Morning Sweep

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks decides to appeal the recent appellate court decision saying that New York State (and the county’s local community college) must respect legal out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples. See here and here.

Brooks’ decision to appeal ignites an immediate reaction from local supporters of marriage equality. They schedule two protests today outside of the County Executive Building in downtown Rochester. See here and here.

Activists also turn up the heat on Maggie Brooks over Monroe County’s long-time refusal to provide domestic partner benefits to county employees and notes that most leading private and public sector employees in the area already do so.

The Buffalo News has learned that the city’s candidate to be director of it human rights commission has had an anti-gay complaint filed against him with the state’s Division of Human Rights.

In light of revelations last week that civil unions are not providing equality to same-sex couples, the New York Times urges Governor Corzine to show “political courage” and to stop “dawdling” when it comes to making marriage equality law in New Jersey.

The Human Rights Campaign held its annual gala in NYC this past weekend and a large contingent of protesters upset about trans protections being stripped from the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) greeted attendees as they arrived for the event.

“Freehold,” chronicling an Ocean County, NJ employee’s battle to win domestic partner benefits for her partner, won the Academy Award for best documentary short subject. Marriage equality activists gathered in New Jersey to watch the ceremonies and talk about the late Detective Lt. Laurel Hester’s battle with Ocean County.