On same-sex marriage/civil unions, the air is leaking out of the tire
ast month Texas Lyceum, a non-partisan, business-oriented group, released one of its periodic polls on current issues, and the results for the most part were what one would expect in a conservative state. By margins of about 2-to-1, Texas opposed any further bailouts for automakers or banks. An even bigger margin – including a majority of whites, blacks and Hispanics – supported the concept of a voter ID requirement.
But on one issue, the poll did raise some eyebrows. According to the survey, a majority of Texans would permit some form of same-sex union to be recognized: 25 percent favor same-sex marriage and 32 percent would allow civil unions, while 36 percent oppose either arrangement. Although Democrats and independents were more liberal on this issue than Republicans, a thin Republican majority – 14 percent for same-sex marriage, 37 percent for civil unions – now favor one arrangement or the other.
That indicates that Texans are more conservative than the rest of the country on this issue, but not dramatically so. A CBS News/New York Times poll conducted at about the same time showed that 33 percent of Americans favor same-sex marriage, 30 percent would permit civil unions and 32 percent oppose any legal recognition of same-sex or lesbian couples.
This national poll also showed opinions on the issue are shifting back and forth: In a CBS News/New York Times poll conducted in April, support for same-sex marriage was at 42 percent. That decrease in support could be a result of the rising visibility of the issue: In June, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch signed a bill which made his state the sixth in the country to allow same-sex marriage.
The fact that attitudes in Texas aren’t greatly out of line with the rest of the country doesn’t portend any big changes in the law in this region of the country, any time soon. If same-sex marriage/civil unions had been polled last month in Tennessee or Alabama, opposition to either one would probably have been significantly higher. But it may be an indication that as a political issue which can easily get traction, the air is slowly leaking out of the tire.
Most of the states, and all the Southern states, have passed some form of Defense of Marriage Act, and all the Southern states except North Carolina have passed constitutional bans on same-sex marriage. This makes it less, not more likely that conservative candidates in these states will get much mileage out of the issue than they have in recent years. It’s much more likely that opposition to same-sex unions will galvanize votes in states like New Jersey or Pennsylvania, where changes in current laws are a greater possibility.
None of this is to say conservative candidates won’t be able to raise money and garner endorsements on the issue well into the next decade. But it’s noteworthy that the strongest opposition to gay marriage in nearly every poll comes from African-Americans, who aren’t likely to swing behind candidates who are conservative on other issues.
See On same-sex marriage/civil unions, the air is leaking out of the tire
Southern Political Report -
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Koch’s Gay Marriage Advice To Paterson
If Gov. David Paterson is serious about getting personally engaged in the Senate’s gay marriage battle, former Mayor Ed Koch has an idea about how to go about that.
“When the New York City Council in 1986 was faced with a vote on a bill that I introduced that barred sexual orientation discrimination in the private sector in employment, housing and education, I as Mayor, having already barred such discrimination by the city government by executive order in 1978, called into my office those members of the City Council, Democrat and Republican, who were wavering on the issue,” Koch wrote in his most recent weekly commentary, which he subsequently quoted in a May 12 letter to Paterson.
“I told them that if their primary opponents or general election opponents used their “yea” vote on the issue against them, I would support them irrespective of their party affiliation and campaign for them,” the former mayor continued.
“My suggestion is that the Governor do the same. Because of the Governor’s low popularity, there should also be an effort to assemble a broad, bi-partisan coalition of private and distinguished citizens that would make the same commitment.”
See Koch’s Gay Marriage Advice To Paterson
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Out N.Y. lawmaker makes marriage his priority
Out N.Y. lawmaker makes marriage his priority
This article looks at out New York state Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell’s “intensely personal” lobbying effort win passage of a marriage measure that’s scheduled to be considered today. Passage is considered highly likely in the 150-member Assembly. O’Donnell reportedly has secured the backing of almost 90 colleagues. A similar bill passed the state’s Assembly in 2007. The New York Times (5/11) , Daily News (New York) (5/12) * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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TV network reveals chilling new torture of Iraqi gays
Iraqi gay men reportedly are being tortured and killed by anti-gay Shiite militants who use a strong glue to seal their rectums and then give them a laxative-like drug, which results in a “painful and agonizing death,” according to this article. Video clips of the killings are being circulated via mobile phones, Yanar Mohammed, president of the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq, said in an interview on the TV network Al-Arabiya. Gay City News (New York) * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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New York activists “absolutely serious” about marriage in 2009
LGBT advocates in New York hope polling in four key Long Island districts showing more than half of voters back marriage equality will force the state Senate to take action on a marriage bill; the state Assembly is likely to consider the measure next week. “Anybody who thinks we’re not serious about winning this in 2009 better throw cold water on themselves and wake up,” said Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda. “We are absolutely serious.” Daily News (New York) * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Poll: Gay marriage support jumps 10 percent in month
(New York City) A new national public opinion poll has found support for same-sex marriage has jumped nearly 10 percent in the past month.
The CBS News/New York Times poll found that 42 percent of Americans believe same-sex couples should have the right to marry. Last month a CBS/Times poll found …
Quinn’s US Senate Diplomacy
Unlike Mayor Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn didn’t jump to Caroline Kennedy’s defense today when asked if Kennedy had gotten a “raw deal” from Gov. David Paterson during the much-maligned US Senate selection process.
Quinn chose to diplomatically skirt the question, the DN’s Frank Lombardi reports, saying:
“Caroline decided to drop out for personal reasons. I obviously, you know, wish her and her family well as regard to whatever this personal situation is.
“And I think what we all need to do now is get back to work, focus on the large agenda in Washington right now. We’re lucky that we have two senators right now fighting for us in Washington, not one. And we all need to work together and try to make sure that New York gets its appropriate share of the federal stimulus package.
“…So I think the focus now shouldn’t be on the past and what happened; the focus should be on moving forward for the city and state of New York and working with our senators to do that.”
Quinn also confirmed she chatted on the phone with Congresswoman-turned-Senator Kirsten Gillibrand See Quinn’s US Senate Diplomacy
New York Daily News – New York,NY,USA
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