Protect Marriage Equality

Arizona’s Roman Catholic bishops have endorsed Proposition 102, which would amend the state constitution to deny marriage rights to same-sex couples.

Read the full story at the Arizona Daily Star.

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has released a video on YouTube urging Californians to vote for Proposition 8 — the constitutional amendment that would make gay marriage in the State illegal once more — where he falsely claims that California Supreme Court judges are appointees….

Gingrich’s opposition to gay marriage is certain fodder for tabloid gossip. The Contract with America co-author has been married three times and divorced twice And has admitted to having an affair while leading the charge against then-President Bill Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky affair….

Read the full story by Carlos Santoscoy at On Top Magazine.

History-making married lesbian couple Robin Tyler and Diane Olson have joined up with a coalition of celebrities and advocates in an ad campaign urging a “No” vote on California’s constitutional same-sex marriage ban Proposition 8, which is on the November ballot.

“The California Supreme Court, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the mayors of the three largest cities in California are all against Proposition 8,” notes actress Carolyn Hennesy in one of the spots.

Engaged couple Heather Matarazzo and Caroline Murphy, actors Tyne Daly, Christine Lahti, Camryn Mannheim and Wilson Cruz, Air America comediennes Frangela, labor organizer Dolores Huerta and Rev. Neil G. Thomas are among those who also contributed their time and voices to the campaign, recently featured in The Advocate….

Read the full story by Nick Langewis at PageOneQ.

Gay rights activists in Australia have welcomed a new bill that aims to ensure equal treatment for gay and lesbian couples.

The Same-Sex Entitlements Bill was introduced in the Federal Parliament today.

It will remove discrimination against same-sex partners in areas like immigration, taxation, veterans’ pensions and aged care, and follows a bill introduced earlier this year aimed at removing discrimination in superannuation….

The new legislation, which effects 19 government departments and amends 68 laws, recognises de facto couples, even if one or both partners is still legally married to someone else.

Some Liberal party critics have accused Labour of legalising polygamy….

Read the full story by Tony Grew at PinkNews.

Back in 1999, in her hometown of Dallas, Gretchen Hamm went shopping for something special for her daughter Kathryn’s gay wedding ceremony.

“You know how you think everything’s already been invented?” asks Hamm. But, even at the city’s leading gay bookstore, there were no same-sex wedding products.

No cake toppers. No wedding albums. No guest books. No wedding invitations. Nothing to commemorate a two-brides (or two-grooms) wedding or commitment celebration.

A little later, at her daughter’s wedding shower, Hamm was complaining about this lack of merchandise when one of the guests suggested she start her own business to fill the void.

“I said, ‘You know, I think I will.’ ” And the rest, as they say, is Internet retail history….

Read the full story by Ellen Warren in the Chicago Tribune.

Officials with Log Cabin Republicans and National Stonewall Democrats, the nation’s largest gay GOP and gay Democratic groups, offered sharply differing views this week on Sarah Palin’s gay rights record as the groups jumped into the political fray over a vice presidential pick that surprised leaders of both parties….

During her 2006 gubernatorial campaign, Palin revealed her approach to certain gay issues in a questionnaire for Eagle Forum Alaska, a conservative group.

Among other questions, the group asked, “Will you support an effort to expand hate crime laws?” Palin responded, “No, as I believe all heinous crime is based on hate.”

She also answered a question about extending spousal benefits to domestic partners. That question asked, “Do you support the Alaska Supreme Court’s ruling that spousal benefits for state employees should be given to same-sex couples?” Palin responded, “No, I believe spousal benefits are reserved for married citizens as defined in our constitution.”

Another question asked Palin for her priorities “in relationship to families.” The second priority she listed was “preserving the definition of ‘marriage’ as defined in our constitution.”

The questionnaire also asked whether candidates would support funding for abstinence-until-marriage programs, an issue that hits close to home for Palin, whose 17-year-old daughter is five months pregnant.

Her response: “Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.”…

“America may not know much about Sarah Palin, but based on what our community has seen of her, we know enough,” said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay advocacy group.

“Sarah Palin not only supported the 1998 Alaska constitutional amendment banning marriage equality but, in her less than two years as governor, even expressed the extreme position of supporting stripping away domestic partner benefits for workers.”

Solmonese noted that the strong backing Palin has received from conservative religious groups like the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family, which oppose gay rights, indicates that she would be hostile to gays if elected vice president.

Read the full story by Lou Chibbaro, Jr., at the New York Blade.

Rep. Barney Frank is among the first Democrats to publicly say that the pregnancy of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s unwed teenage daughter should be fair game for campaign discussion.

“They’re the ones that made an issue of her family,” Frank, D-Mass., said Tuesday in a telephone interview with the Associated Press.

Republicans stressed Palin’s conservative family values in announcing her selection as McCain’s running mate on Friday. Frank says the recent disclosure about her daughter blunts conservative claims that liberalism harms family life.

“Apparently she’s a great favorite with the conservative social movement,” Frank said. “They have said that it’s liberalism and liberals who have undermined families — same-sex marriage has been a problem, they don’t want gay people to adopt … This helps undercut those arguments.”…

Read the full story by Matt Kakley at the Sun Chronicle.

….Paterson’s directive — extending same-sex marriage rights to such matters as tax returns and pension benefits — was soon followed by another move here in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage became legal in 2004. In July, the legislature passed a repeal of a 1913 statute prohibiting out-of-state residents from marrying in the state unless they intended to reside here. Gov. Deval L. Patrick (D) signed the repeal at the end of July and took the unusual step of making it effective immediately.

The two steps, taken independently by New York and Massachusetts within about two months, marked an unexpected summer milestone for proponents of same-sex marriage, even as more than 40 other states have enacted constitutional amendments or statutes limiting marriage to a man and a woman. California is the only other state that has legalized same-sex marriage, though that decision by the state’s highest court will be subject to a statewide referendum in November…..

The recent changes have prompted a flood of gay New Yorkers coming to Massachusetts to get married — and that seems to have made same-sex marriage big business for the Bay State….

Read the full story by Keith B. Richburg in The Washington Post.

….Despite his opposition to same-sex marriage, the Log Cabin Republicans said they endorsed Sen. John McCain, the GOP’s presumptive Republican presidential nominee, on Tuesday because he embraces an approach to politics they want their party to return to….

In making its endorsement, the group pointed to the Arizona senator’s opposition to a federal constitutional amendment that would have defined marriage as being a man and a woman….

Although McCain personally opposes same-sex marriage, he voted against the amendment, in part, because he believes the issues should be left to the states….

Despite her positions on gay rights issues being largely unknown, Sammon said, the Log Cabin Republicans were also satisfied with McCain’s choice of running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin….

Read the full story by Scott J. Anderson at CNN.

A ballot measure banning gay marriage will pass in California if supporters can rally sympathetic voters, said the chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition.

“What’s going to get people out is us getting out,” said Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, who is based in Anaheim and is attending this week’s Republican National Convention as a guest of the California delegation.

Sheldon said he didn’t trust recent polls in California that show the marriage ban, Proposition 8, failing with voters….

Sheldon said he thinks turnout in California will be helped by the addition of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to the Republican presidential ticket as John McCain’s vice presidential pick….

Read the entire blog post by Ben van der Meer at Politicker CA.

Fran Drescher doesn’t only support gay marriage, she’s doing something about it.

No, she’s not getting married to a woman!

The former Nanny star is cohosting a cocktail party tomorrow night with her ex-husband, Peter Marc Jacobson, which benefits Equality California’s fight to defeat Proposition 8, the November ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage in California….

Read the full story by Marc Malkin at E! Online.

A New York judge ruled Tuesday that Governor David Paterson (D) did not act illegally when he issued a directive ordering state agencies to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages.

“To recognize same-sex marriages legally solemnized in other jurisdictions is consistent with New York’s common law, statutory law, and constitutional separation of powers,” said the ruling by Justice Lucy Billings in Bronx Supreme Court.

The conservative Alliance Defense Fund, representing a group of Republican lawmakers, went to court accusing Paterson of overstepping his authority.

Read the full story at 365gay.

A new Log Cabin Republicans website aims to highlight Republicans who are against Proposition 8 — California’s constitutional amendment which would once against ban gay marriage in the State.

The recently launched website features quotes, bios and interviews of prominent Republicans who oppose Proposition 8 including: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mary Cheney, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin, comedian Dennis Miller and Desperate Housewives Producer Marc Cherry….

Read the full story at On Top Magazine.

Visit the website: http://www.republicansagainst8.com.

Gay and lesbian couples could be legally obliged to pay child support and would be given access rights to their children if their relationship ends, under recommendations to be considered by the Federal Government.

A Senate committee has urged the Government to give legal recognition to the non-biological parent in a same-sex relationship as part of amendments being made to family legislation….

Read the full story by Carol Nader at The Age.

Sources close to the selection process for the next Anglican Bishop of Bangor in Wales have revealed that a prominent gay man is on the shortlist.

While the names under consideration are secret, the revelation that respected theologian Dr. Jeffrey John is being considered has outraged conservative Anglicans.

Dr. John was forced to step down as Bishop of Reading in 2003 by the Archbishop of Canterbury after conservative Anglicans objected to the fact that he was in a gay relationship….

Read the full story at PinkNews.co.uk.