Anti-Marriage Equality Amendment Defeated in Senate

For all the Republicans' agita about the use of reconciliation to pass health care reform through the Senate, it appears that there's one area of public policy where they feel perfectly comfortable using that particular parliamentary procedure: blocking same-sex marriages. Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT) offered an amendment to the Senate reconciliation bill on Tuesday that would have required the District of Columbia to hold a referendum to the recently enacted law granting same-sex couples equal marriage rights in the District. The amendment was defeated yesterday morning by a vote of 36-59 (AmericaBlog).

Monserrate's Gone -- Who's Next?

In the wake of Jose Peralta's defeat of Hiram Monserrate last week in the special election for the 13th State Senate District, Fight Back NY is preparing to take on at least seven of the 36 remaining senators who voted against marriage equality in the regular elections this November. Liz Benjamin has the details.


In related news, Benjamin writes that marriage equality advocate Allen Roskoff stood up and challenged Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. at a City Hall News breakfast for voting against same-sex marriage when he was a member of the New York State Assembly. Roskoff promised that if Diaz runs for mayor in 2013, he would be treated "just like Harold Ford."

HUD Seeks Public Comment on LGBT Housing Discrimination

From a Press Release by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):

HUD LAUNCHES WEBSITE TO GATHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON FIRST-EVER LGBT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION STUDY

Online 'suggestion box' seeks to inform HUD on design of historic research

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today launched a new website to allow citizens to offer comment on the design of an unprecedented national study that will examine housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. While there have been no national assessments of housing discrimination targeting the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) community, there is a body of evidence suggesting this sort of bias exists.

HUD recently hosted town hall meetings in Chicago, San Francisco, and New York City to solicit feedback on how it might approach such ground-breaking research. This 'online suggestion box' is intended to offer the public throughout the U.S. an opportunity to comment on HUD's study.

"It is critical that as we embark on this historic discrimination study, that we hear from those who may have been denied housing based on their sexual orientation or gender identity," said Dr. Raphael Bostic, HUD's Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research. "The comments we received in our town hall meetings, and those we will gather from this new website, will help inform how we might test for housing discrimination in the sale or rental of housing based on LBGT status.

"While there are no national assessments of LGBT housing discrimination, there are state and local studies that have shown this sort of bias. For example, Michigan's Fair Housing Centers found that nearly 30 percent of same-sex couples were treated differently when attempting to buy or rent a home (www.fhcmichigan.org/images/Arcus_web1.pdf).

HUD's new LGBT website will seek suggestions on how best to execute the study. For example, how would a tester' signal in a conversation with a landlord that an individual or couple was LGBT? The website is not designed for users to lodge complaints about a particular incident. However, if you believe you have been a victim of housing discrimination, you may file an online complaint (http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/topics/housing_discrimination),or call HUD's Housing Discrimination Hotline at 1-800-669-9777.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and www.espanol.hud.gov.

Moving Marriage Forward

"How can we each personally and most effectively have the conversations that help more people rise to fairness?" This is the question posed by Freedom to Marry in a recently released report entitled "Moving Marriage Forward: Building Majority Support for Marriage." The report synthesizes research from 75 different studies from the last five years to "identify the most effective messaging to move people our way on marriage equality." Among the strategies discussed in the report are emphasizing commitment and other shared values, talking about how and why marriage matters to committed gay couples and their families, and emphasizing the concept of fairness.

Read the report. Then let them know what you think are the most effective strategies to win support for marriage equality.

LGBT Health Provisions Removed from Bill

Yesterday, President Obama signed into law an historic overhaul of the U.S. health care system. The expansion of access to health insurance to over 30 million people will benefit people from all walks of life, including LGBT people. Unfortunately, however, a number of measures specifically intended to address the health care needs of our communities were left out of the final bill. Among other things, the provisions that were left out would have ended the unfair taxation of employer-provided domestic partner health benefits, permitted states to offer early HIV treatment under Medicaid, collected critical health data on LGBT people, and addressed discrimination in health care.

The Human Rights Campaign has more.

EqualiCon: From March to Movement

Marriage Equality New York is pleased to pass on some information about an exciting event in DC this April:

EQUALICON: From March to Movement
Mid-Atlantic LGBTQI Activist Conference, Washington D.C.
Saturday, April 17, 10am-8pm

Schedule of the Day
9:30am-10am - Registration
10am-12pm - Workshops
Noon-1pm - Lunch
1pm-4:30pm - Workshops
5:30pm-8pm - Social Mixer, Potluck and Performing Arts Show hosted by FENDC.

Conference Initiated by Full Equality Now! DC

Register Now! $10 suggested donation, $5-$20 Sliding Scale - no one turned away.
Visit www.fendc.org for more information, conference location and updates. To endorse, sponsor, or donate, email info@fullequalitynowdc.org.

Spread the word! Forward this email and invite your friends, family and co-workers, download and distribute flyers, join our Facebook fan page and sign up to volunteer!

From March to Movement: How do we win Full Federal Equality?

On Sat. April 17th, LGBTQI rights activists, student groups, organizations, community members and allies will come together to discuss and debate how to achieve full equality while strengthening local and regional grassroots networks.

Possible conference topics may include: Why We Need a National Grassroots Movement, Movement Strategy and Tactics, LGBTQI Rights around the World, Snapshot of U.S. Policies (ENDA, DATT, MARRIAGE etc.), The 'T' is not Silent: Transgender History and Politics, Students Fight Back, Lessons From the Black Civil Rights Struggle, Take Action on Harvey Milk Day, and more.

EqualiCon is a great opportunity to strengthen and grow our movement by debating and discussing strategies to win civil rights, learning about LGBTQI history and struggle, and planning future actions, including the National Day of Action on Harvey Milk Day. Learn more about Equalicon.

Volunteer to make the conference a success!

Spread the word in your community

Join our outreach team or organize your own team to distribute flyers at community events and/or at busy intersections on weekends and evenings. Help promote the conference by downloading and posting flyers around your neighborhood, on community bulletin boards, at schools, coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Please contact Laura at laural88@yahoo.com to join a flyering team or to tell her where your team will be flyering.

Calling all Facebookers, Bloggers, and Twitterers

Become a fan of our NEW Facebook page, join our Facebook group, and RSVP to EqualiCon's event page. Post that you will be attending the conference on your Facebook homepage and invite your friends to the EqualiCon event. Blog and tweet about the conference. Post the conference information on online community calendars and email carrie@fullequalitynowdc.org to let us know which websites have the conference information posted.

Attend Conference Planning Meetings

Join our weekly conference planning meetings and help with conference outreach, logistics, program and speakers. Meetings will be held every Wednesday at 7pm from March 17 through April 14 at the Metropolitan Community Church. For directions visit our website.

Phone Bank FENDC Supporters

Do you have a knack for talking with people? If so, put your skills to use by volunteering one hour of your time to call FENDC supporters. Phone bankers will personally invite supporters to attend the conference as well as ask them to help make the event a success by volunteering. To become a volunteer phone banker please, email carrie@fullequalitynowdc.org.

Calling Graphic Designers & Photographers

Donate your time to design a conference logo to help promote this grassroots event. The winning logo will be displayed on our flyers and at the conference for regional audiences to see! Email submissions to info@fullequalitynowdc.org by TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 11:59pm with "Logo Submission" in the subject line. Please submit both black and white and color versions of your logo. AI files preferred or minimum 300 DPI.

Calling all Artists, Poets, Musicians, Spoken Word Artists & Performers!

We invite artists, poets, musicians, spoken word artists, performers and dancers to volunteer to showcase your talent at the FENDC Social and Performing Arts show. Submit a video of your work and email submissions to info@fullequalitynowdc.org by MONDAY, APRIL 5, 11:59pm with "Talent" in the subject line. Space is limited, so send us your best piece!

Thank you for your support! To receive more information about upcoming meetings or to volunteer, call Carrie at 206-963-4873 or email carrie@fullequalitynowdc.org.

To join FENDC's email announcement list, email info@fullequalitynowdc.org with "FENDC announcement list" in the subject line.

In solidarity, Full Equality Now! DC

Desperate Measures

Opponents of marriage equality are fond of arguing that the issue of same-sex marriage should not be decided by the courts. So it's not too surprising that they are now questioning the legitimacy of the federal Prop 8 trial that took place in California last January. Adam Liptak, writing in The New York Times, discusses how marriage equality opponents are trying to discredit the legal effort to overturn Prop 8. Andrew Pugno, a lawyer for sponsors of Prop 8, has likened the proceedings to a "show trial." Theodore Olsen, however, who represents the couples seeking to overturn Prop 8, smells desperation: “They think they’re going to lose.”

Stand Up and Be Counted

Has it been 10 years already? 2010 is a Census year, and it's vitally important that LGBT people participate. Following is some important information about this year's Census from the LGBT communities liaison at the U.S. Census Bureau:

Census forms have arrived!! This year's Census is a vital opportunity for our communities to show our diversity and our strength, and to stand up and be counted!

In particular, 2010 will be the first time that the Census reports numbers on same-sex spouses in all fifty states. In past years, if a same-sex couple indicated that they were married, they were reclassified as "unmarried partners" in official tabulations. This year, people will be counted exactly how they identify their relationship. And because the Census relies on self-identification, cohabitating same-sex couples who consider themselves married can check the "husband" or "wife" box on the form, regardless of whether or not they live in a state that legally recognizes their relationship.

Couples who don't think of themselves as married, but who live together, should select the "unmarried partner" box.

For those members of our communities who don't live with a same-sex partner, the 2010 Census does not ask specific questions about sexual orientation or gender identity. On the question asking about a person's sex, transgender respondents should select the gender with which they identify.

For more information, including LGBT Census fact sheets in English and Spanish, a Transgender fact sheet, and LGBT Census messages for Twitter and Facebook, please visit http://ourfamiliescount.org/census-bureau/.

Here are five very important things everyone should know about the Census:

1) It's Safe. All Census forms and personally-identifiable information are kept completely confidential for 72 years. They don't get shared with any other government agencies (including the military, the IRS, or immigration), and they're not subpoenable under the Patriot Act. 2010 Census information will be made public -- for genealogical purposes -- on April 1 st, 2082.

2) It's Easy. The 2010 Census is " short-form" only, and should take 10 minutes or less to complete.

3) It's Important. Census numbers are used to determine political representation in Congress and state legislatures, and are also used to allocate and distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to state, county, and local governments.

4) Everyone Counts. The Census is a count of everyone who is residing in the United States on April 1 st, 2010, regardless of citizenship or legal status. It is vital that our communities participate, and help ensure a complete count of all people this year.

5) The Census is hiring! We are currently hiring hundreds of thousands of door-to-door census-takers in communities all across the country. These temporary jobs are part-time or full-time with flexible hours, and pay well. If you are interested in applying for a Census job, please call our toll-free jobs line at (866)-861-2010, or visit www.2010censusjobs.gov.

Thanks so much for your help with the 2010 Census!! And remember: we can't move forward until you mail it back!!

Special Election Today for Monserrate Seat

A special election for the State Senate seat formerly held by Hiram Monserrate takes place today in Queens (New York Times). Voters will decide if Monserrate deserves another shot at representing the district after the Senate voted to expel him last month. Monserrate was removed from office after being convicted of assaulting his girlfriend.


Running to replace Monserrate is Jose Peralta (D-Queens), who represents the area in the Assembly. Also running is Robert Beltrani (R), an administrative judge.


Monserrate has been running hard on his opposition to same-sex marriage in his efforts to regain his seat (New York Observer). He voted against marriage equality last December after previously giving assurances that he would support the bill.

All three candidates participated in a debate last Thursday, during which Monserrate was repeatedly heckled by members of the audience (Village Voice).


Volunteers canvassing for Peralta were out in force this morning. If you live in the 13th State Senate District, which encompasses the neighborhoods of Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, and Corona, don't forget to vote. The polls close at 9:00 PM.

Correct the Count

What does prison reform have to do with marriage equality? More than you might think. In New York State, incarcerated individuals are currently counted in the population of the district in which they are confined, despite the fact that they can't vote there and will most likely eventually go home to, and need services in, their home districts. A bill currently before the New York State Legislature would correct this.

This could be the most significant bill for marriage equality to come before the Legislature this year. Why? Many prisons are located in conservative upstate districts. Several State Senate districts near the border with Canada only have the population to be counted as districts because of the prisons within their borders. Whichever party has a majority in the State Senate after this November's election will be able to gerrymander the State Senate districts for the next 10 years following the 2010 census. If the population of the conservative districts are not enhanced by a non-voting prison population, this will shift the balance of power toward the more gay-friendly urban districts where the population actually resides. This could potentially mean an extra vote or two for marriage equality the next time it comes up for a vote.

As Correct the Count puts it: "Our democracy depends on equal representation. That's why it's simply unjust to continue counting incarcerated individuals as residents of their places of confinement, instead of their home communities as required by the New York State Constitution. The result is a significant under-representation for urban communities and communities of color across New York State. Thirteen upstate counties have already decided not to count people in prison when they draw their county legislative district lines. We call on the New York State Legislature to change how incarcerated individuals are counted for the purpose of legislative redistricting by passing S.6725/A.9834."

Please call your state senator and ask him or her to pass S.6725, changing how incarcerated individuals are counted for redistricting purposes.

Marriage Equality in the Media

Watch Marriage Equality New York's own Cathy Marino-Thomas debate same-sex marriage opponent Janet Crouse on CBS.

After that, listen to this segment on marriage equality from today's Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC radio.

Hiram's Family Values

Talking Points Memo has more on the anti-gay campaign literature being circulated on behalf of the campaign of former State Senator Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens). Peralta's campaign has responded to the fliers, which accuse Peralta of trying to "destroy our way of life," by characterizing them as "bullying and hate-mongering." State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx), a vociferous opponent of LGBT rights, has acknowledged that he is working with the Monserrate campaign.

The special election to fill Monserrate's former seat will be held on March 16.

Bigots for Monserrate

As reported on Liz Benjamin's Daily Politics blog, some grammatically challenged supporters of former State Senator Hiram Monserrate have been handing out fliers in local churches urging voters to oppose Assemblyman Jose Peralta's efforts to replace Monserrate. The fliers mock Peralta, a staunch supporter of marriage equality, as a "gay caballero" and a "leading spokesperson for the gay community's [sic] in NYC."

The special election to fill Monserrate's former seat will take place on March 16.

PAC Attack

Fight Back New York, a political action committee that recently formed to opposed state senators who voted "no" on marriage equality, has released a new mailing taking aim at Hiram Monserrate (The Daily News). The mailing calls the former senator "unfit for office." A special election to fill Monserrate's seat will take place on March 16. Monserrate was expelled by the Senate after being found guilty of assaulting his girlfriend. He voted against marriage equality last December after pledging to support the bill.

Feeling spurned by his former base of support, Monserrate has turned to members of the clergy who are supporting him for his opposition to same-sex marriage (The New York Observer). Evidently, protecting the sanctity of marriage doesn't involve opposition to domestic violence.

Oh, You Mean That Voting Record

The New York Times has an article today describing how Harold Ford, Jr. reached his decision not to challenge Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for her Senate seat this November. Evidently, former Congressman Ford was shocked -- shocked -- at the level of opposition with which the LGBT community and abortion rights supporters in New York greeted his potential candidacy. Indeed, why would a community be so hostile to someone who voted to enshrine their status as second-class citizens in the Constitution?

Somebody's Getting Married...In D.C.

The District of Columbia began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples today after the Supreme Court declined to intervene (The Advocate). Anti-marriage equality activists had asked the Court to place a moratorium on the issuance of marriage licenses until residents could vote on the matter. Chief Justice John Roberts, noting that Congress had not acted to pass a bill to prevent the City from implementing the law, said that the Court would defer to the local courts, which had similarly declined to stop the marriages. The Advocate has video of the first couples lining up to receive marriage licenses.

In response to D.C.'s extension of marriage equality to gays and lesbians, Catholic Charities of Washington, D.C. has decided to stop providing spousal benefits to its employees -- all of them (Box Turtle Bulletin). The group is concerned that the new law would result in their inadvertently providing benefits to gay and lesbian employees. The policy would only apply to new employees and newly married employees; those with existing coverage would be able to keep it. The Daily Dish has more.