Steve’s Weblog

Court won’t force gay marriage vote

By JAY LINDSAY, Associated Press Writer 12 minutes ago

BOSTON – The state’s highest court ruled Wednesday it had no authority to force lawmakers to vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, but it still criticized them for not acting.

Opponents of same-sex marriage had collected 170,000 signatures to get an amendment on the 2008 ballot that would define marriage in Massachusetts as between a man and a woman, but their effort still needed the support of a quarter of the Legislature.

When lawmakers failed to vote on the question in November, the governor and angry opponents sued.

They asked the court to clarify whether the state’s constitution required lawmakers to vote on a proposal that was sent to the legislature by a voter petition drive. The Supreme Judicial Court determined it could not force a vote.

“Beyond resorting to aspirational language that relies on the presumptive good faith of elected representatives, there is no presently articulated judicial remedy for the Legislature’s indifference to, or defiance of, its constitutional duties,” the court wrote.

Yahoo!

N.J. governor signs gay civil unions law

By TOM HESTER Jr., Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 58 minutes ago

TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey’s governor signed legislation Thursday giving gay couples all the rights and responsibilities of marriage allowed under state law — but not the title.

When the law goes into effect Feb. 19, New Jersey will become the third state offering civil unions to gay couples and the fifth allowing gay couples some version of marriage.

Connecticut and Vermont also offer civil unions for gay couples, while Massachusetts allows gay couples to marry, and California has domestic partnerships that bring full marriage rights under state law.

“We must recognize that many gay and lesbian couples in New Jersey are in committed relationships and deserve the same benefits and rights as every other family in this state,” Gov. Jon S. Corzine said in signing the legislation.

Yahoo News

N.J. legislature approves civil unions

By GEOFF MULVIHILL, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago

TRENTON, N.J. – Under pressure from New Jersey’s highest court to offer marriage or its equivalent to gay couples, the Legislature voted Thursday to make New Jersey the third state to allow civil unions.

Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine said he would sign the measure, which would extend to same-sex couples all the rights and privileges available under state law to married people. The bill passed the Assembly 56-19 and the Senate 23-12.

Yahoo News

California Assemblyman Announces Modified Gay Marriage Legislation

12.02.06

By Troy Espera

San Francisco Assemblyman Mark Leno will introduce new legislation to allow gay marriage when the Legislature reconvenes for its new session Monday.

The Sacramento Bee reports that Leno, a Democrat, said his bill will be nearly identical to one vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in September 2005.

gaywired.com

WalMart issues a statement where they agree not to do anything different, and AFA calls off their boycott.

If you read the WalMart statement, you’ll see that they never did and still don’t have a position on gay marriage, it was the AFA that inferred that they did, which was a lie, told to inflame the AFA loonies. (just slightly dishonest)

Group drops plans to protest Wal-Mart

By DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer Tue Nov 21, 11:02 PM ET

NEW YORK – A conservative group that had called on supporters to boycott Wal-Mart’s post-Thanksgiving Day sales to protest the retailer’s support of gay-rights groups withdrew its objections Tuesday.

The American Family Association, which had been asking supporters to stay away from Wal-Mart on Friday and Saturday — two of the busiest shopping days of the year — said it was pleased that Wal-Mart had pledged in a statement to stay away from controversial causes.

Wal-Mart said it would make changes in the way it contributed to such groups, earmarking funds only for specific causes it supported, such as workplace equality, rather than giving unrestricted gifts.

A prominent gay-rights leader, Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign, said the change was minor and praised Wal-Mart for sticking with its commitments to diversity and equality despite the threats from the American Family Association.

“I don’t see it as backpedaling by Wal-Mart,” Solmonese said. “I think the AFA failed, and thought to themselves, “Let’s declare victory and hope nobody notices.”

Yahoo News

South Africa approves gay marriage bill

by Mariette le Roux Tue Nov 14, 10:33 AM ET

CAPE TOWN (AFP) – South Africa has become the first country on the continent to legalise marriage for gay and lesbian couples when lawmakers gave their final approval to controversial legislation.

A total of 230 lawmakers voted for the civil union bill after a stormy debate at the parliament in Cape Town while another 41 opposed the measure. There were three abstentions Tuesday.

The bill, which allows for civil unions to be solemnised by way of either a marriage or a civil partnership, has been widely opposed by religious groups, conservatives and traditionalists.

The government has said the new legislation forms part of a wider commitment to battle discrimination.

“In breaking with our past … we need to fight and resist all forms of discrimination and prejudice, including homophobia,” Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told MPs in the debate before the vote.

The measure was also warmly welcomed as an historic step by the Joint Working Group, a national network of 17 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organisations.

“The (bill) signals a rejection of previous attempts to render lesbian and gay people as second class citizens,” the group’s spokesman Fikile Vilakazi said in a statement.

Yahoo News

Wal-Mart posts profit, looks to holidays

By MARCUS KABEL, AP Business Writer Tue Nov 14, 11:56 AM ET

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, pleased Wall Street with higher third-quarter earnings than expected despite weakening U.S. sales growth and promised its most aggressive holiday discounts ever to rekindle year-end business. Its shares rose 2 percent.

Yahoo News

I read this item at Yahoo News this morning, but was too busy getting ready for meetings and interviews, so I didn’t post anything about it. Then this afternoon, I was “enlightened” by a comment from kenneth paul. It just reminded me of the calls by AFA to boycott Wal-Mart because of their progressive stance on GLBT equality, and how the folks on the right are so hypocritical.

Equality Texas Joins in Mourning the Loss of Ann Richards

Austin, Texas (September 14, 2006) – Equality Texas joins in mourning the loss of Ann Richards, 45th governor of Texas.

Former Texas governor Ann Richards died Wednesday at her home in Austin at the age of 73. Richards was an icon of progressive politics in Texas: a champion of civil rights, gay rights and feminism.

Ann Richards was the first governor in Texas history to take pro-equality stands for lesbian and gay Texans. She was the first governor to appoint openly-gay people to offices in her campaign and administration, including her protégé and supporter, former State Representative Glen Maxey.

Among her achievements as governor were institutional changes in the state penal system, including increased prison space and a nationally-respected substance abuse program in prisons. A longtime opponent of discrimination against gays and lesbians, Richards favored eliminating Section 21.06 of the Texas Penal Code, the “Homosexual Conduct” law as part of the penal system reforms. The proposed criminal code revision she sent to the legislature in 1993 eliminated the “Homosexual Conduct” law. However, the legislature reinstated it over her objections. The conduct law was later declared unconstitutional by the U. S. Supreme Court in 2003, although it remains in Texas statutes.

Also in 1993, Williamson County cited the sodomy law statute to deny Apple Computer tax incentives for a new facility in the county because of Apple’s policy of extending benefits to employees’ same-gender domestic partners. On December 7, 1993, under heavy pressure from Governor Richards, Williamson County commissioners reversed their decision.

Even after leaving public office, Ann Richards continued to be a progressive voice on the national stage. When asked by CNN’s Larry King in May 2004 what she thought of Massachusetts law allowing same-gender couples to marry, Richards responded, “…we need more loving families in this country, not less.”

Ann Richards was first elected to public office in 1976 as the first female commissioner of Travis County, which includes Austin. In 1982, she ran for state treasurer, received the most votes of any statewide candidate, became the first woman elected to statewide office in Texas in 50 years, and was re-elected in 1986.

In 1990, Richards was elected the 45th governor of Texas, ushering in what she called the “New Texas”. During her tenure as governor, Richards created the most representative and inclusive administration in Texas history, including people of color and openly-gay persons.

She appointed the first African-American University of Texas regent; the first crime victim to join the Texas Criminal Justice Board; the first disabled person to serve on the human services board; the first teacher to lead the State Board of Education; and the first African-American and female Texas Rangers.

Ann Richards is survived by four children, Cecile, Daniel, Clark and Ellen Richards, and eight grandchildren.