Saturday, August 7, 2010

PRESS ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


SAME SEX COUPLES MAKE WEDDING PREPARATIONS IN HOPE OF JUDGE LIFTING STAY OF PROP. 8 RULING
Media Contacts:       
Molly McKay, Media Director (510) 332-0872, media@marriageequality.org 
Pamela Brown, Policy Director (510) 384-3655, policy@marriageequality.org

Oakland, California:   Same-sex couples are making preparations this weekend to tie the knot on Monday if Judge Vaughn Walker lifts the stay of his historic ruling finding Proposition 8 unconstitutional.  Couples are busy picking out wedding rings, planning ceremonies and celebrations, and filling out marriage license applications.

Eric Ross, who hopes to marry his fiance, said, "We are shopping for wedding rings this weekend that will symbolize our love and commitment to each other.  We are very hopeful that the Judge will lift the stay." 

Vanessa Judicpa, will exchange vows with her partner Maria Ydil in a long-planned wedding ceremony with friends and family on Sunday evening.  She and Maria had hoped to marry immediately after Judge Walker's decision was issued and received an application prior to the Stay being issued.  She hopes to be able to marry Maria legally on Monday.  "Our dearest family and friends will join us Sunday to celebrate our lives together.  Maria and I could imagine no better wedding gift than to marry legally in California on Monday."

Teresa Rowe, and Kristen Orbin, from Solano County will receive a blessing of hope that they can marry soon from MCC Church in San Francisco where they are regular attendees.  MCC Church is located at 150 Eureka St in San Francisco and services are at 11am. "We will head straight to City Hall the second the stay is lifted but it is really important to us to also have a ceremony at our church afterwards.  We thought for a second the stay might be lifted this weekend and my entire retail store where I work was ready to shut down and go with us."

Thom Watson, who hopes to legally marry his life partner Jeff Tabaco next week, stated, "Last year we had what otherwise would have been a perfect wedding celebration at the historic Cliff House, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, but we couldn't marry legally because of Proposition 8.  This weekend we are filling out our marriage license application so if the stay is lifted we can have a fully legal marriage just as everyone else can." 

There are several more couples available to share their lives and speak to press as well.

"My wife, Davina and I have enjoyed wedded bliss for the last two years of our 14 years together- it was awful when Proposition 8 slammed the door behind us.  We are so happy that all couples who are ready to make the commitment of marriage will be able to legally marry again in California and don't have to fly to Iowa or Argentina to be married.  We are so grateful to our Governor and our Attorney General for encouraging Judge Walker to lift the stay of his ruling quickly so that all loving, committed couples in California can live out their dream of legally marrying the one they love," said Molly McKay, MEUSA Media Director, "It's great being just an old married couple."

"Marriage is a fundamental right and while everyone is free to express their personal opinion, no one should ever be able to vote to take that fundamental right away," said Pamela Brown, MEUSA Policy Director. "Eighteen thousand same-sex couples married and the defense presented no credible evidence to show the State suffered any harm as a result, because only good comes from allowing loving couples the right to marry.  As we wind through the lengthy legal process, same-sex couples should not have to continue to suffer the denial of this fundamental right.  Let freedom ring and let marriage equality return."

Founded in 1998, Marriage Equality USA is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation.  For more information go to www.marriageequality.org

50 pts to Mrs Boxer!


Dear Friend,
On Wednesday, in a long-awaited and historic decision, Judge Vaughn Walker struck down Proposition 8, ruling that the Constitution protected the fundamental right of marriage for all couples in California.
When Judge Walker's ruling was announced, Barbara Boxer declared:
"This historic decision is a step forward in the march toward equal rights and reflects a growing legal consensus that marriage equality is protected by the U.S. Constitution."
But we know that there is so much more work to do to ensure equality.
Thank you for standing with me and supporting marriage equality in California.

"Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more...


Via Belirico: The War on Intellectualism

It seems there is a new threat to our country- an insidious danger that is seeping into our homes and everyday lives that must be stopped at any cost. That threat is intellectualism.

We have heard some of the buzzwords of this political season- Folksy, Joe Six-pack, Elitist, and Arugula Eating. It seems the new "culture war" or wedge issue is intelligence. The Vice-Presidential debate only solidified the lines in this war. On one side, you had Palin- full of "folksy charm" and "you betcha" language. Then you had Biden, who had a command of the issues, but was called "boring" and (gasp!) "professorial" by the pundits.

Via Mother Jones:

Sesame Street: Grover discusses What Is Marriage?

Via Belirico: Will Judge Walker's Decision Hold Up In the Supreme Court?

As has been reiterated by every single commentator on this case, ad nauseam, Judge Walker's decision is the first step on a long road that will culminate in the United State Supreme Court.
But no one is taking much of a position on the real question: Will Judge Walker's decision hold up in the Supreme Court?
That's a question that requires a crystal ball, but there are some indicators that we can use to try to begin to get a handle around this question.
I distrust any analysis that is based solely on the perceived political preferences of the Justices.
While the politics of a judge is one factor to be considered, legal analysis is much, much more than that.

Continue reading "Will Judge Walker's Decision Hold Up In the Supreme Court?" »

via JMG: Target Gets 240,000 Boycott Petitions



From this clip's description:
Irate activists visited Target HQ to extend the boycott of Target Stores for the $150,000 contribution the corporation made to a group supporting Republican Tom Emmer. Emmer is seen as an enemy of LGBT people, immigrants and other groups. Randi Reitan, the woman seen on YouTube last week cutting up her Target charge card to protest Target's action was joined by her husband Phillip and Son Jacob to deliver signatures of 240,000 people across the nation to the Target CEO. Target security blocked the public skyway entrance leading to the 2nd floor lobby forcing the group to deliver their petitions to the foot of the frozen escalator. Later, a Minneapolis police Lt said that Target was very happy to have you here.

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Right Wing Attacks Judge Walker & Gay Rights

Posted on Comments in Sac Bee:

Via SacBee: Schwarzenegger urges judge to let gay marriages resume at once



By Kevin Yamamura and Susan Ferriss
In a surprising court filing, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked Friday that gay marriages be allowed to resume immediately in California after a federal ruling that the state's voter-approved ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. - Read More

U GO CA!