DOMA is Next.

A great article from the Current on the real threat to marriage . . . and it's not homos.

"It’s adulterers — not gays — who are the real threat to traditional marriage
DOJ has made it clear, however, that the Legislative Branch is free to defend DOMA in upcoming hearings, which would put Speaker Boehner and his tea party bosses in the same position as the defenders of Proposition 8, California’s anti-gay constitutional amendment. The Prop 8 defenders lost in federal court last year because their “expert” witnesses’ biblical-based testimony that gay marriage should be illegal because homosexuality is a sin was deemed inadmissible in court and because they were unable to provide any evidence that same-sex marriage harms society."

Same-Sex Marriage vs. First Cousin Marriage in America

I'm just sayin' . . .

From the NYTimes . . . an incorrect with regards to New Jersey, where same-sex marriage is not currently legal.

Please post this to as wide and varied an audience as possible! This kid is terriffic.

What the Bible says about marriage. For real.

From America's Best Christian, Betty Bowers!

Josh Olsen and The Bilerico Project set us straight (a great read)

In it's entirety from the Bilerico Project and Josh Olsen -- an openly straight man living and writing in Los Angeles, CA.  If you have about 20 minutes, read the whole thing.  It's worth it.

"Seriously, folks, the world's a mess. We have so many real issues facing us right now, so many problems that really do threaten to eradicate not just our way of life, but life itself, that piddling around with crap like this is starting to feel not just self-indulgent, but suicidal.
It is deeply and profoundly important that we recognize how absurd this situation is, and get over it as soon as possible. The world is harsh and mean and ugly enough that anyone who devotes one single solitary erg of energy towards making it harder for two people to love each other needs to be labeled as exactly what they are: A hatemonger.
This piece ran on CNN's blog a few days ago, and it struck me as quintessential in its quiet, casual ugliness. It's a piece by a Bishop Harry Jackson, a Christian pastor from Maryland, who's also African American. He makes just about every argument that the opponents of civil rights always make on the subject, and because it struck me so hard today, I'm going to dissect this bigot's words line by line and explain to anyone out there who's unsure exactly how demented, ugly and vicious this campaign is.
Let's dig in:

Reason number 349 why marriage is a right.

Thank You For Your Call from Shawn Nee / discarted on Vimeo.

Rob rocks another great video

Trial in Malawi to begin. Love mocked. Prison Likely.

This image (thanks to towleroad) of two lovers mocked on their way to their trial pretty much says it all.

" Anyone convicted of violating the ban on homosexuality could face a prison sentence of up to 14 years. The couple's defence team argued in court Monday that their arrest on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation 'amounts to discrimination, a violation of their rights to freedom of expression, conscience and expression as enshrined in our republican constitution.'

"Our prayer is for a constitutional review of the laws in the penal code that criminalise homosexuality in the country and are inconsistent with the constitution," lawyer Noel Supedi told a packed court.

Chief resident magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwausiwa, presiding over a case that has generated widespread public debate in the country, agreed with the plea for a constitutional review but ruled the case could be moved to the constitutional court only with the consent of the chief justice."

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Melanie DeMore Performs Over the Rainbow for Federal Prop. 8 Rally

In the early morning hours of January 11 -- the beginning of the Federal challenge to California's Proposition 8 (restricting marriage to straight Americans) -- Melanie DeMore entertains the assembled crowd at the Federal Court Building in San Fransisco.

"If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why o why can't I?"

Pretty astoundingly beautiful,  I think.

And if you're confused about what is going on with this challenge:

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NYS Senators Ruth Hassell-Thompson and Diane Savino speak on marriage equality

Really start listening at 3:13, she lays the issue out so clearly.

"We in government do not determine the quality or validity of peoples relationships -- if we did we would not issue three quarters of the marriage licenses we do"

"we're giving away husbands on network TV"

"or . . . the littlest groom, where thirty desperate women competed to marry a dwarf."

"they stand up there before god and man, even in Senator Diaz's church, and swear to love honor and obey, and they don't mean a word of it."

She really hits the nail on the head. Please forward this to anyone and everyone, and let the argument speak for itself. And let the hysteria abate.

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Liars!

UPDATE!!



I checked out the protest in Times Square . . . not bad for a last-minute rainy afternoon/evening . . . several hundred turned out to chant for NY1 and boo the Dems who voted against rights despite the unflagging financial and vocal support of many many gays. From towleroad:

Here are the eight "no" votes from Democrats on marriage equality in New York state today, along with their email addresses if you'd care to speak your mind. The percentage before their names (thanks to Towleroad commenter Tanner) represents — FYI — their 2008 general election percentages.

53% Aubertine (Upstate) - aubertin@senate.state.ny.us
53% Stachowski (Upstate) - stachows@senate.state.ny.us
58% Addabbo (Queens) - addabbo@senate.state.ny.us
81% Onorato (Queens) - onorato@senate.state.ny.us
93% Diaz (Bronx) - diaz@senate.state.ny.us
93% Kruger (Kings) - kruger@senate.state.ny.us
100% Huntley (Queens) - shuntley@senate.state.ny.us
100% Monserrate (Queens) - monserra@senate.state.ny.us

Looks like efforts need to focus on Queens, where four of the eight senators reside.

phone numbers for NYC Democrats who voted NO on Marriage Equality:

Joseph Addabbo (D) (518) 455-2322;
Darrel Aubertine (D) (518) 455-2761;
Ruben Diaz (D) (518) 455-2511;
Shirley Huntley (D) (518) 455-3531;
Carl Kruger (D) (518) 455-2460;
Hiram Monserrate (D) (518) 455-2529;
George Onorato (D) (518) 455-3486;
William Stachowski (D) (518)-455-2426.

Call em up if you need to vent . . . and see you at the rally tonight 6pm Times Square.

Here we go again. You listening, choir?

HERE's yet another attempt to explain the bigotry and ignorance that is passing for religious freedom . . . I don't know if it's the best article ever written on the topic, but it's clear and bears repeating.

"Here's what's going on here: Religious opponents of gay marriage don't have a good understanding of why a modern state should recognize civil marriage in the first place; they view marriage primarily as a religious tradition that has made their lives satisfying and secure and so they are most comfortable justifying it in terms of what's been -- this is one of the roles of a religious narrative. If they thought honestly and rigorously about the civil, rather than just religious, reasons why the state recognizes marriage today, they'd see that gay unions fit into those reasons in the modern world."

How many times must we lay this out? We can't wait for the lowest common denominator thinkers to catch up. That's why we have elected leaders. Or was.