tagged w/ Gays
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Sen. John McCain interview with Ellen DeGeneres. Ellen, who recently announced that she plans to take advantage of the California Supreme Court’s recent gay marriage ruling and wed her longtime girlfriend, actress Portia di Rossi, pressed McCain on his stance on gay marriage.
McCain said that he opposes gay marriage, but said couples should be able to allowed to enter into legal agreements:
McCAIN: Well, my thoughts are that I think people should be able to enter into legal agreements, and I think that is something that we should encourage, particularly in the case of insurance and other areas, decisions that have to be made. I just believe in the unique status of marriage between man and woman. And I know that we have a respectful disagreement on that issue.
DEGENERES: Yeah, I mean, I think that it is looked at, and some people are saying that blacks and women did not have the right to vote. Women just got the right to vote in 1920, blacks didn’t have the right to vote until 1870, and it just feels like there’s this old way of thinking that we’re not all the same. We are all the same people. All of us. You’re no different than I am. Our love is the same.”Sen. John McCain interview with Ellen DeGeneres. Ellen, who recently announced that... more
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The 4-3 ruling, which held that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, has prompted conservative and liberal congregations alike to discuss whether gay and lesbian members will be allowed to wed in their churches, synagogues and temples.
"These are the kinds of issues every religion has to grapple with," said James A. Donahue, president of the Graduate Theological Union, a Berkeley-based consortium of theological schools. "How do you factor in the role of contemporary human rights, civil rights, the data about homosexuality" with "core traditions and beliefs?"
What do you think? The 4-3 ruling, which held that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry,... more
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For California, gay rights have been in a fickle state ever since San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom opened the cities City Hall doors and offered gay couples a place to legally wed. Approximately 4,000 people took advantage of the Mayors offer before the Supreme Court deemed same sex marriages as illegal. This prompted 24 gay couples to sue the state of California with the support of the city of San Francisco and gay rights organizations. Their diligence seems to have paid off but will this ruling be overturned again?For California, gay rights have been in a fickle state ever since San Francisco Mayor... more
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Comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres plans to marry her long-time partner, actress Portia de Rossi, after a California court ruling allowing gay marriage.
To wild cheers and a standing ovation, DeGeneres said she was very excited at Thursday's ruling by the California Supreme Court overturning a state ban on gay marriage.
DeGeneres did not mention de Rossi, 35, but pictures showed the former "Ally McBeal" actress in the audience, smiling and applauding.
DeGeneres and de Rossi have been a familiar couple in Hollywood for about four years, appearing at red carpet events together. DeGeneres previously had a relationship with actress Anne Heche.Comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres plans to marry her long-time partner,... more
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Today is a day I will never forget.
It is with unimaginable joy that I write to tell you that the California Supreme Court just ruled in our favor, declaring that each of us has the freedom to marry the person we love.
This is a landmark victory for our community. It’s a victory for fairness and justice. And it’s an incredible victory for California—a land of opportunity. For 10 years, Equality California has worked tirelessly to bring us to this moment. Today, for the first time in history, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians are truly equal. It is an amazing feeling.
I wish we could simply celebrate and enjoy this incredible victory.
But the truth is, this is just the beginning of the fight of our lives. Anti-LGBT hate organizations are already hard at work trying to pass a constitutional amendment this November in an attempt to take away our freedom to marry. And they have already raised millions of dollars to fund their discriminatory effort.
We can’t let that happen. We won’t let that happen.
It will take all of us to keep this victory. Make a contribution today to help preserve the freedom to marry from this vicious attack. Every dollar you donate will be used to fight this initiative.
Equality California Issues PAC is with a coalition of organizations working to defeat this initiative. Your donation today will help us buy media time and hire more field organizers across the state to mobilize the thousands of volunteers who have already gathered more than 76,000 signatures opposing the initiative.
Today’s victory proves that by working together we can achieve equality.
Our win today would not have been possible without the generous commitment and steadfast support of our thousands of volunteers and donors. And I cannot say enough about the brilliant legal team representing EQCA as a plaintiff in the case: National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, ACLU, Heller Ehrman and the Law Office of David C. Codell.
Help us keep marriage in California by making a donation today to fight the ballot initiative. As a united force, we will forever have equality in our state.
Once again, thank you for supporting EQCA in the fight for equality. I have never been more proud to be a part of this community. I have never been more proud to be a Californian.
Warmly,
Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California
Today is a day I will never forget.
It is with unimaginable joy that I write to... more
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God Loves ME Best! A New Television Satire.
What happens when a Transvestite Muslim Extremist, a gun and porn Loving Christian Fundamentalist, a Fame hungry Jewish Radical, a pill-popping Buddhist with an anger management problem, a basket case Wiccan, and a kleptomaniac Atheist all live together under one roof?
God Loves ME Best! seeks to explore the narrow minded practices of extreme religious fanatics, stubborn non-believers, self righteous spiritual seekers and the shady washed-up reality show producers who are responsible for this madness, along with the Scientologist network executive who green lights the show.
God Loves ME Best! is a parody of reality television that explores hypocrisy in religion and politics. We are not here to belittle you, we are here to ask why your way is the only way, explore hypocrisy, and generate plenty of laughter along the way!
http://www.godlovesmebest.com
http://godlovesmebest.blip.tv/
http://revver.com/u/Merkaba/
http://www.youtube.com/godlovesmebest
http://godlovesmebestest.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/godlovesmebestGod Loves ME Best! A New Television Satire.
What happens when a Transvestite... more
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Some of these "reasons" have been born out of me seeing a man somewhere... in some context... and then saying..."reason #43." For example, picture this... [...] Some are just because! I'll start with 25...Some of these "reasons" have been born out of me seeing a man somewhere...... more
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Pastor John Hagee, whose endorsement John McCain gladly gobbled up, stood by remarks he made in 2006 that Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for the sinful Southern Decadence party that gays were planning to hold in New Orleans.
Mccain_hageeAt that time, Hagee said: "I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they are -- were recipients of the judgment of God for that. The newspaper carried the story in our local area that was not carried nationally that there was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came. And the promise of that parade was that it was going to reach a level of sexuality never demonstrated before in any of the other Gay Pride parades. So I believe that the judgment of God is a very real thing. I know that there are people who demur from that, but I believe that the Bible teaches that when you violate the law of God, that God brings punishment sometimes before the day of judgment. And I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans."
Right-wing radio talk show host Dennis Prager yesterday asked Hagee to confirm if he still stands by those comments, asking, of Katrina, "I’m only trying to understand that in the case of New Orleans, you do feel that God’s hand was in it because of a sinful city?"
Responded Hagee: "That it was a city that was planning a sinful conduct, yes."
Think Progress adds: "In February, after working hard to gain Hagee’s endorsement, McCain said he was “very honored” to receive it. Since then, he has both “repudiate[d]” and defended Hagee’s anti-Catholic and “anti-anything” remarks. But as Think Progress has noted, McCain has never specifically commented on Hagee’s offensive beliefs about Hurricane Katrina or his anti-gay comments. Given the fact that McCain will be in New Orleans tomorrow, will reporters ask whether he agrees with Hagee belief that the devastated city was cursed because of a gay pride parade? We’ll be watching."Pastor John Hagee, whose endorsement John McCain gladly gobbled up, stood by remarks... more
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Straight" explores issues of homophobia, tolerance, and discrimination by portraying a world where the roles of homosexuality and heterosexuality are reversed.Straight" explores issues of homophobia, tolerance, and discrimination by... more
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As California's gay and lesbian citizens eagerly await the California Supreme Court decision that could finally give them equal rights in the nations most influential state, something amazing happened. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Republican Governor of California split with his party, which historically supports bans on marriage equality, and told a group of Log Cabin Republicans, "First of all, I think that (such a ban) would never happen in California because I think California people are much further along on that issue." He went on to say, "And, No. 2, I will always be there to fight against that -- because it should never happen."
Schwarzenegger received an overwhelming standing ovation.
Schwarzenegger vetoed two previous bills that would have legalized marriage equality. He claimed it was a decision for the courts.
The court will make it's decision by June.
If California does legalize marriage equality, John McCain will have to make a decision. He will either support the old homophobic mentality of the current administration, or he can take the higher road and support equality for gays and lesbians. Should he chose the former, he will have to campaign in a state where a Republican governor disagrees with him on one of the most important civil rights issues today. It would be awkward to say the least.
Or McCain could do the right thing, and support every voter in the most profoundly personal decision of their lives. He could take the government roadblocks out of our way, and let us live freely, as we were born to be.
It is your choice Mr. McCain. I hope you chose wisely. As California's gay and lesbian citizens eagerly await the California Supreme... more
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Oklahoma Representative Sally Kern's homophobic comments may have cost her state jobs.
A top executive at a San Francisco financial services company has expressed concern over a major office relocation because Kern compared gays to terrorists claiming the "homosexual agenda is destroying this nation."
Roy Williams, president of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, said the issue is a major concern the chamber is trying to address.Oklahoma Representative Sally Kern's homophobic comments may have cost her state... more
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Gay couples had to struggle mightily to win the right to marry or form civil unions. Now, some are finding that breaking up is hard to do, too.
In Rhode Island, for example, the state's top court ruled in December that gays married in neighboring Massachusetts can't get divorced here because lawmakers have never defined marriage as anything but a union between a man and woman. In Missouri, a judge is deciding whether a lesbian married in Massachusetts can get an annulment.
"We all know people who have gone through divorces. At the end of that long and unhappy period, they have been able to breathe a sigh of relief," said Cassandra Ormiston of Rhode Island, who is splitting from her wife, Margaret Chambers. But "I do not see that on my horizon, that sigh of relief that it's over."
Over the past four years, Massachusetts has been the only state where gay marriage is legal, while nine other states allow gay couples to enter into civil unions or domestic partnerships that offer many of the rights and privileges of marriage. The vast majority of these unions require court action to dissolve.
Gay couples who still live in the state where they got hitched can split up with little difficulty; the laws in those states include divorce or dissolution procedures for same-sex couples. But gay couples who have moved to another state are running into trouble.
Massachusetts, at least early on, let out-of-state gay couples get married there practically for the asking. But the rules governing divorce are stricter. Out-of-state couples could go back to Massachusetts to get divorced, but they would have to live there for a year to establish residency first.
"I find that an unbelievably unfair burden. I own a home here, my friends are here, my life is here," said Ormiston, who is resigned to moving to Massachusetts for a year.
It's not clear how many gay couples have sought a divorce.Gay couples had to struggle mightily to win the right to marry or form civil unions.... more
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The gay Catholic group Dignity Washington greeted the Pope as his motorcade drove past.
The group claims the pope looked directly at them as they held a banner reading, "Dignity Washington — Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics, Our Families and Friends — A community of Faith in Action.”The gay Catholic group Dignity Washington greeted the Pope as his motorcade drove... more
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Now, after years of documenting his bile, Media Matters has launched a crusade against the Fox News commodity O’Reilly:
"Fox News and O’Reilly use the topic of same-sex couples and their families to promote his show and incite fear of the LGBT community. Never was this practice more clear than when Fox used footage from Rosie O’Donnell’s cruise for gay and lesbian couples and their families to promote an upcoming edition of the Factor. The promo raised the question: “Is the media celebrating gay culture?” You can probably guess what the answer was.
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It’s time to tell O’Reilly and Fox News that enough is enough; if anyone should “relax on all this gay stuff,” it’s Bill O’Reilly. I hope you’ll take a moment to contact Fox News and The O’Reilly Factor today and make sure your voice is heard."
http://mediamatters.org/action_center/oreilly_lgbt/Now, after years of documenting his bile, Media Matters has launched a crusade against... more
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Tax day is just another reminder that being gay in the United States means being treated differently under the law. While a partnered couple may live in one house, the federal government will see two homes, thereby taxing the couple at a higher rate.
For example, "One is the tax rate. Take two couples where one partner has a taxable income of $20,000 and the other makes $40,000. If they can file their federal taxes jointly, the tax bill would be $8,217.50. Filing separately, the combined bill would be $9,032.50 -- more than $800 higher."
Health Insurance issues pose another unfair financial burden. Heterosexual married couples do not have to claim their spouse's health insurance as income if they use their spouse's plan. If a gay or lesbian signs up under their partner's plan, they have to pay income tax based on the value of the insurance.
"For example, Dan Jessup is a project manager at JPMorgan Chase in Indiana. His partner, Bob Chenoweth, is self-employed, running two businesses out of the couple's Mooresville, Indiana, home. So Chenoweth gets health insurance through Chase.
But Jessup is required to count the company's cost of his partner's benefits as additional income for tax purposes.
State and federal taxes on those benefits cost about $1,800 per year, Jessup said."
So to be clear, gay and lesbian Americans pay more taxes, yet are treated as second class citizens. God Bless America and happy tax day!
Tax day is just another reminder that being gay in the United States means being... more
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China is sweeping popular LGBT hangouts in Beijing and arresting people because of their sexuality, according to China's best-known gay and AIDS activist Dr. Wan Yanhai. "Wan is not just anybody. A former official of China's Ministry of Public Health, he was fired in 1994 for his participation in AIDS information and prevention campaigns and for his support of full equal rights for homosexuals."
The offenses are numerous and lengthy, more lengthy than current allows to be posted, so I encourage you to visit the original article.
China is sweeping popular LGBT hangouts in Beijing and arresting people because of... more
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