Interesting Quote: Steve (Daddy) Schmidt

“So you see all these Republican politicians asked awkwardly yesterday about Donald Trump saying on 60 Minutes, the gay marriage fight is over. Donald Trump blew the whistle on Sunday night on the culture wars. Basically said it’s over. It’s done. So if you’re a gay American this morning, it’s over. You won. You have a Republican in the White House, and there’s no more fighting about this issue. But what about vociferously anti-LGBT VP-elect Mike Pence, and the slew of other bigots who are likely to populate Trump’s cabinet. Well, Schmidt has an answer for that too: “Every one of those people from Mike Pence on down, their silence was acquiescence to that position. It’s over.”

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Laudy Daudy (Trump) says Same Sex Marriage is Law

In Mexico, a Teen tries to block Thousands of Anti-Gay Protesters

This is amazing to see.

This weekend in Mexico, thousands protested against same-sex marriage. In Celaya, Guanajuato, a 12-year-old boy walked out in the middle of the street to block the anti-gay protesters.

Here's more from Regeneracion:

"At first I thought the child was only playing," explains the author of photography, who later approached the child to ask his motives. "I have an uncle who is gay and I hate that I hate," was his answer.

Rodriguez added that the boy, who stood before a crowd of "little more than 11 thousand people", has approximately 12 years.

The image recalls, for its elements (an individual of unknown identity facing a much larger force him to defend a cause that considers fair), the famous photograph of "Tank Man" protests Tiananmen Square , China, in 1989.

The guts this kid has... Amazing

Interesting Quote: Montgomery County Probate Judge Steven Reed

"I think he has jumped the shark at this point. I think it sets a bad example when the chief justice behaves like this. We don't get to pick and choose what laws we follow. ... If he can't follow those laws he ought to step down."

Montgomery County Probate Judge Steven Reed on Roy Moore's foolishness.

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In Alabama: Roy Moore issues order Blocking Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

This fool is still trying it.

Note this is NOT AL Supreme Court order, but issued in Moore's capacity as "Administrative Head of the Unified Judicial System of Alabama"

— Equality Case Files (@EQCF) January 6, 2016

He's issuing an administrative order because of the confusion from the U.S. Supreme Court case of Obergefell vs. Hodges. Confusion? Girl, there's no confusion at all, but anywho, he writes:

"Many probate judges are issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in accordance with Obergefell; others are issuing marriage licenses only to couples of the opposite gender or have ceased issuing all marriage licenses."

He also stated:

"Until further decision by the Alabama Supreme Court, the existing orders of the Alabama Supreme Court that Alabama probate judges have a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary to the Alabama Sanctity of Marriage Amendment or the Alabama Marriage Protection Act remain in full force and effect."

Please read on Equality Case Files

Gallup: Same Sex Marriage is Growing in the US!

Gallup reports that more same-sex couples are getting married in the US. In fact, the total numbers of married same-sex couples are hitting towards one million!

Here are some key findings

• Overall, 3.9% of all Americans identify as LGBT, and 0.4% of all Americans are in a same-sex marriage. The latter figure is up from 0.3% before the ruling.

• Those figures can be used to estimate that there are now approximately 972,000 Americans in a same-sex marriage, up from approximately 780,000 before the ruling. Put differently, there are now approximately 486,000 same-sex marriages in the U.S., compared with approximately 390,000 four months ago.

• Among all LGBT Americans, 9.6% currently describe themselves as being married to a same-sex spouse, up from 7.9% before the Supreme Court's decision. There has been a decline in the percentage of LGBT Americans who say they are not married but are living with someone of the same sex, from 12.8% to 11.7%. Nearly half of LGBT Americans, 46.8%, identify as single, likely because LGBT as a group tend to be younger, on average.

Loony Loon Rev. Ronnie Floyd speaks to Southern Baptists about same-sex marriage

Florida's Attorney General said Same Sex Marriages would "impose significant public harm.

Is Florida's attorney general serious?

In March, 8 same-sex couples filed for the right to recognize same sex marriages from other states. With all of the other suits having success, you would think it would be easy, right?

Well, no. The Attorney General Pam Bondi is against the idea. In fact she thinks it would "impose significant public harm." Her, along with Gov. Rick Scott filed a response asking to throw out the lawsuit for several reasons, saying a federal court shouldn't rule on a state's marriage laws.

Here's more

Bondi's office also argues that the state has a legitimate interest in defining marriage as between a man and woman. Florida first banned same-sex marriages nearly two decades ago and voters reinforced that ban when they passed a constitutional amendment in 2008.

"Florida's marriage laws, then, have a close, direct, and rational relationship to society's legitimate interest in increasing the likelihood that children will be born to and raised by the mothers and fathers who produced them in stable and enduring family units," Bondi's office said in court documents.

Folks on our side, wasn't having any of that:

Florida's Democrats and gay rights groups were also highly critical of Bondi's legal response as was one of Bondi's political opponents.

But the attorney general's office said they had an obligation to defend the state's existing laws.

"Florida's voters approved a constitutional amendment, which is being challenged, and it is the Attorney General's duty to defend Florida law," said Florida Solicitor General Allen Winsor.

Winsor also insisted that the harm mentioned in the filing had to do with the legal challenge itself.

"Florida is harmed whenever a federal court enjoins enforcement of its laws, including the laws at issue here," he said.

More to come

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In Kentucky: Federal Judge Orders the State to Recognize Same-Sex Couples Marriages

This is getting good!
U.S. District Court Judge John Heyburn told Kentucky officials that they have to recognize same-sex couples’ marriages performed out of state. You can see below the order

More to come.

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Interesting Quote: Henry Rollins

In to save the day, to keep those damn gays in their place, is House Speaker John Boehner, who will put himself and his sterling reputation on the line to stand against the president, his insurgent gay terrorist pals, and their dreams of marriage and equal protection under the law. That’s a relief. When things threaten to become too constitutional, thankfully, there’s someone like John Boehner, owner of every third tear cried in America, to step in and attempt to push America back into the good old days of darkness. Rather than shoulder the awesome burden of creating some damned jobs in America, he goes for the easy cheap shot of going after gay Americans. Again.


Of course same sex marriage is constitutional! The right to be yourself, to pursue life, liberty, and property, is protected several ways over several amendments. John Boehner should know this. If only he read the Constitution as often as some of us do, he wouldn’t have bothered to lower himself to this time-wasting, pathetic attempt to invigorate his base of supporters.


Damn, congressman, we’re trying to get up the road here. Either lay out a plan for job creation for all of us to see or get out of the way. You are the Speaker of the House. Scratching around in the ancient dirt of repellent prejudice instead of tackling the real issues is amateur hour. You have a plan? Now’s the time. 

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Support for Gay Marriage, State by State

This is an interesting look at the support for gay marriage over the years from state to state


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CNN's Jefferey Toobin gives another view to the Prop 8 Stay

Sen. Boxer introduces COBRA benefits bill for domestic partners

This weekend, Sen. Barbara Boxer presented the Equal Access to COBRA Act. This will give many domestic partners the same access married spouses have to COBRA health coverage if their partner is lose their job.

The law would apply to companies that already offer health coverage to domestic partners and their children. Currently, more than half of Fortune 500 companies cover domestic partners under their health plans.

Boxer said, “This is a question of fairness: Every family deserves access to health insurance, especially in this tough economy. This bill ensures that domestic partners and their families will have equal access to health coverage after a job loss.”

This is good. Well done, Sen. Boxer. I hope this passes.

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Here's some reactions to the Gay Marriage loss in New Jersey

F**K You, NOM

Thanks to JMG for posting this

Gays to get Hitched in New Hampshire

Today, gays and lesbians can & will marry in the NH. It is all official today and many couples will really bring in the new year with their love ones.

New Hampshire officials began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples on October 3. As of Wednesday, 29 lesbian and 11 gay couples had secured marriage licenses, which expire after 90 days.

Stephen Wurtz, acting director of the state's Division of Vital Records, told On Top Magazine that the state does not impose a waiting period for a marriage license, predicting the number of same-sex weddings on the law's first day would not be possible.

In an email, Wurtz said the state has recognized 809 gay couples in the past 24 months since a civil unions law went into effect. In its first month, January 2008, 174 gay couples tied the knot, but since then the number has steadily decreased, with only 6 civil union licenses issued so far in December.

Couples joined with a civil union can apply for a conversion to marriage or a new marriage license, but all civil unions will automatically convert to marriages on January 1, 2011. The state will no longer issue civil union licenses after December 31, 2009.

Happy New Year!

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On Screen: Mayor Fenty signs D.C.'s marriage equality bill

Look out, Bishop Harry Jackson is coming with his burning Bible.


hat tip to NG

Catholic Archdiocese of Washington comes to their Senses

Catholic Archdiocese of Washington were clowning earlier, claiming they wouldn't feed the homeless if gay marriage passed.

Well, now Jesus has shown the way. Here's their statement:

Legalization of Same Sex Marriage in the Nation’s Capital
Archdiocese Remains Committed to Serving Poor

December 15, 2009

Today the District of Columbia joined a handful of states where legislatures or courts have redefined marriage to include persons of the same sex. Since this legislation was first introduced in October, the Archdiocese of Washington opposed the redefinition of marriage based on the core teaching of the Catholic Church that the complementarity of man and woman is intrinsic to the definition of marriage. However, understanding the City Council was committed to legalizing same sex marriages, the archdiocese advocated for a bill that would balance the Council’s interest in redefining marriage with the need to protect religious freedom. Regrettably, the bill did not strike that balance.

The Archdiocese of Washington and Catholic Charities are deeply committed to serving those in need, regardless of race, creed, gender, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. This commitment is integral to our Catholic faith and will remain unchanged into the future.

Religious organizations have long been eligible to provide social services in our nation’s capital and have not been excluded simply because of their religious character. This is because the choice of provider has focused on the ability to deliver services effectively and efficiently. We are committed to serving the needs of the poor and look forward to working in partnership with the District of Columbia consistent with the mission of the Catholic Church.

Contact:
Susan Gibbs
Director of Communications
301-853-4517
gibbss@adw.org

I guess they realized their ticket to Heaven was on the chopping block.

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D.C. City Council approves Same-sex marriage

D.C. just did it! They approved same-sex marriage in the nation's capital.

The City Council passed a measure Tuesday legalizing same-sex marriage, making the nation’s capital the first jurisdiction below the Mason-Dixon Line to allow such unions.

The bill, which passed by an 11-2 vote, may still face obstacles in Congress, among city voters and in the courts, but most advocates say they expect it to become law by the spring. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has said he will sign it.

“Today’s vote is an important victory not only for the gay and lesbian community but for everyone who supports equal rights,” said Councilman David A. Catania, an independent and the author of the bill.

Opponents have vowed to overturn the bill by putting it to a referendum or by working with Congress, which has a month to review the measure once it is signed.

Of course, Bishop Harry Jackson will clown, but I think the LGBT peeps are ready for him and his drama.

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New Jersey Marriage Equality setback

No so good news, folks.

There's a minor setback for the NJ marriage equality vote.

A state Senate vote on legalizing same-sex marriage in New Jersey is expected to be delayed, its two prime sponsors said today.

Sens. Ray Lesniak (D-Union) and Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) said the bill -- which was up for passage on Thursday -- instead will likely be introduced in the Assembly Judiciary Committee in preparation for a vote by the lower house.

The lawmakers said they expect Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) to agree to the delay. Codey, who had posted the bill on Thursday's agenda, could not immediately be reached for comment this afternoon.

Lesniak said he still expects a vote on same-sex marriage in both houses before the end of the lame-duck legislative session in January. Advocates are pushing for passage of the bill before Gov. Jon Corzine leaves office Jan. 19. Corzine supports the measure, while incoming Gov. Chris Christie says he will veto it.

While even proponents conceded this week that passage was in doubt, Lesniak and Weinberg said they were not postponing the debate because they lacked the 21 votes to succeed in the Senate. They said they want Assembly members to engage in the public dialogue and hear the testimony from both sides that senators already have been exposed to.

It's not over, maybe the stall can ensure votes for same sex marriage.

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