CA: Gather Signatures to Repeal Prop 8 This Weekend

Just got this from Love Honor Cherish:

Help get signatures this weekend

This weekend volunteers throughout the state will gather to collect signatures to put a new initiative on the ballot in November 2010 that would repeal Proposition 8 and restore equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. In the Los Angeles area join us at these events:

Saturday:

Saturday, Feb 27
8 a.m. to 12 noon
Burbank Farmers Market
Meet at corner of 3rd and Orange Grove in Burbank (park at City Hall, same corner)

Saturday, Feb 27
9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Torrance Farmer's Market
2400 Jefferson St. (park in parking lot)
Meet at 8:50 a.m. for a brief training

Saturday, Feb 27
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Whole Foods Market - Redondo Beach
405 N. Pacific Coast Hwy (park in parking lot)
Meet at 9:45 a.m. for a brief training

Sunday:


Sunday, Feb 28
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Hollywood Farmers Market
Meet at Cinerama Dome, 6360 Sunset Blvd (park on street or at lot at Ivar & Delongpre - $2 for first 2 hrs w/validation at market)

Sunday, Feb 28
9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Santa Monica Farmers Market (Ocean Park)
Meet at grassy area near SW corner of Main St. and Ocean Park (park on street)

Sunday, Feb 28
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Studio City Farmers Market
Meet at main gate of CBS Studios, 4024 Radford (free parking at CBS)

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 (City of Los Angeles meters now operate on Sundays!)
3. $10 donation for our Sign For Equality volunteer t-shirt

To find out more about signature gathering, or to learn how you can help, go to SignForEquality.com, the first-ever social networking site for volunteer signature gatherers. Download a petition, print it, get signatures and then send it in. You can also:
- Get trained using online videos.
- Join or create a signature gathering team and set goals for yourself and your team.
- Share tips and learn about events where signature gathering is taking place.

P.S. Join us for our next weekly meeting Tuesday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Crescent Heights United Methodist Church, 1296 N Fairfax Ave.

CA: Signature Gathering in Hollywood & Los Angeles to Repeal Prop 8

From Love Honor Cherish:

Help get signatures this weekend in Larchmont Village and Hollywood
This weekend volunteers throughout the state will gather to collect signatures to put a new initiative on the ballot in November 2010 that would repeal Proposition 8 and restore equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. In the Los Angeles area join us at these events:

Saturday, Feb 20

Hollywood
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Hollywood Lutheran Church
1733 North New Hampshire Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027
(Durkee Hall - downstairs) Lots of free parking on nearby streets or in parking lot. We'll have a brief training lasting until 10:30 or so and then we'll hit the streets nearby!

Sunday, Feb 21

Hollywood Farmers Market
8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Meet at NE corner of Ivar and Sunset (park on street or at lot at Ivar & Delongpre - $2 for first 2 hrs w/validation at market).

Sunday, Feb 21

Larchmont Farmers Market
10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Meet at SW corner of Beverly and Larchmont (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 (City of Los Angeles meters now operate on Sundays!)
3. $10 donation for our Sign For Equality volunteer t-shirt

To find out more about signature gathering, or to learn how you can help, go to SignForEquality.com, the first-ever social networking site for volunteer signature gatherers. Download a petition, print it, get signatures and then send it in. You can also:
- Get trained using online videos.
- Join or create a signature gathering team and set goals for yourself and your team.
- Share tips and learn about events where signature gathering is taking place.

P.S. Join us for our next weekly meeting Tuesday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Crescent Heights United Methodist Church, 1296 N Fairfax Ave. Our special guest will be Brad Sears, Executive Director of the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law. Brad will talk about the Institute's research on same-sex marriage and its use in the federal case challenging Prop 8, as well as the Institute's groundbreaking work with the U.S. Census.

NH: Legislature Rejects Marriage Equality Repeal Bill 210-109, With 40 Republicans Joining

Gay marriage became legal in the state on January 1st but conservative Republicans quickly announced plans to seek repeal. They introduced two measures: a bill to repeal both gay marriage and the state's 2007 civil unions law, and a resolution seeking a constitutional amendment to restrict marriage to one man and one woman. The first was defeated in the House by 210-109 and the second by 201-135.

Opponents hoped to capitalise on the fact that gay marriage rights in the US have never been granted by voters, and 31 states have constitutional bans on gay marriage.

According to the Union-Leader, the bill's main sponsor Al Baldasaro argued that the state should not concede to gay couples. "Homosexuals can change their sexual preference at any time," he argued.

Full Story from Pink News
Click here for gay marriage resources in New Hampshire.
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.

NH: House to Vote on Gay Marriage Repeal, Constitutional Ban on Wednesday

New Hampshire's House votes Wednesday whether to repeal the state's six-week-old law legalizing gay marriage. The House also will vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

The Judiciary Committee is recommending that the House kill both measures. Gay marriage supporters said gay couples have gotten married without any detrimental impact on society. They also said it would be wrong to enshrine discrimination in the Constitution.

Opponents said the consummation of gay unions can't be spoken of in polite society. They also said voters should decide, not lawmakers if the marriages should be allowed.

Full Story from WCAX
Click here for gay marriage resources in New Hampshire.
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.

NH: Panel Votes Today on Gay Marriage Repeal

A House committee will recommend whether New Hampshire's five-week-old gay marriage law should be repealed.

The Judiciary Committee also votes Tuesday whether to support a constitutional amendment banning gay unions. Gay marriage opponents know their chance of success is slim, but they want to keep the issue before voters in hopes Republicans will regain control of the Statehouse from Democrats in November and succeed then in repealing the law.

The House next acts on the recommendations. New Hampshire became the fifth state to legalize gay marriage on Jan. 1.

Full Story from WCAX
Click here for gay marriage resources in New Hampshire .
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.

VA: Delegate Tries to Repeal Gay Marriage Ban

Delegate David Englin, D-Alexandria, wants Virginia to repeal its constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. He says the amendment, which voters approved four years ago, is unfair to gay and lesbian couples. So he’s trying for the third time to repeal it. “If we are to take our founding values seriously, where we say that every human being deserves equal treatment under the law, then we cannot enshrine in the Constitution a policy that boils down to nothing but bigotry,” Englin said.

In the 2006 general election, 57 percent of voters supported amending the Virginia Constitution to say: Marriage is a union between a man and a woman.

Virginia will not recognize “a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage.” Nor will the state recognize “another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.”

Full Story from WTOP
Click here for gay marriage resources in Virginia.
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.

Colin Powell Now Supports Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

The last we heard from Colin Powell, on CNN's State of the Union in July of last year, was that he supported "review" of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Following yesterday's hearings by the Joint Chief Chair Mullen and Defense Secretary Gates, Powell now says he supports it.

General Powell released a statement to the NYT: “In the almost 17 years since the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed. I fully support the new approach presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week by Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen.”

The paper notes: "When Mr. Clinton tried to end the ban on gay soldiers, General Powell was the Joint Chiefs chairman and opposed the move on the grounds that it would undermine discipline and order in the military but he supported the 'don’t ask' compromise. In his statement on Wednesday, General Powell said 'the principal issue has always been the effectiveness of the Armed Forces and order and discipline in the ranks.'

Full Story from Towleroad.com
Click here for gay marriage resources.
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.

USA: Joint Chiefs Call for Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal - After 11 Month Study

The nation's top two defense officials called Tuesday for an end to the 16-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" policy, a major step toward allowing openly gay men and women to serve in the U.S. military for the first time. "No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens," Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee. He said it was his personal belief that "allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do."

Mullen is the first sitting Joint Chiefs chairman to support a repeal of the policy, and the forceful expression of his views seemed to catch not only gay-rights leaders but Sen. Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat who is the committee's chairman, by surprise. Levin, a longtime proponent of ending the law, told Mullen his testimony was "eloquent."

In 1993, Gen. Colin Powell, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs, opposed allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly but supported "don't ask, don't tell" as the compromise was passed by Congress. Under the policy, officers aren't supposed to inquire about sexual orientation or seek to know it, while service members are to keep quiet about it.

Full Story from the Seattle Times
Click here for gay marriage resources.
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.

IA: Candidate for Governor Promises to Block All Legislation Until Gay Marriage Repeal Passed

As governor, Rep. Chris Rants would be willing to veto any bill, including the budget, until lawmakers vote on giving Iowans the opportunity to amend the constitution to define marriage. "I would not let the legislature adjourn until they had a straight up or down vote on that issue," said Rants, a Sioux City Republican seeking the party's nomination for governor.

Giving Iowans the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment specifying marriage between one man and one woman as the only legal union that is valid or recognized in the state is a key fighting point in the four-way battle for the GOP nomination to take on first-term Democrat Gov. Chet Culver.

He would make it clear during the campaign and in meetings with legislative leaders he would hold the Legislature in session until lawmakers voted on whether the issue should be placed on the ballot, Rants said.

Full Story from the Sioux City Journal
Click here for gay marriage resources in Iowa.
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.

MA: Will Brown Election Block DOMA, DADT Repeals?

Pending gay rights bills in Congress are likely to have a difficult – if not impossible – time winning approval after Republican Scott Brown's win over Democrat Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts Senate race Tuesday. Coakley was widely considered a shoo-in to replace the late Ted Kennedy when she entered the special election. While Coakley's pro-gay rights positions are well know, Brown attempted to cloak his, refusing to answer such questions from the mainstream media. Brown would only say he holds a similar position on gay marriage as President Obama, who publicly supports civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. Brown, however, did respond to questions from the anti-gay group Massachusetts Family Institute. According to a scorecard released by the group, Brown opposes gay marriage, laws that would outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace and repeal of the military's ban on open gay service, also known as “don't ask, don't tell.” Full Story from On Top Magazine

Click here for gay marriage resources.

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.

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!

IA: Senate Leader Says No Gay Marriage Repeal Vote in 2010

During a taping of the IPTV “Iowa Press” show today, Republican leaders in the two Iowa chambers said they’d push ways to overturn same-sex marriage, which became legal in April following an Iowa Supreme Court ruling. Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, said he’d attempt to air ways to get a state constitutional referendum on marriage before Iowans. At roughly the same time McKinley was recording the show, here in Sioux City Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, was previewing key issues for 2010. After he addressed fiscal matters for the entire length of his remarks, I asked if he would allow a Senate floor debate on marriage. Nope, he quickly answered. Why? “I’m not about to put discrimination into the state constitution,” Gronstal said. So you agree with the court ruling? “Yes.” Full Story from the Sioux City Journal: http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/app/blogs/politically_speaking/?p=1884

Click here for gay marriage resources in Iowa.

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.

Signature Gathering to Repeal Prop 8 This Weekend

Help Us Get Signatures Before the Holidays! 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, Dec 18 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Venice Farmer's Market 501 Venice Boulevard Meet at front of market, inside orange cones, at corner of Venice Blvd and Ocean Ave. (free parking at lot on Dell Ave. near corner of Venice Blvd) Friday, Dec 18 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Echo Park Farmers Market 1125 Logan Street (near Downtown L.A.) Meet in front of market (park on street) Saturday, Dec 19 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Santa Monica Farmers Market (S.M. Promenade) Meet at corner of 2nd Street and Arizona Ave (park on street) Saturday, Dec 19 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sherman Oaks Galleria (San Fernando Valley) Meet at NW corner of Sepulveda and Ventura blvds. (free parking in mall with validation) Sunday, Dec 20 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) Monday, Dec. 21 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. West Hollywood Farmers Market (Plummer Park) Meet at Fountain Avenue entrance, between Vista and Fuller avenues (park on street) Mon, Tues and Wed - Dec. 21-23 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each night Lady Gaga Concerts Nokia Theater/Staples Center (Downtown L.A.) Meet at lobby of 888 S. Figueroa Street (park at 827 N. Figueroa - $8 flat fee - or other private lots nearby). We'll gather signatures from people waiting in line! 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 16 weeks. Let's get thousands this weekend! P.S. Join us for our next weekly meeting Tuesday, December 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Crescent Heights United Methodist Church, 1296 N Fairfax Ave. This week, we'll meet briefly and then head over to Sheddy's Pub at 361 S. Fairfax (near the Grove) for a social mixer.

Defense of Marriage Act Repeal on Back Burner

The lead sponsor of legislation that would repeal the federal ban on gay marriage says he expects the bill will remain on the back burner for the next year. In a recent interview with gay weekly DC Agenda, New York Representative Jerrold Nadler said the bill is not ready for passage. Nadler introduced the Respect for Marriage Act in September. The bill quickly rounded up 100 co-sponsors in its first 30 days, including two of Congress' three openly gay members – U.S. Reps. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, and Jared Polis, D-Colorado. But the effort to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has fallen victim to being a low priority, Nadler said. “The Respect for Marriage Act is a bill that we can't pass right now; we know we can't pass it right now,” he said. “Some of the people we're dealing with are very busy with a number of other things. There's not a sense of urgency, the sense that this bill has to have a Senate sponsor right now because it's going to pass right now, because it's not, so we're talking.” Full Story from On Top Magazine: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=4989&MediaType=1&Category=26

Click here for gay marriage resources.

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.

"Revenge Is" Selling Gay Marriage T-Shirt to Benefit Prop 8 Repeal Effort

Don't be jealous because Revenge Is, a self-described "eco-activist fashion company" (like Tom's Shoes), beat you to exploiting same-sex marriage for a few sales. At Los Angeles boutique Kitson last week, (straight-y) actor Hal Sparks "married" Smith & Pyle bandmates Missi Pyle and Shawnee Smith in a faux ceremony hosted by E! personality Giuliana Rancic, which came complete with staged protesters. Aww! Sales of the label's "All Love Is Equal" tee will benefit Prop 8's 2010 repealers Love Honor Cherish, explains Revenge Is founder Marilyn Barrett. Full Story from Queerty: http://www.queerty.com/gay-marriage-is-now-a-brilliant-marketing-tool-for-trendy-tees-20091124/

Click here for gay marriage resources.

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.

New Poll: 60% of Californians Don't Want to See Gay Marriage on Ballot in 2010

A small majority of California voters supports the right of gay couples to marry, but a much larger portion of voters opposes efforts to place the issue back on the ballot next year, a new Los Angeles Times/USC poll has found. Views on same-sex marriage were sharply polarized based on political party, with 66% of Democrats thinking it should be legal and 71% of Republicans in opposition. Nonpartisan voters were less enthusiastic than Democrats but still backed it, 59%-34%. Overall, 51% of California voters favored marriage rights for same-sex couples and 43% were opposed. Strikingly, however, almost 60% of Californians did not want to revisit the issue in 2010, just one election cycle after it last hit the ballot. Full Story from the LA Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/voters-opposed-new-gay-marriage-ballot-measure-timesusc-poll-finds.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in California.

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.

Religious Right Trying to Build Grassroots Campaign to Repeal Gay Marriage in Iowa

A movement is under way that aims to undo the marriage licenses given to same-sex couples since the Iowa Supreme Court legalized gay and lesbian marriages in April. The process won't be easy. Even before the ruling, the Iowa Family Policy Center worked for years to define marriage as a union of a man and a woman. Doing so requires Iowans to vote on a constitutional amendment. An amendment can't go on a statewide ballot until both chambers of the Iowa Legislature pass a resolution in two consecutive legislative sessions. Full Story from KCCI: http://www.kcci.com/news/21536460/detail.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Iowa.

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.

Michigan Lawmaker Wants to Put Resolution to Reverse Gay Marriage Ban Before Voters in 2010

A gay marriage amendment could soon be up for vote in Michigan. House Speaker Pro Tem Pam Byrnes just introduced a resolution that would reverse the state's ban on same-sex unions. Right now Michigan's constitution recognizes marriage as being between one man and one woman. Byrnes says it's time for a change. She would need super-majority votes in both the House and Senate to get a same-sex proposal on the ballot in Michigan next year. Full Story from WWMT: http://www.wwmt.com/articles/vote-1368993-marriage-0in.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Michigan.

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.

Attempts to Repeal South Africa's Gay Marriage Law Continue

When the Joburg Pride parade proceeded through the northern suburbs of South Africa’s largest city recently, the reaction from onlookers seemed one of overwhelming support. Residents waved friendly signs, drivers honked and even traffic controllers showed their solidarity by sporting tutus. South Africa is the only country in Africa to allow same-sex marriage, and its government and judiciary system have proved particularly progressive in their handling of gay rights issues, but both advocates and opponents of gay rights agree there is a growing movement to challenge the gay community’s legal advances. “People are just not prepared to let it go,” said Steve Swart, a member of parliament representing the African Christian Democratic Party. “Legislation was passed. Legislation can always be relooked at.” Full Story from the Global Post: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/south%20africa/091008/south-africa-same-sex-marriage

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.

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.

Bill to Repeal DOMA Has More Than 100 Sponsors

Sponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act said Tuesday the bill has exceeded 100 co-sponsors. Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Jared Polis (D-CO) introduced the bill that would repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) at a Washington outdoor press conference in September. DOMA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton 13 years ago. The law defines marriage as a heterosexual union for federal agencies and allows states to ignore gay marriages performed in other states. Under DOMA legally married gay and lesbian couples cannot access federal benefits, including Social Security and pensions. Full Story from On Top Magazine: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=4703&MediaType=1&Category=26

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.

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.