Comments on: Pennsylvania senator changes mind on gay marriage

By: Tim Hopkins

Tim Hopkins — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:54:43 +0000

Thanks Robert. It’s going to take a lot longer than in NY I think, but it is our top priority now for legislative change. We have a Scottish Parliament election in May 2011 and in practice, because of tight rules on bills, introducing actual legislation couldn’t happen until after that, but we are doing the campaign groundwork.

By: Robert, ex pat Brit

Robert, ex pat Brit — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:03:43 +0000

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York state just stated that same-sex marriage should be available in all 50 states. Way to go, Sen. Schumer.

By: Robert, ex pat Brit

Robert, ex pat Brit — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:01:51 +0000

Tim, I would love to see Scotland go that extra mile and legalise it. Now wouldn’t that put England in an embarrassing spot? I’d be gloating because it would force England’s hand to recognise them as marriages and not as civil partnerships which they currently do and which most certainly they are not. Go Scotland!

By: Robert, ex pat Brit

Robert, ex pat Brit — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:59:42 +0000

Tim, that is good news to hear. Amazing that England doesn’t have anything like that underway. Not one English politician that I know of, shameful.

Paul, New York State where I currently reside is next…it may come up for a vote within the next two weeks, it already passed the state assembly on two occasions, but conservatives (republicans) are the stumbling block and conservative democrats (Labour) may side with them. Governor Paterson seems to think he can get enough votes to pass it.

By: Tim Hopkins

Tim Hopkins — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:17:28 +0000

Paul (#9): especially since Iowa didn’t pass a law – the change was made by a court judgement! Still you can’t expect 100% accuracy in these news articles!

By: Aussie Gay Activist Paul Mitchell

Aussie Gay Activist Paul Mitchell — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:08:41 +0000

This quote:

“Connecticut, Iowa, and Massachusetts have already passed laws recognizing same sex marriage”

What about Vermont and New Hampshire???? – They too have also legalized gay marriage as well!!!!!

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:12:24 +0000

@Ben Sauer (Denmark) Ok I shall move there. I have been thinking about moving to Denmark for a longtime. Thank you for invitation.

It is good news that the senator has changed his mind. I hope he doesn’t change it again. Decisions, decisions, decisions

By: xaria

xaria — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:01:15 +0000

oh look a anti-gay guy is in danger of being removed in favour of a more liberal guy suddently deciudes he’s pro marriage equality. amazing. arlen, your an oppertunist. prove you’ve changed and apologise properly.

By: Tim Hopkins

Tim Hopkins — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:04:53 +0000

Oops I totally messed up that link! Here is the Scottish Equal Marriage website. Tim

By: Tim Hopkins

Tim Hopkins — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:01:41 +0000

Robert (#2): here in Scotland, Labour MSPs George Foulkes and John Park, as well as two Green, one LibDem and three SNP MSPs, have so far signed up to the Equal Marriage pledge. So have Labour MEP Catherine Stihler, as well as Tory MEP Struan Stevenson. See the Scottish Equal Marriage website.

Tim

By: Bill Perdue

Bill Perdue — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:08:14 +0000

Specter is really, really, really afraid he’ll lose the election…

In 1996 he voted for DOMA and he’s one of the bigots in Congress and the administration like Obama and Hillary Clinton who think that the question of same sex marriage equality should be left up to the states, just as earlier Democrats thought that the question of slavery should be left up to the states.

He voted against DADT but so several Republicans, not because they opposed the bigotry of Clintons DADT but because they didn’t think it was mean spirited enough.

Many Democrats mistrust his motives in switching and many Republicans are angry about it, but the ease with which rightwingers like Arlen Specter and Strom Thurmond can switch from one right centrist party to another is just another indication of basic similarities and ties between the party of Tweedledee and the party of Tweedledum.

By: Bent Sauer(Denmark)

Bent Sauer(Denmark) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:02:14 +0000

Don’t see your problem; but I’m living in Denmark. MOVE TO DENMARK _ 85% of the people are nice here.

By: Robert, ex pat Brit

Robert, ex pat Brit — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:48:48 +0000

So where are their British counterparts in the Labour and Tory parties? Not one has gone that extra mile to come out in support of full marriage equality. Why not?

By: Thomas

Thomas — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:08:26 +0000

Up unti last year, Senator Specter was a Republican. However, he switched parties to assure he remained in office (there was a right wing primary chlenger who would have won). As a Senator, however, he has generally been a moderate Republican compared to the bulk of GOP elected Representatives who have been increasingly right wing extremists (anti science, anti education and, of course, anti gay). The Republican party in the US has become more and more a regional party. It’s popularity being strongest in America’s most uneducated and religious region: the South.