And Washington Too

If phone banking for Maine only whets your appetite for more, Washington needs your help as well. Referendum 71, which will be on the ballot in November, seeks approval for a law already passed by the Washington State Legislature and signed by Governor Chris Gregoire. Senate Bill 5688 gives registered domestic partners the benefits, obligations, and responsibilities that apply to any other marriage. In order to ensure that the law goes into effect and that Washington families receive equitable treatment regardless of sexual orientation, Washington voters must vote affirmatively on R-71.

You can help even if you don't live in Washington. Sign up to phone bank this Sunday, September 27, to help identify voters who will vote yes on R-71. You can get more information at the website of Washington Families Standing Together.

Phone Bank for Maine

Marriage equality in Maine is at risk of being reversed if proponents of the so-called People's Veto have their way. Maine became the fifth state to allow same-sex marriage on May 6, when Governor John Baldacci signed the marriage equality bill into law. However, opponents of marriage equality obtained enough petition signatures to place a referendum on the ballot which would overturn the law. On November 3, Question One will ask voters in Maine whether they support the repeal of the marriage equality law.

Now Maine needs your help. Sunday, September 27 is the National Day of Action on Marriage Equality. Protect Equality Maine, the group leading the fight to preserve marriage equality in the state, is organizing a phone bank to identify voters likely to vote no on Question One. You can participate from the comfort of your own home, as long as you have a phone and a computer. Click here to sign up.

Fierce Advocate?

The Obama Administration continued to defend the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in a brief filed with the United States District Court in Boston last Friday. Passed in 1996 and signed into law by President Bill Clinton, DOMA defines marriage as between a man and a woman under federal law and allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. The Justice Department's brief states that although the administration considers the law discriminatory and favors its repeal, they are nevertheless obliged to defend the statute "as long as reasonable arguments can be made in support of their constitutionality, even if the department disagrees with a particular statute as a policy matter."

The lawsuit was brought by six couples and three men whose husbands have died, who argue that DOMA is unconstitutional because it treats them like second-class citizens. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs say they expect the government to file a motion to dismiss.

Mayor Mike on Marriage

In an exclusive interview with Gay City News, New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg calls the chances of passing a marriage equality bill this year in New York "zero, zero," bluntly explaining that the State Senate is unlikely to move marriage legislation when they are "[un]willing to stand up for less controversial issues." Despite what he sees as the dim chances of passage, Bloomberg believes he could potentially sway New York City-based Republican senators such as Frank Padavan of Queens and Martin Golden of Brooklyn in favor of the bill. Both are currently opposed to marriage equality. Read the whole article here.

Do You Live in State Senate District 25?

Great! Because beginning September 23, Senator Daniel Squadron is hosting a series of four conference calls to update his constituents on the issues that were discussed when the senator held the first-ever 25th District Community Convention in March.

Each of the four calls will cover a set of issues that were discussed at the community convention. The call taking place on Wednesday, September 30, at 5:30, will cover criminal justice and civil rights, among other issues. This presents an excellent opportunity to remind the senator, who is a co-sponsor of the marriage equality bill, of the importance of passing the bill this year.

To access any of the calls, dial 1-712-432-3100 and use access code 691380. If you’re interested in joining, the senator asks that you e-mail admin@danielsquadron.org ahead of time so they can send you a more detailed list of the topics to be discussed. A fuller schedule of the calls can be found at Senator Squadron's website.

Not sure what Senate disctrict you're in? Find out here.

Cleve Jones at the Center

There is an exciting event taking place at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center tomorrow, September 23, at 7:00 PM. Veteran gay rights and AIDS activist Cleve Jones will be speaking about the upcoming National Equality March in Washington. Cleve Jones, who began his work as an activist working with Harvey Milk and later founded the AIDS Memorial Quilt, has called for a national march on Washington to mobilize a grassroots movement to achieve full civil equality at the federal level and in all fifty states. The march will take place on October 11th, 2009. Jones will explain why this march is so important. Transportation options will also be discussed. The talk is free and open to the public.

The Center is located at 208 West 13th Street, New York, NY. Visit the Center's website for more information about this event.

Countdown to the March

Labor Day was weeks ago, and your tan may be a distant memory, but today marks the last official day of summer. Still, that's no reason to be glum, because there is a lot to look forward to this fall. For one, the State Senate will reconvene for a special session in late September or early October, and marriage equality may be on the agenda.

It's also time to gear up for the National Equality March, which will take place October 11th in Washington, D.C. Join Marriage Equality New York (MENY), which is arranging bus transportation on October 10th and 11th. For those who want to come on October 10th and stay with the MENY group, we are also arranging hotels. Visit the MENY web site for details on cost and availability. The MENY contingent will walk together, wear matching T-shirts, and carry rainbow umbrellas. If the cost is an issue for you, you can do some fundraising in lieu of payment.

Let your voice be heard. Join the march for equality!

Frankly, No

Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced the Respect for Marriage Act in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. The bill, which would overturn the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, currently has 91 co-sponsors. Conspicuously missing from the list of sponsors, however, is Barney Frank (D-MA), one of three openly gay members of Congress. Frank told the Washington Blade that he has not signed on because passage of the bill is "not...achievable in the near term" and that repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell, passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and providing full domestic partnership benefits to federal employees should be the focus of the legislative agenda on LGBT rights. The possibility of introducing a companion bill in the Senate is under discussion.

Equality in New Jersey?

New Jersey Governor John Corzine is quoted in the Advocate as saying that he expects to sign a marriage equality bill "this year." Corzine is fighting for re-election against Republican Christopher J. Christie.

Meanwhile in the Evergreen State

The marriage rights of LGBT Washingtonians will be put to a vote this November when Referendum 71 comes to the ballot. The referendum asks voters to affirm or reject a recently passed law providing same-sex domestic partners with almost all the rights that married couples enjoy. (A "yes" vote would keep the domestic partnership law intact.)

Controversy has arisen over the state's plans to release the names of the people who signed the petition that placed the referendum on the ballot. A federal district judge has enjoined the secretary of state from making those names public. The state plans to appeal the decision.

DOMA Repeal Bill Coming to the House

MENY Executive Director Ron Zacchi is quoted in this Crain's article about a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) coming before the House of Representatives. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) is expected to introduce the bill on Tuesday. DOMA, which was signed into law in 1996, defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman for the purposes of federal law and allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages legally performed in other states.

Après Le Coup

Liz Benjamin of The Daily Politics has an interesting post on the state of the battle for marriage equality in New York post-coup. According to Benjamin, Governor Patterson met recently with marriage advocates to discuss how to bring the marriage bill before the Senate by the end of the month. It is unclear whether the reshuffling in Senate leadership will help or hinder the cause.

Hubby Hubby

In honor of same-sex marriages beginning today in Vermont, ice cream makers Ben & Jerry have temporarily renamed one of their most popular flavors.

“The legalization of marriage for gay and lesbian couples in Vermont is certainly a step in the right direction, and something worth celebrating with peace, love - and plenty of ice cream,” Ben & Jerry’s CEO Walt Freese said in announcing the sugary switch. Ben & Jerry’s, which has long backed liberal causes, plans to rebrand “Chubby Hubby” as “Hubby Hubby” for 30 days to show support for Vermont’s new law. The move is mostly symbolic, as Burlington-based Ben & Jerry’s isn’t changing labels on “Chubby Hubby” pints sold in stores.

Free Hubby Hubby will be handed out by Ben & Jerry's trucks "across Vermont" today. Too bad they won't be shipped to retail, that's a real collectors' item right there.

Same-sex marriages begin in Vermont

Bill Slimback, left, and Bob Sullivan, both of Whitehall, N.Y., exchange rings during their wedding ceremony at Moose Meadow Lodge in Waterbury, Vt., while Justice of the Peace Greg Trulson, center, who is a co-owner of the lodge, officiates on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Andy Duback)

DUXBURY, Vt. — After 17 years together, Bill Slimback and Bob Sullivan couldn't wait another minute to get married. So they didn't.

With Vermont's new law allowing same-sex marriage only a minute old, they tied the knot in a midnight ceremony at a rustic lodge, becoming one of the first couples to legally wed under a law that took effect at midnight Monday.

Dressed in suits, saying their vows under a large wall-mounted moose head, the two Whitehall, N.Y., men promised their love, exchanged rings and held hands during a modest 17-minute ceremony. Moose Meadow Lodge co-owner Greg Trulson, who's also a Justice of the Peace, presided.

"It feels wonderful," said Slimback, 38, an out-of-work Teamster who is taking Sullivan's last name as his own. "It's a day I've been long waiting for, and a day I truly honestly thought would never come."

Slimback said he and Sullivan, 41, have long wanted to cement their relationship with a wedding, but since they couldn't legally marry in New York they chose to wed even before Vermont's gay marriage era officially dawned.

Vermont is one of five states that now allow same-sex couples to marry. Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Iowa are the others.

Vermont, which invented civil unions in 2000 after a same-sex couple challenged the inequality of state marriage statutes, was a mecca for gay couples who to that point had no way to officially recognize their relationships.

Since then, other states have allowed gay marriage, as did Vermont, which in April became the first state to legalize gay marriage through a legislative decree and not a court case.

Some couples — including many who obtained civil unions in Vermont — plan to return to the state to get married. But most are in no rush. City and town officials say only a handful of licenses had been issued to same-sex couples in anticipation of Tuesday's start.

"We've waited a long time to do this — basically, our whole lives," Slimback said Monday. "We've been waiting for a chance to actually solidify it," he said. He and Sullivan said they never wanted to obtain a civil union because they believe that's a kind of second-class recognition.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
By JOHN CURRAN (AP) – 2 hours ago
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