Gay Marriage Watch: August 9th-15th

Here's our Sunday weekly recap of upcoming gay marriage events and interesting articles from around the world. Hero of the Week: Our hero of the week? Columnist Ed Kilgore, who draws a straight line between the tactics of the anti-gay-marriage folks and the anti-healthcare-reform folks: "None of these arguments are particularly strong. And not coincidentally, if you spend much time around regular conservative folk (rather than pundits or spokesmen) who oppose gay marriage, they won't be making them. Rather, you hear various forms of personal and Biblical condemnation of homosexuality, usually combined with outrage that these people demand legal protection for their unsavory behavior. You don't hear this in public in part because dehumanizing gay people isn't as generally acceptable as it used to be. But it's still there, under the surface, and may be one of the reasons why critics of gay marriage keep fighting against gay marriage despite the ludicrous nature of their public arguments. This may actually help explain many of the absurd conservative attacks on Obama's economic and health care agenda. We're painfully accustomed to hearing that Obama is herding Americans into socialism, is destroying the private-sector economy, and is determined to create a health care system that combines the bureaucracy of Great Britain with the ethics of Nazi Germany. Do the people repeating and encouraging this sort of talk really believe it?" Go, Ed, go! Woody Award: Our woody award this week goes to letter writer Elaine B. Graham of Maine, for her cogent warning to "Maine people" about the evils of gay marriage: "Danger ahead! More cultural confusion! Would Maine people purposely aid and abet more youth moving into destructive lifestyles? Unless same-sex marriage is repealed, that is exactly what will happen." Oh yes, the lovely old destructive lifestyle argument. You know, AIDS is a gay disease, all gay people will get AIDS and die, that fun litle tidbit. Only AIDS is not a gay disease - it's for straight women, and drug users, and hemopheliacs, and so much more. Where does this woman live that she doesn't know this in 2009? "Here is a quote from Dr. James Dobson's book "Marriage on Fire" (page 105): "The media's positive portrayal of homosexuality has enticed many young people into this lifestyle and behavior." Uh huh, the definitive source on all things gay, "Doctor" Dobson. Who has spent his life advocating against the gay and lesbian community at every turn. Who falsifies evidence for his "studies" of gay and lesbian behavior. Who is hardly even close to being an unbiased source on this sort of thing. "Sanctioning same-sex marriage will draw many more young into this destructive lifestyle. Why take a chance on this, Maine people? The state of Maine has opened the door to gay adoption, which indeed has increased gay households. The demands gays will make upon the schools when it comes curriculum include costly lawsuits." It'll destroy the children. Oh, and it will cost us tons of money. Yes, because the main reason we want marriage equality is so we can spend our time going around the next day to sue everyone in sight for... for... wait a minute, what would we be suing for, exactly? "The Oct. 10, 2005, edition of Time magazine refers to the striking growth of gay youth. Why is this happening and is it a good thing for the youth or the society?" Guess what, Miss Graham, I have news for you - there aren't more gay youth. There are simply more of them who feel comfortable being who they are. None of us are "drawn" into this "lifestyle", as you call it. Why would we be? Is gay sex supposed to be that much better than straight sex? Is it supposed to be so enticing to be hated by your fellow man, to be spit upon and beaten for this supposed choice by Christians like yourself? Please, someone, explain to me what it is about being gay that's supposed to be so bloody enticing that normal, heterosexual males are suddenly overcome with gay lust? "Please be informed, Maine people, by reading books on the subject. (I tell you, unless same-sex marriage is repealed, the normal becomes abnormal)!" Finally, something Miss Graham and I can agree on. Please, do become informed - read something beyond the little phamplets you're being handed at church. Listen to someone besides the preacher. Get out there and meet a gay couple or two, and ask them what their lives are really like, and why they are gay. And then, if you still believe that being gay is a choice and that gay marriage is destructive to society, by all menas vote your conscience. But get all the facts first, Miss Graham. Enjoy your woody, Miss Graham. 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: Ignorance keeps gay myths alive, by Tim Dick Source Canada: An open letter to America concerning the hate-filled homophobes of the religious right, by Mike Cowie Source Ireland: Why same-sex couples must be allowed to marry, by Colm O'Gorman Source USA: Federal Gay Marriage Suit Risks Everything, by Carlos Santoscoy Source USA: Generations later, do we thank you or just move on? by Jonathan Braedley Welch Source USA, Wisconsin: Judeo-Christian principles don't justify gay marriage/domestic registry ban, by Chris Walker 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 Ireland, Limerick: 9/13-9/20: Limerick Pride 2009. 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, 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, 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, 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: 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, 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, 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, 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: 8/22: 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, Santa Clara: Phonebanking for gay marriage in Maine, 1 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, West Hollywood: 8/18: Repeal Prop 8, building the 2010 coalition with Love, Honor, Cherish. 7:30 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, 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