Signature Gathering for Gay Marriage in California This Weekend

Just in from Love Honor Cherish: Help Us Get Signatures in the New Year! Go to SignForEquality.com, where you can download a petition form and learn how to get signatures. If you're in the Los Angeles area, join us for signature gathering on these dates: Friday, Jan. 1 5 a.m. - 9 a.m. Rose Parade (Pasadena) Meet at Pasadena City College (SE corner of Hill and Colorado). If arriving later than 5:00 a.m., call Aaron at (310) 995-0436. Public transportation recommended. Friday, Jan. 1 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. First Fridays on Abbot Kinney (Venice) Meet outside Roosterfish Bar, 1302 Abbot Kinney Boulevard (park on street) Saturday, Jan. 2 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Santa Monica Farmers Market (S.M. Promenade) Meet at corner of 2nd St. and Arizone Ave. (park on street) Sunday, Jan 3 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Studio City Farmers Market Meet at main gate of CBS Studios, 4024 Radford (free parking at CBS) Sunday, Jan 3 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Santa Monica Farmers Market (Ocean Park) Meet at corner of Main St. and Ocean Park (park on street) THINGS TO REMEMBER: Please come on time, but if you're late, look for the volunteers in the yellow SignForEquality T-shirts. And, be sure to bring: 1. A couple of clipboards and a few pens (if you can). 2. Plenty of quarters for parking meters 3. $10 donation for our Sign For Equality volunteer t-shirt For more information about this or other team signature gathering events, contact Andy at andy@wlaequality.org We need 1 million signatures in the next 15 weeks. Let's get thousands this weekend!

OR: Coquille Indian Gay Marriage Law Starts

A Coquille Indian Tribe law allowing same-sex marriage took effect this week, and two women plan to marry Sunday on the tribe's Coos Bay reservation.  Tribal member Kitzen Branting, 26, and her partner, Jeni Branting, 28, who now live in Edmonds, Wash., will become the first same-sex couple to legally marry in Oregon, though their marriage will be recognized only by the tribe. Neither Washington nor Oregon have legalized same-sex marriage, but as a federally recognized sovereign nation, the tribe is not bound by the Oregon Constitution. "My tribe recognizes the marriage, so that is really important to me," said Kitzen Branting. "Anytime we come to a tribal function, I know my marriage is just as valid as anyone else's marriage." Full Story from Oregon Live: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/05/coquille_samesex_marriage_law.html

Click here for gay marriage resources in Oregon.

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NJ: No Sign of Gay Marriage on the Agenda

The push to legalize gay marriage in New Jersey could fail without a vote being cast in the Legislature. While the likelihood of a vote has yet to be determined, opponents of gay marriage are preparing to declare the measure dead while advocates insist there's still time to pass a law before the governor switch next month. Gov. Jon Corzine, a Democrat, says he'd sign the bill if lawmakers can get it to his desk while he's still in office. At noon Jan. 19, he'll be replaced by Republican Chris Christie, who says he would veto the bill. Gay marriage is recognized in four states: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts and Vermont. A law to legalize it in New Hampshire takes effect Friday. The Washington, D.C., City Council voted last month to legalize gay marriage, but that law is still subject to congressional approval. Full Story from the Courier Post Online: http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20091231/NEWS01/912310331/1006

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NH: Gay Couples to Marry at Midnight

A handful of gay couples plan to celebrate the New Year and New Hampshire’s law legalizing gay marriage by exchanging their vows in front of the Statehouse just after midnight. Mo Baxley of New Hampshire Freedom to Marry said Wednesday that a few couples plan to get married while others who got married in other states will celebrate with them. Two years ago, about three dozen gay couples celebrated the state’s new civil union law by entering into unions at the Statehouse. The new marriage law grants no new rights to gays, but eliminates the separate status for civil unions. Full Story from the Nashua Telegraph: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/statenewengland/508717-227/nh-gay-couples-plan-midnight-statehouse-weddings.html

Click here for gay marriage resources in New Hampshire.

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NJ: Dissolving a Civil Union Takes Longer, Costs More Than Divorce

For same-sex couples unhappy in their civil unions, breaking up is hard to do. For starters, ending a civil union is called "dissolution," not "divorce," and legal experts say the difference between those two words has created confusion over which laws and cases apply to civil unions. "You end up with one set of rules for one thing and another set of rules for another thing," said Stephen Hyland, 56, a family practice lawyer in Cherry Hill who represents gay clients. Lawyers familiar with the issue also say it’s harder to divvy up assets or assign alimony because there’s virtually no case precedent for ending civil unions and divorce precedents are not always applied to dissolutions. Sorting out the unions then can take longer and cost clients more than it would if they were ending a traditional marriage. Full Story from NJ.com: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/nj_gay_couples_looking_for_a_c.html

Click here for gay marriage resources in New Jersey.

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Judge Orders "Ex Lesbian" to Turn Over Child to Ex Partner

Lisa Miller has had a serious change of heart.  The former lesbian, who entered into a civil union with another woman and had a child with her, now says that "lifestyle" is "fundamentally wrong," has renounced her homosexuality, and has said she is determined to "protect" her 7-year-old daughter, Isabella, from the past. She fought for sole custody and won.  But Janet Jenkins, Isabella's other mother, doesn't quite see it that way. Jenkins has been fighting for visitation rights for Isabella for more than five years. Miller and Jenkins entered into a civil union in the state of Vermont in 2000. Isabella was born to Miller through artificial insemination in 2002. The couple broke up in 2003, and Miller moved to Virginia, where she renounced homosexuality and became an evangelical Christian. Full Story from CBS News: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12/30/crimesider/entry6037741.shtml

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CA: 9th Circuit Affirms Campaign Document Ruling

A federal appeals court reaffirmed its ruling Wednesday that allowed sponsors of California's ban on same-sex marriage to withhold campaign strategy documents from gay rights advocates who are seeking to overturn the ballot measure. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Dec. 11 had overturned a judge's order to produce the documents, ruling 3-0 that their disclosure might discourage participation in future campaigns and inhibit strategists from speaking candidly. An appellate judge then sought a rehearing before an 11-judge panel, but the court said Wednesday that the request failed to gain majority support from its members. No vote total was announced. The November 2008 initiative, Proposition 8, amended the California Constitution to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman, overturning a May 2008 state Supreme Court ruling that allowed gay and lesbian couples to marry. Full Story from SF Gate: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/31/BAGA1BBNTC.DTL&feed=rss.gay

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NY: Possible Ousting of Anti Gay Marriage Queens Senator

A special New York Senate committee is likely to recommend that his fellow Senators consider ousting state Sen. Hiram Monserrate for beating up his domestic partner. You may remember, Monserrate, a Queens Democrat, was convicted in October of misdemeanor assault, and was sentenced to 3 years probation, ordered to serve 250 hours of community service and undergo a year’s worth of counseling for jealousy and anger issues, for slashing his live in girlfriend, Karla Giraldo, in the face with a broken glass last year after dragging her across the lobby of his apartment building. You may also remember Monserrate joined Republican senators last month to “defend traditional marriage” and vote against marriage equality legislation for New York State. Full Story from Lez Get Real: http://lezgetreal.com/?p=24354

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Just In: Marriage Equality USA Lake and Mendocino County Chapter New Years Eve dance at the Edgewater

Just received this:

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Marriage Equality USA Lake and Mendocino County Chapter New Years Eve dance at the Edgewater Resort (http://www.edgewaterresort.net) at 6420 SODA BAY RD., KELSEYVILLE, CA 95451.  Call for room reservations and dance tickets 707-279-0208. A few of our "core" folks have reported that they didn't get this New Year's Eve retreat invite so I'm sending it again to our leadership list of people we'd love to spend New Year's Eve with. This will be a bit rustic - but affordable and fun! If you can still make it - we'd love to see you there. Just call Laura and reserve your cabin and call the restaurant and add your additional names to the reservation that is under my name (we are up to 11 and counting) We will spend the night dancing and chatting about the accomplishments of 2009 and in the morning - if you are interested - we will have a short visioning exercise to contemplate and set our intentions for 2010. We will share our collective visions on the January leadership call - so if you can't make it - we'd still love to hear your thoughts. And, if you can make it, would love to see you there. Molly, Davina, Dave and Jeff Janis-Kitsmiller, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino Chapter leaders and members and Terry and I will be there. --Carole Scagnetti

Malawi: Gay Marriage Was Actually an Engagement - Local Reporting

That "gay wedding" in Malawi, that featured two men (one dressed as a woman) who were promptly arrested on public indecency charges, was not a marriage ceremony at all. A reader wiser than we (and, apparently, Reuters) points out that guests actually attended a chinkhoswe, or a traditional engagement ceremony. At such an event, "usually, the couple is presented to the community, gifts are presented, and so forth," writes reader John, an American living in Malawi. His location helps, as he was able to offer these scans of the front page of Monday's The Nation newspaper, which reported on Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjez's engagement on its frontpage. Notes John: "The Nation, one of two daily papers in Malawi, published a front-page article on Monday (the chinkhoswe was on Saturday) with the headline 'GAYS ENGAGE.' I've attached the whole article, which includes a photo. The first thing one notices, looking at the accompanying picture: one of the two men, Tiwonge, is clearly dressed as a woman, makeup included. Although the masculine "he" is used throughout the article, Tiwonge is consistently referred to as the bride, while Steven is the bridegroom. This is not simply ignorant reporting; Tiwonge, according to the article, self-identifies as a woman. Full Story from Qyeerty: http://www.queerty.com/that-married-couple-from-malawi-was-actually-just-celebrating-an-engagement-still-illegal-though-20091230/

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Caribbean: Bonaire, St. Eustatius & Saba Islands to Recognize Gay Marriage

Married and registered gay couples will obtain legal protection against discrimination by government agencies in the BES islands Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba after the islands have obtained their new status as public entities in the Dutch Kingdom. Articles will be included in the Civil Code for the BES islands stipulating that marriages or registered partnerships contracted in Holland will have the legal rights afforded them by Dutch Civil Law, State Secretary for Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveld-Schouten said in a letter to the Dutch Parliament’s Second Chamber in answer to Labour PvdA party questions. “Following Article 40 of the Statute, it is determined in Article 5 of the draft BES Public Entities Implementation Law that authenticated copies of contracts can be implemented anywhere in the Kingdom of Netherlands,” she stated. “This means that a marriage between persons of the same gender and a registered partnership should also be registered at the civil registries or census offices of the BES islands.” Full Story from The Daily Herald: http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/m189/gaym189.html

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Tracking the Progress of Gay Marriage Around the World - Map

This week, two men in Argentina became the first same-sex married couple in Latin America. The gay rights activists from Buenos Aires were married in Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego state. Argentina’s constitution does not define marriage as strictly between a man and a woman, allowing local officials some flexibility. A bill to legalize gay marriage nationwide is now stalled in Argentina’s Congress. Only seven countries in the world permit gay marriage to be performed, although recognition of civil unions exists in some nations. Gay couples still face persecution — and even the death penalty — in many countries: Full Story from World Focus: http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/12/29/tracking-the-legality-of-same-sex-marriage-around-the-world/9035/

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CA: Prop 8 Supporters Don't Want Trial Televised

Proposition 8 supporters this week urged a federal judge to reject a proposal to televise and webcast the upcoming trial of the legal challenge to California's ban on same-sex marriage. In a letter to Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, lawyers defending Proposition 8 argued that allowing cameras in the federal court trial would violate federal rules and expose their side to threats, intimidation and harassment from gay marriage advocates. The letter warns the judge that some witnesses for the Proposition 8 defense "have indicated they will not be willing to testify at all if the trial is broadcast or webcast beyond the courthouse." Full Story from Mercury News: http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_14088084

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US: Referendum 71 Signature Case Decision Due by Mid January

John Doe vs. Sam Reed could well determine once and for all whether Washington's Public Records Act, which seeks transparency of all government records, violates the First Amendment rights of voters who sign ballot petitions. The high court will decide at a Jan. 15 meeting whether to accept or reject the case and then announce later that day — or the following Monday, Jan. 18 — if it will hear arguments. If justices take the case, attorneys representing the state and Protect Marriage Washington, which brought the original lawsuit, will likely argue before the court in April, with a decision likely by the end of June. If the Supreme Court decides not to hear it, a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision allowing release of the names will take effect, according to the Secretary of State's Office. Full Story from the Seattle Times: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010627697_supremecourt30m.html

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Malawi: Gay Couple Arrested After Wedding

Two gay men arrested in Malawi after getting engaged have pleaded not guilty to charges of gross public indecency. Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza appeared at a packed court in Malawi's biggest city Blantyre, where they will ask for bail on Monday. The pair held a traditional engagement ceremony over the weekend - believed to be the first gay couple in Malawi to start the process of getting married. Homosexual acts carry a maximum prison sentence of 14 years in Malawi. Full Story from BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8434743.stm

Click here for gay marriage resources.

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Mexico: Will Gay Marriage Bring Gays/Lesbians to Mexico City?

Tourism officials in Mexico say they hope to attract gay couples who want to marry in the capital city. The city became the first capital city to legalise gay marriage in Latin America last week. According to Press Association, Alejandro Rojas, the city's tourism secretary, said: "Mexico City will become a centre, where [gay] people from all over the world will be able to come and have their wedding, and then spend their honeymoon here. "We are already in talks with some travel agencies that are planning to offer package tours that include flights, hotels, guides, and everything they need for the wedding, like banquets. We are going to become a city on a par with Venice or San Francisco." Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/30/mexico-city-hopes-to-attract-gay-marriage-tourism/

Click here for gay marriage resources in Mexico.

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US: Gay GOP Group to be Allowed at CPAC, But Can't Speak

GOProud is just that. The group, consisting of conservative homosexuals who broke away from the Log Cabin Republicans a few years ago because it was deemed too liberal, decided to co-sponsor The American Conservative Union’s annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, DC. But other conservative Republicans want no part of GOPround at the conference, including the Liberty Counsel’s Matt Barber, who’s threatening to organize a boycott. Joining Barber in his opposition is Americans for Truth about Homosexuality, which is urging David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union, to drop GOProud because it “supports the same radical homosexualist agenda as other GLBT [gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender] organizations—which is corrupting children and tearing apart America’s moral fiber.” Full Story from AllGov: http://www.allgov.com/ViewNews/Its_Not_Easy_Being_a_Gay_Republican_91230

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Who is Really Weakening the Institution of Marriage?

I saw (and posted) this story today from the Press Democrat: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won praise in June after pushing to extend to gay and lesbian partners many of the federal benefits traditionally provided to diplomats' spouses. Since then, unmarried heterosexual couples have been lining up to ask for benefits too. They have approached the State Department's personnel office and the diplomats' union, arguing that they are entitled to equal treatment. and this comment by one of the right-wing candidates for Governor in Iowa: "They should have seen this coming," said Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, who had opposed extending benefits to gay people. "It's a Pandora's box." And it got me thinking - who is really weakening "traditional marriage" here?  I mean, think about it - if gays and lesbians had just been allwoed to marry, like everyone else, a) there would be many more married couples in this country, and b) there would be no "marriage light" category for straight people to ask to join, putting off being actually married. This has happened elsewhere too - in France, straight couples who do not want to get married are asking to be allowed to have a civil union instead. In effect, by forcing gays and lesbians into civil unions, benefit plans, and domestic partnerships, conservatives have opened the floodgates for their straight bretheren to skip marriage for any one of these "marriage lite" options. And it gets better - in Texas, where voters went all the way and banned gay marriage outright without a "light" substitute, it appears they may have accidentally banned marriage altogether. So who, really, is damaging the institution of marriage - the gay and lesbian couples who want to join it, or the right wingers who will go to almost any length to "defend" it?

US: Straight Couples Want in on Second Class Citizenship

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won praise in June after pushing to extend to gay and lesbian partners many of the federal benefits traditionally provided to diplomats' spouses. Since then, unmarried heterosexual couples have been lining up to ask for benefits too. They have approached the State Department's personnel office and the diplomats' union, arguing that they are entitled to equal treatment. At least one couple has threatened to challenge the rules in court as discriminatory. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which is responsible for policy on federal workers, is weighing such an extension of benefits, U.S. officials say -- to the consternation of conservatives. Full Story from the Press Democrat: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091227/NEWS/912271114/1348

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IA: Pro and Anti Gay Marriage Groups Plan Rallies

Both sides of the gay marriage issue are planning events for the start of the new legislative session in January. The Iowa Family Policy Center announced Monday it will hold a two-day event beginning at the state capitol on the second day of the legislative session January 12th. Center spokesman, Brian English, says the event if called “Two Days For Marriage.” He says, “The 12th is an opportunity for the people of Iowa who support marriage, the only definition of marriage, which is one man and one woman, and or the constitutional separation of powers, to come together at the capitol building when all three branches of government are in the same place at the same time.” English says it is a show of solidarity asking the elected leaders to let Iowans vote on the Iowa marriage amendment. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled in April that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage violated the state constitution, and Democrats who control legislative debate say they will not allow a vote on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. English says they encourage everyone to turn out and tell the elected leaders to allow a vote on the amendment. Full Story from Radio Iowa: http://www.radioiowa.com/2009/12/29/groups-on-both-sides-of-gay-marriage-plan-events-for-legislatures-opening/

Click here for gay marriage resources in Iowa.

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Argentina: Gay Couple Finally Married in Tierra del Fuego

A gay couple who have been fighting for the right to marry in Argentina have tied the knot in Latin America's southernmost state. Jose Maria Di Bello and Alex Freyre married yesterday in Ushuaia, the capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego state where sympathetic state officials backed their bid. They are the first gay couple in Latin America to marry. They wore red sashes around their suits to support HIV awareness and the ceremony was witnessed by state and federal officials. Tierra del Fuego governor Fabiana Rios, who was the first woman to be elected to the position, released a statement praising the ceremony. Full Story from Pink News: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/29/gay-couple-become-first-in-latin-america-to-marry/

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NH: Wedding Expo and Gay Marriage Celebration in Manchester 1/1/10

Just received this: 2010 STARTS ON A NOTE OF EQUALITY NH Marriage Equality Celebration and LGBT Expo Join in the fun on Friday, January 1, 2010 at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Manchester for a celebration and acknowledgement of New Hampshire's legalization of same-sex marriage. From 4-7pm mingle and meet local LGBT friendly businesses and organizations as they display information about their products and services, with special emphasis on wedding services. The Expo is FREE TO THE PUBLIC. There will also be a free raffle of original art and other donated items and a free instructional dance demonstration from the masters at Let's Dance Studio. Immediately following the Expo, from 7-11pm enjoy an evening of dinner and dancing at a reception to honor all those choosing to marry in the Granite State. You'll enjoy food, drink, wedding cake and the hot sounds of DJ Paul from Godd Vibrations. Tickets are $50 per person. Discounts are available for groups, sponsors and exhibitors. RSVP to attend the dinner. Celebrate the first day of the year... and the historic first day of marriage equality in New Hampshire! RSVP via email at: info@EventsWithoutBorders.com or call 603.361.4243. Deadline for exhibitors is December 30th. Additional questions: Call Tim or Diane at 603.361.4243

China: A Year of Gay

As the year 2009 comes to a close, it does so having been a monumental year for China's LGBT community. Beijing and numerous cities across China experienced the successful completion of 12 anniversaries and public events that expose LGBT culture and related issues like never before. China's LGBT community, which is an acronym that refers to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people, has adapted the terms tongzhi to refer to gays, lala for lesbians, ku'er for queer - an umbrella term for those who do not identify as heterosexual with regard to sexuality, sexual anatomy or gender identity. The community is young. Most are in their 20s and 30s, are educated, working professionals with experience abroad who are now highly active and public organizers, authors, editors, designers, film directors, curators, activists and artists. One catalyst was the Olympic Games in 2008, a landmark event that many in the LGBT community have interpreted as a "coming out" event. LGBT websites have allowed for communities to build, to advertise events, and to allow contact and information to be exchanged between LGBT members from big cities and small towns in China with those from around the world. Full Story from China Daily: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2009-12/28/content_9236644.htm

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Mexico: Catholic Cardinal Calls Pro Gay Legislators "Dangerous"

The Catholic Church has lashed out at Mexico City lawmakers who approved a gay marriage bill widely expected to become law. City legislators led by the leftist Democratic Revolution Party (Partido de la Revolution Democratica, PRD) overwhelmingly approved the bill on a 39 to 20 vote that included five abstentions. Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard is expected to sign the bill into law. The bill only effects Mexico's capital, one of the world's largest cities with nearly 9 million residents. After the December 21 vote, members of the conservative National Action Party (Partido Accion Nacional, PAN) decried the action, saying giving gay couples the right to adopt was going too far and vowed to appeal to the country's Supreme Court. Through a spokesman, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, the archbishop of Mexico, called the PRD politicians who approved the bill “dangerous.” Full Story from On Top Magazine: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5048&MediaType=1&Category=24

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Spain: Thousands of Catholics Rally Against Gay Marriage, Abortion

At a huge rally in the capital, Cardinal Antonio Rouco, the leader of Spain's Roman Catholics, told protesters the birth rate in Europe will be depleted unless Christian values are maintained. Catholics attended a huge open air mass beside Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium. The mass marked the Feast of the Holy Family. But Catholic leaders from across Europe joined their local counterparts and members of the Spanish centre-Right opposition to castigate the socialist government's policies. "Europe will be practically without children," warned Cardinal Rouco, 73, the conservative Archbishop of Madrid. "Who denies to defend a human being so innocent and weak, already conceived but not born, commits a grave violation of moral order." Full Story from The Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/6896330/Thousands-of-Spanish-Catholics-march-against-abortion-and-gay-marriage.html

Click here for gay marriage resources in Spain.

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Malawi: Gay Couple Risks Imprisonment to Get Married

Two Malawian men became the first gay couple to publicly tie the knot, the Nation newspaper reported on Monday, risking arrest in the conservative southern African state where homosexuality is illegal. Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza were married in a traditional but symbolic ceremony in southern Malawi on Saturday, attracting hundreds of curious onlookers. "We met at church where we both pray and we have been together for the last five months ... I have never been interested in a woman," Monjeza told The Nation newspaper. Homosexuality is banned in Malawi and carries a maximum sentence of 14 years. Full Story from Reuters: http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE5BR09520091228

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CA: Federal Proposition 8 Trial Begins on January 11th

The trial in the federal lawsuit seeking to overturn California’s Proposition 8 starts Jan. 11 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. It could last a month. Representing the gay side are famed attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies, who, in 2000, argued opposite sides of the Bush/Gore "hanging chad" election mess before the U.S. Supreme Court. Intervening for the gay side are lawyers from Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Their request to join the case on the same level as Olson and Boies was denied after they angered Olson and Boies by speaking ill of the case, saying it was poorly timed and unwise. The city of San Francisco also has intervened on behalf of the gays. The defendants in the case -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Attorney General Jerry Brown (who very likely is running for governor) and the counties of Alameda and Los Angeles -- will not actually defend Prop. 8 because they agree with Olson and Boies that it violates the U.S. Constitution. It is highly unusual for a state attorney general to refuse to defend his state’s constitution. Prop. 8 amended the California Constitution to re-ban same-sex marriage. Full Story from Bay Windows: http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=100447

Click here for gay marriage resources in California.

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Colin Farrell Attends Gay Brother's Wedding Party

The wedding celebrations of Colin Farrell’s gay brother were a family affair last night at Krystle nightclub on Harcourt Street in Dublin. Farrell’s brother Eamon was marking his marriage to long-term partner, the Irish artist Steven Mannion. Colin Farrell was in Dublin for the party, bringing his five-year-old son James with him. Colin’s father Eamon Sr., his mother Rita, and his sisters Claudine and Catherine were also at bash, along with other high profile Dublin socialites, according to the Irish Independent. James is Colin Farrell’s first son, whom he had with former girlfriend, American model Kim Bordenave. At an early age the boy was diagnosed with a rare form of cerebral palsy called Angelman Syndrome. The illness causes seizures and problems with balance, and delays a child’s development. But one of its other symptoms is happiness and frequent laughter, caused by changes in the brain’s pathways brought about by the condition. Full Story from Irish Central: http://www.irishcentral.com/ent/Colin-Farrell-bring-son-James-to-brothers-wedding-bash-in-Dublin-80200742.html

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US: Proposed Immigration Reform Leaves Out Same Sex Couples

Some gay rights advocates are upset with a Chicago congressman who's trying to spearhead an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws. Congressman Luis Gutierrez says he supports a proposal to allow lawful U.S. residents to sponsor the immigration of a same-sex partner. GUTIERREZ: If you're gay and you're married, if you're a man and man or a woman and a woman, I think the government should recognize that marriage. But a sweeping immigration bill that Gutiérrez unveiled this month leaves same-sex families out. A statement from the congressman's office says he does remain committed to ending discrimination against gay immigrants. Full Story from Chicago Public Radio: http://www.wbez.org/Content.aspx?audioID=39071

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Gay Marriage Watch: Gay Marriage Events List 12/27/09

Gay Marriage Watch Events List: We now publish a weekly recap of all the upcoming gay marriage events we can find. Know about something that's not on this list? Email us the information 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 Upcoming Gay Marriage Events (in Country, State, City Order) ---------------------------------------------- >>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN AUSTRALIA Australia, NSW, Sydney: 3/3: NMG’s Dinner at the Zoo, to raise money for Australian Marriage Equality (AME). http://tinyurl.com/yjcc8ks ---------------------------------------------- >>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM UK, England, Brighton: 11/14: Gay wedding show, The Corn Exchange, 12-4:30 PM. http://bit.ly/rMWTT UK, England, London: 3/7: Gay wedding show, St. James Hotel, 12-4:30 PM. http://bit.ly/rMWTT UK, England, Manchester: 10/10: Gay wedding show, Ramada Piccadilly, 12-4:30 PM. http://bit.ly/rMWTT UK, Wales, Cardiff: 10/3: Gay wedding show, Cardiff City Hall, 12-4:30 PM. http://bit.ly/rMWTT ---------------------------------------------- >>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN THE UNITED STATES USA: 1/3-1/9: Love Takes Over: write your local newspaper about marriage equality. http://bit.ly/5VwxEs ---------------------------------------------- >>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN CALIFORNIA CA, Fresno: 1/23: Orgullo y Poder Conference, New Generation of LGBT Activists, 1st Congressional Church, 9 AM. http://bit.ly/5L1Ph3 CA, Garden Grove: 2/12-14: Courage Campaign/EQCA Booth (C29) at Tet Festival 2010, Garden Grove Park, 10 AM. http://bit.ly/4Jx3De CA, Hollywood: 12/31: New Year’s Eve bingo fundraiser, Hamburger Mary's, 8 PM-1 AM. http://bit.ly/8qRCxe CA, Los Angeles: Every Monday: LA Equal Roots Meeting. http://tinyurl.com/ntkal4 CA, Los Angeles: Every Tuesday: Love Honor Cherish Meeting. 7:30 PM. http://tinyurl.com/r2kruq CA, Los Angeles: Every Thursday: Voter canvass training, at The Village, 6:30-9:30 PM. http://tinyurl.com/yzl5bh3 CA, Oakland: 12/30: Friends of Equality End of the Year Mix it Up! Shashamane Bar, 7-9 PM. http://bit.ly/7gfnv0 CA, San Diego: 1/23: 2nd Annual Flawles Tie Party, Wonderhaus Bakery, 6 PM. http://bit.ly/7oGQoW CA, San Francisco: Every Thursday: One Struggle One Fight Meeting, 7 PM. http://bit.ly/7HQ8D4 CA, San Francisco: 2/13: 2010 San Francisco Equality Awards, City Hall. http://bit.ly/5dVRbH CA, Santa Barbara: 1/30-1/31: Camp Courage Central Coast, Santa Barbara City College. http://tinyurl.com/yzl5bh3 CA, Silverlake: Every Tues, Wed, Thurs & Fri: Help EQCA Enter LA Marriage Equal Data, 10-6. http://bit.ly/7uNSzA CA, West Hollywood: Every Wednesday: Equality Network meeting, at Fubar. 7-9PM. http://tinyurl.com/nlt3la CA, West Hollywood: 12/27: Planning Meeting for National Equality Caravan, Java Detour, 1-3 PM. http://bit.ly/7aP3aD CA, West Hollywood: 12/31: Equality Network Fundraiser, Hamburger Mary's, 8 PM-1 AM. http://bit.ly/8qRCxe CA, West Hollywood: 1/31: Direct Action for Equality - Workshop / Conference, Fiesta Hall, Plummer Park, 10-5. http://bit.ly/4DDk06 ---------------------------------------------- >>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN FLORIDA FL, Ft. Lauderdale: 1/10: Same Love Same Rights Wedding Expo, Hyatt Regency, 12:30-3:30 PM. http://tinyurl.com/yaqplbe ---------------------------------------------- >>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN ILLINOIS IL, Chicago: 4/18: Same Love Same Rights Wedding Expo, Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, 1-4 PM. http://tinyurl.com/ybwrvjj ---------------------------------------------- >>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN IOWA IA, Dubuque: 1/5: One Iowa Public Forum, Mindframe Theater, 6:30-8:30 PM. http://bit.ly/4qRStd IA, Cedar Rapids: 2/1: Charity Bingo for One Iowa, Hamburger Mary's, 8-10 PM PM. http://bit.ly/4qRStd IA, Cedar Rapids: 3/29: Charity Bingo for One Iowa, Hamburger Mary's, 8-10 PM PM. http://bit.ly/4qRStd IA, Des Moines: 1/10: Red Blue Purple for Equality Campaign Launch, Des Moines Social Club, 3-4 PM. http://bit.ly/4QpTsM IA, Mason City: 1/7: One Iowa Public Forum, N. Iowa Comm College, 7-9 PM. http://bit.ly/4qRStd IA, Webster City: 1/4: Public Forum, All Cultures Equal Center, 6:30-8 PM. http://bit.ly/4qRStd ---------------------------------------------- >>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN MISSOURI MO, St. Louis: 1/7: Counter protest Fred Phelps, Parkway North HS, 2:15-3:15 PM. http://bit.ly/8jyQ01 MO, St. Louis: 1/7: Counter protest Fred Phelps, Lady Gaga Concert, Fox Theater, 6 PM. http://bit.ly/7XZ5LN MO, St. Louis: 1/8: Counter protest Fred Phelps, Parkway South HS, 7-8 AM. http://bit.ly/7l6nmj ---------------------------------------------- >>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN NEW YORK NY, New York: 3/20-3/21: Same Love Same Rights Wedding Expo, Javits Center. http://tinyurl.com/ybpxxy6 ---------------------------------------------- >>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN OREGON OR, Portland: Every Tuesday: Portland Equal Rights Coalition Meeting, Catholic Workers House. http://tinyurl.com/yfqd2pz ----------------------------------------------- >>GAY MARRIAGE EVENTS IN TEXAS TX, Dallas: 2/3-2/7: The 22nd National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change: The 22nd National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change will be held at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel in beautiful downtown Dallas, Texas, Feb. 3 - 7, 2010. http://tinyurl.com/ykppv5p ----------------------------------------------- fini

Mexico: Analyzing the Effect of Gay Marriage in Mexico City

Gay and lesbians couples can now legally marry and adopt children in Mexico City, after a historic but not necessarily surprising vote in the legislative assembly. The Distrito Federal’s governing representative body is dominated by the leftist PRD, or Democratic Revolutionary Party, and for weeks word had spread on online networks that the Monday vote was coming. It came down beautifully, 39-20, to change the Federal District’s legal code to define a marriage as a union between two willing adults, in effect fortifying a 2006 law already allowing same-sex unions. A separate vote also gave same-sex marriages the right to adopt children. What does this mean for you? If you’re not in a committed same-sex relationship within the borders of the Mexican capital, you’re probably thinking, ‘Not a whole lot.’ But as Time points out, gay-rights advocates across Catholic-heavy Latin America are hoping that the Mexico City vote could create a ripple-effect in other regions: Full Story from The Faster Times: http://thefastertimes.com/mexico/2009/12/27/the-meaning-of-the-gay-marriage-vote-in-mexico-city/

Click here for gay marriage resources in Mexico.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or 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.

Gay Marriage in 2009: A Transitional Year

For the gay marriage debate, 2009 was transitional instead of transformative, but the year was historic nonetheless. To mangle Churchill, it was not the end, nor even the beginning of the end, but it was at least the beginning of the middle. This is an issue on which the fundamentals of public opinion change glacially. Support for same-sex marriage is rising, but only by about a percentage point or soa a year. Essentially, a third of the public supports gay marriage, another third or so supports civil unions instead, and the remaining third opposes any kind of legal status for same-sex couples. Although public-opinion fundamentals didn't change in 2009; the politics of gay marriage did. Here are the ways the year marked a shift to what a storyteller might call the "long middle." Full Story from the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rauch27-2009dec27,0,4488760.story

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NY: Gay Activists Crash Senator Monserrate's Christmas Party

Some activists aren't allowing state senator Hiram Monserrate to forget the anti-gay marriage vote he stuffed in the Christmas stockings of gay and lesbian New Yorkers. On the anniversary of Monserrate slashing his girlfriend's face, activists from The Power crashed the senator's Queens Christmas party before being escorted out. Shouted the activists, "Hiram's a wife beater! He can get married and we can't! How can wife beaters get married and we can't? Hiram believes marriage believes marriage should be between one man, one woman, and a broken bottle." Full Story from Towleroad.com: http://www.towleroad.com/2009/12/gay-activists-crash-wife-beater-sen-monserrates-xmas-party.html

Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or 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.

NC: County Supervisor Cites Biased ADF Health Report to Deny Domestic Partner Bill

When the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners held initial discussion on extending domestic partner benefits, Republican Commissioner Karen Bentley suggested to county human resources staff a white paper on the potential costs of the benefits. Although the resource, entitled “The Hidden Costs of Domestic Partner Benefits,” has ties to a questionable, anti-LGBT organization and contains outdated information, it was nonetheless included in an 80-page human resources department report presented to Mecklenburg commissioners on Dec. 15. The paper, written by Michael Hamrick, is a publication of the Corporate Resource Council, an organization run by and funded by the Alliance Defense Fund. Based in Arizona, the Alliance Defense Fund is a legal organization responsible for challenges to LGBT-inclusive laws and policies across the nation. Some have claimed the CRC is a “front group” of the Alliance and it has been identified as a “non-profit consulting firm” affiliated with the legal group. CRC corporate filings with the Arizona Secretary of State office show the CRC shares the same physical address as the Alliance. One of CRC’s board members is the CEO of the legal organization. Full Story from QNotes: http://www.q-notes.com/4704/mecklenburg-gop-pol-cites-outdated-biased-white-paper-in-domestic-partner-fight/

Click here for gay marriage resources in North Carolina.

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