Twelve-year-old Evann Orleck-Jetter, the daughter of lesbian moms, testified at the public hearings on marriage equality last month before Vermont’s Joint Senate and House Judiciary Committees. Democracy Now! spoke with her a few days ago and reported, “Many legislators later told Evann and her parents that her testimony had moved them to support the bill.” […]
The White House Egg Roll is coming up on Monday. I wrote last week about the Obama administration’s groundbreaking outreach to LGBT families while also questioning their continued reluctance to grant us full equality. For another perspective (not so different, when you come right down to it), here’s a piece at HuffPo by Alisa Surkis,
Just so you know I meant it: I did indeed make a maple cornbread to celebrate the two great states of Vermont and Iowa. (Click link for recipe.) And it was delicious.
In this week of euphoria over the marriage victories, let’s not forget we still have a long way to go. Today, “a coalition of concerned Virginia citizens” has formed the “Protect Isabella Coalition” to “create awareness of what it labels ‘judicial tyranny’ in the child custody/visitation case involving Miller, Isabella’s biological mother, and Vermonter Janet
Dear President Obama: In less than a week, the White House lawn will be swarming with children and their parents, gleeful participants in the White House Easter Egg Roll. Children of LGBT parents will be among them, as they have been for many years. Some of the children in attendance may be LGBT themselves, whether
In the version of the marriage bill passed by the VT House and Senate, it says: The department shall prescribe forms that allow each party to a marriage to be designated “bride,” “groom,” or “spouse,” as he or she chooses, and the application shall be in substantially the following form: The sample form in the
The news keeps getting better: The Washington, D.C. Council voted today to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. Like Vermont. And Iowa. And Massachusetts. And Connecticut. The Washington Post reports that the Council will likely take a final vote on the legislation next month. Congress must then approve—meaning the outcome is far from certain.
The Vermont Legislature just voted 100-49 to override the Governor’s veto of marriage equality! Yes, that’s right. Iowa and Vermont get marriage equality within one week. Vermont was also the first state to enact marriage equality through the legislative process. I’m thinking maple cornbread to celebrate, followed by massive amounts of Ben & Jerry’s. Congratulations
Why is the Iowa marriage decision good not only for same-sex couples, but also for our children? Lawyer Nancy Polikoff dissects the ruling with her usual perspicacity. She writes, “The Iowa court . . . methodically considered and rejected every conceivable relationship between denying marriage to same-sex couples and the best interests of children. In
Shirley Tan, the lesbian mom in California who was on the verge of being deported and separated from her partner and twin sons by immigration officials, has been given a two-week reprieve. Congressional sponsors reintroduced the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, which states that federally funded sex education programs in the nation’s public schools
