The Ick Factor

TPM Live Wire is reporting on "The Ick Factor" in gay relationships.  That is, what Mike Huckabee thinks id the ick factor.  After reading this, it's hard not to think that Mr. Huckabee himself is the real ick factor in this debate:

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) is against gay marriage, at least in part, because of the "ick factor."

"I do believe that God created male and female and intended for marriage to be the relationship of the two opposite sexes," Huckabee said in a recent New Yorker profile. "Male and female are biologically compatible to have a relationship. We can get into the ick factor, but the fact is two men in a relationship, two women in a relationship, biologically, that doesn't work the same."


Huckabee goes on to say that "some pretty startling studies" show that "monogamous marriage" is the way to end poverty.

"No culture in the history of mankind has ever tried to redefine marriage," he added.


Earlier this year, Huckabee -- who, according to polls, is a Republican frontrunner in the 2012 presidential race -- said gay couples shouldn't be able to adopt, saying, "Children are not puppies."


Sometimes it's hard not to see Mr. Huckabee, rather than gay relationships, as having an "ick factor."

Way to go, Iceland!

As many of you know, the legislature of Iceland voted unanimously - that's right, not one legislator opposed -- to legalize same-sex marriage in the country.  What's also important is the the United Nations, which often shies away from LGBT issues,  has commended the move.

According to UN News:

Iceland deserves credit for eliminating barriers to same-sex marriage, which will become legal in the Nordic country this weekend, the United Nations human rights chief says.

Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, wrapped up her official visit to Iceland with a statement on Friday commending Iceland "for the significant progress it has achieved through recent legislation removing legal impediments to same-sex marriages."

Iceland will become the ninth country to legalize same-sex marriage following legislation that passed the country's parliament earlier this month. Same-sex marriage is already legal in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Sweden, as well as in some areas of the United States and Mexico.

In her statement Ms. Pillay also praised Iceland for strengthening the independence of its judiciary and freedom of expression, and she welcomed efforts to set up an independent human rights institution.

During her visit – the first ever trip to Iceland by a UN human rights chief – Ms. Pillay met Foreign Minister Össur Skarphédinsson, Justice and Human Rights Minister Ragna Árnadóttir and other senior Government officials, as well as representatives of civil society and academia. She also addressed the University of Iceland in the capital, Reykjavik.
Hmmmm.  Nine countries have legalized same-sex marriage.  Isn't it about time that the country that calls itself "the leader of the free world" do the same?

First gay marriage in Portugal!

Barry Hatton of the Associated Press is reporting on the first same-sex marriage in Portugal!  A lesbian couple was married on Monday.  Here's what Hatton has to say:



Teresa Pires and Helena Paixao (left), divorced Portuguese mothers in their 30s who have been together since 2003, married in a 15-minute ceremony at a Lisbon registry office.

"This is a great victory, a dream come true," Pires said as the couple kissed and hugged.

"Now we're a family, that's the important thing," Pires said, adding they would continue to fight for equal rights for homosexuals, including adoption.

The ceremony came less than a month after Portugal's conservative president ratified a gay marriage law passed by Parliament in January. His approval made Portugal the sixth in Europe to let same-sex couples wed.

The center-left Socialist government said the law is part of its effort to modernize Portugal, where homosexuality was a crime until 1982. Three years ago the same government lifted Portugal's ban on abortion, despite church opposition.

Pires and Paixao, the lesbian couple, had campaigned for a change in the law since a registry office turned them away when they first tried to marry in 2006.

Officials argued the law stipulated that marriage was between people of different sexes. The women appealed to Portugal's Constitutional Court because the constitution forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The court rejected their appeal, but left-of-center parties in Parliament supported the government bill which removed the reference to marriage being between different sexes.

Good news from Iowa

As anti-gay marriage forces keep working to overturn the state Supreme Court decision to allow same-sex couples to marry, it's nice to see that a majority of Iowans now favor marriage equality.  This seems to be a pattern: once gay marriage is allowed in a state and people see that their world hasn't turned upside down, there is a shift toward acceptance.

Here's an abridged version of the  story from KCCI-TV:

In the past 14 months, the Iowa Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriages and the Iowa Board of Pharmacy recommended that the state legalize medical marijuana. Now, a new NewsChannel 8 poll shows that a majority of Iowans support both ideas.

The survey found that 53 percent of those polled said they favor marriage rights for same-sex couples and that 41 percent are opposed.

Opponents of same-sex marriage put candidates on notice this week, delivering a petition to the statehouse that they said makes clear that the issue will be on the minds of voters.

"When folks go to the polls next week and then in November, they will in fact support candidates who understand their Constitution and who will defend marriage," said Bryan English of the Iowa Family Police Center.

He said he feels that the NewsChannel 8 poll results don't accurately reflect the feelings of most Iowans.

Justin Uebelhor of the group One Iowa said he thinks a majority of Iowans have bigger concerns.

"Iowans want their elected officials to focus on issues like jobs and education and really, those pocketbook issues, rather than focusing on divisive issues that are going to pit neighbor against neighbor," Uebelhor said.
 

Another example of religious intolerance

As you know, there are organizations in Iowa who are doing everything in their power to overrule the Iowa Supreme Court's decision to allow same-sex marriages in the state.  One of those groups is the Iowa Family Policy Center, a Christian organization led by Chuck Hurley.  (Don't you love how these groups always claim the word "family" as their own?)  Jason Hancock of the Iowa Independent has written a story that highlights yet again where the real intolerance lies in this debate.  According to Hancock:
 
Chuck Hurley (left), president of the politically influential Christian organization Iowa Family Policy Center, says any religious leader who supports legalized same-sex marriage is “confused at best and blatantly evil at worst.”

The statement comes in response to demands that Hurley retract an earlier statement calling members of the pro-marriage equity Iowa Interfaith Alliance “pseudo pastors.”

Iowa Interfaith Alliance delivered a letter to legislators during the 2010 General Assembly signed by more than 150 religious leaders in Iowa who support marriage rights for same-sex couples, which Hurley refers to as “state-sanctioned sodomy.”

“Yesterday, I said that I believe a pseudo pastor, meaning anyone who would knowingly lead their flock astray on issues of morality and spirituality, and so clearly violate the revealed Word of God, is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and a false shepherd,” Hurley said, later adding: “In my opinion, those who signed their name to the Interfaith Alliance petition in support of state sanctioned sodomy are not only wolves in sheep’s clothing, but they are blind leaders of the blind.”

He called on members of the Interfaith Alliance to “repent, turn to Christ, and join us in showing genuine concern for both the physical and the spiritual wellbeing of those caught up in the destructive sin of homosexuality.”

Connie Ryan Terrell, executive director of the Iowa Interfaith Alliance, responded immediately.

“Mr. Hurley is blatantly disrespectful of the many clergy from across Iowa who are supportive of marriage equality simply because he believes differently,” she said. “Mr. Hurley, who is not a pastor, has every right to his belief, as do the clergy who signed our letter in February and other clergy from across the state who support marriage equality.”

Terrell said Hurley has no business proclaiming who should and should not call themselves pastor.

“It is inappropriate and uncivil for Mr. Hurley to do so,” she said. “He should retract and apologize for his statement that clearly has no place in this public discussion.”

 Can't wait to read about the ensuing scandal that seems to go hand-in-hand with folks who are so irrationally and intolerantly "Christian."

Good news from Argentina

The San Diego Gay and Lesbian News is reporting that Argentina may be one step closer to permitting same-sex marriage.  Here's the story:

By a 129-105 vote, with six abstentions, the House of Deputies approved same-sex marriage on Wednesday, May 5.

The Senate will now take up the legislation. If the Senate also passes the bill, President Cristina Fernandez has promised not to veto it.

Gay rights activist Esteban Paulon said the vote in the House of Deputies is historic - the first time a marriage-equality initiative has been debated in a national legislature in Latin America.

Five gay and lesbian couples have already been married by Argentine judges who rules that the country's constitution supports freedom of choice for couples. But some of the marriages have been overturned by the high court.

Conservatives led by the Roman Catholic Church strongly opposes the marriage equality.

If Argentina approves gay marriage, it would join Canada as the only other country in the Americas offering marriage equality.



Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Such petty meanness

Why do some of us call the anti-equality movement hate?  Perhaps because of the incredibly petty meanness apparent in stories like these, reported by O. Kay Henderson for Radio Iowa:

A state senator who opposes gay marriage is asking questions about plans to change a camping rule in the state park system. Just over a year ago the Iowa Supreme Court issued a ruling which legalized gay marriage in Iowa.

Senator Merlin Bartz (left), a Republican from Grafton, says it appears to him that the Department of Natural Resources wants to make gay couples eligible for family camping at state parks. “They’re citing the Supreme Court case and changing, you know, ‘husband and wife’ language to ’spouse,’” Bartz says.
The rates or fees for camp sites are the same, whether you’re a family or a non-family, but the state allows families to put up more than one tent on a camp site. “They’re changing their language even though the state legislature has not had a debate on this particular issue,” Bartz says.

Bartz is a member of the Legislature’s Administrative Rules Review Committee which meets on Monday. He’s asked D.N.R. officials to explain their proposal at that meeting. Bartz says he wants to be “vigilant” and keep state agencies from writing rules that extend new benefits to gay couples. “A lot of the advocates of gay marriage in Iowa have said, ‘It doesn’t affect anything. Nothing has changed,’” Bartz says. “The reality of it is that everything is changing.”

Bartz concedes the D.N.R. might be sued if they fail to ensure “family” policies for camping apply to gay couples, although Bartz says the state may be sued by gay marriage opponents if the rule is changed. The proposed rule will be formally presented to Bartz and the rest of the legislative panel on May10th, but the final draft won’t be up for a committee vote until later this summer.  At that point the Administrative Rules Review Committee has several options to delay implementation, including a move which would delay a decision on family camping policies until 2011 so the full legislature could make the decision.

All of this over the permission to put up two pop tents rather than one?  Yup.  I think that's hate.

Next stop: Iceland

It looks like the same-sex marriage march will be stopping in Iceland within the next few months, according the the San Diego Gay and Lesbian News:

The isolated island of Iceland is putting the finishing touches on a bill supporting marriage equality. 

The liberal nation, which has a population of about 320,000, is already one of the most progressive in the world toward LGBT equal rights. 

Iceland is the first nation in the world to have an LGBT person as head of state. Openly lesbian politician Johanna Sigurdardóttir (right)  became prime minister last year when voters supporting the Social Democrats and their partners, the Left-Greens, ousted the conservative Independent Party that had ruled for 18 years.

The Sigurdardóttir administration presented the bill to Parliament on March 23. The bill’s passage is expected soon, and same-sex marriage could become legal as early as June 27.

Sigurdardóttir and writer/playwright Jonina Leosdotttir entered into a registered partnership in 2002. The prime minister has two adult sons from an earlier marriage. 

Iceland is in the northern Atlantic Ocean between Greenland and the Nordic countries of Norway and Sweden.

In other news, same-sex marriage is also being discussed in Portugal. Neighboring Spain already has marriage equality.

Prop 8 reversal movement fails

I can already imagine the headlines from the anti-equality folks: Supporters of Same Sex Marriage Can't Even Get Enough Signatures to Repeal Prop 8.

That's the simple version.  The real version is a little more complicated.  In fact, the major LGBT groups were not in favor of putting the issue on the ballot this fall, believing that waiting until 2012 was a better strategy for bringing marriage equality back to California.  They did not even participate in the signature drive.

That many LGBT groups opposed a fall referendum will no doubt be omitted in the reporting of this story.

A defeat for gay marriage foes

A few months ago, when a bill that would allow same-sex couples the right to marry came before the New York State Senate, gay leaders expected a vote of support from Hiram Monseratte (left) of Queens.  In fact, he gave his word that he would vote on our side.  But when the vote came up, Monseratte stunned everyone by voting against same sex marriage.

When Monseratte was later expelled from the senate on domestic abuse charges, a special election was called.  Monseratte decided to run for his old seat.  Gay activists and leaders such as Cynthia Nixon (remember her video from last week?) vowed to do everything in their power to defeat Monseratte by supporting a pro-equality candidate, José R. Peralta (right).  The election was in many ways a test case to see just how influential pro-gay marriage folks could be, since there are plans to target other state senators who voted against marriage equality.  As Cynthia Nixon said, "We tried the carrot.  Now it's time for the stick."

The good news is Monseratte lost Tuesday night, and lost big,  by about 3-1.  Same sex marriage was a huge issue in the election, and voters made themselves clear.  Polls have showed that a majority New York voters support same-sex marriage.  On Tuesday the voters in Queens just might have been the first of many to deny reelection to politicians who are on the wrong side of history.  A few more elections like this one, and we'll have the votes when gay marriage is again taken up by the New York State legislature.

This isn't your parents' New Hampshire

There’s a nice story at Pam’s House Blend about gay marriage in New Hampshire.

Many cities and towns in the state recently put a non-binding referendum before voters either by ballot or town meeting.  The threshold for getting the question on the ballot was as low as 25 signatures in some places.  And because there was little else of importance on the ballot -- and because the questions were barely publicized -- conventional wisdom held that only energized anti-equality voters would head to the polls. 

But a funny thing happened on the way to the ballot box.  As expected, most towns passed the referendum.  However, the result was far from overwhelming.  In fact, while the question passed 53 cities or towns, 43 towns either rejected the measure or refused to vote on it.  That’s far better than we expected to do.  If the anti-equality folks had any hope of a Constitutional amendment in the near future, that hope was crushed.  If an amendment were to make it on the New Hampshire ballot, the measure would have to received support from 2/3 of the voters.  Very few towns passed the referendum by this margin.

And then there was the story of Plainville, where anti-equality folks expected an easy victory at the town meeting.  Instead, the question was rejected 185-40.  Then the voters requested the board of selectmen to write to the governor and the legislature "commending them for passing and signing into law legislation affirming marriage equality for all New Hampshire residents."

Nice.

First DC same-sex weddings take place today

Last week, same-sex couples could get licenses.   This week it's marriage.  Here's a moving video of one of the first couples to wed.  (Thank you, Huffington Post.)

Catholics for Marriage Equality

The press doesn't often report on religious people who support marriage equality.  Catholics for Marriage Equality is just such a  group.  They have begun a website to promote marriage equality among Catholics and others.  Here's a quote from the website, as noted by Pam Spaulding on her blog:

As Roman Catholics, we differentiate between sacramental marriage and civil marriage. Therefore, we perceive that same-sex civil marriage poses no threat to our Church. While we respect the authority and integrity of the Church in matters of faith, our prayers and discernment have brought us to a new openness on this issue. We do not ask the Church to perform same-sex marriages. We do implore the Church to honor the States’ prerogative to authorize civil marriages for our gay and lesbian family and friends.

Refreshing.

Keep thinking of big picture

Box Turtle Bulletin has a pretty uplifting take on the same-sex marriage battle in the United States.  According to the site, same sex partner rights are available to nearly half of the country. In the words of Timothy Kincaid: “So [the National Organization for Marriage] can proclaim ‘victory’ when they have an election in California or Maine, but this ball is rolling and the momentum is in the direction of recognition.”

 

The map to the right shows all the states (in color) that provide same-sex couple benefits. 

 

The big picture is good.  We need to keep remembering it.                

Yes, Nancy Pelosi

Here is Speaker Nancy Pelosi's unqualified support of marriage equality in DC.  (Senator Reid?  President Obama?  We're waiting.....)

Today marks a historic chapter in the advancement toward equality, fairness and the protections that marriage affords for all families. As we welcome marriage equality to our nation’s capital, I reiterate my longstanding commitment to home rule for the District of Columbia. 

Today, the District joins other states in leading the nation in ensuring fundamental civil rights. This is a joyous moment that history will forever remember as progress.

                 (taken from The Gavel blog)

It's the little things

As an openly gay man, I rarely run up against open hostility in my world.  Sure, I've arranged my life that way, but most bias I encounter is unintended, like the time I bought flowers and the clerk said, "She'll be thrilled."  No malice intended, just assumptions made.

But tonight I was filling out a federal form.  The question: "Are you married?"  I was about to check "yes" when I read the fine print.  The Defense of Marriage Act defines marriage as between one man and one woman.  For the purposes of this form, same-sex couples are not married. 

I know it seems like a minor inconvenience, but it's little things like this that remind me that the US government treats some of its citizens as second class.

I'll be back on Thursday!  Enjoy the first day DC offers marriage licenses to same-sex couples!

Harold Ford's change of heart

When Harold Ford was a Congressman from Tennessee, he voted not once but twice to amend the United States Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage.  Each time, the vote fell short, but Mr. Ford continued to take this extreme position.

Fast forward a few years.  Harold Ford is now living in New York.  He's considering a run for senate against a woman who has been a same-sex marriage supporter for quite some time.  Mr. Ford now claims to have changed his mind.  He supports same-sex marriage 100%.  Of course, a majority of New York Democrats (whose votes he will now need) share this view.

Mr. Ford has not be well received by LGBT rights groups in New York.  It's easy to see why.  Of course we must acknowledge when people change their minds to our advantage.  But the conversion must be convincing.  For many, Mr. Ford's conversion smacked of political opportunism.  Would he have changed his mind if he were still running in Tennessee?

And we must also never forget those who supported us when it was harder to do so.  To be in favor of same-sex marriage in New York right now is about as controversial with the public as supporting school lunches.  We welcome politicians whose hearts have changed. But they must remember that some politicians earned our loyalty many years ago.

How does the Harold Ford story end?  This week he announced he would not run for senator of New York.  So take some time and work with some LGBT folks, Mr. Ford.  Get to know us and listen to us.  You have been good on lots of other issues.   Let's earn each other's trust before rushing to the altar.

A mass gay wedding to break the record?

Unless opponents succeed in blocking same-sex marriages (see related post), LGBT couples will be able to marry tomorrow in Washington, DC. Digital Journal is reporting that on March 20 up to 400 same-sex couples will gather to get married both to celebrate and to break the current Guinness World Record for a mass wedding.

Mike Wilkinson, Director of Wedding Services for Event Emissary and one of the planners, noted, "The GLBT community has always found strength in numbers when it comes to advocating for equality.  Now we can finally stand together to affirm our love and have it recognized legally by the District of Columbia."

According to Digital Journal:

One of the couples, Drew Parker and Dalin Holyoak, who plan to be at the event have already wed. They couldn't wait for DC to legalize marriage but are glad that now the city they reside in recognizes their union. "We signed up to be part of the mass ceremony as soon as we could. We celebrated our personal vows nearly two years ago, but we know the importance of this day to our status as fully equal citizens of the District of Columbia," Parker said. "We are so thankful for the people that sacrificed to make this day a reality, and can only hope that one day the entire nation will follow." 

Standing Proud Together will be the centerpiece of the day long event. It will be a non-denominational, contemporary service and will be led in a manner that will solidify the unions of long-term partners as well as commemorate the marriages of those who are more recently engaged.

I'll be sure to post the photos!

Yet ANOTHER attempt to block same-sex marriage in Washington, DC

Blogger Pam Spaulding (left) is reporting that opponents of same-sex marriage are trying yet again to stop marriage licenses from being issued in Washington, DC on Wednesday.  This time, they are going to the United States Supreme Court.  Court papers filed Monday with Chief Justice John Roberts argue that Washington residents should be able to vote on the matter.  Local courts have rejected the opponents' arguments. The gay marriage opponents include a Baptist minister, Walter E. Fauntroy, who was Washington's delegate in the House for nearly 20 years.

New written arguments in gay marriage trial

The San José Mercury News is reporting that lawyers for the federal trial have submitted new written arguments to Judge Vaughn Walker (right) who will decide the case.  Walker had requested the new briefs prior to closing arguments. Opponents of same-sex marriage added a few new reasons to deny marriage rights to gay couples, claiming that gay marriage would cause irreparable harm to heterosexual marriages.  According to the newspaper, "The potential harms they cited included giving bisexuals a legal basis for pursuing group marriages and unmarried fathers an incentive to abandon their children."

I'm always intrigued that the anti-gay folks portray gay relationships as so attractive that they will upset the social order.  In this case, are hoards of unmarried fathers supposed to abandon their children to elope with their same-sex lovers?