Gay Marriage Watch: May 8th, 2009

Here's the latest news on gay marriage from around the world on Monday, Friday 8th. 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 ---------------------------------------------- CANADA: --upcoming events--> Day of Decision: Vancouver: Gather at 6pm at Morton Park (corner of Davie Street and Denman Street). More Info ---------------------------------------------- HUNGARY: --news--> 5/8: Hungary's official government publication says gay couples will be able to register domestic partnerships beginning July 1. Source ---------------------------------------------- IRELAND: --news--> 5/7: THE CO-Chair of the new Gay Rights group in Lisburn says although he hopes the group will be well received within the community he said there is 'still a lot more work to be done' after one of those attending the event was verbally abused on the way home. Source 5/8: DUBLIN, May 8, 2009 – Irish government plans to introduce British-style same-sex civil partnerships have been condemned as “retrograde, divisive, second best, discriminatory and sexual apartheid” by LGBT rights and Green Party parliamentary candidate Peter Tatchell. Source ---------------------------------------------- RUSSIA: --upcoming events--> 5/12: Two women will apply for a marriage license in Moscow on May 12. Source ---------------------------------------------- USA: --news--> 5/7: --Congresswoman Barbara Lee on gay marriage: "At the federal and state level, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community has been the focus of several attempts to limit the rights and benefits of individuals and enshrine discrimination into existing policies and laws - and even the Constitution. That is just flat out wrong, and I will strenuously oppose any such effort." Source --Pat Robertson on gay marriage: "Lee, we haven’t taken this to its ultimate conclusion. You got polygamy out there. How can we rule that polygamy is illegal when you say that homosexual marriage is legal. What is it about polygamy that’s different? Well, polygamy was outlawed because it was considered immoral according to biblical standards. But if we take biblical standards away in homosexuality, what about the other? And what about bestiality and ultimately what about child molestation and pedophilia? How can we criminalize these things and at the same time have constitutional amendments allowing same-sex marriage among homosexuals. You mark my words, this is just the beginning in a long downward slide in relation to all the things that we consider to be abhorrent." Source --Miss USA Carrie Prajean's parents may have divorced because father was gay. Source 5/8: Group of pastors advises churches to hire security, prepare for wave of hate crimes against churches. Source --upcoming events--> --Day of Decision: Rallies country-wide on the day of the CA Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. More Info ---------------------------------------------- USA, ARIZONA: --news--> 5/8: An openly gay Roman Catholic priest has been excommunicated for joining a breakaway faction of the church. Source ---------------------------------------------- USA, CALIFORNIA: --news--> 5/8: --Doug Manchester, a hotel owner in San Diego who donated $125,000 to support Prop 8, is reportedly donating $25,000 to "a national organization that promotes civil unions and domestic partnerships, and is considering offering $100,000 in hotel credit to local gay and lesbian organizations so they can use the Grand Hyatt for events such as fundraisers. Source --Tori Amos has blasted voters who pushed through a gay marriage ban in California - because it goes against the teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr. 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: 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: --5/10: 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: --5/8-5/10: 4th Annual QFilm Festival Fundraiser, benefitting The Center Long Beach! Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Trans and Queer films brought right into our home town. More Info --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 --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: --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 ----------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------- USA, COLORADO: --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: 5/8: Georgia Representative Paul C. Broun has announced he will re-introduce a constitutional amendment that bans gay marriage. Source --upcoming events--> --5/14: National Black Justice Coalition hosts an evening of conversation, food, drinks, music and a very special guest speaker at NBJC's first fundraising event in Atlanta. At Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, 3081 Peachtree Rd. More Info --Day of Decision: Atlanta: Gathering is being planned. More Info ---------------------------------------------- USA, HAWAII: --news--> 5/8: The state Senate has put off dealing with the debate over same-sex civil unions until next year. Source --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, MAINE: --news--> 5/6: Maine Rep. Bernard Ayotte on gay marriage: "By all indications, homosexuality in human beings seems to be generated by imbalances in the human body... as legislators, it is important that we do not base our statutes on genetic aberrations." Source 5/8: --The new gay marriage law goes into effect on September 16th, but if enugh signatures are submitted to place the people's veto on the ballot by that date, the law would be stayed until the election. Source --The spiritual leader of Maine's 200,000 Roman Catholics is pledging the church's help in bringing the state's gay marriage law to a vote in November. Source --------------------------------------------- USA, MASSACHUSETTS: --upcoming events--> --Day of Decision: Boston: Gather at 7pm at Copley Plaza. More Info --------------------------------------------- USA, MINNESOTA: --news--> 5/7: Republican Rep. Tim Kelly of Red Wing drew fire from a local LGBT group after sponsoring an amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Source --------------------------------------------- USA, NEW HAMPSHIRE: --news--> 5/7: The gay marriage bill approved by the House on Wednesday is being reviewed before being sent to the governor. When it arrives, the governor will have five days to sign it, veto it or decide to let it become law without his signature. Source --------------------------------------------- USA, NEW JERSEY: --news--> 5/7: A coalition of socially conservative groups is pressing the New Jersey legislature to ask voters in 2010 to amend the state constitution to bar same-sex marriage. Source --------------------------------------------- USA, NEW YORK: --news--> 5/8: The state Assembly is expected to approve a gay-marriage bill next Tuesday, but the measure apparently still lacks enough support to pass the Senate. Source --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 --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, NORTH CAROLINA: --upcoming events--> --Day of Decision: Charlottesville: Gathering planned at 6pm. More Info ----------------------------------------------- USA, OHIO: --news--> 5/7: 64 couples, mostly gay or lesbian, had paid the $55 domestic partner registration fee by 2 PM. Source ----------------------------------------------- USA, PENNSYLVANIA: --upcoming events--> --5/15-5/17: New Hope: Pride More Info ----------------------------------------------- USA, RHODE ISLAND: --news--> 5/7: The legislature in Rhode Island, the last remaining traditional marriage state, will hold a judiciary committee hearing next week to discuss a same-sex marriage bill by Representative Art Handy. Source ----------------------------------------------- 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, WASHINGTON --upcoming events--> --Day of Decision: Seattle: Gather at 5pm at Westlake Corner Park, 400 Pine Street. More Info ----------------------------------------------- fini