Category: Marriage Equality

Athenae, Marriage Equality3 Comments

Washington State Ruined My Marriage

And how hard is this to explain to people, really: Gov. Chris Gregoire on Wednesday said she’ll put forward legislation to legalize marriage for gay and lesbian couples. The proposal will be introduced during the legislative session that starts Monday. If it’s approved, Washington would become the seventh state to legalize gay marriage. “Today, I’m announcing my support for a law that gives same-sex couples in our state the right to receive a marriage license in Washington – the same right given our heterosexual couples,” Gregoire said before a crowd of gay marriage supporters at her office. “It is time, … Continue reading Washington State Ruined My Marriage

Adrastos, Film, Marriage Equality16 Comments

Quote of the day

It comes from movie legend and self described Eisenhower Republican Clint Eastwood on gay marriage: “These people who are making a big deal out of gay marriage?” Eastwood opined. “I don’t give a fuck 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.” “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.” Continue reading Quote of the day

Athenae, Marriage Equality2 Comments

Illinois to Legalize Man on Dog

Trying to catch up to the rest of the 21st century: The Illinois General Assembly is expected to vote today on same-sex civil unions legislation in what gay rights advocates expect to be a very close vote. Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has said he expects state lawmakers to approve the bill and the governor has voiced his support. The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (SB 1716), which is co-sponsored by openly gay Illinois State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), has come under fire from conservative groups, including the Catholic Conference of Illinois and Washington D.C.-based National Organization … Continue reading Illinois to Legalize Man on Dog

Current Affairs, Immoral Values, Marriage Equality, VirgoTex14 Comments

The Queer Problem

Seriously, THIS, and not just because she’s the boss lady: You had it, and we worked hard to give it to you, and we see you calling things impossible which are just very hard, and we get fucking annoyed, because we don’t get to get away with that shit. Not at our jobs and not in our lives. We’ve all of us been running some variant of that loop the last few weeks, and we all will probably continue to, and weshould. But the loop in my head goes off into my own personal cul-de-sac, and I get that it’s … Continue reading The Queer Problem

Athenae, Marriage Equality7 Comments

It is Just a Matter of Time

AMERICA. FUCK YEAH. The line to marry is out the door. 9:30 AM: Ehhalt interviewsRoger and Ron, the first folks in line to get married, should the stay be lifted. “If it doesn’t happen, it’s just a matter of time, it it does, well, we’re here” they said. It is just a matter of time. For people seeking justice, it is just a matter of time. The bigots get tired. The bigots go home. The bigots get old and they die off. The bigots are turned away from the courthouse steps with a great big mightyfuck youand I know that’s … Continue reading It is Just a Matter of Time

Marriage Equality, VirgoTex6 Comments

“A breakdown at the intersection of ideology and reality”

Take a look at the following excerpt from a recent editorial on the conservative reaction to the outcome of the Prop 8 trial. It rather neatly removes each of the already-shaky legs holding up the conservative Right’s attempts to paint Judge Vaughn Walker as nothing more than anungodly sodomite and biased activist tyrant intent on destroying Constitution and pissing all over California voters: Conservatives cannot deny that our Founders intended the judiciary as an equal and independent branch of government purposed to ensure the protection of every citizen’s rights. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that the right to marry … Continue reading “A breakdown at the intersection of ideology and reality”

Athenae, Marriage Equality2 Comments

U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro, Attorney General Martha Coakley Win Today’s Internet

Come on down and collect your prize: BOSTON — A U.S. judge in Boston has ruled that a federal gay marriage ban is unconstitutional because it interferes with the right of a state to define marriage. U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro on Thursday ruled in favor of gay couples’ rights in two separate challenges to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA. The state had argued the law denied benefits such as Medicaid to gay married couples in Massachusetts, where same-sex unions have been legal since 2004. Tauro agreed, and said the act forces Massachusetts to discriminate against … Continue reading U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro, Attorney General Martha Coakley Win Today’s Internet

Athenae, Marriage Equality6 Comments

Okay, Hawaii’s Right Out as a Vacation Spot

WTF, people? Gov. Linda Lingle announced today that she will veto the civil unions bill, describing the measure as “marriage by another name.” Lingle said the legislative maneuvering by the House, which brought the bill to a vote on the last day of session, was wrong and that the issue is of such societal importance that it should involve all the people of Hawaii. She said she made the decision about a week ago. “I feel very comfortable with my decision,” she said. “I think I gave (the issue) the dignity that it deserved.” “I have been open and consistent … Continue reading Okay, Hawaii’s Right Out as a Vacation Spot

Athenae, Marriage Equality2 Comments

Iron Jawed Angels

Brave women: Onziema and her partner met playing rugby at a local Kampala club a couple of years ago. Onziema knew “within five seconds” that she had met the one, she says. It took her partner a bit longer. Onziema has known her whole life that she’s gay, but her partner is not out publicly, and the process of coming to terms with who she is took a little longer. After they’d been friends for a few months, Onziema made her move. “There was a kiss,” she grins. “She wasn’t expecting it.” Since then, the couple have been through a … Continue reading Iron Jawed Angels

Athenae, Immoral Values, Marriage Equality17 Comments

Your Old Road is Rapidly Aging

So get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand: In comments to the ombudsman’s call-in line (202.334.7582), one reader said, “the picture of two guys kissing makes me cringe.” Another called it “ridiculous,” adding: “Put it on page 10 or page four, put it in the paper, but I do not like it right there where I can’t avoid looking at it.” Many threatened to cancel their Post subscriptions, and more than two dozen did. Post circulation vice president Gregg Fernandes said that late last week 27 subscribers canceled, specifically citing the photo. In contrast, The … Continue reading Your Old Road is Rapidly Aging

Athenae, Marriage Equality4 Comments

‘The Free Uniting of Two People’

Feliz Fucking Navidad: Mexico City lawmakers on Monday made the city the first in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage, a change that will give homosexual couples more rights, including allowing them to adopt children. The bill passed the capital’s local assembly 39-20 to the cheers of supporters who yelled: “Yes, we could! Yes, we could!” Leftist Mayor Marcelo Ebrard of the Democratic Revolution Party is widely expected to sign the measure into law. The bill calls for changing the definition of marriage in the city’s civil code. Marriage is currently defined as the union of a man and a … Continue reading ‘The Free Uniting of Two People’

Law/Justice, Marriage Equality, VirgoTex1 Comment

More of the gay: Thank you for being a friend

It’s a long way to full LGBT equality, and we will continue to fight. Sometimes, last week in NY, we’re gonna lose. Other times, like yesterday in New Jersey, we’ll at least hold our ground till the next fight. We know this: Allies. We need ’em. They are essential. Bruce Springsteen, today Like many of you who live in New Jersey, I’ve been following the progress of the marriage-equality legislation currently being considered in Trenton. I’ve long believed in and have always spoken out for the rights of same sex couples and fully agree with Governor Corzine when he writes … Continue reading More of the gay: Thank you for being a friend

Immoral Values, Law/Justice, Marriage Equality, Religion, VirgoTex9 Comments

Beyond mere homophobia: a sad day for Rhode Island

Yesterday, Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri, vetoed 25 bills passed by the State Assembly. One of those bills would have changed existing state law to add “domestic partners” to those authorized by law to make funeral arrangements for each other. That’s right. The Governor says if you are gay, and your partner dies, you can’t claim their body and you can’t arrange for their funeral or cremation. Not just because you’re gay but because … wait for it: it would threaten traditional marriage. In hisveto message, Republican Carcieri said: “This bill represents a disturbing trend over the past few years … Continue reading Beyond mere homophobia: a sad day for Rhode Island

Doc, Marriage Equality, Religion13 Comments

Quiet hate hurts

A few months ago, I found myself in one of those Disneyland-style lines at the airport as we attempted to pass through security. Just behind me in the line was a beefy, muscular guy, about six feet tall, who had a shaved head and a ton of tattoos. At a certain point in the weaving line, I managed to get a good look at him. His arms were adorned with swastikas and pit bulls. Down the back of each of his triceps was a single word: “WHITE” on the left and “POWER” on the right. When he got to the … Continue reading Quiet hate hurts

Law/Justice, Marriage Equality, VirgoTex2 Comments

A day late

A lot of people weren’t surprised by it, but still, theloss last night in Maine was a severe blow for marriage equality and LGBT civil rights. So where do we stand today? What do we do next time? It’s hard to even hazard a guess, given the level of frustration on a day like today. If nothing else, I hope we leave behind these state by state bloodlettings and put the focus on strategy at the national level. Because losing 30 times in a row sucks. Continue reading A day late

Athenae, Marriage Equality5 Comments

Maine

Please please please please please: PORTLAND, Maine – Bolstered by out-of-state money and volunteers, both sides jockeyed Monday to boost turnout for a Maine referendum that could give gay-rights activists in the U.S. their first victory at theballot box on the deeply divisive issue of same-sex marriage. The state’s voters will decide Tuesday whether to repeal a law that would allowgay marriage. The law was passed by theLegislature and signed byDemocratic Gov. John Baldacci last May but has never taken effect. The contest is considered too close to call, and both campaigns worked vigorously — with rallies, phone calls, e-mails … Continue reading Maine

Athenae, Marriage Equality5 Comments

Hell Yeah! … and also … What The?

New York, New York: Gov. David Paterson reiterated his pledge to bring marriage equality to New York state Thursday, telling a cheering audience at a major gay rights fund-raiser that they can expect to see a bill pass “just in the next few weeks.” And then he went on to say: “So, if you’ve been telling your loved one, ‘You know, I’d marry you, but we have this legal problem,’ and maybe, as a lot of straight people have done, you’ve led someone along thinking you’re going to marry them, one obstacle or another has prevented it, you’d better leave … Continue reading Hell Yeah! … and also … What The?

Athenae, Marriage Equality18 Comments

The Last Time You Trusted a Politician

John Cole: Nothing constructive is ever built with negativity. Period. So instead of blowing up at the first President in my lifetime to openly advocate for gay rights, why don’t you do something constructive? Why don’t you embrace his message? How about an ad campaign that has Obama speaking from theHRC declaring support for your goals, and asking Congress whether they want to join you and the President in achieving those goals? How about going to Harry Reid, who is in a tight election as it is, and asking him whether or not he will join with the President and … Continue reading The Last Time You Trusted a Politician

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Marriage Equality, Sports6 Comments

Fujita/Zirin Redux

Peter Adrastos Athas

Dave Zirin has posted more ofhis conversation with Saints Linebacker, Scott Fujita about the latter’s support of the upcoming National Equality March For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered rights in Washington City as the founders called it. Here’s the money quote wherein Scott turns the term homophobia on its head: “You know people do call it homophobia, and even that term alone is interesting to me. Because I don’t even know how they call it homophobia, because that’s a fear of the same. It’s more heterophobia. It’s a fear of something different from yourself.” Scott Fujita: UC Berkeley graduate and … Continue reading Fujita/Zirin Redux