A California federal appeals court ruled against the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage known as Proposition 8 (Prop 8).  The three-judge panel of the ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declared the ban unconstitutional because it directly discriminates against gays and lesbians. Although a split decision, the ruling found Prop 8 denied the right to a civil marriage and violated the LGBT community’s fourteenth Amendment rights.

Equality for All (Photo from www.NoOnProp8.com)

Continue reading “Michael Faltum: Righting a Wrong” »

Many people were inspired to speak out against the statements initially made last week by Cynthia Nixon in a New York Times article about her gayness.  And that includes our same-sex activist Michael Faltum who wrote an amazing articles yesterday:  It Takes All Kinds.  We also enjoyed reading Frank Bruni‘s response:  Genetic or Not, Gay Won’t Go Away.  What a great perspective!

That has long been one of the rallying cries of a movement, and sometimes the gist of its argument.  Across decades of widespread ostracism, followed by years of patchwork acceptance and, most recently, moments of heady triumph, gay people invoked that phrase to explain why homophobia was unwarranted and discrimination senseless.

Love, Honor & Freedom (Photo by Alfred Green)

Lady Gaga even spun an anthem from it.

Continue reading “IN THEORY: Large & Diverse LGBT Community” »

Doing what’s right isn’t always easy.  Putting your neck out on the line politically in direct opposition to your constituents doesn’t happen as often as it once did.  With Senate Bill 6239 and House Bill 2516 calling for marriage equality, this is exactly what Washington state lawmakers are doing.

Once State Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, agreed to support same-sex marriage in Washington, lawmakers had the required votes necessary to push the bill forward and call for a vote.  The Senate committee will take up the issue this week while the House committee will begin as early as next week.  Governor Chris Gregoire had already committed to signing the bill once it reaches her desk.

Governor Chris Gregoire Strongly Endorses Marriage Equality (Photo from Office of the Governor, Washington State)

Continue reading “Michael Faltum: Washington Seeks Marriage Equality; Opponents Seek Referendum” »