Same-Sex Marriage Update

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by MsTinkerbelly

Marriage equality repeal expected in New Hampshire before the end of the month
By Jacob Combs

New Hampshire features prominently in the news these days because of its first-in-the-nation primary, to be held Jan. 10, but as the Nashua Telegraph reports, there will be another very newsworthy happening in the state soon after those contests. A vote in the legislature to repeal the state’s marriage equality law will most likely be held before the end of the month, although no firm date for the vote has been scheduled.

If the bill were to pass, it would mark the first time that a state legislature passed and then later repealed the legalization of gay marriage, although California and Maine both took away previously existing marriage rights through their respective initiative processes. The New Hampshire bill, which would repeal the earlier gay marriage law and replace it with a civil union provision, passed the state’s House Judiciary Committee in October on an 11-6 vote.

There are a lot of things wrong with the decision by the New Hampshire GOP to move ahead with this legislation, not least of which is the fact that rights which have been duly relegated to a segment of the population should not be withdrawn simply because of a change in the political winds. Furthermore, many critics of the law argue that it contains conflicting provisions that would create a legal nightmare regarding whether or not pre-existing marriages remain valid (although supporters say they will.)

Most importantly, though, as Scott Wooledge writes persuasively in the Huffington Post, the repeal bill is being pushed through the New Hampshire legislature against overwhelming public opinion in the state in support of its existing marriage equality laws. The most recent poll by the New Hampshire television station WMUR and the University of New Hampshire Survey Center demonstrates that only 27 percent of the state’s adults support repealing the law, while a full 50 percent strongly oppose doing so.

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (a Democrat) has said he will veto any repeal attempts by the Republican-controlled legislature. Although the GOP has the bodies in both chambers to override that veto, it’s still unclear as to whether they have the votes to do so, particularly among their caucuses more libertarian members.

If the repeal bill fails when it comes up (most likely on January 11 or 18), it will be a non-issue, and no doubt will be mostly ignored after the media swarm of the caucuses. If it succeeds, though, it will be a dramatic step backward for the state in a manner completely inconsistent with the will of its citizens

As we get into the general election cycle, I always fear these kinds of things- especially with same-sex marriage states. This year, because of a Democrat president running for re-election and all the Pea Party religious right wingers out there trying to put social conservative issues back on top, it is game on.

Frankly, this worries me with the upcoming Prop 8 SC decision- the right wing justices are going to be feeling their conservative juices even more than usual. No, I don't believe the SC really rules objectively.

It is really important to be active in this election cycle- get out there and volunteer!

[MsTinkerbelly]

North Carolina’s Director of Elections resigns over anti-marriage equality ballot initiative
By Jacob Combs

Until very recently, Sherre Toler had been the Director of Elections for North Carolina’s Harnett County for over 11 years. Just a week ago, she resigned from her position over an anti-gay marriage amendment that has been placed on the state’s ballot in 2012. The website BlueNC received this incredible statement from her via email:

On January 3, 2012 I resigned my position as Director of Elections for Harnett County, NC. I am extremely proud of the progress and accomplishments made to the voting procedures and polling places in Harnett County over the last eleven and a half years. I am especially proud that the Board of Election’s Office has always been operated in a fair, efficient and non-partisan manner during my tenure.

Unfortunately, recent actions of the North Carolina General Assembly made it impossible for me to continue as Director of Elections as speaking publicly about candidates or issues appearing on the ballot is prohibited. In September, the legislature passed a bill requiring a referendum be placed on the May, 2012 primary ballot defining marriage as a “union between a man and a woman”. I cannot and will not be a party to such actions.

If “marriage” were simply a religious institution, this would not be an issue. Different faiths are free to impose whatever moral restrictions they choose on their congregations and they in turn are free to accept or reject those restrictions. From a psychological and emotional perspective, marriage provides the individuals an opportunity to demonstrate their love for each other by committing themselves to this “special” relationship. In addition, marriage provides the participants in the relationship with a myriad of legal rights and special status, including inheritance and property rights as well as insurance and tax benefits. Marriage provides over 1000 legal rights and protections. The so-called “Defense of Marriage” Act seeks to ensure that anyone wishing to marry their partner of the same gender will be DENIED those legal rights. The broad language of the referendum could also impact private contracts between individuals, powers of attorney, and domestic partnerships, including heterosexual ones.

Slavery, discrimination and segregation represent a tremendous blight upon the great history of this country. Not so long ago, “marriage” between those of different races, particularly black and white, was prohibited by law and this ban was supported by the “Majority”. In 2011, Public Policy Polling conducted a poll of Republican voters in Mississippi and a number of them (46%) believe that not only in their opinion is interracial marriage wrong but that it should be ILLEGAL.

Only 40% indicated they believe it should be legal. There can be little doubt that if interracial marriage were put to a majority vote, some jurisdictions would outlaw those marriages as well. It is important to a free society that civil rights not be subject to a popular vote!

As a result, I am opening Lighthouse Strategies and Consulting, LLC, a political consulting business. I plan to work tirelessly over the coming months to educate North Carolina citizens on the impact of this amendment and to defeat the effort to write discrimination into the North Carolina Constitution. I will also be working to help elect progressive candidates to local, county, state and federal offices so that these types of actions by legislatures around the country will not be repeated.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” I simply could not continue in the position of Director of Elections and remain silent on this important issue.

Sherre Toler

This is true courage. It will be exciting to see what Toler does in North Carolina in the lead-up to the fall, and she will no doubt be a great ally in the fight against the state’s anti-gay initiative

[iamkeri1]

Wow. I am overwhelmed with emotion at the decision of this brave woman. One person truly can make a difference
Smooches,
Keri

[MsTinkerbelly]

Maryland Senate President will allow vote on marriage equality, but calls it “an attack on the family”By Jacob Combs

Mike Miller, the Maryland Senate President, is not an ally of marriage equality–he recently called same-sex marriage “an attack on traditional families”on the Marc Steiner Show, and has promised to vote against any bill that comes up in his chamber to legalize gay marriage. “I don’t want to sound like one of the Republican candidates for President,” Miller also said on the program, “but I am what I am.”

Nevertheless, Miller has also made clear that he will allow an open vote on the issue in the state Senate, where he expects the bill will pass, as it did last year. It subsequently failed in the House of Delegates and was withdrawn after votes that were expected in favor of the measure disappeared, and the entire debate was put on hold until the 2012 legislative season.

Miller plans to hold the vote during the early parts of the Senate’s session. The bigger hurdle, as last year, will be the House, even though the chamber has traditionally been the more socially liberal than the Senate. Current preliminary vote counts show the measure five votes short in the House. If the bill does pass the legislature and is signed into law, it will most likely face a ballot challenge in the 2012 election.

While Miller’s comments on marriage equality are divisive and extreme, it is to his credit that he will allow the measure to come up for a vote rather than simply killing it based on his own personal convictions. In Rhode Island, one of the principal roadblocks to marriage equality has been Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, who personally opposes gay marriage and has refused to let marriage equality bills even come up for a vote in her chamber. Also, Miller’s decision to hold a vote early in the session is also good news, so that the marriage equality debate doesn’t get pushed to the end of the legislature’s business and then face the threat of being ‘not important enough’ for the end of the session, as some lawmakers claimed in New York this summer. These are good signs, but certainly not definite ones, for the success of marriage equality in Maryland this year

[MsTinkerbelly]

New Hampshire marriage equality repeal delayed until February or later
By Jacob Combs

The Eagle-Tribune, a Massachusetts-based newspaper, is reporting today that the repeal of New Hampshire’s marriage equality law, scheduled to go before the legislature by the end of January, has been pushed back by House leaders until February. Said Republican House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt:

“We must deal with some critical financial and economic-related legislation first, as well as legislative redistricting, prior to any discussion of gay marriage. It’s critical to keep to keep legislative priorities in their proper order.”

If GOP leaders in the New Hampshire legislature were really keeping their legislative priorities in order, the repeal bill wouldn’t be on their agenda at all. Still, it’s a small piece of good news that the leadership is postponing the vote rather than holding it at the beginning of the session

[MsTinkerbelly]

Seventy U.S. mayors to announce support for marriage equality
By Jacob Combs

The Wall Street Journal reports that 70 mayors from across the country will come together to endorse marriage equality in a Friday news conference organized by Freedom to Marry. Mayors from both sides of the political aisle will be represented in the new organization, called Mayors for the Freedom to Marry.

Jerry Sanders, the mayor of San Diego, Thomas Menino, the mayor of Boston and Antonio Villaraigosa, the mayor of Los Angeles (and president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors) will serve as the coalition’s chairs. Mayors Marilyn Strickland of Tacoma and Annise Parker of Houston will join the three chairs for Friday’s press conference, to take place at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. at 10:00 a.m

[MsTinkerbelly]

Marriage equality is one vote away in Washington, gains major corporate supporters
By Jacob Combs

Great news out of Washington today. State Senator Jim Kastama has announced that he will support the state’s marriage equality bill in the Senate, putting it just one vote shy of passage. Kastama, a conservative Democrat from a politically diverse district, admitted that he has struggled with the vote:

“This decision is a deeply personal one. Unlike some of my colleagues in liberal districts, I will not return home to cheers and handshakes. I represent the district I was raised in. My wife and I purchased and live in the same house I grew up in and we have raised our family there. My district has known me my whole life and for 16 years has entrusted me to be a fiercely independent legislator. The people of my district are generous and decent, but I also know that there are childhood friends who will never forgive me for this vote.”

In addition, Kastama noted that he believes it is important for the bill to pass without a provision that would send it to the ballot later this year. Kastama’s full statement can be read here, and compellingly makes the case for why legislatures should not shy away from important legislation simply because it’s controversial.

In other encouraging news, a broad coalition of businesses, including Microsoft, Nike and Real Networks, signed a letter today in support of the legislation.

Still, without that last Senate vote, nothing can happen. We have to keep up the pressure on the remaining undecided votes. The following Senators have not taken a position on the bill:

Sen. Brian Hatfield of Raymond D (360) 786-7636
Sen. Paull Shin of Edmonds D (360) 786-7640
Sen. Joe Fain of Auburn R (360) 786-7692
Sen. Doug Ericksen of Ferndale R (360) 786-7682
Sen. Linda Evans of Wenatchee R (360) 786-7622
Sen. Andy Hill of Redmond R (360) 786-7672

In addition, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen has stated that she won’t support the bill and instead wants to send the issue to the ballot. At this point, it’s worth trying to change her mind–she can be reached at (360) 786-7648. If you live in Washington, write, call and make your voice heard. And if you live elsewhere, do the same