Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Via AmericablogGay: The Daily Show on NY’s Wedding Day: "Runaway Pride"
The Daily Show was on the scene at New York's City Hall for the first marriages. Last night, the Daily Show ran its coverage of the big day.
The Daily Show - Runaway Pride
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook
Another great video was produced by the BBC. I can't embed it, but it's worth a watch here.
Via AmericablogGay: NY’s Attorney General supports Edie Windsor‘s challenge to DOMA
Now that same-sex marriages are legal in New York, New Yorkers who get married are facing discrimination from the federal government via DOMA. Today, the Attorney General of New York made it clear that DOMA has to go. Eric Schneiderman's office filed an amicus brief in support of Edie Windsor's motion for summary judgment in her DOMA case.
In papers filed in the case of Windsor v. United States, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today challenged the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”), which redefined marriage for federal purposes to exclude same-sex unions that are valid under state law. The papers—filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York— ask the federal court to accept the Attorney General’s friend-of-the-court brief, which argues that DOMA violates same-sex couples’ right to equal protection under the law as required by the U.S. Constitution. This legal action, which follows Attorney General Schneiderman's pledge last summer to join the court battle over DOMA, follows the historic enactment of the Marriage Equality Act of 2011.
“The federal Defense of Marriage Act clearly violates the principle of equal justice under law as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and improperly intrudes on the traditional role of states in defining marriage,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “The State of New York has long recognized out-of-state, same-sex marriages and the enactment of the Marriage Equality Act further cements our state’s position on this critical civil rights issue. My office will fight every day to defend the fundamental guarantee of equal protection under law for all New Yorkers.”
Schneiderman filed the papers in federal court in support of the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment in the case of Windsor v. United States. The plaintiff, Edie Windsor, was married in Canada in 2007 to her partner, Thea Spyer, who died two years later.
Thank you, Eric Schneiderman. The brief is here.
And, this is how the "Summary of Argument" in the brief begins:
By refusing to recognize for federal purposes marriages that are valid under state law, DOMA intrudes on matters historically within the control of the States, and undermines and denigrates New York’s law designed to ensure equality of same-sex and different-sex married couples. Thus DOMA threatens basic principles of federalism. Moreover, it classifies and determines access to rights, benefits, and protections based on sexual orientation, and also based on sex.
For each of these reasons, considered separately or together, DOMA should be subjected to heightened scrutiny under the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment, and it cannot withstand such scrutiny.
Take that John Boehner and Paul Clement. They must be really wracking up some big-time (taxpayer funded) legal fees defending DOMA.
Good to have the NY AG on the same team as Edie, Roberta Kaplan and the ACLU.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Via 365 Gay: Study: High levels of discrimination for LGBT workers
A new study concludes that LGBT workers continue to frequently report discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
The Williams Institute of UCLA Law School, analyzing studies over the past 40 years, concluded that LGBT employees continue to report discrimination, especially those who are out in their workplaces.
According to the study, the 2008 General Social Survey reported that 42 percent of lesbian, gay and bisexual employees had experienced employer discrimination at some point in their careers; 27 percent had experienced it within the five years before the survey.
Rates of discrimination against transgender workers are even higher.
“The devastating results of this discrimination are confirmed by the high rates of poverty and unemployment documented by surveys of the transgender community,” said Williams Institute Executive Director Brad Sears.
In related news, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today released a survey of employee benefits in the United States. Only 33 percent of state and local government workers and 29 percent of private sector workers have access to health care benefits for same-sex couples.
The Williams Institute of UCLA Law School, analyzing studies over the past 40 years, concluded that LGBT employees continue to report discrimination, especially those who are out in their workplaces.
According to the study, the 2008 General Social Survey reported that 42 percent of lesbian, gay and bisexual employees had experienced employer discrimination at some point in their careers; 27 percent had experienced it within the five years before the survey.
Rates of discrimination against transgender workers are even higher.
“The devastating results of this discrimination are confirmed by the high rates of poverty and unemployment documented by surveys of the transgender community,” said Williams Institute Executive Director Brad Sears.
In related news, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today released a survey of employee benefits in the United States. Only 33 percent of state and local government workers and 29 percent of private sector workers have access to health care benefits for same-sex couples.
Via JMG: ILLINOIS: Mega-Church Dumps "Ex-Gays" At Exodus International
The Illinois-based mega-church Willow Creek says it is cutting its ties with Exodus International, the infamous group of "ex-gay" liars who promote reparative therapy.
Susan DeLay, director of media relations at the mega-church, says Willow Creek ending its relationship with Exodus does not mean it is any less welcoming to people with same-sex attraction, as "Willow Creek has a whole host of ministries for people dealing with these issues. All we've changed," she continues, "is how we've gone about inviting them into the church, which is the primary issue here." Jeff Buchanan, executive vice president of Exodus International, says his group is disappointed with Willow Creek's decision. "To date, we're still not very clear on the reason why. Our church association is meant to be a referral network of churches that are willing to receive those who are dealing with unwanted same-sex attractions and they're looking for ministry and for help, and that's the sole purpose of their association with us," Buchanan explains. "So, we are still left with questions and a little bit perplexed as to why they have chosen to pull out."
Via JMG: Crazy Eyes: Being Gay Means Being Enslaved To Homosexuality
Via JMG: The Definition Of "Christian"
"As this is a cultural war, our definition of being a Christian does not necessarily constitute that you are required to have a personal relationship with God or Jesus. Being a Christian can mean many things; That you believe in and want to protect Europe's Christian cultural heritage. The European cultural heritage, our norms (moral codes and social structures included), our traditions and our modern political systems are based on Christianity – Protestantism, Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity and the legacy of the European enlightenment (reason is the primary source and legitimacy for authority). It is not required that you have a personal relationship with God or Jesus in order to fight for our Christian cultural heritage and the European way." - Norwegian terrorist Andrew Breivik, in an excerpt from his manifesto now being cited by the American right as "proof" that Breivik is not a "real Christian."Via JMG: CALIFORNIA: Haters To Begin Petition Drive To Overturn Gay History Bill
Anti-gay forces in California have been granted permission to begin gathering the petition signatures to place a repeal of the LGBT history bill on the June 2012 ballot. Via Karen Ocamb:
SB 48 is a natural extension of Harvey Milk Day, requiring public schools to stop discriminating against LGBT people by rendering the LGBT minority invisible in public education. The bill requires schools to start teaching about LGBT history and contributions starting Jan. 1, 2012. Inclusion in California textbooks has been deferred until 2015 because of the economy. If CRI’s “coalition” gathers 504,000 valid signatures by mid-October and does qualify – the initiative would be placed on the June 2012 ballot. That’s the date for the Primary in California and CRI’s Republican base accounts for 30% of registered voters in California. Theoretically, that means the initiative would have to pass with heavy support from Independents and Democrats.
Via AmericaBlogGay: In California, homophobes want ballot measure to repeal FAIR Education Act
It's always something with the haters.
From Rex Wockner: Californians may be voting on gay matters again.
This time the target is the law Gov. Jerry Brown signed July 14 that requires public schools to teach about LGBT people's contributions to the state and nation.
Anti-gay activists have submitted the paperwork to launch a voter repeal referendum and have hit the Web with StopSB48.com. Its slogan: "Stop SB 48. It costs too much. It goes too far."
Their next task will be to collect signatures from 504,760 registered California voters before mid-October.
What would these people do if they didn't have the gays to obsess over?
Karen Ocamb has more on the haters behind this latest effort:
The Capitol Resource Institute launched an online campaign to repeal the California FAIR Education Act using a slick new email message and a new campaign website called StopSB48. The campaign also updated the CRI main website, which had not posted anything new since 2010. Their “Action Alert” page is still blank with only the date March 12, 2009.
But their new campaign website has the look of money – such as bought stock photos of generic happy white and black families – and there’s someone keeping an eye on the media. In a Capitol Alert story last Friday, July 22 about CRI filing papers to launch a referendum, the end of the story says: “Updated at 2:30 p.m. to add comments by Karen England and Brad Dacus, and to indicate that the referendum drive is being conducted by a coalition of groups.” That’s Karen England of CRI and Brad Dacus of the right-wing Pacific Justice Institute. But unfortunately, Capitol Alert didn’t ask for the names of the other coalition members, which the website identifies as a “coalition of pro-family organizations, parents, students, teachers and more.”
Via AmericaBlogGay: ABA bestows highest honor on Olson and Boies
ia press release from the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), we learn that David Boies and Ted Olson will be receiving a prestigious award from American Bar Association:
Awarded for distinguished service by a lawyer or lawyers to the cause of American jurisprudence, the ABA Medal is given only in years when the ABA Board of Governors determines a nominee has provided exceptional and distinguished service to the law and the legal profession.
Among previous recipients of the ABA Medal are legendary justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, including Oliver Wendell Holmes, Felix Frankfurter, Thurgood Marshall, William J. Brennan Jr., Sandra Day O’Connor and Anthony Kennedy.
The award will be bestowed upon Boies and Olson during the meeting of the ABA House of Delegates at the Association’s annual meeting on August 8th, 2011.
Well deserved. Hopefully, this sends a powerful message about the ongoing fight for equality in our legal system.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Via JMG: From Disney's Wedding Blog
On Disney's wedding blog today, a lovely recounting of a same-sex romance. Aaand here come calls for a boycott!(Tipped by JMG reader Eric)
Via JMG: Just Married
Buzzfeed has a fantastic collection of gay couples photographed moments after being married yesterday.Sunday, July 24, 2011
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