Gay Marriage Watch: April 26th-May 2nd

Here's the latest news on gay marriage from around the world. Our favorite thing this week? Gay and lesbian couples getting married in Iowa and Sweden. :) Take Action: From Equality California: he thousands of married same-sex couples living in California have a special—and unprecedented—role to play in the movement forward. Never before has there been a group like this. We just have to find them. As I’ve traveled the state attending town halls, I’ve heard from many married couples who feel a special responsibility to speak out and share their stories with their fellow Californians. We’re launching a project to identify and organize the married couples across the state, and we need your help. If you and your spouse, your friends, or family members are one of the thousands of same-sex married couples living in California, please sign up for our Married Couples Project eqca.org/couples. Woody Award: Our woody award this week goes to "Doctor" Joseph Nicolosi, a "reparative therapy" practitioner ("I can make you straight") who claims: "...that fact remains that if you traumatize a child in a particular way you will create a homosexual condition. If you do not traumatize a child, he will be heterosexual. If you do not traumatize a child in a particular way, he will be heterosexual. The nature of that trauma is an early attachment break during the bonding phase with the father." Lovely, huh? All the gay men who experienced traumatizing breaks with their fathers during the bonding phase, raise your hands. Now, everyone who "knew" they were different since they were self-aware?I thought so. These charlatans start from the basic premise that being gay is "wrong", and then proceed to try to fix it: "...the unspoken taboo is never to ask why a person is homosexual. A true intellectual inquiry always addresses causation." You have to wonder, if causation is so important, has "Doctor" Nicolosi ever asked himself what caused him to become straight? I'm happy, healthy, and gay, "Doctor" Nicolosi, and I don't need any help from you and your ilk. Enjoy your woody! Special notice goes to Perez Hilton for his Gavin Newsom moment, footage where he calls Miss California a "dumb b**tch", which is now being used by the National Organization for Marriage in a new commercial. Perez, we're with you in wishing more folks were pro-gay-marriage, but the way you handled this showed a total lack of class and a lack of understanding for the consequences of insulting our opponents without thinking. Your words make a more effective argument for the NOM folks than any gathering storm ever could. Fight for the cause, but please, think about what you're going to say before you say it. Side note: an online poll at gay.com shows that , as of this writing, 88% of respondents repudiate Perez and his comments about Miss California. 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. You can also now find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc Enjoy the rest of the Watch! --Scott ---------------------------------------------- AUSTRALIA: --news--> 4/28: Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd has rejected a proposal that civil unions should be offered to gay couples. Source ---------------------------------------------- BURUNDI: --news--> 4/27: Lawmakers in Burundi have passed, and its president has signed, a bill that makes being gay illegal in the African country. Source ---------------------------------------------- CANADA: --upcoming events--> Day of Decision: Vancouver: Gather at 6pm at Morton Park (corner of Davie Street and Denman Street). More Info ---------------------------------------------- EL SALVADOR: --news--> 4/30: After weeks of public debate and protest, El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly approved an amendment to the constitution to ban marriage between same-sex couples and same-sex couples’ ability to adopt a child. Source ---------------------------------------------- FRANCE: --articles--> 5/2: The French Government is set to follow several other European countries in recognising civil unions and legal partnerships. Source ---------------------------------------------- HUNGARY: --articles--> Is Hungary ready for same-sex unions? by Chiara Sassoli Source ---------------------------------------------- ICELAND: --news--> 4/26: Voters in Iceland have voted in their first gay prime minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir, in general elections Saturday, The New York Times reported Sunday. Source ---------------------------------------------- ISRAEL: --news--> 4/26: The 11th annual Tel Aviv Gay Pride parade this summer will feature an event organizers believe to be the first ever for such an event anywhere in the world and certainly in Israel - two weddings, one of a gay couple and one of a lesbian pair. Source ---------------------------------------------- SOUTH AFRICA: --news--> 5/2: A Tamil priest who conducted South Africa's first known gay wedding by Hindu rites has gone underground as upset community leaders slammed the elaborate wedding of two young men, complete with embossed invitations, outfits from India and one tying a necklace with a pendant of Lord Ganesha on his partner. Source ---------------------------------------------- SWEDEN: --news--> 5/1: --A gender-neutral marriage law in Sweden has come into force today, meaning gay couples can now marry in the country in religious or civil ceremonies. Source --A Swedish couple, Alf Karlsson and Johan Lundqvist, both local politicians for the Greens in the Uppsala region, were the first gay men married in Sweden. Source ---------------------------------------------- UNITED KINGDOM: --news--> 4/26: A celebrity, three drag queens and about 100 people of mixed background, ages, race, gender, beliefs, ability and sexual orientation protested a "gay cure" conference in London. 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--> 4/27: --Miss California, Carrie Prejean said she believes that people are not born gay, and she appealed to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to support her ?opinion ? that marriage is between a man and a woman. Source --Gretchen Rossi of Bravo's Real Housewives of Orange County on gay marriage: "I have a lot of dear friends within the community, and I think they're wonderful, great people," Gretchen Rossi told E! on Friday evening.. "They're the most talented, friendly, outgoing friends to have, so I think everybody should be OK with everybody having the same rights." Source -42% of Americans now say same sex couples should be allowed to legally marry, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds, up 9% from last month, when 33% supported it. 28% say same sex couples should have no legal recognition, down from 35% in March - while 25% support civil unions, but not marriage, for gay couples. Source 4/28: Howard Stern on gay marriage: "I was talking to someone recently and they said, 'Oh you have so many gay guests lately, the show is getting too gay.' OK -- first of all, we don't have that many gay guests. And my feeling about gay people is that we have a responsibility not only to make gay marriage acceptable and to make gays feel as accepted as heterosexuals, but that we have to hold gay people above all others." Source 4/30: --A new ABC/Washington Post Poll shows 49% support gay marriage versus 46% opposed -- the first time in ABC/Post polls that supporters have outnumbered opponents. Source --The National Organization for Marriage is running a new ad featuring Miss California, Carrie Prajean. Source --Online poll at gay.com shows 88% think Perez Hilton is a poor representative of the glbt community. Source --Perez Hilton has asked YouTube to remove the new NOM ad, claiming a copyright violation under the Digital Millenium Copyright Act. Source 5/1: The Victory Fund reports that lesbian Stanford Law School professor Kathleen Sullivan's name is being mentioned as a potential nominee to fill Souter's position on the SCOTUS. Source 5/3: United Methodist clergy cannot perform same-sex marriages or gay civil unions, even if their regional church district supports the idea, the denomination's high court ruled. Source --upcoming events--> --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--> Gay couples in 4 states have strange dual citizenship, by Ellen Goodman Source Dems: Opportunity as gay marriage acceptance grows, by Liz Sidoti Source Same Sex Marriage Holds Peril for GOP, by Adam Nagourey Source ---------------------------------------------- USA, CALIFORNIA: --news--> 4/29: --The passage of Proposition 8 sparked the creation of Prop 8: The Web Series, conceived by Benny & Rafi Fine (they’re brothers, not spouses). Source --Former Miss USA Shanna Moakler has shot a new advertisement blasting the ban on gay marriage in California. Source 4/30: Leaders of a Coachella Valley gay and lesbian political organization suspended its boycott Wednesday of four auto dealerships whose family member in Utah donated $100,000 to support the Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage. Source 5/3: 2008 Miss California Raquel Beezley joins campaign to overturn Prop 8. Source --upcoming events: northern california--> Auburn: Day of Decision: Gather at 5:30pm at the Placer County Courthouse (101 Maple Street). More Info ----------------------- Davis: Day of Decision: Gathering at Central Park at the new stage south of the carousel from 6-7:30pm. More Info ----------------------- Eureka: Day of Decision: Gather at Arcata plaza and County Courthouse in Eureka.  6PM. More Info ----------------------- Palo Alto: Day of Decision: Gather at Corner of El Camino Real and Embarcadero (across from Stanford University entrance at Galvez/El Camino).  11AM. More Info ----------------------- Sacramento: --5/18: EQCA Equality Awards at the Sheraton Grand, VOP Reception 5 PM, General Reception 5:30 PM-7 PM. Source --5/30: Statewide Rally at Capitol Building to Kick off Pride More Info --Day of Decision: Gather at 5:30pm at the Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center (1927 L Street, Midtown). More Info ----------------------- San Francisco: --6/27-6/28: San Francisco: Pride More Info --Day of Decision: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source ----------------------- San Jose: Day of Decision: Gathering at 5:30pm at the Billy de Frank LGBT Center at 938 The Alameda. For more information, contact Gloria Nieto at glorianieto@comcast.net or 6 PM, gather at Plaza de César Chávez  at S. Market St. and Park Ave. We will march to SJ City Hall at 200 E. Santa Clara St. for a rally. More Info ----------------------- Santa Clara: 5/9: Santa Clara: Equality Team Second Canvassing Event with Courage Campaign, 3:15 PM. More Info ----------------------- Santa Rosa: Day of Decision: Gathering on the steps of the Santa Rosa City Hall (100 Santa Rosa Avenue and corner of 1st Street) at 6pm. More Info --upcoming events: central california--> Bakersfield: --5/9: Walking Precincts for Gay Marriage! This is our second canvass, and we are looking forward to it! 9AM. More Info --Day of Decision: Gathering in three locations at 5pm. Rally location #1 - Mall View & Mt Vernon; Rally location #2 - Outback Steakhouse on Stocdale Hwy; or Rally location #3 at Rosedale and Coffee. More Info ----------------------- Delano: Day of Decision: Gather at Delano Cecil Park at 5:30pm. More Info ----------------------- Fresno: --5/3: Equality Team Second Canvassing Event with Courage Campaign, 3:15 PM. More Info --5/10: Equality Team Second Canvassing Event with Courage Campaign, 3:15 PM. More Info --5/17: Equality Team Second Canvassing Event with Courage Campaign, 3:15 PM. More Info --Day of Decision: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source --Every Monday: Meet in the Middle 4 Equality Planning Meeting, 6 PM, at the Wesley United Methodist Church. More Info ----------------------- Modesto: Day of Decision: Community gathering at 5:30 pm at Graceada Park, 401 Needham St. downtown Modesto. More Info ----------------------- Monterey: Day of Decision: Gather at 5pm at Colton Hall at 580 Pacific Street.  Event is co-sponsored by the Monterey County Chapter of Marriage Equality and Salinas Valley Equality.  More Info ----------------------- Salinas: Day of Decision: Gather at 4:30pm at the Monterey County  Courthouse at the corner of W. Alisal Street & Church Street.  Event is co-sponsored by Salinas Valley Equality and the Monterey County Chapter of Marriage Equality USA. More Info ----------------------- Visalia: Day of Decision: Gather at 6pm at the Tulare County Courthouse (221 S. Mooney Blvd). More Info --upcoming events: southern california--> Costa Mesa: Day of Decision: Gather at the Fairview Community Church, 2525 Fairveiw Road from 5:30 to 7 p.m. More Info ----------------------- Garden Grove: 5/7: Equality California Town Hall Meeting to discuss Prop 8 and the future of the movement, at Pacific Pride Foundation. More Info ----------------------- Long Beach: --5/16-5/17: Long Beach Pride More Info --Day of Decision: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. More Info ----------------------- Los Angeles --5/11-5/12: Divorce! The Musical will create two special reading presentations to benefit the Courage Campaign. These performances will take place at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre in Los Angeles and showcase a lesbian couple on Monday, May 11 and a gay couple on Tuesday, May 12. 100% of the proceeds will go toward the Courage Campaign's efforts to restore marriage equality. More Info --6/12-6/14: Los Angeles Pride More Info --7/9-7/19: 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 --8/1: Los Angeles Equality Awards. More Info --Day of Decision: Two Locations: Gathering in two locations at 6pm: Rally location #1 in Hollywood at 647 N San Vincente Boulevard (Santa Monica and San Vincente); Rally location #2 in Santa Monica Courthouse (1725 Main Street). More Info --Every Monday: LA Equal Roots Meeting. More Info ----------------------- Palm Springs: --10/17: Palm Springs Equality Awards More Info --11/7-11/8: Palm Springs Pride More Info ----------------------- Rancho Cucamonga: Day of Decision: Gathering at the corner of Day Creek and Foothill Boulevard at 7pm.  More Info ----------------------- San Diego: --7/18-7/19: San Diego Pride More Info --Day of Decision: Two Locations: Gather at 6pm at the Escondido City Hall (201 North Broadway) in Escondido; Gather at 5pm at Balboa Park (6th Ave & Laurel Street) in San Diego.Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. More Info ----------------------- San Luis Obispo: Day of Decision: Gather at 5:30pm at the City Hall Steps (990 Palm). More Info ----------------------- Santa Ana: Day of Decision: Gather at 6pm at the Old Orange County Courthouse (211 W. Santa Ana Blvd, Santa Ana). More Info ----------------------- San Diego: 5/3: Mama Bear Equality Team Canvass: Founded by progressive moms, the Mama Bear Alliance is a group of activists and parents working together to change the conversation about marriage equality. Meet at Mama Bear Headquarters, 6141 Romany Drive, San Diego, CA, 4-6 PM. More Info ----------------------- Ventura: Day of Decision: ather at 5:30pm at the Ventura County Government Center on the corner of Telephone Road and Victoria Avenue.  More Info ----------------------- West Hollywood: --5/9: The Teach-in will be a day-long event where participants will learn about our LGBTQ community's shared history, and connect with their LGBTQ predecessors through a series of break-out sessions, performances, and speakers, at Plummer Park, 9 AM-5:30 PM. More Info --Day of Decision: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. Source --upcoming events: statewide--> --5/22: Harvey Milk Day. More Info --5/31-6/6: AIDS Life Cycle - Team Marriage Equality. Contact Email --articles--> Same-sex marriage advocates brace for 'Day of Decision', by Scott Sabatini Source The Likely Effect of Proposition 8 (and it's not what you think), by Blueprnt Z Source States' same-sex marriage laws set precedent, by Rachel Draznin-Nagy Source ---------------------------------------------- USA, COLORADO: --news--> 4/28: A bill allowing partners of gay and lesbian state workers to get health insurance coverage is headed to the governor. Source --upcoming events--> --Day of Decision: Denver: Gather at the Wellington Webb Building (intersection of Colfax and 15th). More Info ---------------------------------------------- USA, FLORIDA: --upcoming events--> --Day of Decision: Tampa: Gather at 6:30pm at the Joe Chillura Courthouse (corners of Morgan, Kennedy, Pierce & Madison). More Info ---------------------------------------------- USA, GEORGIA: --upcoming events--> --Day of Decision: Atlanta: Gathering is being planned. More Info ---------------------------------------------- USA, GEORGIA: --upcoming events--> 5/21-5/24: Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival. More Info 5/29-5/30: Hilo: Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival showings on the Big Island. More Info --------------------------------------------- USA, ILLINOIS: --upcoming events--> --Day of Decision: Chicago: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. More Info --Day of Decision: Springfield: Gather at 5:30pm at the Illinois Supreme Court Building (202 E Capitol). More Info --------------------------------------------- USA, INDIANA: --upcoming events--> --Day of Decision: Indianapolis: Gather at City County Building - Corner of Washington and Delaware St. 2PM until nightfall. If you can't make it at 2PM, We will be there ALL DAY. Please join us as soon as you are done with Work or School. We need EVERYONE out in FORCE to make this a success!!! More Info --------------------------------------------- USA, IOWA: --news--> 4/26: --Monday morning all 99 counties in Iowa start processing applications for same sex marriages. Iowa normally requires a three day waiting period, but a judge can wave that rule. Last year a survey showed nearly 3,000 same-sex couples in Iowa would get married in the first three years after it became legal. Source --Melisa Keeton and Shelley Wolfe, the first lesbian couple in Des Moines's capitol city to marry, exchanged vows outside the Polk County Administration building before a swarm of friends, family and news crews. Source 4/27: --More than 380 same-sex couples ushered in a new chapter of Iowa history Monday when they applied for marriage licenses under a state Supreme Court ruling that gave them marital rights equal to those of heterosexuals. Source --Iowa Gov. Chet Culver today instructed county recorders to "follow the law," by granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples today even if the officials had personal objections to gay marriage. Source --More than 17,860 Iowans were reported to have signed petitions protesting gay marriage as of late this afternoon ? an unofficial number from county recorders that amounts to less than 1 percent of the state ?s population. Source --The Board of Supervisors in Jefferson County unanimously passed a resolution demanding a public vote on gay marriage. Source 4/28: There were no reports of county recorders denying marriage applications to gay couples in Iowa Monday. Source 5/1: --70% of likely Iowa voters surveyed said they preferred a candidate focused on economic and government management issues., not social issues. Only a quarter said they preferred a candifate who stressed gay marriage and abortion. Source --100 people protested gay marriage in Audubon, in Western Iowa. Source --Dozens of same-sex couples in neighboring states have sought marriage licenses in Iowa. Source --17 gay couples traveled from Missouri to Iowa to marry Friday. Source 5/3: The Des Moines Register's survey of county recorders offices indicates more than 450 same-sex couples sought marriage licenses last week. Source --articles--> Gay marriage's impact on Iowa politics unclear, by Mike Glover Source --------------------------------------------- USA, MAINE: --news--> 4/27: Maine-The Maine Legislature's Judiciary Committee is holding a work session today on the gay marriage bill. Source 4/28: The joint judiciary committee of the Legislature approved a bill to allow same-sex marriage in the state, setting the stage for the House and Senate to vote on it as soon as next week. Source 4/29: Most Christian denominations prohibit their clergy from officiating at same-sex wedding ceremonies, and no local pastors have said explicitly that they would perform them. Several have said they would not marry a same-sex couple. Source 4/30: The Maine Senate voted 21-14 to support a bill to allow gay marriage. The bill will be debated in the House Tuesday. Source 5/2: Michael Heath of the Maine Family Policy Council announced this week he will work to gather the signatures necessary for a people's veto of the gay-marriage bill. Source --upcoming events--> 5/5: The Maine House of Representatives will debate the gay marriage bill. Source --------------------------------------------- USA, MASSACHUSETTS: --upcoming events--> --Day of Decision: Boston: Gather at 7pm at Copley Plaza. More Info --------------------------------------------- USA, MINNESOTA: --news--> 5/1: A new Star Trubune Poll shows 1/3 of Minnesotans want a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, 1/3 want no change to the current state law and want the Supreme Court to rule on its constitutionality, and 1/4 think it should be legalized. Source --articles--> Gay couples wait for chance to get married in Minnesota rather than rush to Iowa, by Jason Hoppin Source --------------------------------------------- USA, NEBRASKA: --articles--> Gay Marriage in Nebraska? from Nebraska.tv Source --------------------------------------------- USA, NEW HAMPSHIRE: --news--> 4/28: New Hampshire moves to the forefront of America's debate on gay marriage on Wednesday when the state Senate will decide whether to approve a bill to legalize same-sex marriage and send it to the governor. Source 4/29: New Hampshire's Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that would legalize same-sex marriage after an amendment was added that prohibits polygamy and marriage of family members, among other measures. Source --articles--> Pass gay marriage bill and end discrimination, by the Concord Monitor Staff Source --------------------------------------------- USA, NEW YORK: --news--> 4/28: --Thousands of people rallied in Albany on Tuesday in a call for gay marriages to be legal in the State of New York. Source --The Judiciary Committee of the New York State Assembly will vote today on a bill, sponsored by Morningside Heights Democratic assemblyman, Daniel O'Donnell, to legalize same-sex marriage in the state. Source 4/29: --upcoming events--> --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 --Day of Decision: New York: Gathering planned the day of decision. More Info ----------------------------------------------- USA, NEVADA: --news--> 4/27: Dawn Gibbons , the estranged wife of Gov. Jim Gibbons, said in an interview last week that she hopes legislators will pass a bill to create domestic partnerships for same-sex couples despite the governor's threatened veto. Source ----------------------------------------------- USA, NORTH CAROLINA: --upcoming events--> --Day of Decision: Charlottesville: Gathering planned at 6pm. More Info ----------------------------------------------- USA, PENNSYLVANIA: --upcoming events--> --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, TEXAS: --upcoming events--> --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: Houston: Gathering planned at 5:30pm on the day of decision. For more information, contact Meghan Baker: More Info --Day of Decision: San Antonio: Rally on the day of the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. More Info --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, VERMONT: --news--> 4/26: A group called America Forever ran a homophbic full page ad in the entire back page of the Times Argis Perspective section of Sunday's newspaper. Source 4/27: Supporters of Vermont's new gay marriage law spent more than $228,000 lobbying for it in the three months before the historic April 7 votes to pass it over Gov. Jim Douglas' veto. Source ----------------------------------------------- USA, VIRGINIA: --news--> 4/30: The three leading candidates for the Democratic nomination for governor of Virginia all oppose same-sex marriage, but they also oppose the draconian 2006 constitutional amendment that forbids any government recognition of gay relationships. Source ----------------------------------------------- USA, WASHINGTON --upcoming events--> --Day of Decision: Seattle: Gather at 5pm at Westlake Corner Park, 400 Pine Street. More Info ----------------------------------------------- USA, WASHINGTON DC --news--> 4/28: Freedom Plaza was transformed into an intersection of faith and protest yesterday as about 150 people rallied to denounce support for same-sex marriage in the District. Source ----------------------------------------------- fini