Timeline of gay rights

Chronology of Events

There are several different types of color-coded dates in this timeline of gay rights, explained at the bottom of the timeline.

Gay Rights and Gay Marriage
1533	The English common law tradition of criminalizing sodomy began with a proclamation from King Henry VIII. At the time, sodomy was defined as any non-procreative sexual activity and thus included masturbation, anal and oral sex.
1869	The term "homosexuality" appears to have been first used.
1871	Germany criminalized homosexuality with Paragraph 175 of the Reich Criminal Code. In 1929 a committee in the Reichstag had voted to repeal Paragraph 175, but the Nazi rise to power prevented any action from being taken and the law would remain on the books until 1968 in East Germany and 1969 in West Germany.
June 23, 1894	Alfred C. Kinsey is born.
1945	Allied troops liberating inmates of Nazi concentration camps do not release those imprisoned for homosexuality. Instead, they are forced to serve out the full term of their sentences under Paragraph 175 of the Germany legal code criminalizing homosexuality.
April 08, 1947	The Institute for Sex Research, popularly known as the Kinsey Institute after researcher Alfred C. Kinsey, was incorporated in Indiana.
September 14, 1953	Sexual Behavior in the Human Female was published by Alfred C. Kinsey. This book created almost as much attention and controversy as the 1948 volume dealing with male sexual behavior.
1961	According to the Vatican, anyone who is "affected by the perverse inclination" towards homosexuality is not eligible to take religious vows or be ordained within the Roman Catholic Church.
April 10, 1967	Argued: Loving v. Virginia A Virginia law against interracial marriages would be struck down, with the Supreme Court declaring that marriage is a "fundamental civil right" and that decisions in this arena are not those with which the State can interfere unless they have good cause.
June 12, 1967	Decided: Loving v. Virginia A Virginia law against interracial marriages was struck down, with the Supreme Court declaring that marriage is a "fundamental civil right" and that decisions in this arena are not those with which the State can interfere unless they have good cause.
May 25, 1970	William Masters and Virginia Johnson, researchers who did important work on human sex behavior, appeared on the cover of Time magazine.
1972	Reverend William Johnson becomes the first openly gay person ordained in any Christian organization: the United Church of Christ.
1972	The Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Netherlands rules that lesbians and gays could serve as pastors, becoming the first European Christian denomination to do so. Many other protestant churches would issue similar rulings in the following decades.
1973	The American Psychiatric Association votes 13-0 to remove homosexuality from its DSM-II (the official list of psychiatric disorders). The APA also passed a resolution urging an end to all private and public discrimination against gays. Conservatives would accuse the APA of giving in to "political correctness" for this decision, arguing that homosexuality should continue to be treated as a disorder.
July 04, 1983	Rev. Jerry Falwell described AIDS as a "gay plague."
March 1986	Father Charles E. Curran, a moral theologian at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., revealed that the Vatican had given him an ultimatum: retract his views on birth control, divorce, and other matters pertaining to sexuality, or lose the authority to teach Roman Catholic doctrine. Thousands protested this ultimatum and Curran refused to retract; eventually, the Vatican revoked his license to teach as a Catholic theologian and in 1987 he was suspended from Catholic University entirely.
June 30, 1986	The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in the case of Bowers v. Hardwick that homosexual activity between consenting adults in the privacy of the home was not protected by the Constitution.
August 1987	In New Hampshire, a United Methodist Church court suspended Rose Mary Denman, a lesbian minister, because she violated a church rule which prohibited practicing homosexuals from being in the clergy.
1988	The United Church of Canada becomes the first Canadian church to allow the ordination of gays.
1989	John Spong, a bishop in the Episcopal Church, ordains Robert Williams, a openly gay man. Williams would later lose his job after denouncing monogamy.
February 26, 1990	Refusing to consider the cases of Ben-Shalom v. Stone and Woodward v. U.S., the U.S. Supreme Court effectively upheld the right of the American military to discharge gays and lesbians of the armed forces.
November 1992	The National Council of Churches rejected a request for "observer status" by the largely gay Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, claiming that they didn't want to imply "an affirmation of homosexual practice."
July 1994	Rev. Jeanne Audrey Powers, a prominent leader in the United Methodist Church, became the highest ranking member of that denomination to announce that she was gay. According to Powers, she took that step as "an act of public resistance to false teachings that have contributed to heresy and homophobia within the church itself."
January 1996	The American Baptist Church of the West expelled four San Francisco Bay congregations for welcoming homosexuals and not teaching that homosexual activity is a sin.
April 1996	Delegates at the General Conference of the United Methodist Church voted down a proposal to eliminate language in church law that declares homosexuality to be "incompatible with Christian teaching."
June 1996	The Southern Baptist Convention announced a boycott of all Disney parks and products because of the company's decision to give insurance benefits to the partners of gay employees and for hosting "Gay Days" at Disney theme parks.
April 19, 2000	Vermont approves the creation of same-sex unions, thus entitling gay couples to rights and benefits normally available to married couples.
August 01, 2001	Angelika and Gudrun Pannier become Germany's first gay couple to legally wed in a civil marriage ceremony.
March 28, 2002	In Mississippi, the "George County Times" published a letter from George County Justice Court Judge Connie Wilkerson which read, in part, "In my opinion, gays and lesbians should be put in some type of mental institution." Because of the bias expressed in such a statement, an ethics violation complaint was filed against Wilkerson.
2003	A letter published by the Vatican's Congregation for Worship asserts: "The ordination to the priesthood of homosexual men, or men with homosexual tendencies, is absolutely inadvisable and imprudent, and from a pastoral point of view, very risky"
2003	Jeffrey John, an openly gay man living a celibate life, is appointed bishop of Reading, England. but he eventually turns down the post because of the controversy created within the Anglican Communion.
August 05, 2003	Gene Robinson, an openly gay man, was elected bishop-designate of New Hampshire by the Episcopal General Convention during its meeting in Minneapolis. This election sparked outrage by conservative Anglican Churches around the world and initiated moves towards a schism within Episcopal Church and conservative, evangelical churches tried to distances themselves from a leadership they felt had descended into heresy.
November 18, 2003	The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled 4-3 that government attorneys "failed to identify any constitutionally adequate reason" to deny gay and lesbian couples the right to marry. The court gave the Massachusetts Legislature six months to rewrite the state's marriage laws in order to fix this. This ruling was hailed by many liberals but denounced by conservatives, especially religious conservatives, who began to work for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution defining marriage as being between "one man and one woman."
February 04, 2004	The Massachusetts high court that only full, equal marriage rights for gay couples, not civil unions, would be constitutional. "The history of our nation has demonstrated that separate is seldom, if ever, equal," an advisory opinion from the four justices who ruled in favor of gay marriage stated. A bill creating only civil unions, not full marriage rights, would be "unconstitutional, inferior, and discriminatory status for same-sex couples."
February 12, 2004	City officials in San Francisco, California began issuing marriage licenses to homosexual couples and performed the first known civil marriage of a homosexual couple in the U.S. by marrying the homosexual activists and lesbian couple, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon. Over 80 couples were given quick ceremonies.
February 20, 2004	Victoria Dunlap, Republican county clerk of rural Sandoval County, New Mexico, began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing lack of legal grounds for denial.
February 20, 2004	King Norodom Sihanouk, constitutional monarch of Cambodia, declared that he thought his country should legalize same-sex marriage. He said that he reached this conclusion after watching footage of same-sex couples mary in San Francisco. He also stated that transvestites should be well-treated in Cambodia.
February 24, 2004	President George W. Bush announced that he supported a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. He did not specifically endorse the wording proposed by Representative Marilyn Musgrave which has been questioned for the likelihood of also prohibiting states the ability to recognise same-sex civil unions and domestic partnerships. However, he did say that the wording fo Musgrave's amendment "meets his principles" in protecting the "sanctity of marriage" between men and women.
March 02, 2004	Jason West, mayor of New Paltz, New York was charged with 19 criminal counts of solemnizing marriages without a license. West had solemnized a number of same-sex marriages in his town.
March 05, 2004	The Wisconsin State Assembly approved of an amendment to the state constitution (68-27) that would ban both same-sex marriages and civil unions.
March 11, 2004	The California Supreme Court issued a stay ordering San Francisco officials to cease issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
March 12, 2004	The Wisconsin State Senate approved of an amendment to the state constitution (20-13) that would ban both same-sex marriages and civil unions.
March 12, 2004	Oregon's attorney general issues an opinion on same-sex marriage, stating that issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples would contradict current state law. At the same time, he also concluded that the Oregon Supreme Court would probably strike down those statutes as violating the state's constitution. Partially as a result of this, the Wisconsin State Senate voted to approve an amendment to the state constitution banning same-sex marriages or even civil unions.
March 19, 2004	In Quebec, the Court of Appeal upholds a superior court ruling that same-sex marriages are legal under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia already permitted same-sex marriage.
March 20, 2004	A lesbian minister in Bothell, Washington, is acquitted by a Methodist church jury of violating church rules.
March 22, 2004	In Oregon, the commissioners of Benton County decided not to start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. This reversal of an earlier vote was due to receiving a letter from state attorney general Hardy Myers on the matter. In place of same-sex marriage licenses, the commissioners decided to stop issuing any marriage licenses to anyone at all until the Oregon Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the discriminatory provisions of Oregon's marriage laws.

-->

Color Key: This chart explains which sorts of topics are given which colors in the chronologies.

Color	Topic
Blue	Western Religion (includes Christianity, Judaism, and other religions in the Western Hemisphere)
Yellow	Eastern Religion (includes Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shintoism, and other religions in the Eastern Hemisphere)
Green	Islam and the Middle East (includes events relating to the state of Israel)
Orange	Philosophy and Law (includes atheism, freethought, and religious freedom)
Purple	Science and Skepticism (includes evolution, creationism, and the paranormal)
Grey	Miscellaneous events to provide historical context and comparison

Where is Gay Marriage Legal?

Gay Marriage Around the World

Updated: November 5, 2008

Read this comprehensive guide to gay marriage laws around the world:

Nations that recognize gay marriage:

Canada
In June of 2005, the Canadian Parliament enacted a law allowing legal marriage for same-sex couples.

Belgium
The second nation to legalize same-sex marriage in 2003.

Netherlands
The first country to grant gay marriage in 2001.

Norway
Became the sixth country to legalize same-sex marriage on May 11, 2008. (read more)

South Africa
South Africa became the fifth nation to recognize gay marriage in 2005.

Spain
Spain became the fourth nation to allow gay marriage on June 29, 2005.

US states that recognize gay marriage:

California
In May, 2008, California's Supreme Court ruled that banning same-sex marriage in the state was discriminatory (read more). However, Proposition 8 was introduced on the November 2008 ballot to alter the state Constitution and strike down same-sex marriage. More on [link url=http://gaylife.about.com/od/samesexmarriag1/p/proposition8.htm]Prop 8.[/link]

Connecticut
In a 4 to 3 decision, the Connecticut Supreme Court overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage, making it the third state to allow legal gay marriage... (read more)

New Jersey*
New Jersey is the third U.S. state to offer same-sex civil unions behind Vermont and Connecticut. The new same-sex civil unions law, which goes into affect on February 19, 2007, grants gay and lesbian couples the same rights as marriage. *(Although same-sex unions in New Jersey are classified as civil unions, couples are granted the same rights as married heterosexual couples.) read more

New York
Note: By a May 29, 2008 directive, New York only recognizes gay marriages from couples legally married outside of the state. read more

Massachusetts
On May 17, 2004 Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. The State of Massachusetts also issues licenses to gay couples from New Mexico and Rhode Island since neither state explicitly prohibits same-sex marriage.

Nations that allow same-sex partnerships or unions:


Brazil*[/link]
*Only the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul currently allows same-sex civil unions (June 2006).

Croatia
Civil partnerships for same-sex couples have been granted since 2003.

Denmark
Legal civil partnerships have been allowed since 1989.

Finland
Has offered registered partnership benefits since September 2001.

France
Pacte Civil de Solidarité” (PACS), or “Civil Solidarity Pacts,” were instituted in France on November 9, 1999.

Germany
Gay couples can register as "Life Partnerships," granting lesser financial and pension benefits than marriage.

Hungary
Gay couples have been protected under common-law marriages since 1995; however they are not eligible for legal marriage.

Iceland
Since 1996, gay Icelanders have been protected under registered partnerships.

Luxembourg
Civil partnership legislation modeled after France's PACS were introduced in Luxembourg in 2004.

Mexico
Same sex civil unions were legalized in Mexico City in November 2006 and in the state of Coahuila on January of 2007, essentially making civil unions legal in all of Mexico (by law, each Mexican state must recognize the laws granted to individuals of the other states). (More on Gay Mexico)

New Zealand
In December, 2004, New Zealand enacted legislation recognizing same-sex civil unions.

Norway
Since 1996, gay Norwegians have been protected under registered partnerships.

Portugal
Same-sex partners have the same rights as opposite-sex partners in common law marriage.

Sweden
Swedish same-sex couples have been able to register under domestic partnership laws since 1995.

Switzerland
Same-sex couples are given limited legal benefits with civil recognition.

United Kingdom
Domestic partners can register under the Civil Partnership Act. This legislation took affect in December 5, 2005 giving registered same-sex couples all of the rights, privileges and responsibilities of married heterosexual couples. The Civil Partnership Act applies across all of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

US States that allow same-sex partnerships or unions:

Connecticut
Although Connecticut defines marriage as between a man and woman, it became the second U.S. state to grant same-sex civil unions in April, 2005.

New Hampshire
New Hampshire, home of the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson, became the 4th state behind Vermont, New Jersey and Connecticut to offer civil unions. Same-sex partners were allowed to register for civil unions in January 2008. More on New Hampshire Civil Unions

Oregon
Under Oregon's new domestic partnership law gay and lesbian couples are eligible for all the state-wide rights and benefits of marriage. Oregon also outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation. (more)

Vermont
The first U.S. state to offer same-sex civil unions in 2000. Learn about Vermont civil unions.

Washington
On April 21, 2007, Washington's domestic partnership bill was signed into law giving gay and lesbian couples many of the benefits of marriage. (more)

Nations that ban same-sex unions:

Honduras
On March 29, 2005, the constitution of Honduras was amended banning same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples.

Latvia
December 21, 2005 marked the day Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga signed into law a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

Uganda
On September 29, 2005, legislation banning same-sex unions was signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Penalties for gay marriage will be set in 2006. Under current law, homosexual acts are punishable by imprisonment from five years to life.

By Ramon Johnson, About.com

See More About:

• gay marriage laws
• civil unions
• domestic partnerships
• gay wedding planning

Day of Protests for Gay Rights

Angered by Calif. Gay Marriage Ban, Activists Demonstrate Across Country

Nearly two weeks after California voters narrowly passed Proposition 8, an amendment to the state constitution that effectively bans same-sex marriage, the backlash continues to build beyond the state's borders.

Thousands of supporters of gay marriage carry signs during a rally against the passing of Prop. 8

Today was dubbed a national day of protest. Organizers used Internet sites such as Facebook to draw huge crowds from New York to Los Angeles, and hundreds of cities in between.

Shouts of "yes we can," echoing one of the slogans of President-elect Obama's campaign, and signs reading "No on H8" peppered the protests. Advocates are trying to turn the vote on Proposition 8 into a countrywide referendum on gay rights, calling it "the new frontier in the civil rights movement."

One of the largest rallies was on the steps of San Francisco City Hall, considered ground zero in the battle for same sex marriage.

Lesbian activist Carole Migden whipped the crowd up as she declared, "They hate us. Let's just acknowledge it."

Then she pushed the crowd "to turn our rage into action."

The protests lining the streets were quite a contrast to the joyful celebrations of same-sex weddings that populated city halls throughout California all summer long. Those ceremonies were filled with a sense of hope and acceptance. Now that has given way to anger, defiance, and a war of words.

The Mormon church has become one of the key targets of protestors after it was revealed that their members contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to defeat gay marriage. Picketers today surrounded Mormon temples in Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.

Envelopes with an unidentified white power was discovered at both temples. Authorities examined the substance and found it not be be toxic.

Donors to Prop 8 have been listed on Web sites and some claim they've been forced to resign from their jobs. A Sacramento musical theater director says he was blacklisted for contributing $1,000 to the initiative.

The leadership of the Protect Marriage.com coalition defended themselves against what they call "vicious attacks."

"For 14 months, we have been called bigots and hatemongers and we have not retaliated against the unprecendented attacks," Pastor Jim Garlow said. "But we will not be silenced."

Supporters of gay marriage demonstrate in front of the Mormon Church November 12,

Neither will the other side, it seems.

"I think the Morrmon church's invovlement in Prop 8 has probably been one of the most distrubing experiences of my life," said Clark Pingree, a gay man who grew up as a Mormon and went to Brigham Young University.

Pingree criticized "a church getting involved in politics to the extent where 77 percent of the funds sponsoring the 'yes on anti-gay campaign' are coming from members of the Mormon church."

"Was this really the will of the people or was this election overrun by people from out of state by out-of-state money?" he asked.

Waving a sign that read "Mormons love gays," Pingree spoke today at the rally here, telling the crowd, "I now must be loyal to myself."

Supporters of same-sex marriage have filed a lawsuit with the California Supreme court, which already threw out one ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage.

"If Prop 8 is allowed to stand, it goes much beyond the issue of marriage equality and puts all of our rights at risk," said San Francisco city attorney Dennis Herrera, who is leading the legal fight.

At the demonstrations across the country today, members of the grassroots movement that organized the national day of protest today vowed they will not stop until everyone can marry, regardless of their sexuality.

By LAURA MARQUEZ SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 15, 2008

Gay advocates in Nevada protest marriage ban

7:57 p.m. November 15, 2008

LAS VEGAS – Gay rights supporters rallied in Nevada on Saturday as part of a string of protests reacting to the ban on same-sex marriage passed 11 days ago in California.

Upbeat crowds of more than 1,000 in Las Vegas and 300 in Reno cried out for equal rights for gays and lesbians.In Las Vegas, demonstrators gathered outside a gay and lesbian community center just east of the Strip. Many carried brightly painted signs, including one reading “Inequality is soooo not kool” and another declaring “Love is love.”

Like many in the crowd, protest organizer Candice Nichols connected the fight for equal marriage rights for gays to the battle for equal rights for African Americans.

“Our message is, 'Separate is not equal and not acceptable,'” said Nichols, the executive director of Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada. “Second-class citizenship is not acceptable.”

On Nov. 4, Californians passed Proposition 8, a measure defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Nevada passed a similar ban on same-sex marriages in 2002.

The California proposition's approval has sparked some angry protests against its supporters, particularly members of the Mormon Church and other faiths.

But speakers at Saturday's rallies in Nevada made only passing references to these adversaries on the issue.

“Today we must confront those who wield the Bible as a weapon, who use God as an excuse for their bigotry,” Jennifer Bolton, a gay rights advocate, told the Las Vegas crowd.

In Reno, demonstrators marched through the downtown casino area and gathered around the landmark Reno Arch, which proclaims Reno as the “Biggest Little City in the World.”

Speakers urged the crowd to become involved in the political process and to exert pressure on elected officials to ensure equal rights for gays and lesbians.

“What we're hoping to do is bring attention to other inequality issues,” said Eddie Reynoso, president of the Reno gay and lesbian community center Rainbow Place.

Reno demonstrators waved placards reading “Keep Your Religion Out of My State,” “Separate Church and State” and “Ur Neighbor Above All Else – Gay, Str8, Mormon, Black, Etc.”

Washoe County Commissioner Kitty Jung told the crowd that she would work to extend domestic partner benefits to county employees.

“I want you to know I'll fight for you,” she said to cheers.

In Las Vegas, comedian Wanda Sykes made a surprise appearance at the rally Saturday. Sykes, who was in town performing on the Strip, said the passage of Proposition 8 has led her to be more outspoken about her sexuality.

“You know, I don't really talk about my sexual orientation. I didn't feel like I had to. I was just living my life, not necessarily in the closet, but I was living my life,” Sykes said. “Everybody that knows me personally, they know I'm gay. But that's the way people should be able to live their lives.”

Similar protests were held Saturday in Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia and other cities.

–

By Kathleen Hennessey

Associated Press writer Martin Griffith in Reno contributed to this report.

11 Facts About Gay Rights

11 Facts About Gay Rights from www.dosomething.org

1. In November, California approved Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage, thereby overturning the state Supreme Court decision that gave gay couples the right to wed just months ago.
2. Why are civil unions not enough for gay rights activists? The federal government accords 1,138 benefits and responsibilities based on marital status, not on civil union status. A few of those benefits are unpaid leave to care for an ill spouse, social security survivor benefits and spousal benefits, and the right not to testify against one’s spouse, among others.
3. The District of Columbia and 47 states have anti-hate crime laws, however only 24 states and the District of Columbia include sexual orientation in their legislation.
4. According to FBI hate crime statistics, there were 7,163 reported hate crimes in 2005. 14.2% of which were based on sexual orientation. Most were violent in nature.
5. Last year, both houses of Congress passed a historic hate crimes bill known as the Matthew Shepard Act, which would have outlawed hate crimes based on both sexual orientation and gender identity. But the legislation never made it to President Bush's desk because of his veto threat.
6. While 19 states and the District of Columbia have laws barring discrimination based on sexual orientation, and many cities offer similar protections, federal law didn’t offer such a shield until November of 2007, though it did bar discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity, sex, age, disability and pregnancy. The bill, the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, was the latest version of legislation that Democrats have pursued since 1974. To ensure passage of the bill, Democrats were forced to remove language that would have granted protections to transsexual and transgender individuals by barring discrimination based on sexual identity, a move that infuriated some gay-rights groups.
7. In the U.S., 75% of students have no state laws to protect them from harassment and discrimination in school based on their sexual orientation. In public high schools, 97% of students report regularly hearing homophobic remarks from their peers.
8. Of the estimated 1.6 million homeless American youth, between 20% and 40% identify as LGBT. In one study, 26% of gay teens who came out to their parents/guardians were told they must leave home; LGBT youth also leave home due to physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Also, LGBT youth report they are threatened, belittled and abused at shelters by staff as well as other residents.
9. In 1993 the Defense Dept., at President Clinton's order, changed the ban on homosexuals in the military to a ban on homosexual activity. The much discussed policy, known as "don't ask, don't tell," was presented as a way to allow gays in the military to serve without fear of discharge or other penalty as long as they did not reveal their sexual orientation. By the end of the 1990s, however, it appeared to have done little to change the precarious status of gay soldiers.
10. While gay couples are seen on TV shows more often than in the past (eg. Luke and Noah, the young gay couple on “As The World Turns”), affection between the two is restricted to holding hands, playing with one another’s neck scarves and sharing meaningful looks. This wouldn’t be odd if heterosexual couples were not shown kissing on a regular basis.
11. Despite the shortage of blood at banks across the country, gay donors are being turned away. Men who have had sexual contact with a man, even once, since 1977 are automatically disqualified. The agency has had its policy on men who have sexual contact with men since 1983, when the risk of AIDS through transfusion was recognized. The FDA reaffirmed the policy in May of 2007, despite improvements in testing and increased susceptibility of heterosexuals to HIV. All donated blood is tested for HIV, but the virus can go undetected until the immune system has produced a testable amount of antibodies. That window period, according to the FDA, would pose a "small but definite increased risk to people who receive blood transfusion if the policy were changed."

Sources:
International Herald Tribune
Los Angeles Times
Seattle PI
Gay Life
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Lambda Legal

Michigan House Votes to Extend LGBT Hate Crimes Protections

November 14, 2008

Nov. 13 the Michigan House voted to add “sexual identity or expression” in addition to disability to the state’s existing hate crimes legislation. The bill passed with an 82-12 vote and will next move on to the Senate for a vote. A statement released by the Triangle Foundation pointed out that there was a 133% increase in anti-LGBT hate crimes last year, and that “the need for this legislation is imperative to send the message that hate is not a Michigan value.” Related Media Coverage: The Associated Press — November 14, 2008 “Mich. House OKs broader hate crime law” http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-biascrimes,0,1691325.story Statement from Triangle Foundation Director of Victim Services' Melissa Pope — November 14, 2008 “Hate Crimes Legislation Passes Michigan House!” http://www.chanceofgay.org/2008/11/hate-crimes-legislation-passes-michigan.html From www.glaad.org

Maine Faith Leaders to Advocate for Marriage Equality

November 14, 2008

A group of more than 120 religious leaders announced Wednesday the formation of the “Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry in Maine”. The group is advocating for marriage for same-sex couples and has signed a declaration committing themselves “to public action, visibility, education, and mutual support in the service of the right and freedom to marry.” The faith leaders come from 14 different religious traditions and said they were encouraged to form the coalition because of momentum for marriage equality throughout New England. The leaders timed their press conference to coincide with the first day marriage licenses were issued in Connecticut. The leaders cited their concerns for same-sex couples who are unable to safeguard their relationships with marriage protections. Related Media Coverage: Kennebec Journal Morning Sentinel – November 14, 2008 “Religious coalition urges Maine to allow same-sex civil marriages” http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/5605181.html Bangor Daily News – November 13, 2008 “Ministers express support for same-sex marriage in Maine” http://www.bangornews.com/detail/93200.html Media Advocacy. Fighting Defamation. Changing Hearts & Minds. www.glaad.org

Record-Breaking Number of LGBT Candidates Elected

November 14, 2008

While the LGBT community and its allies are disheartened by ballot results in Arkansas, Arizona, California and Florida, a look at this election’s nationwide results of elected LGBT officials give us much to be hopeful about.

In a record-breaking election, more than 70 percent of the openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender candidates running for public offices across the country were elected on Tuesday. The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund endorsed a total of 111 candidates in this cycle.

Chuck Wolfe, President and CEO of the Victory Fund, released the following statement:

“This was a watershed election. Our government became more representative and our democracy became stronger. As we near the 30th anniversary of the death of Harvey Milk, it’s enormously gratifying to see his dream realized in so many brave men and women heeding the call to run for office, and doing so openly, honestly and unafraid”

Among the winners:

• Jared Polis of Colorado became the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Congress as a non-incumbent. Polis joins Rep. Barney Frank and Rep. Tammy Baldwin, both reelected, as the only openly LGBT Members of Congress.

• Kate Brown of Oregon became the first openly LGBT Secretary of State in the U.S.

• Jason Bartlett of Connecticut became the second openly gay African-American state legislator in the nation as he was reelected to the Connecticut State House.

• John Perez became the first openly gay person of color elected to the California Assembly.

• Kevin Beckner won a seat on the Hillsborough County Commission in Florida as the first openly gay man to be elected in the county.

• Rebecca Kaplan became the first openly gay woman elected to the Oakland, California City Council.

You can see a full list of LGBT candidates and winners by visiting: http://www.victoryfund.org/election_scorecard.

This post was written by Sarah Mitchell, GLAAD’s National News Fellow.

After California loss, gay couples get right to wed in Connecticut

November 12, 2008 at 3:56 PM EST

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Same-sex couples began marrying in Connecticut on Wednesday after a judge cleared the way, a partial rebound for gay-rights activists still enraged over the vote last week that cost them the right to wed in California.

Protests spread across the country over the loss in California, but in New Haven, bubbles and white balloons bounced in the chilly autumn air as well-wishers cheered the marriage of Peg Oliveira and Jennifer Vickery. They wed outside City Hall, next to a statue commemorating the Amistad slave ship's struggle for freedom, less than two hours after a judge made gay marriage a reality in Connecticut.

Despite the roaring traffic and clicking cameras, “It was surprisingly quiet,” Ms. Oliveira said after the brief ceremony. “Everything else dissolved, and it was just the two of us. It was so much more personal and powerful in us committing to one another, and so much less about the people around us.”

The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on Oct. 10 that same-sex couples have the right to wed rather than accept a 2005 civil union law designed to give them the same rights as married couples. A lower-court judge entered a final order permitting same-sex marriage Wednesday morning.

“Today, Connecticut sends a message of hope an inspiration to lesbian and gay people throughout this country who simply want to be treated as equal citizens by their government,” said the plaintiff's attorney, Bennett Klein.

There was no comparison between civil unions and marriage for Robin Levine-Ritterman and Barbara Levine-Ritterman, who obtained a civil union in 2005 and were among eight same-sex couples who sued for the right to marry.

“We didn't do it with pride or joy,” Barbara Levine-Ritterman said of getting the civil-union license. “It felt gritty to be in a separate line.”

On Wednesday, however, she proudly held up the first same-sex marriage license issued in New Haven as about 100 people applauded outside City Hall. She and her betrothed, who held red roses, plan to marry in May.

“It's thrilling today,” Barbara Levine-Ritterman said. “We are all in one line for one form. Love is love, and the state recognizes it.”

Massachusetts is the only other state that allows gay marriages. Like the highest courts in that state and Connecticut, the California Supreme Court had ruled that same-sex marriage is legal this spring, but after thousands such unions were conducted in that state California voters last week approved a referendum banning the practice.

Constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage also passed last week in Arizona and Florida, and Arkansas voters approved a measure banning unmarried couples from serving as adoptive or foster parents.

The California vote has sparked protests and several lawsuits asking that state's Supreme Court to overturn the prohibition.

A group of Southern California activists have launched an effort to have simultaneous protests outside state houses and city halls in every U.S. state on Saturday. Word of the event has spread through social networking sites such as Facebook, and protests have been scheduled outside the U.S. Capitol and in more than 100 cities.

In Connecticut, celebrating couples, some carrying red roses, streamed into the clerk's office to get their licenses.

Manchester Town Clerk Joseph Camposeo, president of the Connecticut Town Clerks Association, said clerks in the state's 169 communities were advised by e-mail shortly after 9:30 a.m. they could start issuing marriage licenses to gay couples.

“The feedback I'm getting from other clerks is that we're all at the ready, but no one really has a sense yet of what kind of volume we're going to get,” he said.

According to the state public health department, 2,032 civil union licenses were issued in Connecticut between October of 2005 and July of 2008.

The health department had new marriage applications printed that reflect the change. Instead of putting one name under “bride” and the other under “groom,” couples will see two boxes marked “bride/groom/spouse.”

Connecticut voters could have opened the door to ending gay marriage last week by voting for a constitutional convention to amend the state's constitution, but the measure was defeated.

Peter Wolfgang, the executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, a gay-marriage opponent, acknowledged that banning gay weddings in Connecticut will be difficult but vowed not to give up. He condemned the high court's decision as undemocratic.

“Unlike California, we did not have a remedy,” Mr. Wolfgang said. “It must be overturned with patience, determination and fortitude.”

The state's 2005 civil union law will remain on the books, at least for now. Same-sex couples can continue to enter civil unions, which give them the same legal rights and privileges in Connecticut as married couples without the status of being married. Several states, including California, allow domestic partnerships or civil unions for same-sex couples.

JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN

Associated Press

'Love is love.' Eventually, all America will accept it

November 12, 2008 at 10:18 PM EST

They believe African Americans are to blame. They believe Mormons are to blame. They believe Barack Obama is indirectly to blame.

But Sir Elton John thinks they have only themselves to blame.

Supporters of gay marriage are heading back to court in an attempt to overturn Proposition 8, a resolution to amend California's constitution so that marriage is made once again exclusively the union of a man and a woman.

The resolution passed with support of 52 per cent of voters in last week's election. Exit polls showed that while white and Asian voters opposed the proposition by a narrow margin (51 per cent to 49 per cent) and Latinos supported it by a narrow margin, (53 per cent to 47 per cent), the black vote proved decisive.

Supporters of same-sex marriage organized by Latino activists rally to overturn Proposition 8 earlier this week in Los Angeles.

African Americans supported Proposition 8 by 70 per cent to 30 per cent, reflecting the social conservatism of many in the African-American community.

And enthusiasm for the possibility of electing an African-American president hugely increased their turnout. Black voters usually make up 6 per cent of those who vote in elections in California, but on Nov. 4 they accounted for 10 per cent of the vote.

Ironically, enthusiasm for Mr. Obama among black and (to a lesser extent) Latino voters helped bring down gay marriage in California.

The Mormons helped, too. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contributed an estimated 77 per cent of the funding for the Yes campaign.

In response, gay activists have called for a boycott on travel to Utah, where the church is headquartered. More important, they have launched a court challenge, supported by the state bar associations and the Democratic caucus in the legislature, asking the California Supreme Court to invalidate Proposition 8.

“Proposition 8 threatens the permanent and abiding nature of the requirement that laws must apply equally to all – the most basic principle of democratic government,” says a supporting letter from the Anti-Defamation League and other groups.

The latest legal challenge asserts that the proposition doesn't just “amend” the state constitution, it “revises” it, in which case the state legislature had to authorize the proposition with a two-thirds vote, which it didn't do.

As well, the challenge claims that the measure violates the state constitution's equal-protection provisions, and embedding it would put the constitution at war with itself.

It was the court's invalidation of an earlier proposition banning same-sex marriage in May that made the ceremony legal in California for a few brief months this year.

Eighteen thousand same-sex couples took advantage of the opportunity to tie the knot. Their marriages remain valid unless and until someone launches a legal challenge.

The gay- and civil-rights activists fighting for same-sex marriage are flying in the face of emphatic public opinion. Propositions similar to California's passed handily in Arizona and Florida last week. Thirty states have now passed bans on same-sex marriage. And Arkansas passed a measure aimed at prohibiting same-sex adoptions.

Sir Elton believes the same-sex-marriage advocates are putting the marital cart ahead of the civil-rights horse.

The singer and his partner, David Furnish, attended a fundraiser for the Elton John AIDS Foundation in New York this week.

Sir Elton made a point of explaining that: “We're not married. Let's get that right.

“We have a civil partnership,” he told USA Today. “What is wrong with Proposition 8 is that they went for marriage. Marriage is going to put a lot of people off.”

All is not lost, for supporters of same-sex marriage. On Wednesday, Connecticut became the second state to permit such unions, which are already legal in Massachusetts.

The state's Supreme Court ruled in October that any laws banning same-sex marriage violated Connecticut's constitution, and voters rejected a proposition to amend the constitution to reinstate the ban.

“It's thrilling today,” Barbara Levine-Ritterman said, after her wedding ceremony, an upgrade from a previous civil union with her partner, Robin. “We are all in one line for one form. Love is love, and the state recognizes it.”

And if the United States is more socially conservative than other Western nations now, that doesn't mean it will be forever. In California, voters under 30 opposed Proposition 8 by 61 per cent to 39 per cent.

So it's really just a matter of time.

JOHN IBBITSON :From Thursday's Globe and Mail

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081112.wibbitson13/BNStory/International/home?cid=al_gam_mostemail

Wealthy gay men backed anti-Prop. 8 effort

<Sunday, November 16, 2008

A handful of the nation's wealthiest gay men pumped more than $4.5 million into the campaign against Prop. 8, part of a flood of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender money that accounted for more than half the $38 million raised in the unsuccessful effort to block the same-sex marriage ban in California.

A direct appeal to the community in the final weeks of the campaign brought a surge of new money into the No on Prop. 8 effort, sometimes as much as $1 million a day.

"Most of our major contributors were either gay or regular contributors to LGBT causes," said Steve Smith, who ran the campaign against Prop. 8. "I think we had an extraordinary response from the gay and lesbian community."

Much of that money came from individuals and groups that make no secret of their orientation.

"It's tremendously important for gays and lesbians to be out when they make political contributions," said Michael Fleming, who advises David Bohnett, a Beverly Hills technology entrepreneur.

Bohnett, who gave $1.2 million to the effort to block Prop. 8, is one of a group of wealthy gay men who Time magazine recently suggested were seen as "a kind of secret Super Friends, a homosexual justice league" that moves around the nation spending millions of dollars to support gay and lesbian causes and back candidates who back their views.

While people close to the group collectively winced at the magazine's description of a shadowy group of gay activists styling themselves as "the Cabinet," political finance records show that wealthy gays and their foundations are taking an increasingly public role in the fight for marriage equality and other gay and lesbian issues.

Tim Gill, for example, is a Denver man who founded Quark Inc., a pioneer in the desktop publishing world. Gill, along with his Gill Action Fund, put $720,000 into the No on Prop. 8 campaign. In 2000, Gill gave $250,000 to defeat California's Prop. 22, which banned same-sex marriages in the state until it was overturned by the state Supreme Court in May.

In 2006, the Gill Action Fund also spent $3.7 million in nine states in an unsuccessful effort to block same-sex marriage bans. His foundation also has given $120 million to a variety of nonprofit groups, many of them with links to the gay and lesbian community.

Big-name donors

Jon Stryker, heir to a Kalamazoo, Mich., medical implements fortune, gave more than $1 million to the attempt to defeat Prop. 8. Since 2000, his Arcus Foundation has given more than $50 million to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender causes.

San Francisco philanthropist James Hormel, heir to the meatpacking fortune, gave $300,000 to the fight against Prop. 8. He's also given hundreds of thousands to Democratic Party causes and put money into state and congressional races across the country.

Bruce Bastian, a onetime Mormon who gave $1 million to the anti-Prop. 8 campaign, said that gays and lesbians have to stand up and level the financial playing field if they want to get their message out and gain marriage equality.

"One thing I learned as a Mormon was that preaching costs money," Bastian said in a Chronicle interview in July.

Gay celebrities contributed

There was plenty of money from gay groups and out gays and lesbians. Fred Eychaner, a Chicago businessman, gave $250,000. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres gave $100,000, as did actor T.R. Knight and DreamWorks CEO David Geffen. Former Santa Barbara GOP Rep. Michael Huffington gave $100,000, as did New York City philanthropist Henry van Ameringen and Coral Gables, Fla., businessman Jonathan Lewis.

Gay rights groups like Equality California, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the National Gay and Lesbian Task force collected millions in contributions to fight Prop. 8, not all of them from gay and lesbian sources. The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Service Center gave $1 million, while smaller organizations from across the nation chipped in with support.

It wasn't all big donors. San Francisco City Treasurer Jose Cisneros gave $1,000, while former city Supervisor Roberta Achtenberg donated $250. Campaign sources estimated that more than half of No on Prop. 8's 100,000 donors gave less than $100.

Stepping up

The gay and lesbian community was there when it was needed, said Smith, campaign manager for the No side.

In early October, he held an unusual news conference for the gay media only, telling them that the campaign was low on money, sinking in the polls and needed help, fast.

"Two days later, we had our first $1 million (contribution) day and we probably averaged $500,000 a day to the end of the campaign," Smith said. "Though there's no way to know for sure, I'm confident much of that money came from gay and lesbian sources."

That support didn't come as a surprise to Prop. 8 supporters.

"There was a ton of gay money put into the No campaign, although it's hard to say how much because no one asks what your sexual orientation is when you give," said Frank Schubert, political consultant for Prop. 8. "I don't know how that's different from the Mormons and Catholics who gave to us."

Calling for church boycotts

Equality California, which took the lead in the anti-Prop. 8 effort, estimates that Mormons donated as much as $20 million to Prop. 8, while the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal group, gave $1.25 million to the effort and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, $200,000.

Some of the opponents of Prop. 8 have called for a boycott of Mormon-owned businesses and others who gave money to support the ban on same-sex marriage, which is being challenged in court.

People shouldn't be any more surprised that Mormons, Catholics and other religious groups gave money to Prop. 8 than they are that gays and lesbians opened their checkbooks to support it, said Edwin Bender, executive director of the National Institute on Money in State Politics.

"It's the people who are affected who get involved, and you'll always find a few people with deep pockets taking the lead," he said. "Ballot measures are direct democracy at its purest, and when you talk about issues like ... marriage rights, it becomes very personal."

Largest gay contributions

Gay and lesbian money from across the country flooded into the campaign against Prop. 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California. Among the largest contributions from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community were:

David Bohnett

-- Home: Beverly Hills

-- Background: co-founder of Geo-Cities Internet company

-- Contribution: $1.2 million

Jon Stryker

-- Home: Kalamazoo, Mich.

-- Background: heir to hospital equipment company

-- Contribution: $1.05 million

Bruce Bastian

-- Home: Orem, Utah

-- Background: co-founder of WordPerfect software

-- Contribution: $1 million

Tim Gill

-- Home: Denver

-- Background: founder of Quark Inc., which makes desktop publishing software

-- Contribution: $710,000

James Hormel

-- Home: San Francisco

-- Background: heir to meatpacking fortune

-- Contribution: $300,000

Fred Eychaner

-- Home: Chicago

-- Background: owner, Newsweb Corp.

-- Contribution: $250,000

By John Wildermuth : This article appeared on page B - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Gay marriage supporters rally across United States

Gay marriage supporters rally across United States

Saturday, November 15, 2008

CREDIT: AFP/Getty Images Protesters take part in a demonstration to condemn the ban of same-sex marriages in Los Angeles on November 15, 2008.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Thousands of gay marriage advocates held boisterous rallies Saturday across the United States and abroad in a coordinated protest of California's vote this month to ban same-sex marriage.

In Manhattan, where some protesters were offering hula-hoop demonstrations, Sean Petersen, 21, a musician from Brooklyn, called the vote "mean-spirited and divisive."

In Chicago, Andy Thayer, a co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network, exhorted a crowd that had listened to a gay men's choir sing a peppy version of the hymn "Down by the Riverside" to follow through on the spirit of the protest.

"We can't just let this be a blowing-off-steam rally, as satisfying as that might be," he said. "We're here to win equal marriage rights right here in Illinois."

Demonstrations had been organized for Saturday afternoon in the United States and elsewhere, including Canada, Europe and Australia, coordinated by a campaign on the Internet.

Los Angeles police estimated 8,000 attended, and thousands filled the central plaza in San Francisco. Other cities had crowds estimated in the hundreds or low thousands.

"I am here to protect my marriage and my family," said 39-year-old Susan Ferris at Los Angeles City Hall.

On Nov. 4, California voters narrowly approved Proposition 8, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. It reversed the right of gays and lesbians to marry that had been granted by the state's Supreme Court this year and triggered a series of protests.

"A turning point has been reached," landscape architect James York, 45, said at the San Francisco rally.

$70 MILLION CAMPAIGN

Measures to ban gay marriage also passed in Florida and Arizona, while Arkansas barred gay couples from adopting children.

In 2003, Massachusetts became the first state to legalize gay marriages. Last month, Connecticut became the second when the state's top court overturned a ban on same-sex marriage.

The California measure passed by 52 percent after one of the most expensive ballot campaigns in history in which both sides combined raised some $70 million.

Gay marriage advocates have asked the California Supreme Court to overturn the ban, arguing that more than a majority vote is needed to make a fundamental change in the state constitution. In May, the court had declared same-sex marriage a right, unleashing a flood of weddings.

The rallies drew a few opponents of gay marriage.

"We're troubled by the intolerance on their side about what obviously is the will of the American people," Peter LaBarbera, a board member of Protect Marriage Illinois, told Reuters. "We think they represent the minority viewpoint."

Despite the setback in the country's most populous state, gay marriage advocates said they were upbeat about their cause in the long run.

"History is on our side," said Ferris in Los Angeles.

Peter Henderson

Reuters

Across U.S., gay advocates protest marriage ban

Crowds gathered in cities to vent frustrations, renew calls for change

Protesters take part in a demonstration to condemn the ban of same-sex marriages in Los Angeles on Saturday. The same-sex marriage ban sparked protests across the nation with thousands taking to the streets in Los Angeles.

updated 7:00 p.m. PT, Sat., Nov. 15, 2008

BOSTON - Gay rights supporters waving rainbow colors marched, chanted and danced in cities coast to coast Saturday to protest the vote that banned gay marriage in California and to urge supporters not to quit the fight for the right to wed.

Crowds gathered near public buildings in cities large and small, including Boston, San Francisco, Chicago and Fargo, to vent their frustrations, celebrate gay relationships and renew calls for change.

"Civil marriages are a civil right, and we're going to keep fighting until we get the rights we deserve as American citizens," said Karen Amico, one of several hundred protesters in Philadelphia, holding up a sign reading "Don't Spread H8".

"We are the American family, we live next door to you, we teach your children, we take care of your elderly," said Heather Baker a special education teacher from Boston who addressed the crowd at Boston's City Hall Plaza. "We need equal rights across the country."

Connecticut, which began same-sex weddings this past week, and Massachusetts are the only two states that allow gay marriage. The other 48 states do not, and 30 of them have taken the extra step of approving constitutional amendments. A few states allow civil unions or domestic partnerships that grant some rights of marriage.

Plea for respect, restraint
Protests following the vote on Proposition 8 in California, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman, have sometimes been angry and even violent, and demonstrators have targeted faiths that supported the ban, including the Mormon church.

However, representatives of Join the Impact, which organized Saturday's demonstrations, asked supporters to be respectful and refrain from attacking other groups during the rallies.

Seattle blogger Amy Balliett, who started the planning for the protests when she set up a Web page three days after the California vote, said persuasion is impossible without civility.

"If we can move anybody past anger and have a respectful conversation, then you can plant the seed of change," she said.Balliett said supporters in 300 cities in the U.S. and other countries were holding marches, and she estimated 1 million people would participate, based on responses at the Web sites her group set up.

"We need to show the world when one thing happens to one of us, it happens to all of us," she said.

Peaceful protests, but anger is evident

The protests were widely reported to be peaceful, and the mood in Boston was generally upbeat, with attendees dancing to the song "Respect." Signs cast the fight for gay marriage as the new civil rights movement, including one that read "Gay is the new black."

But anger over the ban and its backers was evident at the protests.

One sign in Chicago, where several thousand people gathered, read: "Catholic Fascists Stay Out of Politics."

"I just found out that my state doesn't really think I'm a person," said Rose Aplustill, 21, a Boston University student from Los Osos, Calif., who was one of thousands at the Boston rally.

In San Francisco, demonstrators took shots at some religious groups that supported the ban, including a sign aimed at the Mormon church and its abandoned practice of polygamy that read: "You have three wives; I want one husband."

Chris Norberg, who married his partner in June, also referred to the racial divisions that arose after exit polls found that majorities of blacks and Hispanics supported the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

"They voted against us," Norberg said.

In Salt Lake City, where demonstrators gathered just blocks from the headquarters of the Mormon church, one sign pictured the city's temple with a line adapted from former Republican vice president candidate Sarah Palin: "I can see discrimination from my house."

More than 500 demonstrators in Washington marched from the U.S. Capitol through the city carrying signs and chanting "One, two, three, four, love is what we're fighting for!"

A public plaza at the foot of New York's Brooklyn Bridge was packed by a cheering crowd of thousands, including people who waved rainbow flags and wore pink buttons that said "I do."

Protests were low-key in North Dakota, where people lined a bridge in Fargo carrying signs and flags.

Mike Bernard, who was in the crowd of hundreds at City Hall in Baltimore, said Proposition 8 could end up being a good thing for gay rights advocates.

"It was a swift kick in the rear end," he said.

In Los Angeles, protesters gathered near City Hall before marching through downtown. Police said 10,000 to 12,000 people demonstrated.

Supporters of traditional marriage said the rallies may have generated publicity but ultimately made no difference.

"They had everything in the world going for them this year, and they couldn't win," said Frank Schubert, co-manager of the Yes on 8 campaign in California. "I don't think they're going to be any more successful in 2010 or 2012."

In Chicago, Keith Smith, 42, a postal worker, and his partner, Terry Romo, 34, a Wal-Mart store manager, had photos of a commitment ceremony they held, though gay marriage is not legal in Illinois.

"We're not going to wait for no law," Smith said. "But time's going to be on our side and it's going to change."

Global gay rights protest has roots in Seattle Video: Proposition 8 protest Gay Couples Can Marry in Connecticut Same-sex couples vow to fight back

Rallies across U.S. to protest gay marriage ban

Rallies across U.S. to protest gay marriage ban

Updated Sat. Nov. 15 2008 5:45 PM ET

The Associated Press

BOSTON -- Gay rights supporters waving rainbow colours as they marched, chanted and danced in U.S. cities coast to coast Saturday to protest the California vote that banned gay marriage there.

Many cast it as a civil rights issue and urged supporters not to quit the fight for the right of gays and lesbians to wed.

Crowds gathered near public buildings in small communities and major cities including New York, San Francisco and Chicago to vent their frustration, celebrate gay relationships and renew calls for change.

"Civil marriages are a civil right, and we're going to keep fighting until we get the rights we deserve as American citizens," Karen Amico said in Philadelphia.

"We are the American family, we live next door to you, we teach your children, we take care of your elderly," said Heather Baker a special education teacher from Boston who addressed the crowd at Boston's City Hall Plaza. "We need equal rights across the country."

Massachusetts and Connecticut, which began same sex weddings this past week, are the only two U.S. states that allow gay marriage. All 30 states that have voted on gay marriage have enacted bans.

Protests following the vote on Proposition 8 in California, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman, have sometimes been angry and even violent, and demonstrators have targeted faiths that supported the ban, including the Mormon church.

However, representatives of Join the Impact, which organized Saturday's demonstrations, asked supporters to be respectful and refrain from attacking groups during the rallies.


http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081115/marriage_protests_081117/20081115?hub=World

Seattle blogger Amy Balliett, who started the planning for the protests when she set up a Web page three days after the California vote, said persuasion is impossible without civility.

"If we can move anybody past anger and have a respectful conversation, then you can plant the seed of change," she said.

Balliett said supporters in 300 cities in the United States and other countries were holding marches, and she estimated one million people would participate, based on responses at the websites her group set up.

"We need to show the world when one thing happens to one of us, it happens to all of us," she said.

The protests were widely reported to be peaceful and the mood in Boston was generally upbeat, with attendees dancing to the song "Respect."

Signs cast the fight for gay marriage as the new civil rights movement, including one that read "Gay is the new black."

But anger over the ban and its backers was evident at the protests.

One sign in Chicago read: "Catholic Fascists Stay Out of Politics."

"I just found out that my state doesn't really think I'm a person," said Rose Aplustill, 21, a Boston University student from Los Osos, Calif., who was one of thousands at the Boston rally.

In San Francisco demonstrators took shots at some religious groups that supported the ban, including a sign aimed at the Mormon church and its abandoned practice of polygamy that read: "You have three wives; I want one husband."

Chris Norberg, who married his partner in June, also referred to the racial divisions that arose after exit polls found that majorities of blacks and Hispanics supported the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

"They voted against us," Norberg said.

Demonstrators in Washington marched from the U.S. Capitol through the city carrying signs and chanting "One, two, three, four, love is what we're fighting for!"

A public plaza at the foot of New York's Brooklyn Bridge was packed by a cheering crowd, including people who waved rainbow flags and wore pink buttons that said "I do."

Protests were low-key in North Dakota, where people lined a bridge in Fargo carrying signs and flags.

In Chicago, Keith Smith, 42, a postal worker, and his partner, Terry Romo, 34, a Wal-Mart store manager, had photos of their wedding ceremony which they held even though gay marriage is not legal in Illinois.

"We're not going to wait for no law," Smith said. "But time's going to be on our side and it's going to change."

Mayor tells ADL struggle for equality continues

Mayor tells ADL struggle for equality continues
12:23 PM, November 13, 2008

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told leaders of the Anti-Defamation League today that "this is not just a historic time, but a critical time" in America, and that although the election of a black president signaled leaps and bounds in the struggle for equality, there is more work to be done.

"This is a time of optimism and hope, a time when we can truly say we overcame hurdles," Villaraigosa told a crowd of about 300 people at the Beverly Hilton hotel, helping kick off the three-day annual ADL national meeting. Adl

Villaraigosa then talked about Proposition 8's passage, saying it was an affront to basic civil rights. "If you think for a moment that this kind of bigotry is not connected to anti-Semitism, then you don't really understand it," the mayor said.

The conference will include, among others, talks by ADL National Director Abraham Foxman and Judea Pearl, the father of slain journalist Daniel Pearl. On Friday the ADL will give the "courageous leadership" award to LAPD First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell.

The ADL also is using the conference to release a new poll on racial tensions in America that surveyed 1,000 adults across the nation on Oct. 26.

Some of the major findings: 66% of those surveyed said growth in minority populations will "be an advantage for America" in terms of building a strong economy, compared with 39% in 1992. Also, 35% of those surveyed said "there has been an increase in the level of tension between different racial and ethnic groups in American society," compared with 76% in 1992.

-- Ari B. Bloomekatz
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/11/mayor-antonio-v.html

The boycott effort against businesses whose owners backed Proposition 8

12:04 PM, November 13, 2008

The boycott effort against businesses whose owners backed Proposition 8 appears to be picking up steam.

Dozens of groups have sprouted up on Facebook.com urging its members to boycott businesses -- restaurants, jewelry stores, car-repair shops and more. Other activists have gone onto Yelp.com and other business rating sites, posting messages telling users which restaurants donated to the "Yes on 8" campaign. a series of protests against churches, small businesses and individual supporters of traditional marriage have taken place in cities across the state. Protests and boycotts have taken place against a Hispanic restaurant owner in Los Angeles, African American religious leaders in the Bay Area, and a musical theater director in Sacramento, among many others.

There has also been talk of a boycott of the Cinemark movie chain, whose CEO gave money to "Yes on 8." This could have a major effect on the Sundance Film Festival, which uses the chain's theaters to show movies.

The actions have alarmed supporters of Prop. 8, which banned gay marriage in California.

Robert Hoehn, vice president of Hoehn Motors in San Diego County, gave $25,000 of his own money to the Yes-on-8 campaign in February. And he called what followed “a really really ugly experience.”

Before the vote, Hoehn said, he he received “dozens and dozens and dozens of really vitriolic messages” and his Honda dealership was picketed. Since the proposition won, he said, he has received a few messages and phone calls denouncing his support for the measure.

It started with a handful of restaurants including L.A. institution El Coyote, where one of the owners contributed money to the "Yes on 8" campaign. Gay-rights activists have threatened a boycott, but the owners say so far they have not noticed a drop in business. The restaurants targeted include chains such as El Pollo Loco, Burger King, Outback Steakhouse, Yard House and more.

There is now talk about a "gay day off," in which activists would simply not buy anything.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/11/the-boycott-eff.html