Gay marriage rights denied by Maine voters - Proposition 1 passes

Gay-marriage foes claim victory in Maine

 

By GLENN ADAMS and DAVID CRARY (AP)


PORTLAND, Maine — Gay-marriage opponents are claiming victory in a closely watched referendum in Maine on a new state law that would have allowed same-sex couples to wed.

The law in question was passed by the Legislature in May but never took effect because of a petition drive by conservatives.

With more than 84 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday, the side seeking to repeal the law had 53 percent of the vote. Their campaign organizer, Frank Schubert, claimed victory and declared that Maine voters had helped preserve the institution of marriage.

Gay-marriage supporters refused to concede, holding out hope that that the tide might turn as the final returns came in. They had been hoping Maine would become the first state to approve same-sex marriage at the ballot box.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information.

AP's earlier story is below.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Gay marriage appeared in danger in Maine in a closely watched referendum Tuesday that the nation's gay rights movement had hoped would yield a breakthrough victory at the ballot box.

Voters were asked to decide whether to repeal or affirm a state law that would allow gay couples to wed. The law was passed by the Legislature in May but never took effect because of a petition drive by conservatives.

With 481 of 608 precincts reporting, the pro-repeal side had 52 percent to 48 percent for gay-marriage's supporters.

A vote to uphold the law would mark the first time that the electorate in any state endorsed gay marriage. That could energize activists nationwide and blunt conservative claims that same-sex marriage is being foisted on states by judges or lawmakers over the will of the public.

However, repeal — in New England, the region of the country most supportive of gay couples — would be another heartbreaking defeat for the marriage-equality movement, following the vote against gay marriage in California a year ago.

It would also mark the first time voters had torpedoed a gay-marriage law enacted by a legislature. When Californians rejected same-sex marriage, it was in response to a court ruling, not legislation.

Maine's secretary of state, Matthew Dunlap, said turnout seemed higher than expected for an off-year election and voter interest appeared intense. Even before Tuesday, more than 100,000 people — out of about 1 million registered voters — had voted by absentee ballot or early voting.

Frank Schubert, organizer for the campaign to repeal gay marriage, said a victory by his side would be a "backbreaking loss" for gay-rights activists, given the heavy mobilization and fundraising efforts put into their campaign.

Jesse Connolly, manager for the pro-gay marriage campaign, said the results bore out his prediction of a "razor thin" election.

"At the end of the day we're going to see a positive result," he said late Tuesday. "We might not see that tonight. It might be tomorrow."

Five other states have legalized gay marriage — Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut — but all did so through legislation or court rulings, not by popular vote. In contrast, constitutional amendments banning gay marriage have been approved in all 30 states where they have been on the ballot.

"If we don't win, then Maine will have its place in infamy because no state has ever voted for homosexual marriage," said Chuck Schott of Portland, who stood near a polling place in Maine's biggest city with a pro-repeal campaign sign.

Another Portland resident, Sarah Holman said she was "very torn" but decided — despite her conservative upbringing — to vote in favor of letting gays marry.
"They love and they have the right to love. And we can't tell somebody how to love," said Holman, 26.

Hundreds of gay-marriage supporters gathered in a Portland hotel ballroom in the evening to await the results. On display was a three-tiered wedding cake topped with two grooms on one side, two brides on the other, and the words "We All Do."

In addition to reaching out to young people who flocked to the polls for President Barack Obama a year ago, gay-marriage defenders tried to appeal to Maine voters' independent streak — a Yankee spirit of fairness and live-and-let-live.

The other side based many of its campaign ads on claims — disputed by state officials — that the new law would mean "homosexual marriage" would be taught in public schools.

Both sides in Maine drew volunteers and contributions from out of state, but the money edge went to the campaign in defense of gay marriage, Protect Maine Equality. It raised $4 million, compared with $2.5 million for Stand for Marriage Maine.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, voters in Washington state decided whether to uphold or overturn a recently expanded domestic partnership law that entitles same-sex couples to the same state-granted rights as heterosexual married couples. And in Kalamazoo, Mich., voters approved a measure that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Among other ballot items across the country:

• In Ohio, voters approved a measure that will allow casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo. Four similar measures had been defeated in recent years, but this time the state's reeling economy gave extra weight to arguments that the new casinos would create thousands of jobs.
  
  
• Maine voters defeated a measure that would have limited state and local government spending by holding it to the rate of inflation plus population growth. A similar measure was on the ballot in Washington state.
  
  
• Another measure in Maine, which easily won approval, will allow dispensaries to supply marijuana to patients for medicinal purposes. It is a follow-up to a 1999 measure that legalized medical marijuana but did not set up a distribution system.
  
  
• The Colorado ski town of Breckenridge voted overwhelmingly to allow adults to legally possess small amounts of marijuana.

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Obama signs Matthew Shepard hate crimes legislation into law

Washington – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, praised President Barack Obama today for signing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law. The new law gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The legislation was added as a provision to the FY 2010 National Defense Authorization Act earlier this Summer. For a comprehensive retrospective and historical overview of hate crimes advocacy visit: www.hrc.org/loveconquershate.

“This law honors our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters whose lives were cut short because of hate,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Today’s signing of the first major piece of civil rights legislation to protect LGBT Americans represents a historic milestone in the inevitable march towards equality. Although this is a major step in fighting the scourge of hate violence, it is not the end of the road. As a community, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to changing not only laws but also hearts and minds. We know that hate crimes not only harm individuals, but they terrorize entire communities. After more than a decade of advocacy, local police and sheriffs’ departments now have the full resources of the Justice Department available to them.”

“We applaud President Obama for signing this bill into law and thank the leadership and our allies in the House and Senate. We also will always remember the tireless efforts of Senator Edward Kennedy on this issue. Senator Kennedy once said that this legislation sends ‘a message about freedom and equality that will resonate around the world.’ This marks the first time that we as a nation have explicitly protected the LGBT community in the law. And this law sends a loud message that perpetrators of hate violence against anyone will be brought to justice,” said Solmonese.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act honors the memory of Matthew Shepard, a Wyoming college student brutally murdered in an act of hate violence in 1998, and James Byrd, an African-American man who was dragged to death in Jasper, Texas, in 1998.

“We are incredibly grateful to Congress and the president for taking this step forward on behalf of hate crime victims and their families, especially given the continuing attacks on people simply for living their lives openly and honestly,” said Judy Shepard, executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. “But each of us can and must do much more to ensure true equality for all Americans.”

“We appreciate everyone who worked so hard on this bill. My son was taken at such an early age and we hope this law will help prevent other families from going through what we experienced,” said Stella Byrd, mother of James Byrd. “Even though we’re different colors and different sexual orientations or gender identities, God made us all and he loves us all.”

The new law also provides the Justice Department with the ability to aid state and local jurisdictions either by lending assistance or, where local authorities are unwilling or unable, by taking the lead in investigations and prosecutions of violent crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury that were motivated by bias. It also makes grants available to state and local communities to combat violent crimes committed by juveniles, train law enforcement officers, or to assist in state and local investigations and prosecutions of bias motivated crimes.

This legislation was first introduced in the 105th Congress. There have been 14 total votes in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate to bring this historic legislation to the president’s desk.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

Courtesy: Human Rights Campaign

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Matthew Shepard Candlelight Vigil TV Coverage (Nov 1998 - Houston)

It was November 11, 1998 and the news of Matthew Shepard's haneous death just rocked the world. Candlelight vigils were being held in cities all across the globe and Houston was on the list.

I was 22 years old when my phone rang that fateful day. Steve Baker, producer of TV Montrose, called and asked me to cover the candlelight vigil in a park near downtown Houston. Without any previous news reporting experience and no prior knowledge of Matthew's crime, I hopped in my car and headed down to the park.

It was raining that evening, but it didn't deter hundreds of supporters from gathering to pay respects to a fallen gay brother.

City Councilwoman Anise Parker spoke about hatred, acceptance and the need for increased protection for LGBT citizens. Little did we know, 11 years later Congress would pass the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act on Thursday, October 22, 2009.

This video is an inside look at the candlelight vigil held for Matthew. Although a young, unsuspecting college student had to endure such horrible beatings, torture and ultimate death, millions of LGBT persons have Matthew Shepard to thank for making federal hate crimes protection for LGBT citizens a reality in 2009.

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Lesbian student in Miss. fights for tuxedo photo

 JACKSON, Miss. — Everyone at Wesson Attendance Center knows 17-year-old Ceara Sturgis is gay because she’s never tried to hide it.

But when Sturgis — an honor student, trumpet player and goalie on the school’s soccer team — wanted her senior photograph in a tuxedo used in the 2009-10 yearbook, school officials balked. Traditionally, female students dress in drapes and males wear tuxedos.

Now, the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi has gotten involved, issuing a demand letter to Principal Ronald Greer to publish the picture of Sturgis in the tuxedo. The ACLU says it’s giving the school until Oct. 23 to respond before pursuing court action, said Kristy L. Bennett, the ACLU’s legal director.

A secretary for Greer referred questions to Copiah County Schools Superintendent Rickey Clopton, who declined to comment on Thursday.

Sturgis said she should get to decide how she looks in the senior photo.

“I feel like I’m not important, that the school is dismissing who I am as a gay student and that they don’t even care about me. All I want is to be able to be me, and to be included in the yearbook,” Sturgis said in a statement.

Veronica Rodriguez, 47, said school officials are trying to force her daughter — who doesn’t even own a dress — to appear more feminine.

“The tux is who she is. She wears boys’ clothes. She’s athletic. She’s gay. She’s not feminine,” said Rodriguez during an interview Thursday at the ACLU office.

Rodriguez said Sturgis took her pictures over the summer instead of with the other students last year, but she used the same studio.

In August, Rodriguez said she received a letter from the school stating that only boys could wear tuxedos. Rodriguez said she met with assistant Superintendent Ronald Holloway who told her he didn’t see regulations about the issue in the student handbook.

But when she talked with Greer, she said he told her it was his “conviction” that Sturgis wouldn’t appear in the yearbook in a tuxedo.

Bennett said the teenager’s constitutional rights are being violated. Bennett said similar cases, including same-sex prom couples and girls wearing tuxedos to proms, have been successfully challenged in court in other states. ACLU officials said they were unaware of any other constitutional disputes involving gay teens at Mississippi schools.

“You can’t discriminate against somebody because they’re not masculine enough or because they’re not feminine enough. She’s making an expression of her sexual orientation through this picture and that invokes First Amendment protection,” Bennett said.

There’s no state policy that deals with the yearbook photo issue, said state Department of Education spokesman Pete Smith.

The deadline for the photo to be accepted for the yearbook was Sept. 30. But advertisements for the publication are still being taken so Sturgis has time for her photo to be included, Bennett said.

Sturgis lives with her grandparents in Wesson, a town of about 1,700 founded during the Civil War in southwest Mississippi. The town’s Web site said residents “pride ourselves on our quiet way of life.”

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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NYC man remains in coma after brutal gay bashing

New York City politicos and activists on Monday denounced the attack against Queens resident Jack Price outside a College Point convenience store early on Oct. 9.

A Queens man remains in serious but stable condition after two men brutally beat him early Friday morning outside a local convenience store because he is gay.

Daniel Aleman, 26, and Daniel Rodriguez, 21, allegedly beat Jack Price, 49, around 3 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, after he went to a College Point corner store to buy a pack of cigarettes. The two men reportedly taunted Price, who remains in a medical induced coma at Booth Memorial Hospital, before they chased him and eventually beat him.

"To do this as a human being, no matter what their sexuality is, is a disgrace," Price’s sister-in-law Joanne Guarneri told WABC. "Both his lungs are collapsed. All his ribs are broken, his spleen had surgery, and he had to get a metal plate put in his jaw."

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, state Sen. Tom Duane [D-Chelsea,] City Councilmember John Liu [D-Flushing] and openly gay City Council candidates Danny Dromm and Jimmy Van Bramer were among those who denounced the attack at a press conference outside the hospital yesterday afternoon.

"To do this as a human being, no matter what their sexuality is, is a disgrace."
"When someone is attacked for being who they are, and for being proud of who they are, there is no other explanation for that attack than hatred and bigotry," Quinn said. "In response, we will do all in our power as individuals, as a community and as a city to ensure that whoever commits such a vile act of hate is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

The attack against Price is the latest in a series of anti-LGBT hate and bias crimes that have rocked Queens in recent months.

Trinidad Tapia and Gilberto Ortiz allegedly beat Leslie Morak with a belt buckle as she walked home from a Jackson Heights nightclub in June. And Nathaniel Mims and Rasheed Thomas face hate crimes charges after they allegedly attacked Carmella Etienne with rocks and empty beer bottles on July 8 as she walked home from a store near her St. Albans apartment.

The New York City Anti-Violence Project concluded in a report issued in July the severity of anti-LGBT violence in the five boroughs has increased. Those who spoke at the press conference outside the hospital added they feel the attack, which came less than three days before more than 1,400 New Yorkers took part in the National Equality March in Washington, shows anti-LGBT hate crimes and bias attacks remains a serious problem.

"This tragic and senseless incident is yet another reminder of how far we have to go towards making our city one that is free of hatred and violence at all times and for all people," Van Bramer concluded.

Courtesy:

Michael K. Lavers
National News Editor
Edge Publications

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Broken Yoke Ministry heals gays by helping them find God

I could hardly believe it when I saw it today.  After logging in to LinkedIn, I was greeted by a request to join one of the aviation groups I administer for work.  Bob Van Domelan's request to join this professional aerospace networking group is currently pending while I pontificate how I will deal with him.

Because my industry can be highly competitive, it is necessary to do some background research on each request to join these groups.  The last thing we want is for one of our competitors to join our group and market their events; this would be harvesting our database of customers - naughty, naughty practice.  So, naturally, I perform an Internet search on each person that requests to join the group.

I was astonished to find that Reverend Domelan's LinkedIn profile lists his work as "Broken Yoke Ministries."  I thought...hmmm...ministry?  Why would a ministry and a reverend be interested in joining an aviation group?  I gave him the benefit of the doubt and set out to do some research.  He very well could have been a pilot, and operations director for an airline - something.  Nope.  That wasn't the case.  Reverend Domelan is just that - a Reverend for a Wisconsin-based ministry.  Quoted from their Web site:

This ministry seeks to support those who struggle with same-gender attraction and believe that such behavior is incompatible with God's design for their lives.

After perusing the online pages of Broken Yoke Ministries, I found testimonials from homos who claim to have now found God and discovered the err of their ways.  I'll bet you a whopping buck if you were to meet any of these homos-gone-breeder types, they would all spray you with their lisps and shake your hand with their limp wrists.

I don't know about you, but I'm just a little tired of all these ministries and groups that claim to "cure" homosexuality.  In the end, it's all pure brainwashing.  Hiding your hatred behind the smoke and mirrors of religion is a nasty and despicable practice.  People of faith who act this way should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.

Check out Broken Yoke Ministries and see for yourself just how much people in the back woods really hate things they can't understand.  You will discover that the ministry has an upcoming conference in Wisconsin.  I think a protest is in order.

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Ben & Jerry's Renames Ice Cream to Hubby Hubby in Support of Gay Marriage in Vermont

BURLINGTON, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ben & Jerry’s, known for its euphoric ice cream flavors and dedication to social justice, celebrates the beginning of the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples in Vermont with the symbolic renaming of its well-known ice cream flavor “Chubby Hubby” to “Hubby Hubby.” In partnership with Freedom to Marry, Ben & Jerry’s aims to raise awareness of the importance of marriage equality and, to show its support, will serve “Hubby Hubby” sundaes in Vermont Scoop Shops throughout the month of September.

Ben & Jerry’s has a long history of commitment to social justice, including gay rights. Its partnership with Freedom to Marry, a national leader in the movement for marriage equality, aims to raise awareness of the importance of marriage equality and to encourage other states to follow the blazing trails of Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, and Maine. Freedom to Marry promotes the national conversation about why marriage equality matters and brings together partner organizations into a larger whole – a shared civil rights campaign.

“At the core of Ben & Jerry’s values, we believe that social justice can and should be something that every human being is entitled to,” said Walt Freese, Chief Executive Officer of Ben & Jerry’s. “From the very beginning of our 30 year history, we have supported equal rights for all people. The legalization of marriage for gay and lesbian couples in Vermont is certainly a step in the right direction and something worth celebrating with peace, love and plenty of ice cream.”

To kick off the celebration, Ben & Jerry’s and Freedom to Marry will be publicly supporting the first marriages of gay and lesbian couples in Vermont and raising awareness for marriage equality and how to take action by driving consumers to www.freedomtomarry.org. By logging onto the site, people can show their support, sign a Marriage Resolution Petition, have conversations about why marriage matters and learn more about how they can support the cause.

“It’s not polite to talk with your mouth full, but the most important thing that all us ice cream lovers can do to support the freedom to marry is speak with the people we know about why marriage matters and the need to end marriage discrimination in every state”,” said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry. “Thanks to Ben & Jerry’s, starting those needed conversations has never been sweeter – and thanks to Freedom to Marry, we all now have a great excuse to eat more ice cream.”

For more information on why marriage equality matters and to take action in your state, please log on to www.freedtomarry.org. To find your local Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop or learn more about Ben & Jerry’s social mission, log onto www.Facebook.com/benjerry.

www.benjerry.com

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Judge sets January trial date for Prop. 8 case

In a two-hour hearing Wednesday morning, Judge Vaughn R. Walker of the U.S. District Court’s Northern District of California set Jan. 11 as the date for the trial to begin in a federal challenge to California’s recently enacted ban on marriage for same-sex couples. And the judge ruled the city of San Francisco may play a supporting role in the legal fight.

Walker ended the hearing by lobbing a gentle chide to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, one of the government defendants in the case. Schwarzenegger has not disputed any of the lawsuits’ allegations. The governor has indicated he is not going to actively defend Prop 8, but he has not made a legal statement about the questions raised by the lawsuit.

Noting the current budget crises and wildfires raging in the state, Walker told Schwarzenegger’s representative at the hearing he wished "the governor and other public officials would weigh in on these constitutional issues."

Theodore Olson and David Boies, the attorneys representing two same-sex couples challenging Prop 8, had wanted a trial to begin this year. Charles Cooper, the attorney representing Yes on 8, had said no trial was necessary, but that if one were held it should not start until July. Walker made it clear he wanted a trail record for any future appeal. And he told the attorneys to begin the work of gathering evidence, identifying expert witnesses, and taking depositions immediately. A pre-trial conference has been scheduled for Dec. 16.

"We have a situation where we will have a resolution now," Boies said in a press conference after the hearing. "The question is whether we are going to include gays and lesbians in the umbrella of all human beings. This is about a fundamental human right. The Supreme Court of the United States has made it clear that removing rights a state has already recognized is a violation of the right to equal protection."

State Attorney General Jerry Brown, who had filed papers supporting a previous unsuccessful challenge to Prop 8 in state court, is one of the defendants in the federal case. He has said his office agrees with the plaintiffs’ assertion California’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples violates 14th Amendment’s equal protection and the due process provisions and will not play an active role to defend it.

In his ruling, Walker limited San Francisco’s role to the governmental interests and directed District Attorney Dennis Herrera’s office to work with Brown’s office to identify those governmental concerns. Herrera said those financial concerns included such things as the impact on tourism income and public health care costs.

In other rulings Wednesday, Walker denied a petition from Campaign for California Families, which led the ballot campaign to pass Prop 8, from joining the defense team. The judge blocked Our Family Coalition, Lavender Seniors of the East Bay, and Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays from joining the plaintiffs’ side.

Both parties are trying to see which of several dozen stipulations of fact on which they can agree. They both agree, for instance, marriage is of deep meaning to Californians, but the Prop 8 attorneys do not agree with the challengers’ assertion that marriage "is a public expression of love and long-term commitment."

One of the marriage points of contention is over the relative historical stability of marriage as a civil institution. The challengers in court papers filed Monday stipulated, "Civil marriage has never been a static institution. Historically, it has changed, sometimes dramatically, to reflect the changing needs, values and understanding of our evolving society."

Prop 8 attorneys countered.

"Civil marriage has been a remarkably static institution," they said. "It has rarely changed throughout history, and then only in minor ways. Despite any changes in its precise contours, it always has been and nearly always still is limited to the union of a man and a woman."

The two sides also clash in their submissions on whether sexual orientation can or should be changed and the extent of gay political power.


COURTESY:

Edge San Francisco

Roger Brigham,  EDGE San Francisco Editor
Thursday Aug 20, 2009

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U.S. DOMA Repeal Would Include Recognizing Out-of-State Gay Marriages :: EDGE Los Angeles

The effort to repeal the federal ban against same-sex marriages will not include extending rights to LGBT couples in domestic partnerships or civil unions, the Bay Area Reporter has learned. But it will include a "certainty provision" requiring states to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-New York), in an exclusive interview with the B.A.R. while attending the annual Human Rights Campaign gala in San Francisco Saturday, July 25, ruled out including anything other than legally recognized marriages in the legislation he plans to introduce either this week or once Congress returns from its August recess.

"No, it will not include domestic partnerships or civil unions. It is going to be just marriage," said Nadler, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and therefore, will be the lead sponsor of legislation aimed at repealing the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Under DOMA’s Section 3 the federal government is forbidden from recognizing LGBT couples married in the six states where same-sex marriage is legal. Section 2 of the law says those states that outlaw same-sex marriages do not have to recognize legal same-sex marriages from other states. Nadler said his bill would repeal both sections of DOMA.

"We have got to repeal DOMA and have got to make sure it accomplishes for federal purposes allowing the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages," said Nadler, who led the fight to defeat a Federal Marriage Amendment that would have enshrined the same-sex marriage ban in the U.S. Constitution. "The time for dumping DOMA is long overdue."

HRC President Joe Solmonese said it makes sense to restrict the debate over repealing DOMA only to recognition of same-sex marriage.

"We ought to start it with what we would ultimately achieve, a wholesale overturning of DOMA," he said.

Nadler said that including domestic partnerships or civil unions in his legislation "gets very complicated" because the laws governing such legally recognized relationships are "different in every state." Also, he said it would cloud the legislation’s end goal, which is ensuring all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation, have the right to marry.

"Historically domestic partnerships and other relationships have been an interregnum until we get to marriage, which we need to push for as soon as possible," said Nadler, adding that he could not predict what chances the legislation has of passage. "We have to see what reaction we get. It won’t pass this year."

In recent months the LGBT community had been debating amongst itself what form the DOMA repeal bill should take, and whether it should encompass all of the various legal relationships states have set up for same-sex couples. Some had feared adding anything more than marriages into the bill would hamper efforts on the West Coast to undo Proposition 8, California’s ban on same-sex marriages, or extend marriage rights to LGBT residents of Washington and Oregon.

Should Nadler’s bill pass it would mean that only those 18,000 couples that married last year in California, before Prop 8 went into effect, would gain federal marriage rights since the state’s Supreme Court ruled this spring those marriages are valid. But the court did not address the legal status of those marriages performed in other states or countries.

The lack of a ruling on the issue has lead to confusion as to whether or not the state must recognize them. Openly gay state Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) is pushing a bill that would require state officials to recognize those out-of-state marriages performed prior to Prop 8’s enactment on November 5, 2008. The bill would also extend all the rights and benefits of marriage to those couples that wed out-of-state post Prop 8’s becoming law but would not classify them as marriages.

During his prepared remarks, Nadler said he would include the "certainty provision" in his bill in order to give same-sex couples and their families peace of mind that should they move to a state that does not allow same-sex couples to wed their marriage would still be valid.

"No family should have to fear that risk and uncertainty, and my bill will ensure they do not," said Nadler.

Courtesy: Bay Area Reporter - Tuesday Jul 28, 2009

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PRIDE + Sass = Fab tees for marriage equality!

Courtesy: David Andrusia, Edge Publications, Monday Jul 20, 2009

"If you’re in a position to help someone, you should- and if you’re not, you’re missing the ball on humanity."

So believes Jason Vincik, the 33-year-old founder of Bitchyteez.com, a fashion t-shirt company whose recently launched 40 years of Pride shirt benefits the fight for marriage equality legislation in California and New York.

Bitchyteez.com began as the "whim of a small guy who could never quite find clothes that fit- even t-shirts marked ’small’ seemed too big." (This is probably as much a testament to Americans’ eating habits as anything else.)"I also wanted to wear something I hadn’t seen on a thousand other people. So I sketched out a design, had it screened on a t-shirt, and started wearing it to the bars- and tons of people asked me where I’d gotten it. It was a snowball effect from there."

Now, in addition to the company’s most popular fitted men’s t-shirt, there are classic, ringer, and other styles online, with a full complement of -yes, bitchy- sayings.

Take a tee and fund the fight!"I wanted these to have a catty perspective, as if a drag queen had written them," Jason says. The top seller? "I think your boyfriend is cheating on me."

Spurred by recent events, Jason designed the "40 years" t-shirt ($20, available on his site) to help fund the battle for marriage equality. ("Most people don’t realize how expensive this fight can be- with advertising, publicity, legal and travel fees, it’s incredibly expensive.") A full 25% of net sales from this tee will go to Equality California and the Empire State Pride Agenda. (To test your own knowledge of gay history, visit www.tinyurl.com/lgbtquiz As Jason rightly says, "Knowledge is power!")

Now based in New York, where he’s initiating discussion with major manufacturers to product the tees on a larger scale, Jason can see the fruits of his labors- beginning with his own family.

"My 29-year-old heterosexual brother, who’s an architect, has taken up the fight. My family has always been wonderfully supportive, but it wasn’t until after my brother learned more about gay history and the struggle for equality that he’s become fully involved. Now he’s constantly on blogs, in chat rooms, and doing other online networking to make sure people know why marriage equality legislation is so important to us all."

Get the tee at http://www.bitchyteez.com/

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New HIV Therapy Could Completely Eliminate the Virus - A Cure on the Horizon?

A team of researchers comprised of Canadian and American scientists believe they have discovered a way to eradicate HIV from the body.

There have been "promising" potential vaccines for HIV/AIDS over the years, all of which failed near the end of the human trial phase.

A new study shows a completely different approach to HIV therapy, not concentrating on developing vaccines, but actually eliminating the virus from the body altogether.

Findings from the study were published by Nature Medicine on June 21.

The research team has been focusing on finding the reason why antiretroviral drugs suppress the virus, but do not completely rid the body of it.

Since the 90s when antiretroviral drugs were beginning to be used by doctors to fight HIV, they were able to turn what was once a death sentence into a chronic illness.  The medications only diminished the disease, but never eliminated it.  Patients were doomed to take medication the rest of their lives.

"The minute the patient stops taking the therapy the virus is reborn," said Dr. Jean-Pierre Routy, associate professor of hematology at McGill University in Montreal.  "Then, the immune system is destroyed and the patient becomes sick again.

Patients become reinfected because HIV feeds from a resevoir of the virus contained within a cell.  Until now, we did not know why the resevoir was unaffected by antiretroviral therapy.

Researchers discovered that the HIV virus in the resevoir is unlike the typical virus.  It remains dormant while viruses treated by HIV drugs divide.  According to the researchers, if the cell lives, the virus lives.  Think of the resevoir as a feeding tube for the virus.  If the resevoir is treated with targeted chemotherapy, the virus is killed, thus removing the source of regeneration.  Without a "home-base" where the virus can hide, new copies of the virus can not be made.

The new treatment would be a combination of antiretroviral drugs and targeted chemotherapy:  chemo to kill the resevoir source and antiretrovirals to kill the virus in duplicated cells.

In theory, the findings of the study sound viable, and the researchers just may have made the next big breakthrough in unlocking the mysteries of the HIV virus.

Researchers warned that some patients do not respond to antiretroviral therapy.  Those patients may not likely see the same results as patients who do respond to the current HIV drugs.

Reportedly, $153 million has been invested in the study since the findings were published on June 21, which includes $60 million from the State of Florida and nearly $53 million matched by the city of Port St. Lucie where the study is based.

According to Calgary Herald, a study will begin in September to test the findings of the research.  If targeted chemotherapy eliminates the HIV, researchers say the feasibility of the treatment will be determined over the next two to three years, with medication becoming available a few years after that.

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BREAKING NEWS: Fort Worth Mayor Asks U.S. Attorney to Investigate Rainbow Lounge Incident

After the raid of Fort Worth gay bar, Rainbow Lounge, last Sunday, Mayor Moncrief released the following statement today:

"I have asked the acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, James T. Jacks, to independently review the findings of the Fort Worth Police Department’s investigation to ensure the department has thoroughly and impartially carried out its obligation to all the citizens of Fort Worth. I encourage the TABC to follow the same course."

According to the statement, two independent investigations are underway to review the circumstances that took place on Sunday, June 28 when Fort Worth police officers raided a local gay bar, Rainbow Lounge, handcuffed and arrested patrons and even brutally beat a 26 year old man, Chad Gibson.  Gibson has suffered from severe head injuries and internal bleeding, according to family members.

The Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission (TABC) and the Fort Worth Police Department's Internal Affairs Division will be conducting the investigations.

Said Moncrief, "The police department’s internal investigation and the outside review is meant to ensure all citizens are professionally and responsibly represented by our police department."

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New Gay Travel Network and International Home Exchange Emerges

Launched today is a new gay travel network and international home exchange that connects LGBT travelers to likeminded persons abroad.  Stay with Family.com is a subscription-based network for gay travelers and their straight friends, a hybrid concept that allows subscribers to post a personal profile with information about his travel needs or offerings. 

The Anything But Straight Advocacy Network has obtained a special 50% off registration coupon for readers of this blog.  Simply enter promo code javiblg09 when registering to receive the discount at http://www.staywithfamily.com/.

Here's how it works:

Lets say you want to go on a trip to Costa Rica, but you don't want to spend the big bucks on a hotel room.  Now, you can visit Stay with Family.com, search profiles of gay or gay-friendly persons in that region and make contact instantly.  Travel arrangements are made directly with the host, not the Web site.

The door swings both ways, so to speak, if you are interested in sharing a room in your home with travelers.

Register for a free acount by visiting http://www.staywithfamily.com/.  Complete your profile, adding information about yourself and photos.  The free account allows you to search profiles and check out the site.  But, you will need to upgrade to a premium account to unlock the contact information and other advanced features of the site.

Don't forget to use our promotion code to get 50% off registration!

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Candlelight Vigil for Chad Gibson - Victim of Police Brutality in Fort Worth Gay Bar Raid

A candlelight vigil for Chad Gibson will be held tonight at 8:30 p.m. central time at the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth, Texas.  Gibson was the victim of police brutality in an unexpected raid on June 28th in the cowtown gay bar.

The vigil is being coordinated by North Texas LGBT organization Queer Liberaction.

According to eyewitnesses, Gibson sustained multiple injuries to the head while police attempted to handcuff and arrest the 26 year old.  According to Gibson's family members, if the bleeding and swelling continues, surgery will be imminent.

Rainbow Lounge is located at 651 S. Jennings, Fort Worth, TX 76104.


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Gay Bar in Forth Worth Raided - Rainbow Lounge Documentary Call for Testimonials

A Fort Worth gay bar was raided by police officers on June 28th. A documentary is emerging, and a gay filmmaker, Robert Camina of Camina Entertainment, is calling for testimonials from eyewitnesses.

I was safely situated along the streets of New York City the weekend of Gay Pride, the 40th anniversary since the Stonewall riots on June 28, 1969. Because I was entertaining out of town guests and enjoying the week-long festivities in one of the gayest cities in the world, I had no idea that nearly 4,000 miles away, a modern-day Stonewall riot was occuring.

In the big, small town of Fort Worth, Texas, a neighboring city to my hometown of Dallas, innocent bar patrons were taken by surprise when local police officers entered the building and began arresting people for alleged public intoxication. Many patrons proclaimed that they were not intoxicated and that the officers did not even question their sobriety. Protests from angry LGBT persons in the community have commenced on the city's Hall of Justice days following the event.

Ironically, the incident occured on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. In a time when many believe LGBT persons have made strides in civil rights equality, the raid of Rainbow Lounge reminds us that unjust practices, hatred and bigotry are still alive in America.

If you were an eyewitness to the Rainbow Lounge raid, please contact Camina Entertainment to be part of a a documentary: http://www.caminaentertainment.com/.

Also, join the Facebook Group of advocates here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=109253439840

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LGBT History Quiz: Test Your Knowledge on Gay Marriage, Pride, Organizations and More

How much do you know about LGBT history? June is International Pride Month. Take this quiz to find out just how much you really know about LGBT rights, organizations and history of the community.  Subjects cover gay marriage, gay pride, history of LGBT organizations and more.

Access the Quiz Here

WHY I CREATED THIS QUIZ

In celebration of International Pride Month, I decided to create a survey that will test knowlege among the LGBT community.

Although an estimated 15 million Americans self-identify as LGBT (Witeck Combs), how many of us are knowledgable about our community's heritage? How many of us are active in the LGBT community? How many of us really know how it all started and what our brothers and sisters have faced for decades?

The results of the quiz are displayed immediately following completion, and include background information about each subject.

There is no better time to answer these questions and empower those in our community than 2009, the 40th anniversary since the Sonewall Riots.

Brush up on your knowledge; learn something new and pass this quiz along to everyone in the community. Armed with knowledge, we can mobilize, educate and move forward in our quest for equal and fair civil rights.

If there are questions you would like see added to the quiz, please contact me!

Happy Pride

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NY Gay Marriage Bill Could Go to Vote Soon - NY Governor to Call Special Sessions for Hung Senate

New York Governor David Paterson ordered the state Senate into special session beginning Tuesday in an effort to end the struggle for power over the chamber. After a staged coup by Republican Senators two weeks ago, the New York Senate became "hung" when the GOP leader (a Democrat who originally joined the renegade Republican takeover) stepped down and left the chamber vote at a tied 31-31, an incomplete forum for passing bi-partisan legislation.

For LGBT citizens of New York, this could mean that the proposed gay marriage bill by Governor Paterson may go up for vote after all. When polled by NY1, a local news station, nearly two thirds of the Senators either did not respond or indicated that they did not support same sex marriage.

The Governor said he will make Senators stay in Albany indefinitely until they act.

According to the Associated Press, Patterson said "I will convene a special session every day until they do. That means Saturday, Sundays, that includes July 4. There will be no excuses and there will be no tolerance to noncompliance with this order."

The 2009 session ends today.

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NY Gay Marriage Bill Up for Vote: Senators Who Would Vote 'No'

Gay Marriage Rights are up for vote in New York!
(pictured left: NY Governor David Patterson)

New York Governor David Patterson introduced a gay marriage bill that would legalize same sex marriage in New York. On Tuesday, May 12, 2009 the bill passed an assembly vote of 82 to 52, moving the legislation to the NY State Senate.

In an interesting turn of events on Monday, June 8, Republicans staged a coup and seized power of the NY Senate. Some speculate Republicans are attempting to take seat in an effort to majority rule on upcoming legislation like the same sex marriage bill. Democratic Senators have only been seated for five months when the Republicans voted them out today, just two weeks short of a term.

A frustrated and angry Governor Patterson released a statement today in a live press conference regarding the Senate take-over:

"The actions taken on the senate floor today need to be exposed for what they are, an unnecessary distraction to government, dressed up in the cloak - falsely - of reform and good government," Paterson said in a statement.

"...I don’t care if I am the only one standing, but someone has got to stand up and say that this is wrong."


NY1, conducted a poll among all 62 New York State Senators recently on the legalization of same sex marriage. Below are the results, and they are astonishing!

This is a perfect opportunity to stand up and do something: write these Senators! Tell the ones who would vote 'Yes' - 'Thank you!'

Especially for those Senators who would vote 'No,' now is the time to make your voice heard. These Senators need to know what the people think! Urge them to vote FOR the legalization of same sex marriage in NY.

I've done an extensive amount of research FOR YOU to help make this process easier. Click the name of the Senator to send a personal email! THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO DO! You can also connect to those Senators who have a Facebook page listed. A download link for all Senators' email addresses is at the end of this blog entry.

Would vote "Yes" (Email All Supporters)

Eric Adams, D-Brooklyn: Email | Facebook
Neil Breslin, D-Delmar: Email
Martin Dilan, D-Brooklyn: Email | Facebook
Thomas Duane, D-Manhattan: Email
Pedro Espada, D-Bronx: Email
Craig Johnson, D-Nassau: Email
Jeffrey Klein, D-Bronx/Westchester: Email
Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan: Email
Velmanette Montgomery, D-Brooklyn: Email
Suzi Oppenheimer, D-Westchester: Email | Facebook
Kevin Parker, D-Brookyn: Email
Bill Perkins, D-Manhattan: Email
Diane Savino, D-Staten Island/Brooklyn: Email
Eric Schneiderman, D-Manhattan/Bronx: Email | Facebook
Jose Serrano, D-Bronx/Manhattan: Email
Malcolm Smith, D-Queens: Email | Facebook
Daniel Squadron, D-Brooklyn/Manhattan: Email
Toby Ann Stavisky, D-Queens: Email | Facebook
Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Westchester: Email | Facebook
Antoine Thompson, D-Buffalo: Email

Would vote "No" (Email all NON-Supporters)

Darrel Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent: Email
John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse: Email | Facebook
Ruben Diaz, D-Bronx: Email | Facebook
Hugh Farley, R-Niskayuna: Email
John Flanagan, R-Suffolk: Email
Charles Fuschillo, R-Nassau/Suffolk: Email
Martin Golden, R-Brooklyn: Email | Facebook
Joseph Griffo, R-Rome: Email
Shirley Huntley, D-Queens: Email | Facebook
Carl Kruger, D-Brooklyn: Email
Andrew Lanza, R-Staten Island: Email
William Larkin, R-Cornwall: Email
Kenneth LaValle, R-Suffolk: Email
Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton: Email
Elizabeth Little, R-Queensbury: Email | Facebook
Carl Marcellino, R-Nassau/Suffolk: Email
George Maziarz, R-Newfane: Email | Facebook
Michael Nozzolio, R-Seneca Falls: Email | Facebook
George Onorato, D-Queens: Email
Senator Onorato sent me a personal email explaining he believes marriage is between a man and a woman. Tell him you disagree!
Frank Padavan, R-Queens/Bronx/Nassau: Email
Michael Ranzenhofer, R-Amherst: Email
Joseph Robach, R-Greece: Email | Facebook
Stephen Saland, R-Poughkeepsie: Email | Facebook
James Seward, R-Milford: Email
Dean Skelos, R-Nassau: Email
William Stachowski, D-Buffalo: Email | Facebook
Dale Volker, R-Depew: Email | Facebook
George Winner, R-Elmira: Email | Facebook
Catharine Young, R-Olean: Email | Facebook

Undecided (Email ALL Undecided Senators)

John Bonacic, R-Mt. Hope: Email | Facebook
Brian Foley, D-Suffolk: Email
Ruth Hassell-Thompson, D-Bronx/Westchester: Email
Owen Johnson, R-Suffolk: Email
Kemp Hannon, R-Nassau: Email
Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga: Email | Facebook
Hiram Monserrate, D-Queens: Email
John Sampson, D-Brooklyn: Email
David Valesky, D-Oneida: Email

Wouldn't Say (Email ALL Senators Who Wouldn't Say')

Joseph Addabbo, D-Queens: Email
James Alesi, R-East Rochester: Email | Facebook
Vincent Leibell, R-Westchester: Email
Thomas Morahan, R-Rockland: Email

Download ALL Senators' Email Addresses (Text File)

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Dick Cheney Announces 'Support' for Gay Marriage, But Only Half Ass

Former Vice President Dick Cheney spoke out at the National Press Club on Monday, announcing his support of gay marriage, but only on the state level.

"I think that freedom means freedom for everyone," replied the former V.P. "As many of you know, one of my daughters is gay and it is something we have lived with for a long time in our family. I think people ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish. Any kind of arrangement they wish. The question of whether or not there ought to be a federal statute to protect this, I don't support. I do believe that the historically the way marriage has been regulated is at the state level. It has always been a state issue and I think that is the way it ought to be handled, on a state-by-state basis. ... But I don't have any problem with that. People ought to get a shot at that." [quote courtesy The Huffington Post]

Gee, thanks Cheney.  But, personally, I believe that basic human rights like marriage should not be considered on a state-by-state basis.  It only further alienates Americans in this union we call a country.  Are we Americans 1st or are we state residents first?  I'm confused.

I think I'm an American first - I just happen to reside in New York.  I can choose to live anywhere in America because I love the country and I have the basic right to move to any U.S. state as a citizen.  I should be afforded other basis human rights that my country affords me as a citizen of its union, like marriage.  If there's too much power put on the state level in terms of these rights...what's next?  States succeeding from the union?  I mean - come on already.  Thanks, Cheney, for HALF ASS standing up for your lesbian daughter.  I wonder how she'll feel if she gets married one day, but it's not recognized by other states that she visits or decides to move to....

Pushing these kinds of things back to the state is a total cop-out in my opinion, and it's a completely political thing to do.  Think about it:  if these decisions were made federally, then politicians would have to answer to the constituents who fund their programs - constituents who may disagree with politicians' decisions.  Legalizing same sex marriage on the federal level would piss off all those private sector investors who urge politicians to "move" bills through the hopper.

Legalizing marriage in Massachusetts is great.  But, not legalizing it in California only further alienates U.S. citizens as free peoples.  This divides our country; it does not bring us together.

On the other hand, I understand that some decisions should be on a state-by-state basis.  Giving ALL the power to the U.S. government would create a totalitarian structure, thus depleting democractic core values and principals.

Basic human rights, however...those should be a no-brainer for a country - these rights should be afforded to EVERY citizen of a country, not on a state-by-state basis.

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California Supreme Court Prop 8 Ruling Challenged, Cases to be Heard in U.S. District Court

On Tuesday, May 26, the California Supreme Court ruled six to one in favor of upholding Proposition 8, the state amendment that denied same sex couples the right to marry.  The initial passing of Prop 8 in November 2008 also revoked the 18,000 marriage licenses granted previously in California.  Although the Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, it ruled to recognize the 18,000 marriage licenses that were granted prior to the Supreme Court's decision.

Tuesday's decision caused an uproar when thousands took to the streets in major cities all across America to rally against Prop 8.  Organized by Robyn Tyler, a plaintiff in one of three cases filed against the State of California, the "Day of Decision" rally brought together congressional district leaders, LGBT rights organizations, members from LAMBDA Legal, LGBT citizens and straight allies to send a clear message that the fight for equality is not over.

Day of Decision rallies merely took a seat behind other breaking news in the media when President Obama nominated the first ever Latina to the U.S. Supreme Court the same day as California's ruling on Prop 8.

Tyler announced in a statement to Daily Queer News on May 27, 2009:

"No civil rights movement has ever lost.  Never.  We will win.  It’s not an “if” its a when.  Only we are going to have to fight like hell.  Shame on the California Supreme Court.  Six of them, except Justice Moreno, issued a cowardly decision based on one word...not amendment, not revision, but re-election.

I pledge that my wife Diane Olson and  I, and the 18,000 other couples who were married in the California prior to Nov. 5, 2009, will be part of a grassroots army of love warriors, and will never stop fighting until all of our rights are won, here in California, and on a Federal level for all of us in every State. Let us take our anger, and our passion to the streets, and never, ever get off. And if the National Democratic party does not, after 35 years of promises to our community, make sure we have full equal rights in this country, the gay divorce you are going to see is the gay communities divorce from the Democratic party.   We are a civil rights movement.  It’s time we acted like one."

The three cases filed against the State of California have now been elevated and are set to be heard federally in a U.S. District Court on July 2, 2009, sources say.

Stay up-to-date on all advances of marriage equality and LGBT rights issues by subscribing to Anything But Straight Blog.

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