California Supreme Court to hear same-sex marriage cases today
March 04, 2008
Chris Johnson
LINK TO SOURCE

The California Supreme Court will finally hear oral arguments today in six cases challenging the constitutionality of state laws that prohibit same-sex couples from marrying -- four years after the court stopped San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome from issuing same-sex marriage licenses. The lawsuits were filed in March 2004 in the aftermath of the court's decision to halt Mayor Newsome's bold move on behalf of marriage equality. The 4,000 marriages that Mayor Newsome presided over were later voided by the California Supreme Court. Following today's hearing, the high court will have 90 days to issue its opinion.

Unknown "Giliorole jijú" Trusting - 16 years, 2 months, 2 days ago

African lesbians to hold summit for rights
published Thursday, February 28, 2008
LINK TO SOURCE

The Coalition of African Lesbians will host a conference for the people of Mozambique to discuss topics of discrimination and injustice toward LGBT people, specifically lesbians, Reuters reported Tuesday.

In certain areas in Africa, death by stoning is an accepted punishment for those sentenced for having consensual gay sex. In April 2007, the International Lesbian and Gay Association reported that 38 of the 85 U.N. members opposed to rights for LGBT people are from Africa.

Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe has been quoted as calling gays "worse than dogs and pigs." And while South Africa legalized same-sex marriage in 2006, many in the coalition say that LGBT South Africans often encounter intense discrimination.

"People are facing detention and arrest, three lesbians were brutally murdered in South Africa, and several others in Sierra Leone," coalition director and spokeswoman Fikile Vilakazi said to Reuters.

"We want to get Africans to start talking openly about sexuality in their own way," Vilakazi said. (The Advocate)
Unknown "Giliorole jijú" Trusting - 16 years, 2 months, 5 days ago

N.J. governor concerned civil unions don't bring equal rights
By TOM HESTER Jr. | Associated Press Writer
5:30 PM EST, February 19, 2008
LINK TO SOURCE


TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Tuesday said he has "significant concerns" about whether civil unions give gay couples the same rights as married couples, but didn't back a quick change to state law.

A spokeswoman said the Democratic governor would sign a bill allowing gay marriage, but not until after November's presidential election.

"He will sign a bill, but doesn't want to make it a presidential election year issue," Corzine spokeswoman Lilo Stainton said.

Gay activists want gay marriage approved in New Jersey by year's end.

Steven Goldstein, chairman of gay rights group Garden State Equality, said a state report that found civil unions creates a second-class status for gay couples boosts their claims that the unions don't work.

It found gay couples in Massachusetts _ the only state that allows gay marriage _ don't experience the legal complications that those in New Jersey do.

"New Jersey's civil union law segregates, discriminates and humiliates the very people it is supposed to help," Goldstein said.

Goldstein said the group, which plans to run radio ads supporting gay marriage, received 568 complaints from couples that their employers or others aren't respecting their civil unions.

Unknown "Giliorole jijú" Trusting - 16 years, 2 months, 17 days ago

Out4Immigration Supports National Freedom to Marry Week
LINK TO SOURCE

The 11th annual Freedom to Marry Week (February 10-16) is here, and while some gay and lesbian Americans see this as a cause to celebrate how far the issue of gay marriage in the US has advanced, one sector of the community has good cause to say that domestic partnerships, civil unions and state marriage laws are not enough.

“Same-sex binational couples, in which one partner is American and the other is foreign born, suffer a unique and humiliating brand of discrimination when they try to keep their relationships intact on US soil,” explains Michael Lim, Vice President of the national grassroots organization Out4Immigration, a group dedicated to raising awareness about the discrimination LGBT Americans and their foreign partners face under current US immigration law.

Unknown "Giliorole jijú" Trusting - 16 years, 2 months, 26 days ago

Get over it, posters will tell anti-gay bullies
By John Bynorth
LINK TO SOURCE

THE CHARITY Stonewall Scotland will tomorrow launch the most provocative advertising campaign aimed at tackling homophobic abuse and hate crime ever seen in Scotland.

Garish red posters will appear at 53 locations with the slogan, created by schoolchildren: "Some people are gay. Get over it!" Campaigners hope the message will educate the public against homophobic bullying at school and work.

The move follows the Scottish government's backing for a private members bill by the Green MSP, Patrick Harvie, which aims to tackle hate crime against gay people and the disabled.

Stonewall Scotland director Calum Irving said: "That it's taken us so long to get hate crime legislation suggests Scotland needs to wake up to the fact that we still have homophobic elements.

"It's time for a hard-hitting message that works in any environment. It will also appeal to those who don't have a problem with gay people and want others to get over it'."

A scheme based on the slogan will be launched in schools later this year.

Unknown "Giliorole jijú" Trusting - 16 years, 2 months, 27 days ago