Petition Scottish Parliament for Marriage Equality

The fight for Equal Marriage in Scotland was brought back to my attention from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Network in the UK. They are asking to bring our enthusiasm for equal rights, expressed here at home, to their shores by signing the petition by March 6th that will urge the Scottish parliament to discuss same-sex relationships.

Here is their email:

"This petition is different from many others. With enough support, the Parliamentary Committee will hold hearings on it, invite responses from different groups, and will make concrete recommendations to the Scottish Government.

"Without any Members of the Scottish Parliament as yet willing to introduce a same sex marriage bill, this is currently the only way to get the issue onto the agenda in a country where many people, both gay and straight, believe that the fight equality is over since the introduction of separate but equal Civil Partnerships.

"With the UK Government opposing full marriage rights, your support to this petition is vital. The great thing about it is that anyone from anywhere in the world can put their name to it, and that will be counted as equal to any Scottish persons’ signature. If you can not only sign this, but activate the same strength of numbers that have fought for marriage equality across US, then gay rights opponents in Scotland don’t stand a chance.

"The previous Administration in Scotland, the Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition of Jack McConnell, refused to even legislate for Civil Partnerships in 2004, having been so burned by the massive homophobic outcry over their successful repeal of Section 28, the old Thatcherite law that banned discussion of homosexuality in schools.

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"Then Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson stated in 2004 that laws to give same-sex couples the same rights as married heterosexuals was not "an immediate priority for the overwhelming majority of Scotland's people".

"Equality is a priority for all. There is however a real danger that the current minority government of the Scottish National Party will treat this exactly the same way. Their 2007 election campaign was funded by the same man who bankrolled the homophobic campaign over Section 28, Stagecoach boss Brian Souter. Scotland has a strong Catholic church and is generally more socially conservative than England or Wales, yet the Scottish Parliament
has equality as one of its founding values.

"Scotland has been willing in the past to make a moral point in the face of opposition from the rest of the UK. It was the first to ban hunting of foxes, and the first to ban smoking in public places, with the rest of Britain following shortly afterward.

"It can be the same with marriage equality. If we can get enough backing to show that this is a real, live issue that ignites passion among Scots and those from across the plant, then those opposing this will be forced to defend the notion that separate but equal is equal.

"But we cannot do this without the support, advice and solidarity with all those others around the world who have been fighting long and hard for Marriage Equality. We have been truly inspired by the movement for Marriage Equality in America, it made us realise that we too have the right to be treated as equals by our government and with your help, we can."

Please sign the petition here by March 6th.

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Thanks to the amazing Queers United blog, I've been made aware of a petition to get the Scottish government to recognize same-sex marriage. Read Queer's United post on what you can do to expand marriage equality beyond our borders.

BREAKING NEWS: Hawaii House committee advances bill to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples

From the Honolulu Advertiser:

The state House Judiciary Committee approved a bill tonight that would legalize civil unions, sending the measure to the full House for a vote.

The vote was 12-0, with four lawmakers excused.
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The bill would give same-sex couples who enter into civil unions the same rights under state law as heterosexual couples. Civil unions are not the same as marriage, however, since the partnerships are not recognized as marriage under federal law.

Lawmakers agreed to amend the bill to prevent partners who have entered into reciprocal beneficiaries under state law from joining in civil unions.

Read the rest of the article at the Honolulu Advertiser.com

Courage Campaign's "Fidelity: Don't Divorce Us" Video

It speaks for itself.


"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Two Judges Rule Against the Defense of Marriage Act

UPDATE: For detailed information on Judge Reinhardt's ruling and legal argument, go to The Volokh Conspiracy.

More reports: LA Times



The Los Angeles Daily Journal reports that Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, ruled on behalf of a gay LA federal public defender, citing that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which bars gay federal employees' spouses benefits, is unconstitutional.

In his ruling, Reinhardt wrote:

"The denial of federal benefits to same-sex spouses cannot be justified simply by a distaste for or disapproval of same-sex marriage or a desire to deprive same-sex spouses benefits available to other spouses in order to discourage exercising a legal right afforded them by the state."

Another ruling by Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, on behalf of claims by a 9th Circuit staff attorney, also shoots down DOMA and the problems it inflicts.

DOMA, having passed Congress back in 1996, left it to the states to define marriage while forbidding the federal government from recognizing same-sex relationships as marriages. These judicial orders, in favor of the gay employees (Deputy Federal Public Defender Brad Levenson, who married Tony Sears last July 12, and 9th Circuit staff lawyer Karen Golinski, who is married Amy Cunninghis) directly dispute DOMA. If the gay employees' spouses do in fact receive the benefits, it will be the first federal recognition of a same-sex relationship.

Wyoming Advances on Anti-Gay Marriage Bill

On a vote 5 to 4, the Wyoming House Judiciary Committee passed an anti-gay marriage resolution to go to the House floor for debate. If two-thirds of the Wyoming House of Representatives approve the resolution, the state's constitution would be amended and marriage in the state would be defined as only between a man and a woman. The state would also not recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states or countries where it is legal.

The main sponsor of the bill is Senator Curt Meier, who believes the current Wyoming law stating the marriage is for opposite sex couples isn't strong enough.

The national conservative organization, Focus on the Family Action has already started a phone bank campaign lobbying for the resolution to pass. They have been targeting voters, asking them to contact their representatives in support of the bill.

So what can you do to fight LGBT discrimination in Matthew Shepherd's home state?

First, contact Sen. Curt Meier and voice your disapproval of his blatant discrimination, and let him know to keep it out of the state's laws.

Second, contact Rep. Joseph M. Barbuto, who staunchly opposes the bill and voice your strong support in his efforts to keep it from passing.

Freedom to Marry Day: Nationwide Information

On National Freedom to Marry Day, Thursday, February 12, 2009, at local marriage counters in cities all over the country, same-sex couples will request marriage licenses at their local County Clerk’s Offices to raise awareness of the harms and impact the inability to marry causes on their families.

“Whether we are married, domestic partnered, civil unioned or legal strangers under our particular state law, all same-sex couples are denied the 1,138 federal rights of marriage,” says Join the Impact. “With the support of President Obama and with the growing sea change towards supporting protections for same-sex couples, we are hopeful that we can finally turn our attention to overturning the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), passed in 1996, and work together to uphold the American tradition of fairness and equality by ending marriage discrimination once and for all.”

“Since 2001, Marriage Equality USA chapters have engaged in these annual marriage counter actions to render visible the discrimination that is enforced every day. It is an affront to our basic dignity as fellow human beings when same-sex couples are turned away from the marriage counter, but it gives us the opportunity to tell our stories and show that we live in every community and want to honor and protect our families like everyone else,” said Geoff Scowcroft and Peter Wolf, Marriage Equality USA, Los Angeles County Chapter Leaders. “Marriage discrimination is wrong and harms real-life families. All Americans deserve equal treatment under the law. The time has come.”

“There are already 18,000 same-sex couples married in California. We want to honor those marriages and encourage the California Supreme Court to extend this opportunity to others who wish to marry, but will once again be turned away until Proposition 8 is repealed.” said Geoff Scowcroft. Straight allies, supportive clergy and married same-sex couples are invited to support the couples seeking licenses

However, due to the holiday and some offices being closed, other parts of the country will have their actions on different days. A complete list of days and times are listed in the document below:

Valentine Events 09

Publish at Scribd or explore others: event marriage equality

More Valentine's Day actions are being planned. See the Unite the Fight calendar at the bottom of the blog.

Mormon Church Reimbursed Members for Time Spent Working on Prop 8

In yet another eye-opening scandal surrounding the Latter Day Saints Church and Proposition 8, it has been revealed that the church actually reimbursed members for their time and effort spent working on the anti-gay initiative.

Some of them include Gary Lawrence of Lawrence Research ($528,877.35); Glen Greener, former Salt Lake City Police Commissioner ($50,236.42); and
Sonja Brown, Protectmarriage.com communications director ($41,844.00) among others.

To see more, visit the CA Secretary of State.

Why is all this now just coming to light? Only now are some new reports on campaign expenditures coming in and being disclosed, as the law dictates. So stay tuned for the continued drama that the LDS Church keeps providing.