''This vision of marriage is not hateful. It's not discriminatory. It's good.... Unless we bring men and women together, children will not have mothers and fathers. I do not want to raise my own children where this traditional view of marriage is considered hateful or discriminatory, especially by my own government.... This is not about me, it's about the future ... [Read]
April 2009 Archives
''They are hugely underemployed, at best. If they are fortunate enough to get something, it's well below their capabilities. It's not just about money, it's about knowing you are a valuable person.'' Diane Schroer, a transgender female who just won her lawsuit against the Library of Congress in Maryland after she was offered an important position as a man ... [Read]
''I am moved to tears thinking about what this means to so many Mainers who have been denied this basic right for far too long. I am proud of my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee and am looking forward to the bill's final enactment.'' Maine state senator Dennis Damon on the 11-2-1 vote by the state's Judiciary Committee in favor ... [Read]
National Organization for Marriage (www.nationformarriage.org) news conference featuring Miss California Carrie Prejean to announce the launch of "No Offense," the second of NOM's previously announced $1.5 million ad campaign. Portion of a press release from the National Organization for Marriage, a conservative, political organization led by Maggie Gallagher. Carrie Prejean, the current Miss California and recent loser of the ... [Read]
''As I have stated before, these are terms that do not exist in Star Wars. Thread closed.'' SeanDahlberg, a Community Manager for the Bioware gaming software website responding to complaints that ''Gay'' and ''Lesbian'' were not being allowed in posts on the ''Star Wars: The Old Republic'' game forum. Elikal, a member of the Bioware discussion boards, had posted ... [Read]
(Metro Weekly has published a more detailed update to this event. -- 4/29/09 2:10am) ''You are the moral leaders of this community. Politicians out to be moral.... So when we disagree on something slightly or major, it's because I am a politician who's moral. I was not present on April the 6th, I was probably recovering from my transplant, ... [Read]
''He seemed like a great guy; he's very cute. I was really taken by his looks.'' An anonymous Boston male and apparent transsexual speaking on camera with the ''Today'' show, stating that he reportedly received photos and e-mails from Philip Markoff, a young, handsome medical student who was engaged to a woman, via an e-mail address: sexaddict5385@yahoo.com. Markoff has ... [Read]
''By the power vested in the state of Iowa and God, I now declare you legally married.... What an honor. Amen!'' Peg Esperanza, pastor of CHS Rainbow Cyber Church, as she completed the wedding ceremony of Shelley Wolfe and Melisa Keeton, a lesbian couple, outside of the Polk County administrative building in Des Moines, Iowa. (USA Today) ... [Read]
''It's a race and a class struggle on this. If 51 percent of the people in D.C. are African-American and you have a unanimous vote by the city council on this, somebody's not listening to the people.... The black ministers are irate that they are being shut out. They feel like nobody's listening to them.'' Harry Jackson, a African-American ... [Read]
''"And I don't care if you don't like me -- I just care if you still read my Web site.... I said she was a dumb (bleep). Well, you know what? What she said to me in that answer was that I am a second-class citizen that doesn't deserve full equality under the law.'' Perez Hilton, one of the ... [Read]
''She said, 'Ma, did you know they called Jaheem gay again today in school?' .... He said, 'Yes ma'am. He told me that he's tired of everybody always messing with him in school. He is tired of telling the teachers and the staff, and they never do anything about the problems. So, the only way out is by killing ... [Read]
''We wanted to make it completely clear that the state of Connecticut fully embraces not only the rights of same-sex couples to marry, but we fully embrace the rights and protections afforded by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the Connecticut Constitution to the free exercise of religion.'' Andrew McDonald, Democratic state senator for Connecticut speaking ... [Read]
''I remember that 40 years ago, Even people in Maine told us it was wrong to get married: 'Blacks and whites should never marry.' People say the same thing now about gay and lesbian couples.... It was wrong 40 years ago, it is wrong now!'' Bob Talbot, a member of the NAACP who is reportedly part of an interracial ... [Read]
''"If the decedent was sending email messages at 11:05 p.m. and 11:07 p.m., then obviously he wasn't dead. That would be critical to the government's case, but also more critical to the defense because it closes the window of the amount of time someone could have killed him. In this case it's alleged our clients orchestrated this whole thing.'' ... [Read]
''I'd be happy to go and deny it, because I'm not. But by denying it, I'm saying there is something shameful about it, and there isn't anything shameful.The questions about sexuality I find more here in America than anywhere else, because it's a big hang-up and defines what people think about themselves and others.'' Handsome Australian actor Hugh Jackman, ... [Read]
A Gaythering Storm from Jane Lynch ... [Read]
''The premise to your question is blatantly incorrect! ... If you believe that conservatism is letting people make choices that are best for themselves and their own families, then you don't need a Federal government coming in and telling you who you can and cannot marry and what genders they should be and what choices you should be making. ... [Read]
''Tonight, I am proud to join you in challenging the mold and the notions of what being a Republican means. I am concerned about the environment. I love to wear black. I think government is best when it stays out of people's lives and business as much as possible. I love punk rock. I believe in a strong national defense. ... [Read]
''I think gay marriage will obviously be an issue for any Republican next year because Republicans are either in favor of the position I'm in favor of, civil unions, or in many cases Republicans don't even favor civil unions... Marriage, I believe, both traditionally and legally, has always been between a man and a woman.... And Democrats, including President ... [Read]
''Well, I think it's great that American's are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you can choose -- same sex marriage or opposite marriage. And, you know what? In my country, and in my family, I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anyone out ... [Read]
''The campaign started in 2004, but now it's very much worse. They kill the gays, they beat them up... I have a lot of friends that have been killed - 15 or 16, something like that, too much.... they detain us and question us, and they want to touch me, yes, to molest me.'' A gay man living in ... [Read]
The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30cThe Colbert Coalition's Anti-Gay Marriage Adcolbertnation.comColbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical HumorNASA Name Contest ... [Read]
''This bill completes our work on domestic partnerships by making sure that we state clearly our intention to treat domestic partners in our state equally.'' Washington state Representative Jamie Pederson of Seattle on the legislature's approval to expand the legal rights of gay and lesbian domestic partnerships. It's reported that new pension benefits for public employees and other rights ... [Read]
''My take on the [Iowa Supreme Court] decision is that it is more sweeping than anybody anticipated, it's probably set a pattern maybe for other state supreme courts. As far as I'm concerned it's pretty clear where I've been on the issue of gay marriage for a long period of time.... I voted for a constitutional amendment defining traditional marriage ... [Read]
''This is a civil rights issue. For too long, gay and lesbian New Yorkers, we have pretended that they have the same rights as their neighbors and friends.'' New York Governor David Paterson continuing on his commitment to equal rights for gay men and lesbians by introducing legislation in his state that will legalize same-sex marriage there. Unfortunately, his ... [Read]
''Books that address same-sex parenting, or same-sex relationships, are particularly prone to challenges in the US. In the case of 'And Tango Makes Three,' there are many parents who believe it inappropriate to teach children anything at all about homosexual relationships, even in the form of a picture book about a true story.'' Deborah Caldwell-Stone, deputy director of the ... [Read]
''"When I found out about this web filtering software, I wasn't looking for anything sexual or inappropriate - I was looking for information about scholarships for LGBT students, and I couldn't get to it because of this software. Our schools shouldn't be keeping students in the dark about LGBT organizations and resources.'' Andrew Emitt, 17, a senior at the Knoxville, ... [Read]
''Based upon the facts as we currently know them, we believe this to be a bias-motivated crime, in that the perceived sexual orientation of the two victims appears to have motivated the assault.'' From a statement released by Allen W. Groves, Associate Vice President & Dean of Students at University of Virginia regarding an incident that occurred on April ... [Read]
''If you love your gay friends and family members, you won't visit Jamaica. If you care about the human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, you won't buy Jamaican products. We hope that all gay and gay friendly bar owners and restaurateurs across the nation will participate in 'rum dumps.' We can no longer subsidize our own ... [Read]
''I'm recently single ... I think.'' Actress Lindsay Lohan appearing on FunnyOrDie in an eHarmony-style personal profile. She mentions many of the infamous things she's known for in the tabloids, but doesn't get to the part about being straight and dating a lesbian. (FunnyOrDie) Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony Profile from Lindsay Lohan ... [Read]
The Associated Press is reporting that Maryland the legislature has passed a revision to existing inheritance laws that benefits same-sex couples. The bill still needs Governor O'Malley's signature: The Senate voted 27-18 Monday night to pass the measure... The bill adds same-sex domestic partners to the list of family members who can inherit homes without paying taxes on that ... [Read]
''There was only one item on the agenda that had to do with gay rights according to the printed agenda. For this reason, I was shocked at the boldness of the DC City Council as they voted to open the door for a marriage reciprocity measure that would allow anyone legally married in the nation to be legally received in ... [Read]
''In effect, it's going to take a seven-figure settlement to get me to drop this case. I will likely retire immediately, leave Ohio State and move back to Texas. At this point I'm totally disgusted. Every time I see Meezan, I want to punch him in the face. And this is putting it mildly.'' Rudolph Alexander, an African-American professor at ... [Read]
"If you pulled the lever for John McCain in 2008, then passing hate-crimes legislation or ENDA [Employment Non-Discrimination Act] is probably not your priority. Most issues that are defined as 'gay' issues have been defined by the left. We take a different approach.' Jimmy LaSalvia, executive director of GOProud, a newly launched group for gay Americans who are politically ... [Read]
''They were always saying, 'you're gay, you must be gay, you act like a girl.'' Sirdeaner Walker, mother of Carl J. Walker-Hoover, an 11-year-old 6th-grader who is reported to have hung himself with an electrical cord after enduring a barrage of bullying. His mother says she contacted his Charter School officials but did not receive an effective response. (WCVB) ... [Read]
"TCU will not launch any new living learning communities at this time. Instead we will assess whether the concept of housing residential students based on themes supports the academic mission of the institution as well as our objective to provide a total university experience.'' Portion of a statement from TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. It was reported earlier ... [Read]
''We didn't pay 37 million zlotys ($11 million) for the largest elephant house in Europe to have a gay elephant live there.'' Polish politician Michal Grzes commenting on Ponzan Zoo's elephant, Ninioas. (Reuters). ... [Read]
... [Read]
''There was a glitch with our sales rank feature that is in the process of being fixed. We're working to correct the problem as quickly as possible.'' Patty Smith, Amazon.com's Director of Corporate Communications, responding to the LA Times on a controversy that had developed over the missing "rank" of a number of gay-themed books. Ranking at the world's ... [Read]
''I am a California doctor who must choose between my faith and my job. I am a Massachusetts parent helplessly watching public schools teach my son that gay marriage is okay.'' Two of the made-up lines read by 23 different actors used by Maggie Gallagher's traditional conservative fear-tank National Organization for Marriage. The actors, some of whom barely speak ... [Read]
"Mission accomplished" is one of the most difficult things to say when your organization depends on working toward a cause, but Love Makes a Family did it. And other gay groups may soon need to follow suit. If the gay community truly wants to achieve equality, it will have to overcome a victim mindset that is slowly becoming obsolete.... ... [Read]
''[Protests] don't connect to other people; they don't connect to the straight world.... This is a great way to help out the community and show that we are a part of the community.'' Mike Walton, one of several gay volunteers in Salt Lake City, UT who are coordinating efforts to reach out to the community at large through charity work. ... [Read]
Bruno - Red Band Trailer | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com ... [Read]
''I'm not sure I understand. Well, I guess my thing, Larry, is that I just like the definition marriage to still be between a man and a woman.... I don't know where it's all going, but it's my desire that we keep the family unit -- it's the basis of our society. I'd love to see it stay between a ... [Read]
''I am not an anti-gay or anti-gay marriage activist. Never have been, never will be. During the whole Propositioin 8 thing, I never once went to a meeting. Never once issued a statement. Never, never once even gave an endorsement in the two years Prop 8 was going. The week before the vote, somebody in my church said, 'Pastor ... [Read]
"Well I've been trying to create a safe space on campus for the queer community. We're not creating just like a bubble for ourselves, but creating a space where we can have open dialogue and students can be comfortable.... Actually I don't feel that the Christian and the queer community are on opposite ends of the spectrum. I feel ... [Read]
''Let's be clear, this is a new era... Everyone would agree we have a tricky relationship with Congress, even when our allies are in power. But progress is made by moving forward, not standing still.'' D.C. Councilman David Catania who worked for the successful passage of legislation to enable the city of Washington to accept same-sex marriages that are ... [Read]
Carcieri said he is not anti-gay, but does not believes this is a "civil rights issue,'' as argued by those urging the legislature here to allow same-sex marriage. He said he believes children "prosper'' best in homes with a mother and a father. "I am a traditionalist,'' he said, and this is a "definitional issue'' that should be decided ... [Read]
''Jack was one of the earlier pioneers in helping to bring awareness to the gay community by being open about who he was and about following his dreams. We are deeply saddened as he is an essential part of our gay history. Our sympathies go out to his family'.'' Lewis Tice, Director of Publicity and Marketing for TLA Releasing, which ... [Read]
''I don't think it's ironic, I think it's significant.'' Christine C. Quinn, New York's City Council speaker, remarking about the city's newest tourism effort, the Rainbow Pilgrimage. It is designed to court GLBT visitors by specifically highlighting the riots that resulted from police harassment at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 along with events and entertainment of interest to gay ... [Read]
''Under Bush, it felt a bit like we were crashing our own party. But this year it feels like we're equally honored guests. It's more celebratory.'' Leah McElrath Renna of Washington, DC, who has twice visited the White House Easter Egg Hunt with her partner, Cathy Renna & their 3-year-old daughter. It's reported that blocks of tickets to event ... [Read]
''The emotion that is going around this building right now -- how good people feel -- it's palpable. It's not often that you get in your career to be able to fight for someone's civil rights.'' Vermont state Senate Majority Leader John Campbell, who led his colleagues this morning in overriding Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of a gay marriage ... [Read]
"What we are doing is taking away the mayor's discretion in cases where the outcome is obvious. The issue is about whether we give full faith and credit to other states." Washington D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson on the upcoming hearing to consider the legalities of accepting same-sex marriages -- that is, not to approve of legal marriages taking ... [Read]
''I am humbled by the invitation to join President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. I hope this council will draw upon the richness of our unique perspectives to advise the president on policies that will improve the lives of all the people we have been called to serve. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is ... [Read]
"It will not come up. I have no intention of taking it up.... I'm not inclined to move legislation forward on this issue next year. It's time we learned to accept them.... I've learned a lot. I've talked to a lot of people. I see a bunch of people who merely want to profess their love for each other. ... [Read]
''This legislation does not address the inequalities espoused by proponents... Regardless of whether the term marriage is applied, federal benefits will still be denied to same sex couples in Vermont.'' Vermont's Governor Jim Douglas in a prepared statement that accompanied his veto today of a bill that easily passed in both of that state's Senate and House, however the 95-52 ... [Read]
''We are taking a brief break so I can focus on myself.'' Actress Lindsay Lohan discussing the tabloid headliner of a relationship she shares with lesbian DJ Samantha Ronson. (E! Online) ... [Read]
''This guy was operating in the heart of the gay entertainment district for years acting on his anti-gay animus and no one in an official [capacity] was calling him out on it.... He was operating out of the Town Hall police station.... [They are] supposed to be a shining oasis for sensitivity training for the LGBT community. If this happened ... [Read]
''The Iowa statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution.... Equal protection under the Iowa Constitution is essentially a direction that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike. Since territorial times, Iowa has given meaning to this constitutional provision, striking blows to slavery and ... [Read]
''I hurt people that I didn't intend to hurt and when you do something like that, yes, I believe that you should say you're sorry. I never intended to hurt anybody in the gay community, or be malicious, or look like a hateful guy. I never meant to hurt anyone in the gay or lesbian community at all, in any ... [Read]
''The decision means that gender no longer has an impact on the ability to marry and that the law on registered partnership is repealed.'' Statement from Sweden's government website acknowledging the passage of a same-sex marriage bill by a vote of 261-22. This makes Sweden the fifth European country to provide marriage equality to gay men and lesbians. (Reuters) ... [Read]
''The kids have been crying. It's sad because they know mommy is leaving.... We already fought our families for our relationship common. Now it's no longer the family it's something else.'' Jay Mercado, whose lesbian partner, Shirley Tan, is being deported to the Phillipines. Mercardo and Tan have been together for 23 years and have 12-year-old twin boys. They were ... [Read]
''You're talking about a year of my son's college education savings down the tubes.... I have no issue paying taxes but if you're going to tax me, then please give me the same services you would give any other citizen.'' Michael Lacey of Montgomery County, MD, who lost his partner Ira Kaye in an automobile accident last year. Lacey ... [Read]
''The promise of full equality of the marriage statutes that we held out in 2000 by creating civil unions, we believe, has not been fulfilled.'' Representative William Lippert, an openly gay Democrat, who took part in debate about Vermont's current gay civil unions still not equating marriage as was mandated by that's state's Supreme Court. The new same-sex marriage ... [Read]
''The signers of this petition are mired in the fears and politics of the past. More than 75 percent of the American public, including most younger service members as well as many active duty flag officers, realize the question is not if 'don't ask, don't tell' is repealed, but when and how.'' Aubrey Sarvis of Servicemembers Legal Defense reacting ... [Read]
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