Blog Posts for New England Marriage Campaign
Reality Check: The Big Lie About Catholic Charities, Adoption and Marriage Equality
Last month’s marriage equality hearing in Rhode Island left me feeling a little like Congressman Joe “You Lie!” Wilson. Wilson, you’ll recall, shouted his infamous exclamation at President Obama after the president stated in a speech to Congress that his health care legislation would not provide free health coverage for illegal immigrants, despite what vocal opponents of the healthcare bill were saying. As I watched Austin Nimocks of the anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund testify without blinking that marriage equality in Massachusetts “forced” Catholic Charities of Boston out of the adoption business, it was all I could do not to let loose a “You Lie!” right there in the marbled halls of the Rhode Island State House.
Marriage Momentum in Rhode Island
The momentum for marriage equality was palpable at the Rhode Island State House yesterday! The sight inside warmed my heart, as I was greeted by a throng of mostly marriage equality supporters holding colorful pro-equality signs (“Vote for Love!” “Love Thy Constituent,” “Grandparents for Marriage Equality”) aloft in the Rotunda, beneath a massive banner emblazoned with the words Gov. Lincoln Chafee spoke at his inauguration last month: “When marriage equality is the law in Rhode Island we honor our forefathers who risked their lives and fortune in the pursuit of human equality.”
Rhode Island Supports Marriage Equality
Today, the Rhode Island Marriage Coalition (RIMC) released the results of a new poll showing that 59 percent of Rhode Island voters support allowing same-sex couples to legally marry in the state.
2010 Census - It’s Personal and Political
It’s not just Uncle Sam - GLAD wants you to take part in the 2010 census!
This is an historic opportunity to show who we are as families. For the first time, the census will count married same-sex couples, in addition to counting same-sex couples living in the same household.
DOMA Damages Same-Sex Families and Their Children
(Excerpted from the ABA Family Advocate)
As Justice Ginsburg famously noted in 1996, the history of our constitution is the history of extending constitutional protections to those who were once ignored or excluded from American society. [United States v. Virginia, 518 U.S. 515 (1996)]. That journey to citizenship is well under way for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans as well.
Someone Stood Up
Sitting in the packed committee room, listening to the animated testimony from both sides of the effort to repeal the New Hampshire marriage equality law passed last June, I found myself experiencing a range of emotions. While the ignorance expressed was infuriating at times, it was inspiring to hear from the many gay couples who demonstrated immense courage by speaking publicly about their lives, in front of their legislators and neighbors. They reminded everyone that they live normal lives as couples and families; feeding the dogs and cats in the morning, making the coffee, getting the kids ready for school, and paying taxes. After the passage of the marriage equality bill, they felt that their relationships were truly validated, and finally given the “same pride, recognition and legal status” as those of straight couples.
Connecticut’s 1st Anniversary of Marriage Equality
GLAD is in Connecticut today celebrating 1 year of marriage equality!
In Vermont “A Historic Victory” Replaced, Finally, With True Equality
As same-sex couples begin marrying today in Vermont, we are thrilled to retire our very first publication on state-based legal relationship rights for lesbian and gay couples (Vermont Civil Unions: A Historic Victory), replacing it with the latest in our growing series of “How to Get Married” publications. Also, a nod to a powerful and positive response to hate by students at Montepelier High School.
Boston Pride 2009
What a beautiful day for Boston Pride 2009! We had a great group of marchers: staff, board, current and former plaintiffs, supporters and volunteers, and several first-time marchers.
All Kinds of Families: Maine’s Marriage Equality Hearing
You really had it all inside the Augusta Civic Center yesterday. On our side, Catholic church ladies opposing the bishop; couples together for 30, 40, 50 years; crusty Mainers supporting their gay children; Republicans, veterans, couples with kids. But for me, a highlight was the testimony of Steve Wessler, head of Maine’s Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence.