tagged w/ Marriage Equality
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The second attack in less than a week has southern Florida residence worried. The first, a murder of a 17 year old trans gendered individual, Simmie Williams Junior, on a city street. Most recently, a man was attacked outside a 24 hour diner following a meal with his partner and a friend. The assailant noticed the victim eating on the patio and said, "Were you looking at me, if you were, I'm going to come back there and break your neck." The three were obviously spooked, so they paid their bill and headed to their car. Their car was close to the attackers. He grabbed Melbourne Brunner and started beating him. He managed to escape into his car. They tried to get the attacker's license plate number, but the attacker put his t-shirt over it and said, "I'll kill you before you get my tag number!"
All this as gays are facing an attack on a legal basis. The Florida GOP is funding and anti-gay amendment to the state constitution. Local activists argue that the hate speech coming from the GOP legitimizes anti-gay violence in homophobic minds. The second attack in less than a week has southern Florida residence worried. The... more
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The California Supreme Court will hear a historic case that will decide the fate of millions of gay and lesbian California residents. In 2004, San Fransisco Mayer Gavin Newsom started issuing same sex marriage licenses as a challenge to state law. The marriages have since been dissolved by the state. Some couples sued and that brings us to March 4. The court has 90 days to make a ruling following the hearing. If they rule in favor of equal rights, California could be the second state, after Massachusetts, to allow marriage equality. "The California legislature twice passed legislation that would permit same-sex couples to marry but both times Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bills." The California Supreme Court will hear a historic case that will decide the fate of... more
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"Ric Weiland, who helped his friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen launch Microsoft, was a quiet philanthropist. But his final gift has provided one of the most powerful financial boosts ever to the gay-rights movement.
Weiland has left $65 million to the Pride Foundation in Seattle and 10 nonprofit organizations, believed to be the largest estate gift ever given to the gay and lesbian community in the U.S.
His generosity didn't stop there.
Weiland left $160 million, the majority of his estate, to charity. That includes a gift to Stanford University estimated to be worth $60 million, which the university said is the largest bequest it has ever received. Weiland also gave significant amounts toward environmental protection and scientific research."
(Weiland is pictured with Bill Gates in 1976)"Ric Weiland, who helped his friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen launch Microsoft,... more
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New Jersey's governor said he would sign a law changing civil unions to marriages after the presidential election. He acknowledge a recent study that proves New Jersey's civil union law creates second class citizens. "New Jersey's civil union law segregates, discriminates and humiliates the very people it is supposed to help" said Steven Goldstein, chairman of gay rights group Garden State Equality. The governor does not want to change the law until after the presidential election because he does not want to make it an election year issue. New Jersey's governor said he would sign a law changing civil unions to marriages... more
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The Log Cabins* actively campaigned against Mitt Romeny, including producing television commercials. Now their faced with a candidate that openly supported a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Will their Log Cabin Republican self loathing be strong enough to support John McCain "the homophobe", or will McCain have to moderate his bigotry to win Log Cabin support? Here's to hoping Log Cabins don't hate themselves too much.
(Log Cabins = republicans that are gay... and out. I know it seems weird, but it is true. There are gay people that vote republican.)The Log Cabins* actively campaigned against Mitt Romeny, including producing... more
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Andrew M. Potts points to historical evidence that shows gay marriage existed for thousands of years. Often anti equality activists argue gay marriage is a recent development, and that there is no cultural president. Clearly, they are wrong.
Andrew M. Potts points to historical evidence that shows gay marriage existed for... more
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Florida4Marriage, a group trying to collect enough signatures to add a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality in Florida has raised $193,000.00. Of that $150,000.00 came from the Florida Republican Party.
Florida4Marriage is 20,000 signatures short, and is using the heavy primary turnout to collect the remaining signatures to get the amendment on the November 2008 ballot. The amendment says, " Inasmuch as marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."
Florida4Marriage, a group trying to collect enough signatures to add a constitutional... more
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The so called Family Council of Arkansas is using twisted logic to convince petitioners to ban adoption and foster parenting by co-habitating unmarried same sex couples in Arkansas. David Cox, pictured here, is the executive director and founder of the Family Council. His group successfully gathered enough signatures for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in Arkansas, which passed 3 - 1. Pediatricians, psychologists, social workers, needy children, and even the Governor of Arkansas think banning adoptions by gay couples is a bad idea. Cox's law would not prevent single gay parents from adopting, only unmarried cohabitating same sex couples. Unmarried straight people could adopt under the proposed ban. Approximately 5,500 children are served under Arkansas foster care system.*
* http://www.arkansas.gov/dhs/dhs2000stats/DCFS/Page28.htm The so called Family Council of Arkansas is using twisted logic to convince... more
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Hog Farmer Bill Sailer and 6000 homophobic "Christians" petitioned the Iowa state legislature for Judge Hanson's impeachment. Iowa Polk County Judge Robert Hanson legalized gay marriage in Iowa for less than 24 hours. It is unclear if all 6000 signatures came from Iowans. Two men were able to find a judge to waive a typical waiting period for marriage licenses. They are the only two legal same sex marriages in Iowa. Hanson stayed his own decision the following day, allowing the case to be appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court.
Fortunately for the LGBT community, and Judge Hanson, the Iowa legislature is the only political body that can impeach a judge, and the Democratic run legislature has no intention of doing so. Judge Hanson fulfilled his constitutional role as a judge, and interpreted the law without bias or prejudice. Hog Farmer Bill Sailer and 6000 homophobic "Christians" petitioned the Iowa... more
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This is a very simplified list of the 2008 Presidential Candidates and their positions on Gay Rights. All LGBT and voters and their allies should be aware of what they are voting for when they chose a candidate. This is a very simplified list of the 2008 Presidential Candidates and their positions... more
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Gov. Chuck Culver (D) will speed through a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality if the Iowa Supreme Court upholds a lower ruling equalizing marriage rights. He asked the court to speed up their decision. The Iowa constitution contains an equal protection clause that would have to be nullified if the Governor gets his way. However, "House Speaker Pat Murphy (D) said he is in no rush to bring in legislation." To change the constitution, two consecutive legislatures must approve the amendment, then voters must approve. The soonest this would happen is 2010. The court historically rules favorably for Iowa LGBT citizens, "In a separate case on Friday the Supreme Court ruled that co-adoptions by same-sex parents were legal." This ruling overturned a lower court decision that said same-sex adoptions were illegal. Gov. Chuck Culver (D) will speed through a constitutional amendment banning marriage... more
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The Swedish are officially the greatest people in the world. Almost 3/4 want to convert their civil union laws into marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples according to a recent poll. Long live Sweden! The Swedish are officially the greatest people in the world. Almost 3/4 want to... more
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Uri Horesh, is refusing food until the University of Texas offers domestic partnership benefits. UT administrators say they are sympathetic, but their hands are tied because, "Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in 2005." The amendment also prevents civil unions. Approximately 10% of registered voters turned out for the "overwhelming approval". Of those approximately 80% supported the amendment.
Horesh will refuse food until the policy is changed or until he is taken to the hospital. Horesh teaches Arabic in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies.Uri Horesh, is refusing food until the University of Texas offers domestic partnership... more
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Several homophobic people marched in Iowa to protest a recent court decision equalizing marriage in Iowa. They think God wants them to change the constitution to restrict the rights of gays and lesbians. They want the legislature to give them the right to vote on the changes. Iowa has both a democratic legislature and a democratic governor. The Iowa Supreme Court will hear the case this year. Several homophobic people marched in Iowa to protest a recent court decision... more
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It looks like the Gay vote actually matters to the candidates this time. The Human Rights campaign is actively working in vulnerable states like Florida to educate LGBTs on how to properly express their needs to elected officials and their voting friends. Exit polling from previous elections suggest gays represent 4% of the voting population. Activists hope that number will rise in '08. It looks like the Gay vote actually matters to the candidates this time. The Human... more
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Spain legalized gay marriage and annoyed the pope. During a recent visit to Spain the pope announced, "[family is] based on the unbreakable union of man and woman and represents the privileged environment where human life is welcomed and protected from the beginning to its natural end." Under this definition, the millions of gay and lesbian couples and their children are not considered family. Can anyone think of other families that do not fit that definition? Maybe your own? Spain legalized gay marriage and annoyed the pope. During a recent visit to Spain the... more
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New Hampshire will formally legalize gay and lesbian civil unions at midnight tonight. The first 100 + citizens will have ceremonies tonight outside the state house. Couples expressed mixed feelings. On the one hand they are happy any rights will be formally recognized by a state institution. However, they are still disappointed by the inequality of the law. Over 1000 federal rights are still denied to gays and lesbians who can not marry.
New Hampshire's new law represents progress though. Their democratically led legislators legalized civil unions without a court mandate. Only Vermont and Rhode Island are counted gave rights to gay and lesbian couples without judicial involvement.
[The linked article mistakenly reported that Oregon will legalize civil unions at midnight tonight. A Bush appointed federal judge delayed Oregon civil unions until sometime in Feb. 2008]New Hampshire will formally legalize gay and lesbian civil unions at midnight tonight.... more
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