Gay Marriage Watch: May 5th, 2009

Here's the latest news on gay marriage from around the world on Tuesday, May 5th. 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. We now publish a daily news blog, and a weekly recap on Sundays. 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 ---------------------------------------------- GREECE: --news--> 5/5: A Greek court on Tuesday annulled the first set of gay marriages which took place last summer on the tiny eastern Aegean island of Tilos. Source ---------------------------------------------- RUSSIA: --news--> 5/5: Two women will apply for a marriage license in Moscow on May 12. Source ---------------------------------------------- SLOVAKIA: --articles--> Gay rights gaining momentum in Slovakia, by Lyndon Barnett Source ---------------------------------------------- UNITED KINGDOM: --news--> More than 5,400 people have signed a petition in protest at the appointment of a gay man to an Aberdeen church. Source ---------------------------------------------- USA: --news--> 5/4: --According to the National Enquirer, producers of The View want Miss California Carrie Prejean to replace Elizabeth Hasselbeck as House Wingnut when Hasselbeck goes on maternity leave later this year. Source --Miss California Carrie Prajean, gay marriage hater and true Cristian, apparently took her top off for photos. Source 5/5: Oprah discussed gay marriage on her show last Friday (YouTube) Source ---------------------------------------------- USA, CALIFORNIA: --news--> 5/4: At a gay rights organizing camp held this weekend in Oakland, Calif., and hosted by the Courage Campaign, leading activists made it clear that they're in the beginning stages of a campaign to overturn Proposition 8 at the ballot. Source --upcoming events: northern california--> ----------------------- 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 ----------------------- Santa Clara: 5/9: Santa Clara: Equality Team Second Canvassing Event with Courage Campaign, 3:15 PM. 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 ----------------------- Fresno: --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 --Every Monday: Meet in the Middle 4 Equality Planning Meeting, 6 PM, at the Wesley United Methodist Church. More Info ----------------------- --upcoming events: southern california--> ----------------------- 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 ----------------------- 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 --Every Monday: LA Equal Roots Meeting. 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 --upcoming events: statewide--> --5/22: Harvey Milk Day. More Info --5/31-6/6: AIDS Life Cycle - Team Marriage Equality. Contact Email ---------------------------------------------- USA, HAWAII: --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, IOWA: --news--> 5/4: Buena Vista County may join Jefferson County, and pass a resolution against gay marriage. Source --------------------------------------------- USA, MAINE: --upcoming events--> 5/5: The Maine House of Representatives will debate the gay marriage bill. Source --------------------------------------------- USA, NEW HAMPSHIRE: --news--> 5/5: Both sides of the gay marriage debate putting pressure on Gov. John Lynch. Source --------------------------------------------- USA, NEW YORK: --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 ----------------------------------------------- USA, PENNSYLVANIA: --upcoming events--> --5/15-5/17: New Hope: Pride 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 ----------------------------------------------- USA, UTAH: --news--> 5/4: Some gay marriage advocates are questioning Sen. Chris Buttars' placement on a legislative committee. Source ----------------------------------------------- USA, VERMONT: --news--> 5/5: Vandals struck a gay community center in Burlington over the weekend. Source ----------------------------------------------- USA, WASHINGTON --news--> 5/4: Legislation granting domestic partnerships the same rights as married couples was supposed to go into effect in July, but will be put on hold until signatures are counted for an attempt to put a proposal on the November ballot to overturn the measure. 120,000+ valid signatures are needed to qualify the measure. Source --articles--> Arlington man fights "everything but marriage" gay-rights bill, by Jerry Cornfield Source ----------------------------------------------- USA, WASHINGTON DC --news--> 5/5: The DC City Council meets today for the second reafing vote on the gay marriage bill. Source ----------------------------------------------- fini