Love For All

See it in HD at BjornBorg.com

Broadway Concert in Support of Marriage Equality

Defying Inequality is hosting a major concert benefiting marriage equality organization such as Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality California, and Garden State Equality. Among the stars scheduled to appear are Jane Fonda, Allison Janney, Cyndia Lauper, David Hyde Pierce and performances from the cast of Wicked, Gypsy, The Color Purple, and Spring Awakening.

Directed by Anthony Galde, Schele Williams and James Sampliner, you can get tickets to the event here.

When: Monday, February 23rd
Time: 8pm
Where:
The Gershwin Theatre
222 W. 51st St.
New York, N.Y.
(Map)

Poll: Support for gay marriage up in NJ

365gay.com reports:

"A new poll of registered voters in New Jersey finds there is a 10 point spread in favor of same-sex marriage.

"The survey, by Monmouth University for Gannett newspapers, found 50 percent of voters support marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples, while 40 percent said they were opposed.

"In addition, the poll found a similar result when it came to amending the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage - 50 percent opposing an amendment and 41 percent in favor.

"The release of the poll comes two months after a state mandated review of the New Jersey’s two year old civil union law recommended the legislation be amended to allow for same-sex marriage.

A bill is expected to be taken up by the legislature this year."

In 2006 the state Supreme Court ruled same-sex couples should be afforded the same rights as married couples, but left it up to the legislature to give a name to these relationships. The legislature opted for "civil unions."

However, a state sponsored commission found that those in civil unions were still not being treated equally as married couples with rights being denied them and that the institution of "civil unions" was separate but equal.

New Jersey governor Jon Corzine has said that he would sign a marriage bill if it reached his desk.

Marriage Counter Actions across the country

Having been away most of last week, I was a bit behind on reporting the results of Freedom to Marry Day across the nation. I'm finally catching up.

Marriage Equality reports that marriage counter actions at local County Clerk's offices were performed, on a weekday no less, in 25 states (half the country) and 60 cities, proving their collaboration with Join the Impact was a success.

See the press reports.

New York

Dallas, TX

Chicago, IL

San Francisco, CA

Salt Lake City, UT

Minnesota

Florida

Fresno, CA

Associated Press

MSNBC

LA Times

USA Today

UPDATE: Valentine's Day Kiss-In Protest

UPDATE: To see images and videos of the kiss-in protest provided by Roots of Equality, click here.

With the kiss-in a success, Roots of Equality proudly reports: “Forty years ago, we could be arrested for kissing in public. Forty years later, we stand on the steps of city hall to kiss. Forty years from now, we will be married legally in this very same city hall and everyone will wonder what all the ruckus was about forty years earlier.”

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Roots of Equality is organizing a kiss-in protest for Valentine's Day, February 14th in front of the Los Angeles City Hall. (For specifics, see calendar at the bottom of the blog)

As quoted from their site: "They took away our rights, they made us second class citizens, and now they’re trying to take away the marriages we already legally obtained. Well F that. Show them that no matter what they do to us, we are and will continue to love."

RSVP on Facebook at the Kiss In! event.

Can you help Roots of Equality with the Kiss In! LA protest? Interested in organizing one at your city hall? Email at RootsofEquality@gmail.com.

HR5 hearing video, the CA House bill opposing Prop 8

Minnesota’s gay Republican will not vote for marriage equality bill

The Minnesota Independent has reported that "state Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, told KLKS on Friday that he will not vote for the Marriage and Family Protection Act, a bill that would make Minnesota’s marriage laws gender-neutral, allowing same-sex couples many of the rights currently denied by Minnesota statute. Koering, who is gay and a Republican, said he would vote against it because the state faces bigger problems."

The senator told the radio station, "I think some of the gay activists will be upset with me for this, but sometimes I think an agenda is pushed so far and so fast that people have no alternative but to push back,” Koering told Raw Story at the time. “And I think that sometimes you have to move slowly.”

Well, he's right. We're upset. Tell the senator that we have enough opposition against us and that we don't need more coming from our own side.

Phone: 651.296.4875
Email: sen.paul.koering@senate.mn

UPDATE: Sacramento Lobby Day

Two weeks before the CA Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Prop 8, gay rights activists are making sure their collective voice is heard early, descending upon the state capitol today by the thousands.

Together they're focusing on their goal to win the support of lawmakers for the resolution that invalidates Prop 8 because it " is an improper revision, not an amendment, of the California Constitution."

The latest news is reporting that HR5, the house version, has passed. It was written by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano and state Sen. Mark Leno, both San Francisco Democrats.

Equality California is a major sponsor of lobby day with a rally scheduled at noon.

UPDATE: Video on the passing of HR5

13 Love Stories

13LoveStories.com is a unique multimedia advocacy project that profiles the moving stories of thirteen couples whose lives were profoundly affected by Proposition 8 - the recent California ballot initiative that eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry.

On the site are 13 videos with each couple giving their story. Check out this moving campaign.

Video Message from San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom

UPDATE: Cleve Jones, Courage Campaign's Rick Jacobs, to Join Protest Urging President Clinton to Honor Boycott at Manchester Hyatt

UPDATE: Clinton's Chief-of-Staff has responded to the protests surrounding Clinton's speech at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. Here's a portion:

"[Clinton] was in no way involved in choosing the venue nor was he aware of the controversy related to it until we received your letter last week. As you know, President Clinton shares many of your concerns and wishes this event could have taken place elsewhere. Upon receiving you letter, we made several attempts to change the venue. Unfortunately, the hosting organization responded that they were unable to do so, and President Clinton believes he should honor his contractual obligation. President Clinton has a long-standing record of support for the LGBT community. He strongly opposed Proposition 8, speaking out against it, and recording calls to California voters urging them to defeat it. He still opposes it and hopes it can be reversed."

For the full text, go to Towleroad.

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WHAT: Urging President Clinton to respect the boycott of the Manchester Hyatt, longtime gay-rights activist Cleve Jones, featured in the film "Milk," and Courage Campaign founder and chair Rick Jacobs will join a protest rally outside the hotel.

The Courage Campaign today launched an online petition here.

WHO: Cleve Jones, UNITE HERE, longtime activist, Founder of NAMES Project/AIDS Memorial Quilt, featured in film "MILK",Rick Jacobs, Founder and Chair, Courage Campaign

WHERE:
Manchester Grand Hyatt
1 Market Place
San Diego, CA 92101
Map

WHEN:
Sunday, February 15, 2009
11:00 a.m. (Clinton is scheduled to speak at 12:30 p.m.)

BACKGROUND:

President Clinton is scheduled to give a paid speech this Sunday at the Manchester Hyatt in San Diego to the annual convention of the International Franchise Association. To give this speech, President Clinton will have to violate a union boycott and labor dispute -- the workers at the hotel lack job security and the housekeepers face onerous workloads.

But that's not all. President Clinton will also be offending supporters of marriage equality. Doug Manchester, the owner of the hotel, contributed $125,000 in early seed money to the Proposition 8 campaign.

Jones and Jacobs earlier signed an open letter to Clinton requesting he reconsider his speaking engagement at the hotel.

"It is ironic that, by showing up at the Manchester Hyatt on Sunday, President Clinton will provide comfort to Ken Starr and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund, who are now trying to defend the constitutionality of Prop 8 before the state Supreme Court," said Rick Jacobs, upon learning Clinton intends to speak at the hotel on Sunday. "Doug Manchester's significant $125,000 contribution to the "Yes on 8" campaign helped pass Prop 8 -- money that made Starr's case possible."