Puerto Rico May Pass Same-sex Marriage Ban

Puerto Rico's governor said he would not block a referendum to toughen a ban on same-sex marriage in the U.S. island territory even though he believes the proposed constitutional amendment is unnecessary and divisive.

Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila will sign the bill authorizing a May referendum if the measure gets the required two-thirds majority of votes in the island's House of Representatives. It has already passed in the Senate.

"I told them that the people need more agendas that unite them rather than divide them," Acevedo said. "But I also told them that if they have two-thirds of the legislature, well, I cannot get in the way."

Resolution 99, as the measure is known, would amend the Puerto Rican constitution to establish that marriage is between a man and woman and that no other types of unions could be recognized as a marriage. It would make it harder in the future to allow civil unions or grant marital rights to unmarried couples.

Kucinich Out

Democrat Dennis Kucinich is abandoning his second, long-shot bid for the White House as he faces a tough fight to hold onto his other job — U.S. congressman. The six-term House member said he was quitting the race.

Iowa Democratic Governor Culver Opposes Marriage Equality

Democratic Governor Chet Culver, an opponent of gay marriage, said he would seek a quick response in the Legislature if the Iowa Supreme Court rules that same sex couples have a right to marry. He said he doesn't want to take action before the Supreme Court rules. However, if the court upholds a lower court ruling in favor of gay marriage, he said the Legislature can, and should, respond quickly.

"We'll do whatever it takes to protect marriage between a man and a woman," Culver said. He didn't rule out a special legislative session to deal with the issue, if the court rules after the Legislature adjourns for the year.

Send him a message here.

Florida Conservatives Seeking Constitutional Same-sex Marriage Ban

Implications for this November...

"Activists in Florida have about two weeks to put a constitutional amendment banning same-sex couples from marrying on the general election ballot next November. If they succeed, the question could prove to be a factor in the presidential election."

Read the full article at Bay Windows.

Bill Richardson Revives DP Legislation in New Mexico

A domestic partner bill that died in the New Mexico legislature this spring has been revived at the prodding of Gov. Bill Richardson. The legislation would create a statewide domestic partnership registry for both same and opposite-sex couples.

Couples would register with local county clerks and receive certificates attesting their relationships. They would be guaranteed access to each other in hospitals and be able to make medical decisions for partners who are unable to make those decisions themselves, and they would be granted other state benefits and rights accorded to partners in marriages.

New Salt Lake Mayor Introduces DP Registry

Ralph Becker's first official action as mayor could bring a first to Utah - a citywide registry of domestic partners, including same-sex couples. The novel move - fulfilling a priority campaign promise for Salt Lake City's new CEO - is designed to aid employers vacillating over whether to provide insurance benefits for cohabitants and other domestic partners.

Becker's proposed ordinance bucks the politics in conservative Utah - a state that rewrote its constitution in 2004 to ban gay marriage.

The registry, likely to win the support of the City Council in Utah's left-leaning capital, would serve as a catalog of adult residents - gay or otherwise - who can voluntarily add their names as long as they provide proof that they cohabit and rely on one another as dependents.

Becker argues the mechanism would save businesses time and money and create a way for the city to recognize relationships of mutual support, caring and commitment.

Huckabee Wants The U.S. Constitution To Apply "God's Standards"

"The Bible was not written to be amended. The Constitution was."

Read the full interview on beliefnet.

New Hampshire Brings Changes

Senators Hillary Clinton (D) and John McCain (R) won their respective New Hampshire primaries. Bill Richardson decided to end his campaign.

Kennedy To Push Non-Inclusive ENDA

Sen. Edward Kennedy is expected to push for a Senate vote in 2008 on the same gay-only version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that the House of Representatives passed in 2007.

Kennedy stated on the Senate floor on Nov. 8, one day after the House passed ENDA by a vote of 235 to 184, that he hoped the Senate would follow suit by passing the employment protection bill in the current Congress, which lasts through 2008.

Although Kennedy strongly supports protections against job discrimination for transgender workers, inaction won't advance justice for anyone, and will just make it harder to pass any version of ENDA in 2009, a Kennedy spokesperson said.

Movie Event: For The Bible Tells Me So

Former ECCO Board Chairs Libby Cowan and Rebecca Chadwick alerted us to the following:

Fairview Community Church, in Costa Mesa will be showing For the Bible Tells Me So on Saturday January 26, 7:00 pm. Admission is free. The address is 2525 Fairview Road in Costa Mesa (corner of Fairview and Fair Dr).

The movie follows five families and their journeys through scripture and Christian institutions as they come to terms with their gay or lesbian family member, including the family of Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson. In addition, scriptures that are often used to persecute gays and lesbians are explored, defined, and interpreted by biblical experts.

It is powerful and there are many very moving sequences, both painful and joyful.

If you have not seen it, please consider this opportunity. The showing is sponsored by Fairview and Progressive Christians Uniting.

ECCO Voter Guide Update

ECCO is currently researching candidates' positions and developing its February 2008 Voter Guide.

Iowa Caucuses Knock Candidates From Next ABC News Debate

Saturday's prime-time presidential debates from New Hampshire will be less crowded because ABC News is excluding GOP candidate Duncan Hunter and Democrats Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel.

The Republican debate will include Iowa caucus winner Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. It starts at 7 p.m. EST. Shortly after that 90-minute forum, Democrats Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Bill Richardson will take the stage.

The excluded candidates failed to meet benchmarks for their support that were outlined prior to the Iowa caucus. ABC set rules to narrow the field. Candidates had to meet at least one of three criteria: place first through fourth in Iowa, poll 5% or higher in one of the last four major New Hampshire surveys, or poll 5% or higher in one of the last four major national surveys.

Democrats Joe Biden and Chris Dodd quit the race Thursday night.

Equal Property Taxation For Domestic Partners

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

Today, in a major victory for same-sex couples, the California Supreme Court denied a petition by county assessors seeking review of a California Court of Appeal decision affirming the validity of basic property tax protections for domestic partners. The Court's decision means that the validity of these protections is now secure. No further appeals are possible.

On October 3, 2007, the California Court of Appeal unanimously affirmed the validity of a Board of Equalization rule that protects domestic partners from increased property taxes when one of the partners dies and the other inherits the couple's home. California law has long provided this protection for surviving heterosexual spouses.

Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2007

The Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act of 2007 (S 2521 / H.R. 4838), would make a federal employee and his or her same-sex domestic partner eligible to participate in federal health benefits, the Family and Medical Leave program, long-term care, insurance, and retirement benefits. The federal employee and his or her domestic partner would also assume the same obligations that apply to married employees and their spouses, such as anti-nepotism rules and financial disclosure requirements.

Here are the full lists of co-sponsors (sorted alphabetically):

SB 2521: 19 of 20 co-sponsors are Democrats. Smith is the only Republican. Democratic presidential candidates Clinton, Dodd, and Obama are co-sponsors; Democrat Biden and Republican McCain are not.

Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] - 12/19/2007
Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 12/19/2007
Sen Brown, Sherrod [OH] - 12/19/2007
Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] - 12/19/2007
Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] - 12/19/2007
Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] - 12/19/2007
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] - 12/19/2007
Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] - 12/19/2007
Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] - 12/19/2007
Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA] - 12/19/2007
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 12/19/2007
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] - 12/19/2007
Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] - 12/19/2007
Sen Levin, Carl [MI] - 12/19/2007
Sen Murray, Patty [WA] - 12/19/2007
Sen Obama, Barack [IL] - 12/19/2007
Sen Schumer, Charles E. [NY] - 12/19/2007
Sen Smith, Gordon H. [OR] - 12/19/2007
Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] - 12/19/2007
Sen Wyden, Ron [OR] - 12/19/2007

H.R. 4838: 36 of 38 co-sponsors are Democrats. Davis and Shays are the only Republicans. Davis' last three HRC scores have been 0, 0, and 33; but he announced in October that he will not be running for re-election, so his sponsorship costs him nothing politically. Democratic presidential candidate Kucinich is a co-sponsor; Republicans Hunter, Paul, and Tancredo are not.

Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 12/19/2007
Rep Allen, Thomas H. [ME-1] - 12/19/2007
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] - 12/19/2007
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 12/19/2007
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 12/19/2007
Rep Davis, Tom [VA-11] - 12/19/2007
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 12/19/2007
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3] - 12/19/2007
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 12/19/2007
Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 12/19/2007
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 12/19/2007
Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] - 12/19/2007
Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] - 12/19/2007
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 12/19/2007
Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] - 12/19/2007
Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 12/19/2007
Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-12] - 12/19/2007
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 12/19/2007
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 12/19/2007
Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 12/19/2007
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 12/19/2007
Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4] - 12/19/2007
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 12/19/2007
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 12/19/2007
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 12/19/2007
Rep Roybal-Allard, Lucille [CA-34] - 12/19/2007
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] - 12/19/2007
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 12/19/2007
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 12/19/2007
Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] - 12/19/2007
Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27] - 12/19/2007
Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10] - 12/19/2007
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 12/19/2007
Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12] - 12/19/2007
Rep Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [FL-20] - 12/19/2007
Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] - 12/19/2007
Rep Wu, David [OR-1] - 12/19/2007
Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 12/19/2007

Civil Unions Begin In New Hampshire

Dozens of gay and lesbian couples entered into civil unions in NH in the early moments of New Year's Day as a new state law legalized the partnerships after midnight.

New Hampshire's civil unions law — enacted by the Democrat-dominated Legislature early last year and signed by Democratic Gov. John Lynch in May, gives same-sex couples the same rights, responsibilities and obligations of marriage without calling the union a marriage.

NH is the fourth state in the nation to allow civil unions. It follows VT, CT and NJ in allowing civil unions. MA is the only state that allows marriage. NH estimates that as many as 3,500 to 4,000 civil unions will be performed this first year.
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