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Lesson From Vermont: Don't Cower, Push

They did it. On Tuesday the Vermont legislature formally recognized that civil unions are not the same as marriage. Forgive me for saying it, but I think the Vermonters have a thing or two to teach the Congress.

Posted in Activism, gay marriage

Vermont's 'Happily Ever After'

The Vermont State House was packed and overflowing. Inside the 152-year-old building, a drama was reaching its climactic act. Nine years after Vermont became the first state in the nation to legalize civil unions between gay and lesbian couples, the Vermont Legislature was about to vote again on whether to legalize same-sex marriage. The House and Senate had overwhelmingly approved same-sex marriage a week earlier, only to have Republican Gov. Jim Douglas veto the bill within 15 minutes of receiving it on April 6, 2009.

Posted in gay marriage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 7, 2009
1:11 PM

CONTACT: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Inga Sarda-Sorensen, Director of Communications
(Office) 646.358.1463 (Cell) 202.641.5592
isorensen@theTaskForce.org

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Hails Enactment of Vermont Legislation Granting the Freedom to Marry to Same-Sex Couples

Vermont becomes the fourth state allowing same-sex couples to marry

WASHINGTON - April 7 - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force hails the Vermont Legislature's override today of Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of a bill extending the freedom to marry to same-sex couples. The Senate passed the measure by 23 to 5 and the House by 100 to 49. Vermont is the first state in the nation to extend the freedom to marry through the legislative process.

Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

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The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force builds the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from the ground up. We do this by training activists, organizing broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, building the organizational capacity of our movement and generating groundbreaking research through our Policy Institute.

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Links:
Posted in gay marriage

Vermont Legalizes Gay Marriage With Veto Override

Gay marriage advocate Beth Robinson, center, holds back tears following the passage of a gay marriage bill in Montpelier, Vt., Tuesday, April 7, 2009. Vermont has become the fourth state to legalize gay marriage. The state legislature voted Tuesday to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of a bill allowing gays and lesbians to marry. The vote was 23-5 to override in the state Senate and 100-49 to override in the House. Under Vermont law, two-thirds of each chamber had to vote for override. At left is Sherry Corbin and at right is Susan Murray. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot) BOSTON - Vermont legalized gay marriage on Tuesday after lawmakers overrode a veto from the governor by a wafer-thin margin, making the New England state the fourth in the United States where gays can wed.

The vote, nine years after Vermont was the first in the United States to adopt a same-sex civil-union law, also makes the tiny state of 624,000 people the first in the nation where lawmakers passed a gay marriage law instead of the courts.

Posted in gay marriage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2009
3:19 PM

CONTACT: Equality California (EQCA)
Vaishalee Raja, Communications Director
916-284-9187 vaishalee@eqca.org

Equality California Says Iowa Court’s Decision to Uphold Marriage for Same-Sex Couples Should Send Strong Message to CA Justices

LOS ANGELES - April 3 - Today the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously voted to strike down the state's ban on marriage for same-sex couples. The historic ruling makes Iowa the first Midwestern state to uphold equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.

Reacting to the decision, Equality California (EQCA) Marriage Director Marc Solomon said:

"The Iowa Supreme Court's ruling protects the state Constitution's promise of equality for all Iowans, including same-sex couples, and ultimately it helps advance the democratic principles of freedom and equality for all Americans.

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Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians.
Equality California (EQCA) Links:
Posted in gay marriage, glbt, prop8

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2009
12:46 PM

CONTACT: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Inga Sarda-Sorensen, Communications Director, isorensen@theTaskForce.org, 646.358.1463
Pedro Julio Serrano, Communications Coordinator, pjserrano@theTaskForce.org, 646.358.1479

Task Force Hails istoric Iowa Supreme Court Ruling Granting the Freedom to Marry to Same-Sex Couples

WASHINGTON - April 3 - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force hails today's Iowa Supreme Court unanimous ruling in Varnum v. Brien saying that same-sex couples are legally entitled to marry. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force was a signatory to a larger amicus brief supporting the marriage equality position. Additionally, Task Force organizers were recently sent to Iowa where they worked with One Iowa's field staff to grow the group's volunteer base that was active with One Iowa's legislative advocacy in support of the freedom to marry.

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The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force builds the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from the ground up. We do this by training activists, organizing broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, building the organizational capacity of our movement and generating groundbreaking research through our Policy Institute.

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Links:
Posted in gay marriage, glbt

Unanimous Ruling: Iowa Marriage No Longer Limited to One Man, One Woman

Partners Terri Neuendorf, right, and LaDonna Kyle, both of Des Moines, kiss outside the Judicial Building this morning after the announcement of the Iowa Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriages. (RODNEY WHITE / THE REGISTER)

The Iowa Supreme Court this morning unanimously upheld gays' right to marry.

"The Iowa statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution," the justices said in a summary of their decision.

The court rules that gay marriage would be legal in three weeks, starting April 24.

The court affirmed a Polk County District Court decision that would allow six gay couples to marry.

Posted in civil liberties, gay marriage, glbt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2009
11:42 AM

CONTACT: Freedom to Marry
Evan Wolfson,Executive Director, Freedom to Marry
212-851-8418; Mobile: 646-263-5552
evan@freedomtomarry.org

Iowa Ends Gay Couples' Exclusion From Marriage

Iowa Joins Connecticut and Massachusetts as the Next State to Uphold the Freedom to Marry

NEW YORK - April 3 - The Iowa Supreme Court today handed down a unanimous decision in favor of the freedom to marry, bringing marriage equality to America's heartland.  Iowa now joins Massachusetts and Connecticut in ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage.  The high court decision in Varnum v.

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Freedom to Marry is the gay and non-gay partnership working to win marriage equality nationwide. Headed by Evan Wolfson, one of America's leading civil rights advocates and lawyers, Freedom to Marry brings new resources and a renewed context of urgency and opportunity to this social justice movement.
Freedom to Marry Links:
Posted in civil liberties, gay marriage, glbt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2009
11:37 AM

CONTACT: Human Rights Campaign
Brad Luna 202/216.1514 Cell: 202/812.8140
Trevor Thomas 202/216.1547 Cell: 202/250.2758

Iowa Becomes First Midwestern State to Recognize Marriage Equality for Gay and Lesbian Couples

Human Rights Campaign Hails Unanimous Iowa Supreme Court Decision as Part of Growing Trend Towards Marriage Equality Across the Country

WASHINGTON - April 3 - The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, applauded  the Iowa state Supreme Court's unanimous 7-0 decision today ruling that the equal protection provision of Iowa Constitution guarantees gay and lesbian couples the same right to marry as heterosexual couples.  As a result of the court's decision in Varnum v. Brien, Iowa becomes the first state in the Midwest and the third in the nation to now recognize marriages for gay and lesbian couples.   

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The Human Rights Campaign represents a grassroots force of over 750,000 members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC envisions an America where LGBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
Human Rights Campaign Links:
Posted in civil liberties, gay marriage, glbt

Same-Sex Marriage Bills Gain in N.E.

Kate Kuykendall (R) and her wife Tori Kuykendall (L) stand with their daughter during a gay rights rally against the Proposition 8 measure at the El Pueblo de Los Angeles park. (AFP/Mark Ralston)

In a special session, the Vermont Senate yesterday voted to legalize same-sex marriage. Later this week, a similar bill is scheduled for a vote in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Next month a legislative panel in Maine will hold a hearing on a bill to allow gay couples to marry, just as lawmakers did last month in Rhode Island.

Little more than five years after the Supreme Judicial Court legalized marriage for same-sex couples in Massachusetts, gay advocates say they're coming closer to their goal of extending gay marriage to all New England states by 2012.

Posted in gay marriage, glbt
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