Gay Marriage Watch: February 1st-7th
Here's the latest news on gay marriage from around the world.
Take Action:
First, a plea from Scotland:
"We currently have a petition in the in the Scottish Parliament to allow same sex couples to have a civil marriage or religious marriage if the relevant religious institution consents.
http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=301
Anyone can sign."
So click on that link and sign it!
Gay Marriage Watch:
Now on to this week's Gay Marriage Watch. The blog is now organized almost entirely by area, with news of the week, upcoming marriage equality events, and great recent articles and columns. For a longer history of past news stories, 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.
Woody Award:
This week's woody award goes to Jay Graham, a letter writer in Casper, WY. Lets see how many right-wing talking points he can get in:
First: Bill Ackerley's Jan. 25 letter said it: socialism is not for Americans, but it is coming under Obama-Pelosi
Of course, so-called "gay marriage"
Anyone who advocates violence against homosexuals advocates evil, and homosexuals ought to be left to cohabit as they choose; but anyone who thinks normalizing deviance
Powell asks, "What would Jesus do?" Of course, He would follow the laws written clearly in the book He and the Father wrote!
Looks like a new record... 11 in four short paragraphs. It would be funny if it wasn't so misguided, mean-spirited, and sad. Enjoy your woody, Mister Graham.
Enjoy the rest of the Watch, everyone else!
--Scott
----------------------------------------------
AUSTRIA:
--news-->
2/1: Pope Benedict XVI has promoted an anti-gay pastor in Austria to bishop, the second controversial appointment this week, the BBC reports. Source
----------------------------------------------
--news-->
2/2: The bishops of the diocese of Toronto are proposing that “a limited number of parishes” be given episcopal permission to offer prayers and blessing “but not the nuptial blessing” to same-sex couples “in stable, long-term, committed relationships.” Source
----------------------------------------------
FINLAND:
--news-->
2/5: A precedent-setting court ruling declares that a marriage becomes void if one person is transsexual and applies for an official change of gender. In a decision likely to anger the gay community, the court said that marriage only applies to unions between men and women. Source
----------------------------------------------
NIGERIA:
--news-->
2/2: Lawmakers in Nigeria are being urged to reject a bill in the Assembly that stretches beyond defining marriage as a heterosexual union to criminalizing gay unions. Source
----------------------------------------------
PORTUGAL:
--news-->
2/1: The leader of Portugal’s ruling Socialist Party, Jose Socrates, has announced that he support gay marriage. Source
----------------------------------------------
SWEDEN:
--news-->
2/2: Three of the four parties in the ruling government coalition have joined forces to legalise gay marriage by May 1st. Source
----------------------------------------------
USA:
--news-->
1/30: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey signaled action, ambition and inclusion in her "State of the Movement" speech at the 21st annual Creating Change conference in Denver on Friday. Source
2/2:
--The Human Rights Campaign Foundation released a comprehensive state-by-state report detailing LGBT-related legislation in 2008 and what is expected for 2009. Source
--Presbyterian churches are voting over the next few months on a resolution to allow the ordination of gay clergy in the church. Source
2/3:
--The Republican Party will continue to support a gay marriage banaccording to Michael Steele, the new party chairman. Source
--USA Network, the most-viewed cable channel during primetime last year, has launched a public affairs campaign that backs gay marriage and asks viewers to go online and sign a tolerance pledge. Source
2/6:
--ABC's All My Children is planning to walk down the aisle on February 13th and 16th with a wedding to remember, the first gay nuptials in daytime television's history. Source
--The Episcopal Church is considering blessing same-gender relationships, especially in states that grant some legal status to those relationships. Source
2/7:
--Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is one of the first in Hollywood to start wearing a white ribbon as a show of same-sex solidarity. Source
--Gay and lesbian spouses of federal employees are entitled to receive the same health coverage and other benefits as traditional straight couples, a federal judge ruled. Source
--upcoming events-->
2/12: On National Freedom to Marry Day, Thursday, February 12, 2009, at local marriage counters in cities all over the country, same-sex couples will request marriage licenses at their local County Clerk's Offices to raise awareness of the harms and impact that the inability to marry causes on their families. More Info
2/13: Every college campus in the USA and beyond leave your classes but show up to school! We will all together express our desire to support equality for all humans. More Info (Facebook Login Required)
--articles-->
Rulings on gay couples' benefits question Defense of Marriage Act, by Carol J. Willias Source
Legislators Rush To The Gay Marriage Altar, by Carlos Santoscoy Source
Shutting the closet door to gay rights, by Dallas Harris Source
Religious interference with state ballot proposals, by Bob Ciaffone Source
Satire: The Case for Banning Heterosexual Marriage, by Diana Hartman Source
----------------------------------------------
USA, CALIFORNIA:
--news-->
1/31: About 40 members of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus received a warm welcome at their Saturday sing-out at the Vallejo farmers market. Source
2/3:
--The Sacramento City Council voted Tuesday afternoon to join other California cities in supporting the position that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. Source
--The California Supreme Court announced that it will hear oral arguments on the legality of the state's gay marriage ban on March 5. Source
2/4: Acting on advice from the National Football League, a Los Angeles TV station refused to run an ad promoting same-sex marriage during the Super Bowl. Source
--upcoming events-->
2/14: Help a Sister Out benefit for lesbian Richmond rape victim - Sacramento More Info
2/16: Huge Statewide Rally at State Capitol Building, Sacramento More Info
2/17: 2009 Marriage Lobby Day in Sacramento More Info
2/25-2/29: One Struggle One Fight's march from San Francisco to Sacramento More Info
3/5: The state Supreme Court has scheduled a March 5 hearing date for oral arguments in a series of lawsuits seeking to overturn Proposition 8. Source
4/20: Queer Youth Advocacy Day, State Capitol, Sacramento More Info
5/30: Statewide Rally at Capitol Building to Kick off Pride, Sacramento, More Info
--articles-->
Same-sex marriage in the hands of seven justices, by Brent Begin Source
Bans on same-sex marriage won’t stand, expert says, by Dante Mozie Source
Bans on same-sex marriage won’t stand, expert says, by Dante Mozie
Life after 8 - one mom's thoughts on family, by Amanda8 Source
----------------------------------------------
USA, COLORADO:
--news-->
2/3: New information released this week by the California Secretary of State shows that Focus on the Family gave $657,000 in money and services to support a 2008 California ballot initiative against a court ruling allowing gay marriage. Source
2/5: A state Senate committee in Colorado is facing opposition to a new plan to extend health insurance benefits to the gay and lesbian partners of state employees from Focus on the Family. Source
----------------------------------------------
USA, FLORIDA:
--news-->
2/3: The Florida Bar's board of governors voted unanimously to file an amicus brief before the 3rd District Court of Appeal supporting a Miami-Dade circuit judge's ruling that declared unconstitutional the state's ban on gay adoptions. Source
2/5: Organizers of Winter Pride Tampa Bay this week canceled its annual gay festival, saying they were unable to raise enough money for the event. Source
2/6: A gay woman not allowed to visit her dying partner at Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2007 hopes a federal judge will allow her claims of emotional distress and negligence to go to trial. Source
--upcoming events-->
3/16: Rally in Tally: 11 am-2 pm, Tallahassee More Info
---------------------------------------------
USA, HAWAII:
--news-->
2/2: The Hawaii Legislature will hear a bill on 2/5 that would permit gay civil unions. Source
--articles-->
Civil Unions Reawaken Gay Marriage Divisions, by Gina Mangieri Source
---------------------------------------------
USA, IOWA:
--news-->
2/3: The Sioux City Council has gone on record as backing the definition of marriage as solely between a man and a woman. Source
---------------------------------------------
USA, LOUISIANA:
--news-->
2/5: A gay advocacy group says it fears Louisiana's marriage and family commission, which met for the first time Thursday, would work to restrict gay and lesbian rights to adopt children. Source
----------------------------------------------
USA, MAINE:
--events-->
2/15: The Family Research Council, based in Washington, D.C., has organized a Stand for Marriage Rally from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Augusta Civic Center. Source
--articles-->
Gay marriage supporters, opponents ready for fight, by Judy Harrison Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, MARYLAND:
--news-->
2/3:
--Gov. Martin O'Malley has proposed extending health care benefits to same-sex partners of state employees, fulfilling a campaign promise to gay-rights activists despite this year's strapped budget. Source
--State Senator Bryan Simonaire (R-Dis.t 31) says he will support moving the repeal of the death penalty out of committee, where it has been stalled for the past couple of years, if the committee also moves a constitutional ban on gay marriage out of committee. Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, MASSACHUSETTS:
--news-->
2/3: A lesbian couple who led the fight for gay marriage in Massachusetts has filed for divorce. Source
2/4: The Massachusetts legislature is considering a number of gay rights bills, including a transgender civil rights bill, bullying prevention, LGBT elder issues, pension benefits, and codifying the Goodridge decision into the Massachusetts General Laws. Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, MICHIGAN
--news-->
--2/4: John Corvino and Glenn Stanton debated gay marriage in front of about 150 Saginaw Valley State University students and faculty. Source
--articles-->
Marriage equality most important in states like Michigan, from Pride Source Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, NEW HAMPSHIRE
--news-->
2/4: Laws to repeal civil unions and ban gay marriage and to legalize gay marriage will be on the docket in hearings before the House Judiciary Committee on 2/5. Source
2/6: The U.S. Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop is supporting a bill to allow same-sex marriage in New Hampshire. Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, NEW JERSEY
--news-->
2/6: Gay marriages performed outside New Jersey are recognized in the state for the purpose of divorce, according to a ruling Friday by a judge deciding whether a lesbian couple married in Canada can split. Source
--events-->
2/28: Garden State Equality's 2009 Legends Dinner will include Andrea McArdle, the original Annie who has done sold-out concerts across the world, Fran Drescher, Ugly Betty's Judith Light, Star Trek's George Takei, Queer As Folk's Michelle Clunie, Hairspray's Marc Shaiman, Movin' Out's Miche Braden, public service legends Jeannine LaRue, Steve Rothman and Christine Quinn in an evening you'll never forget. Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, NEW MEXICO:
--news-->
2/3: A domestic partnership bill on Monday fell short of the votes it needed to clear a state Senate committee. Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, NEW YORK:
--news-->
2/4:
--Artist Maureen Mullarkey, known in the gay community for paintings depicting drag queens and scenes inspired by gay pride parades, doated $1,000 to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. Source
--Recognizing the validity of a same-sex marriage between New Yorkers contracted in Canada, a Manhattan surrogate has ruled that a man is entitled to inherit the entire estate of his deceased male partner. Source
2/6: A reader who lives in Sen. John Flanagan's district (2nd SD, Long Island) reported that he received a phone call at home earlier this week from a pollster seeking his opinion on gay marriage and the Republican lawmaker. Source
--articles-->
Gay Marriage In New York Unlikely in '09 or '10, by Ryan J. Davis Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, OHIO:
--news-->
1/31: "Honk for Equality" signs plastered the corner of Fourth Avenue and High Street on Saturday as hundreds of people stood in the cold to rally for gay rights. Source
2/2: Clergy at a church are protesting Ohio’s ban on gay marriage by refusing to sign state marriage licenses for heterosexual couples. Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, RHODE ISLAND:
--events-->
2/12: Marriage Equality Rhode Island will host a rally at the Rhode Island State House, 82 Smith St., on Feb. 12. Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, TENNESSEE:
--news-->
2/4: A new bill, SB 0078, filed by State Senator Paul Stanley (R-Memphis) would dictate: “a minor may not be adopted if the individual seeking to adopt is cohabiting outside of a marriage that is valid under the constitution and laws of this state.” Source
----------------------------------------------
USA, UTAH:
--news-->
2/2: The Mormon church has revealed in a campaign filing that the church spent nearly $190,000 to help pass Proposition 8, the November ballot measure that banned gay marriage in California. Source
2/6:
--Hundreds gathered at Thanksgiving Point to hear the presentations from the conservative think tank against gay rights and gay marriage. Source
--A Utah lawmaker has decided not to try and change Utah's Constitutional Amendment 3, which states that marriage is between a man and a woman. Source
--articles-->
Legal experts question gay-rights foes' fears, by Rosemary Winters Source
--articles-->
Time to approve marriage equality, by Nan Dubin & Tony Masuck Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, WASHINGTON:
--news-->
2/5: In Olympia, the House held hearings on a bill to create domestic partnerships in the state. Source
--articles-->
Same-sex couples seek more rights, by Ashley Mitchell Source
Gay marriage, the incremental approach, by CR Douglas Source
----------------------------------------------
USA, WYOMING:
--news-->
2/6: The Wyoming House of Representatives voted down a bill on Friday that would have allowed state voters to decide whether to amend the state constitution to deny state recognition of same-sex marriages. Source
--articles-->
Let gay couples marry, by Chris Bacon Source
---------------------------------------------
fini
posted by Mark & Scott at
2/07/2009 09:05:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home