For fans of the TV show FRIENDS
Illinois: Marriage equality vote to happen in state Senate on Valentine’s Day
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has promised full passage of marriage equality at the recent Equality Illinois gala this weekend.
This Valentine’s Day, the Illinois Senate will vote on the marriage equality bill, as promised by its president.
The overwhelming mood at the gala was one of celebration — for Equality Illinois, but also for the successful passing of the gay marriage bill in the Senate Executive Committee, and its upcoming vote in the state Senate Feb. 14.
Former state Sen. Carol Ronen was confident that the bill would go before, and pass, in both houses of the legislature. “It looks very good for passing. I think everything you hear is very optimistic,” she told the Windy City Times.
Ronen said that organizations likes Equality Illinois were essential in the process. “Everybody has been at the table. Everything has been a great group effort,” she said.
The Windy City Times spoke with Rep. Deborah Mell about the upcoming bill, which will go up for a vote in the Senate before going before the house. In 2004, Mell was arrested at a marriage equality protest.”I didn’t even think I was going to be in politics then. To be voting on the bill is really exciting,” she said.
Gov. Quinn: “This week will be a historic week in Illinois. This year we’re going to make and pass a law called Marriage Equality.”
Ohio State University Hockey team: You Can Play
The Ohio State University men’s hockey team advocates for LGBT athletes as part of the You Can Play Project.
The Buckeyes promise to play with passion, integrity and equality.
Hawaii: No marriage equality bill this session
Hawaii’s House Judiciary Committee has decided not to schedule a hearing for a marriage equality bill this session, the Star-Advertiser reports:
The decision today came on the day that about 150 supporters of gay marriage gathered at the state Capitol to call on legislators to take up a bill before it was too late.
State Rep. Karl Rhoads, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said that after polling his colleagues he determined there was not the political will for a gay-marriage bill this session.
(via StarAdvertiser)
An open letter to Diana Medley of Indiana
Excellent open letter from J. Patrick Redmond to Diana Medley of Indiana.
J. Patrick’s letter was prompted by Ms. Medley’s statement of support for students in Indiana who want to hold a “gays excluded” prom this year at Sullivan High School. When asked, Medley responded to a reporter that she believes gay people have no purpose in life, and agrees that anti-gay parents and students should create a separate, “traditional” prom that would ban gay students from attending.
J. Patrick is also a teacher born in Indiana. Here’s an excerpt from J. Patrick’s open letter:
“What you have done, Ms. Medley, by announcing to our community that “gays have no purpose” is scar and destroy the self-worth of countless Wabash Valley LGBT teens who, by whatever means, heard your hateful and vitriolic words. You are not representative of Christianity. You are not representative of Christ’s message. You are certainly not representative of love. And you are not representative of those Hoosiers that live near you –the ones that love thy gay neighbor and love me.”
Thank you J. Patrick for writing what so many of us in the LGBT community feel. We do have purpose. We do count.
Ms. Medley, thank you for revealing YOUR purpose of exclusion and judgement. Life is clearer when we can see things in the light of day. And now we can see you for who you are. My best thoughts go out to your students.
Read the rest of J. Patrick’s letter here.
Kai, “the hatchet-wielding hitchhiker,” on Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel hosted Kai, “the hatchet-wielding hitchhiker” who saved a woman’s life last week from a man who thought he was Jesus Christ. Kai joins Jimmy to explain his perspective on life, and other assorted topics.
Below is the viral video interview that brought Kai to national prominence.
(h/t Towleroad)
France: National Assembly approves marriage equality 329-229
France’s lower house of parliament has approved a sweeping bill to legalize gay marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children. The bill passed by a vote of 329-229.
President Francois Hollande’s Socialists have pushed the measure through the National Assembly, and now, the bill heads to the Senate which is also controlled by the Socialists.
Whitney Houston passes away at 48 – one year later
One year ago today: Whitney Houston drowned in a hotel bathtub on Feb. 11, 2012, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Authorities said her death was complicated by cocaine use and heart disease.
One of the greatest voices of our time silenced.
I watched Whitney perform the above clip live on TV at the American Music Awards in 1994 with my best friend Matt Zarley. We had watched her great performances, and her sometimes not so great performances. But this is probably one of her best televised moments ever (she won 8 American Music Awards this night). To this day Matt and I know every riff, breath and key change of this performance.
I can’t imagine the day this video clip won’t leave me in awe.
This is how I will always remember Whitney Houston.
Matt Barber & Mat Staver: You are a crime against nature
Staver – “At the time of the founding of this country no one even thought that two men and two women would be wanting to marry.”
Randy Report – They didn’t know about AK-47’s either but folks fight for those today.
Barber – “Yeah, the aberrant sexual behavior, the twisting of normal human sexuality that would be involved in order to consummate a so-called same-sex marriage in all 13 of the original colonies was a crime.”
Randy Report – Yes – and slavery was legal. We changed our view on slavery, so…?
On and on it goes. This is the kind of crap that gets fed people every day by the Liberty Counsel.
Lord have mercy on these sad men.
(via JMG)
Hawaii: Marriage equality bill will not advance without hearing scheduled by tomorrow
Unless a hearing is scheduled by Tuesday, Hawaii’s marriage bill will not advance this year.
Hawaii United for Marriage is planning a lobby day at the Capitol rotunda in a couple of hours (11:30 am) for those of you in the Aloha State:
“We’re working hard to talk to as many voters as possible about the importance of contacting their legislator and urging them to support HB 1109. Join us on Monday, February 11th at the Capitol Rotunda in Honolulu with hundreds of supporters making their voices heard by speaking face to face with their legislators.”