2010 or 2012? When Should We Repeal Prop 8?

Several LGBT organizations, Equality California, HONOR PAC, Marriage Equality USA as well as Courage Campaign are surveying their members to ask them whether they support going back to the ballot in 2010 or 2012 (if the California Supreme Court upholds Proposition 8).

They are asking their members to reply to the following survey by 5pm PDT Wednesday

For example, here is EQCA's email:

1. EQCA Member Survey - Input to Possible Ballot Initiative and Future Campaign

 

If the state Supreme Court upholds Proposition 8... should EQCA support going back to the ballot to restore marriage equality to California in 2010 or 2012?

Some arguments for placing a marriage equality initiative on the ballot in 2010:

:: We should take advantage of the powerful grassroots activism that has emerged following the passage of Prop 8 by going back sooner rather than later. That energy will dissipate if we wait until 2012.

:: By November 2010, we will have full marriage equality in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and very likely in New York and New Jersey. Given these developments, Californians should not wait beyond 2010 to try and restore the right to marry.

:: In November 2010, the top of the Democratic ticket - the gubernatorial candidate - will support overturning Prop 8 and restoring the right to marry. In 2012, it's questionable whether President Obama will take that position.

Some arguments for placing a marriage equality initiative on the ballot in 2012:

:: We have hundreds of thousands of voters to convince on the issue of marriage equality. Even if we work our hardest, it will take three-plus years to do that work.

:: On this issue, time is on our side. By 2012, an even greater number of voters will have come our way. So why risk it in 2010 when we probably have a better chance in 2012.

:: We will once again need tens of millions of dollars to run a strong campaign. Given the state of today's economy and the fact that people just gave so much to the No on 8 campaign, we should wait before going right back to the ballot. 

 When do you think we should go back to the ballot box?

2010 2012 I am still not sure

Tell us more. Why did you pick date?

I voted for 2012. I am fine with either date, but I think we need to have three conditions met before our community can be assured of winning a prospective vote on marriage equality:

1. Multiple polls showing support for marriage equality above 50% taking into account the margin of error
2. Three to Five Million Dollars in the bank to support the effort on Day One
3. A detailed, written plan describing the campaign committee structure with functions clearly designated and an explicit chain of command for decision making.

Please make your thoughts known!

Voters Say NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, YES to Propositions

California voters said to the Governor and Legislature yesterday, we really, really, really don't like you, and rejected all five of the budgeting propositions and approved the one proposition which had almost no budget impact but prohibits legislative pay raises when budgets are not completed.

CA-32: Judy Chu Wins Primary Election!

MadProfessah-endorsed candidate Judy Chu won the hotly contested Primary for the Democratic Nomination for the 32nd Congressional District to represent the seat vacated by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. With 100% of precincts reporting Chu leads Gil Cedillo by 4,124 votes, 31.9% to 23.38%, a margin which is less votes than 26-year-old Emmanuel Pleitez received (6,509).

Amusingy, Judy Chu will face Republican Betty Chu in the runoff election, set for mid July. However, in the overwhelmingly Democratic district, Judy Chu is assured to become the first Asian American Congresswoman to represent Los Angeles County.

Congrats to Judy and all my friends who worked on the campaign. Go sleep. You did good.

WA-Gov: Gregoire Statement on Signing DP Bill

Rich Roesler / The Spokesman-Review

As expected, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire signed Senate Bill 5688 into law on Monday, and released the following statement:

SEATTLE – At a ceremony in Seattle today, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed Senate Bill 5688, which ensures that under state law state-registered domestic partners are treated the same as married spouses.

“Today we are strengthening Washington by strengthening families,” Gregoire said. “From the first bill I signed in 2007 to today’s bills, we have proudly made immeasurable strides on behalf of LGBT individuals and families. This represents the culmination of incredible work to treat all Washingtonians equally.”

In 2007, Substitute Senate Bill 5336 created the state domestic partnership registry. The legislation allows individuals to enter into a state domestic partnership if they meet established criteria. Some of the powers and rights of spouses were granted to domestic partnerships in that legislation.

The Legislature passed, and Gregoire signed, House Bill 3104 in 2008, which added additional rights and responsibilities relating to issues such as dissolutions, community property, estate planning, taxes, court process, conflicts of interest for public officials and guardianships.

“Many brave families have come forward to share their lives, their struggles and their moments of joy – hard-working men and women who are in committed relationships, raising children, attending their places of worship, and volunteering in their communities,” Gregoire said. “After meeting these families, people have come to know that lesbian and gay families are no different than their own. And what has naturally followed is the unsettling notion that despite the sameness of straight couples and gay and lesbian couples, there are, in fact, legal barriers that prevent the same treatment.”

This new legislation requires state agencies to ensure that all privileges, immunities, rights, benefits, or responsibilities granted to married individuals are granted to an individual who is or was in a state registered domestic partnership.

“There can be no question that the landscape of equality for gay and lesbian families is changing, here and across the nation,” said Sen. Ed Murray (D-Seattle), who sponsored the bill in the Senate. “Today, eleven years after our state established the intolerance of DOMA into law, Washington law will finally treat gay and lesbian families the same as married couples. Recently, Iowa and Vermont have legalized full marriage equality. Of course, marriage equality is the final goal for gay and lesbian families here in Washington too. We will pursue full equality, but with our full but cautious commitment.”

“This bill is about protecting families – mine and over 5,300 others in 278 cities and towns across Washington state,” said Rep. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle), who sponsored the bill in the House. “Making sure that all Washington families enjoy the full and equal protection of the law strengthens our whole community.”

Gregoire also signed House Bill 1445, which permits domestic partners to receive the survivor and death benefits available to spouses from the Washington State Patrol Retirement System and House Bill 1616 to provide qualified domestic partners the same pension and Public Employees’ Benefits Board reimbursement benefits available to spouses of members of Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System Plan 2. These include retirement and disability survivor benefits, military service credit benefits, and withdrawal and annuity benefits paid upon a member’s death.

Congratulations to Washington state!

Nevada Legislature Passes DP Bill; Gov Threatens Veto

Both houses of the Nevada legislature have passed Senate Bill 283 which would enact a relatively comprehensive domestic partnership law in the Silver State, however the Republican Governor has threatened to veto the measure.

The bill passed the Assembly 26-14 (2 votes shy of a veto proof majority) and passed the Senate 12-9 (also 2 votes shy of a veto proof majority).

Nevada amended its constitution in 2000 and 2002 to ban same-sex marriage. Equality Nevada held its first lobby day this Spring.

MadProfessah Endorses Chu, Weiss and Koretz

MadProfessah with 32nd Congressional District candidate Judy Chu

MadProfessah with Los Angeles City Attorney candidate Jack Weiss

MadProfessah with 5th District Los Angeles City Council candidate Paul Koretz

MadProfessah has already published my picks for tomorrow's special election. Basically, Chu, Weiss  and Koretz and YES on 1B, 1D and 1E.

Gregoire To Sign Comprehensive DP Bill Into Law Today

Today, Democratic Governor Chris Gregoire of Washington will sign her state's comprehensive domestic partnership bill into law today. Heterosexual supremacists led by professional homophobe Gary Randall have launched a referendum campaign to prevent SB. 5688 from becoming law and forcing a vote on the measure in November 2009.

Eye Candy: Quentin Elias

Quentin Elias is a French-Algerian model who has been featured at Queerty.com. I include him in Eye Candy to prove that "hotties" come in all colors!

International Day Against Homophobia

Today is May 17th, the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, which is also the anniversary of the date the Goodridge decision went into effect in Massachusetts, legalizing same-sex marriage for the first time in the United States. May 17, 1954 was the day the United States Supreme Court decision of Brown v Board of Education was released.

However, the official reason for picking May 17th by the founder and organizer ofthe day, Professor Louis-Georges Tin is that in 1992 the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as  a mental disorder.

Today also happens to be Long Beach Pride. Happy Homophobia (and Transphobia) Day!

Federer Beats Nadal To Win Madrid Clay Masters!

Shocking almost all prognosticators World #2 Roger Federer defeated World #1 Rafael Nadal in straight sets 6-4 6-4 to win the Madrid Masters 1000 title in 86 minutes. This is the first time in 6 matches that Federer has defeated Nadal, and is only the second time in 20 matches that he has beaten the Spaniard on his best surface of clay. Their overall head-to-head score is 13-7 (in favor of Nadal).

Nadal was thwarted in his attempt to become the first man to win all three clay court Masters tournaments in a single season by his arch-nemesis, the 13-time grand slam champion.

Nadal Defeats Djokovic In Thriller; Faces Federer

Rafael Nadal saved 3 match points against Novak Djokovic to win his semifinal match in 4 hours and 2 minutes 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(9) in front of 12,500 fans in Madrid, Spain. Federer defeated Juan Martin del Potro 6-3 6-4 to set up a 16th meeting with Nadal in a final and 20th overall. Nadal leads 9-1 on clay, has won the last 5 matches they played (including 3 consecutive Grand Slam finals in Melbourne, London and Paris) and overall has only lost 6 times to Federer in 19 matches.

Spare a thought for World #4 Novak Djokovic who showed to many that he is the world's second best player on clay by holding 3 match points against Nadal and still managed to lose due to some incredible shotmaking from World #1. Roll the tape:

The question is whether Nadal will be tired from today's match that he wll not be able to beat Federer. Honestly, I doubt that. Nadal played one of the best matches of the year against Fernando Verdasco in Australia (over 5 hours of brilliant tennis) and then just over 24 hours later beat Federer in 5-sets on hard courts. Tomorrow's match is a 3-set match on Nadal's best surface and I honestly don't see how Nadal doesn't win and extend his lead of Federer to 6 consecutive wins and 14-6.  I do HOPE that Federer plays as agressively as he can and takes it to Nadal.

MadProfessah's Prediction: Nadal in 3 sets.

Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and Del Potro in Madrid Semis

Juan Martin del Potro

Roger Federer

Novak Djokovic

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro will face each other in the semifinals of the (new) Madrid Masters Series clay court champoinships. Nadal will face Djokovic and Federer will face del Potro (who defeated World #3 Andy Murray).

MadProfessah prediction: Nadal defeats Djokovic in 3 sets, Federer defeats del Potro in 2 sets.

First Anniversary of CA Gay Marriage Decision

Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, one of the lead counsels for the plaintiffs in the In Re Marriage Cases lawsuit has issued a statement on the 1-year anniversary of the May 15, 2008 decision entitled "Fasten Your Seatbelts":

Today is the one year anniversary of the California Supreme Court’s groundbreaking ruling striking down the exclusion of same-sex couples from the right to marry. On the morning of May 15, 2008 I stood on the Supreme Court steps—with hundreds of others—and cheered, the Court’s ruling clasped in my hand. The sun was bright, filling San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza with warmth rivaled only by the elation spreading across the faces of the joyous crowd. I was surrounded by plaintiff couples from our marriage case and our colleagues from Lambda Legal, the ACLU, Equality California, and Our Family Coalition. But what I will always remember—more than anything else—was the profound belief that life had changed forever for every LGBT person in the nation.

We are all familiar with the events that followed: the right-wing groups gathered enough signatures to qualify Prop 8 on the ballot, our long and arduous battle against their campaign of deceit and lies, and the devastating moment when—for the first time in California’s history—voters used the initiative process to strip a fundamental right from a minority group

In the wake of that loss, the promise of lasting change, which I felt one year ago, dimmed almost to nothing. Yet now, a year and a huge setback later, our nation has undergone a sea-change in public attitudes and opinion. In the days following the passage of Prop 8, our community and allies banded together and held rallies and vigils attended by thousands; that energy has found life in new organizations and tireless new leadership. In the past few weeks we have seen a major shift as first Iowa, then Vermont, and then Maine embraced full equality and fairness. Just yesterday, Governor John Lynch of New Hampshire said that he would sign the marriage bill passed by the legislature in that state, making New Hampshire the sixth state to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples. New York and New Jersey loom on the horizon and public opinion is shifting massively in our direction.

The past year has been a glorious and crushing roller coaster—it has been a movement. A civil and human rights movement. While we do not know how the California Supreme Court will rule in our current lawsuit challenging the validity of Prop 8, we are fervently hopeful that the Court will once again embrace justice and equality for all. It is time for the insult that is Prop 8 to be struck down. California is now out of sync with the irresistible tide of awareness that it is not merely legally, but morally and socially, intolerable to relegate same-sex couples to anything less than full marriage equality.

Regardless of how the Court rules, we must all renew our commitment to finish this work—for all of us. Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

The California Supreme Court will be ruling on the constitutionality of Proposition 8 very soon. On every Wednesday and Friday at 10am (until June 3rd), the Court will announce whether the ruling will come out the following business day.

To stay informed of the decision, you can go to Overturn8.nclrights.org

Celebrity Friday: Wanda Sykes Is A Mommy!

Thanks to Joe.My.God I found out that Wanda Sykes is a brand new proud parent! According to People magazine, the comedian's wife gave birth to twins on April 27th:

Wanda Sykes and her wife, Alex, welcomed twins on April 27, her rep tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Daughter Olivia Lou weighed in at 6 lbs., 7 oz., and was 19-inches long. Son Lucas Claude debuted at 7 lbs., 9 oz., and was 20-inches long. The comedian's wife gave birth to the babies.

"All are happy and healthy and at home," says Sykes's rep Danica Smith.

The actress, who stars on New Adventures of Old Christine, and her wife were married on Oct. 25, 2008. The twins are the first children for the couple.

Will the Supreme Court of California divorce the parents of Olivia and Lucas by upholding Proposition 8? Stay tuned.

Text Of "Religious Freedom Amendment" To HB 436

Here is the text of the language Governor John Lynch (D-NH) has insisted must be included into that state's marriage equality bill in order for him to sign it into law:

I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a religious organization, association, or society, or any individual who is managed, directed, or supervised by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society, or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society, shall not be required to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges to an individual if such request for such services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges is related to the solemnization of a marriage, the celebration of a marriage, or the promotion of marriage through religious counseling, programs, courses, retreats, or housing designated for married individuals, and such solemnization, celebration, or promotion of marriage is in violation of their religious beliefs and faith. Any refusal to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods or privileges in accordance with this section shall not create any civil claim or cause of action or result in any state action to penalize or withhold benefits from such religious organization, association or society, or any individual who is managed, directed, or supervised by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society, or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society.

II. The marriage laws of this state shall not be construed to affect the ability of a fraternal benefit society to determine the admission of members pursuant to RSA 418:5, and shall not require a fraternal benefit society that has been established and is operating for charitable and educational purposes and which is operated, supervised or controlled by or in connection with a religious organization to provide insurance benefits to any person if to do so would violate the fraternal benefit society's free exercise of religion as guaranteed by the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States and part 1, article 5 of the Constitution of New Hampshire.

III. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed or construed to limit the protections and exemptions provided to religious organizations under RSA § 354-A:18.

IV. Repeal. RSA 457-A, relative to civil unions, is repealed effective January 1, 2011, except that no new civil unions shall be established after January 1, 2010.

I would like a reiteration that nothing in this statute allows discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation but, barring that, perhaps a severability clause if one part of the bill is struck down, the rest of the statute remains law.

LAPD Caught On Tape Kicking Suspect In Head

NH Gov Says He Will Sign Marriage Bill

> the Governor's statement, from his website:
>
> http://www.governor.nh.gov/news/2009/051409same.html
>
>
> "The gay marriage debate in New Hampshire has been filled with passion
> and emotion on all sides.
>
> "My personal views on the subject of marriage have been shaped by my
> own experience, tradition and upbringing. But as Governor of New
> Hampshire, I recognize that I have a responsibility to consider this
> issue through a broader lens.
>
> "In the past weeks and months, I have spoken with lawmakers, religious
> leaders and citizens. My office has received thousands of phone calls,
> letters and emails. I have studied our current marriage and civil
> union laws, the laws of other states, the bills recently passed by the
> legislature and our history and traditions.
>
> "Two years ago, we passed civil unions legislation here in New
> Hampshire. That law gave same-sex couples in civil unions the same
> rights and protections as marriage. And in typical New Hampshire
> fashion, the people of this state embraced civil unions and agreed we
> needed to continue our tradition of opposing discrimination.
>
> "At its core, HB 436 simply changes the term 'civil union' to 'civil
> marriage.' Given the cultural, historical and religious significance
> of the word marriage, this is a meaningful change.
>
> "I have heard, and I understand, the very real feelings of same-sex
> couples that a separate system is not an equal system. That a civil
> law that differentiates between their committed relationships and
> those of heterosexual couples undermines both their dignity and the
> legitimacy of their families.
>
> "I have also heard, and I understand, the concerns of our citizens who
> have equally deep feelings and genuine religious beliefs about
> marriage. They fear that this legislation would interfere with the
> ability of religious groups to freely practice their faiths.
>
> "Throughout history, our society's views of civil rights have
> constantly evolved and expanded. New Hampshire's great tradition has
> always been to come down on the side of individual liberties and
> protections.
>
> "That is what I believe we must do today.
>
> "But following that tradition means we must act to protect both the
> liberty of same-sex couples and religious liberty. In their current
> form, I do not believe these bills accomplish those goals.
>
> "The Legislature took an important step by clearly differentiating
> between civil and religious marriage, and protecting religious groups
> from having to participate in marriage ceremonies that violate their
> fundamental religious beliefs.
>
> "But the role of marriage in many faiths extends beyond the actual
> marriage ceremony.
>
> "I have examined the laws of other states, including Vermont and
> Connecticut, which have recently passed same-sex marriage laws. Both
> go further in protecting religious institutions than the current New
> Hampshire legislation.
>
> "This morning, I met with House and Senate leaders, and the sponsors
> of this legislation, and gave them language that will provide
> additional protections to religious institutions.
>
> "This new language will provide the strongest and clearest protections
> for religious institutions and associations, and for the individuals
> working with such institutions.
> It will make clear that they cannot be forced to act in ways that
> violate their deeply held religious principles.
>
> "If the legislature passes this language, I will sign the same-sex
> marriage bill into law. If the legislature doesn't pass these
> provisions, I will veto it.
>
> "We can and must treat both same-sex couples and people of certain
> religious traditions with respect and dignity.
>
> "I believe this proposed language will accomplish both of these goals
> and I urge the legislature to pass it.

Competing Marriage Equality Ads in New Hampshire

There is an air war going on in New Hampshire as Governor John Lynch decides on what he wants to do with HB 436 when it reaches his desk. He will have five days to either sign or veto the bill or it becomes law without his signature. Here are the competing videos:

First, here's the opposition from the "National Organization for Marriage":


Notice the use of the religious imagery of the yellow cross in the "marriage is between a man + a woman" even though this legislation is about civil marriage and does not impact the definition of marriage for any church, synagogue or mosque. Shameless exploitation of children, not unexpectedly (litotes!)

And now here's the New Hampshire Freedom To Marry Coalition ad


Please help NH FTM raise money to keep this ad on the air. They say they are being outspent 3 to 1 by NOM.

New York Assembly Passes Marriage Equality Bill

The New York State Assembly passed the marriage equality bill  (A.7732/O'Donnell)(S.4401/Duane) by a vote of 89 to 52 on Tuesday, about two years after it had previously done so by a vote of 85-61. However, this year the bill has a chance of passing the State Senate and becoming law:

The Pride Agenda attributes the increased margin of victory in the Assembly to two main factors: greater understanding by legislators that only civil marriage and not any other legal mechanism provides equality for same-sex couples and recognition by legislators that support for marriage equality is not politically toxic at the ballot box.

“Several legislators who are now supporters but weren’t earlier have told me their evolution on this issue is due to having a much better understanding that only a civil marriage license provides equality for our families,” said Van Capelle. “Legislators also saw that a vote for marriage equality in 2007 had absolutely no impact on who won or lost last November.”

Legalizing marriage for same-sex couples is supported by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, as well as every statewide official, including Governor Paterson, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. A recent Siena poll showed that, by a 14-point spread, the majority of New Yorkers support making marriage legal for same-sex couples (53% - 39%).

“The only remaining barrier to ending second-class status for gay and lesbian families in New York is now the State Senate,” said Van Capelle. “To every single member of the State Senate I say this: The landscape has shifted in New York. Do you want to be on the right side or the wrong side of history when the story is written about how marriage equality came to New York? Your grandchildren will want to know how you voted on this important human rights issue. This is a legacy vote.”

The only question is when not whether all citizens in New York State will have access to the rights and responsibilities of marriage.

No (Out) Lesbians On Obama's New SCOTUS List

The names of the six people on Barack Obama's short list of potential nominees to the United States Supreme Court have been leaked and the list apparently no longer contains any known lesbians.

They are:

Diane Wood of the 7th Circuit
Solicitor General Elena Kagan
Sonia Sotomayor of the 2nd Circuit
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano
Merrick Garland of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals

This list is very different from previous lists. The only male on the list is Garland, who is a 56-year-old white male. Change we can believe in? Hell no! Any of the others are acceptable.

However, many others will be upset that out lesbians Kathleen Sullivan and Pamela Karlan (both former Deans of Stanford Law School) are no longer on the list. However, Janet"Quacks Like A Duck" Napolitano is aparently still on the short list of 6 people who are being vetted by the White House and filling out extensive surveys.

Latina (9th Circuit Appellate Judge) Kim Wardlaw or African American (and Rod 2.0 favorite) Georgia Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears have also seemed to have dropped off.

I still have my money on Sonia Sotomayor. I think another woman on the court is essential, and having a Black man nominate a Latino person would be a great historic first.