A Message from HRC’s President

A deep and bitter disappointment from Maine yesterday: Maine voters have passed a devastating Proposition 8-style measure overturning the state’s marriage equality law.

Our hearts are with everyone in Maine who fought so hard to win recognition for their families. The legislature passed marriage equality earlier this year, but a divisive anti-LGBT campaign to scare voters seems to have worked.

It is infuriating to see that the same fear-mongering ads that were used to pass Prop. 8 a year ago have triumphed again at the expense of so many. This is a terrible loss.

Although we lost our battle in Maine, we will not allow the lies and hate – the foundation on which our opponents built their campaign – to break our spirits. We are on the right side of history and we will continue this fight with even more vigor.

Our friends at No on 1/Protect Maine Equality waged a strong and smart campaign. Thousands of volunteers exposed hundreds of thousands of Mainers to the real lives of same-sex couples and their families – many for the first time.

I am angry. But more importantly, I am determined that with the anger I feel today from this outcome in Maine, we’ll rise ever stronger to demand equal treatment under the law and equal respect for our relationships in Maine, California, New Jersey, and every state in the Union.

And in other state elections yesterday…

* In Washington state, voters appear to have cast their ballots to approve Referendum 71, a measure that would expand domestic partnerships to have every state-level right and benefit afforded to married couples. I feel confident that when all of the votes are counted, it will be clear that the voters of Washington chose to provide equal rights and benefits to same-sex couples and their families.

* In New Jersey, Governor Jon Corzine – endorsed by HRC – has lost his re-election bid. He has been a strong ally for LGBT people in New Jersey, and he had pledged repeatedly to sign a marriage equality bill that could still be passed by legislators later this year.

* In Virginia, HRC endorsed Creigh Deeds for governor and placed 20 staffers at work in key delegate races. Deeds unfortunately lost his bid for governor, but there will be new pro-equality voices in the House of Delegates next year.

* In Kalamazoo, Michigan, right-wing groups wanted to make sure it stayed legal to fire or refuse housing to someone just because they’re LGBT. 65% of Kalamazoo voters disagreed and voted to approve Ordinance 1856, expanding the city’s existing anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Joe Solmonese – Human Rights Campaign.

Voting on Equality Across America

Yes, today is November 3rd, and I would be lying if I told you I slept well last night.  There is a lot at steak today across the nation as the voters head to the polls to cast their votes.

In the forefront, we have Maine.  Maine’s legislature passed a marriage equality law back in may, which would allow gay and lesbian couples to take the plunge, but with the help of the Catholic Church, NOM and Stand for Marriage Maine, the law went is going up for public approval via a popular vote.

In the state of Michigan, the city of Kalamazoo passed an ordinance that would outlaw discrimination against LGBT citizens in employment and housing, but the city’s Christians who believe hate is OK, as long as it’s against the LGBT community has forced a popular vote on the ruling.

Then, in Washington, there’s Referendum 71.  The state’s legislature passed a “everything but marriage” law aimed at providing many of the same benefits to same-sex couples that married heterosexual couples take for granted.  But, dispelling the myth that somehow the struggle is based upon the word “marriage”, this too has gone up for a vote, proving that the religious right’s beef with the LGBT community is really about being “gay” not about a sacred “religious” institution between a man and a woman.

In other states, there are races for the governor’s and legislative seats.  Sarah Palin has even reared her ugly head and shoved her nose into Virginia’s political scene with a robocall urging people to vote for those Republican candidates that support that anti-gay, anti-health care reform agenda.

So, today is not about who’s going to lead our nation in The White House, but it is about change, and hopefully the results will demonstrate that attitudes and acceptance is changing and growing.

Stayed tuned to gayagenda.com for results as they come in!

It’s Not Just Maine on Tuesday

Much of the focus about same-sex marriage has been on Maine, and rightly so. Tuesday referendum is similar to California’s Proposition 8, which made same-sex marriage illegal. Yet there are two differences: (1)the Maine referendum the voters are weighing in on is a law passed by their representatives, not a decision by the courts; (2) the vote is about overturning a law passed by lawmakers, not about amending a constitution to prohibit gay marriage. The Maine vote is important, but there are other important decisions to be made on Tuesday.

Find out what they are at: A Passionate Engagement!

Kalamazoo Kontroversy – The Gay Divide

One of two teenagers accused of beating a 15-year-old boy because he is homosexual is scheduled to be sentenced after pleading guilty to an aggravated assault charge.

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The small city of Kalamazoo, Michigan has seen a lot of big controversy…and over GLBT issues.

Early in the year, the city’s commission approved an anti-discrimination ordinance aimed at giving GLBT community members an equal voice in matters of employment and housing, but the ultra conservatives prevented that from happening. Then the city’s commission thought they were poised to again put that ordinance in place, but being that Kalamazoo has a good God fearing base of Christians that only hate based on sexual orientation, it’s been an uphill battle for the city to try to put that ordinance in place.

Of course those who oppose the ordinance spew the same old rhetoric about “special rights” and how the Bible and God say that the gays are bad…so they (the GLBT community) shouldn’t be protected from discrimination.

Evidently, those same God fearing folks don’t think GLBT citizens need protection from hate crimes either, as many have spoken out against punishing the 16-year-old who attacked 15-year-old Steve Harmon on August 13th.

Harmon was attacked in a parking lot by 2 teens who used anti-gay slurs as they struck him about 20 times in the head and face, leaving him with a fractured cheek bone, two black eyes, a swollen lip and multiple scratches on his face and neck.

Police have confirmed that Harmon was targeted because of his sexual orientation, but the two attackers have not been charged with a hate crime because Michigan’s intimidation law, which protects ethnic groups from hate crimes does not protect GLBT citizens.

So the big fight in the small city continues between those who believe in equality and justice for all and those who believe in God, and equality and justice for all…unless you’re gay.

Kalamazoo Caves In to the American Family Assoc

Only six weeks after Kalamazoo made a bold move towards equality by passing a gay rights law, the Kalamazoo City Commission, under pressure from the American Family Association has voted to rescind that law.

As previously reported, the city’s commission voted December 1st in favor of making discrimination in housing, public accommodations or employment based on sexual orientation or identity a civil offense in the city.

However, after the Michigan branch of Donald E. Wildmon’s American Family Association submitted petitions with about 1,600 signatures seeking the law’s repeal, the city commission voted 7-0 to rescind it. It only takes 1,273 valid signatures valid to put the law on the ballot, instead, the commission opted to rescind.

I have contacted the Kalamazoo City Commission’s office and am awaiting a statement.  Check back for updates.

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