Freedom To Marry: Same-sex couples stand for marriage rights
· California: And the debate over whether San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's actions helped or hurt the cause, a debate I personally find to be a ridiculous in that it's expertly designed to distract from the real issue. While busy defending whether he did the right thing, one is typically not debating the real issue at all. Making the Valentine's Day activism in Napa, rural Nevada County, Humboldt and Placer Counties, San Diego and all over the state all the more vital (all five links have photos). I particularly applaud Terry McClaren who stood for hours silently on the steps of San Mateo County's Government Center yesterday wearing her wedding dress.
· UK: A new Journal of Epidemiology and Community Heath report in the UK has revealed that same-sex marriage and civil partnerships are good for our health. The report says they reduce the prejudice and social exclusion that same-sex couples feel and should help to cut the high rates of depression and drug-taking, promiscuity and sexually transmitted diseases - a suspect list in my book, yet very similar ones are used by the wingnuts as cause to deny such partnerships. Interesting, eh?
· New Jersey: New Jersey could become the second state in the US to legalize gay marriage in a case presented to the State Supreme Court today. "New Jersey is a unique state nationally when it comes to this issue," said Lambda Legal lawyer David Buckel. "That became very clear with a governor's race in which candidates on both sides opposed an amendment to the state constitution that would limit marriage to a man and a woman." I have to say I'm eagerly anticipating the verdict.
· Idaho: Meanwhile, as expected, the Idaho State Senate approved a proposed constitutional amendment (26-9) that would place a ban on gay marriage, sending the matter to voters this November. It passed the house 53-17 last week.
· Nebraska: Lawyers have asked a federal appeals court yesterday to uphold a lower-court ruling that Nebraska’s five-year-old ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional - and the Nebraska Attorney General’s office wants the law restored.
· USA: Five national US LGBT civil rights groups are joining forces in a new coalition to increase the visibility of people of color who support same-sex marriage: Lambda Legal, National Black Justice Coalition, Asian Equality, National Latina/o Coaliation for Justice and Freedom to Marry. You may recall Bush used black churches to attack gay marriage, so they're definitely thinking, especially when you've got Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist pledging (Christian news link) to bring the Marriage Protection Amendment to the floor for debate the first week of June. Senate Joint Resolution 1 currently has 29 sponsors.
· Virginia: Five same-sex couples tried to get marriage licenses at Richmond's Marriage License Bureau yesterday and were denied again this year. (a good read)
· Maryland: Under the gaze of a cast-iron sculpture of Thurgood Marshall, hundreds of gay and lesbian couples chanted, "We shall not be moved" while urging state lawmakers to fend off fresh efforts to ban same-sex marriage. (photo)
· Toronto: The Reverend Brent Hawkes and his partner John Sproule are getting married next month on their 25th anniversary. (Thanks 'berto)
Comments
Lance Bateman and Bill Woods were married after a long wait fighting for gay rights. My question is how old were these two gentleman? Thanks
Posted by l. black? on April 17, 2006 8:46 PM
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