LGBTQ news and entertainment
With a little more than two weeks until election day, pro-equality group TheFour, currently fighting for equality in Washington, Maryland, Minnesota and Maine, released a video highlighting the several of the prominent & famous folk who support same-sex marriage.
That diverse list includes former President Bill Clinton, Jay-Z, Lady Gaga and even former Vice President Dick Cheney.
More info at http://www.thefour.com
The third of our four-part series made in each of the states that have marriage equality votes this November, this short shares the experiences of same-sex couples who want to get married in Washington.
They have the same challenges, responsibilities, and aspirations as any other couple–but they are strangers in the eyes of the law. That’s why marriage equality is so important: it aligns personal reality with legal reality, as a simple matter of fairness.
The series is produced in association with The Four, a social media campaign to support marriage equality in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington State. Learn more and get involved at http://TheFour.com.
Minnesota Vikings’ Chris Kluwe on the hurtful, freedom-limiting marriage amendment currently on the ballot in Minnesota:
“It’s not the government’s job to tell us what to do. That’s not what America stands for. At the end of the day, this is an issue about freedom… and treating other people the way that you would like to be treated.”
Pledge to Vote NO at www.mnunited.org
Follow the campaign at www.facebook.com/mn4allfamilies
The Maryland campaign for marriage equality continues to see money coming their way.
From Marylanders for Marriage Equality:
Republican Paul Singer today gave $250,000 to Marylanders for Marriage Equality, the lead group working to pass marriage equality in Maryland. Singer runs the firm Elliot Management in New York City and has given more than $10 million to marriage equality efforts across the country.
“Paul’s leadership on marriage equality continues to amaze and sets an example for other fair-minded members of the Republican Party,” said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a founder of Marylanders for Marriage Equality. “His investment in the equality and dignity of Marylanders reflects the growing bipartisan support to get Question 6 over the finish line in these critical final weeks.”
(source)
Julian Bond, Chairman Emeritus of the NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, urges Marylanders to vote for Question 6.
With 25 days left to the election, The Four 2012 is revving into high gear with their one-day Moneybomb for Equality campaign.
Followers are being urged to donate $25 or more to the state marriage campaigns of Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington with one click from this Act Blue page.
Donations of $25 can be split among all four states, or you can give $25 to each.
All money raised goes directly to Mainers United for Marriage, Marylanders for Marriage Equality, Minnesotans United for All Families and Washington United for Marriage.
Click here to donate.
NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg has made the largest individual contribution received by proponents of same-sex marriage in Maryland, the NYT reports:
Mr. Bloomberg, a billionaire who attended college in Maryland at Johns Hopkins, dipped into his personal fortune to help persuade New York lawmakers to approve same-sex marriage in 2011, and he has supported a similar effort in New Hampshire. His contribution came after discussions with Maryland’s governor, Martin O’Malley, a Democrat who has spearheaded the effort to pass the referendum, known as Question 6.
“The fact that someone of Mayor Bloomberg’s national stature and recognition would care about our referendum campaign for civil marriage equality, I think, tells people all over our country that this is a serious and real campaign,” Mr. O’Malley said in an interview on Thursday evening from Kentucky, where he was attending the vice-presidential debate.
In related news, HRC added an additional $1 million to the state marriage battles:
This brings HRC’s total contributions to the four ballot measures to $4.4 million and $7.3 million overall during this election cycle.
“The key thing about faith – at least in this country – is that you can choose whether to believe or not, and you can pretty much choose how to observe your faith. But you can’t (really) choose where you are born, or the laws under which you grow up whether you are gay or straight.
And marriage is an ancient human institution that is far older than any of the religions that are practised today. It may well be beloved by God, but no religion has ever had a monopoly on marriage. [snip]
Marriage is an institution that can bring great happiness. It is a formal acknowledgment, by society, of the love and bond that can exist between human beings. It provides stability and comfort. Far from dying out, marriage is on the increase – especially in London. Why on earth would we deny it to anyone?”
– London Mayor Boris Johnson, writing for the Independent.
According to PinkNews, The French government is looking to October 31st as the day when the first draft of its marriage equality law will be approved.
Despite widespread political and religious opposition, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault insisted there would be no backtracking on a manifesto promise by President Francois Hollande in an interview with AFP. More than 1,200 French mayors and deputy mayors have signed a petition opposing the government’s plans, with many of them warning they will not preside over same-sex ceremonies. However, this represents less than one percent of the total number of mayors and deputy mayors in France.
The Socialist Party holds a strong majority and President Francois Hollande has vowed that same-sex marriages will commence nationwide by summer.
In new ads from Marylanders for Marriage Equality, two African-American pastors speak out in support of the Question 6 ballot measure, which would put Maryland’s legislatively-passed marriage equality law into effect.
The Baltimore Sun reports: “The ads are designed to counter an organized push by black churches to preach opposition to same-sex marriage from the pulpit this month. Both sides are wooing black voters this year; they made up about 25 percent of the electorate in 2008, and are expected to come out in similar numbers for this year’s election.”
Says Rev. Donte Hickman: “As a pastor, my support for Question 6 is rooted in my belief that the government should treat everyone equally.”
Says Rev. Delman Coates: “This law does not force any church to perform a same-sex marriage if it’s against their beliefs. Protecting religious freedom and protecting all Marylanders equally under the law. That’s what this is about.”