DOMA affects real people

Today, at the press conference announcing the introduction of the bill to repeal DOMA, a newly married couple, Dawn BarbouRoske and Jen BarbouRoske from Iowa -- and their daughter, explained how the law affects their lives:
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Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) took over Rahm's seat. Thank God.

Here he is talking about why he's supporting repealing DOMA. He took over Rahm's seat when Rahm went to the White House. At least that's one good thing that's resulted from Rahm moving over.

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When Uruguay is a bigger supporter of civil rights than the US

If Uruguay can pass civil unions, and adoption rights, why can't the US? It's embarrassing, and troubling, to see our country fall further behind on issue after issue. We can't remain number one is we don't strive to be number one. Read More...

Chairman of the Jt Chiefs still giving odd non-committal answers about repealing DADT

At what point does Admiral Mullen actually have to start following President Obama's orders, and not the other way around? And when exactly will President Obama be moving ahead on this strategy to repeal DADT? After health care reform is done? But then we'll be doing Wall Street Reform. And next year is the congressional elections, and we've already been told to forget gay stuff that year. So when will be a good time to set our people free? SLDN is pissed, and rightly so. Read More...

Ohio House just passed the Equal Employment and Housing Act

A historic day at the State House in Columbus.

The Ohio House of Representatives just passed the Equal Employment and Housing Act by a margin of 56 - 39. I watched part of the debate this afternoon. There were some excellent speeches in support of the bill from a bipartisan group of House members. Equality Ohio got a well-deserved shout out from the floor. And, there were some real neanderthals railing against the legislation. But, our side won.

This is the first time a state legislative body passed pro-LGBT equality. Nice work, Equality Ohio. Read More...

In Washington, major corporations want R-71 approved

In Washington State, some of the big dogs in the private sector have come out in support of equality:

Boeing, Microsoft, Nike, Puget Sound Energy, RealNetworks and Vulcan have issued a statement supporting the new "everything but marriage" expanded same-sex domestic partnership law.

"We embrace everyone's fundamental right to be judged on their merits and contributions rather than factors such as their sexual orientation. Because rejecting the law would stem progress toward that goal, we urge a vote to approve Referendum 71," the statement released Monday said.

Washington Families Standing Together is running the campaign to have R-71 approved. Read More...

DOMA repeal, "Respect for Marriage Act," introduced with 91 sponsors and support from Bill Clinton

Via Kerry Eleveld, who covered the press conference today on Capitol Hill:

Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York flanked by out Representatives Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Jared Polis of Colorado as well as a wide swath of LGBT advocacy groups held a press conference Tuesday to announce the introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act – legislation that would fully repeal of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.

“Today, we celebrate the first step toward overturning the Defense of Marriage Act and sending that ugly law into the history books where it belongs," said Nadler, adding that the new RMA bill has 91 original cosponsors.

Nadler later read a statement from former President Bill Clinton thanking Reps. Nadler, Baldwin, Polis, John Conyers of Michigan, John Lewis of Georgia, Nydia Velazquez of New York and Barbara Lee of California, for introducing the legislation. Clinton signed DOMA into law in 1996.

“Throughout my life I have opposed discrimination of any kind," Clinton said in the statement. "When the Defense of Marriage Act was passed, gay couples could not marry anywhere in the United States or the world for that matter. Thirteen years later, the fabric of our country has changed, and so should this policy.”

The bill number hasn't been posted on Thomas.gov yet.

Kerry also reported that "But with the exception of Congressman Frank, there seems to be wide-ranging consensus among almost every other element of the LGBT community about the timing and substance of the bill." Yeah. Finally.

On the obsessively anti-gay side, Brian Brown's 2M4M is freaking out. Read More...

Anti-gay forces launch first inaccurate t.v. ad in Maine campaign

Hat tip Chino Blanco for finding the first ad on the air in Maine from the anti-gay forces. I have to say, I'm not impressed. It looks like an ad from the 80s. Of course, it's filled with all kinds of errors and inaccurate assertions.

For example, AP never issued a headline with the term "Homosexual Advocacy Group" as this frame indicates:

That headline only exists on anti-gay sites. It's not from the Associated Press. One would think that if the Catholic Church is going to fund this campaign -- and it is, the Bishop would at least instill on some level of honesty. They're desperate and they're lying.

According to an email from No on 1/Protect Maine Equality campaign manager Jesse Connolly:

Today, our opponents launched their first TV ad -- and not surprisingly, it's full of the same sort of distortion and fear-mongering that was so successful in passing California's Prop 8. They've already bought $700,000 in airtime-- that means every voter in the state will see their ad at least 20 times.

$700,000 for this ad alone. Help fund our side. No on 1/Protect Maine Equality needs resources to counter the lies. Donate here. We can win this one.

Jeremy Hooper has a most excellent video response to the ad, too. Read More...

AP on DOMA repeal effort

AP:

Gay marriage supporters are moving to repeal a law that denies federal benefits to same-sex couples, but there's little chance of a vote this year.

Repeal legislation to be introduced Tuesday has at least 76 House sponsors. A spokesman for the lead sponsor, Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, acknowledged that repealing the Defense of Marriage Act was not a priority for movement anytime soon.

The 1996 law bars federal recognition of gay unions, including the granting of Social Security survivor payments and other government benefits to couples. The law even bars same-sex couples from receiving the benefits in states that have legalized their marriage....

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., an influential, openly gay lawmaker, favors repeal but has not signed on as a co-sponsor of Nadler's bill.

I used to joke about "Barney the dinosaur." Now it's not so funny. He really has been showing his age lately, including his defense of the incest DOMA brief. If Barney is smarter than all the rest of us, then what's his plan? Read More...

Out in Cuba

The Advocate looks at gay life in Cuba, and interviews gay activist Mariela Castro Espín, the niece of Fidel. They also have a photo tour of gay Havana (heads up, the photo tour is a bit confusing, there are no captions). Man would that be an interesting trip. Read More...