Today New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed that state's civil unions bill into law, and last Tuesday (May 22) Vermont Governor Jim Douglas signed into law a bill banning discrimination based on gender expression or identity. Because of this, we thought we'd put out an update on which states 1) currently offer comprehensive protections for same-sex couples or/and 2) have gender expression non-discrimination legislation:
States offering comprehensive protections for same-sex couples:
1992
District of Columbia: domestic partnerships (limited family recognition laws)
1997
Hawaii: reciprocal beneficiaries (limited family recognition laws)
2000
Vermont: civil unions (broad family recognition laws)
2004
Maine: domestic partnerships (limited family recognition laws)
Massachusetts: marriage (full marriage equality)
2005
California : domestic partnerships (broad family recognition laws)
Connecticut: civil unions (broad family recognition laws)
2007
New Hampshire: civil unions (broad family recognition laws)
New Jersey: civil unions (broad family recognition laws)
Oregon: civil unions (broad family recognition laws)
Washington: domestic partnerships (limited family recognition laws)
States where discrimination based on gender expression/identity is illegal:
1993
Minnesota
2001
Rhode Island
2003
California
New Mexico
2005
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Illinois
Maine
2006
New Jersey
Washington
2007
Colorado
Iowa
Oregon
Vermont
Number of times New York appears on this list: 0
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Morning Sweep
Be sure to read the beautiful story of Thea Spyer and Edith Windsor, ages 75 and 77, respectively, who made good on a 40 year engagement and married in Canada last week.
California may soon have its first openly gay appellate court justice. Michael Nava--who is also Latino and Catholic--may get the nod from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sometime during the summer.
"The radical homosexual movement in the United States is a Jewish movement" says a website run by Chechen mujaheddin. Their "exhaustive list" includes everyone from Harvey Fierstein to Barney Frank.
Pride Buffalo is this weekend--Sunday, June 3--and the theme is "Happily Ever After, Legal or Not." Bryan James Whitley, Executive Director of Pride Center of Western New York, writes about the history of Pride and what it means to Buffalonians.
The British University and College Union says that it should be considered an act of discrimination for teachers to negatively characterize gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.
California may soon have its first openly gay appellate court justice. Michael Nava--who is also Latino and Catholic--may get the nod from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sometime during the summer.
"The radical homosexual movement in the United States is a Jewish movement" says a website run by Chechen mujaheddin. Their "exhaustive list" includes everyone from Harvey Fierstein to Barney Frank.
Pride Buffalo is this weekend--Sunday, June 3--and the theme is "Happily Ever After, Legal or Not." Bryan James Whitley, Executive Director of Pride Center of Western New York, writes about the history of Pride and what it means to Buffalonians.
The British University and College Union says that it should be considered an act of discrimination for teachers to negatively characterize gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Morning Sweep
Always editorializing, the NY Post's Fred Dicker writes about growing support for gay marriage among New York voters younger than 55, "strongly suggesting time is on the side of those favoring the radical move." (emphasis added)
Assembly Democrats conferenced the marriage bill last night.
LGBT rights advocates in the Hudson Valley will be honored at GLSEN's Hudson Valley gala for their work on making schools a safer place for LGBT students.
After 100 days, plenty of evidence suggests that civil unions in New Jersey are not the separate-but-equal institution that lawmakers insisted it would be.
Lots of Jerusalem officials are unhappy about a new tourism ad campaign encouraging gays and lesbians to visit the Holy Land. As if they don't have bigger problems to worry about.
Writing as a guest blogger on Bilerico, Family Pride Executive Director Jennifer Chrisler discusses Mary Cheney's noticeable absence in the widely distributed photo of new son Sam with grandma and grandpa Cheney.
Assembly Democrats conferenced the marriage bill last night.
LGBT rights advocates in the Hudson Valley will be honored at GLSEN's Hudson Valley gala for their work on making schools a safer place for LGBT students.
After 100 days, plenty of evidence suggests that civil unions in New Jersey are not the separate-but-equal institution that lawmakers insisted it would be.
Lots of Jerusalem officials are unhappy about a new tourism ad campaign encouraging gays and lesbians to visit the Holy Land. As if they don't have bigger problems to worry about.
Writing as a guest blogger on Bilerico, Family Pride Executive Director Jennifer Chrisler discusses Mary Cheney's noticeable absence in the widely distributed photo of new son Sam with grandma and grandpa Cheney.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
A suspect poll
Siena’s poll results on gay marriage—which found that 47% of New Yorkers opposed and 43% in support—leave out some important pieces of the puzzle.
We know that 620 registered voters were polled, but we don’t know the breakdown of their demographics—a crucial element in determining the validity of the findings because it demonstrates whether or not the poll adheres to the reality of voter demographics in New York State. For example:
We know that 620 registered voters were polled, but we don’t know the breakdown of their demographics—a crucial element in determining the validity of the findings because it demonstrates whether or not the poll adheres to the reality of voter demographics in New York State. For example:
- The poll points out that a majority of Democrats support marriage equality. But it does not tell us how many/what percentage of the respondents were actually Democrats. If the poll is going to accurately represent New York, there needs to be 2.5 registered Democrats polled for every 1 registered Republican.
- The poll also tells us that a majority of voters under the age of 55 support marriage equality, even though the overall number of those polled oppose rather than support the law. Because we do not know how many/what percentage of the respondents are above/below 55-years old or what the breakdown is for each age group, it's hard to explain this result. So again, more questions here than answers.
The Pride Agenda’s most recent polling shows almost a flip of what Siena reports—that 53% of registered New York voters support marriage equality, while 38% are opposed. Given that we have two polls and only one provides methodology and a demographic breakdown of all respondents (see page 3), one could easily assume that the findings in the Siena poll just might not mirror the reality of NYS voter demographics.
Siena needs to provide a bit more transparency in order for these findings to be respected.
Morning Sweep
Russia's gay pride "celebration" turned nasty as protesters made good on their promise to spill blood at the rally. Among the attacked were members of the European Parliament. Unsurprisingly, Russian authorities did nothing to prevent or stop the violent behavior of the anti-gay mob.
Binghamton's Pride Palooza coincides this year with Frankin Graham's (son of Billy) evangelical conference, which is expected to bring 10,000 people to Binghamton University. Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan says that he'll still be raising the "gay flag" at City Hall on June 1 for the start of pride month.
Outcome Buffalo provides a list of Buffalo's Pride Events starting June 2 and running through the end of the month.
A boardwalk in Staten Island is the latest target for "cleanup," as it's been identified as a popular rendezvous spot for gay men. While public lewdness laws should certainly be upheld, we hope that some of the city's straight-oriented "lover's lanes" will equal application of the law.
A New York Post columnist mentions Kirk Snyder's book, "The G Quotient: Why Gay Executives Are Excelling as Leader," which claims that at least five Fortune 500 CEOs are gay and closeted.
One of the world's most famous university towns now has a transgender mayor.
A gay groom boutique is set to open in Barcelona, Spain, where gay marriage is legal. Looking at the prices of just the tuxedos proves that gay marriage can be great for the economy!
Binghamton's Pride Palooza coincides this year with Frankin Graham's (son of Billy) evangelical conference, which is expected to bring 10,000 people to Binghamton University. Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan says that he'll still be raising the "gay flag" at City Hall on June 1 for the start of pride month.
Outcome Buffalo provides a list of Buffalo's Pride Events starting June 2 and running through the end of the month.
A boardwalk in Staten Island is the latest target for "cleanup," as it's been identified as a popular rendezvous spot for gay men. While public lewdness laws should certainly be upheld, we hope that some of the city's straight-oriented "lover's lanes" will equal application of the law.
A New York Post columnist mentions Kirk Snyder's book, "The G Quotient: Why Gay Executives Are Excelling as Leader," which claims that at least five Fortune 500 CEOs are gay and closeted.
One of the world's most famous university towns now has a transgender mayor.
A gay groom boutique is set to open in Barcelona, Spain, where gay marriage is legal. Looking at the prices of just the tuxedos proves that gay marriage can be great for the economy!
Friday, May 25, 2007
OffSprung! - Save the Date
On Wednesday, June 13, the Pride Agenda will be launching OffSprung! - a series of programs and events aimed at the next generation of LGBT community leaders. Armani Exchange in SoHo is hosting the event and will provide cocktails and music by DJ Sin Morera. Also--10% of all sales made that evening will go to the Pride Agenda.
If you have any interest in getting involved (in any capacity) with LGBT issues or just meeting/networking with other fabulous 20s/30s gay and straight New Yorkers, put this event on your calendar. It's free and you can RSVP here.
More info coming later.
Morning Sweep
Isaiah Washington's PSA calling for an end to name calling based on "sexual orientation, race or gender" aired during a repeat of Grey's Anatomy last night and directed people, interestingly enough, to www.glsen.com (rather than the organization's .org URL). The .com site seems to have been set up specifically for the traffic generated by the PSA.
Because the United Methodist Church has no specified ban on transgender clergy, Rev. Drew Phoenix (formerly Ann Gordon) is allowed to remain a minister at a Maryland congregation. The congregants are fully supportive.
Mitt Romney says that he is not anti-gay, he's just anti-gay marriage because it's not "in the best interest of children."
John Edwards, possibly responding to claims that he's not so gay friendly, came out publicly in favor of the Uniting American Families Act, which would provide the same immigration rights for binational same-sex couples as currently exists for binational opposite-sex couples.
Edwards also answered HRC's LGBT rights questionnaire, and Pam Spaulding has all of his answers.
Controversy in Albany--among Democrats--over proposed legislation that would require H.I.V. testing of all indicted rape suspects.
Because the United Methodist Church has no specified ban on transgender clergy, Rev. Drew Phoenix (formerly Ann Gordon) is allowed to remain a minister at a Maryland congregation. The congregants are fully supportive.
Mitt Romney says that he is not anti-gay, he's just anti-gay marriage because it's not "in the best interest of children."
John Edwards, possibly responding to claims that he's not so gay friendly, came out publicly in favor of the Uniting American Families Act, which would provide the same immigration rights for binational same-sex couples as currently exists for binational opposite-sex couples.
Edwards also answered HRC's LGBT rights questionnaire, and Pam Spaulding has all of his answers.
Controversy in Albany--among Democrats--over proposed legislation that would require H.I.V. testing of all indicted rape suspects.
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