Historic LGBT Rights Bill Becomes Law

From Equality California:

On January 1, three new pieces of legislation expanding rights and resources for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community will go into effect in California. Among the new laws, each sponsored by Equality California, include a bill that recognizes the marriage of thousands of same-sex couples regardless of when or where they were married, a bill increasing services to LGBT survivors of domestic violence and a third recognizing the contributions of slain civil rights leader Harvey Milk.

The Marriage Recognition and Family Protection Act, introduced by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), holds that same-sex couples married in any state or nation anytime before the passage of Proposition 8 must be recognized as married spouses in California, regardless of whether they married in California or in another state or nation. In addition, the new statute also confirms that same-sex couples married outside of California after November 5, 2008, must be given all of the rights, protections and responsibilities of married spouses under California law, with the sole exception of the designation of “marriage.”

“This vital bill will provide much needed protections for same-sex couples who have legally married out of state, or will in the future, and who deserve to be treated like any other married couple,” said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California. “This bill will allow same-sex couples to get married in other states and countries and ensure they are treated equally under the law when they return to California. Ultimately, however, restoring the freedom to marry is the only way to ensure that all Californians receive the dignity and respect that come with marriage.”

Also becoming state law is the LGBT Domestic Violence Programs Expansion Bill, which was authored by Speaker-Elect Assemblymember John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles). The bill expands access for LGBT service providers to a state fund within the California Emergency Management Agency, which supports LGBT-specific domestic violence programs across the state. The fund, originally established as part of another EQCA-sponsored bill in 2006, is subsidized by a $23 fee on domestic partner registrations. The new bill would also allow for more than four organizations to apply for programmatic funding each fiscal cycle and eliminates the requirement for providers to offer shelter – impediments to many smaller LGBT organizations that inadvertently keep several California communities from providing any services for LGBT survivors of domestic violence.

Harvey Milk Day, which will be celebrated on May 22, 2010, marks the first time in the nation’s history that a state will officially recognize and celebrate the contributions of an openly LGBT person with an annual “day of special significance.” The bill was also introduced by Senator Leno.

“We are grateful to the LGBT Caucus, our allied lawmakers, and the Governor for making these landmark measures the law in California, as these bills will dramatically improve the lives of LGBT Californians and their families,” Kors said. “We look forward to the year ahead and to advancing our mission of achieving true and full equality for LGBT Californians.”

For more information about EQCA’s legislation, visit http://www.eqca.org/legislation.

Ohio Legislator Pushes to Allow Gay Marriages

Five years after Ohioans voted to place a gay-marriage ban in the Ohio Constitution, a House Democrat is proposing a new vote to take it out.

Rep. Tyrone K. Yates, D-Cincinnati, introduced a resolution Tuesday that would eliminate Section 11, Article 15 of the Constitution, an amendment known by supporters as the Defense of Marriage Act.

Voters approved the amendment by a 24-point margin in November 2004.

The resolution is, to say the least, a long shot to pass. Making the ballot requires a three-fifths vote of each chamber. Even if every Democrat voted yes (an unlikely prospect), it would fall well short of the required votes.

More at: The Columbus Dispatch!

Will President Obama Keep His Promise

During his campaign for the presidency, Barack Obama promised that if elected, he would eventually repeal the discriminatory Don’t Ask Don’t Tell law which prohibits servicemembers from serving in the armed forces as “out” and also DOMA or the Defense of Marriage Act.

Even though he’s only 9 months into his first term, neither have been repealed, and President Obama has received an overwhelming amount of criticism for the otherwise apathetic LGBT community for not doing enough soon enough.

However, this weekend at the HRC annual dinner, President Obama spoke with reassurance that it is still his goal to bring about equality for all Americans and is working towards the repeal of both laws.

Some have backed the president with the understanding that he inherited 8 plus years of extremely serious national and international issues, and some have turned their back simply distraught over the lack of swiftness by his administration to act.

However, after reassuring his administration will work towards ending equality, what’s your opinion? Will President Obama keep his promise and end DADT and DOMA or is he simply providing lip service?

Take the poll below to let us know what you think!

30 Years After Gay March Activists Head to DC

A Democrat in the White House. Demands for sweeping civil rights protections. Religious opponents working to undo a string of state-based victories.

That was the backdrop in 1979 when gay rights activists staged their first national march in Washington. Thirty years later, with the landscape looking much the same, thousands of advocates are preparing to rally again in the nation’s capital this weekend.

And they are demanding many of the same things: a bill to outlaw job discrimination based on gender, a law that would treat attacks on gays as federal hate crimes, and a presidential order allowing gays to serve openly in the military.

“Thirty years ago was our introduction to the nation. It was ‘These are the things we stand for and are about,’” said David Mixner, a former adviser to President Bill Clinton. “This march, more than any other, is a declaration that we are a full-fledged civil rights movement, we are here to win our freedom now and we won’t wait any longer.”

Read more at: Steve Rothaus – Gay South Florida!

President Obama to Speak at HRC Dinner

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), announced earlier today that President Barack Obama will deliver the keynote address at the 13th Annual National Dinner to be held on Saturday, October 10th, the night before the National Equality March in Washington, D.C.

Also during the Dinner, U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy will also be presenting the first Edward M. Kennedy National Leadership Award to Judy and Dennis Shepard.

Being that President Obama has received a great deal of criticism from the LGBT community for his administration’s lack of swift action on the repeal of Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act, this is a great opportunity for an open discussion about those issues.

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