Poll: President Obama leads Romney nationally 51%-44%
I really like this pic: London
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Would love to enjoy this London locale some sunny afternoon with a nice glass of wine and time to kill.
Posted on Facebook by Vladimir Queiroz Sejas – London
Nevada: Lambda Legal files suit for marriage equality
From Metro Weekly: Today, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund filed a federal lawsuit in Nevada seeking equal marriage rights for eight same-sex couples in the state.
According to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, the lead plaintiffs in the new lawsuit — Beverly Sevcik, 73, and Mary Baranovich, 76, of Carson City, Nevada — have been together for more than 40 years. As the complaint notes, “When Beverly and Mary committed their lives to each other on October 2, 1971 and bought rings to signify their relationship, they were careful not to purchase matching rings for fear of having their relationship discovered.”
The couple, nonetheless, went on to raise three children and have four grandchildren, despite the constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2000 and 2002 limiting marriage in the state’s constitution to “a male and a female person.”
Same-sex couples have been able to receive many of the same benefits and privileges of marriage but not the status itself, however, since the legislature passed comprehensive domestic partnership benefits over the veto of then-Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) in 2009.
According to the complaint, “No legitimate, let alone important or compelling, interest exists to exclude same-sex couples from the historic and highly venerated institution of marriage, especially where the State already grants lesbians and gay men access to almost all substantive spousal rights and responsibilities through registered domestic partnership.”
Explaining the claim, Borelli says, “One of the reasons that we’re suing in the state of Nevada is that this is a particular equal protection problem that this case examines. It’s the kind of problem created where a state excludes same-sex couples from marriage deems them fit for all of the rights and responsibilities of marriage through a lesser, second-class status — in this case, domestic partnership. That shows just how irrational that state’s decision is to shut same-sex couples out of marriage.”
Chad Griffin, who began AFER and will take over as president of the Human Rights Campaign responded:
“Every American deserves the same dignity and respect, the same freedom to love, to marry and to build a family, no matter which state they live in,” he said in a statement provided to Metro Weekly. “I am proud that the historic victories in the Perry case helped make possible today’s lawsuit in Nevada. Working together, we will realize this most American of dreams.”
Science Daily: Homophobia is often caused by repressed same-sex attraction
Science Daily is reporting that many homophobes are in fact suppressing their own same sex attraction due to strict parenting that forbade such behavior.
“Individuals who identify as straight but in psychological tests show a strong attraction to the same sex may be threatened by gays and lesbians because homosexuals remind them of similar tendencies within themselves,” explains Netta Weinstein, a lecturer at the University of Essex and the study’s lead author.”
“In many cases these are people who are at war with themselves and they are turning this internal conflict outward,” adds co-author Richard Ryan, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester who helped direct the research.”
The study provides new empirical evidence to support the theory that the aversion and hostility that some “seemingly heterosexual people” hold toward gays and lesbians is often the manifestation of of their own repressed same-sex desires.
Marriage News Watch: April 9, 2012
- The Obama administration changes course in the fight to overturn the federal Defense of Marriage Act
- Signature gathering is about to start in Ohio
- Voters in North Carolina say they support relationship recognition — so why are they also saying they’ll vote to take it away?
Burger King commercial with David Beckham
So, Beckham is no Ben Cohen (in my book) but I think this is a cute little video.
I like the little gay twist at the end. Cute.
New sneak peak at TRUE BLOOD with Joe Manganiello
Just a taste of an exclusive True Blood Season 5 scene with Joe Manganiello and Anna Pacquin.
Season 5 of “True Blood” premieres Sunday, June 10th.
Obama campaign announces opposition to anti-gay Minnesota amendment
The Obama campaign has announced its opposition to the marriage amendment that will be on the November ballot in Minnesota that would restrict marriage only to opposite-sex couples there, echoing a theme from its earlier opposition to such an amendment in North Carolina that will appear on the May primary ballot.
According to a statement released today by Obama for America Minnesota Communications Director Kristin Sosanie, she said, “While the President does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the record is clear that the President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same sex couples.”
In the statement provided to Metro Weekly, she continued, “That’s what the Minnesota ballot initiative would do — it would single out and discriminate against committed gay and lesbian couples — and that’s why the President does not support it.”
The proposed Minnesota marriage amendment reads: “Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota.” Unlike the proposed North Carolina amendment, it does not address recognition of other relationships like civil unions or domestic partnerships. Same-sex couples cannot marry currently, however, in either state.
Music video: “Trust Me” from Matt Zarley
Matt’s fun new dance music video for his song “Trust Me” (remix by Cahill) about a fictional “sweater-vest wearing” GOP presidential candidate who gets caught in a hot tub with his male lover.
The video storyline in a nutshell:
“When video footage of fictional GOP presidential candidate Matt Zarley surfaces showing him at a 70s style party making out with a sexy younger man (scenes complete with 70s facial hair, furry chested men and hot tubs), the “candidate” decides to come out from behind his false marriage and be who he truly is. At the end of the video America embraces and elects it’s first openly gay president.”
In talking about making the video, Matt said “I wanted to make a video that had humor and poked a little bit of fun at politicians and their ‘spin tactics’. I think if those who are running for office would be more honest about their true selves instead of pandering to the extremes, they’d be surprised how much more accepted they would be by the majority. Despite our current political climate, I have faith that one day we will all be embraced as equals.”
More on Matt at his website: www.mattzarley.com
Adele to record new Bond song?
While 23-year-old Adele has said that it will be years until we see another album — perhaps it will be titled 26 or 27? — there is still talk of an unnamed single floating about the Internet. And it is rumored to be attached to the new James Bond flick, Skyfall, releasing this October.
Prediction: if she does the theme song for the next James Bond movie, she’s gonna have to move a few Grammy Awards to make room for an Oscar.