Results tagged “samesex”

As some of you know, Marc Leno's pushing a bill that wouldn't change any same-sex marriage laws, just clarify existing ones. See, Leno wants the state of California to recognize gay marriages taking place in other states. It didn't sound too controversial when we first heard about it, but sure enough, some people, like whimsical hate-group the California Catholic Daily, found a reason to object.

The state of Massachusetts has sued the Federal government over the Domestic Marriage Act, claiming that it discriminates against the people, namely gay folks, who want to wed. According to the , "the lawsuit, filed this morning in federal court in Boston, challenges the application of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which [Attorney General Martha] Coakley says prevents gay and lesbian couples here from receiving tax, retirement, insurance, Social Security and other benefits."

In a continuing tactic used against anyone who goes against the religious right's attempts to harm and degrade the queer community -- which involves intentionally abusing the term "beliefs" -- they recently used Godwin's Law to slam the SF Board of Supervisors for condemning the Vatican's policy on same-sex adoptions. (Because the Vatican has absolutely no history of questionable sympathy for the Third Reich.) Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Law Center for Hate, used the term to describe the Board of Supes.

"New Hampshire legislators," according to AP, "have approved a measure that would make the state the sixth to allow gay marriage." And Gov. John Lynch will, most likely, sign the legislation sometime this afternoon. The Senate passed the civil rights triumph on Wednesday, with the House approving it later in the day. (The House vote, by the way, was 198-176.) New Hampshire joins Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, and Iowa as the only U.S. state that legally recognize and allow gay marriage. Kudos to you, NH. (An aside: Maine? Vermont? Connectichusetts? Technically, these aren't even real states, California State Supreme Court. So, you know, something to think about.)

Gay marriage as an attack on small businesses? Because said small businesses would have to pay healthcare? Not even close, Michael Steel, chairperson of the Republican National Committee. That is a lie. What gay marriage can do for the country is add a whopping $16.8 billion toward the "gross national wedding product." Engagement rings alone, according to a Forbes study, would run at $1.8 billion a year. And that money would positively affect, you guessed it, small businesses.

Before Miss California Carrie Prejean spoke her mind on same-sex marriage, which, if you recall, she isn't too keen on, she was hanging with noted NYC club scene transsexual superstar Amanda Lepore. While Lepore doesn't remember her night out with the future Miss California, she does have some words for her. Ahem: "It's really bad for a Miss USA contestant not to believe in gay marriage. As Miss USA, you have to get your hair and makeup done by gay people ... it's bad karma! ... It's stupid for her to be running for Miss USA to say that. It's a dumbbell remark. If you're Miss USA, you are supposed to be smart and that's not a smart idea." If you're Miss USA, you're supposed to be smart, eh? Well, they both share a fondness for stupid remarks, so we're sure they had a harmonious evening together at the very least.

Perhaps in an effort to veer public opinion away from his decision to legalize gay marriage, San Francisco Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom defended homophobic Miss California winner and faux-Christian Carrie Prejean.

Take note, California: the Governor of New York introducing legislation to legalize same-sex marriage. "There is clearly a problem in that those individuals who are gay or lesbian who would live in a civil union are still not entitled to somewhere between 1,250 and 1,300 civil protections" that are afforded to married couples, Paterson said yesterday.

Sure, it's preposterous. Amazing in its unbelievability. But the National Organization for Marriage (a truly vile organization) is something to take notice of, because people believe this shit -- powerful people; people you know; people you like; people you love; people who, let's face it, should be stopped. And the above ad, while riddled with inaccuracy, is the latest attack on civil rights and same-sex marriage. (In related news, you can find an updated map showing who donated to Prop 8, right here.)

The Vermont legislature overrode the Governor's veto of same sex marriage today, making the state that produces Chubby Hubby the fourth state to legalize gay marriage. Just days after Iowa (unlike California) surprised the country by legalizing same-sex marriage, the first state in the U.S. to adopt civil unions is now the very first to legalize marriage for queer couples via legislative action.

Iowa became the third state in the U.S. (and the first in the heartland!) to legalize gay marriage today.The Iowa State Supreme Court "upheld a lower court's ruling that found a state law restricting marriage to between a man and woman only violated Iowa's constitution." According to Richard Socarides, former adviser on gay rights during the Clinton administration, "It's a big win because, coming from Iowa, it represents the mainstreaming of gay marriage. And it shows that despite attempts stop gay marriage through right-wing ballot initiatives, like in California, the courts will continue to support the case for equal rights for gays." LGBT community will have to wait a few weeks before they can obtain marriage licenses. Way to go, Iowa. Hopefully, California will follow your lead (did we really just say that?) when the State Supreme Court makes its final ruling on Prop. 8.

Next Wednesday, March 4, vigils all over the country will take place the day before the California Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the validity of Prop 8, the same-sex marriage ban that passed in November. The love of couples and families across California, for lack of a better cliche, hang in the balance. And while many of you are too indie-rock to care about something as jejune marriage or faggotry, this ban, if allowed into the state constitution, splits open Pandora's Box to even more constitutional discrimination in the future.

Sean Penn didn't shame you into compliance last night? When relentlessly sporting demographic analyst David Latterman weighed in on Nelson Minear's M4M project, his projections were hobbled -- nay, crippled by the paucity of gay couple demographic intel: "Unfortunately, since gay marriage isn't legal, we don't have the age stats, but among opposite-sex marriage, men's average age of marriage is 27. It'd be older in the more tech-savvy urban areas, and even older for gay couples. Thus, you may find long-term partnering at the early-thirties. Then, as with all couples, come the round of break-ups in the mid/late thirties, putting people on the market again." You heard the man. (SFist comments)

What with Bush out of office, American Apparel has, unfortunately, turned into a lightening rod for San Francisco's wrath.

Briefly touched upon last week when the final batch of Prop 8 donor names unfurled, Utah citizens and the LDS Church spent more on getting Prop. 8 passed than previously known. According to the Salt Lake Tribune:

After all the brouhaha the Yes On 8 sect put the courts through finally subsided -- trying to keep proposition 8 donor name hidden, even though they were the first ones to threaten physical, emotional, and financial harm to those who donate to No on 8 -- a new batch of prop. 8 donor names was released today. If you recall, proposition 8, the anti-same sex marriage amendment, passed in November. The amendment, if given the green light by the state supreme court, will effectively allow hate, discrimination and certain religious beliefs into the state constitution.

Oh dear. Get ready to freak out. Somebody has gone and created a mash-up of Google Maps and Prop 8 Donors. Which you can see right here.

Anti-gay marriage supports blasted Attorney General and former Governor of California Jerry Brown for rightfully declaring prop 8 invalid. According to dean of Pepperdine University, Kenneth Starr (yes, that Kenneth Starr), "We will not mince words. The attorney general is inviting this court to declare a constitutional revolution." The Protect Marriage coalition are accusing Brown of " a far-fetched legal theory to justify overturning Proposition 8" in order to protect the rights of a few minority, married couples. If you recall, Brown eschewed the equal protection clause in order to defend equal protection and stop discrimination from polluting the California state constitution. (As always, you can find the most recent updates on prop 8. over at Stop8.org.)

Remember that "write a postcard to Obama, asking him to repeal Defense of Marriage Act" campaign? Well, oddly enough, Obama's office has decided that they will no longer accept postcards. Moving forward, only letters in envelopes asking the president-elect to yank DOMA will be accepted. So, does this mean that it was working, and they got the message? Or that they're irritated and pissed off? We hope it's the former.

What a smashing idea. Courage Campaign, an organizing network that connects 300,000+ grassroots and "netroots" activists to push for progressive change in California to get Prop 8 overturned, is getting people to host a Milk screening in their community on the 20th, and then bring everyone straight from the screening to the candlelight vigils happening that night. It's called "Milk + Love."

          

Tonight's Day Without a Gay protest seemed peaceful compared to those just over a month ago when Prop 8, the same-sex marriage ban, passed. Although cops in riot gear gathered on Market and Octavia streets just eager for a head to crack open, we haven't heard word yet as to any arrests or melee.