Mormon church members, mostly from California, have made individual donations close to $5 million in support of Proposition 8, counting only donations of more than $1,000 - nearly a third of all donations to support the amendment. And a Sacramento couple was challenging the new gender neutral state marriage license forms that list Partner A and Partner B instead of Bride and Groom. On 9/17, The "Pacific Justice Institute" filed a complaint against the California gas and electric utility provider PG&E for giving over a quarter of a million dollars toward efforts against Proposition 8. As of 9/18, a new Field Poll found that support for Prop 8 had dropped from 42% to 38%, while opposition has risen from 51% to 55% since July. And the Palm Springs City Council voted 3-0-2 to oppose a ballot initiative that would outlaw same-sex marriage in California, saying it's a civil rights issue that is making an economic impact in the city. On 9/21, a church group from El Dorado County and a controversial minister from Los Angeles on Sunday protested outside mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson's church, saying he should be cast out of his congregation for opposing Proposition 8. And the Hayward (Bay Area) city council passed a resolution that urged Hayward residents to vote down the constitutional amendment come November. On 9/22, the first No on 8 TV ad aired. And as of 9/23, supporters of Prop 8 had raised $16.2 million, with $4.1 million of it coming from outside the state. Opponents donated $10.8 million, with close to half of that coming from outside the state. In 9/26, Levi Strauss donated $25K to Equality for All to fight Prop 8. On 9/27, Google took a public stand against Proposition 8, an anti-gay marriage measure on the November ballot in California. On 9/28, Chino's School District voted unanimously to support Prop 8. And Bishop Jamie Soto of Sacramento spoke at the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries, surprising attendees by calling them deviants and urging a yes vote on Prop 8. On 9/29, a group of Republicans, including Governor Schwarzenegger, who oppose California's ballot measure to ban gay marriage, released an ad, titled "Freedom Is a Republican Value."
October: On 10/1, gay Ohio entrepreneur and political activist Jonathan Lewis issued a challenge of sorts to Los Angeles's entertainment industry... raise $500,000 for No on Prop. 8, and he and his family will match the contributions dollar for dollar. And a supposed "liberal against gay marriage" being used by supporters of Prop 8 was unmasked as a right-wing conservative. Also, a new poll by SurveyUSA showed Prop 8 trailing by 44 % to 49%, a narrower margin than in other polls. On 10/2, the American River College Student Council (Sacramento), five of whom are slavic christians, voted to back Proposition 8. A recall petition is already being circulated. And a hearing on Proposition 8 by a joint panel of the state Senate and Assembly judiciary committees became heated when proponents of both sides of the issue spoke on the issue. As of 10/2, dupporters of Prop 8 had raised $19.2 million so far, while opponents have raised $13.6 million. Pepperdine University distanced itself from a pro Proposition 8 ad featuring a professor from the university. A gay advocacy law firm that helped win the fight for gay marriage in San Francisco dissolved. As of 10/3, supporters of Prop 8 had their plan to plant a million signs against the measure at the same time foiled by "production delays". And the State of California caved after a Roseville couple sued over gender-neutral marriage licenses. The state added bride and groom back to the form with checkboxes. saying gay and lesbian couples can just leave the boxes blank. As of 10/6, California has married more same-sex couples in three months than Massachusetts has married in three years, according to a new study from UCLA's Williams Institute for the study of law and sexual orientation. Margaret Cho will host Equalipalooza - a fundraiser to help defeat Prop 8, On October 15th in San Francisco. And a Catholic priest in Fresno came out as a gay man and against Prop 8 in a sermon this week. As of 10/7, a new SurveyUSApoll found that 47 percent expected to vote yes on Proposition 8, which would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry, while 42 percent expected to vote no.. And the labor union Unite Here has contributed $100,000 to support gay marriage in California. The union also pledged to raise another $50,000 for marriage equality. On 10/8, Prop 8 won support Wednesday from the Yuba County Board of Education after a board member linked successful children to having a mother and father in the home. And Yes on 8 released its second television ad of the campaign, featuring a young girl arriving home from school to show her mother a picture book that was read to her class by their teacher that day. The book, "King and King," is about a prince marrying another prince, "and I can marry a princess" the girl says, to her mother's disbelief. Also, Mormons living outside California have been asked to volunteer for a telephone campaign to help pass a ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage in the state. On 10/9, opponents of Prop 8 released two new ads, one a rebuttal of a previous Yes on 8 ad, another a "softer" approach. The First Congregational Church of Berkeley, United Church of Christ, will celebrate the weddings of couples who have been married since June on 10/19. The congregation voted unanimously in September to oppose Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriages. And as of 10/9, Mormons, whose members only make up about twelve percent of California's population, have donated an estimated 75% of the $25 million raised to pass Proposition 8 - $19 Million to date. Also, the gender-neutral terms Party A and Party B are out on California marriage licenses, state officials said this week - Instead, marriage licenses used by California county clerks will revert back to using the words "bride" and "groom" next month, with checkboxes. As of 10/12, county clerks across California were up in arms about the state's recent decision to rush through a change allowing couples to once again mark "bride'' and "groom'' on marriage licenses instead of "Party A" and "Party B.'' On 10/13, it was reported that two Mormon families, one with five children and one a retired couple, gave $50,000 and $35,000 each, respectively, to the Yes on 8 Campaign. And Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa donated $25,000 to help fight Prop 8. As of 10/15, a new poll showed that Asian-American voters in California are solidly against Prop 8, with 57% against, 32% for, and 11% undecided. And with the battle over Prop 8 tightening, $3.6 million in large contributions has poured into the No on Proposition 8 campaign in the past week. Also, a group of San Mateo County residents, reverends, church members, business people, a county supervisor, parents, labor leaders and students gathered on the steps of the historic courthouse in downtown Redwood City Thursday morning to garner support for an effort to defeat Proposition 8. And cergy, business, faith and community leaders across Monterey County rallied against discrimination by opposing Prop 8. Finally as of 10/15, the estimated number of same sex marriages performed in California since June was 11,442, according to a new study. On 10/16, in a lively meeting that drew more than 100 people, the Vista Unified school board decided Thursday night to stay out of the debate over same-sex marriages. And Reverend Janet McKeithen, the leader of the interfaith Church in Ocean Park, continued the Church's activist tradition by her insistence on officiating at gay marriage ceremonies in defiance of the United Methodist Church's official doctrine. On 10/17, Equality for All won an online poll in the Hell to Pay contest on Daily Kos, meaning it's the fundraising recipient for Saturday night's efforts on the popular blog site. Also, a new Action News (Fresno)/Survey U.S.A. statewide poll showed that 48% of voters said they'd vote 'yes' on Prop 8, while 45% said they'd vote 'no'. 7% said they weren't certain. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres bought $100,000 of television airtime to urge Californians to vote to save the right to gay marriage in a November ballot. Also, Hollywood film producer Steve Bing made a personal donation of $500,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Business magnate Ron Burkle planned to host a major fundraiser for No on 8 at his home in Beverly Hills on 10/21, at which Melissa Etheridge and Mary J Blige will perform. Guests include Barbra Streisand, and the chat-show host Ellen DeGeneres, who wed Portia de Rossi in August in one of the most high-profile same-sex unions. And the California Teachers Assn. donated $1 million this week to defeat Prop 8. As of 10/18, San Francisco City Hall planned to expand its wedding hours to accommodate the rush of gay and lesbian couples nervous about the outcome of the Nov. 4 election. As of 10/20, Three dozen right wing Christians have spent every waking minute since Sept. 24 at a San Diego County megachurch fasting and praying for the passage of Proposition 8., As of 10/21, A Skyline Church (San Diego) sermon denouncing gay marriage as "a move against Christians by the homosexual lobby, the devil's strategy to destroy the church, a confrontation between light and darkness" was beamed via satellite to 170 churches around the state. And Tom McClintock, the carpetbagging republican from Southern California running for John Doolittle's (R) seat against Democrat Charlie Brown in Northern California, came out in support of Prop 8. Brown is against Prop 8. As of 10/23, proponents of Prop 8 were trying to blackmail companies who donated money to fight it by threatening to "out" them if they don't also give to Yes on 8. A new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California shows 52% opposed to Prop 8 and 44% in favor. New numbers showed a staggering 77% of the money supporting Prop 8 has come from LDS church members. It was reported that Scientology supports Prop 8. Mary J. Blige and Melissa Etheridge have helped raise $3.9 million to fight a ban on gay marriage in California - by singing at a star-studded gala. As of 10/23, Hollywood contributors to No on 8 included: "Point of No Return" actress Bridget Fonda ($200); "One Life to Live" actor Jason Tam ($100); "In Plain Sight" actress Mary McCormack ($200); "Good Will Hunting" director Gus Van Sant ($2,500); "Brothers & Sisters" executive producer Greg Berlanti ($5,000), "Star Trek" actor George Takei ($2,600), and "The Real World" co-creator and executive producer Jonathan Murray, ($10,000). A doctor at the University of California, San Francisco caused a stir by signing an argument in favor of Proposition 8 that voters are seeing in their November 4 ballot guide. And former Folsom (Sacramento area) Mayor Glenn Fait said that he's gay and strongly opposed to Prop. 8. On 10/24, it was reported that Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have donated a combined $140,000 to fight the measure. It was also reported that 45% of Yes on 8's out of state funding came from Utah. Apple made a $100,000 pledge to defeat Proposition 8. A recall effort against 9 student government members at American River College, started after they voted in support of Prop 8, failed with only 4,000 of 39K students voting. A spokesman for Arnold Schwarzenegger said he hasn't been available to campaign against Proposition 8 because he has been focused on the state's fiscal crisis and on a redistricting initiative he supports, despite promising last spring that "I will always be there to fight against that, because it should never happen."And a No on 8 rally featuring Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and Stuart Gaffney, a plaintiff in the landmark California Supreme Court same-sex marriage case, was planned for Wednesday, October 29 at the University of California, San Francisco from noon to 1 PM. On 10/25, the Knights of Columbus gave an additional $100k to Yes on 8, bringing their total to $1.4 million. And between Oct. 1 and Oct. 18, the closing date for the latest state financial report, opponents of Prop 8 raised more than $12 million, compared with $2.5 million for Prop. 8 backers. Both sides had about $7 million in the bank for the final push to the Nov. 4 election. As of 10/26, Prop 8 supporters had raised at least $28.2 million; opponents had taken in $32.3 million, closing a fundraising gap that had them $8 million behind a month ago. And Maria Shriver, California's first lady, said she would vote against a ballot initiative that would prohibit same-sex couples from getting married in California. As of 10/27, Samuel L. Jackson put his voice behind the campaign to stop Proposition 8, recording radio spots to campaign against the ban on gay marriage. The No on Prop 8 campaign launched a powerful new Spanish language television ad featuring America Ferrera, Tony Plana and Ana Ortiz, from "Ugly Betty" on Spanish language television stations throughout California. California boitech firms worried about losing gay workers to Massachusetts if Prop 8 passes. The pro-gay marriage protester who was video taped being punched and kicked by Kern High School District Board of Trustees member Ken Mettler has decided to pursue charges. Pastor Rick Warren publicly endorsed Prop 8. And the San Diego City Council voted 6-2 Monday to oppose Proposition 8. As of 10/28, John and Josephine Templeton of Bryn Mawr were the largest individual contributors to Yes on 8, having given $1 million. According to a poll last week by the Public Policy Institute of California, 52 percent of Californians said they would vote "No" to banning gay marriage, while 44 percent would check the "Yes" column, with a three-point margin of error. Robert J. Birgeneau, chancellor of the University of California at Berkeley, last week issued a statement suggesting that Proposition 8 is inconsistent with university values. A man wearing a "No on 8" button was beaten with a "Yes on 8" lawn sign in Torrance this week in what police characterized as a possible hate crime. And No on 8 released two new ads, one featuring California Superintendent of Schools Jack O'Connell, and a similar ad with Senator Diane Feinstein. As of 10/29, the Screen Actors Guild announced they were opposed to Prop 8. Jeff Kent, who played second base for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, gave $15,000 in support of Prop 8. Elsa Prince Broekhuizen gave $450,000 to Yes on 8. Her late husband, Edgar Prince, founded Prince Automotive and co-founded the Family Research Council. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops gave $200,000 to support Prop 8., and KHUM radio recently decided to leave potential advertising revenue on the table by declining to run an advertisement in favor of Proposition 8. On 10/30, internal polling for proponents of Proposition 8, which would ban same-sex marriage in California, showed the race tied; public polls have it tied at 44% to 44% with 12 percent undecided. Internal polling for opponents of proposition 8 have the race within the margin of error. Gay marriage supporters said they were victims of a sophisticated cyber attack that briefly crashed a Web site central to their fundraising efforts to defeat a ballot initiative that would outlaw same-sex weddings. The Secret Service was investigating the denial-of-service attack on NOonprop8.com, an attack that began Wednesday afternoon and eventually made the site unreachable that evening. The No on 8 campaign released a statement signed by more than 300 leading California pediatricians announcing their joint opposition to Prop 8 and concluding that the physician who signed the Prop 8 ballot statement, Jane Anderson, MD, in no way represents the majority of pediatricians on this issue. And classical violinist Yitzhak Perlman is doing an ad against Prop 8 on behalf of his lesbian daughter, who married her partner in California. On 10/31, actress Anne Hathaway donated $10,000 to No on 8. Former president Bill Clinton recorded a robo-call against Proposition 8. Concert promoter Live Nation donated $50,000 to oppose Prop 8. A group of prominent Silicon Valley executives and investors publicly opposed Proposition 8, taking out a full page ad in The San Jose Mercury News on Friday urging readers to vote no. Sponsors of Prop 8 were using quotes by Barack Obama to drum up support for Proposition 8, even though Obama opposes the measure. The FBI was investigating a cyber attack after websites campaigning against Florida and California's proposed gay marriage bans were hacked into on Wednesday night, preventing supporters from donating. Surprised parents found Prop on 8 propaganda tucked into their children's candy bags on Halloween Night. The Gay and Lesbian Service Center in Los Angeles donated $1 million to No on 8. The combined total for Yes on 8 and No on 8 was around $65 million, with money still coming in. Alan Ashton, co-creator of Wordperfect and grandson of the late Mormon church President David O. McKay, put up $1 million to match contributions to the "Yes on Prop. 8" campaign. His former Wordperfect partner had previously donated $1 million to No on 8. And Republicans Against 8 released a new video ad highlighting the opposition of Republican California Governors Reagan and Schwarzenegger to anti-gay initiatives in the battle to prevent Proposition 8 from being written into California's Constitution on Tuesday.
November: On 11/1, a new Field Poll found opponents of the same-sex marriage ban on Tuesday's ballot had a 49 percent to 44 percent lead over those who support it. And San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders (R) attended a candlelight rally tomorrow night to support same-sex marriage rights. Sander's daughter is a lesbian. On 11/3, British actor Sacha Baron Cohen returned to gate-crashing in the U.S., this time bringing his flamboyant gay fashion reporter character Bruno to a California rally calling for a ban on same-sex marriage. And a recent YouTube video released in support of same-sex marriage portrayed men in white shirts and ties claiming to be representatives for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as invaders inside a lesbian home, looking to "take away" marriage rights. On 11/4, it was reported that opponents of gay marriage in California used Google's advertising network to post messages on popular websites against the owners' wishes. Joe LaMuraglia of GayWheels.com expressed his dismay that Google's AdSense banner revenue program allowed "Yes on 8" ads to appear on his site when vistors from California surfed his site. And the Mormon Church's members had contributed some $22 million into Prop 8. And voters passed Prop 8 52% to 47%, eliminating gay marriage in California. On 11/5, it was reported that No on 8 had raised $43.6 million, compared with $29.8 million for Yes on 8. And the first same-sex couple to wed in Los Angeles anounced that they were filing a lawsuit against the measure. The Los Angeles County Registrar's Office stopped issuing same-sex marriage licenses after the passage of a ballot measure to eliminate the right of gay couples to marry. Napa County immediately stopped performing gay marriages and issuing same-gender marriage licenses today. Solano County, the one county still issuing same-sex marriage licenses the day after California voters passed Proposition 8 announced they would no longer perform gay and lesbian weddings. And Kern County Clerk Ann Barnett said she has stopped issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples following the passage of Proposition 8. Also, the American Civil Liberties Union and two gay-rights groups are challenging Prop 8 in court. As of 11/6, Prop 8 opponents officially conceded when it became clear that there weren't enough uncounted votes to affect the outcome. More than 2,000 gay-rights activists gathered outside the gates of a Mormon temple in Los Angeles. Ellen Degeneres said she was "saddened beyond belief", and that Prop 8 "took a giant step away [from equality]." And hundreds of people protesting California's new ban on gay marriage demonstrated outside a Mormon temple in Westwood on Thursday, blocking traffic on a major boulevard. On 11/7, it was reported that African Americans came out for Barack Obama in record numbers, and voted for Prop 8 70% to 30%. Asian Americans went the other way: 57% were against banning gay marriage. A crowd of protesters angered by the passage of a state measure banning gay marriage marched through downtown San Francisco during rush hour, carrying signs and snarling traffic. 2,000 people gathered in Long Beach to protest Prop 8 - there were three arrests. Lance Bass "drove by, rolled down his window and started honking his horn to start shouting with the crowd," at a No on 8 Rally. Melissa Etheridge said she was standing up to the state of California, refusing to pay her state taxes if she and her partner are not allowed to be married like straight couples. On 11/8, it was reported that Supporters of Prop 8 used "robo-calls" containing an excerpt from a speech where Obama said he wasn't in favor of gay marriage, even though he came out publicly against Prop 8. San Diego police said 8,000 to 10,000 people have hit the streets to protest passage of an anti-gay marriage bill. In Laguna Beach, where residents voted 68 percent against Prop. 8 and 31 percent for the gay marriage ban, opponents were planning to march in protest of Prop 8.
COLORADO Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act & Constitutional Ban Colorado Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 8/11, A lesbian couple getting married in California published their announcement in the Durango Herald - the first same sex wedding announcement in the paper's history. On 8/21, 360 openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender delegates from the Stonewall Democrats descended on Denver, four days before the Democratic National Convention. As of 10/3, nti-gay-marriage Representative Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) was losing her race against democratic challenger Betsy Markey by 43% to 50%, according to a new survey. As of 10/23, former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez was blanketing the state with recorded calls that take aim at Democratic Senate candidate Mark Udall over issues such as gay marriage and human cloning. On 11/4, Marilyn Musgrave lost her US House seat in Colorado, bringing to a halt the Congressional career of one of the most outspoken opponents of gay equality.
CONNECTICUT Legal Status: Gay Marriage Connecticut Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far:
August: On 8/13, six pro-marriage equality candidates in Connecticut scored important victories in Tuesday's party primary elections. On 8/20, The Connecticut Constitution Convention Campaign has raised only $1,110 to convince voters to approve a constitutional convention in November. The state's largest teachers union, the Connecticut Education Association, has contributed $40,000 to the group "Vote No: Protect Our Constitution." Planned Parenthood of Connecticut has given $5,000 to the same cause. On 8/28, rumors surfaced that the state Supreme Court was deadlocked or closely fivided on the gay marriage case that's been before the court since May 2007.
September: On 9/17, two of the state's top elected officials urged voters Wednesday to reject a proposal on the November ballot for a convention to consider changing the Connecticut Constitution. On 9/28, roughly 2,800 people converged on the steps of the state Capitol in Hartford on Sunday, Sept. 28 for a Family Institute of Connecticut (FIC) rally to raise support for a constitutional convention to block gay marriage efforts there.
October: As of 10/2, Boaz ItsHaky, the Republican candidate for Greater New Haven's U.S. Congress seat, distanced himself from his state party boss's remarks about gay rights, saying he supports legislation to upgrade civil unions to include all the benefits of marriage. amd Love Makes a Family, a Connecticut GLBT equality organization, initiated a new program to advocate for marriage equality. FaithAction offers a series of training sessions for people of all faiths. On 10/10, a sharply divided Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Friday that gay couples have the right to get married, saying legislators did not go far enough when they approved same-sex civil unions that were identical to marriages in virtually every respect except the name. The Governor of CT's response to the Supreme Court Ruling: "The Supreme Court has spoken. I do not believe their voice reflects the majority of the people of Connecticut. However, I am also firmly convinced that attempts to reverse this decision - either legislatively or by amending the state Constitution - will not meet with success. I will therefore abide by the ruling." As of 10/12, gay marriage opponents stepped their efforts to get voters to approve a constitutional convention in November, to try to eliminate gay marriage there. On 10/13, a number of Connecticut clergy held a worship service Monday in support of same-sex marriage. On 10/14, a new poll said that 53% of Connecticut residents support last week's state Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay and lesbian marriages. As of 10/19, the Constitution Convention Campaign, which is urging residents to vote yes on Nov. 4, had raised $11,400. The Connecticut Vote No coalition had raised nearly $830,000. 10/28 was the official "release date" of the CT Supreme Court's decision legalizing gay marriage, though same sex couples may not be able to wed until November 10th. And justices of the peace will no longer be allowed to refuse to perform a same-sex ceremony simply because the couple is gay Attorney General Richard Blumenthal ruled. As of 10/30, 50% of voters supported a convention to amend the state constitution and 39 percent were opposed. But 55 percent oppose a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
November: On 11/4, voters rejected the state's first constitutional convention in more than 40 years by a 2 to 1 ratio.
DELAWARE: Legal Status: n/a Delaware Gay Wedding Vendors
FLORIDA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act & Constitutional Amendment Florida Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far:
August: As of 8/8, in the face of rampant rumors about his own sexuality and a potential shot at being named Sen. John McCain s running mate in the fall elections, Florida governor, Charlie Crist has simultaneously announced plans for a December wedding to his fiancee and reversed his position of support for same-sex marriage and domestic partnerships. On 8/13, the pastor of one of the largest Southern Baptist churches in Florida was been named to lead a new effort to rally pastors to pass the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment in November. As of 8/21, opponents of Amendment 2, the anti-gay-marriage amendment on the November ballot, have raised more than $2 million, four times what amendment proponents have raised. On 8/28, a new poll showed that 57% of Florida voters favored writing a same-sex marriage ban into the Florida constitution - passage requires 60%.
September: On 9/8, A new Quinnipac poll found that a proposed state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage is supported by 55 percent of voters, down from 58% 3 months ago. And Miami Mayor Manny Diaz on Monday announced his opposition to Florida's Amendment 2. On 9/9, Broward School Board members on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution to oppose a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage in Florida. On 9/10, Charlie Crist says he won't campaign for gay marriage ban in Florida. On 9/24, a group of Tampa Bay black leaders planned to announce support Wednesday for Amendment 2. On 9/25, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz joined the fight against Amendment 2. On 9/29, opponents of a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution protested against Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos on the day season-ticket holders were selecting their seats. DeVos contributed $100,000 to Florida4Marriage, a group that supports Amendment 2. As of 9/30, Latino Faith "Leaders" came out in support of Amendment 2.
October: On 10/3, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced plans Thursday to offer domestic-partner benefits to gay city employees when the City Council approves changes to its employee health-care policy Monday. As of 10/8, a new poll showwed that support for Amendment 2 is at 55% vs. 34% opposed, a slight drop from the previous poll numbers. Also, a group of Fort Lauderdale Democrats rallied behind an amendment to the state Constitution that would make it harder for a judge to overturn Florida's same-sex marriage ban. And members of the legal community joined forces in opposition to a statewide ballot measure that would ban gay marriage by specifying that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. On 10/9, Amendment 2 opponents released their second ad against the anti gay marriage proposition. As of 10/14, proponents of Amendment 2 had collected $1.1 million in cash and in-kind donations. Opponents had raised approximately $2.5 million. As of 10/15, an organization called Progress Florida was running a new web ad against Amentment 2 starring Michael Schiavo, husband of Terri Schiavo. On 10/17, sponsors of Amendment 2 began a two-part advertising campaign today, warning that the other side is trying to scare voters about the proposal. And Florida Clergy for Fairness, a coalition of religious leaders from across Florida joined forces Thursday to speak against Amendment 2. As of 10/18, the head of the Florida Family Association said he wouldn't rule out going after domestic partner benefits for gays and seniors if Amendment 2 passes. And a new Sun Sentinel and Florida Times-Union poll showed Amendment 2 support at just 53%, less than the 60% needed to change the constitution. On 10/26, 200 Tampa Bay area residents attended a Sunday afternoon rally against Amendment 2. On 10/28, opponents of Amendment 2 went to court to force the proposal's backers to disclose its donors and take their TV ads off the air. On 10/31, a new Mason-Dixon poll of 625 likely voters on Thursday and Friday showed 55 percent support for Amendment 2, with 35 percent opposed.
November: On 11/4, Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon was in Florida to speak out against Amendment 2. And a Miami judge declined to rule on a lawsuit against John Stemberger and florida4marriage.org filed by Amendment 2 opponents Florida Red and Blue and the anti-gay marriage amendment ads will stay on the air. And Amendment 2 passed by a margin of 4.68 million to 2.85 million votes, or by 62 percent to 38 percent.
GEORGIA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act & Constitutional Ban Georgia Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 8/15, by more than a two-to-one margin, the Medical College of Georgia faculty endorsed a resolution calling for the ability to give employees domestic partnership benefits.
HAWAII Legal Status: Civil Unions; Defense of Marriage Act Hawaii Gay Wedding Vendors
ILLINOIS Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act Illinois Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far:
INDIANA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act Indiana Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 10/28, an anti-gay flier sent by the Indiana Democratic State Committee on behalf of State Representative candidate Andy Schemenaur called for "a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as existing only between one man and one woman." The DNC has condemned the mailing.
IOWA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act The Story So Far: In 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court is expected to rule on the issue of same sex marriage when deliberations begin in Varnum v. Brien. As of 8/29, a gay Iowa couple marked first year of marriage as the state's only legally married same sex couple. As of 10/3, the Iowa Supreme Court said it would hear arguments in a case challenging the state's law banning gay marriage on December 9th.
KANSAS Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act The Story So Far: 8/19 was the 1 year anniversary of domestic partnerships in Lawrence, Kansas.
KENTUCKY Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act; Constitutional Amendment Kentucky Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 9/16, Kentucky Court of Appeals handed down a harshly-worded, 3-0 judgment against a lower court's ruling that allowed a lesbian to adopt her partner's child. Two "experts" will discuss gay marriage at a forum at Northern Kentucky University on 10/7/08. On 10/21, Louisville Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz began chairing an ad hoc task force appointed recently by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which works with the Knights of Columbus to lead a new Catholic effort advocating for laws that define marriage as between one man and one woman.
LOUISIANA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act; Constitutional Amendment Louisiana Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: As of 10/23, more than a dozen young adults from around the country held a candlelight vigil just outside the Louisiana College campus to show support for gay students at the Baptist school.
MAINE Legal Status: Domestic Partnership; Defense of Marriage Act Maine Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 11/4, volunteers from the group EqualityMaine were posted at petition tables in nearly 100 polling places in 12 of 16 Maine counties, speaking with thousands of voters about marriage for same-sex couples.
MARYLAND Legal Status: n/a Maryland Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 9/9, the state's highest court ruled that signatures were overcounted in a drive to roll back transgender protections passed last year by the Montgomery County Council, throwing out the referendum petition that had threatened to roll back the civil rights law. On 10/15, four mothers went to the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners last week, asking them to remove "And Tango Makes Three," a 2005 book for young children that tells the true story of Roy and Silo, two male penguins in the Central Park Zoo in New York City who fostered and hatched an abandoned egg, from the county library. On 10/20, two women blocked from ordination as United Methodist ministers because one is a married lesbian and the other disagrees with church rules on gay rights received "extraordinary ordination" in Baltimore yesterday.
MASSACHUSETTS Legal Status: Gay Marriage Massachusetts Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far:
August: On 8/13, a new survey showed that 59% of Massachusetts voters feel out-of-state same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry in the state according to a new poll from Suffolk University. On 8/16, gay marriage opponents in Massachusetts began gathering signatures to try to repeal the new law overturning the 1913 law banning out of state same sex couples from marrying in Massachusetts - the group will need 32K signatures to get the measure on the ballot. On 8/25, Attorney General Martha Coakley gave the go-ahead to a group that wants to overturn the Legislature's repeal of a law barring marriages in Massachusetts by out-of-state same-sex couples.
October: On 10/2, the board of the statewide gay political group MassEquality voted unanimously Sept. 29 to endorse Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's bid for the White House. As of 10/11, MassResistance, the anti-gay group based out of Waltham, had just four more days to collect 33,297 signatures to try to overturn the legislature's repeal of the 1913 law. On November 16, the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum will be the site of a discussion on same-sex marriage on the 5th anniversary of the landmark Massachusetts Supreme Court decision on the case that led to the legalization of same-sex marriage. As of 10/31, The effort by the anti-gay group MassResistance to reinstate the 1913 law had failed, after the group only collected 1/3 of the signatures needed to place it on the 2010 ballot by the deadline.
MICHIGAN Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act; Constitutional Amendment Michigan Gay Wedding VendorsThe Story So Far: On 8/14, the wedding annoucement for a gay couple in Jackson was rejected by the Jackson Citizen-Patriot, the local paper - the paper said the couple were "asking us to venture into uncharted waters". As of 10/24, Republican candidate Ray Franz was running an ad alleged that "billionaire homosexual activist Jon Stryker" and his "dirty money" were behind Democratic candidate Scripps' campaign.
MINNESOTA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act Minnesota Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 10/12, openly gay, longtime Minnesota State Senator Allan H. Spear died at the age of 71 from complications following heart surgery.
MISSISSIPPI Legal Status: Constitutional Amendment The Story So Far: As of 10/19, Incumbent Republican Roger Wicker was running ads against his Democratic opponent Ronnie Musgrove that use offensive gay stereotypes to try to link Musgrove to extreme left liberalism. On 10/20. two members of soulforce, a gay rights advocacy group, were arrested at Mississippi College in Clinton. As of 10/24, the state Republican party was trying to link Kristy Manning (D), running for state representative, to "extreme liberals" and gay marriage.
MONTANA Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far: As of 8/1, A hearing before a federal appeals court was scheduled for 8/4 in a case involving an East Helena church accused of breaking state campaign laws by not reporting its activity in support of a constitutional initiative to ban gay marriage. On 10/1, a judge ruled in favor of a woman who sought parental rights to a boy and girl adopted by her former same-sex partner, a decision described as a first for Montana.
NEBRASKA Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far: As of 9/23, an LDS member who has spoken out against the church's support of California's Prop 8 was in danger of being excommunicated.
NEVADA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act; Constitutional Amendment Nevada Gay Wedding Vendors
NEW HAMPSHIRE Legal Status: Civil Unions New Hampshire Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 8/16, Democrat Katy Forry, who is challenging current Gov. John Lynch (D) in the Sept. 9 primary, she would sign a gay marriage law and believes federal law eventually will recognize gay unions. As of 9/16, a newly released study finds that same-sex couples in New Hampshire are more eager to be married than enter into a civil union. As of 9/28, Lawmakers planned to debate at least two bills dealing with gay marriage when they return to Concord in January, one that would legalize gay marriage, and another that would repeal recognition of civil unions/gay weddings performed in other states.
NEW JERSEY Legal Status: Civil Unions New Jersey Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: As of 8/3, The New Jersey Family Policy Council claims to have collected 70,000 signatures so far to put an anti-gay-marriage amendment on the ballot at some point in the future. As of 8/19, by a 50%-42% margin, likely New Jersey voters support allowing same sex couples to marry, according to a new Zogby poll. On 9/26, religious fundamentalists accused a state Civil Unions panel of pushing for gay marriage.
NEW MEXICO Legal Status: n/a New Mexico Gay Wedding Vendors
NEW YORK Legal Status: Does not Recognize Same Sex Marriage New York Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far:
August: On 8/7, North Country Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava said voting for gay marriage may be the risky thing to do, but it is what she believes in. And Assembly Republicans who bucked party leaders and voted to legalize same-sex marriage in New York have been rewarded with an outpouring of donations from gay rights advocates across the nation. On 8/8, the New York Supreme Court heard arguments from the Alliance Defense Fund carpet baggers who are trying to overturn Governor Paterson's executive order recognizing gay marriages performed out of state. The Court appears poised to rule against the ADF - a ruling is expected after labor day. On 8/10, A gay father kidnapped his son from his ex-partner, taking him to Israel. On 8/13, Otsego County Treasurer Myrna Thayne amended the county's health care plan to specifically exclude same-sex couples, regardless of their legal status, ostsnsibly to save money. On 8/15, a distraught gay father was reunited with his abducted son after Israeli officials tracked down the man s ex-husband and retrieved the boy. As of 8/22, Christians claiming their First Amendment rights were violated at a gay Pride event in June have brought suit against New York city.
September: On 9/2, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled NY Gov David Paterson's memo ordering state agencies to recognize gay and lesbian marriages performed in other states and countries is legal. On 9/8, the state Department of Civil Service said it was aware of only 33 same-sex married couples who have signed up for the state's health insurance since it extended the benefits to them on May 1, 2007. On 9/14, two groups supporting marriage equality for same-sex couples held simultaneous walks across the Golden Gate Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge for the fifth year in a row. On 9/18, Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith (D) declined to say definitively how or when he might address the pending gay marriage bill in the state if he becomes majority leader. And Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R) appeared at his first LGBT function this week, a fundraiser at a private East Village residence organized by the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay GOP group. On 9/24, Gov. Paterson appeared as a "special guest" at a $5k per person pro-gay marriage fund-raiser on the East Side on Thursday night, to raise money to fight Prop 8 in California.
October: On 10/15, a state appeals court heard arguments on whether New York can give equal benefits to same-sex couples married in other jurisdictions.
November: On 11/4, Democrats took the New York senate. The entire New York legislature is now in Democratic hands, and New York's governor, David Paterson, is one of the nation's most eloquent pro-marriage-equality representatives. On 11/6, Lawmakers said that they were focused on rejuvenating New York's economy and dealing with the state's massive budget deficit, not legalizing gay marriage. On 11/7, anti-gay marriage groups said they plan to focus next on New Jersey and New York, where the state legislatures are being lobbied to pass laws legalizing same-sex marriage, using the same strategy they used to win in California.
NORTH CAROLINA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act North Carolina Gay Wedding Vendors
NORTH DAKOTA Legal Status: n/a The Story So Far:
OHIO Legal Status: n/a Ohio Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: As of 10/24, the Ohio Republican Party was paying for anti-LGBT campaign mailings and radio spots in at least two hotly contested Ohio House districts.
OKLAHOMA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act The Story So Far: As of 9/18, Senator James Inhofe, a Republican of Oklahoma, was running a new ad that clearly has gay undertones and basically abuses his opponent Democrat Andrew Rice.
OREGON Legal Status: Domestic Partnership; Defense of Marriage Act; Constitutional Ban Oregon Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far:
August: On 8/14, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a challenge to Oregon's domestic partnership law after a sampling count of signatures showed the opponents of gay rights in Oregon had fallen just 96 signatures short of the 55,179 needed to get a measure to repeal the state's new domestic partnership law on the ballot. On 8/21, the Coquille Indian Tribe, based on the southern Oregon coast, recently adopted a law recognizing same-sex marriage, and its first such wedding is set for next spring.
October: As of 10/3, Republican U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith began airing a new TV ad touting his support for a law to protect gays from hate crimes. But he opposed gay marriage, according to Basic Rights Oregon. On 10/31, a Coquille Indian Tribe member challenged a recent decision by the Tribal Council to allow domestic partnerships and marriages regardless of sexual orientation.
November: On 11/4, The city of Silverton, Oregon, elected the country's first openly transgender mayor.
PENNSYLVANIA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act Pennsylvania Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: As of 8/21, a Presbyterian minister who officiated at a lesbian wedding in 2005 is heading for church court again, two years after charges against her were dismissed on a technicality. A Presbyterian minister did not violate church law when she officiated at the wedding of two women because in the eyes of the state and the church, no marriage occurred, a church panel ruled on 10/2.
PUERTO RICO Legal Status: n/a Puerto Rico Gay Wedding Vendors
RHODE ISLAND Legal Status: Does not recognize same sex marriage Rhode Island Gay Wedding Vendors
SOUTH CAROLINA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act The Story So Far: As of 10/24, an openly gay congressional candidate's sexuality emerged as an issue in a campaign in which both sides had studiously avoided it, after a Republican lawmaker publicly used her activism on gay-related issues to denounce her as an "ultra-liberal." On 10/29, voters in Lancaster and York counties were getting automated phone calls from a phony gay organization that says it supports the Democratic candidate for the local South Carolina state Senate seat.
TENNESSEE Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act; Constitutional Ban The Story So Far:
TEXAS Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act; Constitutional Ban Texas Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 10/23, it was reported that, if Democrats picked up five seats in this year's election, they'll have a majority in the state House, which would enable them to pass several gay rights bills that were stalled by conservatives last year.
UTAH Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act; Constitutional Ban; Domestic Partner Registry in Salt Lake City Utah Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: As of 8/1, an August meeting between a gay Mormon support group and a social service agency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been indefinitely delayed. And a Utah paper published their first lesbian wedding announcement. On 8/4, conservative readers freaked out when a local paper ran an annoucement of a lesbian wedding. As of 9/29, Laura Milliken Gray, a woman who fought for gay marriage rights in Utah, was leaving the country to be with her partner in England because she is not allowed to come to the US. As of 10/1, it was reported that the number of same sex couples living together in Utah had increased from just over 3,300 in 2000 to more than 5,500 in 2007, according to the American Community Survey, an extension of the U.S. Census. As of 10/15, a group of Mormons who support gay marriage said planned to deliver 300 protest letters and a petition to church headquarters. On 10/27, a heated debate about same-sex marriage at Utah Valley University attracted so many students Thursday that some had to leave the UVU Ragan Theater for fear of violating the 400-person fire code. On 10/31, Mormon mothers of gay children staged a candlelight vigil in Salt Lake City to oppose the LDS Church's support of California's proposed gay-marriage ban on 11/2. On 11/7, Gay rights activists called for a boycott of Utah after the Mormom Church helped push Prop 8 through in California. And in Salt Lake City, a crowd of about 2,000 chanted "Separate church and state" and waved rainbow flags outside the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
VERMONT Legal Status: Civil Unions; Defense of Marriage Act Vermont Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 8/3, A woman who married one woman in Canada and then left her for another in a civil union ceremony in Vermont was accused of bigamy by her ex partner. As of 10/17, it was reported that the legislature may consider legalizing gay marriage here in the 2009 session.
VIRGINIA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act Virginia Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far:
WASHINGTON DC Legal Status: Domestic Partnership Washington DC Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: As of 8/22, A decision by House Democrats to allow a vote next month on a proposal to gut the city s handgun law stunned local home rule advocates and could foretell a congressional overturn of a future same-sex marriage bill. As of 9/8, A Williams Institute Study estimated that 1,600 gay couples in DC would marry if gay marriage was legalized. According to activists and City Hall insiders on 9/17, If Democrats expand their majority in Congress and California voters uphold same-sex marriage, a gay marriage bill is likely to be approved by the D.C. City Council as early as April 2009. On 9/28, The agency that regulates the state's lawyers came out in favor of equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.
WASHINGTON STATE Legal Status: Domestic Partnership; Defense of Marriage Act Washington State Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far:
WEST VIRGINIA Legal Status: Defense of Marriage Act West Virginia Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 10/15, a Christian evangelical group has issued an ultimatum to Gov. Joe Manchin: call a special session to pass a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, or face the wrath of voters.
WISCONSIN Legal Status: Constitutional Ban Wisconsin Gay Wedding Vendors The Story So Far: On 9/18, the Dane County Board (Madison area) voted to add a domestic partner registry and to require companies that offer spousal benefits to married couples to also offer them to domestic partners. On 10/16, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton rallied for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and asked University of Wisconsin students to support the cause with their votes in the fast-approaching presidential and state legislative elections.
People
11/8/08: "I am the luckiest girl in the world, but am sad because African-Americans are equal finally, but gay marriage is not." - Britney Spears Source
11/7/08: Christina Aguilera: "I think [Prop. 8] is discrimination and I don't understand how people can be so closed-minded and so judgmental... Why you would put so much money behind something [aimed at] stopping from people loving each other and bonding together?... Mormons aren't gonna buy my album but, you know, what are you gonna do?" Source
11/7/08: Fallout Boy's Pete Wentz: "Many people were intimidated on this issue due to the scary misleading communications on the other side. I believe that this is, and has always been, a civil rights issue. We should not allow inequality like this in America." Source
11/7/08: "If we can elect an African-American as president, we can support gay marriage!" Madonna shouted to 20,000 fans at Dodger Stadium late Thursday, referring to president-elect Barack Obama. "Defeat Prop 8! We will not give up!" Source
11/6/08: "I guess people care more about farm animals that they do their fellow man, that's really sad to me.." --Samantha Ronson - Source
11/6/08: Clear Channel radio host Jim Quinn asserted: "[G]ay marriage doesn't produce anything that the state has an interest in. Gay sex produces AIDS, which the state doesn't have -- or should have an interest in. They should charge homosexuals more for their -- for their health insurance than they charge the rest of us." Source
11/5/08: Former NBA player Doug Christie and his wife are in favor of gay marriage: "We are living in a generation where no man or woman should be told who they can marry," Jackie Christie comments. "Everyone should be able to love freely, and my husband and I stand strongly behind voting NO on Proposition 8." Source
11/2/08: Sacha Baron Cohen has gone undercover as his alter ego Bruno, a gay Austrian fashion show presenter, to crash a rally in support of a measure that would ban same-sex marriage in California. Source
11/2/08: Barack Obama said in an interview with MTV he did not support same-sex weddings and believed "marriage is between a man and a woman". He also reaffirmed his opposition to Prop 8. Source
10/31/08: "It frustrates me and breaks my heart, that someone who's a minority himself would want to discriminate against others," says Cuban American Perez Hilton, who is openly gay, about telenovela star Eduardo Verastegui. Source
10/31/08: Former 49ers Quarterback Steve Young, a Mormon, and his wife Barb oppose Prop 8: "We believe ALL families matter and we do not believe in discrimination, therefore, our family will vote against Prop. 8," she said. Source
10/30/08: Actors Emile Hirsch, James Franco and Josh Brolin hope they'll entertain audiences of forthcoming film MILK beyond the big screen - by prompting more support for same-sex marriage in California. Source
10/30/08: Steve Knight, son of the anti-gay bigot Pete Knight, is running for the 36th District Assembly seat in California that was once held by his father, and like his dad, he is a strong supporter of banning same-sex marriage. Source
10/28/08: Charles Barkley on gay marriage: "My idea of religion is we are supposed to encourage people to love other people. I am a big pro-choice guy. I am a big gay marriage guy and they are so divisive and that is not my idea of religion. My idea of religion is we are supposed to bring people together. We are not supposed to judge other people." Source
10/27/08: Congressman Dan Lungren said he plans to vote "yes" on Proposition 8. Source
10/27/08: Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt - the villains of MTV's "reality" show The Hills - has come out in support for gay marriage, even though they are both Republican John McCain / Sarah Palin supporters. Source
10/26/08: Congressman Barney Frank: "Same-sex marriage is of no concern to anyone who does not choose to enter into one," Frank went on. "The notion that it weakens the institution of marriage is nonsense. We've had same-sex marriage in Massachusetts for four years; there has been no negative effect." Source
10/24/08: The groundbreaking feature film based on cable channel Logo's Noah's Arc arrived in select theaters. In Jumping the Broom, the four friends travel to Martha's Vineyard to plan the perfect wedding for Noah and Wade. Source
10/24/08: Country singer Trace Adkins spoke out against gay marriage, saying "That shit ain't right, you know," at a concert in Massachusetts The crowd responded with applause. Source
10/24/08: Gay actor Sir Ian McKellan in a statement urging California voters to defeat Proposition 8, which would stop gay marriage in the state. Source
10/24/08: A new mailer from Elizabeth Dole (R) targets Kay Hagan (D) as having a "radical homosexual agenda," even though Hagan is against gay marriage. Source
10/23/08: Project Runway's Tim Gunn has put out an ad against Prop 8, the ballot measure that would make gay marriage in California illegal. Source
10/23/08: Ellen DeGeneres spoke out about Sarah Palin's stance on the federal marriage amendment, saying that despite being raised by heterosexuals, being surrounded by heterosexuals and even dabbling with heterosexuality in high school, she still came out gay. Source
10/21/08: Telenovela star Eduardo Verastegui supports Prop 8. Source
10/21/08: Judge Judy officiated the A-list marriage between four time Grammy nominee, singer/pianist Michael Feinstein and his partner of 11 years, Terrence Flannery, on Friday in Los Angeles. Source
10/21/08: William Shatner on George Takai's gay wedding: "Obviously, [George Takei] hiding his homosexuality -- talk about festering and not living the truth of your life, and feeling badly about yourself, and being fearful that somebody might find out this terrible, terrible secret, so he thought. Finally, at the age of 70, he decides to come out of the closet and say, "I'm gay." Like, who cares? Be gay, don't be gay. That's up to you George.... He makes this big deal out of not inviting me to his wedding. Well, if I was such a terrible force in his life, even 40-some odd years later ('cause I haven't seen him) that I affect his marriage where he has to isolate it, and say --. What kind of sickness is going on in a man.... There must be something else inside George that is festering that he takes it out on me, in effect, a total stranger." Source
10/17/08: Democratic vice presidential hopeful Sen. Joseph Biden has appeared on an episode of Ellen to oppose California's proposed constitutional gay marriage ban. Source
10/16/08: Anti-gay Virginia congressman Virgil Goode denied allegations made by liberal activists Mike Stark and Mike Rogers that he contributed money to a film with gay themes. Source
10/15/08: In a PSA produced by gay entertainment group Homotracker, Molly Ringwald, the star of TV's The Secret Life of the American Teenager plays one-half of a straight couple being harranged by a buffoon who is against gay marriage. Source
10/15/08: Ellen DeGeneres hasn't contributed to the No on 8 campaign, but she did post a video on her show's website, saying her wedding was the happiest occasion in her life, and urging people to vote no on California's Prop. 8. Source
10/13/08: Father Geoffrey Farrow of Fresno, CA was stripped of his salary and benefits by the Catholic Church and ordered to stay away from the people of his church after he came out against Prop 8 and as a gay man. Source
10/12/08: "If Prop. 8 is defeated, I believe that within my lifetime we will see a majority of states allow same-sex couples to marry," said Chemerinsky, 55, a renowned constitutional scholar who became the founding dean of UCI's Law School earlier this year. Source
10/10/08: Ron Moore's new Sci Fi movie Virtuality includes the sure-to-be-controversial married couple Manny (Jose Pablo Cantillo) and Val (Gene Farber), who hold hands freely aboard the starship Phaeton.
10/9/08: Joan Rivers, asked if she supports gay marriage: "You ve publicly come out in support of gay marriage in California &. Of course. It s so stupid [that anyone wouldn t support it.] I think we have more to do with our lives that worry." Source
10/9/08: Julia Louise Dreyfus on the gay marriage storyline on the New Adventures of Old Christine: "...all of us are very comfortable with and supportive of same-sex marriage. We don t want to make fun of it. I m all for it. I can t imagine not being for it. That seems ludicrous." Source
10/9/08: T.R. Knight has donated $50,000 to help defeat a California proposition aimed at ending gay marriage. Source
10/7/08: Drew Barrymore: "When I heard him speak about a gay person never having to sit outside the hospital room with their loved one sick inside, I burst into tears because so many people I care about are homosexual and it was profound to have someone be sensitive to that." Source
10/6/08: Tom Arnold on gay marriage: "Even if you don't like gay people. You should vote for this. Marriage isn't that great. If we have to get married - why shouldn't they." Source
10/3/08: Fall Out Boy has donated $50,000 to efforts to defeat California's Proposition 8. Source
10/2/08: Melissa Etheridge plans to marry her girlfriend before Californians vote next month on the gay marriage law. Source
10/2/08: Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin discussed gay marriage at the VP debate in St. Louis. Source
10/2/08: Chargers second-stringer Jacques Cesaire and former San Diego State/Oakland Raider linebacker Akbar Gbaja-Biamila appeared on a Christian radio show to argue against gay marriage. Source
10/1/08: John McCain trys to win over the gay vote by hinting in an interview with the Washington Blade that he'd support a review of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Source
10/1/08: Right-wing radio host Michael Savage blamed the financial meltdown on Wall Street on gay people. Source
10/1/08: Sarah Palin believes being gay is a choice, she says in her interview with Katie Couric. Source
9/28/08: Savage Garden's Darren Hayes: "I would love to see my marriage recognised here [in Australia], more than anything as a sign of reciprocal respect for Richard," Hayes said. Source
9/25/08: ABC's Brothers and Sisters will run a storyline addressing the fight over Prop 8 this fall. Source
9/25/08: Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz called Prop 8 "pretty lame- as many others do too. its fucking lame." Source
9/24/08: When asked during a radio interview how long Lindsey Lohan and Samantha Ronson had been "going out," Lohan simply said, "A very long time." Source
9/24/08: Rumors surface that Condoleeza Rice was passed over as McCain's VP pick because of rumors that she is a lesbian. Source
9/24/08: Award winning singer/songwriter Tokyo Rosenthal has recently released a new CD with a pro gay marriage blues rocker called Love Won Out . Source
9/23/08: Ellen DeGeneres advocated against Prop 8 on her blog, explaining with her usual wit "I can't return the wedding gifts," she quipped. "I love my new toaster." Source
9/22/08: The New Adventures of Old Christine debuted its 2008-09 season with a lesbian wedding of convenience. Source
9/22/08: Clay Aiken came out on the cover of People Magazine. Source
9/22/08: Steven Spielberg and his spouse, Kate Capshaw, chipped in a $100,000 donation to fight Proposition 8. Source
9/21/08: Gay porn star Brent Everett and his boyfriend and event producer Steve Pena will settle down and take advantage of California s legal gay marriage to say their I do's to one another in a ceremony slated for Oct. 3. Source
9/18/08: Brad Pitt has donated $100,000 to fight Prop 8. "Because no one has the right to deny another their life even though they disagree with it, because everyone has the right to live the life they so desire if it doesn't harm another, and because discrimination has no place in America, my vote will be for equality and against Proposition 8." Source
9/18/08: Hall Sparks on Gay Marriage: "You could go after the religious Right for attacking gay marriage, instead go after anyone attacking gay marriage and the absurdity of it. Or point out the fact that gay people invented marriage, that the marriage ceremony in the Bible is based on a Greek same sex marriage ceremony from a thousand years before. When you go at it from that level, you are helping deprogram people." Source
9/16/08: I urge Californians to oppose Proposition 8, Senator Diane Feinstein said in a statement. Source
9/15/08: Lynne Cheney on gay marriage: "I would wish my daughter to have happiness and freedom to make her own choices," she said. "The Vice President said in the debate with Joe Lieberman ever so long ago in 2000 that freedom in this country ought to mean freedom for everyone." Source
9/14/08: Unofficial girlfriends Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson jointly eviscerated Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin on her anti-gay rights and anti-abortion views on Ronson's official blog. Source
9/12/08: Mary Cheney has jumped on board to help defeat Proposition 8 in California. Source
9/10/08: Susan Sarandon on gay marriage: "You know, I think so much of [ the controversy over gay marriage ] has to do with language. The word "marriage" does trigger things in a lot of people, and it's a shame we can't find a way to get around that because what it does is really polarize people and make it about something it really doesn't need to be about. But I think separate from the legal aspects of being able to share with your partner and own a house and have rights to your kids and insurance and all that, if you ask most Americans "Does everyone have a right to be happy?" they'll say "Yes." I'm not married so I'm probably the wrong person to talk to about how significant it is to be married. I've created a life that isn't about a traditional marriage, but I understand why some people want that kind of a metaphor, a symbol." Source
9/6/08: Gov. Sarah Palin's church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer. Source
9/5/08: Former wrestler and Governor Jesse Ventura sounded off in favor of gay marriage this week. Source
9/4/08: Newt Gingrich announced his support of Prop 8 to eliminate same-sex marriage in California. Source
9/3/08: Fran Drescher, the star of TV comedy The Nanny has said that everyone should have the right to get married, gay or straight. Source
9/1/08: On Saturday evening at the Alfred E. Clarke Mansion in San Francisco, gay activist Matthew Foreman married long-time partner Francisco Adex De Leon. Source
8/29/08: Therese Stewart, the chief deputy city attorney who successfully argued San Francisco's historic same-sex marriage case, legally wed her partner, attorney Carole Scagnetti, in a City Hall ceremony Friday, August 29. Source
8/28/08: Yoko Ono on gay marriage: "Isn't it amazing? I think it's great. But it should not be great, but normal. I was jumping up and down in my mind. Source
8/28/08: Barack Obama brought up gay marriage during his nomination acceptance speech in Denver. Source
8/28/08: Michelle Obama surprised more than 600 attendees at an LGBT convention delegate and media luncheon to offer remarks that ran to more than 15 minutes. Source
8/27/08: Lesbian activist Del Martin died on Wednesday, just two months after marrying her partner of 55 years in one of the first legally recognized California same-sex weddings. Source
8/22/08: Ellen & Portia's wedding appears on the cover of the latest issue of People Magazine. Source
8/16/08: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi were scheduled to marry in Los Angeles today. Source
8/15/08: Margaret Cho is ordained to perform gay weddings. Source
8/15/08: Barack Obama's campaign is reaching out to gay and lesbian voters in Georgia. Source
8/15/08: The co-founder of Manhunt.net stepped down as CEO after the flap that ensued when he gave $2,300 to John McCain's campaign for President. Source
8/14/08: States that do not allow same-sex marriage should not be forced to legally recognize same-sex marriages contracted in California and Massachusetts where the practice is allowed, says Rep. Barney Frank. Source
8/14/08: David Knight, the openly gay son of the late state Senator William "Pete" Knight, who authored Proposition 22 that voters passed in 2000, told the Bay Area Reporter that he is "absolutely" opposed to Prop 8. Source
8/12/08: George Takei will marry his partner on September 14th. Source
8/12/08: California Chief Justice Ronald George is enduring from gay marriage foes the very complaints of "judicial activism". Source
8/11/08: Comedian Dennis Miller says in a new interview: "I'm for the war, but I'm also for gay marriage. I don't care if two folks with the same genitalia want to get hitched, I just don't want some a hole from another country coming over here and blowing up their wedding to make a political statement."
8/10/08: Simon Doonan, creative director for Barneys New York, and his partner, potter and decorator extraordinaire Jonathan Adler, will exchange vows next month. Source
8/8/08: Anne Hathaway is "an advocate for gay marriage, abandoning her youthful plans to become a nun after her older brother Michael came out." Source
8/4/08: Dollhouse actress Heather Matarazzo became engaged to musician Carolyn Murphy. Source
8/3/08: Rumors are circling about Lindsey Lohan and a possible gay wedding with DJ Samantha Ronson. Source
8/1/08: Orson Scott Card, Sci Fi writer, has threatened to try to overthrow the federal government if gay marriage passes nationally. Source
8/1/08: Out lesbian actress Heather Matarazzo, of Exes and Ohs fame, will take advantage of California s lifting of the gay marriage ban and tie the knot with her girlfriend Carolyn Murphy. Source
posted by Mark & Scott at
11/16/2008 12:21:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home