Same-Sex Marriage Update

QueenofQueens · 01-04-2010, 06:55 PM

The legalization of gay marriage went into effect in New Hampshire on January 1st, however legislation has been filed to repeal the law and anti-marriage opponents are organizing a petition drive to create an amendment that would define marriage as being between one man and one woman.
Determining the rights of minorities should NEVER be subject to popular vote, New Hampshire gives us an opportunity to make that clear, should we seize it before it's too late.

Meanwhile, a CA law went into effect on Jan. 1st ensuring that those who were legally married here before prop 8 passed retain all legal protections and status as married couples. It also protects those legally married in other states/countries after prop 8 by affording them the same rights/protections sans being able to claim the designation of "marriage".

GinaSofia · 01-04-2010, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QueenofQueens

Meanwhile, a CA law went into effect on Jan. 1st ensuring that those who were legally married here before prop 8 passed retain all legal protections and status as married couples. It also protects those legally married in other states/countries after prop 8 by affording them the same rights/protections sans being able to claim the designation of "marriage".

Hey QoQ,

Do you know where I can get more info on this new law?
I tried to google but found nada.
I'd love to have something to refer to when dealing with the
folks who keep insisting that my marriage is no longer valid.
TIA!

QueenofQueens · 01-04-2010, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GinaSofia

Hey QoQ,

Do you know where I can get more info on this new law?
I tried to google but found nada.
I'd love to have something to refer to when dealing with the
folks who keep insisting that my marriage is no longer valid.
TIA!

Hey Gina,

No problem. Here's a link to Equality CA's website with an article that lists the particulars.
>>Linky<<
I see you're already experiencing the issues that arise when minorities are not afforded equal protection under federal law. It's such fucking bullshit that you have to endure this sort of fallout due to people's ignorance. Beyond bullshit, it could be potentially dangerous for ANY legally married couple. Sorry for ranting, this shit just makes my blood boil.

Happy New Year, G
xox
QoQ

Cyclopea · 01-05-2010, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QueenofQueens

The legalization of gay marriage went into effect in New Hampshire on January 1st, however legislation has been filed to repeal the law and anti-marriage opponents are organizing a petition drive to create an amendment that would define marriage as being between one man and one woman.
Determining the rights of minorities should NEVER be subject to popular vote, New Hampshire gives us an opportunity to make that clear, should we seize it before it's too late.

Meanwhile, a CA law went into effect on Jan. 1st ensuring that those who were legally married here before prop 8 passed retain all legal protections and status as married couples. It also protects those legally married in other states/countries after prop 8 by affording them the same rights/protections sans being able to claim the designation of "marriage".

Thank you for these updates. The assholes in NH circulating petitions to get an anti-marriage amendment on this year's town meeting agenda are particularly disheartening. I find it hard to believe it will pass but after Maine who the hell knows. It's so easy to mobilize the stupid.

In other news the NJ Senate will vote this Thursday on a same sex marriage bill that is almost certain to fail. From Pam's House Blend:

" There will be a vote on gay marriage in the lame duck session of the New Jersey state legislature, NBCNewYork.com has learned.

"We're gonna post the bill and see what happens," Senate President Dick Codey told us.

Codey, and even sponsors of same sex marriage legislation are skeptical if there are enough votes to pass in the State Senate.

For days now, Codey has been weighing whether or not to allow a vote in the waning days of this session, which ends next Monday.

"The members for the most part said go ahead and post it," Codey explained in coming to his decision, while acknowledging there was a minority of his fellow democrats who urged him not to bring it to a vote.

The rush to get a vote in is because outgoing Governor Jon Corzine, who will sign the bill if passed, will leave office on January 19. His successor, Chris Christie, has said he would veto it."

This from Garden State Equality:

"MEMBERS: BREAKING NEWS FOR YOU TO FORWARD IMMEDIATELY TO YOUR FRIENDS, RELATIVES, ORGANIZATIONAL AND CONGREGATIONAL COLLEAGUES -- AND TO YOUR LIST SERVS AND BLOGS:

The New Jersey State Senate has just announced it is voting this Thursday, January 7, 2010 on the marriage equality bill. We need each of you to join us for this most momentus day in our lives.

We ask you to meet us in front of the State House in Trenton Thursday at 10:30 am, when we will march from the State House to the State House Annex, and then talk to legislators before the vote.

You may meet us in front of the State House earlier than 10:30 am Thursday to help us organize. We will be there earlier whenever you arrive. The address of the State House, for GPS and MapQuest purposes, is 125 West State Street. Park at the Trenton Marriott garage, 1 West Lafayette Street.

Thursday afternoon, immediately after the Senate vote, Garden State Equality will hold a news conference and a free member reception at the Trenton Marriott Ballroom, 1 West Lafayette Street. We ask all of you, members and journalists, to be there.

For further information

Journalists: Contact Chair Steven Goldstein, cell (917) 449-8918.

Members: Contact Co-Field Director Dani Bernstein, cell (909) 561-3738.

-----------------------------------------------------------
On a personal note, if I see one more big mainstream article stating that civil unions/domestic partnerships provide all the same rights of marriage I will freakin' scream. I just read that as the last line in an AP story yesterday and it is sooo misleading and makes gays and lesbians appear to be seeking some sort of social approval from the 'phobes, rather than critically important legal and financial equality.
GRRRRRRRRRRR.....

Cyclopea · 01-06-2010, 12:08 AM

From PinkNews.co.uk:

Malawi gay marriage trial expected next week

By Jessica Geen • January 5, 2010 - 15:28

The trial of two gay men arrested for holding a wedding party in Malawi is expected to begin on January 15th.

Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza are being held in custody in Chichiri Prison and were denied bail by a judge yesterday in the city of Blantyre.

Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa said the couple were at risk from mob violence if they were released, although this claim was rejected by their lawyers.

He said they would be bailed by January 10th if prosecutors had finished investigating them.

The pair had a traditional engagement ceremony in the south African country on Saturday December 26th and were arrested two days later.

Malawi punishes homosexuality with up to 14 years in prison.

According to gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, who is in contact with campaigners in the country, the men will deny the three charges of unnatural practices between males and gross indecency.

He said they would challenge the prosecution on the grounds that it is illegal under the equal rights and non-discrimination clauses of the Malawian constitution.

In a news release, Tatchell said the couple had been jeered in court and disowned by their families.

He said they were suffering "appalling" conditions in prison and are being threatened with forced physical examinations to determine whether they have had sex.

But he added that they had been given food and money by supporters and a legal term had been assembled.

Their case is being helped by the Malawian human rights group, the Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP).

The centre's executive director, Gift Trapence, told PinkNews.co.uk the men's lawyers are fighting for the trial to be held in a higher court where more judges are sitting.

He said: "Because of the penal code in Malawi, gays are seen as unnatural. They are not visible.

"This is the first case. There is a lot of attention in Malawi and lots of newspaper coverage. Gays are afraid of the law, they are not open, they are not visible.

"The problem is the violence is there but it is not reported. There are lots of blackmail issues. They think they will be prosecuted.

Trapence added that arrests such as this would hamper HIV prevention work.

An administrator for CEDEP was arrested yesterday on charges that the centre's safer sex HIV education materials are pornographic.

Tatchell described the charges as "trumped up" and said the arrest was "almost certainly in retaliation" for CEDEP's public support of Chimbalanga and Monjeza.

The group called today for a nationwide referendum on homosexuality, saying that consensus was needed.

UK-based gay rights group OutRage! is collecting donations to be sent to the couple's legal team in Malawi.

To send a donation, post a cheque payable to OutRage! to OutRage!, PO Box 17816, London SW14 8WT. Enclose a note giving your name and address and stating that your donation is for the Malawi Defence Campaign. OutRage! will pass all money donated to the couple's defence team in Malawi.

Semantics · 01-07-2010, 05:59 PM

Quote:

January 7, 2010
NJ Senate Defeats Gay Marriage Bill
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 5:01 p.m. ET

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey's state Senate has defeated a bill to legalize gay marriage, leaving it unlikely the state will have a gay marriage law in the very near future.

The bill needed 21 votes to pass; only 14 senators approved the measure Thursday.

Gay rights advocates had pushed hard to get the bill passed before Jan. 19, when Republican Chris Christie becomes governor. Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine promised to sign the bill if approved by the Legislature but Christie has said he would veto it.

New Jersey offers civil unions that grant the legal rights of marriage to gay couples. Five states -- Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont -- allow gay marriage.

The New York Times

Sorry friends.

Cyclopea · 01-07-2010, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Semantics

The New York Times

Sorry friends.

Thanks for the update Semantics!

Lambda Legal announced after the loss that they will be pursuing litigation on that matter.
We all kinda knew it was a long shot, but still

.

Cyclopea · 01-07-2010, 06:15 PM

Catholic Portugal set to legalise gay marriage

by Anne Le Coz
Wed Jan 6, 12:12 pm ET

LISBON (AFP) – Catholic Portugal, traditionally one of Europe's most socially conservative countries, is expected to approve the legalisation of gay marriage on Friday with a minimum of fuss.

With the governing Socialists and other left-wing parties enjoying a strong majority, the new law is likely to sail through the first reading debate and gain final approval before a visit by Pope Benedict XVI, due in Portugal in May.

In contrast to Spain, where the lead-up to the legalisation of gay marriage in 2005 brought hundreds of thousands of demonstrators onto the streets, the bill in Portugal has provoked only muted opposition even from the right.
While normally vocal on the role of marriage and the family in society, the Catholic Church has refused to mobilise on a subject which, according to Lisbon's Cardinal Patriarch Jose Policarpo, is "parliament's responsibility".
"I think the Portuguese people have learnt one of the fundamental tenets of democracy: respect for the rights of the individual," Miguel Vale de Almeida, Portugal's first openly-gay lawmaker who was elected in September, told AFP.

Vale de Almeida, who is the Socialists' pointman on the legislation, said there is now a political majority in favour of gay marriage and that it is "too simplistic to link Catholicism and conservatism."

According to poll conducted late last year by the Eurosondagem institute, while a strong majority (68.4 percent) of Portuguese are opposed to adoptions by same-sex couples, they are more evenly divided when it comes to gay marriage with 49.5 percent against, with 45.5 percent in favour.

On Tuesday, campaigners handed a petition with more than 90,000 signatures to demand a referendum on the subject into parliament.
But having had its fingers burnt by two referendums which preceded the legalisation of abortion in 2007, the government has ruled out consulting with the public as the measure was part of its manifesto in last year's election.

Prime Minister Jose Socrates' Socialists may have lost their majority in the September 27 election, but still command the support of other left-wing parties in parliament who should guarantee that the gay marriage bill is passed.

While opposed to the concept of same-sex "marriages", the centre-right opposition Social Democrat party says it is favour of a civil partnership that would give gays and lesbians the same rights as heterosexual couples minus adoptions.

Deputies are also expected on Friday to vote two other bills submitted by the Green party, the Left Bloc and others which would grant gay and lesbian couples the right to adopt children.

If the gay marriage proposals do pass through parliament, they will the have to go through a parliamentary commission before coming back for the final approval.

According to media reports, both the government and the Catholic Church wants the gay marriage issue to be resolved before the visit of the pope, scheduled for May 11-14.

iamkeri1 · 01-07-2010, 11:43 PM

Hmmmm, so what's the weather like in Portugal?
Smooches,
Keri

01-06-2010, 12:08 AM	#5
Cyclopea Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Lesbian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Exit Zero Posts: 1,267 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,694 Thanked 1,615 Times in 632 Posts Rep Power: 226201	From PinkNews.co.uk: Malawi gay marriage trial expected next week By Jessica Geen • January 5, 2010 - 15:28 The trial of two gay men arrested for holding a wedding party in Malawi is expected to begin on January 15th. Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza are being held in custody in Chichiri Prison and were denied bail by a judge yesterday in the city of Blantyre. Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa said the couple were at risk from mob violence if they were released, although this claim was rejected by their lawyers. He said they would be bailed by January 10th if prosecutors had finished investigating them. The pair had a traditional engagement ceremony in the south African country on Saturday December 26th and were arrested two days later. Malawi punishes homosexuality with up to 14 years in prison. According to gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, who is in contact with campaigners in the country, the men will deny the three charges of unnatural practices between males and gross indecency. He said they would challenge the prosecution on the grounds that it is illegal under the equal rights and non-discrimination clauses of the Malawian constitution. In a news release, Tatchell said the couple had been jeered in court and disowned by their families. He said they were suffering "appalling" conditions in prison and are being threatened with forced physical examinations to determine whether they have had sex. But he added that they had been given food and money by supporters and a legal term had been assembled. Their case is being helped by the Malawian human rights group, the Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP). The centre's executive director, Gift Trapence, told PinkNews.co.uk the men's lawyers are fighting for the trial to be held in a higher court where more judges are sitting. He said: "Because of the penal code in Malawi, gays are seen as unnatural. They are not visible. "This is the first case. There is a lot of attention in Malawi and lots of newspaper coverage. Gays are afraid of the law, they are not open, they are not visible. "The problem is the violence is there but it is not reported. There are lots of blackmail issues. They think they will be prosecuted. Trapence added that arrests such as this would hamper HIV prevention work. An administrator for CEDEP was arrested yesterday on charges that the centre's safer sex HIV education materials are pornographic. Tatchell described the charges as "trumped up" and said the arrest was "almost certainly in retaliation" for CEDEP's public support of Chimbalanga and Monjeza. The group called today for a nationwide referendum on homosexuality, saying that consensus was needed. UK-based gay rights group OutRage! is collecting donations to be sent to the couple's legal team in Malawi. To send a donation, post a cheque payable to OutRage! to OutRage!, PO Box 17816, London SW14 8WT. Enclose a note giving your name and address and stating that your donation is for the Malawi Defence Campaign. OutRage! will pass all money donated to the couple's defence team in Malawi. __________________ http://forum.axishistory.com/images/...arious/eye.jpg

01-07-2010, 06:15 PM	#8
Cyclopea Member How Do You Identify?: Butch Lesbian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Exit Zero Posts: 1,267 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,694 Thanked 1,615 Times in 632 Posts Rep Power: 226201	on a more cheerful note... Catholic Portugal set to legalise gay marriage by Anne Le Coz Wed Jan 6, 12:12 pm ET LISBON (AFP) – Catholic Portugal, traditionally one of Europe's most socially conservative countries, is expected to approve the legalisation of gay marriage on Friday with a minimum of fuss. With the governing Socialists and other left-wing parties enjoying a strong majority, the new law is likely to sail through the first reading debate and gain final approval before a visit by Pope Benedict XVI, due in Portugal in May. In contrast to Spain, where the lead-up to the legalisation of gay marriage in 2005 brought hundreds of thousands of demonstrators onto the streets, the bill in Portugal has provoked only muted opposition even from the right. While normally vocal on the role of marriage and the family in society, the Catholic Church has refused to mobilise on a subject which, according to Lisbon's Cardinal Patriarch Jose Policarpo, is "parliament's responsibility". "I think the Portuguese people have learnt one of the fundamental tenets of democracy: respect for the rights of the individual," Miguel Vale de Almeida, Portugal's first openly-gay lawmaker who was elected in September, told AFP. Vale de Almeida, who is the Socialists' pointman on the legislation, said there is now a political majority in favour of gay marriage and that it is "too simplistic to link Catholicism and conservatism." According to poll conducted late last year by the Eurosondagem institute, while a strong majority (68.4 percent) of Portuguese are opposed to adoptions by same-sex couples, they are more evenly divided when it comes to gay marriage with 49.5 percent against, with 45.5 percent in favour. On Tuesday, campaigners handed a petition with more than 90,000 signatures to demand a referendum on the subject into parliament. But having had its fingers burnt by two referendums which preceded the legalisation of abortion in 2007, the government has ruled out consulting with the public as the measure was part of its manifesto in last year's election. Prime Minister Jose Socrates' Socialists may have lost their majority in the September 27 election, but still command the support of other left-wing parties in parliament who should guarantee that the gay marriage bill is passed. While opposed to the concept of same-sex "marriages", the centre-right opposition Social Democrat party says it is favour of a civil partnership that would give gays and lesbians the same rights as heterosexual couples minus adoptions. Deputies are also expected on Friday to vote two other bills submitted by the Green party, the Left Bloc and others which would grant gay and lesbian couples the right to adopt children. If the gay marriage proposals do pass through parliament, they will the have to go through a parliamentary commission before coming back for the final approval. According to media reports, both the government and the Catholic Church wants the gay marriage issue to be resolved before the visit of the pope, scheduled for May 11-14. __________________ http://forum.axishistory.com/images/...arious/eye.jpg

01-04-2010, 06:55 PM	#1
QueenofQueens Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Seerauber, Centaurita Bonita, QoQonut, Volupté Suprême Preferred Pronoun?: Lux, Ms. Lisbon if you're nasty. Relationship Status: Left of Centaur and blissfully betrothed. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Happily swooning by the big, blue sea. Posts: 171 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 50 Thanked 375 Times in 63 Posts Rep Power: 0	The legalization of gay marriage went into effect in New Hampshire on January 1st, however legislation has been filed to repeal the law and anti-marriage opponents are organizing a petition drive to create an amendment that would define marriage as being between one man and one woman. Determining the rights of minorities should NEVER be subject to popular vote, New Hampshire gives us an opportunity to make that clear, should we seize it before it's too late. Meanwhile, a CA law went into effect on Jan. 1st ensuring that those who were legally married here before prop 8 passed retain all legal protections and status as married couples. It also protects those legally married in other states/countries after prop 8 by affording them the same rights/protections sans being able to claim the designation of "marriage".

01-07-2010, 11:43 PM	#9
iamkeri1 Member How Do You Identify?: femme woman Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: solo Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 905 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 302 Thanked 2,153 Times in 659 Posts Rep Power: 16642921	Hmmmm, so what's the weather like in Portugal? Smooches, Keri