Saturday’s Hartford Courant reports: Concerned that the state’s new same-sex marriage law would infringe on religious liberties, the Connecticut Catholic Conference today proposed some broad exemptions which it believes are necessary to protect those rights. The law does not require Catholic priests—or any other clergy member—to preside over same-sex weddings. However, the church is seeking
Lots of stuff on the Prop 8 hearing this week, of course. Even U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has weighed in, saying, “This attempt to undo good that has been done is unacceptable.” The New York Times called it “a bruising hearing.” Both the L.A. Times and the San Francisco Chronicle think the Court is
Vermont may soon enact marriage equality, according to television station WCAX. When I think of Vermont, I think of two things first: maple syrup and Ben and Jerry’s. The question then arises: If you were to suggest a new flavor for Ben and Jerry’s to celebrate equality in their state, what would it be? I’m
Oral arguments in the Prop 8 case will begin in just a few minutes. While you’re waiting, here are links to a few older pieces I wrote about how Prop 8 impacts families: How Prop 8 Hurts Families, about a report from Marriage Equality USA compiling hundreds of stories, especially from LGBT youth and the
My thoughts, like many of ours, are in California today, where the state Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case that seeks to invalidate Prop 8. The plaintiffs claim the law was a significant enough change to the constitution that it should have passed the legislature before being put to voters. You can
“Adoption Emerges As The Next Gay Rights Battle” asserts On Top magazine. The Chicago Tribune said pretty much the same thing back in December: “Next skirmish in culture war: Gay parenting,” but On Top brings us up to date with recent legislation and court cases. Drilling down into the cases mentioned by On Top, 365gay.com
It’s a big week for LGBT rights. Yesterday, Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) announced that she will introduce a bill to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces. Today, GLAD announced it is filing suit in the Federal District Court of Massachusetts, challenging provisions
Can we compromise on marriage? David Blankenhorn and Jonathan Rauch think so. Pam disagrees. What about you? The Obama administration named Jeffrey S. Crowley, an openly gay man, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy. The U.S. State Department’s annual Human Rights Report condemns Russia, Serbia, and Nigeria, for breaches of human rights for
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to take the case of a Kentucky high school student who wants to sue his school district over a policy he says barred him from expressing opposition to homosexuality. Alaska North Star Borough School Board voted to add gender identity to the nondiscrimination and harassment policies that cover students, staff,
(Originally published in Bay Windows, Thursday Feb 19, 2009.) Last week I registered my son for his first year in our public school system. It was one of life’s strange coincidences that news also broke last week about my very own state representative, House Minority Leader Bradley Jones, who filed a bill to require parental
