Maine votes against equality

Maine voters repealed the state's same-sex marriage law:

With 87 percent of precincts reporting early Wednesday morning, 53 percent of voters had approved the repeal, ending an expensive and emotional fight that was closely watched around the country as a referendum on the national gay-marriage movement. Polls had suggested a much closer race. full article

REPEAL DOMA NOW

DOMA repeal introduced. Take action here.

trans federal employees included in recent Obama memo

According to John Berry, director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the highest-ranking openly gay official in the Obama Administration, the presidential memorandum that President Obama signed last week giving same-sex domestic partners of federal employees benefits also extends to trans employees. Full article

counting same-sex partnerships

The Wall Street Journal reports:

The White House said Thursday it was seeking ways to include same-sex marriages, unions and partnerships in 2010 Census data, the second time in a week the administration has signaled a policy change of interest to the gay community.

The administration has directed the Census Bureau to determine changes needed in tabulation software to allow for same-sex marriage data to be released early in 2011 with other detailed demographic information from the decennial count. The bureau historically hasn't released same-sex marriage data. full article

placating the vote

Now that several powerful gay fundraisers have withdrawn from a DNC fund raiser in June where Biden is speaking, Obama is expected to announce that same-sex partners will be receiving federal benefits on Wednesday

Obama wishy-washy on LGBT issues

A few days ago, the Obama Justice Department, in filing a notice of a motion to dismiss the first same-sex marriage case filed in federal court, upheld the Defense of Marriage Act--although he opposed DOMA as a presidential candidate.

The dismissal came shortly after June 1st, when President Obama declared June Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. While the religious right is outraged, evangelicals are not Obama voters to begin with. No political loss.

Although I am not a fan of marriage, it is clear to me that a marriage license is a tangible item, and dedicating a month is abstract, symbolic and not particularly productive. I am not impressed by the dog and pony show.

marriage equality

sign the petition here

Barney Frank makes positive predictions

Political Intelligence Reports:

Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, one of a handful of openly gay members of Congress, says he believes that Congress will soon pass laws protecting transgender people from hate crimes and granting them benefits and that President Obama will this year overturn the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gay members of the military.

But he told the website gay365.com that he doubts that the law defining marriage as between a man and a woman will be overturned. And Frank said he doesn't believe the Supreme Court will overturn the Defense of Marriage Act, either, using a harsh description of Justice Antonin Scalia.

"I wouldn't want it to go to the Supreme Court now because that homophobe Antonin Scalia's got too many votes on this current court," Frank said...

go portia

come lobby Prop 8 in Sacramento

Please join us on Tuesday, February 17 in Sacramento for Equality California’s Marriage Equality Lobby Day.

www.eqca.org/2009lobbyday

Eharmony to offer same-sex matches

Finally...

The Pasadena-based dating website, heavily promoted by Christian evangelical leaders when it was founded, has agreed in a civil rights settlement to give up its heterosexuals-only policy and offer same-sex matches. (full article)

3 lawsuits already filed against Prop 8

Lawyers for same-sex couples argued that the anti-gay-marriage measure was an illegal constitutional revision -- not a more limited amendment, as backers maintained -- because it fundamentally altered the guarantee of equal protection. A constitutional revision, unlike an amendment, must be approved by the Legislature before going to voters. (full article)

While I was horrified that Prop 8 passed in my own backyard, I can't help but look at the silver lining: this issue will finally be dealt with once and for all. If Prop 8 did not pass, we would continue to see it again and again. It might take some time, but let's just kill this once and for all in court.

what does Palin know about liberty?

After all, she supports an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ban same-sex marriages in America. Small government my ass.

McCain believes that this is a state issue--but as he is likely to croak sooner than later, one must give Palin's bible-beating banter strong consideration.

Check out the full article.

gay marriage in Connecticut!

woot woot:

The ruling, which cannot be appealed and is to take effect on Oct. 28, held that a state law limiting marriage to heterosexual couples, and a civil union law intended to provide all the rights and privileges of marriage to same-sex couples, violated the constitutional guarantees of equal protection under the law. (read more)

heterosexism in the class room

I was irked today when my professor was talking about women and extra-marital relations, and referenced these extra-marital partners as men.

The underlying assumption would be that women seek affairs only with men. That is a bias and inaccurate assessment of reality. Had the topic not moved too quickly and closed my window of opportunity, I would have enjoyed correcting him.

The secret lives of married men--and women

In his article featured in the Huffington Post, The Secret Lives of Married Men, the author describes the Spitzer situation as no surprise, but instead a common need for sexual variety felt by married men. Then he quotes a psychologist that explains how honest and open relationships are happier than those ridden with guilt and lies, or those truly monogamous ones that are crippled with resentment and boredom.

That is all fine and dandy, but I am offended that this is labeled as simply a male desire. While true statistics of infidelity will never be available, if there is a disparity, it is only because women are socialized to suppress and be shameful of sexual desire and fantasy. Not to mention this is coupled with a sense of self that is predicated on satisfying others and never one self. Therefore, a typically socialized female could in theory be less likely to act out her desires for sexual variety, as she had traumatized her sexual exploration long ago, and may be more compelled by the romance of "happily ever after" than her need to tap someone else.

But this is one scenario for a woman who has absorbed the typical female script, and regardless, lots of women cheat.

The need for sexual variety is valid in all sexual beings, despite genitals or gender identification.

Also, the author finishes his slanted piece by romanticizing himself as a polyamorist, which he confuses with the practice of getting lots of ass aside from his spouse. Polyamory is characterized by multiple meaningful relations--it's not a pretty word for swinging.

CA Supreme Court takes up same-sex marriage

The trial begins on Tuesday, and a ruling is due within 90 days. This could be very exciting.

what an obnoxious article

I am not sure why any educated professional would want to further stigmatize divorce, but here it is.

Olivia Zaleski from the Huffington Post writes, "Is Divorce Bad for the Environment?"

Wow, I hate her. Why don't we amp up the guilt on people making healthy decisions for their own lives and families? It's actually very brave to make an abrupt lifestyle change often frowned upon by outsiders.

Perhaps what she is trying to say that the more people in one house, the more environmentally efficient. That is a different point.

Why don't we work on more comprehensive awareness in achieving sustainable lifestyles for everyone--single or married--before we try to think of some quirky frame that is in reality a lame cheap shot. It is clear that some one thought she stumbled upon something clever and cute--when it is really just obnoxious and aggravating.

Perhaps the author thought she was writing a funny article, but cultural humor is simply a way to reaffirm social taboos through an innocent guise. Way to completely undermine progress!

I think that people need to make healthy choices for themselves, personally and environmentally. Statistically, marriage is a failing institution. We need to stop glorifying "holy" matrimony in the first place. Maybe then the masses would not be running into marriages that can't and don't work, whether they separate or remain miserable together.

I guess I must be Exxon if I am advocating delayed and/or no marriage.

By the way, most people downgrade the size of dwelling after divorce.

If you are so concerned about your carbon emission post-divorce, get a roommate.

the positive side of the Federal Marriage Amendment

While the Federal Marriage Amendment--which is a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and woman, and preventing same-sex and unmarried couples from accessing rights available to married heterosexual couples--usually angers me, I have to say that now, it actually quite pleases me.

What this proposed amendment and all of its supporters screams loud and clear is that, without it, any restrictions of prohibitions against same-sex and unmarried couples are unconstitutional. Of course any one with a brain already knew this...but it's nice to get the admission from the opposing side.

So please, save your legally-enacted homophobia for when you actually pass an amendment to our Constitution. Until then, shut the fuck up and stop restricting marriage, civil unions, adoption, and other forms of rights available to partners.

NY recognizes out-of-state same-sex marriages

A New York appellate court ruled Friday that valid out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples must be legally recognized in New York, just as the law recognizes those of heterosexual couples solemnized elsewhere. Lawyers for both sides said the ruling applied to all public and private employers in the state.