Six Key Battlegrounds

An editorial in today's New York Times calls on voters and elected officials to vote for equality in six battles across the country: New York, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, Maine, Michigan, and Washington. Meanwhile in Slate, Jacob Weisberg predicts that same-sex unions will be recognized in every state within 10 years, largely due to "the pressures from couples who want to sanctify their relationships, obtain legal benefits, and raise children in a stable environment."

Three of these battles will be decided tomorrow. In Washington, Referendum 71 will ask voters to affirm a bill signed by the governor in May that granted same-sex couples the state-provided benefits that married heterosexual couples have. An initiative in Kalamazoo, MI, if passed, would overturn a measure unanimously approved by the City Commission that bars discrimination based on on sexual orientation or gender identity in housing, employment, and public accommodations. Finally, voters in Maine will decide Question 1, which asks them to block the marriage equality law signed by the governor in May. It's not too late to help defeat Question 1. Go to Call for Equality to call voters from home and ask them to support marriage equality for all.

In New York, the State Senate is expected to reconvene in the coming weeks for a special session. Governor David Paterson has pledged that the marriage equality bill (S.4401) will be the first item on the legislative agenda. Call Senate Majority Leader John Sampson to make sure the bill comes up for a vote. Call your senator and ask him or her to vote "yes."