ABC's 20/20 Investigates Same-Sex Public Displays of Affection

Governor Schwarzenegger Opposes Marriage Ban

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he would oppose the ballot measure circulating across the state that would ban marriage for same-sex couples. At the Log Cabin Republicans National Convention in San Diego, the governor said he would always be there to fight against such an amendment.

Answering a question from Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director Patrick Sammon about the constitutional amendment, the governor said:

Well, first of all, I think that it would never happen in California because I think that California people are much further along with that issue. And, number two, I will always be there to fight against that. I think we need a constitutional amendment so that foreign-born citizens can run for president, but not (one) about gay marriage. That's a total waste of time.

Read more from the Log Cabin Republicans.

Obama Talks To The Advocate

Barack Obama discusses "don't ask, don't tell," Rev. Wright, and what he would do for LGBT Americans if he becomes president.

Read the full article at The Advocate.

Hillary Clinton Comes Out Stronger For Equality

From Yahoo! News:

Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said she would defend gay rights as president and eliminate disparities for same-sex couples in federal law, including immigration and tax policy.

Clinton said states such as New Jersey and Massachusetts are extending rights to gay couples "and the federal government should recognize that and should extend the same access to federal benefits across the board. I will very much work to achieve that."

Clinton's comments came in an interview with the Philadelphia Gay News that was posted on its Web site Thursday.

Clinton said she and her husband have many gay friends that they socialize with when they get the chance. "I've got friends, literally, around the country that I'm close to. It's part of my life," she said.

She said that when they ask her why they can't get married, she tells them marriage is a state law. She said that fact helped defeat a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex weddings that she said would "enshrine discrimination in the Constitution."

"States are really beginning seriously to deal with the whole range of options, including marriage, both under their own state constitutions and under the legislative approach," she said. "I anticipate that there will be a very concerted amount of effort in the next couple of years that will move this important issue forward and different states will take different approaches as they did with marriage over many years and you will see an evolution over time."

Clinton said she opposes a measure that would ban gay marriage in Pennsylvania.

"I would be very distressed if Pennsylvania were to adopt that kind of mean-spirited referendum and I hope it won't happen," she said.

Clinton's Democratic rival Barack Obama and Republican John McCain declined the newspaper's invitation for an interview. The paper criticized Obama and highlighted his refusal to talk by leaving a blank space on the front page where his interview would have appeared.

Clinton also said she would:

• Eliminate her husband's policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" that prevents gays from serving openly in the military. Asked if she could do so by a signing order connected to a military appropriations bill, Clinton said she didn't think that is possible but she would look into it and do it if it were legal.

• Be "very strongly outspoken" against foreign governments that execute gays and use financial assistance and other leverage to prevent the killings.

• Support federal domestic partner legislation to extend rights to all same-sex couples.

• Support services for gay youth, including guidance for schools about the discrimination they face.

• Continue to support gay pride celebrations, to the extent that security would allow. "I don't think the Secret Service let Bill walk in a parade when he became president," she said.

Need An Example Of Why Our Mission Is Still Needed?

I found this over at Joe.My.God. and is courtesy of The Victory Fund. A glaring example of why the work we do at ECCO is so important.

"Stop The Amendment" Leadership Meeting

LEADERSHIP MEETING Saturday!

Saturday, March 8th in Santa Ana at 10:00AM

1700 East Garry Ave. Suite 120 [Office Complex Location of ECCO Office]
Santa Ana, CA

Call Charlie Mumford (Charlie.Mumford@ hrc.org) at 202.459.3315 for more info!

HELP STOP THE ANTI-MARRIAGE INITIATIVE!

Well-funded, anti-gay organizations have hit the ground in California with hundreds of paid signature gatherers. They are attempting to garner enough signatures to qualify an anti-marriage equality measure on the November 2008 ballot. If passed, this measure would enshrine discrimination in California's constitution and negatively impact GLBT Californians for generations to come!

The HRC is working with the Equality For All Campaign and ECCO to prevent our opponents from gathering the signatures they need to qualify this hateful measure but they NEED your help! Join them in defeating this measure that would deny loving and committed couples the rights and responsibilities that come with marriage.

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
1. Join Equality for All's Rapid Response Team.
2. If you see signature gatherers, or receive an automated call regarding this issue, report back to us! Email tips@equalityforall .com with your information.
3. Contact Sarah Scanlon or Terry McGuire to learn more about volunteer opportunities sarah.scanlon@hrc.org or terry.mcguire@hrc.org or call 202-459-3298 / 202-294-0784

State Supreme Court Hears Marriage Equality Arguments

See full article at the San Francisco Chronicle. More info on this subject can be found at The Bilerico Project.

Marisa Lagos, John Coté, Chronicle Staff Writers

The California Supreme Court peppered both sides of the same-sex marriage debate with questions (Tuesday) in a 3½-hour hearing into whether the state law defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman is constitutional.

The hearing dealt with challenges to the law filed by nearly two dozen same-sex couples and the city of San Francisco, which entered the case after the court invalidated an order by Mayor Gavin Newsom that allowed nearly 4,000 same-sex couples to marry in 2004.

The plaintiffs argue that the California Constitution protects the rights of same-sex couples to marry. Those arguing to keep the law included the state of California, which says the definition of marriage is so deeply engrained in law that only the Legislature or voters have the power to change it, and conservative religious groups, which argue that marriage is for procreation. They point to domestic partnership laws as proof that same-sex couples are not being discriminated against.

The justices spent a little over 90 minutes during the hearing in San Francisco questioning three attorneys for the plaintiffs, then moved on to the opponents of changing the state law. Justice Joyce Kennard immediately asked Deputy Attorney General Christopher Krueger, representing the state of California, why the state's arguments differ from those of their co-defendants, who focused in written arguments on procreation. Krueger said the differences don't weaken the opponents' position, and urged the court to look at tradition.

—SNIP—

Lawyers for the plaintiffs have pointed to the court's 1948 decision striking down California's ban on interracial marriage, and have compared domestic partnership to "separate but equal" segregation. The 1948 ruling, the first of its kind by any state's high court, recognized a "right to join in marriage with the person of one's choice."

The justices honed in on that case during their questioning of Krueger, asking whether the state believes "separate is equal here" and whether animus against gays and lesbians is intrinsic in the state law. "What distinguishes this is that (for interracial couples) there was marriage and there was nothing," Krueger said. "Racial discrimination had been put on marriage for no reason other white supremacy." Krueger and other attorneys arguing to preserve the state law said gays and lesbians have never been defined by any high court as a group that is guaranteed equal protection under the law.

Krueger said plaintiffs in the same-sex case "talk about domestic partnership as if it's schoolhouse segregation. ... Yes, same-sex couples aren't allowed to marry under our laws, but that is not the same type of exclusion. ... Here there is equality."

Attorneys for the conservative groups argued that the court should not have a role in defining marriage. They pointed to Proposition 22, passed by voters in 2000, which barred the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed outside California. Glenn Lavy, an attorney for the Prop. 22 Legal Defense and Education Fund, called the initiative process the "ultimate expression of democracy."

—SNIP—

"If procreation is a fundamental purpose of marriage, then the next inquiry would be should infertile individuals be prohibited from entering in to a marriage relationship? " Kennard asked.

"No, your honor ... it would violate the right of privacy to make that inquiry," Lavy said.

In her arguments, San Francisco Chief Deputy City Attorney Therese Stewart insisted that granting same-sex couples the right to enter into domestic partnerships or civil unions was not the same thing as allowing them to marry.

—SNIP—

The Supreme Court has 90 days to make a decision on the case.

E-mail the writers at mlagos@sfchronicle.com and jcote@sfchronicle.com.

GLSEN Announces Action Days

The Day of Silence (see below for more OC information)
April 25, 2008
Now in its tenth year, a project of GLSEN in collaboration with the United States Student Association (USSA), is a student-led day of action where those who support making anti-LGBT bullying and harassment unacceptable in schools participate in events to recognize and protest the discrimination and harassment in effect, the silencing experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and their allies. Day Of Silence

Ally Week
October 13-19, 2008
This is an opportunity for students and clubs to help kick-off the school year by identifying and supporting Allies who are committed to addressing anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) bullying and harassment in America’s schools. Students plan events appropriate to their school community. These may simply include passing out stickers to allies who sign the pledge. Others may take part in larger community events and rallies. Ally Week

Transgender Day of Remembrance
Nov. 10 – 14, 2008 mark the official dates for student clubs to organize events leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 18, 2008
GLSEN announced today the kick-off of weeklong activities happening in schools across the country aimed to bring awareness to the problem of anti-transgender violence. Partnering for the second year with Gender Education & Advocacy, GLSEN encourages students to organize Transgender Day of Remembrance events that are spaces for discussions about the need to protect students against bullying and harassment based on gender identity and expression. Transgender Day of Remembrance

The Day of Silence — Orange County
GLSEN - Orange County will be awarding up to 35 scholarships for student organizations to create a greater awareness of gay lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender issues on school campuses. They believe that students are creative, caring and natural spokespersons to get this type of message to their peers. In order to help student groups to truly make a difference with their Day of Silence plans they are offering $75 to the first 25 schools who complete the short application. You must meet the standard criteria in order to receive these funds. They will also be offering $50 to 10 additional schools that meet the same criteria.

Criteria:
1. The Day of Silence activities must be student lead.
2. The Scholarship must not be used to pay for any school employees’ stipend salary or any other compensation.
3. The scholarship must be used for this year’s Day of Silence activities.
4. Awarded schools must send a 1/2-page report of their activities and at least 3 JPEG pictures by May 15th.

Applications must be received by March 28th, 2008. Only one application per school will be selected. Please e-mail your completed application to:

orangecountyglsen@gmail.com

You will be notified by April 2, 2008 if your group will receive either the $75 or $50 awards.

Good Luck!

Ellen Degeneres On Lawrence King

Connecticut Rep Comes Out

CT State Rep. Jason Bartlett put rumors to rest when he announced publicly that he's gay. Bartlett, a Democrat who represents Bethel, Danbury and Redding, is the first openly gay, black, state legislator in U.S. history, officials said. The freshman lawmaker, who has been frank about his sexual orientation with relatives, said now is the time to speak out.