Gay Marriage Watch: July 5th-11th

Here's our Sunday weekly recap of the latest news on gay marriage from around the world. Our favorite thing of the week? All the debate stirred up in India by the legalization of homosexuality there by the country's high court. Two weeks ago, it was illegal to be LGBT in India - today, some are talking about gay marriage! See more in our India section below. Hero of the Week: To blogger Ann Woolner, for her concise dissection of DOMA, here - Go, Ann, go! Woody Award: Our woody award this week goes to Bob Ellis, for his lovely column this week entitled "Homosexual Agenda Illustrates: There Can Be No Compromise With Evil". Mister Ellis, the feeling is mutual. First off, let's not make too much of a big deal at how sad and dated the whole "homosexual agenda" thing is. We're a diverse bunch of folks from all walks of life - men, women, black, white, young, old, Catholic, Mormon, atheist, fat, skinny, hairy and bald. We have no "agenda." There's not a playbook somehwere that we're all reading from. We simply want equal rights. Anyhow, Mister Ellis reviews a new handbook called "Redeeming the Rainbow" that apparently tells all about what the wicked homosexuals are up to: "The handbook is a tremendous resource for anyone who has ever been daunted by the massive flood of lies thrown about by homosexual activist and their propaganda allies in the “mainstream” media. Even someone who has been waging this war against lies and a culture of death for a long time will find this book useful." Hmmm.. the lies the gays have been telling? How about all the lies "thrown about" by the Prop 8 crowd last year? You know, about how your pastor will be thrown in jail for speaking out against gay marriage? How they're coming for your children? How it will soon be illegal for you to even look crossways at a homosexual? But hey, I guess, as a Christian, it's your God-given right to be just as nasty and lie just as much as you accuse your opponents of doing. Mister Ellis then quotes form the book, where the author says that he decided to talk to "homosexuals themselves". Note from the start that he's using the right's favorite word, "homosexual", for us, which speaks to his indset. But anyhow, the author's conclsions, which Mister Ellis endorses: "There’s no escape. A homophobe is anyone who, for any reason, disapproves of homosexuality in any way, shape, manner, form or degree. This leaves me with just two choices: agree that everything about homosexuality is natural, normal, healthy, moral and worthy to be celebrated OR be labeled as a mentally ill, hate-filled bigot." Hmm... may I suggest a third option, which everyone I know in the LGBT community would be fine with? You can say whatever you want, and feel whatever you want, about me and my community. I can live my life the way I feel I was born, and not be ashamed of it. And neither of us will go out of our way to force the other to live or act differently. I won't try to pass a law saying your church can't inveigh against being gay or lesbian. And you won't try to pass a law saying the government can't provide benefits to me and my family, just like it does to any other consenting adult couple in a long term, committed relationship. Mister Ellis, we're willing to live and let live - why aren't you? 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 gay marriage 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. We now publish updates daily, and a weekly recap on Sundays. 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--> 7/7: The Rudd Government has announced a Senate Inquiry into same-sex marriage. Source --upcoming gay marriage events--> Sydney: 8/1: The organisers of a huge protest for gay marriage in New South Wales hope over 400 same-sex couples set a world record by sharing vows on Saturday 1 August, as Australia's LGBT community continues to fight for gay marriage. Source ---------------------------------------------- CANADA: --news--> 7/10: As of Sept. 1, the Anglican diocese of Niagara will allow its priests to bless same-gender couples who have been civilly married. Source ---------------------------------------------- CHINA: --articles--> Against Tradition, Chinese Couple Advocates for Gay Son, from Sing Tao Daily Source ---------------------------------------------- CZECH REPUBLIC: --news--> 7/7: Nearly three-fourths of Czechs agree that gays and lesbians should be allowed to conclude registered partnerships, according to the CVVM poll released to CTK Tuesday. Source ---------------------------------------------- GUAM: --news--> After several controversial town hall meetings were held on legislation that would allow for same-sex civil unions on Guam, Acting Speaker of the 30th Guam Legislature B.J. Cruz has introduced an amended version of Bill 138. Source ---------------------------------------------- INDIA: --news--> 7/8: Sikh leader disapproves of gay marrage, says they would never be peformed in any temple around the world. Source 7/9: --Astrologer challenges high court ruling legalizing gays and lesbians. Source --Just a week after a New Delhi court decriminalised homosexuality, the first gay "marriage" has taken place in India. Amrit and Jeeta, both 18, tied the knot at the Shiridi temple in the north Indian city of Chandigarh. Source 7/11: Four gay couples in Chandigarh tied the knot on Friday after the Delhi HC decriminalised homosexuality last week. Source 7/12: RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS has decided that gay marriage will not be allowed in temples and Gurudwaras. Source --articles--> Bollywood reacts to repealing of Section 377, by Subash K. Jha Source Religious groups vehemently oppose gay marriages, from Merinews Source Assam's first lesbian couple happily married for 10 years, from Bombay News Net Source India's dislike of homosexuality is deeply rooted in its culture and religion, by Will Heaven Source ---------------------------------------------- IRELAND: --articles--> 7/9: A letter sent to the Irish justice minister by the mother of a gay son has inspired a protest today outside the Irish parliament for gay marriage. Source ---------------------------------------------- NETHERLANDS: --upcoming gay marriage events--> Amsterdam: 7/31-8/2: Organizers of Amsterdam Gay Pride have announced that during the celebration in August, Mayor Marius Job Cohen will marry five same-sex couples compromised of one American and one Dutch national. The action commemorates the 400 years of links between the Dutch and the American city they called New Amsterdam, with the hope it will inspire progress toward full marriage equality in the United States. More Info ---------------------------------------------- POLAND: --articles--> Polish Law and Justice Party confirms it's still homophobic despite joining forces with the Tories in Europe, by Jessica Geen Source ---------------------------------------------- UNITED KINGDOM: --news--> 7/12: A SENIOR Scottish clergyman has "come out" and launched a campaign for gay couples to be given the right to get married in church. Source --upcoming gay marriage events--> Cardiff: 10/4: Gay wedding show. More Info Manchester: 10/18: Gay wedding show. More Info Brighton: 11/15: Gay wedding show. More Info ---------------------------------------------- USA: --news--> 7/8: The National Education Association, the nation's largest labor union, has endorsed marriage equality, with a couple of slight dodges. Source 7/9: Gay legal groups who vehemently criticized a federal Prop 8 case have now changed their tune and want in on the action. Source 7/12: Southern Baptists trying to block limited benefits Obama wants to grant to artners of federal employees. Source --articles--> Obama needs to move on gay rights, by the Daily Nebraskan Source Obama Torn Between Christian Faith and Concern for Gay and Lesbian Rights, by Mona Elyafi Source New DOMA Lawsuit is the Most Exciting Yet, by Emma Ruby-Sachs Source Hawaii Gay Menace Spurs Bad Marital Law, by Ann Woolner Source Homosexuality is not a choice, it’s an identity, by Sheri Allen Source Against Equality, by Kelly Jean Cogswell Source Supreme Court may end up deciding gay marriage issue, by Caleb Soptelean Source ---------------------------------------------- USA, CALIFORNIA: --news--> 7/7: Blessings of same-sex marriage and removal of an informal ban on gay bishops are expected to be the top items at the upcoming 10-day meeting of the Episcopal General Convention, which starts Wednesday in Anaheim, Calif. Source 7/9: --In its decision upholding Prop 8, the State Supreme Court specifically declined to address whether gay and lesbian marriages performed out of state that were legal last year are still in force in California. Source --The California Legislature is getting back into the Proposition 8 fight with a bill that would recognize possibly thousands of same-sex marriages performed outside of California before the measure was passed. Source --More than 50 people testified on a collection of resolutions requesting marriage equality or rites for same-gender blessings, with a vast majority speaking in favor of the resolutions, in hearings before the joint Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music Committee on July 9. Source 7/11: The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights group partly founded by Martin Luther King Jr., has threatened to fire the president of its Los Angeles chapter because he supports same-sex marriage. Source --The Assembly Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 54 by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, with seven Democrats supporting the measure and three Republicans voting against it. The bill addresses a question left unanswered by the California Supreme Court ruling in Strauss v. Horton, 46 Cal.4th 364: How does the state treat same-sex marriages performed in other states that do authorize those unions? Source --Model Jonathan Waud joins NoH8 campaign. Source --upcoming gay marriage events--> Aliso Viejo: 7/25: Team Courage OC Canvass for Equality, 12 PM. More Info Bakersfield: 7/23: Get engaged tour. 7-9 PM. More Info Claremont: 7/21: Get engaged tour event. 7-9 PM. More Info Davis: Fire It Up! This will be our Yolo County Kickoff Equality Team Meeting. 2:30-4:30 PM. More Info Fresno: 7/18: Get engaged tour event. 4:30-6:30 PM. More Info Fullerton: 8/9: Canvassing for Marriage Equality with Team Courage OC- Fullerton, 12 PM. More Info Hayward: --7/12: Canvass training. 2-4 PM. More Info --7/18: Come Canvass in Hayward! Alameda County Equality Team, 1 PM. More Info --7/20: Get engaged tour event. 7-9 PM. More Info Kensington: 7/16: Get engaged tour event. 7-9 PM. More Info Laguna Niguel: 7/25: canvassing for marriage equality, 12 PM. More Info Livermore: 7/21: Get engaged tour event. 7-9 PM. More Info Los Angeles: --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 --7/19: door to door marriage equality canvass in the beautiful neighborhood of West Adams in Los Angeles. More Info --8/1: Los Angeles Equality Awards. More Info --Every Monday: LA Equal Roots Meeting. More Info Merced: --7/30: Merced Equality Team get acquainted (Social). 6-7 PM. More Info --8/22: Merced County Equality Team introduction, 6 PM. More Info Mission Hills: 7/12: Get engaged tour event, 12:30-2 PM. More Info Morgan Hill: 7/15: Gen engaged tour event. 7-9 PM. More Info Mountain View/Sunnyvale: 8/22: Canvassing event, 11 AM. More Info Napa: 7/15: Get engaged tour event. 7-9 PM. More Info North Hollywood: 7/12: Canvassing for Marriage Equality San Fernando Equality Team. 2:30-5:30 PM. More Info Pacifica: 7/14: Get engaged tour event, 7-9 PM. More Info Palm Springs: --10/17: Palm Springs Equality Awards More Info --11/7-11/8: Palm Springs Pride More Info Redlands: 7/14: Get engaged tour event. 7:30-9 PM. More Info Riverside: 7/22: Get engaged tour event. 7-9 PM. More Info Sacramento: --7/12: In partnership with Equality California, the Courage Campaign is planning a canvassing for volunteers to go door to door to speak to voters about how they voted on Prop. 8. 5-8 PM. More Info --7/19: Get engaged tour event. 3-5 PM. More Info San Bernardino: 7/18: Get engaged tour event. 3-5 PM. More Info San Diego: 7/18-7/19: San Diego Pride More Info San Francisco: 7/14: Get engaged tour event. 7-9 PM. More Info 7/15: Torie Osborn: The Fierce Urgency of Now: Toward a New American Movement in the Obama Era (Special Presentation), at The Commenwealth Club, 5:30-7:30. More Info San Luis Obispo: 7/14: Get engaged tour event. 2-3 PM. More Info Santa Barbara: 7/20: Get engaged tour event. 7-9 PM. More Info Seaside: 7/16: Get engaged tour event. 7-9 PM. More Info Stockton: 7/12: Get engaged tour event. 6-8 PM. More Info Sunnyvale: 8/22: Canvassing in Mountain View/Sunnyvale with the Santa Clara Equality Team (Equality Team Event), 11 AM-4 PM. More Info Tustin: 7/12: Canvassing for Marriage Equality with Team Courage OC- Tustin, 12 PM. More Info Union City: 7/18: We are looking for 12 volunteers to take on 2-hr shifts (10-12, 12-2, 2-4, 4-6) to be a presence at the Union City Fair for marriage equality. 10 AM-6 PM. More Info Vallejo: 7/23: Vallejo will host its second organizing meeting in the campaign to overturn Prop 8. 7-8 PM. More Info Victorville: 8/8: High Desert Courage Team Mixer (Houseparty). 6 PM-2 AM. More Info Walnut Creek: 7/12: Get engaged tour event, 2-4 PM. More Info West Hollywood: 7/14: Get engaged tour event. 7-9 PM. More Info ---------------------------------------------- USA, IOWA: --articles--> Iowa Now a Big Draw for Gay Weddings, from Gannett News Service Source --------------------------------------------- USA, MAINE: --news--> 7/8: Looking to overturn a bill signed by Governor John Baldacci in May approving same sex marriage, Stand For Marriage Maine announced today that they have collected more than the 55,087 signatures needed to place a People's Veto on the November ballot and are collecting additional signatures as insurance to meet the deadline to qualify the measure for the 2009 statewide election. Source --------------------------------------------- USA, MARYLAND: --news--> 7/7: Maryland governor Martin O'Malley said Monday that he is open to recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states, according to WTOP-FM. Source --------------------------------------------- USA, MASSACHUSETTS: --news--> 7/8: Attorney General Martha Coakley is suing the U.S. government to force it to extend a wide range of benefits to some 16,000 gay and lesbian couples legally married in Massachusetts. Source --------------------------------------------- USA, MISSOURI: --news--> 7/6: The Kansas City Star ended almost two months of controversy by publishing the marriage announcement of a same-sex couple this past weekend. Source --------------------------------------------- USA, NEW JERSEY: --upcoming gay marriage events--> Maple Shade: 8/4: Fight for rights (Social), a time for all gays/bisexuals to express their problems and differances without judgement. 4-6 PM. More Info ----------------------------------------------- USA, NEW YORK: --news--> 7/10: --The month-long stalemate in the New York state senate ended as abruptly as it began on Thursday, when Sen. Pedro Espada, Jr announced his return to the Democratic caucus, forgoing an alliance with the Republicans that split the chamber 31-31 and stalled the passage of all legislation, including the marriage equality bill. Source --Gay marriage bill in New York likely shelved for this session. Source 7/11: The governor may reintroduce a gay marriage bill at a special session in September. Source --upcoming gay marriage events--> Brooklyn: 9/9: 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 --articles--> We deserve better, from The Villager Source ----------------------------------------------- USA, PENNSYLVANIA: --news--> 7/8: Pennsylvania state Sen. Daylin Leach introduced legislation to legalize marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Source ----------------------------------------------- USA, WASHINGTON DC: --news--> 7/6: DC bill recognizing same sex marriages performed out of state goes into effect tomorrow, 7/7. Source 7/7: The National Organization for Marriage, the nation's most vocal opponent of gay marriage is preparing to lead the fight in the District of Columbia as a new law that recognizes legal gay marriage takes effect Tuesday. Source --upcoming gay marriage events--> Washington, DC: --7/12: On Sunday July 12th, from 9:30 am until 11:30 pm, they are meeting at All Soul’s Church on 1300 Harvard St, NW. This event is much like the day before, with brief training and tools available. More Info --7/13: Monday July 13th, from 6:30 pm until 9: 30 pm, at The DC Center, located on 1111 14th ST NW Suite 350, Washington DC, they will be working on data entry and inviting everyone and their friends to come and help! Pizza and sodas will be available and all you would need to bring is a laptop, and they will guide you through the process. More Info ----------------------------------------------- USA, WEST VIRGINIA: --news--> 7/7: A public hearing has been scheduled for July 14 on whether to amend the state's Constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. Source ----------------------------------------------- USA, WISCONSIN: --news--> 7/6: With the budget signed Monday by Gov. Jim Doyle, Wisconsin has become the first state with a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions to put in place domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. Source --articles--> Brief Looks to Doom Wisconsin Gay Marriage Ban, from Malcontends Source ----------------------------------------------- fini