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Sen. Roy Ashburn says that he is gay

Republican Sen. Roy Ashburn, who has been on leave from the Senate since his DUI arrest last week, confrimed today that he is gay.

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Via JMG: 2010 Oscar Winners

Best Picture - The Hurt Locker
Best Director - Kathryn Bigelow
Best Actor - Jeff Bridges
Best Actress - Sandra Bullock
Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz
Best Supporting Actress - Mo'Nique
Best Original Score - Up
Best Cinematography - Avatar
Best Visual Effects - Avatar
Best Costume Design - The Young Victoria
Best Makeup - Star Trek
Best Animated Film - Up

From PHB: On Immigration, The Moment to be Heard - and Included - Is Here

( - promoted by Pam Spaulding) Just a few weeks ago, the likelihood of Congress and the White House tackling comprehensive immigration reform seemed to be in question. Following the defeat of a Democratic candidate in the Massachusetts Senate election, and growing doubts about a successful healthcare reform effort in both chambers, the prospects for a truly comprehensive reform effort that would fix our country's broken immigration system was called into question by many. Now, however, there is renewed energy and focus on the issue. And that, in turn, must be a wake-up call, and a rallying cry, for the LGBT community, too. Yesterday, both the Los Angeles Times and Associated Press reported that President Obama had called two key lawmakers - Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) - to the White House to discuss moving immigration reform forward. The Times also noted that Obama has begun conversations with Administration staff about the best path forward for the legislation, which Obama pledged during his campaign would be a major piece of his first-term agenda. "Obama took up the issue privately with his staff Monday," The Times reported, "in a bid to advance a bill through Congress before lawmakers become too distracted by approaching midterm elections." A White House spokesperson characterized the President's commitment to the issue as "unwavering."

There's More... :: (8 Comments, 777 words in story)

From JMG: Sinead O'Connor: Burn Down The Vatican

"A true Christian is someone who, in any given situation, is supposed to ask themselves what would Jesus do, then try to do that. How an organisation which has acted, decade after decade, only to protect its business interests above the interests of children can feel it has the right to dictate to us what Christians should do is beyond belief.

"From the Pope on down, through the Vatican and therefore through the lower echelons, the whole organisation, in my belief, is utterly anti-Christian and evil, as proven by centuries of torture, bloodshed, burnings, terrorism, and coverings-up of 'the worst crime' known to man.

"And if Jesus Christ is to be seen in the vulnerable of this world, then all the church has done is crucify the man over and over and over again. If Christ was here, he would be burning down the Vatican. And I for one would be helping him." - Sinead O'Connor, responding to a request from Ireland's Catholic Church for local parishioners to recompense the church for the massive settlements paid to the victims of pedophile priests.

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Committee to Advance Equality: For Binational Same-Sex Couples

From JMG: Roy Ashburn's 2005 Press Release

Talking Points Memo dug into Sen. Roy Ashburn's official California government site and dug up this 2005 press release

touting an anti-gay marriage rally he co-hosted with the Traditional Values Coalition's Right Detestable Rev. Lou Sheldon.

reposted from JMG

From JMG:

Jon Stewart Tries ChatRoulette

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From JMG: West Sacramento Mayor: I Outed Ashburn On Facebook Six Months Ago

West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon tells local news that he outed state Sen. Roy Ashburn on his Facebook page six months ago. That's great. Too bad nobody ever found out about it. Like Equality California. Or the Courage Campaign. Or any LGBT media outlet.

RELATED: Over at Boy Culture, Matt Rettenmund has some screencaps of the Facebook page of Ashburn's "date" on the night of his DUI arrest. Noting that the young man is Latino and probably first met Ashburn during that evening's popular Latin Night at Faces nightclub, Matt wonders how that squares with Ashburn's lengthy anti-immigrant voting history. Was that just another closet? Hate the Latinos, love their boys?

From JMG: Craig Ferguson On Sen. Roy Ashburn

Craig Ferguson On Sen. Roy Ashburn

Last night Craig Ferguson devoted his entire opening monologue to the Ashburn scandal to hilarious results. Too many great jokes, I'll just tip you to one. (Paraphrasing) "Police knew Ashburn had been in a gay bar because he tested positive for appletinis." The final joke is the best, though.

posted by Joe

From JMG: Quote Of The Day - Roseanne Barr

"Marie Osmond's poor gay son killed himself because he had been told how wrong and how sick he was every day of his life by his church and the people in it. Calling that 'depression' is a lie! Yet the Osmonds still talk lovingly about their church, saying nothing about its extremely anti-gay Crusade. Marie also has a gay daughter!

"Hey, I want her and all the gay kids in the world to know that they are just fine being gay and that they deserve love and respect instead of insults and rebuke! I have gay people in my family and my circle of friends and I am kicking bigot ass and taking names! That is how its done in my religion---(I have my own religion that I made up for myself and it is a great religion that actually works and respects facts and not fantasy!) [snip]

"Yet even though the people they say they love the most in all of their public displays and speeches (THEIR KIDS AND FAMILY!!) are gay,-- their own children, for crying out loud- these people cannot find the Christian decency and compassion within themselves to stop their hypocritical gay bashing!! How sickening. I know so many Mormon kids who were gay and committed suicide, and I just cannot and will not stay quiet in order to not offend bigots anymore. It is all so terribly depressing.

"Marie please don't talk about how your faith in your church has helped you get through this one! Please get some integrity and tell that church of yours that you will leave it and stop giving it ten percent of your money if they don't stop trying to destroy your kids' and all gay people's civil rights and dreams and hopes!!" - Roseanne Barr, writing on her personal blog.

(Tipped by JMG reader J. Karl)re-Barred from Joe

From JMG: Anti-Gay GOP CA State Sen. Roy Ashburn Busted For DUI While Leaving Sacramento Gay Bar With Another Man

Anti-gay GOP California state Sen. Roy Ashburn was arrested for DUI yesterday after leaving Faces, a popular Sacramento gay bar, with an unidentified male passenger. Ashburn has been a loud opponent of LGBT rights and has organized and hosted anti-gay marriage rallies for the Traditional Values Coalition. He also has a 100% rating from the anti-gay Capitol Resource Family Impact group for voting against every LGBT rights bill during his tenure.

The California Highway Patrol pulled over Senator Roy Ashburn at 2:00 a.m. Wednesday after an officer noticed a black Chevy Tahoe swerving at 13th and L Streets. When the officer stopped the state-issued vehicle, the driver identified himself as Senator Ashburn. He was arrested without incident and charged with two misdemeanors: driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol level higher than .08% or higher. A male passenger, who was not identified as a lawmaker, was also in the car but was not detained. Ashburn was booked into the Sacramento County Jail and released on $1,400 bond. Ashburn, a father of four, is a Republican Senator representing parts of Kern, Tulare and San Bernardino Counties with a history of opposing gay rights. Ashburn issued a statement on the arrest Wednesday afternoon: "I am deeply sorry for my actions and offer no excuse for my poor judgment. I accept complete responsibility for my conduct and am prepared to accept the consequences for what I did. I am also truly sorry for the impact this incident will have on those who support and trust me – my family, my constituents, my friends, and my colleagues in the Senate."

Ashburn is being term-limited out of office in 2010. In January he surprised supporters by announcing that he would not be running for the U.S. House or the powerful California State Tax Board, two jobs he'd publicly had his eye on for the last year. Ashburn divorced his wife in 2003.

ANTI-GAY VOTING RECORD: In March 2009, Sen. Ashburn voted against a Senate resolution declaring Proposition 8 unconstitutional. Ashburn voted three times to oppose the creation of Harvey Milk Day. In September he voted against California recognizing out of state same-sex marriages. In 2008 he voted to oppose an expansion of the state's insurance laws to include sexual orientation as a protected class.

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Quote of the Day

"Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood. This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group."

"We have a lot more work to do in our common struggle against bigotry and discrimination. I say “common struggle” because I believe very strongly that all forms of bigotry and discrimination are equally wrong and should be opposed by right-thinking Americans everywhere. Freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation is surely a fundamental human right in any great democracy, as much as freedom from racial, religious, gender, or ethnic discrimination."

Coretta Scott King

From JMG: Rep. Anthony Weiner Vs. Fox & Friends

Our favorite Congressman is lauded by MSNBC for going after Fox & Friends and other liars about the health care reform bill.

reposted from JMG

From JMG: Pro-Gay Clergy Drown Out Westboro Nutters At DC Courthouse

(Via - HRC Back Story)

Reposted from JMG

Task Force organizer Aaditi Dubale speaks about the importance of ENDA

Coffee Party: How We Began

On NPR: Former 'No Child Left Behind' Advocate Turns Critic

In 2005, former Assistant Secretary of Education Diane Ravitch wrote, "We should thank President George W. Bush and Congress for passing the No Child Left Behind Act ... All this attention and focus is paying off for younger students, who are reading and solving mathematics problems better than their parents' generation."

Four years later, Ravitch has changed her mind.

Jump here to read /listen to full story NPR

From 365gay

Speaking of nudity, this past weekend 5,200 bared all for a photo shoot at Sydney’s iconic opera house. The event was named “Mardi Gras: The Base” in celebration of Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, according to a Reuters report. I’m not sure I’d want to spend an hour naked on what was described as a cool autumn day, but I certainly applaud those who did. “I thought it could be a bit awkward, but it’s funny because when you’re naked and everybody else is naked, you feel like you’re dressed, because everybody looks the same,” Steven Anglier told Reuters. So, it’s like turning around during a 3D movie and seeing everyone in silly blue and red glasses? OK, then. Wonder how many of the participants were vajazzled.

From MJ: Why Do Some Conservatives Play Footsie With Treason?

Wing nuts no longer: Right-wing celebs are helping anti-Obama militias go mainstream.

— By Monika Bauerlein and Clara Jeffery

March/April 2010 Issue

IN THE FALL of 1964, not long after Barry Goldwater had clinched the Republican nomination for president, historian Richard Hofstadter penned an essay for Harper's called "The Paranoid Style in American Politics." It was an instant classic—not because it was so elegantly written, but because in just a few pages it described with deadly accuracy one of the major strains of our national dialogue.

make the jump here to read the full story

"Poly-Sci Model: The Musical!" Movie Trailer Spoof (HD)

The Sanctity of Marriage - RON ROMANOVSKY

From JMG: Exodus International Launches Campaign In Support Of Anti-Gay Bullying

GLSEN's national Day Of Silence is six weeks away, but the "ex-gay" mental cases at Exodus International have already launched their "Day Of Truth" campaign to stop students from being taught that it's wrong to beat up and harass gay kids. According to Exodus, the anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund is standing by with 1200 attorneys to represent anybody that faces opposition from school administrators.

In the past, students who have attempted to exercised their rights to talk about topics related to homosexuality have been censored or, in some cases, punished for their beliefs. It is important that students stand up for their First Amendment right to hear and speak the Truth about human sexuality in order to protect that freedom for future generations. The Day of Truth provides an opportunity to speak the Truth in love and have an honest conversation about homosexuality and at the same time publicly exercise your constitutional right to free speech. Over the past 6 years, we have had over 17,000 participants in the Day of Truth. This year, even more students are expected to take part in the Day of Truth, as news of this vital project continues to spread across the country. The Alliance Defense Fund has more than 1,200 allied attorneys who are available to assist you if you run into complications with school officials or pro-homosexual advocacy groups on your campus.

It's more than a little fucking sad that the same people who were likely brutalized for their homosexuality while in school are now campaigning to support their tormentors. And go freep their fucking poll.

reposted from by JMG

From JMG: UC Davis LGBT Center Vandalized

The LGBT center at the University of California campus in Davis was struck by graffiti vandals over the weekend. For now, the damage will remain as a symbol of anti-gay sentiment. From a UC Davis bulletin:

On the night of February 26th the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center experienced acts of vandalism. The entrance to the LGBTRC was defaced with derogatory and hateful words that target the Queer community. This vicious hate crime demonstrates the need for community centers like ours to exist in order to offer a safe space on campus and combat the homophobia, discrimination, and hate that is still prevalent within our society. As a center we wanted not to immediately remove the vandalism in order to ensure that this hate crime does not go unnoticed by the campus community. Facilities and administration offered to clean it up immediately but we wanted to take this opportunity to educate the campus about struggles that our community continues to face. We feel it is easier to erase physical representations of violence than to heal from the ongoing impacts of this hatred. Erasing it makes it possible to avoid believing these things happen on our campus. We want to work towards a healing resolution.

There has been a rash of such incidents in recent months, with vandalism of LGBT centers seen in Orlando, Long Island, and elsewhere.

Reposted from JMG

Another Gem from JMG: Michele Bachmann, The Comic Book

Comic book fans may be interested in False Witness! The Michele Bachmann Story, by Kevin Avidor. She's certainly the most cartoonish member of Congress in quite a while. And that's saying something. Ordering details at the above link.

reposted from JMG

From JMG: Tony Perkins Dissed By Air Force

Family Research Council leader Tony Perkins was disinvited from a planned speaking engagement at Andrews Air Force Base that was to have taken place last weekend after criticizing the president's position on DADT.

Two days after President Obama's State of the Union speech, in which he announced plans to repeal "Don't ask, Don't tell," Perkin's received a letter from the chaplain's office at Andrews rescinding the invitation. The letter cited Family Research Council statements calling them "incompatible in our role as military members who serve our elected officials and our commander in chief." "I never thought, you know, when I put on the uniform as a United States marine, serve six years in serving this country, [I] never gave thought to the fact that. one day I would be denied to speak because I, number one. held a view that was consistent with existing law, but number two, just happened to be in contradiction to the president of the United States on homosexuality," Perkins said in response to the letter. He added that the loss of free speech should concern all Americans. He fears a change in the law allowing gays to serve openly in the U.S. military will have a devastating effect on religious speech. "Chaplains will be muzzled in their ability to preach the whole council of God," Perkins said. "In fact, I believe you will see a mass exodus of chaplains from the military if, in fact, the military is forced to throw open its arms to embrace homosexuality."

Bryan Fischer, the notorious America Family Association radio host who has called for forcible reparative therapy for gays, is outraged.

The homosexual agenda represents a clear and present danger to virtually every fundamental right given to us by our Creator and enshrined for us in our Constitution. Start with freedom of religion and freedom of speech, the first two of our inalienable rights secured for us in the Bill of Rights. As a culture, we must choose between the homosexual agenda or the Constitution because we can't have both. Further proof comes from the abjectly pathetic decision of the chaplains' office at Andrews Air Force Base to rescind a long-standing invitation to Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council. Perkins had been invited to give a non-political talk at a prayer luncheon on the base yesterday, but was abruptly dis-invited for one simple reason: he supports the current law which makes homosexuals ineligible for service in the United States military.

Don't miss the significance here. Perkins is defending current law, and is advocating for the time-honored principle that homosexual conduct is incompatible with military service. George Washington famously and literally drummed two soldiers out of the Continental Army in the days of our contest with Great Britain after they were discovered in the act of attempted sodomy. And yet it now appears that a virtual zero-tolerance policy, rooted in Christophobia, has resulted in the blacklisting of anyone who supports what the military has always believed and practiced.

Why would somebody who calls the Commander In Chief a socialist/marxist/illegal alien be surprised if they aren't allowed to speak to his troops? Oh, wait. We know why.

reposted from JMG

Christopher Dallman - GHOSTS - Official Music Video

Reposted from Pam's House Blend

NOM's Maggie Gallagher Supports & Admires Killing Gays by: waymonhudson Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 12:47:03 PM EST

(You said it; now OWN your hate, Maggie- and with it, National Organization for Marriage and ALL of their allies... - promoted by Louise) We all know Maggie Gallagher makes her living off of peddling anti-LGBT hate with the National Organization for Marriage. She claims she's just "saving marriage from the evil gays" and that she doesn't hate us. Sure she claims that we out to recruit kids, indoctrinate them in schools, and destroy them by being parents, but that's just a little political difference, right? She's Miss "warm and fuzzy" homophobia, especially if you see the media coverage of her. Well, Maggie G let that mask slip a bit and we got to see what we all know is lurking underneath. Gallagher has come to the defense of (shocker!) Miss Faux Beverly Hills Lauren Ashley, who not only said gays shouldn't marry, but trotted out the old Leviticus Bible verse saying gays are an abomination and should be killed. Maggie Gallagher has endorsed and supported Lauren Ashley: I'm not surprised that Miss Beverly Hills, Lauren Ashley, opposes gay marriage -- after all 45 percent of young Californians voted for Prop 8, as did 7 million Californians generally. But I have to say, I am impressed with her courage in coming forward and for speaking up for Carrie. The elected officials of city of Beverly Hills are not demonstrating tolerance or kindness by continuing the avalanche of hatred against supporters of Prop 8.

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infoMania / Johnny Weir: That's Gay

From JMG: John McCain: There Is Strong Opposition To DADT Among Military Leaders

On Meet The Press today, Sen. John McCain was called out for his recent backtracking on DADT, which he once said should be repealed if military leaders agreed, as we saw Joint Chiefs chairman Admiral Mike Mullen do recently. McCain: "Oh, but Mullen was speaking personally."

posted from Joe

'Harry Potter' Star Supports'Trevor Project'

From JMG: LGBT Activists Convene In NYC For Immigration Equality Forum

A large group of noted LGBT activists are in NYC this weekend to attend an immigration equality forum at the Desmond Tutu Center in Manhattan. The event is sponsored by the Four Freedoms Fund of the Public Interest Projects and will feature speakers from the LGBT-focused Immigration Equality group as well as experts from the comprehensive immigration reform movement. Last night attendees gathered at the historic Stonewall Inn for a cocktail reception (slideshow below), although attendance was hampered by the air travel mayhem caused by Snowmaggedon III. I should have a full report from the conference posted here by late Sunday. I'm posting photos and updates on Facebook as we go.

yet another repost JMG

From JMG: Friendly Voices - Daniel Radcliffe

"I grew up knowing a lot of gay men and it was never something that I even thought twice about -- that some men were gay and some weren't. And then I went to school and (for) the first time ... I came across homophobia. I had never encountered it before. It shocked me. I have always hated anybody who is not tolerant of gay men or lesbians or bisexuals. Now I am in the very fortunate position where I can actually help or do something about it.

"I have described myself as being 'gently eccentric' and slightly different as a person just because I've had a very different set of influences growing up than anybody else in my peer group did. I think it's important for somebody from a big, commercial movie series like Harry Potter and particularly because I am not gay or bisexual or transgendered. The fact that I am straight makes not a difference, but it shows that straight people are incredibly interested and care a lot about this as well." - Daniel Radcliffe, speaking from the NYC headquarters of the LGBT teen suicide prevention hotline The Trevor Project, for whom he has just made a promotional film.Re-owled from JMG

Frum Buzzflash: Michael Winship: Two Legal Foes Unite to Fight -- for Same Sex Marriage

MICHAEL WINSHIP FOR BUZZFLASH

Watching this week's "health summit" in Washington, with both sides barely repressing the urge to turn the Blair House event into the Potomac version of mixed martial arts cage fighting, was discouraging. To get a little peace and quiet I was tempted to switch to ESPN and search for an hour of the world's greatest soccer riots. At least they make better theater. And there are better-defined goals.

make the jump to read the article

Bill Moyers: Theodore Olson and David Boies

February 26, 2010

The quest for marriage equality has created some unlikely allies in attorneys Theodore Olson, a conservative, and David Boies, a liberal. Long well-known within the field of law, the two became nationally famous as the opposing counsels in Bush v. Gore, the Supreme Court case that halted the Florida recount, and resolved the 2000 Presidential election in favor of George W. Bush.

Now the two lawyers, both veterans of multiple Supreme Court cases, have mounted a well-financed legal challenge to Proposition 8, California's 2008 ballot initiative that put an end to same-sex marriage in that state. The case could make it as far as the Supreme Court and define the debate on same-sex marriage for years to come.

On this week's JOURNAL, Olson and Boies join Bill Moyers to discuss why the issue of same-sex marriage is so important, why they chose to pursue the matter in the courts, even against the wishes of some in the LGBT community, and why conservatives and liberals must come together to solve the big issues facing the country.

jump here to watch / read the full presentation

From Last Year's Parade in OP

Presidente Lula

O RAIO CAIU DUAS VEZES...

Quem nunca ouviu alguém dizer que ...o raio caiu duas vezes sobre a mesma cabeça..., quando acontecem calamidades ou catástrofes de forma repetida? Por outro lado não é usual inverter o sentido da mesma frase para definir fatos positivos; entretanto é exatamente isso que será feito aqui para noticiar duas decisões, extremamente modernas e lúcidas, que presentearam a sociedade brasileira nos últimos dias.

Com certeza, tais decisões caíram como um raio, duas vezes, em menos de 30 dias, sobre as cabeças ruins e mentalidades preconceituosas daqueles que ainda insistem em permanecer na ignorância, fonte inesgotável do preconceito. Nada me pareceu mais apropriado para massacrar a homofobia do que comparar a intensidade da luz e a força poderosa do raio, às duas recentes decisões judiciais proferidas pelos Tribunais de Minas Gerais.

1º Caso - Após árdua caminhada por mais de 5 anos, vislumbrar o Direito prevalecer sobre a discriminação às uniões entre pessoas do mesmo sexo, é algo tão gratificante , assim como o olhar da mãe para o filho que acaba de nascer. Todo o sofrimento é imediatamente esquecido para dar lugar a uma alegria infinita!

No Direito Homoafetivo é comum que os processos judiciais caminhem por trilhas jamais conhecidas, enfrentando todo tipo de obstáculo, inclusive as crenças pessoais e religiosas dos seus julgadores, como foi o caso em tela. Para conseguir os Direitos Previdenciários para um cidadão, após o falecimento do seu companheiro, foram necessárias mais de mil páginas para levar o convencimento aos Juízes Julgadores.

Depois de duas derrotas no Juizo de 1ª Instância, veio a vitória no Tribunal de Justiça de Minas Gerias, perante três desembargadores, que reconheceram seu Direito à Pensão da Previdência Privada, Pecúlio e Plano de Saúde. Houve o consenso, de forma pioneira, pela divisão em 50% dos benefícios para o companheiro e 50% para a mãe do falecido.

O voto proferido pelo Relator, seguido pelos outros julgadores, pode ser considerado uma jóia de valor incrível, principalmente quando diz:
... Quando a Constituição Federal assinalou a igualdade sem distinção de sexo, proibindo qualquer forma de discriminação (inciso IV, art.3º ) aí compreendeu a questão dos homossexuais...

2º caso - O segundo raio, isto é, a segunda causa, também foi referente aos Direitos Previdenciários, reivindicados à UFMG por um funcionário aposentado e por sua vez, negados!
Oportunidade que provocou a propositura de ação judicial perante a Justiça Federal de Minas Gerais, para fazer prevalecer o direito de indicar o companheiro para ser seu beneficiário.

Por incrível que possa parecer, de pronto, o pedido foi aceito e julgado procedente pelo Juiz Federal da 20ª Vara, concedendo ao funcionário aposentado da UFMG, o direito de fazer a pretendida indicação do seu companheiro para os benefícios previdenciários.
Não se conformando com esse resultado, a UFMG recorreu para a 2ª instância, em Brasília, cujo julgamento ocorreu no dia 9 passado. Por unanimidade os julgadores federais deram voto favorável e mantiveram a decisão mineira.

Os exemplos citados acima são provas incontestáveis da abertura do judiciário mineiro em receber as reivindicações baseadas no Direito Homoafetivo. As esperadas leis específicas ainda não existem, mas a jurisprudência está se firmando no sentido de considerar como União Estável ou Sociedade de Fato, a parceria entre pessoas do mesmo sexo e suas conseqüências.

Não só a lei é fonte do direito; a jurisprudência , que é o conjunto de julgados num mesmo sentido, serve como base para os pedidos, principalmente na ausência de leis.

A sutil diferença entre as duas formas de convivência, citadas acima, está na maneira de dividir os bens adquiridos juntos na constância da união, em caso de separação ou herança. Na Sociedade de Fato, termo empregado para questões patrimoniais, há necessidade de cada um comprovar sua colaboração na aquisição dos bens durante o período da parceria e consequentemente cada um terá direito aos bens que conquistou ( da mesma maneira que os casais heteros).

Razão pela qual, não se deve nunca descuidar das provas através dos documentos angariados no dia a dia. Sempre é bom ficar atento quando houver necessidade de ações judiciais, além do mais, não podemos falhar no pedido, exatamente quando o judiciário se mostra disposto a fazer justiça aos homossexuais, em todos as áreas do Direito.
A esperança na lucidez dos julgadores brasileiros, como aqui demonstrado, nos leva ao otimismo de afirmar que, o preconceito e a discriminação na justiça brasileira estão com os dias contados!

Maria Emília Mitre Haddad
emiliamitre@hotmail.com

First hearing by the European Court of Human Rights on same-sex marriage

26/02/2010

Yesterday, on 25 February 2010, the European Court of Human Rights, has its first hearing on a case regarding same-sex marriage. The Court’s hearing was on the admissibility and merits in the case of Schalk and Kopf v. Austria(application no. 30141/04).

Professor Robert Wintemute was granted a permission by the Court to make oral submission on behalf of the four third-party interveners: the FIDH (the Fédération Internationale des ligues des Droits de l'Homme, Paris), the ICJ (the International Commission of Jurists, Geneva), the AIRE Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe, London), and ILGA-Europe (the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, Brussels).

A decision on admissibility, followed if appropriate by a judgment, will be delivered at a later date.

You can view webcast of the hearing here

Details of the case
The applicants, Horst Michael Schalk and Johann Franz Kopf, are Austrian nationals who were born in 1962 and 1960 respectively and live in Vienna. They are a same-sex couple and live together.

In September 2002 the applicants asked the competent authorities to allow them to contract marriage.
Their request was refused by the Vienna Municipal Office on the grounds that marriage could only be contracted between two persons of opposite sex. The applicants appealed before the Vienna Regional Governor and the Constitutional Court arguing that the notion of marriage had evolved over time thus having to be understood nowadays as a permanent union encompassing all aspects of life, and that the procreation and education of children were no longer a determinative factor in it. Their appeals were not successful. Both the Governor and the Constitutional Court, referring to Article 12 (right to marry) of the European Convention on Human Rights and also to Articles 8 (right to respect for private and family life) and 14 (prohibition of discrimination), held that to limit the notion of marriage to the traditional concept of marriage reserved to persons of a different sex was objectively justified.

Relying on Article 12, they complain of the authorities’ refusal to allow them to contract marriage.
Relying further on Article 14 in conjunction with Article 8 they complain that they were discriminated against on account of their sexual orientation since they were denied the right to marry and have no other possibility to have their relationship recognised by law. Finally, under Article 1 of Protocol 1 (protection of property), they allege that they suffer financial disadvantages compared to married couples.

The application was lodged with the European Court of Human Rights on 5 August 2004.

Read more about how the Council of Europe have addressed the rights of LGBT people and in particular how the European Convention of Human Rights was used to advance the rights of LGBT people in Europe here.

From JMG: Prop 8 Trial Closing Arguments May Be Televised After All

The closing arguments in Perry vs. Schwarzenegger might just be televised after all.

Despite a rebuff from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Bay Area's federal judges are again proposing to allow cameras in their courtrooms, a plan that could lead to telecasting of closing arguments in a suit challenging California's ban on same-sex marriage. The U.S. District Court in San Francisco has posted a rule change on its Web site that would allow its judges to take part in a pilot program of airing selected nonjury civil trials. The public comment period began Feb. 4 and ends Thursday.
The proposal is the same one Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker adopted in January after a week of overwhelmingly favorable public comment. But the Supreme Court intervened when Walker approved camera coverage of the trial over Proposition 8, the November 2008 initiative that outlawed same-sex marriage.

Protect Marriage says they won't speculate on opposing the broadcast until they know if it is really going to happen.

reposted from JMG

From JMG: Washington DC Plans Largest Group Gay Wedding In History

You know how the Moonies like to do those mass weddings of thousands of couples? A group in Washington DC is going to attempt the same thing with gay couples as they shoot for an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The largest gay wedding in history is scheduled for Saturday, March 20th in Washington, DC. Up to 400 couples will exchange vows breaking the current Guinness World Record. The celebration is part of an all-day series of events called Our Time Has Come, a title chosen to signify the long road that many couples have traveled to marriage. Events slated for March 20 include a large group ceremony, individual private ceremonies and a gala-style reception. All portions are scheduled at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, an ornately gilded historic venue on Constitution Avenue, the event is being hosted by GLBT Wedding Services.

Mike Wilkinson, Director of Wedding Services for Event Emissary, is one of the planners producing the mega-event. "The GLBT community has always found strength in numbers when it comes to advocating for equality," Wilkinson said. "Now we can finally stand together to affirm our love and have it recognized legally by the District of Columbia." Even though the event is big, the concept is being carefully designed so that the experience is special for every couple involved. The reception is open to friends and family to celebrate alongside the newlyweds. "Every aspect is being planned with sensitivity to the GLBT audience that will be attending," Wilkinson said. Drew Parker and his partner Dalin Holyoak are one of the many couples getting married at the event. "Our relationship and our lives could not wait for our marriage to be 'legal' in DC, but we are both excited and relieved that our marriage will finally be recognized in the city we call home. We signed up to be part of the mass ceremony as soon as we could."

reposted from JMG