If I were advising President Barack Obama, I would tell him to pay as much attention to the ornery jeers from protesters outside the Human Rights Campaign's October 10th Washington dinner as the cheers coming from inside the ornate ballroom.
A personal blog by a graying (mostly Anglo with light African-American roots) gay left leaning liberal progressive married college-educated Buddhist Baha'i BBC/NPR-listening Professor Emeritus now following the Dharma in Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Quote of the Day
"Or consider the Bahá’ís who assert as a central tenet of their religion the interanimating harmony of religion and science comparing them to the two wings of a bird, each essential if the bird is to take to the air the Bahá’ís explicitly reject as any religious teachings that are at odds with the scientific revelation of God's truth. Surely the Bahá’ís have something here; science ought to be regarded as the close friend of true theology, for it is enormously helpful in ridding of superstition."
- Mark Johnston
Alert! Protect marriages of same-sex couples in California
The same people who passed Prop. 8 are now flooding the Governor with calls about Equality California's legislation authored by Senator Mark Leno that will recognize the marriages of same-sex couples performed in other states and countries.
They claim we are trying to circumvent the law, undercut the Constitution and disregard the will of the people.
Once again, they are lying in an attempt to deny us equality.
Help counter their lies and set the record straight. Call the Governor today and express your support for SB 54, the Marriage Recognition and Family Protection Act (Leno, D-San Francisco).
Capitol Office (automated line)
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fresno Office
Phone: 559-477-1804
Los Angeles Office
Phone: 213-897-0322
Riverside Office
Phone: 951-680-6860
San Diego Office
Phone: 619-525-4641
San Francisco Office
Phone: 415-703-2218
The Marriage Recognition and Family Protection Act would ensure that California recognizes marriages performed out of state in a way that is completely consistent with state law and the Supreme Court ruling upholding Prop. 8. But, that hasn't stopped the extreme right-wing hate mongers from trying to strip away the rights the Court ruled we were entitled to and deserve.
Please, call the Governor right now to express your support for SB 54 so legally married couples who were married out of state will have their marriages recognized in California. Also, if you haven't yet, email the Governor using our Action Center.
http://www.eqca.org/siteap
The bill can be signed or vetoed at any moment. There is no time to waste.
Thank you,
Geoff Kors
Executive Director
Equality California
Monday, October 5, 2009
Breaking: President to speak at HRC Annual Dinner held during the National Equality March weekend
This great news courtesy of PHB
High Price of Being a Gay Couple Mostly an Effect of DOMA
Courtesy of PHB
Group Rescues Gay Men Targeted In Iraq
Audio for this story from Talk of the Nation will be available at approx. 6:00 p.m. ET
Read Matt McAllester's article, "The Hunted"
Reports of death squads and torture of gay men in Iraq have been on the rise. In an article for New York Magazine, Matthew McAllester describes the wave of attacks against gays in Iraq, and how a few New Yorkers have built an underground railroad to rescue them.
From the Office of Congresswoman Matsui
Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 7:53 AM
To: Orey, Daniel C
Subject: From the Office of Congresswoman Matsui
October 5, 2009
Dear Daniel:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this important civil rights issue.
As you know, the Respect for Marriage Act, H.R. 3567, repeals the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to ensure that valid same-sex marriages are respected under federal law. Specifically, H.R. 3567 repeals Section 2 of DOMA to restore the ability of the states to determine whether to recognize a marriage for purposes of their law. Additionally, the legislation affords legally married same-sex couples the benefits of marriage under federal law by repealing Section 3 of DOMA. I am an original co-sponsor of this important piece of legislation because now, more than ever, we must promote and encourage equality while also working to end discrimination.
The opportunity to marry and create a family is something sacred to every American, deserving of the utmost respect. As a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, I have continuously supported efforts that seek to promote civil rights and encourage equality, and I will continue working with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to repeal DOMA. Please know that I will keep your thoughts in mind should this legislation reach the floor of the House for a vote.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me with your views on DOMA. To learn more about my work in Congress, or to sign up for periodic e-mail updates, please visit my website at www.house.gov/matsui
Sincerely,
[http://www.matsui.house.gov/images/stories/signature.gif]
DORIS O. MATSUI
Member of Congress
Note: Please do not respond directly to this e-mail. To serve my constituents most effectively, I have dedicated a portion of my website to constituent e-mails. To write me, please visit http://matsui.house.gov/email.asp.