Gay marriage debate puts Lynch in hot seat

Dear Gov. John Lynch: On Wednesday the Senate passed a bill allowing gay couples the right to a civil marriage. The vote came after a lengthy process including the testimony of dozens of New Hampshire residents supporting the right to marry just as heterosexual couples have that right. The Senate received the bill only after the same process took place in the House. In addition to all those testifying, hundreds of letters, e-mails and calls were received by House and Senate members urging them to vote for this equal rights issue. Polls show a majority of New Hampshire residents support gay marriage.

Your initial reaction upon hearing of this bill’s passage was to state through your spokesperson that there is no difference between civil unions and gay marriage until the federal government changes its laws about gay marriage. If there were no difference, why would thousands of people support gay marriage? I believe your statement is similar to saying that you’d see no difference between living with your wife Susan and marrying her. Imagine if you weren’t allowed that choice.

You had the privilege of marrying her and acted on it. It had nothing to do with federal legislation.

Many people are asking you to have the courage to sign this bill. I don’t believe an act of courage is needed. You have a 70 percent approval rating, the majority of people in New Hampshire support gay marriage, and the bill’s careful crafting and amending ensures that no religion or religious person has to perform a gay marriage. It is more an act of humility that is now required of you: the recognition that you don’t know better than the majority of your constituents what is in the best interests of gay and straight New Hampshirites.

We lived for two years with your predecessor who with arrogance and pride ignored the interests of those he served and did what he wanted in major decisions affecting this state. Please continue to bring back the dignity of the office of governor and sign this bill which may not reflect your personal opinion but does reflect the majority of those you serve. Thanks for your consideration and support of equal rights.

(Carol Moore lives in Concord.)

See Gay marriage debate puts Lynch in hot seat Concord Monitor

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Gay rights supporter, Chicago political pitbull to succeed Emanuel

(Chicago, Illinois) Congressman-elect Mike Quigley is known for being an independent, reform-minded politician, but he learned politics the old-school Chicago way.

Quigley worked for Alderman Bernie Hansen in the 1980s running his ward office and learning real-life political lessons about meat-and-potatoes services to constituents, like making sure the garbage gets picked …

California Court of Appeal Affirms Right of Transgender Individuals Living Out-of-State to Change California Birth Certificates

San Francisco, April 14, 2009 – In a groundbreaking victory for transgender people born in California, the California Court of Appeal ruled on Friday that any person can amend their California birth certificate regardless of their current state of residence. Previously, only current California residents could amend their California birth certificates.

In a unanimous decision, the California Court of Appeal held that all people born in California, regardless of where they currently reside, can petition a California court for a new birth certificate. The strongly-worded decision was authored by Presiding Judge James J. Marchiano, who stated that “we discern no compelling state interest in treating California-born transgender individuals who reside out of state differently from California-born transgender individuals who reside in California when either class seeks issuance of a new California birth certificate.”

The case was brought by Transgender Law Center (TLC) on behalf of Gigi Marie Somers. Ms. Somers, a sixty-seven year old transgender woman, was born in California and now lives in Kansas. Ms. Somers underwent sex reassignment surgery in 2005 and has lived as a woman for a decade. When she sought to have a new California birth certificate issued reflecting her female gender, she learned that out-of-state residents were required to obtain a court order from the state in which they resided. Unfortunately, Ms. Somers was not able to obtain a court ordered gender change from her county of residence in Kansas. Left in legal limbo and unable to change her birth certificate, Ms. Somers contacted TLC for help. After the San Francisco Superior Court denied her petition due to the residency requirement, TLC Legal Director Kristina Wertz represented Ms. Somers before the Court of Appeal.

“We are pleased that the Court of Appeal did the right thing for Ms. Somers and recognized her right to change her birth certificate,” said Ms. Wertz. “No one who is born in California should be denied the opportunity to change their birth certificate simply because they are transgender and have moved out of state. Ms. Somers can now rest assured that her birth record will always reflect who she truly is, a right that all people born in California enjoy. This is a landmark victory for transgender people all over the country.”

“I brought this petition because I did not feel that my transition would be complete until my birth certificate showed who I am. Everybody in my life accepts me for who I am, and I wanted to make sure my officials records did too,” said Ms. Somers. “I am extremely happy about this victory and grateful for all the work that TLC has done on my behalf.”

The decision also represents a victory for older transgender people. “It is courageous for a person at any age to fight for their identity. But to have a woman at the age of 67 seek recognition in two states to have her gender identity acknowledged takes remarkable bravery,” said Karen Taylor, Director of Advocacy & Training at Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE). “SAGE has many constituents who spent decades hiding who they were, living under terrible oppression and fear. We understand and celebrate the courage of all older adults who dare to step forward and demand to be acknowledged for who they are. Ms. Somers is an inspiration to all who seek justice and equal treatment, at any age.”

“We applaud the Transgender Law Center for winning this truly significant victory,” said Geoff Kors, Executive Director of Equality California (EQCA). EQCA is currently sponsoring the Equal ID Bill in the California legislature, which will statutorily ensure that transgender individuals can change their California birth certificates no matter where they presently live. Mr. Kors continued, “Our bill can now stand on the shoulders of this week’s landmark decision. Together, we are moving toward full equality for transgender people in California and across the country.”

The decision, Somers v. Superior Court, is currently available on the court’s website www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/A123445.pdf.
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Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender-rights advocacy organization in California. In the past decade, EQCA has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for LGBT individuals to a state with some of the most comprehensive civil-rights protections in the nation. EQCA has passed over 50 pieces of legislation and continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org
The Transgender Law Center (TLC) is a civil rights organization advocating for transgender communities. TLC uses direct legal services, education, community organizing, and advocacy to transform California into a state that recognizes and supports the needs of transgender people and their families. www.transgenderlawcenter.org

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Logan Crane | If You Seek Amy Tufts Daily

As a heterosexual, I often take for granted the accessibility of hookups and matchmaking. I have a high regard for constituents of the queer community who live as minorities in our college hookup atmosphere. The Tufts social scene is a montage of frat parties and bars that encompass heterosexual norms. As I commonly joke with a gay friend that we should “man hunt” on Saturday nights, I have come to realize just how complicated that process can be. A queer in search of a relationship or sexual advice is often left with minimal resources.

The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Center is a great way to meet other queers. Their support groups make for a comfortable environment while providing a network outlet. The on-campus social scene lacks variety, as the options are Rainbow House or a queer-friendly house party. Those fortunate to own an ID are able to escape to a larger queer community within the Boston area. For gay men, Club Café is an extremely popular video bar. Paradise is for those interested in no more than a g-string and Velcro-seamed pants. For the lesbian ladies, Modern and Tribe are highly recommended to meet sexy singles. Midway Café is an excellent place for the transgender community. A themed night such as Queeraoke is bound to bring out your inner Sasha Fierce. An excellent suggestion from a fabulous queer friend is Guerrilla Queer Bar, which provides an alternative nightlife for the LGBT community. Finding a mate at Tufts comes with limited opportunities, but using social resources both at Tufts and in Boston can make the experience a little easier.

The resources available for sex and dating are more often than not geared to a heterosexual audience. It is rare to come across free dental dams, but there is always an abundant supply of cheap and uncomfortable condoms available. Finding resources about the intricacies of queer sex can be difficult. Although queer-themed TV has plenty of content flaws, shows like The L Word and Queer as Folk demonstrate ways to approach a sexual encounter. For someone new at queer sex, these shows might be helpful for getting started.

For those lesbians looking to explore sexual fantasies, Crashpadseries.com and Cyber-dyke.net are distributors of strictly lesbian porn, none of that bi-curious teasing that is labeled “lesbian” porn on other sites. All actresses involved are strictly interested in one thing — vagina.

Some feel uncomfortable diving into graphic cinema, so I suggest watching Annie Sprinkle’s Herstory of Porn. This documentary features the best and worst moments of queer porn. Because porn is not a sufficient instructor of sexual acts, the book Lesbian Kama Sutra is helpful and strictly for queer women. It provides more than your average scissor, so I encourage you to purchase this book for an increase in tongue teasers.

Gay porn is much easier to come by. Insertion of the words “gay sex” or “anal” will result in millions of Google pages on gay porn. But if you are looking for the specifics on sexually pleasing your partner, Gay-sex-positions.com provides written and visual description pertaining to the intricacies of anal and oral positions. Also, the LBGT Center on campus provides an excellent library of sex books and queer literature.

As the queer community on campus is incredibly small, these are some useful outlets to further your queer constituents and culture. As for sexual pleasure, one must never rely on the poor educational advice from health professionals and sex education teachers. Queer blogs, porn and Web sites are all useful means for sex tips. It’s important to recognize the avenues accessible to escape a social and sexual environment dominated by heterosexuals. The expansion of a social network and sexual lexis can be of great benefit.

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Logan Crane is a junior majoring in political science. She can be reached at Logan.Crane@tufts.edu.

See Logan Crane | If You Seek Amy

Tufts Daily

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Utah lawmaker who made anti-gay comments removed as committees’ chairman

A defiant Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, said Friday he won’t let his ouster from two key legislative committee chairmanships stop him from defending marriage against “an increasingly vocal and radical segment of the homosexual community.”

Earlier Friday, Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, took the unusual step of publicly announcing he was removing Buttars as both chairman and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee

The decision also strips Buttars of his chairmanship of the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee. Buttars, re-elected last year to a third term, remains chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and vice-chairman of the powerful Rules Committee.

Waddoups said his action should not be seen as a punishment for anti-gay statements Buttars made to a documentary filmmaker, which include comparing gay-rights activists to Muslim terrorists and calling them “the greatest threat to America going down.”

The Senate leader said Buttars is considered by his colleagues to be a “stalwart” who “represents the views of many of his constituents and many of ours.” Waddoups acknowledged he did not agree with everything Buttars said, but he repeatedly declined to be specific.

See Utah lawmaker who made anti-gay comments removed as committees’ chairman
The Deseret News (Salt Lake City)

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Civil unions reawaken gay marriage divisions in Hawaii

The decade-old battle lines over same-sex marriage in Hawaii are being redrawn as lawmakers consider civil unions.

Opponents of civil union measures say it’s just same-sex marriage in a different package. Supporters say public opinion has shifted since Hawaii became the first state to ban gay marriage in its constitution.

An overflow crowd came to testify on one of several measures that would give same-sex partners rights through civil unions much like those in legal marriage.

“My wife got sick not long ago, she was in the hospital, no one questioned my right to be there by her side,” said Eric Gill, representing the Local 5 union.

Opponents stood sharply against any other rights beyond the reciprocal beneficiaries status conferred as a compromise after Hawaii’s gay marriage ban.

“You will be circumventing the will of the 70 percent of the people who voted your constituents who set you a strong and clear message by their vote to preserve traditional marriage,” said opponent Honolulu City Councilmember Gary Okino.

“The public opinion on this issue has changed dramatically,” said proponent Alan Spector of the Family Equality Coalition. “Today in 2009 this is not the controversial issue that is was in the 1990s.”

“If we feel that the tide has changed and that the people of Hawaii are now saying that we want same-sex marriage, then let’s put it to a (public) vote,” said Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona, an opponent of civil unions.

See Civil unions reawaken gay marriage divisions
KHON2 – Honolulu,HI,USA

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Gay Marriage Support Helps Politicians Get Re-Elected

A new study concludes that a large majority of legislators who supported gay marriage won re-election nationwide.

Freedom to Marry, the nationwide marriage equality group headed by Evan Wolfson, looked at 1100 state legislators from four states that have voted on gay marriage bills since 2005. Nearly all of these politicians were re-affirmed by their constituents, debunking the misconception that gay marriage support ends political careers.

Lawmakers from both political parties met with equal success.

See Gay Marriage Support Helps Politicians Get Re-Elected
On Top Magazine – Cleveland,OH,USA