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