MERI Blog
Updates, news, action alerts and events from Marriage Equality Rhode Island.
Hate-Crimes Bill Introduced in the House
(by Kerry Eleveld | Advocate.com) Legislation extending hate-crimes protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and disabled Americans was introduced in the House Thursday night. The bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. John Conyers, a Democrat from Michigan, and Rep. Mark Kirk, a Republican from Illinois, was approved by both chambers of Congress in 2007 but was ultimately removed from the Defense spending bill it was attached to based on a veto threat from President George W. Bush. President Barack Obama supports the legislation and has pledged to sign it into law.
Beyond providing tougher penalties for crimes explicitly targeting LGBT people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act also gives local law enforcement officers more resources for investigations and prosecutions of bias-motivated crimes as well as training on the issue. Since no federal law requires states and municipalities to report hate crimes, they are often underreported.
A Senate companion bill, carried by Sen. Edward Kennedy during the last congressional session, is expected to follow soon.
According to a press release from the Human Rights Campaign, FBI hate-crimes statistics, which are based on voluntary reporting, show that over 100,000 bias-related offenses have occurred since 1991, with 7,624 reported in 2007, the most recent reporting period. Sexual orientation motivated 16.6% of all hate crimes in 2007, with 1,265 reported for the year. Crimes perpetrated against transgender Americans are not captured in the federal statistics.
Shirley Tan Deportation Delayed
from the The San Francisco Examiner
The deportation of Shirley Tan, an immigrant from the Phillipines living in Pacifica, has been delayed, according to The Advocate. Tan was scheduled for deportation tomorrow, which would have separated her from her partner of 23 years and their twin boys. However, Senators Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, and Representative Jackie Speier have persuaded immigration officials to grant Tan a two-week reprieve while her case is reviewed.
Iowa Ruling Unanimous
What a great victory for marriage equality in Iowa!
Highlights of the decision
- Court upheld lower court ruling that limiting marriage to one man and one woman violated the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution.
- Court ordered that the language in the law limiting marriage to one man and one woman be struck and that the remaining language be interpreted to allow for equal access to the institution of marriage for gay and lesbian couples.
- Decision takes effect ‘upon issuance of procedendo’.
DECISION SUMMARY(PDF)
FULL DECISION (PDF)
NEWS STORIES
Unanimous ruling: Iowa marriage no longer limited to one man, one woman (Des Moines Register)
Iowa high court strikes down same-sex marriage ban (CNN.com)
Iowa Court Says Gay Marriage Ban Unconstitutional (NY Times)
Iowa Supreme Court Supreme Court Rules For Marriage Equality!!!
More details as they become available.
Terminology Matters in the Struggle for Marriage Equality
Interesting article in today’s USA Today about the terminology around the struggle for marriage equality.
Terms hint at stances in gay marriage debate
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Is it gay marriage or same-sex marriage? Genderless marriage or marriage equality?
In the ongoing push to let gays and lesbians marry, the choice of terms provides a good clue of where the speaker stands.
Assisted suicide vs. death with dignity. Estate tax vs. death tax. As with other hot-button social issues, the main course in the gay marriage debate comes with a side: a discussion of which words properly describe it.
“I think language is critical to any debate,“ says Vermont lobbyist Tim Meehan, who’s not involved in the issue. “How you say it drives the train.“
Vermont, which led the nation in establishing civil unions nine years ago, is weighing whether to go a step further and permit gay and lesbian couples to marry. A bill allowing same-sex marriages has been approved by the state Senate, and the House is scheduled to take it up Thursday. Gov. Jim Douglas has said he will veto it if it reaches his desk.
Supporters use the terms “marriage equality” and “freedom to marry,“ and speak of the bill as a civil rights measure. Opponents say that trivializes African-Americans’ historic struggle against slavery and racism, and that granting same-sex couples the right would diminish traditional marriage. Gay rights advocates say traditional marriage is exactly what they want.
Iowa Supreme Court Ruling Expected this Morning
A long awaited Iowa Supreme Court case ruling on same-sex marriage will be released this morning, likely at 8:30 a.m.
The case, Varnum vs. Brien, involves six same-sex Iowa couples who sued Polk County Recorder Timothy Brien in 2005, after his office denied them marriage licenses. Polk County District Judge Robert Hanson sided with the couples in a ruling last year, but he suspended his decision until the high court speaks.
We will update everyone here as soon as the ruling is released.
Vermont House Passes Marriage Equality Bill
Marriage passed in the Vermont House 95-52. It’s 4 votes shy of the votes required to override Gov. Douglas’ threatened veto. Those on the ground are reporting that some “no”-voting House Democrats have indicated that they would vote to override a veto.
The Vermont Senate passed with a veto proof majority last week.
House approves same-sex marriage bill (Burlington Free Press)
Love Makes a Family Celebrates Success; Plans to Close at End of Year
Executive Director Anne Stanback to Resign in July
Hartford—Standing with a dozen other Connecticut lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) and allied leaders at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Executive Director Anne Stanback announced today that, with marriage equality secure and other LGBT issues now in the forefront, Love Makes a Family will cease operations on December 31st.
“With GLAD’s victory in the Kerrigan Supreme Court decision and with the knowledge that same-sex couples’ right to marry is secure, we can officially close our doors at the end of the year. We want to conclude our work on a high note: celebrating our successes, completing our advocacy work over the next nine months, and sharing our organizational resources with others to further empower the Connecticut community for the future,” said Stanback.
Love Makes a Family initially formed in 1999 to pass legislation to allow same-sex couples to legally adopt. Since the enactment of an adoption law in 2000, the organization has led the campaign for marriage equality in Connecticut. “Family recognition issues like marriage and adoption are now secure, but LGBT residents of Connecticut still face discrimination and challenges,” stated Stanback. “Love Makes a Family will encourage our nearly 20,000 supporters to join the efforts of the many other strong Connecticut organizations whose fine work continues.”
Robin McHaelen, Executive Director of True Colors, the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth organization, was one of the organizational leaders who attended today’s press conference. “Love Makes a Family has been a model of lobbying, grassroots advocacy, education and community empowerment over the last decade. Connecticut is a better place to live for all people because of their accomplishments.”
Stanback laid out an the organization’s plan for its remaining nine months:
- Love Makes a Family the highlight of her career. In the short term, she plans to spend time with her wife, Charlotte Kinlock. They were married on February 14, 2009 after 25 years together.
S.115 Clears Next Hurdle in Vermont
SEND THIS TO ALL YOUR VERMONT FRIENDS!!
Vermont Freedom to Marry
We’re one step closer! We need YOU to help us press on. Fairness and equality are within our reach. We MUST do the hard work to keep reaching out to our elected leaders to get the job done. We can’t expect our elected Representatives to advocate for us if they don’t see us advocating for ourselves! Spend the day at the Statehouse on Thursday, April 2 (get there by 9 a.m. — read more below).
The House Judiciary Committee voted S.115 out of committee today with a 8-2 vote! The committee made minor amendments to strengthen protections for religious freedom, and to make it clear that the laws only regulate civil marriage. The committee worked hard, listening to lots of testimony on a range of topics from diverse witnesses. Please thank the House Judiciary Committee members who supported this bill. (You can leave a message with the Sgt-at-Arms, 802-828-2228).
The full House is scheduled to hold its first vote on Thursday. The House will be taking up the budget bill first, and it is impossible to predict how long the discussion will take. It could take the better part of the day, or it could move along quickly. In either event, you can be sure that the chamber will fill up quickly. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE A VISIBLE PRESENCE IN THE ROOM. Plan to spend the day at the Statehouse, and come early in order to claim seats in the chamber.
Please understand that we may have to hold our seats for many hours and watch the budget debate before the marriage bill debate begins. Bring a book. Bring a sandwich. BUT PLEASE MAKE THE TIME TO BE THERE. YOUR REPRESENTATIVES NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THIS VOTE. Please plan to be in the Statehouse by 9am. In the meantime, please help us make a better future for Vermont by volunteering to phone bank, reaching out to your legislators, and donating money.
Retired Military Officers: Keep DADT
(365 Gay.com, by AP, 4/1/09)
(New York City) More than 1,000 retired military officers, including several who were top commanders, are urging President Barack Obama and Congress to maintain the law that bars gays from serving openly in the armed forces.
Obama is consulting with the Pentagon on the issue and says he supports eventual repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which prohibits gays in the military from being open about their sexual orientation. A bill that would allow gays to serve openly has been introduced in Congress.
A statement issued by the retired officers Tuesday said passage of that bill “would undermine recruiting and retention, impact leadership at all levels, have adverse effects on the willingness of parents who lend their sons and daughters to military service, and eventually break the All-Volunteer Force.”
Among the signatories were Gen. Carl E. Mundy, Jr., a former commandant of the Marine Corps; Adm. Leighton W. Smith, a former commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe; Gen. Charles A. Horner, who commanded U.S. aerial forces during the 1990-91 Gulf War; and Adm. Jerome L. Johnson, a former vice chief of Naval Operations.
The retired officers said they strongly supported the principle that “homosexuality is incompatible with military service” and warned that repeal of current law could jeopardize morale and “unit cohesion.”
READ THE FULL STORY
VIEW THE LETTER (from Good As You)
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posted 3 weeks, 1 Day, 59 minutes ago
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