Has anyone heard the news from Floriday today? In a landmark decision, the Florida ban on gay adoptions was declared UNCONSTITUTIONAL! Our movement has made many strides since Stonewall and even before then. Those who oppose us think that Prop 8 was going to end this discussion, but what they did not realize is that Prop 8 as well as initiatives in Florida, Arizona, and Arkansas awoke a sleeping beast in all of us! Ghandi said that first they will laugh at you, then they will fight you, and then you will win! The reason there is that middle stage is simple – they begin to fight us when our cause is finally taken seriously, when the scales of change are tipping, and when our fight begins to make sense as an issue of human rights. As a sign of this, we get a great deal of angry comments and emails. What those who oppose us don’t understand is that this only fuels the fires of change. The angry comments are expected, and the more we get the more we know that we, the LGBTQ community and our allies, ARE MAKING AN IMPACT! Change is on the horizon! Now is a time to celebrate this win as we gear up for many more to come!
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This is sooooo awesome!! You know, to “pick on” us, is one thing. Most of us are used to it and have developed the body armour to let most of it just roll off. But the poor kids. They are the ones who suffer when loving gay and lesbian’s aren’t allowed to adopt. These children, homeless, confused, and needing stability, and mostly LOVE, will benefit from this decision. AND THAT’S WHATS REALLY COOL ABOUT THIS!!!! Way to go Florida!!!
Posted on November 25th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
MORE GOOD NEWS FROM TODAYS NEW YORK TIMES:
Inquiry Set on Mormon Aid for California Marriage Vote
By JESSE McKINLEY
Published: November 25, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO — California officials will investigate accusations that the Mormon Church neglected to report a battery of nonmonetary contributions — including phone banks, a Web site and commercials — on behalf of a ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage.
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Roman Porter, the executive director of the Fair Political Practices Commission, which oversees California campaign finance laws, signed off on the investigation after reviewing a sworn complaint filed on Nov. 13.
The complaint, filed by Fred Karger, founder of the group Californians Against Hate, asserted that the church’s reported contributions — about $5,000, according to state election filings — vastly underestimated its actual efforts in passing Proposition 8, which amended the state’s Constitution to recognize only male-female marriage.
Broadly speaking, California state law requires disclosure of any money spent or services provided to influence the outcome of an election.
Mr. Porter said the announcement of the investigation was not “a determination on the validity of the claims or the culpability of the individuals,” but that the claims had been reviewed by a lawyer for the commission and its chief of enforcement and deemed worth pursuing.
Kim Farah, a spokeswoman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, issued a statement Tuesday saying it had received the complaint and would cooperate with the investigation. Frank Schubert, campaign manager for the leading group behind Proposition 8, said the accusations were baseless and made by a “rogue group.”
Responding to a plea from Mormon Church leaders to “become involved in this important cause,” members contributed millions of dollars and volunteered for countless hours on behalf of Proposition 8. The ballot measure passed with 52 percent of the vote, leading to protests and boycotts of supporters of the proposition, including some Mormon temples and businesses.
Mr. Karger’s complaint paints a sweeping picture of the involvement by the church leadership, and raises questions about who paid for out-of-state phone banks and grass-roots rallies in California before the Nov. 4 vote.
“Who paid for the buses, travel costs, meals and other expenses of all the Mormon participants?” the complaint reads. “No contributions were reported.”
The complaint also touches on a five-state simulcast from church leaders to Mormon congregations, as well as a Web site, preservingmarriage.org, that featured a series of videos advocating passage of the ballot measure and is labeled “an official Web site” of the Mormon Church.
Ms. Farah said the church had no comment on the particular accusations in the complaint.
If found in violation of election laws, the church could face fines of up to $5,000 per violation, Mr. Porter said. Bigger fines could also be levied by a civil court.
Mr. Karger said he respected the right of Mormons to vote in line with their religious beliefs, but added “if they’re going to play politics, then they need to play by the rules.”
The California Supreme Court agreed last week to review the constitutionality of the measure, with a ruling expected next year.
Posted on November 25th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
The hateful legacy of Anita Bryant is finally ending! Thank you Florida!
Posted on November 26th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
“What those who oppose us don’t understand is that this only fuels the fires of change. The angry comments are expected, and the more we get the more we know that we, the LGBTQ community and our allies, ARE MAKING AN IMPACT!”
WOW!! Well said. Your words made my day! Thanks
!!!
Posted on November 26th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
In the interest of understanding how change is going to evolve, I have to ask some questions. In an LA. Times forum, the following question was asked by James,
“What right did Prop 8 take away that the Family Code does not provide? Stress on the word “right”.
The State has done its part to address the issue and has made significant progress over the last decade to restructure the system to ensure rights for same sex couples. That progress is in jeopardy with the current fiasco.
The vast majority of rights that same sex couples seek, and as are mentioned on the ACLU website you linked, can only be addressed at the federal level. Even if California recognizes same sex marriages, the federal government does not. Same sex couple still would not be able to claim those tax benefits and other rights without a fierce federal level battle.
So it remains, why battle marriage in California just to use it as a tool to attempt to gain federal level benefits? Why not challenge the federal laws that are the real obstacle and leave marriage alone?”
Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/comments_blog/2008/11/proposition-8-s.html?cid=139960962#comments
Can anyone answer this question? What legal rights have we lost in California? Clearly we understand the social implications of Prop 8’s passage, but what legal rights have been removed from Registered Domestic Partners? If our domestic partnership rights in California match those of marital rights in California, what equal protections are we being denied under the current law? Anyone?
Posted on November 27th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
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