Gay Marriage Watch : March 15th-21st
Mister Franco, you are my hero.
Take Action:
Organize a Day of Decision protest for your city - everyone needs to come out and celebrate (or protest) after the California Supreme Court rules on Prop 8. Find all the info here.
Woody Award:
Our woody award this week goes to Joan Johnson, a letter writer in Hawaii who shares these wonderful sentiments:
"Since they can't procreate, all kinds of false ways have to be found, including taking other folks' children by indoctrination to fill their minority ranks."
Lovely - the old "coming for your children" argument.
"The homosexual lifestyle is miserable, shortens life, and invites disease, loneliness and weirdness."
I love the last one. Weirdness. As if Disease, sadness and a short lifespan weren't enough, I gotta worry about weirdness? Why was I never told???
And finally:
"Yes, homosexuals want what the rest of us have, but they have chosen to try to destroy what we have since they have convinced themselves they can't ever have it rather than admit they need help and change."
Oh yes, we want what you have... quickie divorces, a 50% failure rate, and hatred of anything new and different. Don't kid yourself, Miss Johnson - and enjoy your woody.
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.
Enjoy the rest of the Watch!
--Scott
----------------------------------------------
--articles-->
--Debate over gay marriage heats up, by Rachel Cook Source
----------------------------------------------
CHINA:
--articles-->
--Expert: Chinese society's demand for marriage may be helping the spread of AIDS, by Xiong Tong Source
----------------------------------------------
DENMARK:
--articles-->
3/20: Denmark’s Parliament has passed legislation allowing same-sex couples to adopt children. The bill puts gay and lesbian couples on the same footing as opposite-sex couples. Source
----------------------------------------------
NIGERIA:
--news-->
3/16: A group of gay activists stormed the National Assembly complex in Abuja to demand legislation to protect their interests. Source
3/18: The chief Imam of Damaturu Central Mosque, Ustaz Hudu Muhammad, has chided members of the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Human Rights, Women Affairs and Justice for giving an opportunity to the openly gay people last Wednesday to justify their "gory act" of seeking for a law that would allow same-sex marriage. Source
----------------------------------------------
--news-->
3/18: The Scottish Parliament was asked yesterday to review the Marriage Act with regard to gay marriage. A request from the Public Petitions committee has asked MSPs to reexamine the act and detail any reasons for refusing to amend it. Source
--upcoming events-->
10/4: Cardiff: Gay wedding show. More Info
10/18: Manchester: Gay wedding show. More Info
11/15: Brighton: Gay wedding show. More Info
----------------------------------------------
USA:
--news-->
3/16: The recently passed $676-billion omnibus spending bill includes language urging the federal government’s Office of Personnel Management to "consider" federal health benefits for same-sex domestic partners of federal employees. Source
3/16: Even if all of the states in the U.S. legalize same-sex marriage, legal experts and religious leaders at a March 13 forum agreed religions will not be forced to perform gay wedding ceremonies. Source
3/19: The United States, in a reversal of Bush administration policy, has decided to sign on to a U.N. declaration that calls for the decriminalization of homosexuality, the State Department said on Wednesday. Source
3/19: The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today launched a website to confront right-wing lies and distortions repeatedly used to defeat LGBT equality measures. EndtheLies.org will counteract these mistruths with respectful dialogue and grassroots action. Source
3/19: The Uniting American Families Act would allow gay and lesbian Americans and permanent residents to sponsor their foreign-born partners for legal residency in the United States. Source
3/20: M. John Berry, President Barack Obama’s choice to head the Office of Personnel Management, supports benefits for same-sex partners of federal workers and a repeal of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. While his nomination has roused special interest groups, it hasn’t drawn public criticism on Capitol Hill. Berry is openly gay. Source
3/20: Sen. John Kerry has asked Attorney General Eric Holder to grant asylum to a gay man married in Massachusetts who was deported despite his rape in Brazil. Source
3/20: On Tuesday, the conservative site World Net Daily News took Merriam-Webster to task for redefining marriage to include same-sex couples, even though publishers made the change in 2003. Source
--upcoming events-->
4/15: Same Sex Kiss Day: Show up at a Starbucks on Tax Day at 7:15 AM, 12:15 PM, 5:15 PM, or 8:15 PM , buy a cuppa joe, then share a kiss with your sweetie, or a friend, or even a long-time crush! More Info
6/28: Million Gay March: Annual event on the 40th anniversary of Stonewall in all 50 states. More Info
Day of Decision: Rallies country-wide on the day of the CA Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. More Info
--articles-->
--Catholic bishops revealed as key in marriage battle, by Dan Aiello Source --Same sex marriage a civil right, by Kevin Welsh Source --A Push to Count Same-Sex Couples in Census, by Sewell Chan Source --Courts must act regarding gay marriage, by Estrich Source
----------------------------------------------
USA, ARIZONA:
--news-->
3/18: A 14-year-old Peoria student says he was ordered by a principal to turn his rainbow wristband inside-out or stop wearing it to school. Source
--upcoming events-->
6/27-6/29: Driving Equality Arizona, 12 AM 6/27 to 11 AM 6/29. Contact Email
----------------------------------------------
USA, CALIFORNIA:
--news-->
3/16: Copies of an online petition electronically signed by 46,000 people has been hand-delivered to the Washington, DC offices of Kirkland & Ellis where Ken Starr is counsel. Source
3/18: Members of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists are urging the state organization to come out against Proposition 8. Source
3/20: Jam DeMaio, an out gay Republican San Diego City Council member, refuses to answer press questions about whether or not he supports Proposition 8. Source
3/20: Equality California, one of the lead groups in the failed campaign to fight off Prop 8 last year, is trying to remake itself by bringing in Marc Solomon, the executive director of MassEquality, the Massachusetts group that preserved a court decision opening marriage to gay couples from facing a referendum. Source
3/20: Sponsors of a ballot measure to repeal the ban on same sex marriage got the go ahead to start collecting signatures. A group called "Yes on Equality" needs 700,000 signatures by August 17th to get the initiative on the ballot in 2010. The initiative would not only repeal the amendment that defines marriage as only occurring between a man and a woman. It also states that same sex marriage will not affect any school curriculum or force anyone to perform a service that is against their religious beliefs. Source
--upcoming events-->
3/22: Los Angeles: Youth Today: Walking For Equality: This Event is for High School LGBT Youth and Supporters. For Youth by Youth. March Against homophobia, discrimination, abuse, forced homelessness of queer youth and for marriage equality. 12-3 PM, meet at Gold Line Train Station, ent at LA City Hall. More Info
3/23: Courage Campaign hosts a conference call with CA Attorney General Jerry Brown at 7PM. More Info
3/26: San Jose: Courage campaign voter canvassing, 1-5 PM. More Info
3/24: San Francisco: One Struggle, One Fight march from San Francisco to Sacramento kicks off with a rally at San Francisco City Hall, 12:30 PM-1 PM. More Info
3/25-3/29: One Struggle One Fight's March from San Francisco-Sacramento. Itinerary More Info
3/27-3/29: San Diego: 2009 Transgender Leadership Summit. More Info
3/28: Citrus Heights (Sacramento): Bowling Team to raise money for youth in foster care - building bridges for the glbt community, 1-4:30. Contact Email
3/29: San Francisco: The hear+art proposition will close this historic month with an afternoon of art, story, and performance given by folks who are engaged in either honoring or questioning traditional notions of love, union, sexuality and intimacy, 4-9 PM, 111 Minna Gallery. More Info
3/30: Sacramento: One Struggle One Fight rally at the California Capitor Building, 2-5 PM. Source
3/30: Cameron Park: First meeting of Marriage Equality USA-El Dorado County Chapter, at the Cameron Park library at 6:30 PM. Contact Email
4/1: Los Angeles: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center. More Info
4/2: San Diego: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at the San Diego LGBT Community Center. More Info
4/3: Palm Springs: At this special reception, contact elected officials about LGBT supportive legislation while having fun before Margaret Cho's show opens at the Dinah! 5:30 to 7:30 p.m, Sidebar and Patio Lounge. Contact Email
4/3: Placerville: An Evening with Blame Sally, A Concert to Benefit Equality California, Come Celebrate & Support Marriage Equality. 8 PM, Placerville Shakespeare Club. More Info
4/4: Palm Springs: EQCA/NCLR Dinah Brunch, Join Kate Kendell and Geoff Kors at Dinah Shore for our annual brunch, 11 am-1 pm. $100. RSVP Email
4/4: Berkeley: Case Study: Marriage Equality, UC Berkeley, 3 PM. More Info
4/4: Mountain View: Courage Campaign voter canvassing, 1-5 PM. More Info
4/4: Irvine: Courage campaign voter canvassing, 10 AM-2 PM. More Info
4/5: Delano: Courage Campaign march for immigrant rights - bridge building with the immigrant community. 10 AM at Cesar Chavez Park. More Info
4/9: Santa Barbara: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at Pacific Pride Foundation. More Info
4/16: Fresno: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at the Fresno City College Diversity Club. More Info
4/16: San Francisco: A Necessary Evil (Special Presentation), A new play by John Fisher, a mother and son in a battle of wills, a lover caught in between. a play about how Proposition 8 threatens to destroy one family, at Theater Rhinoceros, 8-10 PM. More Info
4/18-4/19: San Diego: The Human Rights Campaign is sponsoring a two-day training to provide grassroots activists hands-on skills to organize their communities on marriage equality for same-sex couples. More Info
4/20: Sacramento: Queer Youth Advocacy Day, State Capitol More Info
4/21: Sacramento: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at The Center OC. More Info
5/7: Orange County: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at Pacific Pride Foundation. More Info
5/16-5/17: Long Beach: Pride More Info
5/18: Sacramento: EQCA Equality Awards at the Sheraton Grand, VOP Reception 5 PM, General Reception 5:30 PM-7 PM. Source
5/22: Statewide: Harvey Milk Day. More Info
5/30: Sacramento: Statewide Rally at Capitol Building to Kick off Pride More Info
5/31-6/6: Across California: AIDS Life Cycle - Team Marriage Equality. Contact Email
6/12-6/14: Los Angeles: Pride More Info
6/27-6/28: San Francisco: Pride More Info
7/9-7/19: Los Angeles: Outfest is the oldest continuous film festival in Southern California. Since its founding in 1982, Outfest has presented more than 4,500 films and videos for audiences of over half a million people. More Info
7/18-7/19: San Diego: Pride More Info
8/1: Los Angeles: Equality Awards. More Info
10/17: Palm Springs: Equality Awards More Info
11/7-11/8: Palm Springs: Pride More Info
Day of Decision: Fresno: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source
Day of Decision: Long Beach: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source
Day of Decision: Los Angeles/West Hollywood: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source
Day of Decision: Rancho Cucamonga: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source
Day of Decision: San Diego: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source
Day of Decision: San Francisco: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source
Every Monday: Los Angeles: LA Equal Roots Meeting. More Info
--articles-->
--We may govern ourselves very unwisely, by Michael Sulluvan Source --Prop. 8: Tyranny of the Majority, by Byron Williams Source --If marriage ban is upheld, what--and who--is next?, by Roger Brigham Source --Winning By Losing On Prop. 8, by Jeff Amestoy Source
----------------------------------------------
USA, CONNECTICUT:
--articles-->
--Holy War, by Andy Bromage Source
----------------------------------------------
USA, DELAWARE:
--news-->
3/20: Sen. Robert Venables, D-Laurel, has scheduled Senate Bill 27, a constitutional amendment that would make heterosexual marriage the only type allowed or recognized by the state, to come before the Senate Small Business Committee. Source
--upcoming events-->
3/25: Dover: Hearing on gay marriage ban scheduled for 1 p.m. on March 25 in the Senate Chambers. More Info
----------------------------------------------
--news-->
--Q and A with lawmaker on gay marriage chances in Illinois, by Dante Mozie Source
--upcoming events-->
Day of Decision: Chicago: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source
---------------------------------------------
USA, IOWA:
--news-->
3/17: State Reps. Dwayne Alons, R-Hull, and Dolores Mertz, D-Ottosen, have proposed a bill to amend Iowa’s Constitution and define marriage as being between a man and a woman. It was introduced in response to another bill making Iowa’s marriage laws gender neutral by removing the words “husband” and “wife” and replacing them with “spouse.” Source
---------------------------------------------
USA, MAINE:
--news-->
3/17: A coalition of clergy members who support gay marriage in Maine attempted to persuade lawmakers at a meeting Tuesday, the day the Senate referred the bill to a committee. Source
--upcoming events-->
3/22: Belfast: "Just Married! (the Musical)" with Jon Arterton and James Mack will be presented 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 22, in the sanctuary of Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller St. Suggested donation is $10, but the sponsors emphasize that that suggestion should not stop anyone who wants to from coming to the show. More Info
---------------------------------------------
USA, MARYLAND:
--news-->
3/20: Time is running out for Maryland lawmakers to advance two key bills — one barring anti-transgender discrimination and another enacting marriage rights for same-sex couples. Source
---------------------------------------------
USA, MASSACHUSETTS:
--news-->
3/20: Five members of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), an anti-gay church based in Topeka, Kansas, were met with chants of "Hey hey, ho ho, homophobia has got to go," by a crowd of HLS students who gathered to protest WBC's message of hate outside Gannett House, the historic home of the Harvard Law Review. Source
---------------------------------------------
USA, MINNESOTA:
--news-->
3/17: The Minnesota Family Council kicked off its campaign to get an amendment added to the state constitution to ban any marriage that isn't between a man and a woman. Source
---------------------------------------------
USA, NEVADA
--news-->
3/17: A state Senate bill would provide a level playing field for gay couples and married couples. Source
---------------------------------------------
USA, NEW HAMPSHIRE
--news-->
3/19: The House Judiciary Committee voted 10-10 on a bill that would make the state the third one to allow same-sex couples to marry. Source
--upcoming events-->3/23-3/27: New Hampshire lawmakers will vote next week on two LGBT rights bills - one that would allow same-sex couples to marry and one extending the state’s human rights laws to include protections for transpeople. More Info
---------------------------------------------
USA, NEW JERSEY
--news-->
3/19: Garden State Equality Chair Steven Goldstein said he expects legislators will pass a marriage bill this year. Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, NEW YORK:--upcoming events-->
4/24-26: Utica: 2009 Pride and Joy Families Weekend Conference to be held April 24-26. More Info
4/25: Goshen: Rally for Marriage Equality, 2-4 PM at Church Park, Contact Email
4/28: Albany: Equality & Justice Day, 6 am-8 PM, Albany Legislative Buildings Contact Email
5/9: New York: 7:30pm, Off Center will present "Are We Tying the Knot Too Tight?: Gains and Losses in the Rush to Normalcy." This moderated panel will address some of the issues the LGBT community faces when dealing with whether and how to support the movement for same-sex marriage. More Info
9/9: Brooklyn: Family Law Day, In Conjunction with Lavender Law 2009, Brooklyn, NY, Co-sponsored by the National Lesbian & Gay Law Association and the National Family Law Advisory Council of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. More Info
Day of Decision: Albany: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, NORTH CAROLINA:
--news-->
3/21: Durham City Council has agreed to consider a resolution supporting same-sex marriage. Source
--upcoming events-->
4/9: Durham: city attorney Patrick Baker will present a recommendation on the gay marriage resolution to the council April 9. More Info
-----------------------------------------------
--news-->
3/18: Hundreds of people, many waving signs and singing civil-rights-era protest songs, filled the Capitol Rotunda yesterday to call for legislation to end discrimination based on sexual orientation. Source
--upcoming events-->
4/27-5/3: Philadelphia: Equality Forum celebrates international gay culture and politics with parties and educational events made possible by more than 75 regional, national and international organizations. More Info
5/3: Philadelphia: National Equality Rally at Independence Hall More Info
5/15-5/17: New Hope: Pride More Info
6/14: Philadelphia: Pride More Info
-----------------------------------------------
USA, TENNESSEE:
--news-->
3/19: Tennessee lawmakers have put off voting on a bill that would bar elementary schools from “any instruction or materials discussing sexual orientation other than heterosexuality.” Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, TEXAS:
--upcoming events-->
3/25: Dallas: Kate Kendall, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, headquartered in California, will be the keynote speaker at the North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce’s fourth anniversary dinner and Business Excellence Awards program. The event, being hosted by Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, 5410 LBJ Freeway, begins with cocktails and networking at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the program from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 for general admission and $65 for chamber members and guests. Source
Day of Decision: Dallas: Queer Liberaction, a local direct action group organized in the wake of Prop 8’s passage last November, is already planning to hold a rally at 7 p.m. at the intersection of Cedar Springs Road and Oak Lawn Avenue on the “Day of Decision.”, when the CA Supreme Court announces their decision. More Info
Day of Decision: San Antonio: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source
Ongoing: Dallas: Queer Liberaction meetings, 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at Buli Cafe, located at 3908 Cedar Springs. Meetings start at 7 pm. More Info
----------------------------------------------
USA, UTAH:
--news-->
3/20: A California group is urging election authorities to widen a probe into whether the LDS Church failed to report the full extent of its financial involvement last year in supporting a successful ban on same-sex marriage. Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, VERMONT:
--news-->
3/16: Hundreds of Vermonters flooded the Statehouse to protest legislation that would allow same-sex couples to get married. Source
3/20: A state Senate committee unanimously approved a gay marriage bill on Friday, moving Vermont one step closer to allowing same-sex couples to legally wed. Source
--upcoming events-->
3/23-3/27: The Senate is expected to debate a gay marriage bill next week that could make Vermont the third U.S. state that allows same-sex couples to legally wed. More Info
--articles-->
--Gay Marriage Debate Draw, by Kristin Carlson Source --Religious Leaders Split On Marriage Bill, WPTZ TV Source
-----------------------------------------------
USA, WEST VIRGINIA:
--news-->
3/19: The West Virginia Senate passed a bill banning discrimination in housing or employment based on sexual orientation, with members delivering impassioned speeches on the floor. Source
3/20: The Family Policy Council of West Virginia, a conservative Christian group opposing an LGBT equality bill and pressing for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage has been accused of trying to intimidate two West Virginia lawmakers. Source
-----------------------------------------------
fini
posted by Mark & Scott at
3/22/2009 07:15:00 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home