See more photos on my photo album
Lots of developments, opinions, and reports overnight on marriage equality and efforts to overturn it. With its misleading ad (above right), the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage has tossed a Molotov cocktail into the debate nationwide.
Here's info on NOM's new 2M4M initiative (note: takes you to their site) Sounds pretty gay, doesn't it? That stands for Two Million for Marriage.
More on that below.
First of all, the image above left comes from a rally that was
held in Union Square last night in support of Vermont's marriage equality
victory. World of Wonder has a nice
slideshow of the demonstration, where state senator Tom Duane (left, with
Anthony Brown) spoke to those gathered.
And now, a few updates from across the country:
D.C.: The AP looks at the recent decision in D.C. to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and the looming showdown in Congress over it: "After the legislation receives final approval from the council, which is supposed to come next month, the bill is then subject to a 30-day congressional review. That review could be the new Congress' first opportunity to signal its appetite for re-examining the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages and allows states to do the same."
IOWA: Governor Chet Culver, who
released a long statement on Tuesday saying that he would respect the
Supreme Court's stand on same-sex marriage, and where the likelihood of
legislative action to overturn the decision looks bleak, offered
some hope to marriage equality foes.
Said Culver: “[Opponents] can talk to their legislators about amending the constitution. They will have the option on the ballot in 2010 to call for a constitution convention. So the voters will have an opportunity to weigh in on this.”
RALLY: Iowa has not quieted down a bit. There's an impromptu rally today at the Iowa state capitol today where marriage equality supporters and foes are going to face off.
NEW
YORK: Governor David Paterson said
Wednesday he wants the state Senate to vote on a same-sex marriage bill even if
it doesn't have the votes to pass. Said Paterson: "We'll put a bill out and
let the people decide one way or the other, which is actually the reform Albany
really needs. Why can't people just defeat the bill, vote on it? If you have the
votes later on to pass it, bring it back." He
plans to re-introduce same-sex marriage legislation. The Empire State Pride
Agenda expressed support for Paterson.
Oh, yes...
Happy Birthday
Dave Richard!!!