CNN: ‘MARYLAND SET TO EXPAND GAY RIGHTS, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE’

Jan 12th, 2011 12:53 PM By Admin

According to CNN:

“Maryland is poised to become the sixth state to recognize same-sex marriage as proponents say they believe they have enough support to pass such a measure in the upcoming legislative session.

“The expansion of gay rights appears to have gained significant traction as Maryland’s General Assembly begins its 90-day session Wednesday. Not only are Democrats optimistic about their chances of approving same-sex marriage, but a leading Republican, sensing momentum on the issue, has instead countered with a proposal to grant civil unions to gay couples.

“Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley has publicly stated that he would sign a marriage bill into law. Maryland then would join Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D.C., in sanctioning same-sex marriages.

“Maryland has been inching toward granting greater rights and protections for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Last year Democratic state Attorney General Doug Gansler offered a legal opinion recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. ‘We’ve been marching in this direction for a while now,’ said Democratic state Delegate Heather Mizeur.

“…Democrats in Maryland fared much differently in the November elections than they did in rest of the nation when nearly two dozen state legislative chambers switched from Democratic to Republican control. Despite losing six seats in the House of Delegates, Maryland Democrats picked up two seats in the Senate and have maintained their supermajority in each chamber. The two-seat pickup in the Senate is viewed as the final hurdle needed for passage of the marriage bill. Given those dynamics, the Republican leader of the Senate is offering an alternative.

“Acting as an individual and not as head of his caucus, Sen. Allan Kittleman told CNN that he wants to grant gay couples all the rights afforded to straight married couples under Maryland law without the stigma of religion.

“…But many other privileges of marriage, especially those regarding federal tax and entitlement programs, cannot be granted to same-sex couples, regardless of their states’ marriage laws, due to the federal Defense of Marriage Act. That law requires the federal government to define marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman.”

Read the full CNN story >>

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NEW RHODE ISLAND GOVERNOR REITERATES SUPPORT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN INAUGURAL SPEECH

Jan 05th, 2011 01:45 PM By Admin

Yesterday, Lincoln Chafee was sworn in as the new governor of Rhode Island. During his inaugural speech he reiterated his support for marriage equality in the state.

According to The Providence Journal:

On gay marriage, he said: “When marriage equality is the law in Rhode Island, we honor our forefathers who risked their lives and fortune in the pursuit of human equality.”

“Rhode Island today must be as welcoming to all as [founder] Roger Williams intended it to be. Mark my words, these two actions will do more for economic growth in our state that any economic development loan,” he said.

Laying out his vision for the next four years, he asked “all Rhode Islanders to join me in boldly reaffirming Roger Williams’ vision of a ‘civil state’ … a vibrant, diverse community that is free of political, cultural and ethnic division.”

“Last November, we showed the nation what a civil state can mean,” he said of Rhode Island’s election of its first openly gay member of Congress, David N. Cicilline, the first Latino mayor of Providence, Angel Taveras, and the reelection of U.S. Rep. James Langevin, a paraplegic after an accidental shooting in his teenage years.

Chafee called them all “bold pioneers in their own way” and their election, “testimony to the open minds and hearts of Rhode Islanders.”

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BREAKING: PROPOSITION 8 COURT CASE UPDATE

Jan 04th, 2011 03:40 PM By Admin

According to the Sacramento Bee:

“The three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today denied the right of Imperial County, its board of supervisors and a deputy clerk to defend Proposition 8 in federal court.

“The judges also asked the California Supreme Court for advice on whether ballot proponents should be allowed to have standing to defend the same-sex marriage ban against a federal challenge.

“The 9th circuit judges are weighing an appeal of a federal judge’s finding last August that Proposition 8, which bars same-sex marriage in California, violates the constitutional rights of gay people to equal protection. The appeal was filed by the ballot-measure group ProtectMarriage.com, which is represented by private attorneys.

“U.S. Supreme Court opinions have doubted the authority of ballot-measure proponents to step in and defend measures in federal court that state authorities decline to defend.

“One especially relevant U.S. Supreme Court opinion stemmed from a case originating in Arizona, where ballot measure proponents attempted to defend an English Only law that state officials refused to defend against a federal constitutional challenge.

“The California Supreme Court has, at times, allowed ballot measure proponents to defend measures in state cases, including a case that required the justices to review Proposition 8.

“Neither former Gov. Arnold Schwarznegger nor Gov. Jerry Brown, as former attorney general, chose to defend Proposition 8 in either state or federal court.

“Brown, now governor, has said he believes the measure is unconstitutional.

“In today’s filing, which is ‘an order certifying a question’ to state Supreme Court, the 9th Circuit judges wrote that they cannot consider the consitutionality of Proposition 8 “unless the appellants before us have standing to raise it.”

“…Lawyers for gay couples who won their federal court challenge last August contend that to have a right to go to federal court, appellants must shoulder reponsibility for carrying out a policy or otherwise show it causes them concrete, personal injury. They argued that ProtectMarriage.com did not meet that requirement.”

Read the full Sacramento Bee story >>

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Faulty Logic and Gay Marriage

Jan 04th, 2011 11:06 AM By Kayla

I have never understood the logic behind those who block gay marriage bills. According to US policy, religion has no place in politics. However it seems that every time someone objects to a man marrying a man or a woman marrying a woman, they quote lines from religious scripture. I believe that if you remove any religious aspect of their arguments, they are left with nothing as it is wrong to deny anyone the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” which is emphasized in their own constitution.

Gay marriage is an important issue to me because my godfather is gay and my sister’s godmother is also a homosexual. If one of them should be hospitalized, they would not be allowed to visit their partners even if they had mere minutes left to live. If there loved one died, relatives would be able to go to there home and indiscriminately take items of personal value, if not necessarily a monetary one. When people fear that people who are gay only want to get married for the financial gain, I tell them that my godfather and aunt just want the same rights as everyone else. They want to be able to hold up the hand of there significant other and have that gold band catch the light, proclaiming to all that “this person is mine, and I am theirs.”

Learning and Helping

Jan 03rd, 2011 06:35 PM By Jim

As one who is fast approaching my Senior Citizen status at the age of 66 yrs. I find myself, as a member of the Ethical Society of St Louis with the opportunity to provide assistance and guidance to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning people. I am an officiant of the organization and have been empowered to provide ceremonies of Commitment for Same Sex Couples since our state does not yet see the light. I can also perform marriages in States that do allow same sex marriages. I participated in the St Louis Love Bus trip to Iowa with about 30+ couples and was the officiating party for three of the couples. I am still learning a lot about LGBTQ and hope to be of service, and help others to understand and accept all people, regardless of orientation.

My Thoughts on this Matter

Jan 03rd, 2011 04:20 PM By Jeremy

I am single as of now… but I would like to be able to marry someone if I want and even if it is someone of the same sex. I was once very close to doing so a few years back and I would have done so… regardless of anyone’s take on same sex marriage.

I should and am entitled to the same rights as anyone else, and why should I be denied that just because of prejudice and discriminatory thoughts views or beliefs. We do just want to live and love and be happy like anyone else… LET US HAVE OUR RIGHTS AS WE SO RIGHTFULLY SHOULD HAVE AND DO DESERVE!!! ANYONE ELSE WOULD WANT THE SAME THING….

This is Who I Am

Dec 30th, 2010 01:44 AM By sarah

So okay, when I entered middle school I noticed that a lot of people were discriminating against gay people and I asked why. When they heard me ask that they started making fun of me calling me a fag. The sad thing was, they were right. I am gay, but I didn’t want to accept that fact. See I was raised to hate gay people, but as I grew up I realized who I really am. I let the hatred get to me and I started to hate myself.

After a while I started cutting because I was discriminated against. It is kind of tough having my parents be haters but it gets better after a few years. My real name is Sarah but my transgender name is Jeramy. I want people to call me Jeramy but then I would get picked on even more. I wish that gay people were aloud to get married because I’m in love with this girl. She is so amazing and beautiful!

Have Faith

Dec 30th, 2010 12:40 AM By kelsey

I’m not gay, lesbian, bi sexual , or trans-gender, but I respect the fact that others are. I know MANY of you get made fun of, get rude and unnecessary comments each day, and you wish that they would just let you be. Well, don’t let them bring you down! I know you guys definitely do no harm to the world, it’s those people who are against your gender who harm themselves by making it a big deal. Even if they don’t wanna pass a law in CA to legalize gay marriage, you shouldn’t lose that FAITH, because you can go and get married else where.

But I know you’d like for the world to be in peace about the situation, and with patients it will be. Some people just need to get their head out of the gutter. Being in love with who ever shouldn’t matter as long as the person is happy, I guess I learned that because my mom has a lot of gay friends, and they’re normal people like you & I, the only difference is that they like the same gender, and that’s perfectly okay. ALL you need to do is have FAITH. When you have faith you have EVERYTHING. Hold on tight, forget what people think because they’re always gonna talk. I’m here to help you guys out, and I promise I will do my best to end this hatred.

This is What I Am

Dec 30th, 2010 12:03 AM By Kitty

My name is Kitty, I’m bisexual – even though I hate giving it a label, but I guess that is what I am if we’re gonna “go there”, I genuinely believe people are just attracted to people and everything else follows that…

I do give a damn about gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual equality, and I believe we can never stop giving a damn.

I don’t really think gender should matter as much as it does to some people. I get there is the whole making children debate, but there are plenty of children for people to adopt or there is always other means of having a baby. I dislike people that say gay people can’t raise a child because it will screw the kid up. I would like to show them all of the straight families with screwed up kids.
more…

My Story is Too Long… but This is a Facebook Test

Dec 29th, 2010 11:22 PM By Amanda

I shared what I felt after watching this show called Bridezillas on my Facebook. I was scared to hit the share button because I’m not sure the people I love will accept my true feelings on being gay. My sexuality is always blown off because they just can’t believe I am gay. I’m not sure why. Is it the way I look? I don’t know, but I get the feeling they think I’m just confused… it’s a phase my mom would say. Sorry mom and dad. This is what I posted:

Okay Facebook friends… I know bout 80% of yall are straight and will not understand what I’m about to say. I’m sad friends… I’m watching the stupid Bridezilla show (which that’s my fault) and now I’m sad, because I’m not going to get married like all these chicks that don’t appreciate what a gift they have to be able to marry the person you love with all your heart in front of everyone you love. Or be able to have a baby… the thing that makes me sadder are most of the people that will read this won’t even accepting this. So I’m asking this from the people that I love and have grown with… please be grateful for what you can have in your life and accept everything else with love and understanding. Live your own life… yeah hint. Own life… don’t put what you think is right to stop my happiness or anyone else’s and put it down. Me being gay is not hurting anybody, I just want to be me and happy. Live my own life. Wish everyone well, pray, help who I can, and cry when I want a cry. Fullest…to the people who understand my sadness today… please stay strong. There is a lot of buzz about people like me killing themselves because they are not accepted. You are not alone in this battle just keep your head up… love. Cry. Accept. Laugh. Dance. Smile. Eat. Pray. Forgive. Love… just be you. Stay away from anyone who doesn’t accept that cause they are just not worth you giving up on your life. Love me.XoXo

So far I got one great response…but we will see.