Stonewall Rebellion

Talking Points Memo has more coverage of last night's contentious meeting of the Stonewall Democratic Club, in which potential Senate candidate Harold Ford, Jr. was repeatedly heckled and shouted down as he tried to explain his past anti-gay votes in Congress. There is also a slideshow of photos from the event, where you can see MENY's own Cathy Marino-Thomas challenging Ford to work with her to legalize same-sex marriage.

Health Care Proxy Rights for Domestic Partners

Some excellent news via the Empire State Pride Agenda:

NYS Legislature Provides Medical Decision Making Authority to Same-Sex Partners

After being stalled in the Legislature for 17 years, the New York State Senate has finally joined the Assembly in passing the Family Health Care Decisions Act that enables a loved one to made health care decisions when the patient is not able to do so. The bill places a same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partner, just like a spouse, ahead of a surviving child or parent in making these decisions. Governor Paterson has said he will sign the bill into law when it is sent to him.

New York has been one of just two states where without a health care proxy, no one—not a domestic partner, spouse, or family member—could make health care decisions when the patient lacked the ability to do so. This gap in state law has sometimes forced loved ones to seek medical decision-making authority from a judge at the very time they should be focusing all their attention on caring for their partner.

Now, loved ones including same-sex spouses who were married out-of-state or fit the domestic partnership definition will have the ability to make these decisions. The domestic partnership definition is expansive, and includes those who may not be able to formally record their relationship because there is no domestic partner registry where they live. The Pride Agenda was instrumental in the redrafting of this domestic partner language to make sure it was uniform with all other domestic partner definitions in state law, such as that found in the hospital visitation bill that became law in 2004 and the control of bodily remains bill that became law in 2006.

Since same-sex couples still do not have the legal right to get married in New York State, the Pride Agenda has worked hard over the past few years to make sure LGBT families have protections in state law covering important end-of-life situations. When the Governor signs this measure into the law, the three most common situations where blood relatives sometimes seek to exclude a LGBT partner—hospital visitation, medical decision-making and the ability to make decisions about the disposition of partner remains—can no longer occur in New York State.

“We thank the Assembly and Assemblymember Gottfried for leading this effort for so many years and are glad the Senate has finally passed this measure and the Governor will be signing it into law,” said Executive Director Alan van Capelle.

Fight Back, New York!

The New York Times reports on a new political action committee set up to finance campaigns to unseat state senators who voted against same-sex marriage last year. The group, Fight Back New York, is partly supported by Tim Gill, a wealthy former software developer and founder of the Gill Action Fund, who has backed gay rights initiatives across the country. Fight Back New York's first battle will be in the special election next month to fill the seat of former Senator Hiram Monserrate of Queens. The Senate voted to expel Monserrate this month after he was convicted of misdemeanor assault against his girlfriend. Monserrate voted against the marriage equality bill after previously committing to support it.

Ford Heckled at Stonewall Meeting

Harold Ford, the former Tennessee congressman who is considering a challenge to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, encountered a hostile audience when he spoke at a meeting of the Stonewall Democratic Club in Manhattan last night (The Daily News). Ford attempted to explain his history of anti-gay votes by saying his views had evolved over time. He was shouted down by members of the The Power, a recently formed gay rights activist group. Since joining the Senate, Gillibrand has become a vocal proponent of overturning Don't Ask Don't Tell and has come out in favor of marriage equality.

MENY Rallies In Albany

The Ithaca Journal and The Journal News have coverage of Marriage Equality New York's (MENY) rally in Albany this past Tuesday. Questioned about the timing of the rally, Ron Zacchi, executive director of MENY, told The Journal News: "Some organizations in this movement feel that being in Albany, even here today, may not have been the best idea. But, you know what, just because a vote can't happen this year doesn't mean we can rest."

Massachusetts AG Challenges DOMA

Martha Coakley, the Massachusetts attorney general who lost the special election last month to fill the Senate seat formerly held by Ted Kennedy, has filed court papers arguing that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutionally requires Massachusetts to discriminate against same-sex couples (Boston Globe). Coakley is asking a U.S. District Court to deem DOMA unconstitutional without a trial. Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004.

Harold Ford: An Enigma Wrapped In A Mystery

Harold Ford, Jr., the former Democratic congressman from Tennessee who is considering a primary challenge against Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), is taking heat from gay rights activists over his voting record on gay rights. The New York Observer reports that Ford is being "bird-dogged" by members of The Power, an activist group planning to protest Ford's February 24th speech before the Stonewall Democrats.

Since beginning his public flirtation with a Senate run, Ford has attempted to portray himself as a marriage equality supporter. This claim is not supported by his voting record in Congress. The Human Rights Campaign, in its 2006 Congressional Score Card, gave Ford a rating of only 25% for the 109th Congress, the last year in which he served in the House of Representatives. Ford voted twice (in 2004 and 2006) to support the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would have enshrined in the Constitution discrimination against gays and lesbians. Also in 2006, Ford voted against the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which sought to expand federal jurisdiction to reach hate crimes based on sexual orientation; the Military Readiness Enhancement Act to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell;” and the Uniting American Families Act, which sought to provide same-sex partners of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents the same immigration benefits as legal spouses of U.S. residents.

Curiously, Ford's 25% rating in 2006 marked a significant shift from his ratings in the 108th and 107th Congresses, when he received ratings of 44% and 100%, respectively. Perhaps it is only a coincidence that in 2006 he ran (unsuccessfully) for Senate in Tennessee against a conservative Republican, while today is positioning himself to run against a senator who has studiously shifted to the left since her appointment by Governor David Paterson.

Would the real Harold Ford please stand up?

New Hampshire House Upholds Marriage Equality

The New Hampshire House of Representatives defeated two measures on Wednesday that sought to overturn the same-sex marriage law that went into effect six weeks ago (Boston Globe). The House voted 210-109 to reject a bill that would have repealed the law. Earlier in the day, the House defeated by a vote of 201-135 a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman.

Cutting Off Your Nose to Spite Your Face

Via Andrew Sullivan, The Advocate reports that the Catholic diocese of Washington, D.C. has decided to terminate its 80-year-old foster care program in response to the city's decision to legalize same-sex marriage. The program had received about $20 million per year from the city to provide foster care services. Rather than comply with city policy prohibiting discrimination against gay and lesbian couples seeking to become foster parents, the diocese chose to cease providing the services.

What kind of morality says it is more important to discriminate against gay couples than to provide social services to those in need?

Slam Dunk

The Onion on what it will take to pass marriage equality in all fifty states. This reminds me of the Simpsons episode where John Waters saves Homer, Moe, and Barney from a pack of mad reindeer. When Moe and Barney lament that they have been rescued by a "sissy," Homer finally sticks up for Waters. As Waters sums it up: "Well, Homer, I won your respect, and all I had to do was save your life. Now, if every gay man could just do the same, you'd be set."

Let's hope it take less than that for our fellow citizens to recognize that we are entitled to equal treatment under the law.

Arrests At NYC Marriage Bureau

Four marriage equality activists were arrested this morning while protesting outside of the New York City Marriage Bureau Office (JoeMyGod) on Worth Street in Manhattan. The protesters, who are part of the activist group Queer Rising, were taking part in a show of civil disobedience, padlocking themselves in front of the building's entrance and blocking people from entering.

As part of the morning's protests, over 20 same-sex couples applied for marriage licenses and were subsequently denied (SLOG). Immediately afterward, a lesbian and gay man who had earlier applied for licenses with their same-sex partners applied for a license together. The application was approved, which just goes to show that marriage is for heterosexuals, or at least a lesbian and a gay dude.

Dan Savage calls for similar protests across the country.

Get On the Bus - Only a Few Days Left to Register for Marriage Equality Day!

The buses are ramping up and the lunches are being planned, so register now if you plan to attend MENY's Marriage Equality Day in Albany on February 23. Make sure you visit our page to sign up if you don't want to be left behind.

The cancellation of Equality & Justice Day and the push that organizations have been making to increase attendance has led MENY to EXTEND open registration for one week, until Friday February 12.

Also in February:

On Friday, February 12 from 8:00-10:00 AM, a crowd of impassioned protesters will gather outside the new 24,000 square-foot New York City Marriage Bureau Office (141 Worth Street) to make a powerful statement in support of marriage equality for all LGBT Americans.

For more info and to RSVP contact QueerRising@gmail.com.

UnMarriage Until GayMarriage: A Valentine's Ritual For Gay Marriage:
Valentine's Day, Sunday, February 14, 1:00 PM, Bethesda Angel, Central Park, 72nd Street entrance in center of park

Straight, married supporters of same-sex marriage will un-marry in a mass ritual at New York City's Bethesda Angel this Valentine's Day in response to "NO" votes on the issue in the New York and New Jersey legislatures, ongoing conservative pressure around the country, and the ongoing trial seeking to overturn California's Proposition 8.

For more details contact: savitrid@earthlink.net or michael@revbilly.com.


Also on February 16, don't miss this amazing event:

Click here for more details.

Hiram's Fate

The State Senate is scheduled to vote today either to expel Hiram Monserrate or censure him for assaulting his girlfriend (Daily News). The Democratic leadership has said that there are sufficient votes to expel him, assuming it comes to a floor vote. The governor has said he would immediately call a special election to replace the senator if he is expelled. Monserrate has pledged to challenge an expulsion in court.

Monserrate voted against the marriage equality bill in December, after earlier stating that he would support it.

Prop 8 Judge Gay - So What?

The San Francisco Chronicle reported last weekend on the somewhat open secret that Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who is presiding over the Prop. 8 trial in California, is gay. Predictably, the anti-marriage equality crowd is freaking out, with the National Organization of Marriage questioning his impartiality. Ironically, however, the judge's first appointment to the federal bench in 1987, by Ronald Reagan, nearly failed due to the perception from House liberals that he would not be sensitive to the concerns of gays and lesbians.

Would an African-American judge be expected to recuse him- or herself from a civil rights case involving and African-American plaintiff? Should Antonin Scalia, a devout Catholic, decline to hear cases involving questions of religious freedom for Catholics? This is clearly a political tactic designed to invalidate a potential ruling in favor of the plaintiffs.