LGBT discussion takes on a new tone in the Ohio Statehouse

Columbus–As the House State Government committee considered a bill to outlaw discrimination by sexual orientation or gender identity, State Rep. Cliff Hite of Findlay challenged Crystal Curry of the anti-gay Concerned Women for America.

“You and the other [Equal Housing and Employment Act opponents] have testified that homosexuals are only about three percent of the population,” said Hite, a Republican. “So how is it that three percent represents such a threat?”

“They’re not,” Curry answered, “unless we give them civil rights and allow them to marry. Then they are a threat. Three percent is not harmful unless they keep pushing and pushing and take on rights.”

Curry then told lawmakers that because LGBT people use the word “gay” instead of “homosexual” and Will and Grace has gay characters, homosexuality will “become accepted.”

“Kids will grow up and try it,” she complained.

The exchange caused a visible reaction in Hite and other committee members, both Democrats and Republicans.

This illustrates what might be the most significant development in the bill’s movement through the Ohio legislature:

The measure’s opponents can no longer make wild, unsubstantiated and long-debunked claims about the lives of LGBT people without challenges from both sides of the partisan aisle.

See LGBT discussion takes on a new tone in the Ohio Statehouse

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Gay Republican Sen. Koering eyeing governors seat

Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, told the Pioneer Press he’s thinking about jumping into the race for governor in 2010. Koering, a gay man, opened up about his sexual orientation in 2005 during a bitter debate over a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
Koering said he is “forming an exploratory committee and will be talking to state party leaders, delegates, and community leaders to gauge the possibility of a 2010 gubernatorial run.”
Of the other announced GOP candidate, he told PiPress’ Rachel Stassen-Berger that, “I’d don’t [sic] think they have nothing on me. I guess I get worried that if it is just going to be somebody from the metro area, I guess I’d like to see somebody from the rural area put their hat in the ring.”
Koering is a somewhat conservative Republican with strong anti-abortion and gun rights bona fides, but was a supporter of legalizing medical marijuana for terminally ill patients and is against banning same-sex marriage by constitutional amendment, both generally regarded as progressive stances.
He says he can work on both sides of the aisle. “The state is in a critical condition right now,” he said. “We are in need of a chief executive officer who can work across party lines to get through these troubled times.” See Gay Republican Sen. Koering eyeing governors seat
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Minnesota gay couples head to Iowa to get married

Ten gay couples from Minnesota boarded a bus headed for Davenport, Iowa Sunday afternoon, so that they could make a legal trip down the aisle.

“If I have to go to Iowa first because that’s the first opportunity I have, then I am going to take it,” said Johnny Hedgepeth, one of the men getting married.

The couples are all congregants of All God’s Children Church in South Minneapolis.

Once Hedgepeth and his partner, Kenn Anderson cross the border back into Minnesota Tuesday, however, their marriage will no longer be recognized.

“I say whereever you are married, you are married and the law will just have to catch up with reality,” Hedgepeth said.

Minnesota law may catch up to Iowa in the next few years, according to gay marriage opponent Tom Prichard. See Minnesota gay couples head to Iowa to get married

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Daytime’s First Gay Wedding Comes To ABC!

Just because Prop 8 passed in California doesn’t mean it has any effect on Pine Valley!

ABC’s All My Children is planning to walk down the aisle on February 13th and 16th with a wedding to remember, the first gay nuptials in daytime television’s history!

The marriage will be between lesbian couple Bianca Montgomery (Eden Riegel) and Reese Williams (Tamara Braun), and they promise to bring the on-screen affection.

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Daytime’s First Gay Wedding Comes To ABC!
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