VIDEO: UTF Meet in the Middle Interviews - Christine Chavez

Unite the Fight interviews Christine Chavez, granddaughter of activist Cesar Chavez, and we ask her about the effects of Prop 8 being upheld.



We have plenty more interviews. Check them out at out YouTube Channel.

VIDEO UPDATE: New Leaders Sworn In/Democrats Lose Control of NY Senate in Coup - End of New York's Marriage Equality Bill?

UPDATE: New Senate Majority Leaders, Senator Pedro Espada and Senator Dean Skelos are sworn in as new leaders of the Senate.



So it's becoming more apparent that this coup has nothing to do with the marriage equality bill. Espada has stated he's pro-marriage equality and Monserrate, at least according to the recent NY1 survey, is undecided.

But with all the chaos, will marriage equality become a priority, especially now that the senate session has so little time left to vote?

See more video at Towleroad.
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The New York Times is reporting:

Republicans seized control of the New York State Senate on Monday, in a stunning and sudden reversal of fortunes for the Democratic Party, which controlled the chamber for barely five months.

A raucous leadership fight erupted on the floor of the Senate around 3 p.m., with two Democrats, Pedro Espada Jr. of the Bronx and Hiram Monserrate of Queens, joining the 30 Senate Republicans in a motion that would displace Democrats as the party in control.
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Senate Republicans quickly claimed that they were on the verge of controlling the chamber. “A new bipartisan, coalition is being established that is bringing real reform to the Senate right now,” Republicans said in a statement emailed to reporters at 3:20 p.m.

As the events were unfolding on the floor, Senator Malcolm A. Smith of Queens, leader of the Senate Democrats, huddled in the hall just off the Senate chamber and consulted with his staff. When asked what was occurring, he responded, “I’m trying to find out right now.”

At 4:44 p.m., Mr. Smith’s office released a statement insisting that control of the Senate had not changed hands.

“This was an illegal and unlawful attempt to gain control of the Senate and reverse the will of the people who voted for a Democratic majority,” Austin Shafran, a spokesman for Mr. Smith, said. “Nothing has changed. Senator Malcolm A. Smith remains the duly elected temporary president and majority leader. The real Senate majority is anxious to get back to governing, and will take immediate steps to get us back to work.”

Many are wondering if this defection is related at all to the contentious marriage equality bill that Sen. Smith has backed, but that Democrat Sen. Ruben Diaz, who staunchly opposes anything LGBT, is against.

Elizabeth Benjamin at the New York Daily News reports:

Another rumor du jour is that Diaz, who is furious that the gay marriage bill he opposes appears to be gaining some traction in the Senate, would be angry enough with Smith if the measure comes up for a vote on the floor to join the Senate GOP.

I asked Diaz about that, and he said:

"Today? No. Tomorrow? Who knows? Tomorrow is another day. It's always another day. You ask me do I plan to do that. I say, no. In the future, who knows what the future brings."

"The only thing I can tell you, and you can interpret this any which way you want: When I give my word, I keep my word. In order for me to break my word, you have to break yours first."

Here's how I interpret that:

It's a (typically) cryptic way of Diaz Sr. confirming the worst fears of marriage advocates - that there was indeed a deal between himself and Smith that the gay marriage bill would not come to the floor in exchange for Diaz Sr.'s support of Smith for majority leader.

And now, in Diaz Sr.'s mind, if Smith brings the bill to the floor, all bets are off.

And they say the gays are dramatic. I wouldn't say that this coup is directly related to the marriage equality bill - that in my opinion is a big jump, especially considering that Sen. Diaz didn't defect to the Republican side.

However, it wouldn't surprise me either, especially with all the "he said she said" going on in the senate over the bill lately.

In the end, this just makes me sad that the democratic process in New York has been ignored and violated, and that there's barely any chance for marriage equality legislation to have its chance by being voted upon. If there's a miracle, marriage equality may have its day in the sun in the New York Senate, otherwise it will die. Again.

ACTION: Contact your New York senator and demand that they not let this happen!

New York Marriage Bill Still Up in the Air with Senators Undecided

The drama behind the senate vote for marriage equality continues. Just recently Senator Andrew Lanza announced that he would vote against the bill, increasing the tally of votes against it to 29 versus 20 in favor (9 are undecided with 4 not saying anything at all). Bill sponsor Sen. Duane announced he had enough votes to get it passed, though this has been hotly disputed.

However, there's still hope.

Sen. David Valesky Friday mentioned reconsidering his recent stance in support of civil unions only to voting for legalizing gay marriage.

"I'm undecided," he said.

This is a huge turnaround since April when New York Gov. Paterson announced the legislation. At the time, Valesky said: "Marriage is an institution between a man and woman, and I think we can address the issue of benefits for same-sex couples without addressing the question of marriage, through some sort of a civil-union statute. That's what I believe we ought to be looking at, but that's not what's being proposed by the governor."

Valesky's change of heart stems from meeting with constituents on the issue, including those the bill would directly effect, with his telling the Syracuse.com, "It's a sensitive issue."

Another glimmer of hope, though small, is in Sen. William T. Stachowski. The Buffalo News reports that though he's still saying he'll vote against marriage equality, mainly due to his conservative Catholic constituents whom make up a majority of his district, he's still willing to meet with marriage equality advocates. This is a sign to those on both sides of the issue that there's wiggle room for the possibility of his changing his vote.

The bill has already passed the Assembly.

Gov. Paterson isn't giving up either. His administration recently reached out to former GOP Senate Majority Leader (and his former boss) Joe Bruno, who is now a lobbyist, to reach out to the Republican senators. Bruno used to be a staunch opponent to anything LGBT, calling homosexuality an "abnormal lifestyle," but his position changed over the years.

Though Bruno hasn't agreed to it, a source told Elizabeth Benjamin at the New York Daily News, "The fact is, he has a rapport with the people [marriage equality proponents] need, and he's not known for being a right-wing fanatic," the source said. "This would not be inconsistent with his live-and-let-live philosophy."

"Seismic Shift" in Michigan's Public Opinion for Marriage Equality

Freep.com reports that Glengariff Group pollster Richard Czuba describes a "seismic shift"
in public opinion, whose new poll indicates that support for gay marriage has nearly doubled in Michigan since a similar poll in 2004, the year an amendment to the state's constitution was passed banning same-sex marriage.

The October 2004 poll showed only 24% supported marriage equality with this year's poll indicating support increasing to 46.5%, almost doubling. A slight majority of 48% said they opposed, but it was the only LGBT rights issue out of nine that failed to get the majority.

When it came to civil unions, only 42% had supported the legal recognition in 2004, but less than five years later, support jumped up to 63.7%.

"Gay marriage is now where civil unions were five years ago," Czuba said.

Glengariff also measured support for: adoption rights (57.5%), same-sex partner benefits for government employees (65.5%), inheritance rights for gay and lesbian partners (70.9%) and recognition of same-sex marriages from other states (53.5%).

Freep went on to report, "Czuba said a shift in opinion was evident in almost every demographic group, including self-identified Republicans. He attributed much of the change to the sharply higher number of poll respondents who said they know a gay or lesbian person in 2009 (80.2%) compared with in 2004 (56%)."

Read the rest of the encouraging article on Freep.com.

Gay Male Penguins Adopt Chick Rejected by Straight Parents

I don't ever want to hear the anti-gays argue that we're not found in nature EVER AGAIN - as if we're not a part of nature. (Though they've been proven wrong over and over and over again and they still keep saying, "It's not natural" over and over and over again . . . )

Bites & Bingo: White Knot Fundraiser!

This Tuesday, the Hollywood Corner Restaurant is hosting a BINGO NIGHT to raise funds for White Knot For Equality.

There will be fun and special prizes and good friends all around. Please come and bring your family and friends for great food and exciting games of BINGO.

If you've never been to The Corner than you're in for a treat. If you've been there before then you know how great the all natural home cooked food is. 15% of everything you spend at the restaurant that night will go to White Knot.

In addition there will be a couple very cool auction items. Its a $20.00 suggested donation at the door for bingo cards and all are welcome! Help us raise marriage equality awareness and support an amazing organization.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 9th, 7pm
WHERE:
Hollywood Corner Cafe
1156 North Highland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(Map)
CONTACT:
Phone: 3234632220
Email: info@CallTheCorner.com
Facebook Event Page

Fresno Pride Ballooned by Meet in the Middle Success!

This is so awesome!



Read local ABC 30 corresponding article.

Great slide show of the event.