Paterson unveils gay marriage bill

(New York City) As expected, New York Gov. David Paterson (D) unveiled legislation Thursday morning to allow same-sex couples to marry in the Empire State.

Standing beside New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R), openly gay Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D) and state leaders and union leaders, Paterson said “Marriage equality is …

If we don’t act decisively, America’s next Proposition 8 could happen in Iowa.

In the six days since Iowa lesbian and gay couples won the freedom to marry, powerful right-wing groups have been mounting a campaign to REVERSE this historic decision.

They are pushing for a constitutional ban on marriage for lesbian and gay couples in Iowa – just like California’s Proposition 8.
While key Iowa leaders have been defending this decision, successfully staving off a marriage ban for now, it’s critical that they hear public support as the right-wing onslaught continues – fueled by this week’s marriage victory in Vermont. Send a message thanking Iowa’s leaders and urging them to resist right-wing pressure.

Tell Iowa’s legislative leaders to stay strong – and stop the next Prop. 8!

Iowa state leaders, led by Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal and House Speaker Pat Murphy, have been heroic in recent days. HRC played an instrumental role in electing and protecting fair-minded majorities in the Iowa legislature, and we are seeing the fruits of our labors: so far, these courageous lawmakers have been successful in stopping a marriage ban, which would need to be placed on the ballot by the state legislature.
But the right wing campaign isn’t stopping – and if it happened in California, it can happen in Iowa.

Yesterday, the opposition launched a national TV ad campaign using the same lies that helped pass Prop. 8 (be sure to watch it, along with the secret audition tapes we found). It’s a clear example of the lies they’ll continue to use in every state facing a decision on marriage equality.
They are reportedly out-emailing us two to one in Iowa. They’ve held rallies in front of the state capitol. And with every email, phone call, editorial, or ad, it becomes more politically difficult for lawmakers to stay strong. That’s why we need to act now.

Ultraconservative groups are using disgusting lies – saying that “infidelity, promiscuity and insecurity” are the hallmarks of same-sex relationships and suggesting gay parents are more likely to engage in abuse and incest.

We cannot allow this hateful deception to take center stage. We must thank these lawmakers loudly and proudly – and demonstrate that support for marriage equality runs deep.

Thank Iowa’s legislative leaders – and make sure they defend the right of loving couples to marry, now and in the future!

Then, please pass this along to every fair-minded person you know in Iowa and across the country.

The lies must not prevail. Thank you for helping us defend the truth – for Iowans and for all of America.

Warmly,

Joe Solmonese
President, HRC

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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/04/if-we-dont-ac…

Iowa’s GOP Lawmakers Take Aim at Gay Marriage

Opponents of the Iowa Supreme Court ruling last week allowing same-sex marriages said Friday that they would step up pressure on state lawmakers to block the marriages through a constitutional amendment and predicted political fallout for Democratic state leaders, including Gov. Chet Culver, if they did not join the opposition.

“This isn’t over, not even for this year,” said Bryan English, a spokesman for the Iowa Family Policy Center, which encouraged hundreds of opponents of same-sex marriages to meet and pray outside the State Capitol in Des Moines this week, and plans a similar rally next week. “Everyday folks who get up and go to work were shocked at what happened here, and it’s really gotten people activated.”

Since the court ruled unanimously on April 3 that an Iowa law banning the marriages was unconstitutional, opponents have been searching for a way to begin the process of amending the state’s Constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

Because, under Iowa law, that process would take two legislative sessions, however, even opponents acknowledge that nothing now seems likely to prevent Iowa from beginning to allow such marriages on April 27 after the ruling becomes final.

Still, inside the Capitol on Thursday, where supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage packed the gallery, Republican representatives twice tried to bring up a constitutional amendment on marriage. Democrats, who control both chambers, cited violations of House procedures in blocking the efforts.

See Iowa’s GOP Lawmakers Take Aim at Gay Marriage

New York Times - ‎

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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/04/iowas-gop-law…

Vermont Dems pledge gay marriage bill passage

(Montpelier, Vermont) The state leaders of the House and Senate have announced they will begin work on passing a marriage equality bill when the Legislature returns March 16.

At a joint news conference at the State House Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin (D) and Speaker of the House Shap Smith …

Gay Activists Mull Prop. 8 Replay In 2010 CBS13.com

Gay rights activists are debating whether to rush a repeal of Proposition 8 to the 2010 ballot if California’s highest court upholds the state’s same-sex marriage ban.

While two initiatives seeking to undo the voter-approved November measure have already been submitted to the Secretary of State, leaders of the bitter No on 8 campaign say next year may be too soon to bring the issue back to the ballot. See Gay Activists Mull Prop. 8 Replay In 2010 CBS13.com