Deleware Gay rights bill heads to full state Senate

The state Senate next week will debate a bill adding sexual orientation to Delaware’s anti-discrimination laws.

Newark-area Democrat David Sokola says he’s grateful Senate leaders let him offer his own version of the bill.Audio Here

During the past 10 years, similar bills have reached the Senate only to die in committee or as the result of a so-called “desk-drawer veto”, but Senate Insurance Committee members Wednesday voted 5-0 to send Sokola’s measure, which has the support of Governor Markell and key House leaders, to the full Senate.

Sokola says he expects spirited opposition from the bill’s opponents, but is confident the measure will pass. See Gay rights bill heads to full state Senate

WDEL 1150AM -

* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

Published by

Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/06/deleware-gay-…

Jim Gibbons, In Midst Of Messy Divorce, Plans To Veto Gay Partners .Bill to Stand Tall For Traditional Marriage!

The Nevada legislature has successfully passed two gay rights bills, one that outlaws job discrimination based on sexual orientation, and another that establishes domestic partnerships for gay couples.

But Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons has said he will veto the domestic partnership bill, which would give same-sex couples equal rights to married partners in areas like estate planning, medical decisions, community property and child custody.

“The governor believes that government has no business in your medicine chest or your bedroom,” spokesperson Daniel Burns said. With good reason: Gibbons who filed for divorce in 2008, allegedly had having an affair with playboy model Leslie Durant, as well as sending more than 860 text messages to another woman, Kathy Karrasch, from his state-owned cell phone. When Gibbons was running for governor, he was accused of sexually assaulting a cocktail waitress.

See Jim Gibbons, In Midst Of Messy Divorce, Plans To Veto Gay Partners … Huffington Post * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

Published by

Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/jim-gibbons-i…

Bid to repeal a Florida gay rights bill heads to voters

(Gainesville, Florida) Gainesville voters will go to the polls Tuesday in an election that could see repeal of civil rights protections for the city’s LGBT population.

Gainesville has protected gays and lesbians in employment and housing for a decade, but a socially conservative group balked when city council added gender identity …

Another gay-rights bill goes down in Utah

Another Common Ground gay-rights bill has died. But this one wasn’t killed by opposing state lawmakers.

This measure was done in by the sponsor herself.

Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake City, decided Friday to pull her bill, which would have sought voter approval to repeal the second part of Utah’s constitutional gay-marriage ban (known as Amendment 3) to avoid confusion about which protections are the legal equivalent of marriage.

“I believe the second clause of Amendment 3 has been misconstrued by many and will continue to be a stumbling block for reasonable policies in the future,” Biskupski said in a news release from Common Ground Initiative backer Equality Utah.

“However, I believe that the other Common Ground bills have broader support and cannot be construed as having anything to do with marriage. “By pulling this bill,” she continued, “we hope to make a good-faith effort to demonstrate that the protections we’re talking about have nothing to do with marriage and in no way conflict with Amendment 3.”

Some feared Biskupski’s bill was a move to pave the way for civil unions, which recent polls show Utahns overwhelmingly oppose. “By dumping that bill, we are bringing attention to the most important items on our legislative agenda,” said Mike Thompson, executive director of Equality Utah, items that he says most Utahns favor.

See Legislature: Another gay-rights bill goes down
Salt Lake Tribune