Straight Talk On Marriage

Evan Wolfson Speech to National Employment Lawyers Association of New York

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:49:00 +0000

Freedom to Marry
November 20, 2009
Excerpts from Evan Wolfson's speech while being honored by the National Employment Lawyers Association of New York on November 19, 2009:

In Maine a couple weeks ago, the marriage legislation passed earlier in the year was subjected to an up-or-down vote by ballot-measure. A minority should not have to go before the majority and plead for an end to discrimination in a vote on fundamental rights; nevertheless, we came very close to prevailing. The most striking demographic feature was that we overwhelmingly carried the urban areas, while the more rural parts of Maine – and there are a lot of them – voted against equality.

In other words, in places where gay people are most visible, where our families most integrated into the fabric of life, where we’ve had the most conversations about who gay people are and why marriage matters, people affirmed the freedom to marry. In the areas with less visibility and fewer conversations, we narrowly failed to move the just 15,000 more people whose support would have made the difference.

The path ahead is clear: we need more of us, gay and non-gay, speaking with others in our circles and beyond about the shared values of family, fairness, and freedom –the values underlying this human rights movement, a movement in which NELA/NY has played a proud part.

[Link]

Voice for Equality: Lucy Lawless

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Lucy Lawless is a New Zealand actress and singer best known for playing the title character of the television series Xena: Warrior Princess for which she won a Saturn Award, and for her role as Number Three on the series Battlestar Galactica. Other television appearances have included: The Simpsons, The X-Files, Just Shoot Me!, Veronica Mars, Burn Notice, Less Than Perfect, Curb Your Enthusiasm and bro'Town. Learn more here.

Lucy Lawless is a proud signer of Freedom to Marry's Marriage Resolution which reads:

Because marriage is a basic human right and an individual choice,
RESOLVED, the State should not interfere with same-gender couples who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities, and commitment of civil marriage.

Visit the Marriage Resolution page on our website and sign the Marriage Resolution today!

Freedom to Marry salutes Lucy Lawless as a Voice for Equality! See other Voices for Equality here.

If Ms. Lawless' support inspires you - get involved!

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Op-Ed: Time to Stop the Lies

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:57:00 +0000

Center for American Progress
November 19, 2009
Recent and credible research has convincingly shown that Bishop Harry Jackson’s views of the “privileged" gay and lesbian community in Washington D.C. are completely untrue and inaccurate. Contrary to Jackson’s claims, yearly earnings of men in same-sex couples are actually lower than those of married men. Also, same-sex households have lower incomes than those headed by straight married parents. [Link]

Gay-Friendly GOP San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders To Testify For Olson/Boies

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:49:00 +0000

Joe. My. God.
November 29, 2009
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders will testify in the federal suit aimed at repealing Prop. 8 that is being brought by Ted Olson and David Boies. Sanders changed his position to support marriage equality in a press conference with his openly lesbian daughter. [Link]

The Daily Show: Gaywatch

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:39:00 +0000

Comedy Central: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
November 19, 2009
Jon Stewart discusses stories involving the LGBT community including Will Phillips, the 10-year-old student who refuses to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance until gay and lesbian couples can marry. Stewart brings out professional wrestler Mick Foley, who vows to protect Phillips from bullies in school. [Link]

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Gaywatch - Peter Vadala & William Phillips

http://www.thedailyshow.com/

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

Op-Ed: Marriage Equality, the Courts, and Religious Liberty: How Much of a Conflict

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:34:00 +0000

The League of Ordinary Gentlemen
November 19, 2009
Mark Thompson refutes claims by Rod Dreher that marriage equality will allegedly "undermine religious liberty." Thompson: "The freedom to marry, in and of itself, thus presents no greater a problem for religious liberty than does no-fault divorce." [Link]

Op-Ed: World's Best Persons: Texas AG Candidate, Barbara Ann Radnofski

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:08:00 +0000

MSNBC: Countdown with Keith Olbermann
November 19, 2009
Keith Olbermann commends Texas attorney general candidate Barbara Ann Radnofski for bringing to light a clause in the Texas amendment banning marriage equality which Radnofski believes could outlaw all marriages in Texas. [Link]

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

D.C. Officials Press for Compromise on Catholic Charities

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:02:00 +0000

The Washington Post
November 20, 2009
Some D.C. Council members are attempting to reach a compromise with the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington so Catholic Charities will not end its social services contracts with the District if marriages of same-sex couples are honored. [Link]

N.Y. Court: Married Same-Sex Couples Entitled to Benefits

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:59:00 +0000

The Associated Press
November 19, 2009
New York's top court on Thursday rejected the anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund's legal challenge that sought to take away some government protections granted to same-sex couples married in other jurisdictions and now living in N.Y. [Link]

New Jersey Alert: Call New Jersey Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney's office now!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:31:00 +0000

Garden State Equality
November 20, 2009
Garden State Equality:

We just emailed you that we're doing a lobby day in Trenton this Monday at 8:30 am - meet at Garden State Equality's office across from the State House, 110 West State Street . We would love to see you there. There's something we need you and everyone else to do today, Friday. Now, please, if at all possible. And after you do it, please spread this email to everyone in sight.

No matter where in New Jersey you live, please call New Jersey Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney's office now at (856) 251-9801 and tell them you support the marriage equality bill and want it voted on this year, before Chris Christie takes office.

Here's why: Senator Sweeney, who happens to be a good guy otherwise, did us harm by telling reporters this week that the legislature should postpone marriage equality to consider the economy. And Senator Sweeney and the legislature will be in session this Monday, when we do our lobby day. We need your calls to him today.

Who are among those especially suffering in this economy? Same-sex couples denied health benefits because employers won't recognize civil unions as marriage. Imagine being denied health insurance in this economy!

And who would economically benefit when the legislature enacts marriage equality? Everyone! Because New Jersey would make $248 million in revenue in the next three years, according to an independent study, when it enacts marriage equality.

When you call Senator Sweeney's office, please be respectful. You can certainly say you're upset with his comments, but please be respectful. Legislative staffers who answer the phones are nice people who didn't tell him to make his comments.

Please call Senator Sweeney's office now at (856) 251-9801. If you have time, there's an additional number for Senator Sweeney you should call. He has a second physical office because he's also Gloucester County Freeholder Director. His office number there is (856) 853-3390. Call both numbers no matter where in New Jersey you live.

And then please forward this email to every pro-equality New Jerseyan you know.

Thanks so much from all of us at Garden State Equality.

[Link]

New Jersey Alert: GARDEN STATE EQUALITY HOLDING URGENT LOBBY DAY THIS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd, BEGINNING AT 8:30 AM

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:29:00 +0000

Garden State Equality
November 20, 2009
Garden State Equality:

URGENT! JOIN US: GARDEN STATE EQUALITY IS HOLDING AN URGENT LOBBY DAY THIS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd, BEGINNING AT 8:30 AM -MEET AT OUR TRENTON OFFICE ACROSS FROM THE STATE HOUSE, 110 WEST STATE STREET. PLEASE ATTEND. NO RSVP NECESSARY.

THE LEGISLATURE IS BACK IN SESSION ON MONDAY. WE HAVE JUST LEARNED OUR ANTI-MARRIAGE EQUALITY OPPONENTS ARE DOING A LOBBY DAY ON MONDAY AND ARE TURNING OUT IN DROVES TO TRY TO INTIMIDATE LEGISLATORS. IF EVER THERE WAS A TIME TO TAKE OFF FROM WORK TO HELP MAKE HISTORY, THIS IS IT.

PARKING IS AVAILABLE AT THE TRENTON MARRIOTT PARKING LOT AT 1 WEST LAFAYETTE STREET , AT THE CORNER OF WEST LAFAYETTE STREET AND SOUTH WARREN STREET . IF NEEDED, GARDEN STATE EQUALITY WILL REIMBURSE YOU FOR THE PARKING. DON'T GO LOOKING FOR FREE STREET PARKING IN TRENTON : IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND AND/OR YOU'LL HAVE TO FEED A METER CONSTANTLY. FOR A MAP TO WALK FROM THE TRENTON MARRIOTT PARKING LOT AT 1 WEST LAFAYETTE STREET TO GARDEN STATE EQUALITY'S OFFICE AT 110 WEST STATE STREET, ENTER THE LOCATIONS AT www.Mapquest.com/directions

AGAIN, PLEASE JOIN US THIS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd BEGINNING AT 8:30 AM AT GARDEN STATE EQUALITY'S TRENTON OFFICE, 110 WEST STATE STREET . ON SITE, WE'LL HAVE FREE DONUTS AND JUICE TO GET THE DAY STARTED. AT LUNCH TIME, FREE PIZZA AND SODA.

PLEASE IMMEDIATELY FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, ORGANIZATIONAL COLLEAGUES AND LIST SERVS. ANY QUESTIONS? PLEASE CONTACT GARDEN STATE EQUALITY'S FIELD DIRECTOR HANNAH JOHNSON AT http://us.mc1125.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Johnson@GardenStateEquality.org OR MOBILE (920) 222-1878.

THANKS FROM ALL OF US AT GARDEN STATE EQUALITY.

[Link]

Voice for Equality: Lea Michele

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Lea Michele is an American stage and television actress and singer, who is known for her roles in Broadway musicals, particularly for her starring role as Wendla in Spring Awakening. Beginning in the 1990s as a child actor in Broadway's Les Misérables, Michele appeared in several more musicals including Ragtime and Fiddler on the Roof. She was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her role in Spring Awakening. She currently stars in the Fox television show Glee, which premiered on May 19, 2009. Learn more here.

On October 15, 2009, Ms. Michele performed "On My Own" from Les Miserables at the annual Human Rights Campaign national dinner in Washington D.C. She first spoke of her parents having told her at a young age that she could be with whomever she wanted to be with as long as it made her happy, and how happy she was to support HRC in that philosophy. She then used her expressive singing voice and new-found-fame from Glee to lend strong support to the marriage equality cause. See video below:

Freedom to Marry salutes Lea Michele as a Voice for Equality! See other Voices for Equality here.

If Ms. Michele's support inspires you - get involved!

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

Op-Ed: Going wobbly?: N.J. supporters of marriage equality need some spine

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:27:00 +0000

The Star Ledger - nj.com
November 20, 2009
Star-Ledger Editorial Board: Nervous Democrats should take a look at the latest poll on marriage equality and act quickly to pass it during the lame duck session. The poll shows that most people in New Jersey are greeting marriage equality with a collective shrug. The real danger is that Republican Chris Christie, who takes office in January, has promised to veto the measure. [Link]

Voice for Equality: Rep. Jackie Speier

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Jackie Speier is the Democratic Representative for California's 12th congressional district. The district includes the northern two-thirds of San Mateo County (formerly part of the district represented by her political mentor, Leo Ryan) and the southwest quarter of San Francisco.
She is also a former member of the California State Senate who represented parts of San Francisco and San Mateo counties. On April 8, 2008, she won a special election for the vacated United States House of Representatives seat of late Congressman Tom Lantos. Rep. Speier's congressional committee assignments include: Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Learn more here.

On Tuesday November 17, 2009, Rep. Jackie Speier was a guest on The Colbert Report for a humorous "Better Know a District" segment. The congresswoman expressed her support for marriage equality and stated,

Being gay is not a disease. It’s a sexual orientation. So there is nothing to fix.

See video below:

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Better Know a District - California's 12th - Jackie Speier

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

U.S. Speedskating

Freedom to Marry salutes Rep. Jackie Speier as a Voice for Equality! See other Voices for Equality here.

If Rep. Speier's support inspires you - get involved!

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!

N.J. Residents support Marriage Equality by narrow Margin, Poll says

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:27:00 +0000

nj.com
November 19, 2009
More New Jerseyans support legalizing the freedom to marry than oppose it, according to a Rutgers-Eagleton poll released this morning. The poll, conducted between Nov. 6 and 10, found 46 percent of adult residents want to extend the right to gay couples while 42 percent oppose it. Still undecided were 12 percent of respondents. [Link]

New York Court Upholds Honoring Marriages of Same-Sex Couples

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:19:00 +0000

City Room (The New York Times)
November 19, 2009
The policy of honoring marriages on equal terms was upheld in a ruling today by the NY Court of Appeals, with a strong and repeated plea by the High Court to the Legislature to act on the underlying question of the freedom to marry in New York state. [Link]

Seven Tips for Dissolving Gay Unions

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:39:00 +0000

Bucks (The New York Times)
November 18, 2009
Following up on a previous blog in which she discussed the challenges gay and lesbian couples face when getting divorced, Tara Siegel Bernard writes about different options for couples who wish to end their unions. [Link]

Op-Ed: DC Archdiocese - Desire to Discriminate Greater Than Duty to the Poor

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:28:00 +0000

The Huffington Post
November 18, 2009
Michael Wilson advocates for the people who would be affected if D.C.'s Catholic Charities withdrew services over marriage equality, and writes that the Archdiocese should be replaced as a service provider because "they have tried to publicly muscle the city into following church teaching." [Link]

Op-Ed: Gay Marriage in N.J.: Which Side of History Will You Be On?

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:57:00 +0000

NJVoices Guest Blog (The Star-Ledger)
November 19, 2009
Deborah Jacobs, executive director for the ACLU of New Jersey, discusses the possible upcoming vote on marriage equality in New Jersey and urges voters to contact their legislators: "Our legislators must consider what they want to tell their grandchildren — that they sided with human rights and dignity for families, or that they sided with discrimination, disenfranchisement and denial of essential rights." [Link]

Texans: Are you really married? Maybe not.

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:41:00 +0000

Fort Worth Star-Telegram
November 18, 2009
Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a Houston lawyer and Democratic candidate for Texas attorney general, says that a 22-word clause in a 2005 state constitutional amendment banning marriage equality endangers the legal status of all marriages in the state. [Link]

D.C. Marriage Equality Opponents Sue to Force Referendum

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:20:00 +0000

The Washington Post
November 19, 2009
Bishop Harry Jackson, represented by the anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund, on Wednesday filed suit in D.C. Superior Court against the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics' decision to block a proposed ballot measure aimed at banning marriage equality in the District. [Link]

Judge Orders Compensation for Gay Couple Who Were Denied Healthcare, Other Benefits

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:14:00 +0000

The Los Angeles Times
November 19, 2009
U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Reinhardt on Wednesday ordered compensation for a Los Angeles man denied federal employee benefits for his husband because of the federal DOMA. [Link]

Gay Couple Hopes Wedding Sets Precedent in Argentina

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:07:00 +0000

Reuters
November 18, 2009
Two Argentine men who will soon wed in Latin America's first government-recognized marriage of a same-sex couple hope their union will pave the way for other gay couples in the country to marry. [Link]

Bill to Extend Benefits to Same-Sex Partners Advances

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:45:00 +0000

The Washington Post
November 19, 2009
Joe Davidson reports that the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday voted 23-12 in favor of a measure that would extend health insurance, disability and other benefits to partners of gay federal employees. [Link]

EqualityMaine to host series of Community Conversations in December

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Eddins) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:35:00 +0000

EqualityMaine
November 19, 2009
EqualityMaine is hosting a series of Community Conversations across the state in December, to debrief the campaign and discuss next steps in winning marriage equality in Maine. Betsy Smith of Maine Equality: "While the numbers favored our opponents on Election Day, we have by no means lost the campaign to win marriage equality." [Link]

Click on dates below for info on Community Conversations:
Sunday, Dec. 6 - Augusta
Monday, Dec 7 - Ogunquit
Tuesday, Dec 8 - Ellsworth
Wed, Dec 9 - Lewiston
Thursday, Dec 10 - Bangor
Tuesday, Dec 15 - Portland