“IT’S TIME!” – A POWERFUL MARRIAGE EQUALITY VIDEO

Nov 28th, 2011 02:06 PM By Admin

The following is a powerful and poignant marriage equality video from GetUp!, an Australian equality organization:

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CENSUS BUREAU RELEASES NUMBER OF SAME-SEX “MARRIED” COUPLES IN THE US

Sep 27th, 2011 04:19 PM By Admin

According to The Washington Post:

“The Census Bureau reports there are 131,729 same-sex couples in the U.S. who say they’re married — the first-ever government count of this kind.

“The 2010 results show that about 20 percent of the estimated 646,464 gay couples in the country checked off ‘husband’ or ‘wife’ boxes on their census forms.

“The census tally of gay married couples is higher than the actual number of legal marriages, civil unions or domestic partnerships in the U.S. Gay marriage is now legal in six states and the District of Columbia, and one Census Bureau consultant put the number of legally recognized partnerships at 100,000.”

According to Bloomberg.com:

“The number of same-sex households in the U.S. rose to 646,464 in 2010, up from 594,391 a decade earlier, the U.S. Census Bureau said.”

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BRITISH GOVERMENT DRAWS UP PLANS TO INTRODUCE MARRIAGE EQUALITY BEFORE NEXT ELECTION

Sep 19th, 2011 02:01 PM By Admin

The following is an excerpt from a story by AFP:

“The government has drawn up plans to introduce same-sex civil marriages before the next election in 2015, Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone said Saturday.

“‘I am delighted to announce today that in March, this government will begin a formal consultation on how to implement equal civil marriage for same-sex couples,’ she told her Liberal Democrat party’s annual conference in Birmingham.

“‘And this would allow us to make any legislative changes necessary by the end of this parliament.’

“Civil partnerships for same-sex couples were introduced in Britain in December 2005, giving them similar rights to married heterosexual couples. However, the partnerships cannot legally be referred to as marriages.

“‘I believe that to deny one group of people the same opportunities offered to another is not only discrimination, but is not fair,’ Featherstone said.

“The change is expected to win strong support among the Liberal Democrats, the junior partners in Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron’s coalition.

“But while Cameron is also said to back the plans, he could face opposition from traditionalist Conservatives, who believe marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

“Gay rights groups argue that maintaining a separation between marriage and civil partnerships perpetuates the notion that same-sex relationships are not as valid as those involving heterosexual couples.”

READ THE FULL STORY >>

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God is Love…

Sep 19th, 2011 11:31 AM By Wendy

I grew up believing that gay men and women had a choice. That choice was to either accept that men and women were made and meant to be together and that marriage was a sacred bond between a man and a woman or they would be doomed to everlasting damnation.

I didn’t believe that men should have these “feelings of inappropriate love” towards other men and the same with women. I knew that if I could squelch my own personal crushes for boys in High School and Jr. High, that a gay man or woman could and should, do the same.

I trusted what my parents taught me was correct, because I thought true happiness started with a marriage between one man and one woman, in a sacred ceremony. I was so adamant about my stand on gay marriage that I lost touch with close friends who didn’t feel the same way I did.

I didn’t realize I had lost touch with so many friends due to my perspective on the matter. It was not until years later when I ran into an old friend from college who told me the way he felt over my rants in regards to the LGBT community. I was surprised and humbled over his admission and complete candor to my utter disregard to the way he may have felt, we were very good friends in college.
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BRAD PITT ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Sep 16th, 2011 06:13 PM By Admin

In this weekend’s issue of Parade magazine, Brad Pitt discusses his thoughts about marriage equality and religion. Here is an excerpt:

ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

“Can you believe that we’re still fighting for equality in America? To be against marriage for everyone is utter discrimination. I feel strongly about that because if equality of marriage doesn’t happen now, the next generation will have to deal with it.

“It is an amazing thing that New York has finally gotten same-sex marriage. But the real problem is that the federal government hides behind states on this issue. It is blatant, ugly bigotry, and the federal government shouldn’t be doing that. You’re denying some Americans the right that all Americans have, to live their lives as they choose.

“What are you so afraid of? That’s my question. Gay people getting married? What is so scary about that? It’s complicated. You grow up in a religion like that and you try to pray the gay away. I feel sadness for people like that. This is where people start short-circuiting—instead of being brave and questioning their beliefs, they are afraid and feel that they have to defend them.

“I don’t mind a world with religion in it. There are some beautiful tenets within all religions. What I get hot about is when they start dictating how other people must live. People suffer because of it. They are spreading misery.

“My family is all devout Christians. Yes, absolutely. We don’t see eye to eye on this one, yet at the end of the day we love each other, we’re still family.”

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CLINT EASTWOOD: “I DON’T GIVE A F**K ABOUT WHO WANTS TO GET MARRIED TO ANYBODY ELSE!”

Sep 14th, 2011 12:56 PM By Admin

In an interview with GQ about their new movie about J. Edgar Hoover, Clint Eastwood and Leonardo Dicaprio express their support for marriage equality. Here is an excerpt from their inteview:

GQ: [To Eastwood] You’ve described yourself as a social libertarian. What does that mean to you?

Clint Eastwood: I was an Eisenhower Republican when I started out at 21, because he promised to get us out of the Korean War. And over the years, I realized there was a Republican philosophy that I liked. And then they lost it. And libertarians had more of it. Because what I really believe is, let’s spend a little more time leaving everybody alone. These people who are making a big deal out of gay marriage? I don’t give a f**k about who wants to get married to anybody else! Why not?! We’re making a big deal out of things we shouldn’t be making a deal out of.

Leonardo Dicaprio: That’s the most infuriating thing—watching people focus on these things. Meanwhile, there’s the onset of global warming and—

Clint Eastwood: Exactly!

Leonardo Dicaprio: —and these incredibly scary and menacing things with the future of our economy. Our relationship to the rest of the world. And here we are focusing on this?

Clint Eastwood: They go on and on with all this bullshit about “sanctity”—don’t give me that sanctity crap! Just give everybody the chance to have the life they want.

Leonardo Dicaprio: It’s the great diversion. Politicians are masters at getting you to be on their side so that you don’t look at how big business—

Clint Eastwood: I love big business! [They both laugh.]

Clint Eastwood: I love big business if it hires everybody and does all the right things, and if they get off track then they’ll have to deal with whatever—

Leonardo Dicaprio: But they often do get off track, unfortunately. See, now you’ve got us in a political debate!

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HRC: NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE MAY VOTE TODAY ON ANTI-MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL

Sep 12th, 2011 12:23 PM By Admin

According to our friends at the Human Rights Campaign:

Today HRC and Equality North Carolina staff and volunteers are pulling out all the stops to ensure that the anti-marriage equality amendment goes down in defeat. The delivery of 45,000 postcards to legislators is underway, as is the delivery of a letter signed by nearly 500 clergy and people of faith. The North Carolina legislature is poised to take up the discriminatory bills this week, and will likely vote today or tomorrow. Should they pass these bills, a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality will appear on the 2012 ballot.

If you live in North Carolina, your legislator needs to hear from you today. Please contact your legislators right now and urge them to oppose these hateful bills.

Take Action! Tell your representatives that the legislature was sent to Raleigh to tackle jobs, the economy and the state budget, not to advance a divisive social agenda.

Volunteer at one of our in-person phone banks in Raleigh, Greensboro, Asheville, and Pinehurst and find out about our rally for equality tomorrow.

If you’re not able to join us at one of our in-person phonebanks, we’ve made it easy for you to help from your home, your office or anywhere in the state through our virtual phonebanks. Sign up today!

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Gay (A Poem)

Sep 07th, 2011 12:11 PM By Willie

There’s something wrong with our way of thinking even as we play
Ignorantly insulting each other as we say
“That’s so gay”
It’s not okay

Because you’re insulting so many people without a single thought
Even without trying, you simply had bought
Into the idea that you weren’t, but you’ve been caught
In a web of discrimination, so saying you’re just playing is all for naught

There are people getting hurt without even a say
Because others hurt them and don’t want them to stay
Violence against them, they don’t ever play
All because they’re gay and others don’t think it’s okay

Think about the ones who’ve been hurt and died
Of the families who’ve screamed and cried
Never told a soul, “I’m okay,” they lied
Gave up on life because there was no place to hide

Be aware of what you’re saying before it’s too late
You might be justifying someone’s hidden hate
Saying it’s alright to deny their rights like Proposition 8
All because of who they love and who they choose to be their mate

Longer than my PARENTS

Aug 18th, 2011 03:23 PM By Teal

So many gay couples have been together longer than my parents!! (and I am NOT young!!) May you be blessed and kept close to the hearts of all who are fortunate enough to know you and to love you. May you walk in the light of dignity and hope and follow your dreams. Let’s all pray for the day that we can all live and let live. We are all children of God. Beyond unfortunate that some can’t practice what they preach… to love one another….

NOT FAIR

Aug 11th, 2011 01:51 PM By Morgan

I’m 15 years old and I live in Roanoke, Virginia. My uncles are gay and my sister is bisexual. So, I am very offended when people make ignorant comments. I have grown up with gay/bi-sexual/transgender/and lesbian people my whole life. They are people just like everyone else, and shouldn’t be treated ANY different. I have been called names for standing up for what I believe in, and if I get my point across, then call me anything you want.

I don’t understand people who dislike them because if you don’t accept them, how do you expect yourself to be treated any different. And as far as hate crimes go, it is COMPLETELY unacceptable to be raped, tortured, beaten, or even killed because of a personal choice that makes them happy. If a straight person was ever treated like that I’m sure matters would be handled differently.

It’s just not fair, people are people no matter what sexual orientation they are and we are ALL created equal. It’s not fair for gay and lesbian couples not being able to get married, I mean straight people do. Come on people open your eyes, we can all make a difference, and fight for equality, I give a damn, why don’t you?