Wednesday, June 29, 2011
R.I. Gay Rights Group to Gov: Veto Civil Unions Bill
Rhode Island's Senate will likely pass a bill this week that allows same-sex couples to form civil unions; the state House already approved civil unions in May. The legislation comes after the state tried for marriage equality and failed — years after its neighbors, Connecticut and Massachusetts, legalized same-sex marriage. To add insult to injury, the civil unions bill comes with heavy concessions to the state's Roman Catholic community — according to The Boston Globe, gay rights activists believe the bill includes overly broad protections for religious groups "that could, for example, allow a Catholic hospital to bar a gay man from participating in his partner's medical decisions." Full story here!
Baptists for Gay Marriage: Just Kidding!
The press release went out to a number of journalists and announced that the Southern Baptist leadership met in an emergency session, affirmed gay rights, repented for "any past homophobia that not only hurt gay people but kept them ostracized from the church," and directed people to a fake website that included working phone numbers. Full story here!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Lindsay Lohan Poses For Gay Rights in NOH8 Campaign
The NOH8 photos, taken in Lohan's home, show the singer/actress throwing up peace signs and tagging her walls with lipstick, spreading the message of equal rights for all. Full story here!
Nine Teens Arrested in Beating of Gay Man in Massachusetts
According to Springfield Police Sergeant John Delaney, Shay Andre Edwards, 19, of Springfield was arrested on charges of unarmed robbery and violation of civil rights with injury. Four other teen boys and four teen girls are also facing the same charges in connection with the attack. Their identities are not being released because they are underage. Delaney says the attackers ranged in age from 12 to 19 years old.
According to Delaney, before 3:00 Tuesday morning, the group saw the 30 year-old man walking by Barrows Park. They called out to the man, telling him to enter the park, but he kept walking. That was when they allegedly knocked him to the ground. The male teens punched him in the face and kicked him in the head and stomach, while the females of the group cheered them on. All the while, the group members allegedly yelled out anti-gay slurs. The group allegedly took his MP3 player before running off. Full story here!
Mets Said to Be Split 50-50 on Gay Marriage
Despite former Mets pitcher Ron Darling telling the New York Daily News that he strongly supported the state’s legalization of same-sex marriage (“I can’t wait to hear if my friends are going to take the plunge, and I’m anticipating going to many marriages”), the paper reports that members of the current team are reluctant to voice their opinions on the subject.
One player admitted that Friday’s news did spark a considerable clubhouse discussion and estimated that his teammates were “split 50-50,” with a religion-based objection to homosexuality cited by several of those not in favor. Full story here!
Brazil Judge OKs Country’s First Gay Marriage
Sao Paulo state Judge Fernando Henrique Pinto ruled two men could convert their civil union into a full marriage. Brazil’s Supreme Court cleared the way in May for the recognition of same-sex civil unions, but stopped short of approving gay marriages.
A court statement said Pinto made the decision based on the top court’s ruling on civil unions and on Brazil’s constitution, which outlines how a civil union can be converted into a legal marriage.
Benjamin Polastri, a spokesman with the Sao Paulo state Attorney General’s Office, said it was not immediately clear if the ruling set a strong national precedent. Polastri also said the just-approved gay marriage was the first for South America’s biggest nation. Full story here!
MAINE: Another Run At Marriage?
Buoyed by the result in New York, some activists in Maine say they are considering bringing same-sex marriage back to the ballot in 2012. In 2009 Maine's voters rescinded same-sex marriage mere months after it had been approved by the state legislature. Full story here!
Clinton: NY Marriage Will Boost Global Rights Cause
Speaking at a gay pride event at the State Department, Clinton celebrated last week’s move in the state she once represented in the Senate. She called New York’s legislative approval of gay marriage a momentous and extraordinary event and said she hoped it would lend momentum to the campaign for gay rights. Full story here!
New Poll Parses Support, Opposition, After Passage of NY Marriage Law
The poll showed that overall, voters in New York State support the new marriage equality law by a wide margin, with 54% in favor and only 40% opposed.
GLBT equality issues receive more support in general from younger voters, and the new marriage parity law is no exception, the poll showed: Voters under the age of 35 support the new law by a whopping 70%. Full story here!
Anti-Gay Pol Launches White House Bid
Michele Bachmann said she would support a federal constitutional amendment which would overturn New York state's new law legalizing gay marriage and similar laws in other states.
On Fox News Sunday, Rep. Bachmann reiterated calls for an amendment that would define marriage as "between a man and woman."
Rep. Bachmann claimed that while New York's new law approving same-sex marriages which was signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday was "up to the people of New York", the debate over defining marriage was "a state issue and a federal issue." She added that "federal law will trump state law on this issue." Full story here!
Dems Use NY Marriage Equality to Tweak Sen. Brown
Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman John Walsh said all the declared Democratic candidates challenging Brown in next year’s election support gay marriage.
"As we saw in New York, the fight for marriage equality is marching on and even many Republicans are rethinking their positions on same-sex marriage," he said in a statement.
"I think Massachusetts families deserve to know if Scott Brown still opposes marriage equality," Walsh added. Full story here!
Next Marriage Equality Showdown Could Be Minnesota
Gay-marriage supporters in the Land of 10,000 Lakes will be working fervently to end a 31-state losing streak at the polls and defeat a proposed amendment on the 2012 ballot that would limit marriage to one-man, one-woman unions.
It’s expected to be a closely fought campaign, attracting extensive out-of-state resources. Full story here!
Monday, June 27, 2011
The Gay Bar - Is it dying?
OOPS, THEY DID IT AGAIN:Facebook Sorry for Censoring Kiss
American Medical Association Comes Out for Gay Marriage
In response to the vote in the New York legislature, the American Medical Association has issued a call for the marriage equality across the United States. Full story here!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Marriage Equality Celebration at Stonewall :: June 24, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
N.Y. Lawmakers Pass Marriage Equality Bill
"Marriage says we are a family," said gay state Sen. Tom Duane [D-Manhattan], referring to his partner Louis during an emotional speech on the Senate floor. "Louis and I are family and marriage strengthens all families. It’s going to strengthen my family and all New York families."
State Sen. Mark Grisanti [R-Buffalo] cited his Roman Catholic upbringing while speaking on the Senate floor. At the end, however, he said he could not deny someone the same rights he and his wife enjoy through marriage. "I cannot come up with an argument against same-sex marriage." Full story here!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Prizewinning Gay Journalist’s Secret: He’s an Illegal
The 30-year-old Pulitzer Prize-winner who covered the Virginia Tech massacre for The Washington Post was using a fake license to help cover up a secret: He was an illegal immigrant.
He could have opted for a reprieve. Vargas recently obtained a Washington state driver’s license, offering him five more years to be able to document his residency in the U.S. - but that also would mean five more years of lying.
Instead, he decided to go public.
"I’m done running. I’m exhausted," Vargas wrote in a New York Times Magazine essay posted online Wednesday. "I don’t want that life anymore." Full story here!
Ben Cohen, Billie Jean King, Gareth Thomas Attend David Cameron's Gay Pride Reception
Rugby stars Gareth Thomas and Ben Cohen and tennis great Billie Jean King were among the celebrities attending UK Prime Minister David Cameron's Gay Pride reception, UK gay weekly Pink Paper reported.
Cameron opened his annual Downing Street reception with a joke about actor Sir Ian McKellen, who is openly gay.
“It's great to have this reception here today,” Cameron said. “Sir Ian McKellen is here tonight, I think, and we had the Queen and Prince Phillip here for lunch yesterday. Who can say they've had two of Britain's most prominent queens over in 48 hours?” Full story here!
Immigration Equality Bill Introduced in the Senate
The bill was introduced by Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez on June 22, a press release from the Immigration Equality Action Fund said, "with original co-sponsorship by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), as well as Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), John Kerry (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
"Among the provisions included in the Senate proposal is the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), a bill to end the discrimination LGBT couples face under current immigration law, which prohibits Americans with foreign-born partners or spouses from sponsoring them for residency in the United States," the release added. Full story here!
Bitch Please :: Quote Of The Day - Anita Bryant
"I was before her time, but Sally Kern is here for such a time as this. I am grateful for her life and her friendship. Reading The Stoning of Sally Kern was at times like déjà vu, reminding me of my stand in Dade County in 1977. I can highly recommend this book to anyone who loves God, their family, and their country. It is a must-read for any believing woman or man who wants to make a difference in these perilous times. Those soldiers who have counted the cost of character assassination or endured other losses yet are willing to take a stand in truth and love for the glory of God, our children, and future generations will especially enjoy this inspiring book." - Anita Bryant, from a blurb on the cover of fellow homophobe Sally Kern's autobiography.Via Joe My God
Local Paper’s Snub of Same-Sex Surviving Partner Draws Protest, HRC
"Terrance James of Batesville, AR, recently lost his partner of ten years to spinal meningitis," text posted by the HRC explains.
"Terrance wrote and submitted an obituary to the Batesville Daily Guard," the text continues. "The paper proceeded to remove all mention of Terrance, and instead only mentioned his partner’s siblings and deceased parents." Full story here!
California Has More Than 50,000 Gay Parents
Buju Banton Gets 10 Years in Jail
U.S. District judge James Moody sentenced Banton at a court in Tampa. The 37-year-old Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was convicted in February of setting up a drug deal and has been in custody since December 2009. In addition to his 10-year sentence, Banton will get five years of probation following his jail time.
Banton is known for songs such as "Boom Bye Bye" that call for the murder of gay people. (The Advocate)
N.Y. Republican Senators to Conference Marriage Equality Bill
The announcement, made by Skelos to reporters in the late morning, represented the first major sign this week of movement on the bill, which has been delayed in the Republican-controlled Senate since passing the Democratic-controlled Assembly last week. Full story here!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
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