Wash. gay partnership foes say “too close to call”
OLYMPIA, Wash. —
Washington state’s latest expansion of domestic partnerships for gay couples was hanging in limbo Friday as opponents announced a final push to force a public vote, calling their effort so far “too close to call.”
In a statement to supporters, organizers of the Referendum 71 campaign said they believe they will have at least the minimum 120,577 petition signatures needed by Saturday to qualify for the ballot.
However, R-71 organizer Gary Randall said the campaign doesn’t have enough extra signatures to act as a cushion for erroneous or duplicate petition signatures, which must come from registered Washington voters.
To help meet the deadline, Randall appealed to R-71 supporters to gather additional signatures and drive them to the state Capitol on Saturday afternoon.
“We’re not trying to have a rally or anything,” Randall said later by telephone. “We need the signatures, we truly do.”
The new “everything but marriage” expansion of domestic partnerships is scheduled to take effect Sunday, but the law will be delayed if referendum sponsors turn in their petitions.
See Wash. gay partnership foes say “too close to call”
Seattle Times
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/07/wash-gay-part…
Coffee Bean’s ‘Free wifi’ Blocks Gay Blogs
Despite advertising the availability of free wireless internet access at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf coffee shops, the connection comes at the cost of “technical” discrimination. Philip Minton, who runs the Unite the Fight LGBT equality blog, couldn’t get internet connection at home, so he went to the Coffee Bean on 3rd and La Cienega, in West Hollywood, CA, to do his blog posting from there using their free Wi-Fi service.
Coffee Bean is another chain coffee shop, like Starbucks, with free Wi-Fi service for customers to use while sitting around drinking coffee and doing work, just relaxing, or meeting with people.
When Minton set up his computer and started to go through his news feed, accessing various other blogs, he got a message: that Pam’s House Blend is blocked due to “sexuality.” (Same thing for Towleroad among others.)
See Coffee Bean’s ‘Free wifi’ Blocks Gay Blogs SheWired
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/06/coffee-beans-…
We are family, too: Vietnamese gays and lesbians join San Jose’s …
Dressed in a form-fitted black tuxedo, holding a bridal bouquet of white roses specked with yellow and red orchids, Annie Nguyen beamed, surrounded by men in colorful traditional Vietnamese wedding attire.
For the 50-year-old factory supervisor and mother of five, the short march in downtown San Jose’s 12th annual Vietnamese Spring Festival and Parade marked a personal milestone.
Two years ago, after decades of being in the closet, the San Jose woman came out to her husband and children. On Sunday, standing behind a sign in Vietnamese and English that said, “Love and support ALL of your children,” Nguyen made a public declaration and appeal:
“You could lead two lives: one out, one hidden. But you’ll not be part of your family. Parents should accept their children.”
Nguyen was one of 40 Vietnamese gays and lesbians from the Bay Area and other parts of California who marched during the traditional annual celebration of Tet, the lunar new year. It was only the second time in the parade’s history that gays and lesbians marched openly — and the first time that families joined them. For Vietnamese gay and lesbian groups, the event signaled a new kind of visibility and openness in a culture that traditionally views homosexuality as shameful — and something to hide.
See We are family, too: Vietnamese gays and lesbians join San Jose’s …
San Jose Mercury News, USA
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/02/we-are-family…
We are family, too: Vietnamese gays and lesbians join San Jose’s …
Dressed in a form-fitted black tuxedo, holding a bridal bouquet of white roses specked with yellow and red orchids, Annie Nguyen beamed, surrounded by men in colorful traditional Vietnamese wedding attire.
For the 50-year-old factory supervisor and mother of five, the short march in downtown San Jose’s 12th annual Vietnamese Spring Festival and Parade marked a personal milestone.
Two years ago, after decades of being in the closet, the San Jose woman came out to her husband and children. On Sunday, standing behind a sign in Vietnamese and English that said, “Love and support ALL of your children,” Nguyen made a public declaration and appeal:
“You could lead two lives: one out, one hidden. But you’ll not be part of your family. Parents should accept their children.”
Nguyen was one of 40 Vietnamese gays and lesbians from the Bay Area and other parts of California who marched during the traditional annual celebration of Tet, the lunar new year. It was only the second time in the parade’s history that gays and lesbians marched openly — and the first time that families joined them. For Vietnamese gay and lesbian groups, the event signaled a new kind of visibility and openness in a culture that traditionally views homosexuality as shameful — and something to hide.
See We are family, too: Vietnamese gays and lesbians join San Jose’s …
San Jose Mercury News, USA
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/02/we-are-family…
