DC MARRIAGE EQUALITY

DC Mayor Adrian Fenty signs the marriage equality bill, this morning.

2 reasons why this is the best picture EVER...
1. Because of how freaking happy Fenty looks signing the bill.
2. Because of how many pens are sitting next to him on the desk...just in case the one he picks up doesn't work... 'This bill will get signed damnit - ink to paper.  Done.'

WASHINGTON D.C. FTW!!

DC Passes Marriage Equality Bill! However...

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. threatened to cut its city-supported social services, in protest, if the D.C. Council were to pass marriage equality. Those services include homeless shelters, food programs for needy families, and health services.

Go here to tell the Archbishop not to let his wrongful discrimination effect the lives of those in need.
https://secure3.convio.net/hrc/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=637

In the meanwhile, yay for DC -- let's hope they can keep it up.

Rue the Day, People.

Very Serious Problems in Uganda

Secretary Clinton responds to anti-homosexual legislation in Uganda...

As a brief overview, the Ugandan bill:

- increases the penalty for consensual homosexual conduct from 14 years to life in prison;

- limits the distribution of HIV/AIDS prevention information through a provision criminalizing the “promotion of homosexuality;”

- creates a crime of “aggravated homosexuality,” punishing anyone who is HIV-positive with death for having consensual same-sex relations, even if the relations are informed and safe and regardless of whether the person is even aware of his or her HIV status

- exposes anyone in Uganda, including HIV/AIDS outreach experts, to a criminal sentence for not reporting to the government within 24-hours anyone who engages in homosexual activity.

HRC suggests that we text the Secretary at 90822 with the following message...or something like it: “Thank you for condemning the anti-homosexuality bill in Uganda. Please continue to stand up for international LGBT human rights.”

My text message will probably be something more like: "Perhaps if the US would practice LGBT protection in our own country we could set a higher standard for the perception of homosexuality for the rest of the world"... but we'll see, I'm still working on it.

Read more... http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2009/12/secretary-clinton-responds-to-congressional-concern-about-uganda-text-message-her-to-show-your-support/

HURRY UP NJ!!

On Monday night, the NJ Senate Judiciary Committee passed the gay marriage bill. New Jersey was the first state to recognize civil unions, and has long been a leader in the gay rights movement. The question now is, can the senate pass this bill before January? At the beginning of 2010, Chris Christie, Republican, will take the seat of Democrat John Corzine. Christie has already said he would veto this bill if it ends up on his desk. That leaves a mere 24 days for the senate to pass this bill and get it to the desk of Corzine.

HURRY UP ALREADY!!

Read the HRC article about this here.

*Shoots Rainbows From Head*

Yes I'm that gay, sometimes at work a full rainbow forms above my head... Happy Friday!

EPIC FAIL IN NY STATE

After some of the most solid statements and heartfelt pleas for marriage equality in the NY Senate yesterday, we found out that there are still 38 NY Senators who don't understand what their job actually is. 

Dear NY Senators,
Protecting the people you represent should be your number one priority. 

If you feel like reading more here's one of the NYTimes' top stories today... http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/nyregion/03marriage.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

The Night Meredith Baxter Started Breathing

Alex P. Keaton and I finally have something in common - we both have gay moms! Meredith Baxter came out to Matt Lauer this morning on the Today Show. "I guess I wanted to... say that I'm a lesbian. It was a later in life recognition of that fact." Meredith, who has been previously married to three men, didn't realize she was gay until she was 55. She is currently in a 4 year relationship with a contractor, Nancy Locke. I bet every time she looks at nancy her head is filled with these sweet words...

I bet we've been together for a millions years, and I bet we'll be together for a million more.

Oh it's like I started breathing on the night we kissed, and I can't remember what I ever did before.

What would we do baby, without us? What would we do baby, without us?

And there ain't no nothing we can't love each other through.

What would we do baby, without us? Sha na na na...

DC Council Passes Marriage Bill in First of Two Votes

Today the Council of the District of Columbia passed a bill 11 to 2 allowing same-sex couples to marry in DC!   The council must take a second vote, which if successful will send the bill to Mayor Adrian Fenty who will have ten days to approve it...fingers crossed.
Upon his signature, Congress will have thirty legislative days to intervene if they so choose before the bill becomes law.

Follow the story as it unfolds...
http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2009/12/dc-council-passes-marriage-bill-in-first-of-two-votes/

Gay-bashing woman humiliated for wearing hideous skirt

A corduroy skirt-wearing gay-hater was the spark that caused an impromptu gay-loving street protest. Chris Pesto is the student (left) who started the reverse protest. The lady looks very sad, and even more dykey. And here is where I wuss out, and paste some wonderful text from another website. :)

"I decided that because this woman thought it was okay to make me feel uncomfortable in my home, I would retaliate and make her feel just as uncomfortable, if not more.

This woman was wearing a ankle-length corduroy skirt, which, as we all know, is a fashion nono. So, in order to make her feel uncomfortable, I stood next to her and held a sign that said Corduroy skirts are a sin! I don't think I have ever drawn so much attention in my life. SO many people asked to take a picture with me, I got laughs, high fives and there were the few that even cursed off the woman standing behind me.

As I drew interest to what was going on with myself and the woman with the hateful sign, I started to draw a crowd that stood with me in support. Before I knew it I had 100+ people holding signs for gay rights asking people to honk their horns to support. I was interviewed by a news station, and more than 5 student organization papers, and the post standard of syracuse.

I never expected anybody to come stand by me and support and I appreciate it so much that everyone came! It meant so much and it proved to those ignorant people that we aren't afraid, and we will put up a fight.

I'm proud that Syracuse has such a homosexual friendly community."