11.17.08
Posted in 365 Gay, Gay Rights at 6:08 pm by pikapp44
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will not submit a legal brief to the California Supreme Court arguing for the overturn of Proposition 8, the voter initiative that bans same-sex marriage, nor will he join a group of state lawmakers in their brief despite making statements he believes the court should declare the measure illegal.
Appearing on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” Schwarzenegger said that he believes marriage is between opposite-sex partners, “but I don’t want to ever force my will on anyone.”
But he rejected a call to enter the legal challenge to Prop 8.
A day after voters agreed to amend the constitution to bar same-sex marriage three separate notices were filed with the high court arguing the proposition was illegal because it conflicted with existing portions of the constitution.
The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed a writ petition before the California Supreme Court on Wednesday, a preliminary move to a suit. They were the lead groups that successfully argued the original marriage case before the court.
The second notice came from Dennis Herrera the attorney for the City of San Francisco. The third was filed by Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred on behalf of a couple married in that city.
The petitions charge that Proposition 8 is invalid because the initiative process was improperly used in an attempt to undo the constitution’s core commitment to equality for everyone. They also say that Prop 8 improperly attempts to prevent the courts from exercising their essential constitutional role of protecting the equal protection rights of minorities.
Last week Democratic state legislators filed a “friend of the court” brief supporting the challenge.
The Republican governor on Sunday told ABC that the state law banning same-sex marriage, which the California Supreme Court overturned this spring, was akin to the legal battle over interracial marriage. In 1948 the state high court declared a ban on interracial marriage unconstitutional.
“So the Supreme Court, you know, I think ought to go and look at that again. And we’ll go back to the same decision. … I think that they will. And I think that the important thing now is to resolve this issue in that way,” he told Stephanopoulos.
Schwarzenegger also said that he will meet this week with Attorney General Jerry Brown, a Democrat, over the legal issues involved with the estimated 18,000 gay marriages already conducted in California.
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11.13.08
Posted in Advocate Articles, Gay Rights at 4:50 pm by pikapp44
This Saturday, thousands of LGBT community and its allies across the country, spontaneously organizing themselves in a truly grassroots movement, will convene to raise the call for equality.
This Saturday Nov. 15, cities in every state.
http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/
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11.11.08
Posted in Advocate Articles, Gay Rights at 8:08 pm by pikapp44
In the wake of Proposition 8, pro-gay Equality Utah is taking the comments of Mormon Church elders as a signal to move forward with legislation that will expand the rights of gays and lesbians in the state, reports The New York Times.
Defending their members’ estimated $20-million contribution to the passage of California’s gay marriage ban, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said they are not antigay and wouldn’t deny certain legal protections to gays and lesbians.
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11.10.08
Posted in Advocate Articles, Gay Rights at 3:41 pm by pikapp44
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said that the fight for gay marriage was not over in California and suggested the state supreme xourt may in fact overturn Proposition 8.
“It’s unfortunate, obviously, but it’s not the end,” Schwarzenegger said of the measure’s passage.
“I think that we will again maybe undo that, if the court is willing to do that, and then move forward from there and again lead in that area.”
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11.04.08
Posted in Gay Rights at 1:36 pm by pikapp44
Florida Proposition 2 is a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution that would define marriage as between one man and one woman, effectively banning same-sex marriage in the state. The proposition text reads, “”In as much as a marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife, no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.”
Doesn’t Florida Already Have A Statute That Prevents Gay Marriage?:
Yes, Florida statutes already define marriage as between one man and one woman. However, if Proposition 2 is passed neither the state legislature or judiciary could alter the definition of marriage within the state.
Does This Mean Homosexuality Will Be Taught In School?:
No, there is no language in the proposition about education. Supporters of Proposition 102 (those against gay marriage) are using this argument to convince voters that allowing gays to marry in the state will affect their children’s education.
How Does Prop. 2 Affect Heterosexuals?:
If passed, Proposition 2 could strip heterosexual domestic partners of health care and pension benefit plans.
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11.03.08
Posted in 365 Gay, Gay Rights at 5:30 pm by pikapp44
They both oppose same-sex marriage, but Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain differ over Proposition 8, the ballot measure that would ban gay marriage in California.
“I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage. But when you start playing around with constitutions just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that’s not what America’s about,” he said. He added, “Usually, our constitutions expand liberties, they don’t contract them.”
Obama has previously stated he would oppose a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and supports repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal benefits to same-sex couples.
He also has suggested civil unions as a means of granting rights to gay pairs.
McCain also opposes amending the U.S.Constitution, but for different reasons. McCain says it is a state issue. He is on record supporting constitutional bans on gay marriage in both California and his home state of Arizona where a similar measure is on Tuesday’s ballot.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden has spoken out against constitutional bans, both federally and state, but Republican Sarah Palin takes a stand stronger than that of McCain. Palin has called for an amendment to the US Constitution.
Public opinion polls show that proposed constitutional bans on same-sex marriage are too close in call in California, Arizona and Florida - the third state with a proposed ban on the ballot.
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10.31.08
Posted in Advocate Articles, Gay Rights at 2:16 pm by pikapp44
U.S. senator Kit Bond of Missouri derided Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama for stating that he hopes to appoint judges who can empathize with gay people.
Bond addressed the crowd before introducing Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin onstage at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo., on Thursday, according to CBS News.
“[Obama] said, ‘I’m tired of these judges who want to follow what the Founding Fathers said and the Constitution,” Bond said. ” ‘I want judges who have a heart, have an empathy for the teenage mom, the minority, the gay, the disabled. We want them to show empathy. We want them to show compassion.’ “
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10.30.08
Posted in Advocate Articles, Gay Rights at 12:52 pm by pikapp44
Gay Connecticut couples will be able to start marrying sometime in November, though the exact date is not known, reports the Associated Press.
Lawyers who argued the state’s marriage case said Tuesday that couples will be able to pick up their marriage license applications beginning sometime on or after November 10. The exact date will be determined by a judge in New Haven superior court, where the case originated in 2004.
According to the AP, the state supreme court’s ruling is considered official now that it has been published in the Connecticut Law Journal. Motions for reconsideration of the case will be accepted for the 10 days following that publication. Once the period ends, the superior court judge will be free to set the date for when gay marriages can begin.
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10.29.08
Posted in Advocate Articles, Gay Rights at 2:19 pm by pikapp44
José Eduardo Verástegui is tall, dark, and handsome, not to mention rich and famous. This Latino actor and sex symbol was a favorite of gay Mexicans and Mexican-Americans — until he came out as one of the loudest proponents of California’s Proposition 8.
The pitched battle raging between gay leaders and conservative Christians over the ballot initiative that could take marriage rights away from same-sex couples has spread beyond California’s borders: The Utah-based Mormon Church has contributed the bulk of the money to promote Proposition 8, and many donors to the fight against the initiative live thousands of miles from the Golden State.
Now the fight has reached Mexico, where one of that country’s biggest young stars is being recruited to convince California’s Latinos to vote for Proposition 8. The voice and face of Verástegui — a Mexican actor and model who was named by People en Español as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world — can currently be found on airwaves and television screens calling for a yes vote on Proposition 8.
The 34-year-old actor garnered attention from roles in the English-language film Chasing Papi, the canceled Shannen Doherty series Charmed, and a Jennifer Lopez video. He’s a devout Catholic who has urged Latinos to vote not only against same-sex marriage but also abortion rights and Barack Obama. Not surprisingly, gay fans and gay supporters have turned on Verástegui — Mexican pop star Paulina Rubio is rumored to have called him ignorant. Latina.com said of Verástegui, “[he] used to make us weak in the knees, but lately he’ s just making us sick to our stomachs.”
While many Latinos are Catholic, it’s not clear whether this voting bloc is being influenced by people like Verástegui. According to the Sacramento Bee, a Field Poll revealed 37% favored the same-sex marriage ban and 44% opposed it.
No on Prop. 8, the group fighting to defeat the ballot initiative, is not taking any chances. They just released a commercial to Spanish-speaking markets on Monday featuring three Latinos who appear on Ugly Betty — star America Ferrera, along with Tony Plana and Ana Ortiz — telling voters that Proposition 8 would hurt families, not help them.
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10.28.08
Posted in Gay Portal, Gay Rights at 2:38 pm by pikapp44
More than 429 Florida Leaders Have Already Endorsed Amendment 2
See Names and Pictures including Governor Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum.
Site “Yes2Marriage.org: http://www.yes2marriage.org/about-us/endorsements/
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