Gay Marriage Watch: August 2nd-8th

Here's our Sunday weekly recap of upcoming gay marriage events and interesting articles from around the world. Our favorite thing of the week? The National Equality March for gay marriage and gay rights - October 11th, which will bring gay and lesbian folks from all around the country to Washington, DC togather on the National Mall. Are you going to DC? See you there! Hero of the Week: Our hero of the week? Jonathan Rauch, for this article, where he clearly and beautifully presents the stark contrast between supposed conservative family values around gay marrriage and the reality of a gay couple's life during a life-threatening health crisis: "If gay couples can't be allowed to marry, what should they be able to do? Asked this question, cultural conservatives say, in the words of Tom Lehrer's song about the German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun, "That's not my department." Effectively, conservatives are saying that what Mike and Bill do for each other has no significance outside their own bedroom. But what happened in that hospital in Philadelphia for those six weeks was not just Mike and Bill's business, a fact that is self-evident to any reasonable human being who hears the story. "Mike was making a medical decision at least once a day that would have serious consequences," Bill told me. Who but a life partner would or could have done that? Who but a life partner will drop everything to provide constant care? Bill's mother told me that if not for Mike, her son would have died. Faced with this reality, what kind of person, morally, simply turns away and offers silence?" Read the whole thing - it's well worth it. Thanks, Jonathan, for saying what the rest of us want to, so simply and eloquently Woody Award: Our woody award this week goes Nancy Litchford, a letter writer who goes for the whole enchilada - gay marriage will cause the downfall of the human race - in this lovely passage: "What would happen to any species of the animal kingdom if unions between same-sex became the norm? Even if they fostered other abandoned "chicks," the species would become extinct. Same sex unions may become legal, but based on science, same-sex unions cannot "naturally" perpetuate the species and leave confusion in what role or behavior children should model. To deviate from this principle could lead to the destruction of the species and family unit. The term "marriage" should be restricted and only be used to define a union between a man and a woman." Which leads me to wonder, what would happen if al the gay people suddenly became straight, and started procreating? How long before te resultant increase in population overran our planet's limited resources and... gasp... caused the extinction of the human race? This kind of thinking is insulting, as it presents an absurd rationale to continue discrimination against one class of people. There 's no lack of children out there who need a good home and don't give a rat's ass if it's with a loving straight or gay/lesbian couple. And children are only confused when adiults send them confusing signals - like gays an lesbians are equal to everyone else, but they're not. At its heart, this thinking rests on the whole "they chose to be that way" fallacy, and the core idea that children, exposed to this, will also make this same "choice. I grew up in a straight household. I had a mother and a father, and never even met a gay person until I was in my late teens. No one made me this way, and it was such a huge relief to me that God, or nature, or whomever you believe in, had made others just like me. I'm proud of my life and who I am, and so are my parents and my family, and I'm not going to settle for second class citizenship just because someone else is afraid of who and what I am not. Enjoy your woody, Miss Litchford! Gay Marriage Watch: We now publish updates daily, and a weekly recap of upcoming events and interesting articles we've found during the week that were not published in extended form on the blog. For the posted stories during the week, just scroll down the blog or check the archives on the right. 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 ---------------------------------------------- Gay Marriage Articles This Week Australia: Avoiding the issue, by Jeremy Sear Source USA: Bill O’Reilly Still Obsessing About Plural And Interspecies Marriages, by Priscilla Source USA: Why Gays Can Trust Obama, by Dan Gilgoff Source USA, DC: Organizers solidify plans for March on Washington, by Chris Johnson Source USA, MN: How gay is Minnesota? Really, really gay, by Andy Birkey Source ---------------------------------------------- Upcoming Gay Marriage Events (in Country, State, City Order) Canada, Montreal: 9/4: Mark Nelson and Gage Kristopher's Out In Events presents Out in the Parks, the official 2009 LGBT Six Flags Tour, a benefit for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund. La Ronde, 6 PM-3 AM. More Info UK, England, Manchester: 10/18: Gay wedding show. More Info UK, England, Brighton: 11/15: Gay wedding show. More Info UK, Wales, Cardiff: 10/4: Gay wedding show. More Info USA: 8/15: The Great Nationwide Kiss-In, on Saturday, August 15, 2009, at 2 p.m., EDT (or 11 a.m., PDT). More Info USA, Washington DC: 10/10: On October 10-11, 2009, we will gather in Washington, D.C. from all across America to let our elected leaders know that now is the time for full equal rights for LGBT people. This is simply a major national strategy to kick start our national grassroots Equality Across America campaign. More Info USA, AZ, Scottsdale: 8/9: Right to Marry march starts on Sunday, August 9th at Scottsdale Bible Church. More Info USA, CA, Citrus Heights: 9/6: Join us in Citrus Heights for some door-to-door neighborhood canvassing. We'll talk to voters about same-sex marriage to enlighten and spread truth. Before the canvass, we'll train and feed you! 5-8 PM. More Info USA, CA, Fullerton: 8/9: Canvassing for Marriage Equality with Team Courage OC- Fullerton, 12 PM. More Info USA, CA, Hayward: 8/20: Tabling in Hayward for Marriage Equality! Alameda County. 5:30-8:30 PM. More Info USA, CA, Hayward: 9/17: Tabling in Hayward for Marriage Equality! Alameda County. :530-8:30 PM. More Info USA, CA, Irvine: 8/15: OC Pride -- Picnic in the Park. 12-4 PM. More Info USA, CA, Irvine: 9/12: The IUCC Advocates for Peace and Justice Ministry along with Americans United for the Separation of Church and State-Orange County and the Orange County Equality Coalition will be sponsoring a showing of the award winning documentary "Scout's Honor." 6/8 PM. More Info USA, CA, Los Angeles: Every Monday: LA Equal Roots Meeting. More Info USA, CA, Los Angeles: 8/9: Please join a coalition of groups looking toward the ballot initiative to repeal Proposition 8, as we plan the pre-campaign Signature Gathering expedition. At Jewel's Catch One, 4067 W Pico Blvd, 10 am-4 pm. More Info USA, CA, Merced: 8/22: Merced County Equality Team introduction, 6 PM. More Info USA, CA, Mountain View/Sunnyvale: 8/22: Canvassing event, 11 AM. More Info USA, CA, North Hollywood: 8/12: The Attic Theatre will present Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays — a staged reading benefiting the Human Rights Campaign in response to the recent ruling on Proposition 8 in California — Sept. 12 at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. Conceived and directed by Attic Theatre artistic director Brian Shnipper, the evening will be hosted by Miss Coco Peru and will boast the talents of Debra Messing, Jason Alexander, Hamish Linklater, Clark Gregg, Lisa Edelstein, Dan Lauria, Peter Paige and Jillian Armenante. More Info USA, CA, Oakland: 8/15 & 8/16: Tabling at Oakland's Art and Soul Festival, 9 AM-6 PM. More Info USA, CA, Palm Springs: 10/17: Palm Springs Equality Awards More Info USA, CA, Palm Springs: 11/7-11/8: Palm Springs Pride More Info USA, CA, Pleasanton: 8/15: Canvassing in Pleasanton. Alameda County (Equality Team Event). 12-1 PM. More Info USA, CA, Rancho Cordova: 8/23: Let's do some neighborhood walks (aka Canvassing) and talk to people door-to-door for marriage equality!! 5-8 PM. More Info USA, CA, Rancho Santa Fe: 8/22: Garden Party for Equality, 2-5 PM. More Info USA, CA, Sacramento: 8/9: Sacramento Neighborhood Canvassing! 5-8 PM. More Info USA, CA, Sacramento: 8/22: Sacramento voter canvassing, meet at EQCA Canvassing Office, 1722 J Street, 2nd Floor, Unit 9, Sacramento, 9 AM to 1 PM. More Info USA, CA, Sacramento: 11/7: Camp Courage Sacramento - Camp Courage is an intensive 2-day training program that teaches principles of community organizing; Camp Courage intends to train those working to restore marriage equality in California. More Info USA, CA, San Francisco: 8/12: One Struggle One Fight meeting - discuss how to get involved in Equality Across America and the National Equality March that's happening this October 10-11th. 7-9 PM. More Info USA, CA, San Jose: 8/9: We are happy to provide a free screening of "For the Bible Tells Me So" to give you more opportunities to change hearts and minds about our relationships. Join us! 7 PM. More Info USA, CA, Santa Ana: 8/13: We are starting a group of organizers to do the groundwork in OC. 7-8:30 PM. More Info USA, CA, Sunnyvale: 8/22: Canvassing in Mountain View/Sunnyvale with the Santa Clara Equality Team (Equality Team Event), 11 AM-4 PM. More Info USA, CA, Tarzana: 8/20: SFV Equality Team Kickoff Meeting, 7-9 PM. More Info USA, CA, Valencia: 9/25: Mark Nelson and Gage Kristopher's Out In Events presents Out in the Parks, the official 2009 LGBT Six Flags Tour, a benefit for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund. Six Flags Great Adventure, 6 PM-Midnight. More Info USA, CA, Vallejo: 9/11: Mark Nelson and Gage Kristopher's Out In Events presents Out in the Parks, the official 2009 LGBT Six Flags Tour, a benefit for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, 5 PM-11 AM. More Info USA, CA, Victorville: 8/15: High Desert Courage Team Mixer (Houseparty). 8-10 PM. More Info USA, CA, West Hollywood: 8/11: Love Honor Cherish weekly meeting - the last weekend, grass roots activists from all over California met here in Los Angeles to chart the course to repeal Prop 8 in 2010.  The first step in that effort is a campaign to gather 1 million signatures, which will begin this fall, 7:30 PM.  More Info USA, Kentucky, Louisville: 8/16: Mark Nelson and Gage Kristopher's Out In Events presents Out in the Parks, the official 2009 LGBT Six Flags Tour, a benefit for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund. Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, 3-8 PM. More Info USA, MD, Bowie: 8/28: Mark Nelson and Gage Kristopher's Out In Events presents Out in the Parks, the official 2009 LGBT Six Flags Tour, a benefit for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund. Six Flags America, 5-11 PM. More Info USA, MI, Lansing: 8/13: Joining in a nationwide grass-roots activity declaring a national kiss sit in, an area resident set up an event for Michigan in Lansing, on Aug. 13 at 4 p.m. at Gone Wired Cafe. Same-sex couples and their supporters are invited to the rally. More Info USA, ME, Portsmouth: 10/18: Over 30 select wedding professionals will participate as exhibitors, each one screened to be LGBT-friendly. Travel planners, Gift Companies and Home & Family-Planning Resources also will be represented. Other highlights will include Music, Interactive Presentations, Samples & Fabulous Fun! 12:30-3:30 PM. More Info USA, NJ, Jackson: 9/18: Mark Nelson and Gage Kristopher's Out In Events presents Out in the Parks, the official 2009 LGBT Six Flags Tour, a benefit for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund. Six Flags Great Adventure, 6 PM-Midnight. More Info USA, NY, 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 USA, WA, Seattle: 8/16: The Same Love Same Rights® GLBT Wedding & Family Expo guests will have the opportunity to tour our host’s luxurious yachts as well as enjoy vendor samples, helpful planning tips, and giveaways! 12:30-3:30. More Info USA, Washington DC: 10/10: On October 10-11, 2009, we will gather in Washington, D.C. from all across America to let our elected leaders know that now is the time for full equal rights for LGBT people. This is simply a major national strategy to kick start our national grassroots Equality Across America campaign. More Info ----------------------------------------------- fini