Gay Marriage Watch: March 8th-14th
Take Action:
Wanna make a difference for gay marrisge? Try Same Sex Kiss Day, a nationwide event to highlight glbt inequality on tax day, 4/15:
"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!"
Woody Award:
Our woody award this week goes to the jerk who carried a sign to the rallies outside the California Supreme Court saying "Dan White Hero Killing a Queer". This is so far beyond the pale, it's not even human. Shame on this horrible excuse for a human being who probably calls themselves a Christian.
Can you imagine the uproar if we had held up a sign saying... sayimg... hell, who on their side have we killed in the last 100 years?
Enjoy your woody, idiot.
Our runner-up: The Church of Nigeria, who filed this brief with the parliamentary committee considering a draconian criminalization of gay marriage (where "marriage" is defined as any two guys living together, where the happy couple gets 5 years in jail, and where any "witnesses" also go to jail for a year):
"Same sex marriage, apart from being ungodly, is unscriptural, unnatural, unprofitable, unhealthy, un-cultural, un-African and un-Nigerian. It is a perversion, a deviation and an aberration that is capable of engendering moral and social holocaust in this country. It is also capable of existincting [sic] mankind and as such should never be allowed to take root in Nigeria. Outlawing it is to ensure the continued existence of this nation. The need for doing this is urgent, compelling, and imperative."
Lovely, huh? No woody for you!
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
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--articles-->
The Story About Gay Marriage in Canada: There is No Story, by Kilian Melloy Source
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CHILE:
--news-->
Chile: A Sliver of Transformation, by Matthew Link Source
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CHINA:
--news-->
China's Quiet Gay Revolution, by Japhy Grant Source
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ISRAEL:
--articles-->
Gay Israeli couple wins adoption, by the AP Source
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NIGERIA:
--news-->
3/12: Nigerian human rights groups and gay activists are outraged by a bid to introduce legislation which would criminalise gay marriage, claiming it would violate their fundamental rights. Source
3/13: The Church of Nigeria is urging that a proposed new anti-gay marriage bill be changed to increase the penalty to 5 years, and to include a year in jail for any witnesses to such a union. Source
--articles-->
Homosexuals storm House to oppose Anti-gay Bill, by James Ojo & Oluwole Akinboyewa Source
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UGANDA:
--news-->
3/11: Scott Lively president of "Defend the Family", a group on the Southern Poverty Law Center's list of hate groups, is working in Uganda to "to equip Ugandans with information and skills to fight what it calls spiraling promotion of homosexuality in the country." Source
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--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
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USA:
--news-->
3/12: The 2010 Census will not ask respondents about their sexual orientation, and households with same-sex couples married by law must still be defined as “unmarried partners," reports the Long Beach Press-Telegram. 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: Annual event on the 40th anniversary of Stonewall in all 50 states. More Info
--articles-->
Christians Attack "Gay Agenda" in PC Game, by Mike Grace Source
Obama Faces Choices Regarding Gay and Lesbian Federal Workers’ Rights, by Kilian Melloy Source
DOMA suit draws praise, criticism, by Joe Siegel Source
The Fight to Let Gay Foreigners Stay In the U.S. With Their Spouses, by David Hauslaib Source
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USA, ARKANSAS:
--news-->
3/9: A judge has ruled that that a lawsuit challenging an Arkansas law banning unmarried couples from becoming foster or adoptive parents can proceed - and that the conservative group behind the measure can present arguments in the case. Source
3/13: State Rep. Bryan King introduced a bill to stop the City of Eureka Springs from issuing certificates under its Domestic Partnership Registry. Source
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USA, CALIFORNIA:
--news-->
3/9: The San Francisco Archbishhop who invited Mormon involvement in California’s Proposition 8 campaign intervened in the staging of a play with gay themes that had been scheduled for a performance at a Castro district Catholic church. Source
3/9: Reports are surfacing that the No on 8 campaign neglected to use a letter from Barack Obama saying that he was opposed to Prop 8. Source
3/10: A new field poll of 761 registered voters shows 48 percent in favor of a constitutional amendment to allow same-sex marriages, with 47 percent opposing and 5 percent undecided. Source
3/11: A constitutional amendment initiative to replace the word "marriage" with "domestic partnership" under state law was cleared by Secretary of State Debra Bowen to gather petition signatures for a potential statewide ballot. Source
3/12: Republican San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders announced the engagement of his daughter Lisa and her girlfriend, Meaghan Yaple, at a large rally March 4. Source
--upcoming events-->
3/15: West Hollywood: Dining Out for Equality More Info
3/18: Sacramento: Free Seminar for Same Sex Married Couples & Registered Domestic Partners. Sacramento City Hall council chambers, 5:30-9 PM. More Info
3/21: Los Angeles: Always a Bridesmaid... A Rally on Behalf of Marriage Equality, 1-5 PM at LA City Hall. 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. RSVP 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: Cameron Park: First meeting of Marriage Equality USA-El Dorado County Chapter, at the Cameron Park library at 6:30 PM. RSVP Email
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. RSVP 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
4/20: Sacramento: Queer Youth Advocacy Day, State Capitol More Info
5/16-5/17: Long Beach: Pride More Info
5/30: Sacramento: Statewide Rally at Capitol Building to Kick off Pride More Info
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
10/7: Palm Springs: Equality Awards More Info
11/7-11/8: Palm Springs: Pride More Info
--articles-->
Prop. 8 backer claims Chronicle caused hate mail, by Carla Marinucci Source
Sacramento gay man who led straight life now urges others to confront their sexuality, by Ed Fletcher Source
Prop. 8 debate lofty and painful, by Marcos Breton Source
Prop 8 decision has global reach, by Kelvin Lynch Source
Gay, straight – it's marriage that counts, by Jill Duman Source
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USA, COLORADO:
--news-->
3/10: A Colorado House committee voted Tuesday afternoon to approve a bill that would extend health insurance benefits to same-sex domestic partners of state employees. Source
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USA, CONNECTICUT:
--news-->
3/12: The General Assembly’s judiciary committee is considering a bill that would remove gender references in current state laws and transform same-sex civil unions into legally recognized marriages as of October 2010. The bill was the subject of a committee hearing Friday. Source
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3/16: Tallahassee: Rally in Tally: 11 am-2 pm. Where to Stay More Info
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--news-->
3/9: About 2,000 civil union supporters rallied in downtown Honolulu on Saturday, urging lawmakers to grant gay partners the same benefits as married couples. Source
3/9: Hawaii senators who had vowed to rescue a stranded gay civil unions bill from a deadlocked committee and pass it this legislative session have begun to backpeddle. Source
3/12:Hawaiian churches are using copies of a report issued by Brian Camenker of MassResistance, an anti-gay group fighting gay marriage in Massachusetts, to try to block civil unions in Hawaii. The report, "What Same-Sex ’Marriage’ Has Done to Massachusetts", makes many false claims, including that cases of HIV/AIDS increased in Massachusetts after gay marriage was legalized there. Source
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USA, ILLINOIS:--news-->
3/9: A bill to grant gay and lesbian couples in Illinois, US, the right to civil unions will proceed to the House floor for a vote. Source
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USA, IOWA:
--news-->
3/13: Legislation that would make marriage gender neutral in Iowa appeared dead Friday after it was stripped from the list of measures to be take up by lawmakers this session. Source
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USA, KENTUCKY:--news-->
3/12: A governing body of the Presbyterian Church (USA) for the Kentucky region voted on Tuesday to overturn a national ban on gay ministers. Source
3/12: A measure that would ban unmarried couples from adopting children or becoming foster parents in Kentucky, Senate Bill 68 (SB 68), was passed by the Kentucky Senate Judiciary Committee and sent to the full Senate. Source
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USA, MAINE:
--articles-->
3/12: The author of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Maine says more than 60 legislators from both parties have signed on as co-sponsors. Source
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USA, MARYLAND:
--news-->
3/12: One bill heard before the committee would open the door to the recognition of same-sex marriages in the state by amending Maryland's current statute to apply to any two individuals not otherwise prohibited by law. A second bill called for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as being between a man and a woman. Marylanders would vote on the issue in the November 2010 general election. Source
3/13: A freedom rider, a former Republican congressman and the state's chief legal officer banded together yesterday to testify in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage in Maryland - evidence that proponents say shows the issue is gaining momentum. Source
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USA, NEVADA
--news-->
3/13: Reversing an earlier decision, the Incline Village General Improvement District Board of Trustees reinstated health benefits for domestic partners of district employees in a 4-1 vote Wednesday night. Source
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USA, NEW YORK:--upcoming events-->
4/24-26: Utica: 2009 Pride and Joy Families Weekend Conference to be held April 24-26. More Info
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
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USA, NORTH DAKOTA:
--news-->
3/12: Senate Bill 2278, initiated by North Dakota Sen. Tom Fiebiger, would amend the state’s policy on discrimination, expanding the policy to include the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Source
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--news-->
3/12: A state House committee narrowly passed a bill Wednesday that, if enacted, would extend the same anti-discrimination protections to gay men and women that have long been the law for racial, ethnic and religious minorities. 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
USA, TEXAS:
--upcoming events-->
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
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USA, UTAH:
--news-->
3/11: The Sundance Film Festival will now be headed by a gay man: John Cooper. Source
--articles-->
Common Ground bills fail to make it out of committee, by Carole Mikita Source
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USA, VERMONT:
--news-->
3/11: 182 members of Vermont's clergy have signed on to a declaration in support of same-sex marriage. Source
3/11: The Vermont chapters of four national mental health organizations say the best research suggests a range of benefits to children of same-sex parents granted equal access to civil marriage under state law. Source
3/13: Vermont's Republican Gov. Jim Douglas urged state lawmakers to focus exclusively on job creation and economic growth in the final weeks of their session. Douglas said there is no time for "divisive issues" like same-sex marriage this spring. Source
--articles-->
Vt. gay marriage bill backers shouting louder, from the AP Source
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USA, VIRGINIA:
--news-->
3/12: A Virginia woman is continuing her lengthy battle to deny child-visitation rights to her former lesbian partner. Source
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USA, WASHINGTON:
--news-->
3/11: Same-sex domestic partners would have all of the rights and benefits that Washington offers married couples under a measure passed by the state Senate. Source
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USA, WASHINGTON, DC:
--news-->
3/12: Volunteers with D.C. for Marriage met at the D.C. Center late last week to outline early strategies for engaging churches, universities and the black community in conversations about gay marriage in anticipation of a bill expected before the D.C. Council later this year. Source
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USA, WEST VIRGINIA:
--news-->
3/12: Arguments began, Wednesday, in a lesbian couple's appeal to adopt a 15-month-old child temporarily placed under their foster care after her biological parents' custody rights were terminated. Source
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USA, WISCONSIN:
--news-->
Drop in religion signals changed political scene, by Sam Clegg Source
Lift Ban on Gay Marriage, by Chris Walker Source
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fini
posted by Mark & Scott at
3/15/2009 06:54:00 PM
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