Gay marriage on the line in MA

That's right folks, when we achieve a small step, whether it is a small domestic partnership registry or full marriage equality, the other side is prepared to go to the mat to force their bigotry on everyone. Marriage in Massachusetts is on the line with a referendum to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot.

Rights groups battle question on gay nuptials

Gay and lesbian advocates are hoping that a video and house parties will boost their campaign to block a referendum that would outlaw gay marriage in Massachusetts.

An 11-minute video arguing for the preservation of gay marriage is scheduled to be unveiled today and tomorrow at house parties across the state, said Marc Solomon , campaign director for Mass Equality, a gay rights advocacy group.

"Advocates for gay rights are getting their family and friends together to watch the video and go out and support us," Solomon said.

The target of the campaign: the state's 200 legislators, and in particular, the 63 legislators who in January voted to put gay marriage on a statewide ballot in November 2008.

So you think we are all set here in WA with our minuscule step towards equality? Do you think the fight is over and we are just one legislative session away from full marriage? Think again! The DP registry will be the catalyst to rally the Washington Wingnuts to attempt a constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage altogether. All they need are a few more social conservatives in office and we can kiss all of the great work goodbye right along with recognition of our relationships.

I would wager that none of you readers out there even know that a marriage amendment was introduced this year? Resolution SJR 8219 "Defining marriage as between a male and a female" introduced by Senators Swecker, Hargrove, Benton, Sheldon, Holmquist, Carrell, Roach, Zarelli, Clements, Delvin, Rasmussen.

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:

THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article I of the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a new section to read as follows:

Article I, section Marriage in Washington state shall consist solely of two persons, a male and a female. The uniting of two persons other than a male and a female in any marital relationship is not valid in this state, and, although valid in another jurisdiction, is not recognized as valid in this state. The legislature may provide for such restrictions or sanctions on marriage related to age or degree of kinship as it deems necessary.

So it is all ready to go. All they need is enough politicians in office to get it out of committee. Can we sit back on our collective gay asses now? As a community we tend to relax and become apathetic to what is really going on after a small victory, that would be wrong! We now have to work harder than ever in Washington to ensure our fair minded elected officials stay in office.

What will you do this week to support the cause?

JJ has entered the building!

My my my, gone for a week and so much has happened I am overwhelmed with things post and comment on!

Our esteemed legislature was very busy last week!

First, the Domestic Partnership bill passed:

Washington Legislature passes domestic partner bill

The bill passed easily on a 63-35 House vote despite condemnations from conservatives who said the bill was an affront to community values and religious freedom.

Then the Healthy Youth Act was passed:
Healthy Youth Act Approved

After four hours of debate, the Washington House of Representatives voted 63-34 Wednesday to require sexual education in public schools to be medically accurate. The vote sends the bill to Gov. Christine Gregoire for her signature.

Both of these items initiated a violent response from Joe Fuiten, self proclaimed leader of all Washington wingnuts. He is calling all Christians to pray for plague, famine, earthquakes etc. etc. to be called down upon Washington to demonstrate Gods displeasure with the passage of these two bills.

So far no earthquakes or famine have happened, I guess that means that God supports this legislation.

Hoooray!

Patrick orders 26 gay marriages recorded

Gov. Deval Patrick has ordered officials to record the marriages of 26 out-of-state gay couples whose unions were blocked by his Republican predecessor from being registered in the state's vital records.

Must see website

This is a great website highlighting 10 same sex couples and their struggles. I think we can all relate to these couples. This is a great project! Take a gander after the link!

10 Couples

Domestic partnership bill passes Senate

HOOORAY!

Wash. Senate Passes Domestic Partnership Measure

The measure passed on a 28-19 vote, with two lawmakers excused. It now heads to the House. Gov. Chris Gregoire is expected to sign the measure if it gets to her desk.

The bill would create a domestic partnership registry with the state, and would provide enhanced rights for same-sex couples, including hospital visitation, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations, and inheritance rights when there is no will.

To be registered, couples would have to share a home, not be married or in a domestic relationship with someone else, and be at least 18.

Goin to the chapel and we're gonna git domestic partnered... Well we are getting closer!

Once the bill is signed by the Governor I will post instructions on how to get registered for benefits. Its a far cry from full marriage but we are well on our way. This bill will make such a huge difference in our ability to care for our loved ones.

Welcome to the ranks Suze!

Photo credit

From 365gay.com

Finance Guru Orman Comes Out, Bemoans Gay Marriage Ban

Financial guru and best-selling author Suze Orman says she wishes she could marry her partner Kathy Travis, partly because it would save them both a lot of money.

I love it when celebrities come out! This is great, how many social conservatives has Suze given advice to? I wonder if they will give up the thousands of dollars they have made or the financial stability obtained from following her advice?

Hooray!

Gay couples get licenses in New Jersey

Hooray!

Gay Couples Nationwide Demonstrate For Marriage Rights

Hooray!

Washington Domestic Partner Bill Moving Forward

Its because we plan for our families

Adoption Survey Gives Gay Parents High Grades

(New York City) Adoptive parents invest more time and financial resources in their children than biological parents, according to a new national study challenging arguments that have been used to oppose same-sex marriage and gay adoption.

Because we plan for our families as opposed to just popping out babies on accident it makes for healthier home environments for our kids!

The researchers said 161 families in the survey were headed by two adoptive parents, and they rated better overall than families with biological parents on an array of criteria - including helping with homework, parental involvement in school, exposure to cultural activities and family attendance at religious services. The only category in which adoptive parents fared worse was the frequency of talking with parents of other children.

So, when it comes to gay adoptive parents we rank better than biological parents in all regards except for the frequency in talking to parents of other children! This is probably because we are spending more time with our own kids!

The researchers said their findings call into question the long-standing argument that children are best off with their biological parents. Such arguments were included in state Supreme Court rulings last year in New York and Washington that upheld laws against same-sex marriage.

At some point in the near future the ridiculous supreme court ruling is going to be trumped by good old peer reviewed scientific facts.

Finally - A little mainstream attention

Gay Rights Activists Introduce Initiative that Would Require Children in Marriages

KENNEWICK, Wash.- A new initiative is turning heads around the state as the gay-marriage debate heats up again.

Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed has accepted Iinitiative 957, a response by gay rights activists to a State Supreme Court ruling last summer.

The Washington Supreme Court ruled that the state could prevent gay and lesbian couples from marrying because the state has a legitimate interest in preserving marriage for procreation.

In response, the Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance filed the Initiative.

I-957 has five clauses that would have to be met for a legal marriage.

It would allow only couples capable of having kids to marry, and that they file "proof of procreation" within three years of the marriage. If not, the marriage would be annulled.

Hooray!

Jerusalem registers its first gay couple

Why we fight

From Blog Active:

Why we fight

here here!

Hooray!

Lesbians Register Mexico's 1st Gay Union

A new citizens initiative - Ban marriages that don't create children!

This is not a joke! This citizens initiative was filed with the WA Secretary of Sate.

Initiative 957

If passed by Washington voters, the Defense of Marriage Initiative would:

• add the phrase, “who are capable of having children with one another” to the legal definition of marriage;
• require that couples married in Washington file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage automatically annulled;
• require that couples married out of state file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage classed as “unrecognized;”
• establish a process for filing proof of procreation; and
• make it a criminal act for people in an unrecognized marriage to receive marriage benefits.
  

The initiative was submitted by Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance and is aligned with the judges own arguments in the Andersen v. King ruling. How funny it is to see their arguments in support of the WA Defense of Marriage Act spelled out as a potential law! It certainly points out the ridiculousness of their ruling, nonetheless, the ruling was a huge set back to civil rights in Washington State.

From the WA-DOMA website:

What we are about

The Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance seeks to defend equal marriage in this state by challenging the Washington Supreme Court’s ruling on Andersen v. King County. This decision, given in July 2006, declared that a “legitimate state interest” allows the Legislature to limit marriage to those couples able to have and raise children together. Because of this “legitimate state interest,” it is permissible to bar same-sex couples from legal marriage.

The way we are challenging Andersen is unusual: using the initiative, we are working to put the Court’s ruling into law. We will do this through three initiatives. The first would make procreation a requirement for legal marriage. The second would prohibit divorce or legal separation when there are children. The third would make the act of having a child together the legal equivalent of a marriage ceremony.

Absurd? Very. But there is a rational basis for this absurdity. By floating the initiatives, we hope to prompt discussion about the many misguided assumptions which make up the Andersen ruling. By getting the initiatives passed, we hope the Supreme Court will strike them down as unconstitional and thus weaken Andersen itself. And at the very least, it should be good fun to see the social conservatives who have long screamed that marriage exists for the sole purpose of procreation be forced to choke on their own rhetoric.

Tee hee! Where do I sign?

Hooray!

Film On Dying Lesbian Cop's Battle For Domestic Partner Rights Wins Sundance Prize

This is a tragedy played out in real life. I am glad that Laurel Hester will be memorialized in such a fashion. Her life is a tribute to the struggles of our community.

How much does bigotry cost?

Apparently $410,000 in Massachusetts. That is what it cost the MA wingnuts to get a anti-marriage amendment on the legislative agenda. The anti-gay amendment has to pass one more round of votes in the legislature in order to be put to voters who will, by their vote, determine the civil rights of tens of thousand American citizens.

From 7 News Boston:

A campaign finance report filed last week with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance shows VoteOnMarriage.org spent more than $389,000 last year, including money raised the previous year.

It also used in-kind donations worth more than $60,700 in legal fees and staff time from the Massachusetts Family Institute, which helped form VoteOnMarriage.org to raise money for the ballot question.

Now what does it cost to fight the bigots?

MassEquality.org’s campaign director, Marc Solomon, said the group formed to fight the ballot question spent $1 million lobbying against the amendment last year.

And apparently that is not enough to retain an Americans' civil rights when pitted against the passion of religious fundamentalism, hatred and bigotry.

Hooray!

Civil Unions Bill Filed In Hawaii

Snark

From Straight, Not Narrow:

Same-Sex Unions NOT Destroying Marriage in Canada

HOORAY!

FMA Backers: No New Attempt To Revive Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment In New Congress