tagged w/ Same-Sex Marriage
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This is a PSA in California in support of gay marriage,
What do you think about it?
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The start of same-sex marriages in California on June 16 made headlines across the country. But it wasn't such a big deal for many U.S. companies. That's because these businesses already give their gay and lesbian employees many of the same benefits that they provide to their married straight workers, such as health insurance for a spouse or spousal equivalent. Still, there's a limit to what even the most progressive companies can do. Numerous benefits are governed by federal law, which does not recognize same-sex marriages performed anywhere.
The Human Rights Campaign, a Washington, D.C.-based gay rights group, conducts an annual survey of Fortune 500 employers to determine which ones offer domestic partner benefits for their gay and lesbian employees. According to HRC's most recent survey, released last December, DP benefits were provided at 56 percent, or 278 companies.
Experts say that businesses shouldn't just stick to the letter of the law. Many Massachusetts businesses give the same benefits to all employees in a same-sex relationship, whether it's a Massachusetts marriage or an out-of-state domestic partnership. They do so in an effort to retain employees and encourage diversity.
Campos thinks that's a smart policy to adopt. "Employers would be foolish to refrain from extending benefits to the same-sex spouses of their employees," she says. "There is simply no legitimate business reason to differentiate." The start of same-sex marriages in California on June 16 made headlines across the... more
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AIDS activists storm the Family Research Council to protest its opposition to condoms, sex education, and science-based HIV prevention. VC2 Producer Dean Hamer was able to get inside and film 12 activists who chained themselves to a "traditional marriage shrine" - until a guard snatched the camera.AIDS activists storm the Family Research Council to protest its opposition to condoms,... more
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Minnesota's gay and lesbian couples are organizing a lawsuit similar to the ones that overturned same-sex marriage bans in Massachusetts and California.
"Gays and lesbians face legal costs to get legal documents such as hospital visitation, care decisions, and so on -- all that are granted by marriage", according to Duane Benson who is looking to sue the state together with his partner, Doug.
"We want a critical mass of couples involved", Doug said. So far, the Bensons are joined by three other couples and are hoping for a group of nearly 30 couples by August 15 in order to bring a successful suit.
While couples who sign on can expect to pay up to $1,000 in legal costs, the Bensons think it's worth it. "In Doug's and my case, we pay $3,000 more a year in taxes because we are not spouses", Duane stated.
And it's not just about the money for this Minnesota couple. Doug said: "The point we want to make is to make sure equality is pursued wherever we can pursue it. Because we can't sit around waiting for this to happen. We want this to become a reality here at home, and we are trying through the courts as well as through the legislature. We have waited long enough." Minnesota's gay and lesbian couples are organizing a lawsuit similar to the ones... more
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Californians are likely to support same-sex marriage in the coming November election, suggests to an opinion poll released Friday.
According to the Field Poll, 51% of California voters surveyed said they would oppose Proposition 8, a ballot measure that would amend the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman, thus banning same-sex marriage. Forty-one percent of voters surveyed said they would vote "yes" on the measure, according to the statewide survey that was completed this week.
Those results are nearly identical to findings of a Field Poll in May that found 51% of Californian voters surveyed approved of allowing gay couples to marry, while 42% disapproved.
In May, California's Supreme Court struck down a ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional, allowing gay marriages to become legal starting June 17. Opposition groups put an initiative banning same-sex marriage on the November ballot. The measure would need a simple majority to become law.
The issue has deeply divided the state. The Field Poll found wide differences in voting preferences by region. Fifty-six percent of voters surveyed living in California's coastal counties, which represent about two-thirds of all likely voters, said they oppose the gay-marriage ban, compared with 37% who said they support the ban. Sentiment was reversed in the state's inland counties where 54% of voters surveyed said they support Prop. 8 and 40% said they oppose it.
The results mirror some of the unfolding dynamics among some counties. County clerks in Butte and Kern counties, which are inland, stopped performing civil wedding ceremonies for all couples, before June 17, citing budget constraints.
The San Francisco Bay Area showed the strongest opposition to Prop. 8, with 67% of voters surveyed there opposing the proposition and 26% supporting it, according to the new survey. Los Angeles County voters also opposed the measure, 51% to 41%.Californians are likely to support same-sex marriage in the coming November election,... more
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kushan
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added this
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3 years ago
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The California Supreme Court has cleared the way for Californians to vote in November on whether to ban same-sex marriages in the state.
A gay couple is married in California in June. Voters could void same-sex marriages in the state in November. The court on Wednesday denied a petition to remove the initiative from the state's general election ballots. The unanimous decision was handed down without elaboration.
Hundreds of marriage licenses have been issued to same-sex couples since mid-June, a month after the court overturned the state's laws against such unions. However, on June 2, opponents of same-sex marriage filed for a ballot initiative that would ban such marriages in the state's constitution. Such a ban would overturn the court's May ruling.
The California Supreme Court has cleared the way for Californians to vote in November... more
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Last week, on July 8th a panel of 3 judges from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments from both sides of Lemons v. Bradbury. There are folks on both sidelines of Lemons v. Bradbury who feel very strongly about the whole issue.For the opposition we’ve got [...] From the other side of the issue, here is an article from [...] Wherever you read news on this story, all agree that it may be weeks before we hear the final decision...Last week, on July 8th a panel of 3 judges from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard... more
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More than a dozen examples given in this article of highly ineffective ways that Christians and Ex-gay proponents attempt to "convert" convince, coerce, cajole or otherwise change gay Christians. (Excellent comic created by slapupsidethehead.com)More than a dozen examples given in this article of highly ineffective ways that... more
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Some in Oregon have watched the unfolding CA. gay marriage victory with a sense of detachment, maybe even skepticism. But, with the new victory for gay marriage in California comes an undercurrent, or maybe aftershocks. Some are starting to wonder what this could mean for OR. "for all those imagining Measure 36 has silenced discussion in Oregon...Some in Oregon have watched the unfolding CA. gay marriage victory with a sense of... more
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An episode of 30 Days has made it to Hulu.com
A woman, a child of the adoption system moves in with a gay couple and their four adopted sons, for thirty days no less. Both parties expect all hell to break loose from the get go, but it doesn't happen. Not yet.
You can tell Kati can relate to Dennis and Thomas, since she has a few lil ones of her own. She's a person whom deeply cares about kids, and it's easy to tell. What LGBT rights activists are feerful of people like Kati, is that their views might be misguided and actually hurt kids in the long run. Sort of what the oposition thinks, except the other way around.
I notice how the focus isn't on the kids so much as the beliefs of the adults. Undertandably so. Kids are too young to form the own opinions, or so we think. Too me though, they seem happy. We also get to see someone who feels hurt by the fact that she was raised around a gay man. We also see adults raised by group homes within the adoption system. They say "Doesn't matter if it's black brown, green orange, we need homes to grow up in that AREN'T group homes."
There's a few climaxes, here and there. Some don't seem provoked, but others i'm not so sure.
I think back to psychology in high school and the term "equilibrium". Our brains want to be in a state of equilibrium. When our belifes are challenged, all that has been truth in our lives is being challenged, thust disturbing our equilibrium. One such is an example: when a son/daughter brings an african-american back home where his father/mother, prejudice in nature, disaprove of having "their type" around. "He hasn't stolen a thing in his life," says the child. "He just hasn't stolen anything YET". The parents equilibrium is being challenged, as well as all they hold true.
Much to opponents of LGBT Rights's chagrin, proponents draw paralels between civil rights struggles in the 60's and gay rights activism. It's hard not too. Kati says at one point something like "These are rights for married men and women only," and once it was "these are rights reserved for whites only." Isn't that a fair parallel?
Alas, I really thought that Kati was goign to come out a changed woman. Surely 30 days is more than enough for someone to realize that gays are good people and good parents. It turns out equilibrium wants to be maintained more than one would think.
I think that this particular episode illustrates the fact that no matter how you slice it, we're in this together. "I find myself having to live with this woman," says Dennis (or Thomas, i forgot which is which) "but I don't really want to". "Lets stop stepping on each others toes," says Kati.
Easier said than done.
I feel that when it's a matter of civil rights, it's not a matter of democracy but of equal rights (supposedly what this country stands for). But, i have to admit that when children are involved, it makes gay rights a special case.
As a straight male, I feel that when I have kids, I'll try my best to raise them right. What parent doesn't feel that way. But when I f***k up in parenting, I hope my mistakes are separate from my sexuality.
Ok, so lets hear it. What say yeeeeee!?An episode of 30 Days has made it to Hulu.com
A woman, a child of the adoption... more
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A look at how the ruling in favor of same-sex marriage will affect more than Californians if the ruling is over turned.
"The residents of Palm Springs who vote to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman will not just be voting against a bunch of out-and-proud folk in a distant city whose official slogan is “Only in San Francisco”. They will be voting to defy the wishes of their rather ordinary neighbours. For them, the decision to annul same-sex marriages will be personal, even painful. They may do it anyway."
-Economist.com
http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11412263A look at how the ruling in favor of same-sex marriage will affect more than... more
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After 55 long years, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon made history as the first same-sex couple to tie the knot in San Francisco.After 55 long years, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon made history as the first same-sex... more
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I would have surmised "very little." However, Republican Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon appears (in the video below at the first article link) to be likening discrimination against gays (and their desire to have equal marriage rights) to the persecution faced by his Mormon ancestors for their views on marriage.I would have surmised "very little." However, Republican Senator Gordon... more
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Because same-sex marriages are not recognized in the United States, certain marital benefits, like the advantage of permanent residency for a foreign born partner, are denied to bi-national spouses. This commonly results in the foreign partner being forced to leave the United States, and their loved ones, behind. Brittany and Joanna's story is one of thousands.Because same-sex marriages are not recognized in the United States, certain marital... more
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With 29 days left until the deadline for anti-gay groups to turn in enough signatures to put our Oregon Domestic Partnership and anti-discrimination laws to a vote [...] Concerned Oregonians and their supporters actually may only have [...]With 29 days left until the deadline for anti-gay groups to turn in enough signatures... more
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From the page: "AMEN! Hey, someday it could happen!!! Wouldn't it be nice to drive down a street in 'anytown' America and see a church sign with an affirming message such as this?" From the page: "AMEN! Hey, someday it could happen!!! Wouldn't it be nice to... more
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From the page: "This appears to be the argument made by the author of this list*. Yet another poorly crafted set of 'reasons why' same sex relationships are not good for society, family and children..."From the page: "This appears to be the argument made by the author of this list*.... more
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With all the renewed "protect the sanctity of marriage" talk swirling around in the presence of domestic partnership and same sex marriage rights coming to pass in our country-I wonder-are they really desiring to protect the "sanctity" of marriage, or just protect the exclusive right to marry? (cont.)With all the renewed "protect the sanctity of marriage" talk swirling around... more
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"ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson has directed all state agencies to begin to revise their policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, like Massachusetts, California and Canada.
In a directive issued on May 14, the governor’s legal counsel, David Nocenti, instructed the agencies that gay couples married elsewhere “should be afforded the same recognition as any other legally performed union.”
The revisions are most likely to involve as many as 1,300 statutes and regulations in New York governing everything from joint filing of income tax returns to transferring fishing licenses between spouses."
..."While gay rights advocates widely praised the spirit of Mr. Paterson’s policy, some saw more than a little irony in the fact that New York has yet to allow gays to marry.
“If you’re going to treat us as equals, why don’t you just give us the marriage license?” said Alan Van Capelle, executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda. “So this is a temporary but necessary fix for a longer-term problem, which is marriage equality in New York State.” ""ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson has directed all state agencies to begin... more
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From the page: "Unlike many of the commentaries that followed this landmark decision in California--characterizing it negatively--this writer believes that the decision to allow same-sex couples to enter into marriage in California is about upholding family values, and strengthening the institution of marriage."From the page: "Unlike many of the commentaries that followed this landmark... more
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