"Ellen DeGeneres says she is 'saddened beyond belief' by the passage of a constitutional amendment in California banning gay marriage. The talk show host said in a statement Wednesday to The Associated Press that she, 'like millions of Americans, felt like we had taken a giant step toward equality' by electing Barack Obama as president. DeGeneres says that with the passage of California’s Proposition 8, 'we took a giant step away.'" [MSNBC]

Democrats took control of New York state's Senate this week, which could be good news for gay marriage advocates, but those hopes may be dashed by conservative party members who are forming a right-leaning coalition. [NY Times]

Ahhh!

Not content with trouncing gay rights in Arizona, California, Florida and 27 other states, right-wing organizations are looking to start up anti-gay initiatives elsewhere.

So says Christian Coalition for America president Roberta Combs:

The American people are proud of their fellow citizens in the states of California, Florida and Arizona for upholding traditional marriage between one man and one woman.

Christian Coalition of America will continue to fight to ensure that government serves to strengthen and preserve, rather than threaten, our families and our values.

Are we the only ones envisioning greedy, brain sucking zombies?

We wish it weren't the case, but we knew it would happen: San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom's taking the blame for gay marriage failure in California. Writes Phil Bronstein: "Gavin Newsom screwed it up" by not campaigning in opposition areas. [San Francisco Chronicle]

"…More than 70 openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender candidates who won election to public office in the US yesterday. The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that financially support LGBT candidates of all parties, endorsed a record-breaking 111 candidates in 2008 and more than 70% of them have won their races. 'This was a watershed election,' said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund." [Pink News]

Gay activists aren't giving up on gay marriage, and neither is Barbara Boxer!

The California Senator promised supporters yesterday that the fight is not over:

Boxer said that despite fellow Democrat Barack Obama’s historic presidential win and gains in both the U.S. House and Senate for her party, Prop. 8 “put a damper effect” on her election night.
…
“This is so not over,” Boxer said at a Wednesday press conference held jointly with California Democratic Party chairman Art Torres. “The fight for equality goes on and on. The fight for a more perfect union goes on and on.”

Boxer pointed out that all the votes still had to be counted. She also suggested the fight might go back to the courts.

“There may be some inconsistencies with our law and our constitution still, so there will be legal challenges that will move forward,” she said.

And, hopefully, so will gay rights.

[Image]

"Sweden’s Christian Democrats have refused to bend on the question of gender neutral marriage, forcing the government to submit a diluted marriage bill to the Riksdag with hopes that a same-sex marriage amendment will be added. The three other parties that make up the ruling centre-right Alliance government had hoped that their Christian Democratic colleagues would agree to including language regarding gender neutral marriage in a comprehensive marriage bill." [The Local]

More bad news for the gays: "Arkansas voters have approved a measure banning unmarried couples who are living together being adoptive or foster parents. The vote imposes a ban that the Legislature balked at authorizing. More than 56 percent of voters supported the ban, said by its proponents to be aimed primarily at keeping gays from becoming foster or adoptive parents. The measure's sponsor, the Arkansas Family Council, tried to paint its as a battle against a 'gay agenda.'" [POQ]

Promising a smooth transition on behalf of the State Department, an emotional Rice went on to say she's "exceptionally proud" of Obama's place as our nation's first black President.

One of the great things about representing this country is that it continues to surprise. It continues to renew itself. It continues to beat all odds and expectations.
…
As an African-American, I'm especially proud, because this is a country that's been through a long journey, in terms of overcoming wounds… That work is not done, but yesterday was obviously an extraordinary step forward.

This election must be exceptionally astounding for Condi, who grew up in then-segregated Birmingham, Alabama.

Speaking of legal protest, an estimated 5,000 people gathered in West Hollywood last night to oppose Proposition 8. Though they were meant to stay on the sidewalks, the crowd broke onto the street and snarled traffic, but remained mostly peaceful throughout. Police did arrest a few rogue activists, including one who jumped on a police car.

It wasn't just gays out on the street last night. Actress Rose McGowan made an appearance and Towleroad reports that Wanda Sykes came out to show some love. West Hollywood mayor Mayor Jeffrey Prang and a number of other politicians later took to a stage down the road and pledged their support to the movement. In addition, Councilman John Duran urged gays to work with other groups to achieve total unity. Sounds good to us!

CONTINUED »

Hey, readers, the right's watching you!

The ever-tenacious Matt Barber - the man who calls us "homofascists" - sent a press release to the conservative set yesterday and took on queer commentators who threaten violence against religious institutions.

These comments, says Barber, should be seen as hate crimes:

Decisions by voters in Florida, Arizona and California to join residents of 27 other states with constitutional protections for traditional marriage have prompted threats of violence against Christians and their churches.
…
Matt Barber, director of cultural affairs for Liberty Counsel, called the statements "hate crimes" for their intent to create violence against someone based on their beliefs.

"This is not just a matter of some people blowing off steam because they're not happy with a political outcome. This is criminal activity," he said. "The homosexual lobby is always calling for 'tolerance' and 'diversity' and playing the role of victim. They claim to deplore violence and 'hate.' Here we have homosexuals inciting, and directly threatening, violence against Christians."

On the "Queerty" website, "Stenar" asked, "Can someone in CA please go burn down the Mormon temples there, PLEASE. I mean seriously. DO IT."

No, don't. First and foremost, violence solves nothing and obviously we don't condone such thinking. Second, if people actually started attacking churches, it would do the gay rights movement a great disservice. We're sure there are other ways to fight for our rights, like public protests, lawyers and other perfectly legal venues.

[via Joe.My.God]

"In the wake of a sometimes bitter, and ultimately successful, campaign to ban same-sex marriage in California, leaders of the Mormon church are calling for civility and kindness from those on both sides of the issue… Salt Lake City-based church elder L. Whitney Clayton says the church is genuinely concerned about the emotional divide created by the gay marriage issue and says he hopes people will treat each other with civility and respect." [KESQ]

[Laughing Squid via MG]

With anti-gay ballot initiatives passing in Arizona, Florida and possibly California, Out editorial queen Aaron Hicklin's got some advice for the lavender set: ask for what you deserve.

…For all that we consider ourselves more politically savvy these days, the campaign against Proposition 8 sometimes lacked the passion and emotion that galvanised the opposition. In their painful diplomacy, the "No on 8" TV ads were often a snooze, the few examples of real gay people creating an impression that we were ashamed of ourselves.

Late tactical changes were welcome, but too late. And yet to blame ourselves when the real culprit is intolerance, ignorance, and old-fashion bigotry, would be misguided. And what the ballot box has taken away, it will surely one day give back again. So far all the ballot initiatives (and there have been many) have come from those opposed to same-sex marriage, putting gay Americans on the defensive. Is it too much to ask that we take the lead next time in creating a ballot proposal that is for marriage equality, thereby draw up the terms?

For those of you confused by this Brit's argument, allow us to translate: we need to grow a collective pair. Oh, and he also describes gay rights issues as a "political liability," an idea that we're sure needs no translation.

Connecticut's same-sex marriages are safe as a potential constitutional convention failed to gain public traction during yesterday's election. [Hartford Courant]