Showing posts with label marriage equality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marriage equality. Show all posts

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Rosie, Kelli, And Marriage Equality

Remember when everyone was bitching about Rosie O'Donnell's lack of participation in the Prop 8 campaign in California. How they all said she needed to do more, to contribute more, to be visible more???

Well now it all makes sense.

On her Sirius Satellite radio show, O'Donnell suddenly admitted Carpenter had moved out of their home two years ago. The reason for the big reveal? A pressing psychic and a long-haired chihuahua.

And, when asked who "sometimes looks after her," [the dog] O'Donnell explained her four children all fight over caring for the pup, which she got three days after Carpenter left. "What happened [was] when Kelli moved out two years ago, I got the dog. Because I wanted another child or something to love. And I got the dog."
Wonder where everyone is with their public apologies for all the crap talk and pressure they put on her?

Monday, November 09, 2009

Candlelight Rally For Marriage Equality

Tonight I went to the Lighting the Way for Equality candlelight vigil in support of Marriage Equality held at the capitol in Albany, NY. In my estimation, there were around 400 people in attendance. A great turnout on a November-balmy (60˚) night.

It was covered by the local television affiliates WRGB-6 (CBS), WTEN-10 (ABC), and WNYT-13 (NBC). They're using the story as a teaser for the 11 o'clock news.

After rallying on the east steps, the group made a circuit around the capitol building, then returned to the steps. There was a clever twist to a familiar chant:

Caller: What do we want?

Crowd: Marriage Equality!

Caller: When do we want it?

Crowd: Tomorrow!
The crowd was reminded to contact their state Senators to encourage their support. We need to get the Senate to bring it to a vote and to pass it like they've already done in the Assembly. Proponent Governor Paterson has been pushing it through and said he'll sign it!

The couple here in the front/center are straight and holding a sign supporting their lesbian daughter. Supportive PFLAG parents rock!

UPDATE 11/10/09 7:45 PM
The Associated Press is reporting that: New York's governor is pushing state lawmakers to consider a bill to legalize same-sex marriage bill next week after his effort to force a Senate vote appears all but lost. Gov. David Paterson is placing the bill on agendas for special sessions on Nov. 16 and 17. Senate Democrats said the bill wasn't likely to be considered during Tuesday's special session.

Paterson is urging a vote even if the bill he strongly supports fails. The Democrat says putting senators on the spot for their position is better than inaction while forces try to muster the votes behind the scenes. New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, which opposes the bill, says the failure of a vote Tuesday is a crushing blow to the advocates.

Monday, November 02, 2009

In Support Of My Friends Fighting So Hard In Maine

I pulled this from the comments section of a story on Huffington Post about the same-sex marriage referendum on tomorrow's ballot in Maine.

Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.

Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are still property, blacks still can't marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of Britney Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more children.

Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America.

Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.
The commenter didn't know who to attribute this to so I'll have to give a general "thank you" to whoever put in the time to come up with it.

Thursday, March 05, 2009

California's Eve Of Justice

Last night, candlelight vigils were held across California on the eve of today's arguments in front of the CA Supreme Court to overturn Proposition 8.

More than 400 members of the gay community and supporters gathered for a candlelight vigil here on the eve of a California Supreme Court hearing on three lawsuits seeking to overturn Proposition 8, the ballot measure to alter the state constitution to reinstate the ban on same-sex marriage that the court threw out last year.

In a standing-room-only Fairview Community Church this evening, same-sex marriage advocates gathered in what organizers dubbed an "Eve of Justice" event in Orange County and across the state, saying they were recommitting themselves to marriage equality and looking to the state's high court to restore gay unions.
Read Vik Jolly complete article at The Orange County Register
(Photo Credit: Kevin Sullivan/The Orange County Register)

Additional coverage:
The Desert Sun
The Los Angeles Times
The Sacramento Bee
San Diego Union-Tribune
San Francisco Chronicle

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

The Yes On 8 Strategy

This article details the strategy behind the Yes On 8 campaign. Interesting reading.

Monday, December 08, 2008

Timeline Of LDS Pro-Prop 8 Efforts

At the risk of stirring up additional trouble...

Diarist Chino Blanco, in a post titled Why I'm (still) mad at the Mormon church: a timeline over on Pam's House Blend, presents a detailed timeline of Mormon participation in the pro-Prop 8 campaign.

This is a good link for those saying that the Church of Latter-day Saints didn't have much involvement.

Sunday, December 07, 2008

A Biblical Perspective In Favor Of Marriage Equality

In the December 15, 2008 issues of NEWSWEEK, there is an article titled Gay Marriage: Our Mutual Joy, in which author Lisa Miller makes a Biblical case in favor of marriage equality.

Proposition 8 — The Musical

Saturday, December 06, 2008

New NEWSWEEK Poll Shows GLBT Rights Trending Higher

In the comments of my anti-Mormon screed post, one of the commenters asserted that Prop 8 was not going to be a PR disaster for the LDS church, rather that there was going to be a backlash against the GLBT community. According to the results of a new NEWSWEEK Poll, it seems the GLBT community has seen an uptick in the court of public opinion.

When voters in California, Florida and Arizona approved measures banning same-sex marriage last month, opponents lamented that the country appeared to be turning increasingly intolerant toward gay and lesbian rights. But the latest NEWSWEEK Poll finds growing public support for gay marriage and civil unions—and strong backing for the granting of certain rights associated with marriage, to same-sex couples.

Americans continue to find civil unions for gays and lesbians more palatable than full-fledged marriage. 55% of respondents favored legally sanctioned unions or partnerships, while only 39% supported marriage rights. Both figures are notably higher than in 2004, when 40% backed the former and 33% approved of the latter.

When it comes to according legal rights in specific areas to gays, the public is even more supportive. 74% back inheritance rights for gay domestic partners (compared to 60% in 2004), 73% approve of extending health insurance and other employee benefits to them (compared to 60% in 2004), 67% favor granting them Social Security benefits (compared to 55% in 2004) and 86% support hospital visitation rights (a question that wasn't asked four years ago). In other areas, too, respondents appeared increasingly tolerant. 53% favor gay adoption rights (8% more than in 2004), and 66% believe gays should be able to serve openly in the military (6% more than in 2004).

Despite the recently approved state measures, public opinion nationally has shifted against a federal ban on same-sex marriage. In 2004, people were evenly divided on the question, with 47% favoring a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage and 45% opposing one. In the latest poll, however, 52% oppose a ban and only 43% favor one. When respondents were asked about state measures, the numbers were closer: 45% said they'd vote in favor of an amendment outlawing gay marriage in their states, while 49% said they'd oppose such a measure.

A number of factors seem to play a role in swaying people one way or the other. For instance, 62% of Americans say religious beliefs play an important role in shaping their views on gay marriage. According to the survey, two-thirds of those who see marriage as primarily a legal matter support gay marriage. On the other hand, two-thirds of those who see it as mostly a religious matter (or equal parts religious and legal) oppose gay marriage. Moreover, the poll found significant differences across generational lines. About 50% of those aged 18 to 34 back marriage rights, compared to roughly 40% among those aged 35 to 64 and only about 20% among those 65 and older. The survey also detected a gender gap, with women more likely to support gay marriage than men, 44% to 34%. Differences by race appear less noteworthy: 40% of whites approve of gay marriage, compared to 37% of non-whites.

One reason that tolerance for gay marriage and civil unions may be on the rise is that a growing number of Americans say they know someone who's gay. While in 1994, a NEWSWEEK Poll found that only 53% of those questioned knew a gay or lesbian person, that figure today is 78%. Drilling down a bit more, 38% of adults work with someone gay, 33% have a gay family member and 66% have a gay friend or acquaintance. [Emphasis mine.]
While various polls will show various results based on various methodology, the important thing here is noting the positive trend within the same poll.

Friday, December 05, 2008

Marriage Equality In NY May Not Be Dead After All

There has been a lot of concern here in NY that some back room political shenanigans by the "Gang of 3" conservative Democrats could lead to an unholy alliance with the Republicans. In November, the Democrats gained the majority in the Senate. However, electing a leader has caused some drama.

Why should you or I care?

One of the conservative Senators is on record as being against marriage equality. If he were to gain control of the Senate, he would prevent it from coming up for a vote. That would put us in no better position than when the GOP controlled the Senate. The Assembly has passed this in previous session and Governor Paterson said he would sign it if it passed the Senate and came to him for approval.

Now the good news. The conservatives didn't win the battle for control.

New York state Democratic Sen. Malcolm Smith has won the support of three dissidents who flirted with backing the Republicans, giving the Democrats control of the state Senate for the first time since 1965, an Albany-based spokesman for Smith said on Thursday.

Smith, who represents NYC, will formally be elected to his new position in January, when the new Democrats who won a slim majority of two seats in the 62-seat chamber in the November elections will be sworn in. "The Gang of 3 has signed on with Smith," the Albany based spokesman said. The three dissidents, who had sought greater sway for Hispanics, among other issues, met on Thursday with Smith.
Marriage equality isn't a done deal, but we've averted a problem.

Read the full article at The New York Times.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

White Knot Ribbon For Marriage Equality


The White Knot is the symbol for marriage equality. It takes two traditional symbols of marriage — white and tying the knot — and combines them in a simple way to show support for the right of gays and lesbians to marry. All loving couples deserve the same legal rights, benefits, and respect that civil marriage bestows.

Visibility is the goal. Whether you are gay or straight, please show your support by wearing the knot and telling people why you are wearing it. It may seem like a small thing, but imagine the white knot gaining the pervasiveness and instant recognition of the AIDS Ribbon.


Laws Regarding Same-Sex Partnerships in the United States
Purple: Same-sex marriages
Green: Unions granting rights similar to marriage
Violet: Unions granting limited/enumerated rights
Cyan: Foreign same-sex marriages recognized
Yellow: Statute bans same-sex marriage
Orange: Constitution bans same-sex marriage
Red: Constitution bans same-sex marriage and other kinds of same-sex unions

Map via White Knot from Lokal_Profil.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Prop 8 Protest Hits Mormon Temple In Newport Beach

About 250 people gathered to protest passage of Proposition 8 at the mormon temple in Orange County.

Photo from the Orange County Register.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Wanda Sykes Comes Out For Marriage Equality

Comedian and actress Wanda Sykes officially came out this weekend, announcing to the estimated crowd of 1,000 gathered in Las Vegas at one of the many rallies for gay rights taking place around the country on Saturday that she's gay, and that she legally married her wife in California on Oct. 25.

Sykes (who divorced her husband of seven years in 1998), has spoken out about gay rights issues many times in the past, recently participated in a campaign to fight anti-gay slurs, and has openly referred to her wife in some of her stand-up routines.

But the passage of Proposition 8, she told them, spurred her decision to officially come out. “ We took a huge leap forward and then got dragged 12 feet back. I felt like I was being attacked, personally attacked — our community was attacked."

Read the full story on After Ellen.

Snagglepuss Comes Out For Marriage Equality

Saturday, November 15, 2008

My Friends Are At It Again!

Yesterday, the mormons scheduled a quick press conference in Santa Ana regarding local Prop 8 protests. Tomorrow's protest will be at their temple in Newport Beach. When the GLBT community caught wind of the press conference, a quick counter demonstration was organized.

I've mentioned my buddy Jeff has been getting lots of press lately on this issue. He didn't score a quote, but did manage a pic in the online story at the Orange County Register.

In an interesting twist, another friend of mine got the quote in the article:

"Just because it was on the ballot doesn't mean it was constitutional," said Irvine's Mitch Goldstone, a gay man who married his longtime partner in June.
I've know Mitch and his partner Carl for ages. In fact, I sat next to Jeff at Mitch and Carl's religious wedding (officiated by a Rabbi and attended by about 100 well wishers) about 15 years ago.

I miss seeing all my friends and being more in the mix!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Newport Beach Mormon Temple This Sunday's Rally Site

Update to all the mormon trolls that have been leaving nasty comments. My initial post was tame but I'm tired of being attacked by people who hide behind 'anonymous'. I'm tired of your abuse. NO MORE MR. NICE GAY!

• A common comment is that "gays are sore losers" and that the 'Yes On 8' crowd would have accepted the will of the people and moved on. Except, the facts show you didn't. We do not live in a democracy, rather a Republic (...and to the Republic, for which it stands...) with representative government. The California Assembly and Senate both approved marriage equality. It was a Republican Governor (who supports marriage equality) that vetoed the bill and sent it to the California Supreme Court that was stacked with Republican-appointed judges. The CA Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality. You keep getting defeated yet you don't accept the will of the people-elected government.

• "We don't hate gays." Well, I don't hate mormons, I just despise their fucked up cult that claims to be Christian but isn't. The next time you come to my door spewing your hate, I won't politely tell you I'm not interested. Expect me to heap on some abuse as you have done to me in our Constitutions.

• "I'm practicing my first amendment rights." Good for you. And my first amendment rights allow me to call you out as the religious bigot that you are, even if you can't see it yourself.

• "I'm practicing my first amendment rights." That's fine, as long as your church doesn't. Therein lies the rub. You can't receive tax exempt status while muddling in government affairs. The Brits have already stripped you of your tax exempt status and it won't be long before it happens here, too. The sooner the better.

• "Mormons are just practicing their religion." Everyone's entitled to practice their religion, up until the point where they strip away my equality under the law.

• "Gays already have equal rights." Have you no grasp of history? When African Americans had to drink from separate water fountains, the majority whites couldn't understand why the blacks complained. After all, the water was the same. Even if Domestic Partnerships were the same as Marriage, which they aren't, it would still be separate but equal. That is not acceptable.

• Mormons say that "gays are intolerant" while asking for tolerance. Yet, do you say the same thing to African Americans who ask for tolerance yet don't afford it to the KKK? Or, should Jews have tolerated Nazis? The fact here is that you just don't want to view yourselves in the way we see you...as oppressive devils in the same vein as the KKK and Nazis. The folks in the KKK and Nazis thought they were right and that god was on their side, too. Next time you look in the mirror, think about all the people who think there isn't any difference between you and a Klansman.

• "It's about protecting the word 'marriage' and how my church defines it." Not too long ago, your church also said that polygamy was part of the definition of marriage. I agree that, while some mormon sects (FLDS) still practice it, it has been renounced by the majority. (Except how do you explain being sealed to multiple people in heaven...oh, that is another debate entirely!) The point is that the church of latter-day saints can, and will when it's in its self interest (like Utah statehood), change the definition of marriage. The fact that gay people are excluded shows a willful choice to exclude some members of society. In short, you redefined marriage before, why not now?

• "It's just about the word 'marriage'." Tell that to the people, and unadopted children, in Arkansas where adoption is now for married couples only. Can't get married, can't have a family. So it is about more than the word, it's also about children, adoption, and families.

• "Civil Unions are fine with Elton John." I'll let you in on a little secret. Many, if not most, gay people (myself included) don't even want to get married. It's about being denied the equal right that's the issue.

• "Civil Unions are fine with Elton John." Since when did he ever speak for anyone else.

• "Civil Unions are fine with Elton John." That's his choice. He's also rich enough to hire a gaggle of lawyers to square things away.

• "Civil Unions are fine with Elton John." He also said that America is a racist nation because they voted a black singer off of American Idol. Do you agree with everything he says, or just some things?

• "I have gay friends." No, you don't. You may have gay acquaintances but they aren't friends. If you'll listen to a stranger that preaches to you once a week from the front of a church rather than your friends, you have a funny definition of friend. And while I'm thinking of it, stop redefining the word "friend" to mean someone you can stab in the back the first time they are out of sight.

• "Mormons are being treated like the Jews in Nazi Germany." Sorry, it was gays that were sent to the gas chambers en masse. You don't get to appropriate that.

• "Why are the Mormons being singled out?" First, didn't you see that there was a protest at Saddleback Church last week. That's an evangelical Christian congregation. You know, real Christians. And this Saturday's nationwide protests will be at City Halls. Are you uninformed? Is it just more convenient to leave those facts out? Did the mormon church elders leave that out of the email you received?

• "Why don't gays protest black churches?" In the end, they didn't really matter. Yes, they voted in large percentages in favor of Prop 8 but their voting numbers weren't large enough to change the outcome. If all African American votes were taken out of the election, Prop 8 would have still passed. Latinos didn't make a large enough impact, either. Mormons, too, for that matter. The church of latter-day saints is getting a disproportionate amount of attention because they are imposing Utah views on California with all of their money. It's about the money, people. Get it?

• "You're afraid to protest black churches?" First, stop watching that douchebag Bill O'Reilly. Ummm, could you be any more racist? What, the scary black people that attend black churches are violent and will come out and attack us? Check your racial baggage, please. I know that you don't see many people of color up in Utah or in your temples, but we're quite comfortable with African Americans, thank you very much.

• "Get over it. Majority rules." That sure does feel good when you're in the majority. The fact is that a large majority of people believe that mormons are a crazy, perverse cult that has somehow convinced a whole swath of people to give them 10% of their gross income. Well, we have already started a grass roots campaign to place a Constitutional Amendment on the 2010 California ballot to outlaw mormonism. Tens of thousands have already signed the petitions. That will be a real wake up call for you. How many billions of dollars will the Utah church spend in California to defeat it? Will you be so happy with majority rule then? Will you give up the fight for your rights if the people vote and pass it, or will you seek relief from the Supreme Court to overturn majority rule? You need to think about that.

• We're also considering a proposition to outlaw mormon magic underpants. They are perverse.

Now, because I'm tired of all you mormon trolls, comments have been turned off. This is a personal blog and I really don't give a shit what you think. My readers and I don't have to listened to your fucked up preaching and shaming. Now move along. Don't you have some dead Jews to baptize?


Nationwide protests against the passage of California Proposition 8 are being grass-roots organized for this weekend. Go to Join The Impact for the location nearest you.

There is going to be a huge rally in NYC outside the Mormon Temple on the UWS this Wednesday so watch the news.

In Orange County, the Mormon Temple in Newport Beach will be the site of a rally on Sunday.


We must expose those whose agenda is to limit the fundamental right of same-sex couples to marry by incorporating their religious beliefs into the California Constitution. The Mormon Church led the support of Proposition 8. This demonstration will show its members:

• We intend to continue this fight for equality until it is won
• Discrimination is harmful to our society in any form
• Our Constitution provides equal protection of fundamental rights to all Californians

WHEN
Sunday, November 16 — 10 a.m.

LOCATION
The Mormon Temple and Chapel, 2300 Bonita Canyon Dr., at the corner of Bonita Canyon and Prairie Rd., in Newport Beach. Located just West of the 73 toll road; exit Bonita Canyon Dr.; or turn East onto Bonita Canyon Dr. from MacArthur Blvd.

PARKING
We urge everyone to arrive early and park in the Bonita Canyon Sports Park, which is off Prairie Rd., just opposite St. Matthew’s Catholic Church and across the street from the Mormon Temple. Drive past the ball park to the parking lot on the right. There's also limited street parking.

DO NOT to park at the shopping center at San Miguel and Ford.

BRING
Signs & banners expressing your support for Marriage Equality and Civil Rights, and your outrage at the Yes on 8 Campaign tactics supported by the Mormon Church. American, rainbow and California flags, water, sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat. Dress for a hot, sunny day.

EVENT ORGANIZERS
Audrey Prosser
Jeff LeTourneau, ECCO Political Director
Harvey H. Liss, ECCO Vice-Chair
Karen Ellis
Sandra Hartness, Director, HRC
Barbara McMurray
Ed Todeschini, HRC OC Federal Club Co-Chair
Gary Lefevre
Jorge Rodriguez, M.D, President, Board of Directors, AIDS Services Foundation

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Prop 8 Protest Hits LDS Temple In NYC

Carrying signs reading "Love not H8" and "Did you cast a ballot or a stone?", a large crowd of gay-marriage supporters gathered outside the Mormon temple in New York City to protest the church's endorsement of a same-sex marriage ban in California.

The rally Wednesday night outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple came hours after gay couples exchanged vows for the first time in Connecticut amid cheers and tears of joy. Read the full AP story here.



Additional Street Reports
Joe.My.God.
Father Tony
Gay City News
Queerty
The New York Times

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Albany, NY Rally Scheduled For Saturday Afternoon

This weekend, grass roots group Join The Impact is organizing gatherings across the country to protest the passage of anti-GLBT laws last week.

In less than 4 days, 14K+ people have signed up on Facebook to join the rallies, with more joining each day. This doesn't include those not on Facebook!

WHEN
Saturday, November 15 — 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Rain, snow, or shine!

LOCATION
Albany City Hall (subject to change — verify here)
24 Eagle Street, Albany, NY
BRING
Signs & banners expressing your support for Marriage Equality and Civil Rights; American and rainbow flags. Dress appropriately for the weather!