DNC Convention Highlights: Zach Wahls talks about his mothers (MUST SEE SPEECH)

Big donors pull out of DNC fundraiser

It is all about the language of the DOMA ( Defense of Marriage Act) brief filed by the Department of Justice. Frankly, I don't blame the Gay and LGBT communities being angry about a lot of things, especially the wording of that hideous brief. This is a community that has supported Barack Obama through some tough times and took it from him. This brief was a HUGE MISTAKE and may cost the DNC down the road. Obama Administration needs to not only clean it up but FIX it and make it RIGHT with the LBGT community.

Two prominent gay figures, activist David Mixner and widely read blogger Andy Towle, have pulled out of a Democratic National Committee fundraiser later this month amid growing calls to confront the administration at what was supposed to be its first large scale opportunity to bring in gay cash.

"I will not attend a fundraiser for the National Democratic Party in Washington next week when the current administration is responsible for these kind of actions," Mixner wrote of a motion to dismiss a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act that drew a parallel between same-sex marriage to incestuous marriage. "How will they ever take us seriously if we keep forking out money while they harm us. For now on, my money is going to battles within the community such as the fight in Maine or the March on Washington! I am so tired of being told by Democratic operatives to 'suck it up' because so many other profound issues are at stake," Mixner wrote.

"I've had concerns about the lack of movement from the administration on LGBT issues for some time now but I wasn't comfortable attending after that DOMA brief came out," Towle, who writes the widely read Towle Road blog, said in an e-mail.

This is a party of the big tent philosophy, what happened here?

From Howard Dean from Rachel Maddow, last night:

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NH gay marriage all the way!!!

It has been worked out and Governor Lynch signed it into law.

Gay marriage legislation became law in New Hampshire this afternoon.

Gov. John Lynch signed the bills just after 5:20 p.m. before dozens of enthusiastic supporters of same-sex marriage.

New Hampshire's law takes effect Jan. 1.

HB 73, compromise legislation demanded by the governor, was passed by a vote of 14-10 in the Senate and 198-176 in the House today. HB 73 (text), was an add-on to the gay marriage bill itself, HB 436 (text), and to HB 310 (text), which made technical changes to the main bill.

HB 73 clarifies the rights of religious organizations and their employees to refuse to participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies or celebrations. It states that religious groups have exclusive control over doctrine, teaching and beliefs on who can marry within theirfaiths.

The House refused to go along with the Lynch language protecting religion two weeks ago, failing to pass the measure by a single vote.

Some who voted against it at the time said the House was being asked to agree to changes without being given enough time to examine them.

House opponents aired the same complaints today, but the tide had shifted.

"The House has always taken the time to consider the unintended consequences of any bill," said Rep. Betsey Patten, R-Moultonborough.

Supporters of the bill said the new language protects religious beliefs and individual rights.

"Let's vote this one last time. Church and state should be separate," said Rep. Anthony DiFruscia, R-Windham, who helped craft the final compromise language.

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Are you ready for a laugh?

h/t Daily Kos


Conservatives Warn Quick Sex Change Only Barrier Between Gays, Marriage

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California Supreme Courts upholds ban on gay marriage

One caveat, the 18,000 same-sex marriages performed prior to the voter ban are LEGAL.

The California Supreme Court upheld a ban on same-sex marriage today, ratifying a decision made by voters last year that runs counter to a growing trend of states allowing the practice.

The decision, however, preserves the 18,000 marriages performed between the court’s decision last May that same-sex marriage was lawful and the passage by voters in November of Proposition 8, which banned it. Supporters of the proposition argued that the marriages should no longer be recognized.

Today’s decision, written by Chief Justice Ronald M. George for a 6-to-1 majority, said that same-sex couples still have the right to civil unions, which gives them the ability to “choose one’s life partner and enter with that person into a committed, officially recognized, and protected family relationship that enjoys all of the constitutionally based incidents of marriage.” But the justices said that the voters had clearly expressed their will to limit the formality of marriage to heterosexual couples. read more here....

Expect this fight to continue.

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Michael Steele, the gaffe master that keeps on giving....

The gaffe master, Steele of the RNC had the audacity to make this statement:

Republicans can reach a broader base by recasting gay marriage as an issue that could dent pocketbooks as small businesses spend more on health care and other benefits, GOP Chairman Michael Steele said Saturday.

Steele said that was just an example of how the party can retool its message to appeal to young voters and minorities without sacrificing core conservative principles. Steele said he used the argument weeks ago while chatting on a flight with a college student who described herself as fiscally conservative but socially liberal on issues like gay marriage.

"Now all of a sudden I've got someone who wasn't a spouse before, that I had no responsibility for, who is now getting claimed as a spouse that I now have financial responsibility for," Steele told Republicans at the state convention in traditionally conservative Georgia. "So how do I pay for that? Who pays for that? You just cost me money."

He is blaming gay marriage as a financial burder for taxpayers? WTF? And I hope Keith Olbermann is listening and reading this shit because it is truly a WTF in all realms of possiblity.

Of course, someone on Steele's staff, on his behalf will soon trot out and clarify his statements, but we all know what it is.

If the Republican Party wants to broaden its base, it needs to stop the hate rhetoric and be real on trying to reach all the folks they lost like the independents, the young voters, the new voters, the women, the gays, the hispanics, moderate republicans and what it had of the african-american vote. Statements like Steele's don't give the view of the Republic Party as a big tent but one that is a narrow and bigoted group.

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Maine, YES TO GAY MARRIAGE, State #5

Maine governor signs:

Governor Signs LD 1020, An Act to End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom

May 6, 2009

AUGUSTA – Governor John E. Baldacci today signed into law LD 1020, An Act to End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom.

“I have followed closely the debate on this issue. I have listened to both sides, as they have presented their arguments during the public hearing and on the floor of the Maine Senate and the House of Representatives. I have read many of the notes and letters sent to my office, and I have weighed my decision carefully,” Governor Baldacci said. “I did not come to this decision lightly or in haste.”

“I appreciate the tone brought to this debate by both sides of the issue,” Governor Baldacci said. “This is an emotional issue that touches deeply many of our most important ideals and traditions. There are good, earnest and honest people on both sides of the question.”

“In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions,” Governor Baldacci said. “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage.”

Again, government has no business in anyone's bedroom, whom they want to live with, make a life with or have a family with. Republicans, do you get it yet?

Maine: The Way Life Should Be

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