Pam Spaulding's Blog, page 89

Laugh of the night: Petition to Draft Donald Trump for President 2012

I don't know how I got on this mailing list, but here you go...

 

COMMITTEE TO DRAFT DONALD TRUMP IN 2012 FORMED

ST. CHARLES, MO. -- Decorated Iraq War veteran Nick McLaughlin of St. Charles, Missouri, has announced the formation of a grass-roots, all volunteer organization to draft New York developer Donald J. Trump for the 2012 Republican Presidential Nomination.

McLaughlin saw combat in three tours in Iraq in the US Marine Corp and was hit by shrapnel from a car bomb in Ubush, Iraq. He was awarded a Purple Heart and nine other medals including a Presidential citation.

"Under Barak Obama, America has become a laughingstock around the world," said McLaughlin. "America needs a strong leader like Donald Trump to restore America's economic strength and respect around the world."

McLaughlin, who has never been active in politics before, said he had filed the committee with the Federal Election Commission and that the organization was not directed, authorized or funded by Trump. "I have never met Mr. Trump," said McLaughlin, "But I am certain he is the man America needs."

McLaughlin said the Draft Committee has posted a website at www.DraftTrump2012.com and would seek to collect one half million citizen signatures on petitions urging Trump to enter the 2012 contest. 

If you go to the DraftTrump site, the puffery is hilarious.

 Donald Trump is one of the most successful business leaders in the world; he would bring a unique perspective to a Republican primary field populated with has-been and never-were politicians eager to curry support with traditional political horse-trading and backroom favors. As a global manager and executive, owing no favors to any political boss or party, Trump would bring needed credibility and independence to a presidential campaign.

  His candor and honesty are never in question; Trump is famous for saying what he believes and has decades of phenomenal success in business to validate his judgment, eye for talent, and ability to manage people, which are the key qualities required in a Commander-in-Chief.

 

Trump is an excellent communicator, bringing a lifetime of experience in talking and listening to people. He is perhaps the finest negotiator in America, and someone with the mental toughness that a President must show in fighting for America's interests. 

 

Maryland faith leaders stand up for transgender equality

Last week when I watched videos of the prayer breakfast that Equality Maryland sponsored for pro-equality faith leaders, I realized that although it's probably happened before, it was the first time the I'd seen clergy making public statements in support of gender identity and expression anti-discrimination legislation.  I wanted to hear more from these folks about what motivates their allyship so I invited several to share their thoughts with us.  Below are my conversations with just a small subset of Maryland's faith leaders who are allies of the trans community: Rabbi Sarah Meytin (Reform Judaism), Rev. Lisa Ward (Unitarian Universalist), Dr. Dana Beyer (Orthodox Judaism) and Rev. Jill McCrory (Southern Baptist).

These four represent a wide variety of faith traditions and life experiences yet easily find common ground on the issue of equality and dignity for trans folk.  Seeing such different paths lead to the same place is a great reminder that equality and dignity for all people are universal concepts.

Note on the current bill: It should be clear from the responses of these faith leaders that their dedication to justice for trans people runs much deeper than any particular bill.  They're in it for the duration.  I think it would be a mistake to transfer anger about the content of the current bill onto allies who have stepped forward in good faith to lend their support.
Rabbi Sarah Meytin is a lesbian ally of transfolk who lives in Montgomery County.

Tell me about your observations as a preschool teacher.

It's so powerful as a preschool teacher to see how important this legislation is.  I see these little boys in particular who go through this phase of loving to dress up and be pretty.  Then they start getting shut down by the girls in the class who say dresses are only for girls, pink is only for girls.  And of course they get those messages from outside also, like at the store "oh no, that's the girl's section, come over here to the ugly boys clothes."

Most boys start moving away from it around the age of four or so.  But for the boys who don't, or for the ones who really strongly identify with pretty and girly things -- pink is their favorite color, they really like fairies, they want to dress in pretty tutus -- it's really challenging.  To know that these kids are going into a world where someone's going to say it's not o.k. for you to be who you are, and more than that I'm going to make your life a living hell because I don't "get it"?  Heart wrenching.  These are innocent little kids who want to wear a pink dress, and so what?  It kills me.

It's not to say that all the little boys who like pink and frilly dresses are trans.  But for those who will be, it's heart wrenching to think that the world is going to tell them that they can't be who they are.  To be constantly told from the age of 2 or 3 that you're not normal, there's something that's different or off or wrong about you, gets internalized.

Why would we do that to another human being?  Why would we create that depression, that self-hatred, that fear, that anger that gets internalized because we have a problem with the fact that a little boy likes a dress, regardless of their gender identity?

In what way is your advocacy for justice for transgender people informed by your religious beliefs?

I feel very strongly that Judaism looks first and foremost at the dignity of every individual.  These laws and protections have everything to do with guaranteeing the dignity of other human beings in our community.  My entire career has been working at the intersection of Judaism and social justice.  For me both marriage equality and gender identity anti-discrimination work are justice issues.

I believe that God loves all of God's children, and God wants us to try to find a way to create the most just and loving world we can.  And God cries when we do things that deny the dignity or worth of a fellow human being.

Rev. Lisa Ward is a straight ally of transfolk living in Harford County.

What moved you to support the gender identity bill?

Injustice for anyone is injustice for all of us.  It's very important to treat each person equally, especially in the eyes of the law.  Any kind of discrimination that impedes a person's ability to live a full life is something we need to address and stop.

You testified last year for the gender identity anti-discrimination bill.  What was that like?

It's very exciting.  For gender identity, it's a concept that not everyone is ready to fully address and is confusing for a lot of people.  If people have discomfort around gay, lesbian or bisexual issues, transgender is really sort of the cutting edge.  

If people are having a hard time wrapping their heads around it I think it's because we are trained in binary thinking: male/female, good/bad.   This is opening up the spectrum of identity that can shake people's foundations.  So when you're testifying in front of the legislature, I feel...I don't feel discouraged because I know we're going to keep talking about it until it gets done.  But I do feel that it has further to go than say marriage equality, for example.  

We have further to go in getting people to understand what gender identity is?

Yes, although I think that most people don't want discrimination.  I think if you concentrate on anti-discrimination, then that can be understood.  Getting to a point of tolerance is possible through anti-discrimination, but when we want to get deeper into acceptance and understanding and dwelling with one another and not judging, that has a ways to go I think.

What's your experience been speaking with your legislators on this issue?

A few years ago Human Rights Campaign had a whole conference on gender identity anti-discrimination, and we went to see one of our Delegates from the county.  I was surprised by her lack of knowledge of the issue, that she didn't think there was any discrimination for transgender people!  It just wasn't on her radar screen.

That's one thing that happens in more rural areas like where I serve.  You can't see difference although there are transgender folk out here, but there's less intimate knowledge of in some ways, and transgender definitely.  So it was like starting from "A" with that Delegate. It really surprised me when she said there was no discrimination.  At least we got it on her radar.  

Delegates try and vote for their constituency and they care about their constituents, but they also care about keeping their jobs.  They care more about majority opinions often even though they try not to.  So for something like this, when you're coming in with a minority opinion it's difficult to get them behind it.

You know for this issue I have really grown a lot and learned a lot.  Even though I've been an advocate for a long time in general for LGBT, in terms of transgender it's new for me.  I'd say its several years new.  I can still remember some of the eye-opening things.  I never felt like I was prejudiced, but I definitely had stereotypes.

What provided the breakthrough for you?

Having a transgender congregant, then forming a friendship with someone I'd asked to come up and talk about transgender issues.  She's a very good spokesperson, Ann Arno.  We did a dialog sermon together, and that really opened eyes.

As you said allies need to do this work because it's so exhausting to be transgender and than have to fight for your own rights.  That can be very exhausting.

The best thing is for people to meet transgender folk and see that indeed they are human beings.  I think transgender folk are a gift to our awareness of being, a gift to our understanding more deeply the spectrum of being and to help us break out of our binary.

Any parting thoughts?

Even if the anti-discrimination bill gets passed -- and again more people are against discrimination so it could pass -- I wouldn't say we're out in the clear.  There needs to be a lot more cultural work to really authentically welcome transgender folk.

Dr. Dana Beyer is a transsexual woman living in Montgomery County.  Although Dana isn't clergy she knows the Torah well, most of it by heart having read it in synagogue for 50 years.  She offers valuable first-hand experience and scholarship to illuminate the intersection of Orthodox Judaism and gender identity.

Is Orthodox Judaism trans-friendly?

The Jewish community with the exception of a good portion of the Orthodox is very supportive of equality.  The interesting thing though is that the Orthodox community is not very accepting of homosexuality, but they are much more accepting of transsexualism.  I knew this back in the 1970s when Israel's leading bioethecist who was a rabbi by the name of Waldenberg came out with his responsum, which is the way Jewish law is promulgated, and stated that he wouldn't proactively come out and say that gender reassignment surgery is a good thing to do but if it's been done than welcome to the community, and you're a woman.

It's hard to argue with him because he was the expert.  He was the sage.  We don't have a pope, so anybody can claim that their own rabbi is their local wise man per se (or woman now but in the Orthodox community it's wise man), but this guy was the leading community bioethecist.  He lived in Israel and he said this so it was sort of like, ok he told me when I was a kid that you're not as perverted as you thought you were.  That made a huge difference in my life and it's something I use when I speak to Jews and say that before the Reformed, before the Reconstructionists, before the Conservatives even began to deal with this issue, Rabbi Waldenberg came out using Orthodox legal logic and said it's ok to be trans.

That makes a huge difference, and so when I transitioned my rabbi didn't give me any problems at all.  I just said well here are the texts and he said that's fine.  It's very important that the rabbi is not going to get up there and start thundering "and a man shall not lie with a man...".  You know it doesn't even say that actually in Leviticus.

What about others in the congregation?  Were there any problems?

People on a religious basis, no not at all.  Only on a personal basis.  Some people were squeamish and other people were standoffish and others embraced me.  You know what it's like, it's any group of folks they have different experiences.

By now it's been 8 years.  There's not a person that has a problem at all. Some of the men had a hard time hugging me at the beginning, kissing me at the beginning.  Well after 6 months that was all past.

I transitioned in place, so they new me before.  I was a value to the community and they knew I would be afterwords.  Which I tell people is really the best way to go about it.  It's ironic that in the past the way to deal with it was to leave town, leave your family, revise your history, go stealth and start all over.   But when you do that, you don't have value to that community.  You have to prove yourself to a new community.  

If you do it in place, people know you.  If they like you before you transition, the odds are they're going to like you better afterwords.  Because they know who you are, they know what you do.  Then your identity isn't as important.  It's like family - we know who this person is but are they going to be different or are they the same person?  And once it's all done they go, well you know you're really different, but you're still the same.  Except you're not angry any more, you don't have the cloud over you any more.  

And so they get it, but they don't know that they're going to get it  because they haven't experienced it before.  That's the problem with Americans, they don't know many trans people.

Are Rabbi Waldenberg's views still respected by Orthodox Jews today?

Yes.  Obviously Jewish history goes back a long way.  The Greeks knew a lot about intersex.  And then the Jews who lived alongside the Greeks during the Hellenistic era learned a lot of the Greek science about it and then promulgated that in the Talmud.  The rabbis spoke about not only animal intersex but they certainly knew about human intersex.  There are a bunch of categories of human intersex individuals and the rabbis recognize it.  They weren't afraid to talk about it.

But back in the 19th century in Germany, those pages were removed from the Talmud in those printed editions.  Because that's when the Germans pathologized sexuality.  They did it for trans people and they did it for homosexuals.  So that was removed because the Jews who were doing that were part of the era where sexuality was something we're not going to talk about.

It's only been recently that it's been put back.  So generations were raised without even knowing this stuff existed.  And now we know that 2,000 years ago our sages were aware of this stuff.  And they were pretty liberal about it too.  They understood that human beings are made this way and that it wasn't that God made an error and you need to be condemned and thrown out of the community.

Sometimes our ancestors were a lot smarter than we are today, and sometimes not.  But you go through these cycles and you can't simply accept what is as if its always been that way.  Often you've got to be willing to dig.

Rev. Jill McCrory is a straight ally of trans folk living in Montgomery County.  She just became the Chair of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists.

How does your faith inform your support for gender identity anti-discrimination legislation?

Although it certainly is about civil rights, I tend not to describe it that way in that I really think it's about supporting all people.  When we come over to the theological or the religious side of that conversation, for Christians -- and I'm of the Baptist tradition -- we've been taught to include all and that Christ sat at the table with all and welcomed all.  So I really look at it as the inclusion of everyone and the fighting for people's rights as people is not contrary to the gospel.  

Jesus taught that we were to welcome all.  Jesus didn't set parameters as far as, gosh really anything.  In fact He spoke in the opposite direction of if you're too affluent and you're too proud and you're too pompous then you're going off on the wrong track.  If you're being exclusive then you're on the wrong track.

Now, did he speak about sexuality?  No.  But did he speak against any kind of sexuality?  No.  So I think the bigger picture is, what happens when we create a separate people or a separate group or a marginalized group?  That could be around poverty, it could be around culture or race -- it can be about anything when we separate a particular group of people out and say "you are not equal and not like the rest of us".

So in whether we're talking about marriage or inclusion in the church or employment practices, how can we we support separating a certain people out?

What's been your experience speaking with your legislators on equality bills or working with others in your district to do the same?

I'm blessed to live in a very supportive district so my legislators aren't an issue.  At least on the Delegate's side.  But do I have an opportunity to talk to the opposition?  Absolutely.  I've testified before the Maryland House of Delegates and my experience with the legislature is that we have to put a personal face on this.  We're not talking about something that doesn't affect actual people.

I think what we saw last week (at the first lobby day) when legislators were able to see families, parents and their children and grandchildren who said "we are people and what you're doing is making decisions about our lives."  And I don't know what the legislators expected to see, but this was a group of normal people!  I mean really.

I'm wondering if it's easier for gay people than transgender people to do that in every district because there seem to be more gay than transgender people.

I can't speak for the transgender community because I'm not trensgender, so I don't know.  What you need to know about me is that I'm a straight ally.  And just like the straight allies really need to speak out for the LGBT community, I think our gay and lesbian community needs to speak out for the transgender community as well.  So we have to speak for one another until everyone is comfortable speaking.

This is the same thing that happened in D.C. when the marriage issue came up.  There were clergy there that had worked together before on issues of poverty, so they had come together for each other in a different way.  And then when the clergy reached out and said we need you now for this issue which is important to us, and the clergy where that wasn't on their radar said since you helped us with poverty, we need to help you with this.  And I think it's the same thing with whether you're gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, straight ally, queer, questioning -- whatever the letter is -- we have to step into that space and help each other.

There may be a day when I need my LGBT brothers and sisters to come to my aid as a straight ally.  And certainly in this environment I need that backing when I step out into that conservative Christian environment.  Especially the Baptists.  When I have to stand up to my fellow Baptists and say "there's a different story here that you're not hearing".  So we need each other.

How can LGBT people support you and other clergy stepping forward and taking heat for us?

It's being willing to be there when that need is there.  If I see a need in the community I'll step up.  If you see a need you step up.  It may be that we're both stepping up together for the transgender community, it may be that straight allies and transgender folk are stepping up -- it's the willingness that needs to be there.

Tell us a little bit about your experience being an ally in the Baptist church.

Seven years ago I thought I was the only Baptist that thought this way.  I was in a Southern Baptist church, I was in seminary and I thought I was the only Baptist that had a liberal viewpoint on LGBT.

I was raised in the Southern Baptist church and I felt called to seminary but I've always been a part of the gay community.  Not only that but I when I said I was called to preach they said I was mistaken because I was a woman.  

So I started doing pulpit supply for a Metropolitan Community Church and couldn't tell them.  So I was closeted as a straight person, which I think was God showing me just a little bit, a little tiny taste because I don't purport to know what it's like to be closeted.  But a little tiny taste of what it feels like to not be able to tell your church the truth.

So I would say "I'm preaching for a little non-denomination church up near Germantown".  "Well what church?"  "Ah, it's not important."  It was very important!  This was where I learned to preach.

I didn't know if I was safe.  I didn't know there was anybody else like me.  Then I met the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, realized the we had several Baptist churches in the area that were welcoming and affirming, got involved and realized that there are all sorts of Baptists like me.

Ten years later I was ordained in the American Baptist church.  The pastor of that Southern Baptist church who had told me that I was going to have to choose between ministry and those people when I told him I was not only called to preach but I was called to the LGBT community -- he gave the invocation at my ordination.  I had 10 officiating clergy at my ordination, and they were Baptist, Disciples of Christ, MCC, they were African-Americans, they were white - I had this cornucopia of people.  And he said to me, I cannot in good conscience judge these people, having seen all these clergy who are obviously Christian.  We change people's minds maybe slowly -- it took 10 years -- through our actions and the kinds of things that we're doing.  

So yeah I was in a Southern Baptist church and couldn't tell anybody what was going on, couldn't tell them I was over at this MCC church, and it was years before I told people in that congregation "what you need to understand is I have this ministry".  Some people said oh my gosh I'll pray for you, and some people said well, o.k..  We change one mind at a time.

NC: intolerance emerges in the Outer Banks as it plans its Pride celebration

I've been to the Outer Banks of North Carolina several times, including a memorable stay in beautiful Corolla, to climb up the lighthouse at Currituck, and when you could see the wild ponies (when they were still able to walk free in the town). It has always been an open and welcome community, but apparently the prospect of holding a family-friendly Pride event has stirred up the bigots.

Though the town of Nags Head is not advertising the event on its website, Mayor Bob Oakes supports it. His company, Village Realty, is even a sponsor for the event. He tells NewsChannel 3 Nags Head is known for its hospitality - they welcome everyone.

But that's not making headlines. Instead, the focus is on the drama between supporters and protestors.

"We're not pushing an agenda, we're not recruiting people," said John Toll, supporter.

But of course, the haters (some probably not even residents) of the LGBT population are leaving comments like this:

One Craig's List post states: "Hopefully someone will crash the party with an AK", referring to an AK-47.

Another post states: "Stop trying to convince us of your 'normalcy'. Stop destroying the values of decency, and stop flaunting your degenerate lifestyle in front of us."

...Tom and Amy Breiner spend summers on the Outer Banks. They say it's not about being afraid. They simply do not approve of how homosexuals live their lives.

"We're not hateful towards them, we don't have to agree. Yeah, we're not hateful."

"We will bring our grandkids and we don't want them around that. You know we will have to explain, they're at that age where they ask. Well I'll tell them the truth, but I don't want to be around it."

One resident, Paula Brooks, emailed me:

This is MY HOME.... My twins were born here.... My beloved wife's ashes are on those beaches... this could not be MORE about family to me...Hate has no place in the OBX.

These are MY Outer Banks as well, as a native North Carolinian, and I don't appreciate bigots -- native or parachuting in for holiday -- trying to cleanse or hide the diversity there. And thank you Village Realty for supporting Pride and the real Outer Banks spirit.

H/t, LezGetReal.

Rick Perry boasts personal experience to claim success of Texas abstinence-only sex ed programs

In what has to be one of the most moronic answers to a basic and serious question about the effectiveness of abstinence-only sex ed in a state that ranks #3 in the number of teen pregnancies and No. 1 in repeat teen pregnancies, Governor Rick Perry cites his personal experience, not statistics, to claim these ridiculous programs are working.

Texas is doing as little as possible to help women - especially young women - avoid unwanted pregnancy. For one thing, it's extremely tough for teenagers to get contraceptives in Texas. "If you are a kid, even in college, if it's state-funded you have to have parental consent," said Susan Tortolero, director of the Prevention Research Center at the University of Texas in Houston.

..."Abstinence works," said Governor Perry during a televised interview with Evan Smith of The Texas Tribune.

"But we have the third highest teen pregnancy rate among all states in the country," Smith responded.

"It works," insisted Perry.

"Can you give me a statistic suggesting it works?" asked Smith.

"I'm just going to tell you from my own personal life. Abstinence works," said Perry, doggedly.

Do we now have to ask Governor Good Hair about the details of his personal experience in order to analyze why abstinence-only is effective for the entire Lone Star State as the babies continue to be popped out by teens?

Iowa grandmother speaks in favor of marriage equality

We need lots of videos from the heart as the bigots continue to push to enshrine bigotry in state constitutions.

80 year old grandmother speaks about her gay son, his marriage and the effect the gay marriage debate is having on her and her family. Note from Jeanne's son: the voice at the end of the video is my sister. I am incredibly proud of her. She is a great mom! John

And a stark reminder -- while we fight for basic civil rights and respect, we have to remember that if you're in Uganda, it may be the world's worst place to be gay...

BBC's Scott Mills travels to Uganda where the death penalty could soon be introduced for being gay. The gay Radio 1 DJ finds out what it's like to live in a society which persecutes people like him and meets those who are leading the hate campaign.

Guest Column: The freedom to marry is denied to Ben & Danny on Valentine's Day

Note from Lurleen: On Valentine's Day 2011 Ben Crowther and Danny Canham joined dozens of other LGBT couples in over 13 states taking part in GetEqual's direct action "drawing attention to the fact that loving couples - some of whom have been together for decades - are still living as second-class citizens without the right to marry."  I asked Ben and Danny to describe their experience and they kindly agreed.  Here is their story in their own words.

On Valentine's Day, two students marched down to the local courthouse in Bellingham, WA and demanded they be given a marriage license. As expected, they were denied and turned away, but not without giving bystanders a show first.

As the Washington State Co-Lead of GetEQUAL, Ben Crowther started hearing about Valentine's Day protests several weeks ago. The stories and plans of other activists from around the country and the energy, passion, and creativity he heard from them inspired him to organize an event where he lives in Washington. The night before the action was to take place, he asked who among his friends wanted to try and marry him the next day.

His friend, Danny Canham, volunteered to be his partner in crime. While Danny doesn't view marriage as a necessity for equality or something that should be aspired to, actions for equality are still actions for equality. No matter the cause, even if one doesn't believe in marriage equality specifically this was an action worth participating in.
While neither intends to get married in the near future, they want the opportunity for this to be available in the future. Additionally, institutional inequality is inherently damaging because it establishes a system wherein some identities are designated as inferior.

That afternoon, Ben and Danny met to plan their action. Together they filled out their application for a marriage license. As they reviewed the application, Ben noticed the gendered language of the form and quickly decided to correct it so the form read "male" and "fe male." They alerted their friends and reporters from the campus newspaper and within an hour were headed to the courthouse.

Knowing the reality that they would be rejected, Crowther and Canham approached the demonstration to prove a point. They wanted to challenge the state office, forcing them to justify the law while simultaneously showing how ridiculous it was. Further, they aimed to raise awareness of this as an important issue. As they learned from reading the article in the school paper the next day, this was the first time the Whatcom County state auditor had had a same-sex couple apply for a marriage license in her 23 years.

Entering the Licensing Office with an entourage of media in tow and forms in hand, they took their place in line. A county records clerk called them forward, and as they explained their intent to apply for a marriage license, the clerk became uneasy and explained that Washington does not allow same-sex couples to marry. The clerk suggested that they instead apply for a domestic partnership, which offers all the state benefits of marriage. When they questioned the value of domestic partnerships and demanded to know why they were excluded from marriage, the clerk quickly called in the state auditor.

By this point, others in the office were taking notice of the fuss being made at the counter, their heads peaking over cubicle walls. The state auditor approached the counter. When Ben asked why the pair couldn't get married that day, she urged them to speak to the state legislature attempting to remain polite as possible while clearly becoming increasingly frustrated.

Ben immediately pointed out that she was the one who ultimately decided whether or not they would walk away with a marriage license that day. As the person in a position of authority at the moment, she was the one saying no, and he would be approaching the legislature regardless.

When she made the argument that she was not legally allowed to give them a marriage license, Ben countered with the fact that she was under no obligation to follow a law that is unconstitutional under multiple court rulings specifically that stating laws against marriage equality are against the constitution. Ben made similar arguments to President Obama at a protest before the fall elections when it was first ruled that Don't Ask Don't Tell was unconstitutional.

He asked how she would react if they were an interracial couple. Would she deny them in that instance even though it has been ruled unconstitutional? He was met with the same lines. Talk to the legislature to change the laws, talk to the Secretary of State office about getting a domestic partnership. The problem with domestic partnerships is that they create a separate but equal system that is inherently flawed. If it were actually equal to marriage, there would be no reason for different names.

He brought up the point that even if he and Danny had been together for 20 years, regardless of their relationship, they would still be denied access to the 1138 Federal rights associated with marriage, simply because they both had penises. Yet he could have married Eliza Chan who Ben only known for about a week simply because she has a vagina. Comically, he stood between Eliza and Danny saying "marriage" and "domestic partnership" as he stepped from one to the other.

After one final question, Ben wished the room a happy Valentine's Day and walked out the door. He was told later that as the debate escalated, a security guard had entered the office.

Outside, they were asked what they would have done if the auditor had granted them a marriage license. Both approached the action presenting themselves as a hypothetical couple, the idea being to bring light the failures within the system not to actually get married. Had they been offered, they would have accepted the license, being the first same-sex couple in state history to have received a license.  

California Supreme Court Accepts Prop 8 Question

The California Supreme Court has decided to accept the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals request to decide whether the Defendant-Intervenor's in Perry v Schwarzenegger (the Proposition 8 case) have standing under California law to act as defendants in the case.

As the notice says, oral arguments are estimated to be heard sometime in September of 2011. That would mean a decision would not be likely until some time in 2012. That would mean the case would not get back to the Ninth Circuit until some time after that in 2012. When they would issue an opinion on standing and/or an opinion of the actual case (whether Proposition 8 violates the US Constitution) is anyone's guess.

In any case any decision is likely to be appealed to the US Supreme Court, which would not likely hear the case until late 2012 or 2013.

One thing is clear: Marriage equality (or denial of marriage equality) in California via the courts is a long, long way off.

The request, pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 8.548, that this court decide a question of California law presented in a matter pending in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, is granted. For the purposes of briefing and oral argument, defendant-intervenors Dennis Hollingsworth, Gail J. Knight, Martin F. Gutierrez, Mark A. Jansson, and ProtectMarriage.com (collectively "Proponents") are deemed the petitioners in this court. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.520(a)(6).) In order to facilitate expedited consideration and resolution of the issues presented, and to accommodate oral argument in this matter as early as September, 2011, the normal briefing schedule is shortened, pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 8.68, as follows: The opening brief on the merits is to be served and filed on or before Monday, March 14, 2011. The answer brief on the merits is to be served and filed on or before Monday, April 4. A reply brief may be served and filed on or before Monday, April 18. Any person or entity wishing to file an amicus curiae brief must file an application for permission to file such brief, accompanied by the proposed brief, on or before Monday, May 2, 2011. Any party may serve and file an omnibus reply to any or all amicus curiae briefs on or before Monday, May 9, 2011. The court does not contemplate any extension of the above deadlines. Votes: Cantil-Sakauye, C.J., Kennard, Baxter, Werdegar, Chin, Moreno, and Corrigan, JJ.

Perry v Schwarzenegger

NC: Sen. Jim Forrester plans to file marriage amendment bill

From Equality NC:

NC Sen. Jim Forrester is planning to file a bill (he's done it 8 years in a row) to amend our state constitution to discriminate against LGBT North Carolinians soon. As he works to get other senators to sign on as co-sponsors, Equality NC calls on supporters of fairness to contact their senators in opposition to this bill.

The bill, as proposed in previous sessions, would deny same-sex couples access to marriage and any other form of relationship recognition, including partner benefits from private employers. Equality NC has already been working to stop this amendment from passing. Nearly 200 supporters from across the state met with legislators at yesterday's Day of Action at the General Assembly.

"This hurtful bill would do real damage in North Carolina," said Ian Palmquist, Executive Director. "It harms couples who seek the most basic protections of their families. It hurts LGBT young people who are told they are unworthy of being treated equally with their peers. And it harms our North Carolina businesses who want to operate in a state that attracts and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce."

"It's telling that Sen. Forrester has gone back on his word," said Palmquist. "Just a few weeks ago, he told his hometown paper that he would not file the anti-gay amendment this year to focus on jobs, but instead he's busy trying to put bigotry and discrimination into our constitution."

In order to become part of the constitution, the bill must pass both the House and Senate with a 3/5ths super-majority, and would then go to the ballot for approval by a simple majority of voters. The Governor cannot veto a constitutional amendment.

North Carolinians can email their state Senator here.

I attended the Day of Action yesterday, and we not only face an amendment with the GOP now in control, we have to deal with the fact that North Carolina doesn't have any non-discrimination laws on the books that protect people based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Ian Palmquist:

Here are some photos of the event. I'll have more on the conference later; in the meantime, read Jake Geller-Goad's fine diary. QNotes coverage is here.  

Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach to retire - with full rank and pension

Some positive news today, via The Advocate:

Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, who fought his discharge from the Air Force under the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, will be allowed to retire in October with his full rank and pension.

The South Bend Tribune reported on the news about the Notre Dame graduate and decorated 20-year veteran of combat flight.

"It was a great sense of relief. I didn't expect it," said the 41-year-old Fehrenbach to the newspaper.

According to the Tribune, "With no further explanation, the military in January sent Fehrenbach new orders: Effective Sept. 30, he will be retired from active duty at his current rank and with his pension. He'll serve out the remaining months of his military duty at his current desk job at the base in Idaho."

NC: Gruesome hate crime in Hickory - man on 911 call claims Mucinex, gay panic made him do it

Not. Again. And the novel addition is that the cough medicine made him do it.

In the 911 call a suspect made after the death of his roommate, he claims he overdosed on cough medicine, causing him to kill him and mutilate the body.

At about 4:45 a.m., 19-year-old Michael Anderson called 911, saying he murdered his roommate, Stephen Starr, at the home they shared on Ruth Road in Mountain View.

In the call, the teenager told the telecommunicator, "I did some things to his body that you don't want them to see. You're not going to know who it is."

..."I Od'd on Mucinex DM. Dextromethorphan makes me feel a little weird and I took too many," Anderson said.

That this is going to be the defense is laughable if it wasn't so digusting - he's basically saying he has an gay "on-off" switch. And when it's off, apparently he's violent.

About 4 minutes and 30 seconds into the call, the telecommunicator asks what sparked the attack. Anderson said it was because he was straight, and Starr was gay. According to him, the two met at a gay club. Anderson said he was straight, but went to the club to experiment.

"I met him and went to his house and he took me in and I turned straight again. And he wanted to touch me and stuff and I wouldn't let him, and he kept trying. And I waited until he went to sleep and then I shot him three times. And I mutilated him very badly and I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Oh God, please help me."

Good luck with that defense, Anderson; even in Hickory, that sounds like a flaming pile of crap. The comments at the news site are interesting, btw. Here's the call.

H/t, SNT.