Radio Left

LA Times: Couple renews its vows in support of gay marriage

Radio Left — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 12:21:00 -0600

Dozens of people appeared at a Beverly Hills courthouse this morning to watch two well-known figures in the gay community renew their wedding vows. Standing under a white chuppah and dressed in matching cream-colored suits, Robin Tyler, 66, and Diane Olson, 55, repeated the words they first spoke last June when they were married in a Jewish ceremony.

The two were the original plaintiffs in a 2004 lawsuit challenging the same-sex marriage ban. After their wedding four years later, they believed they were one of the 18,000 same-sex couples legally married. Since the passage of Proposition 8 -- which recognizes marriage as only between a man and a woman as valid in California-- the couple’s marriage has been unsanctioned. They have since filed a lawsuit with the California Supreme Court arguing the amendment should not be retroactive.

“It’s not about marriage,” Tyler said. “Now it’s about the Constitution.”

After the exchange of vows, the couple shared a red, heart-shaped cake screen-printed with the images of all seven California Supreme Court justices and the words, “Our hearts are in your hands.” Same-sex couples then walked inside the courthouse and attempted to obtain a marriage license but were denied by the same ...

AP: Gay couples protest at marriage bureaus across US

Radio Left — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 12:16:00 -0600

LISA LEFF and VERENA DOBNIK | 20090213

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Same-sex couples seeking to wed showed up at marriage license counters nationwide Thursday to highlight a right they don't have in 48 states, part of an annual protest that took on renewed urgency given recent election setbacks.

In San Francisco, where same-sex marriage was legal for nearly five months last year before California voters approved a ban, many couples who came to City Hall had already tied the knot but wanted to express their gratitude and to show they're still part of the fight.

"All of our marriages are under the cloud of Proposition 8," said Stuart Gaffney, 45, referring to California's ballot initiative banning gay marriage. "Equality is an unfinished business in California."

In Las Vegas, couples gathered outside the downtown marriage bureau with signs that read "Don't hate my love" and "No laws on love." In New York, activists wore signs that said "Just Not Married." They were turned away empty-handed in both places when they asked for marriage licenses.

"We could get married in Massachusetts or Connecticut, but we'll wait a little and see what happens in New York," Matt Flanders, 37, of Brooklyn, said after he ...

ChicagoPride.com: 7 arrested, hundreds protest at Chicago Marriage License Bureau

Radio Left — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 12:03:00 -0600

2009–02–15 | Brett Anthony

Chicago, IL — Valentine's Day was the backdrop for a planned protest by the Gay Liberation Network (GLN) and the Chicago chapter of the Join the Impact part of a nationwide Freedom to Marry Day event aimed to promote and advocate same-sex marriage.

Seven protesters were arrested Saturday when they refused to leave the Cook County Marriage License Bureau in Chicago after clerks said they would not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

When Buddy Bell and Dale Fecker were refused a marriage license, they were joined by Dan Ware, Danielle Karczewski, Jeff Graubart, Erica Chu, and Nick Ferrin for a sit-in at the Bureau located in the Cook County Building, 118 N. Clark St.

"The law divides society into groups and assigns one group rights while giving lesser rights to the other group. The laws violate the equal protection guaranteed for all citizens under the Constitution," said Ferrin.

Meanwhile, about 400 protesters rallied outside the Bureau and then marched to the Bureau's doors with a chant that's been popular here since last spring, "Obama, Obama, let mama marry mama."

The Chicago protesters saw their action as a way to help sway the California Supreme Court to throw ...

Texas Civil Rights Review - Jennifer Gale Death Caused by Lack of Shelter for Transgender Homeless

Radio Left — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:29:00 -0600

Equality Texas mourns the death of Jennifer Gale, a 47-year-old transgender homeless woman who died yesterday. Jennifer's body was found Wednesday morning. She was lying in an outdoor walkway at the First English Lutheran Church in Central Austin.
A perennial candidate for public office in Austin and Dallas, Jennifer's notoriety came through years of putting herself in the public eye. She took a shot at nearly every city office, from council seats, to the mayor's office. She never won, but in 2004, Gale came closer than ever, winning more than 38 percent of the vote for a seat on the Austin ISD School Board.
Jennifer’s voice rang through Austin Council Chamber doors every week, often times in support of the homeless population of which she was a part.
"Let's give the homeless a place to exercise that need jobs and need help," said Gale Tuesday night before the city’s Health Services Board.
Her death points to critical problems faced by the homeless, and especially by homeless women and the transgender homeless.
"Jennifer most nights slept outdoors," said Austin Mayor Will Wynn. "Jennifer, we believe, is the 136th person who has died sleeping on the streets (of Austin) over the last ...

Barack Obama strikes again. Invites bigot to give invocation at his inauguration. Why is anyone surprised?

Radio Left — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:17:00 -0600

Mr. Warren’s political agenda to deny human and civil rights to all people defiles our nation. It’s time to rise up and denounce Mr. Obama. We must let Obama know that we expect him to uphold and advance civil and human rights for all people, not just those preferred by his bigoted friends. We must tell him that asking Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration doesn’t advance diversity or tolerance of opposing opinion any more than asking an anti-Semite, or a white supremacist to give the invocation. GS

President-Elect B. H. Obama kicked gays, pro-choice women, and those who believe in science to the curb – again. That’s why we have warned Democrats here that Mr. Obama cannot be trusted. Sadly, B. H. Obama has proven our low opinion of him to be correct.

Given Mr. Obama’s track record, no one should be surprised that Obama has invited Rick Warren, a right-wing minister who is against gay rights, reproductive rights, and stem-cell research to give the invocation at his inauguration in January.

B. H. Obama’s choice of Warren comes after Obama decided give his campaign promise to eliminate “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and allow gays to serve openly in the U. S. ...