Via JMG: CALIFORNIA: State Supreme Court May Weigh In On Prop 8 Request Next Week

Today the San Francisco Chronicle reports:

Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakayue says the California Supreme Court will decide soon, maybe next week, on whether to enter the Proposition 8 gay marriage fray. The 9th U.S. Court of Appeals said last month that it cannot decide if the gay marriage ban is constitutional until the state high court weighs in on whether proposition sponsors have authority to defend the measure. A three-judge panel asked the California Supreme Court to decide if ballot proposition backers can step in to defend voter-approved initiatives in court when state officials refuse to do so. The panel suggested it would have to dismiss the case if there's no state high court input.

If I'm reading this right, the Court is going to decide if it wants to decide.

Labels: CA Supreme Court, California, LGBT rights, marriage equality, Ninth Circuit Court., Proposition 8

reposted from Joe

Bills Bills Bills-Glee Version-Full Performance

Ex Fabula - It Gets Better: Tim Clark

The Tutor

It Gets Better - Lambda Divers

The Partisans: URGENT MESSAGE FOR HOSNI MUBARAK

Via JMG: HomoQuotable - Elton John

"I could not believe when I was asked to play. I thought it was a joke. I had dialogue with him before and he said, 'I'm not anti-gay, I want you to come, bring David'. My goal is for Rush to say, 'I support civil partnerships'. If I rang him right now, I think he might agree. He was one of the first people to congratulate us on the baby." -Elton John, saying he wants Rush Limbaugh to endorse gay marriage.

Labels: Elton John, gay artists, marriage equality, Rush Limbaugh

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Utah GOP Rep Proposes Bills To Exclude Gay Families From All Public Programs

Using language that echoes words found in Mormon documents, Utah state Rep. LaVar Christensen has filed two bills may exclude gay families from all publicly funded programs and laws.

Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, filed a bill Wednesday, HB270, that would reiterate the state’s policy that marriage is between a man and a woman and require that publicly funded programs, laws and regulations that are designed to support families be “carefully scrutinized to ensure that they promote the family.” Brandie Balken, executive director of Equality Utah, said the group is "deeply concerned" about the proposed law. "It could be used to create a filter for public agencies and a way to target laws, services and funding that currently help single Utahns or Utahns with families that differ from Representative Christensen's," she said.

Christensen's second bill in a one-sentence item that declares, "An arrangement, agreement or transaction that is unlawful or violates public policy is void and unenforceable." LGBT activists say that could be interpreted to make void any wills or medical directives between gay couples. Christensen is a lay bishop with the LDS Church.

Labels: bigotry, LDS, Mormons, religion, Utah

reposted from Joe

Howard Stern on the Word 'Fag'

Window Dressing in the Castro

We walked by this window in the Castro as we went to lunch after doing business at the Brazilian Consulate today.  Its a collection of buff "Ken" dolls... since I took it with my little camera the reflection is not so good.