Gay marriage law’s impact on Iowans subtle, yet powerful DesMoinesRegister.com -Gay marriage law’s impact on Iowans subtle, yet powerful

The April marriage ruling hasn’t enticed Jean and George Huffey’s two gay children to move back to Iowa from Wisconsin and Indiana, as the two parents had hoped.

Not many same-sex couples have relocated here in the two short months since the Iowa Supreme Court ruled on April 3 that both gay and straight couples have equal rights to marriage, anecdotal evidence suggests.

“It’s going to take time,” said Des Moines real estate agent Mindi McCoy, who had two same-sex clients from New York City look at properties, then decide against purchasing. “We’re still in kind of this honeymoon stage, no pun intended.”

Gay culture is sharply in focus this weekend as thousands gather to celebrate at the Capital City PrideFest in Des Moines. The Des Moines Register interviewed dozens of gays and lesbians to identify early trends since the first marriages took place April 27, including the effects on the ease of coming out of the closet, family relationships, religion, business, politics and the underground gay sex scene.

The changes in Iowa since the ruling are subtle but powerful to the individuals affected, according to both advocates and opponents.

Same-sex married couples who live here said they are already experiencing firsthand how Iowa law still treats them differently from opposite-sex couples.

Of the hundreds of same-sex Iowa couples who are now married – no state agency tracks the number of same-sex unions – some said they feel less guarded about holding hands or sharing a kiss in certain public settings.

“At your job, you don’t feel like you can’t have a picture of you and your partner up,” said Des Moines resident Justin De Vries.

Marriage seems to have been embraced mainly by same-sex couples with a history together: five years, a decade, 20 years or more. Some faith leaders have committed acts of quiet rebellion to marry them, even as their churches remain locked in debate over same-sex weddings.

“People are taking this as a very serious issue,” said Sharon Malheiro, a Des Moines lawyer. Couples are asking: ” ‘If we get married, what will the impact be? What are our obligations to each other?’ They’re not being nonchalant about it.”

See Gay marriage law’s impact on Iowans subtle, yet powerful

DesMoinesRegister.com -

* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

Published by

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

Obama Admin References Incest, Child Rape in DOMA Defense

Obama defends DOMA in federal court. Says banning gay marriage is good for the federal budget. Invokes incest and marrying children.

At AMERICABlogs, John Aravosis writes:
“despicable, and gratuitously homophobic. It reads as if it were written by one of George Bush’s top political appointees. I cannot state strongly enough how damaging this brief is to us. Obama didn’t just argue a technicality about the case, he argued that DOMA is reasonable. That DOMA is constitutional. That DOMA wasn’t motivated by any anti-gay animus. He argued why our Supreme Court victories in Roemer and Lawrence shouldn’t be interpreted to give us rights in any other area (which hurts us in countless other cases and battles). He argued that DOMA doesn’t discriminate against us because it also discriminates about straight unmarried couples (ignoring the fact that they can get married and we can’t).He actually argued that the courts shouldn’t consider Loving v. Virginia, the miscegenation case in which the Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional to ban interracial marriages, when looking at gay civil rights cases. He told the court, in essence, that blacks deserve more civil rights than gays, that our civil rights are not on the same level.”

See Obama Admin Defends Federal Gay Marriage Ban In Court Filing

References Incest, Child Rape… DOJ Defends

* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

Published by

Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/06/obama-admin-r…

Many domestic partners face deadline to reduce property tax hikes

Many gays, lesbians and seniors who registered their domestic partnerships in the early part of this decade were later hit with huge property-tax reassessments after their partners died or they broke off their relationships.
But they have until the end of this month to get those increases reversed.
The reversals are available to individuals who registered as domestic partners before Jan. 1, 2006, but were slapped with property tax hikes when their relationships ended or their partners died. The increases occurred because under laws enacted before 2006, couples in domestic partnerships were not treated like married couples when it came to property reassessment.
“I’ve known a number of people who had to give up their property because a partner died,” said longtime lesbian activist Wiggsy Sivertsen, a counselor and sociology professor at San Jose State University.
Under a 2007 law sponsored by Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, the reassessments can be reversed. But time is running out: Forms must be filed at county assessors’ offices by June 30.
Three years ago, domestic partners in California obtained the same property-tax rights as married people. But the new law was not retroactive, so gay and straight domestic partners who registered from Jan. 1, 2000, to Dec. 31, 2005, were treated differently from those who registered afterward. See Many domestic partners face deadline to reduce property tax hikes
San Jose Mercury News

* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

Published by

Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/06/many-domestic…

Nev. overrides guv’s partnership bill veto

The Assembly overrode Gov. Jim Gibbons’ veto on a 28-14 vote Sunday and changed state law so that domestic partners, whether gay or straight, have many of the rights and benefits that Nevada offers to married couples.

The Assembly’s vote — the bare two-thirds majority needed — followed the state Senate’s similar decision, with no votes to spare, a day earlier to make the historic change in state law over the conservative Republican governor’s objections.

Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, termed SB283 “the most important civil rights legislation we have had in all my years here,” adding the law change ensures “justice for all, not justice for some.”

Leslie said proponents of the new law were asking “that their government give them the ability to choose who they will live with and whom they will love.”

SB283 provides that domestic partners have the same rights as married couples in matters such as community property and responsibility for debts. It also prohibits discrimination against domestic partners.

See Nev. overrides guv’s partnership bill veto

Published by

Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/nev-overrides…

Illinois gay union legislation stresses the civil aspect

Rev. Frank Senn of Evanston wouldn’t mind if Illinois became the sixth state to recognize same-sex civil unions as binding commitments in the eyes of the law.

But the Evangelical Lutheran pastor would object if his church became the next Protestant denomination to bless same-sex unions as binding commitments in the eyes of God.

“There’s a difference between what is ordered in civil society and what the church can do under the Gospel,” said the pastor, whose son married another man in California before same-sex marriages were banned by the Proposition 8 referendum in November. “I think civil society has its own authority to make whatever social accommodations that seem good to society. We can only act on the authority of the word of God.”

Both decisions hang in the balance. This weekend, Illinois legislators could vote on a bill that would legalize same-sex civil unions and give same-sex couples the same “basic rights” as married couples. See Illinois gay union legislation stresses the civil aspect Chicago Tribune * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

Published by

Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/illinois-gay-…

Nevada governor follows through on threat to veto DP bill

CARSON CITY — As promised, Gov. Jim Gibbons on Monday vetoed the bill that would allow same- and opposite-sex couples to become legal domestic partners with many of the rights and privileges of married couples.

In his veto message, Gibbons said he rejected state Senate Bill 283 because it is contrary to the wishes of Nevada voters who in 2002 approved the Protection of Marriage constitutional amendment. That amendment stipulates a marriage may be between only a man and a woman.

But the governor said his veto should not be taken to mean he believes that “domestic partners are in any way undeserving of rights and protections.”

He said that on Saturday he signed a bill to prevent discrimination in public accommodations based on one’s sexual orientation.

“I am disappointed, but it wasn’t unexpected,” said state Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, about the veto.

Parks, the bill’s sponsor, who is openly gay, said times have changed since the Protection of Marriage amendment, and some polls show strong public support for domestic partner legislation.

However, a Las Vegas Review-Journal poll conducted May 12-14 found that 50 percent of poll respondents opposed the proposal, with 38 percent favoring it and 12 percent undecided.

See * Nevada governor follows through on threat to veto DP bill
Las Vegas Review-Journal (5/26) Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

Published by

Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/nevada-govern…

Nevada gov. vetoes partner bill

(Carson City, Nevada) Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons has carried through on his threat and vetoed a bill that would allow same- and opposite-sex couples to register as domestic partners and receive many of same rights as married couples have in the state.

The bill was passed by the Legislature earlier this …

Prayer Service on the EVE of Decision Day – Monday, May 25 Grace Cathedral (1100 California Street San Francisco), 7:00 – 8:30 pm

PROP 8 DECISION DAY IS ON MAY 26, TUESDAY!

Decision Day is on Tuesday, May 26!!!

From the CA Supreme Court website: “The California Supreme Court has announced that it will issue an opinion in three cases challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8 at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2009. (Strauss v. Horton, S168047; Tyler v. State of California, S168066; City and County of San Francisco v. Horton, S168078.) Tuesday at 10 a.m., the opinion will be available on the California Courts Web site at this link: http://www.facebook.com/l/;http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/.”

You are invited to the following events:

1. Prayer Service on the EVE of Decision Day – Monday, May 25
Grace Cathedral (1100 California Street San Francisco), 7:00 – 8:30 pm

The night before the announcement of the CA Supreme Court’s decision, we invite the Bay Area community to come for an evening of songs and meditation that will center our hearts on peace, healing and understanding.

2. Service/Blessing on Decision Day – Tuesday, May 26
St. Francis Lutheran Church (152 Church St. San Francisco, across from Castro Safeway), 8:30 – 9:15 am

The morning of the decision, we invite the Bay Area community to come for encouraging music and words from community leaders, testimonies from married couples and blessings for those who will be doing civil disobedience. We will march in a procession from the church to Civic Center Plaza. Some people will join the march from the LGBT Center on Market and Octavia.

NOTE: We request clergy to come in their religious garb as appropriate for their tradition. Please come at 8:00am to prepare.

CONTACT: Rev. Roland Stringfellow at rstringfellow@clgs.org

3. Circle of Care – Tuesday, May 26, Civic Center Plaza

If Proposition 8 is upheld, we will surround those who are willing to be arrested in civic disobedience as we sing, and move aside as they are arrested.

Marriage is not just a nice idea for some. To deny it is a form of bashing. On Decision Day, a group of people will participate in civil disobedience if the Supreme Court upholds Prop 8. In partnership with an interfaith group of clergy, we’ll do a peaceful street blockade with the message SEPARATE IS NOT EQUAL!

We’re looking for people to participate in this action with us, and for friends who will support us as peacekeepers and legal observers. For more information, please email action@onestruggleonefight.com.

Kids “Confused” in New Anti-Gay Ad

A new commercial airing in New Hampshire features children “confused” by the idea of two men or two women getting married. The ad is an attempt to stop the governor from signing a bill that would allow same-sex marriage in the state.

One child asks, “If my dad married a man, who would be my mom?” Another says, “I’m confused.”

The ad was produced by the National Organization for Marriage and CPR Action, a conservative New Hampshire group. “I’m Confused” follows NOM’s “Storm Is Gathering” video, for which the organization hired actors to play the part of ostracized doctors and churchgoers.

In New Hampshire, a marriage-equality bill recently passed the house and senate. It is currently awaiting the governor’s approval. Governor Lynch has said he would sign the bill pending revisions that would allow religious institutions to withhold services to married couples.

See Kids “Confused” in New Anti-Gay Ad Advocate.com * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual

Published by

Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/kids-confused…

And the Gay Tax is? $1820 per year

NPR contributor Nancy Goldstein has calculated the “gay tax” — the amount gay couples must spend to receive the same services that married heterosexual couples can count on everyday. In a column, she writes:

The cost of love isn’t an abstract concept in my household: It’s precisely $1,820 per year. That’s the “gay tax” we shell out for me to be on my wife’s health insurance plan, because her company must treat that benefit as additional taxable income.

Goldstein adds that “The media’s primary focus on the morality debate around same-sex marriage means that most of the public, gay or straight, knows little about the very real economic costs of inequality.”

The largest costs of marriage inequality also tend to be the easiest to quantify: Social Security survivor benefits denied, joint tax returns not filed, and many, many other cost savings that most married couples probably don’t even think about.
It’s this side of the gay marriage debate that has led the normally middle-of-the-road financial guru Suze Orman to wade into the debate. See And the Gay Tax is? $1820 per year WalletPop * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual