NY Prop 8 Protest Scheduled November 12

Tens of thousands of our brothers and sisters are in the streets in California and Salt Lake City and around the country protesting the votes banning same-sex marriage in California.

Join them! Make your voices heard right here in New York City.

We will tell the Mormon Church how we feel about its relentless campaign to condemn and control our lives. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
was, by far, the biggest financer of California’s heinous and hateful
Proposition 8. The Mormon Church begged their members to donate money to Prop 8,
pouring 20 million dollars into the campaign. And their attacks on us didn’t start there and aren’t
about to end. They’re plotting right now to bring their money and influence to bear against the LGBT community everywhere in this country, including trying to prevent marriage equality in New York.

Join us in speaking out against Mormon hate! Stop them taking away your rights!

PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION - BRING SIGNS — ALERT THE MEDIA

Media Contact: Corey Johnson - (646) 246-4848

LGBT Advocates Hope for Success in New York

From Newsday.com:

The fight for control of New York’s Senate that Democrats thought they won in historic fashion Tuesday could go on for weeks with a group of four maverick New York City lawmakers essentially holding the key to the balance of power.

The four Democratic senators met Wednesday with GOP leaders who hold the Senate majority at least until Jan. 1, according to Republicans and Democrats familiar with the meeting. The meeting was to discuss how the four might serve the GOP and what’s in it for them should they defect, according to the officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because leaders wouldn’t confirm the talks.

Jude Engelmayer, a spokesman for the newly formed independent caucus, denied that the four had met with Republicans or Democrats Wednesday. He said the group only met with each other and they are forming an agenda, but Engelmayer declined to provide further details.

The four independent-minded Democrats _ often called the “Gang of Four” _ historically have not been afraid to break ranks and support Republicans. They also have clashed at times with Sen. Sen. Malcolm Smith of Queens, the presumptive next majority leader, and reportedly refused to attend a Democratic conference Wednesday called by Smith.

“I’m very proud of them,” Smith said Wednesday evening after the conference in Albany. “We have an upstate caucus, we have a women’s caucus, we have a council of black senators, we have an urban caucus and now we have an independent caucus. That’s what the Democratic party is all about.”

The senators are Ruben Diaz Sr. and Pedro Espada Jr., both of the Bronx; Carl Kruger of Brooklyn; and Hiram Monserrate of Queens.

Read the rest by clicking here.

Door for Gay Marriage May Open in New York

According to a post on newsday.com:
Even as voters in California banned same-sex marriage in a tight referendum, Tuesday’s election opened the door for the same debate in New York.

The pending shift in state Senate control away from Republicans removes one clear obstacle to legalizing gay marriage in New York, though opponents aren’t conceding anything yet and advocates say they have work to do.

Democrats won a narrow majority in New York’s Senate, where Republicans have buried legislation to start issuing marriage licenses regardless of gender. A Senate power shift was not a sure thing because four Democrats were considering an alliance with the GOP, which could swing the 32-30 majority back to Republicans.

“The only chance we had for meaningful debate or consideration of these issues in the state Senate was with a new Senate leadership,” said Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, New York’s largest homosexual-rights advocacy group. He added that no bills have passed in New York without some votes from members of both parties.

Gay Sports Paned Discussion in New York City

From OutSports.com/jocktalkblog:

A couple months ago, I was part of a panel discussion at the Gay Center in New York, hosted by Out Professionals. It was a general conversation about gays in sports, and there were some good voices on the panel. Out former WNBA player Sue Wicks was great and I hung on every word she spoke. Pat Griffin was there, our good friend Bill Konigsberg. Anyhow, here’s an excerpt recently posted on Youtube by the Center.

NY’s Domestic Partner Benefits Challenged

The recent policy change in New York which grants health benefits to spouses of gay and lesbian state workers has been challenged in a mid-level appeals court.  Opponents claim it was a fundamental change in social policy that only lawmakers can enact.

Brian Raum, a attorney representing four upstate taxpayers said, “That (benefits) may change in New York, but it has to be left to the democratic process.” The lawyer also stated the governor does not have the authority to make changes which are “completely at odds” with laws and policies already in place.

The policy, which was initiated in May 2007 under former Governor Elito Spitzer affects spouses of state and municipal workers who married in Canada, Massachusetts, California and other places where same-sex marriages are legal.

Raum, who is also a senior counsel for the Christian-based Alliance Defense Fund, claimed the governor was wrong to enact the policy because by law, the only marriages that can be performed legally in the state are between a man and a woman.

“To change the fundamental components of marriage would be at odds with the policy of the State of New York,” Raum said. He argued the state Constitution does not give the governor that power.

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