Resources, analysis and news about marriage equality
The Nigerian government has approved a draft bill banning gay or same-sex marriage anywhere in the west African country, an official statement said yesterday.
Reportedly, the new law is so comprehensive that even organizing or participating in rallies in favor of gay rights, or belonging to a group or association of gay right activists, is subject to imprisonment for up to 5 years.
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.
The University of Hawaii has settled a discrimination lawsuit by a gay couple who said they were denied family housing….
The university’s policy on family housing was revised as a result of the settlement to include same-sex couples. The policy change took effect for the 2008-2009 school year. A $5,000 settlement was also reached for Joseph O’Leary and Phi Ngo, who have since moved to Virginia.
The family housing policy was revised to include domestic partners and domestic partners with children. According to the new policy, “students with partners must provide a certified copy of legal documentation that demonstrates that the student and partner have entered into a marriage, domestic partnership or civil union.”…
Read the full story by Rosemarie Bernardo at the Honolulu Star Bulletin.
Doctors may not discriminate against gays and lesbians in medical treatment, even if the procedures being sought conflict with physicians’ religious beliefs, the California Supreme Court decided Monday.
In the second major gay-rights victory this year, the state high court said religious physicians must obey a state law that bars businesses from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation….
Read the full story by Maura Dolan at the Los Angeles Times.
A lesbian couple is pleased with Spectrum Health’s apology for a doctor who allegedly lectured them against gay marriage, but say they are concerned it might happen again.
“I want to see that something has been done to be sure this doesn’t happen on a continuing basis,” said Kent County resident Ashleigh Haberman, who complained with her partner in June about the behavior of an urgent care physician in Cutlerville….
Haberman, 32, and her partner, Erica Schaub, 33, sent a complaint to Spectrum after they sought treatment in June for Schaub’s lingering cold at Spectrum Health’s South Pavilion in Cutlerville. According to Haberman, the physician asked about their relationship and then delivered his opinions against gay marriage. When the doctor continued to share his views, Haberman said, they had to “redirect him to the reason we were there.”…
Read the full story at The Grand Rapids Press.
According to Knoxville (TN) police, the man accused of killing two members of a local Unitarian Universalist Congregation acted, in part, out of hatred for the church’s liberal stance on issues such as gay rights.
Allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military was once unthinkable, a topic that dredged up prejudice, fear and worries about armed forces morale. The best the nation could muster was a pathetic compromise known as “don’t ask, don’t tell” that permitted gays and lesbians to serve as long as they kept their sexual orientations hidden.
This compromise, crafted by President Bill Clinton when he took office in 1993, may soon be retired as an anachronism….
The public’s mind has changed, signaling a new acceptance of homosexuals in uniform. Also, a number of distinguished military leaders think it’s time to drop “don’t ask, don’t tell” while policy-institute studies indicate that the presence of gays in the military doesn’t undercut effectiveness….
There are other indicators worth noting. The California Supreme Court in May overturned a ban on same-sex marriage. A statewide poll found a majority of voters now favors allowing same-sex couples to wed. This growing acceptance is at odds with unworthy and outdated military law….
Ann Mollica is a law-abiding citizen. She pays her taxes on time and follows the law. She is also a dependable employee having worked at Dollar Tree for 12 years.
The Manteca resident on June 17 married her long-time partner Judy Deane.
The law allowed it so they decided to make their commitment to each other official.
But then Mollica discovered that there are people — strike that — there are corporations that believe they are above the law. Among them, apparently, is her employer.
She applied on June 19 for medical insurance through her employer for her spouse.
The Manteca store manager passed on the insurance application along with the copy of the marriage certificate to corporate headquarters on the East Coast.
This little gem came back from benefits specialist Patti L. Todd: “Although, I do not have a problem with same sex marriage personally, I have to go by the rules set forth. Please send her my personal CONGRATS!!”
Dollar Tree’s position is that the benefit book given to employees makes it clear they do not recognize same sex marriage. Really. There are two little problems with that. One, is that Dollar Tree cannot operate in California and be above the law. Two, that is not what their own benefits booklet distributed to Dollar Tree employees states….
A federal appeals court was asked Thursday to deny tax funding to a Baptist childcare agency that Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the American Civil Liberties Union say proselytizes youngsters in its care and fires gay employees.
The lawsuit asserts that Kentucky Baptist Homes has no right to accept public funding while imposing religious dogma on the children in its programs, and that the Homes’ religion-based anti-gay employment policy violates civil rights laws….
The tidy palm lined streets and affordable homes of the Rybolt Reserve subdivision in suburban Orlando have become popular with middle class homebuyers and speculators but if you are a gay or unmarried opposite-sex couple the Homeowners Association has a message - don’t bother to try to rent here according to some property owners.
Several owners say they have been told by the Association they cannot rent their properties in the East Orange County subdivision to couples who are not legally married or to same-sex pairs….
Read the full story at 365Gay.com.
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