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» Heroes!
San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom and New York Governor David Paterson (pictured) will host a fundraiser here in New York City to raise money against Proposition 8, a California ballot measure meant to overturn gay marriage in the Golden State. Tickets start at $5,000, which should help beat the cash heavy right-wing. Both men have championed gay marriage rights in their respective states. [365 Gay] |
» (Perceptive) Words…
"I think the Republican Party is too smart to call Barack Obama 'black' in a sense that it would be a negative. But you can take something about his life, which I noticed they did at the Republican Convention – a 'community organizer.' They kept saying it, they kept laughing. I think where there are overtones is when there are uses of language that are designed to inhibit other people's progress with a subtle reference to their race." - New York Governor David Paterson on the GOP's Barack Obama attacks. [WCBS via SH] |
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» Gubernatorial Leaders.
"Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick and New York governor David Paterson have more than a few things in common. Of course, there’s the obvious: Both men are handsome, charismatic, and in their 50s. Both are the first black governors of their states—and only the second and third nationwide since Reconstruction. But less obvious — at least to the average voter — is their similar dedication to pro-gay politics." [The Advocate] |
» Tossed!
"A New York state judge has thrown out the first direct legal challenge to the governor's move to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. Judge Lucy Billings says in her ruling Tuesday that the policy is a "permissible" step toward equality for gays and lesbians… A Christian legal group in Arizona had sued in New York, saying the issue should be decided by that state's Legislature. The organization and the office of Gov. David Paterson had no immediate response to the ruling." [AP] |
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Entitled the "Safe Schools for All Children Bill," this latest measure looks a lot like the Dignity Bill, including trans protections, but there are subtle differences. Perhaps most importantly, "Safe Schools" leaves no room for litigation. That is, students and parents aren't granted the right to sue, a subject the Dignity Bill didn't address. Safe Schools also includes the pragmatic cyber-bullying stipulation, another piece left out of Dignity. Legislative differences aside, an examination of Safe Schools' success over the oft-dismissed Dignity Bill provides some lessons in political persistence, timing and a bit of post-9/11 geography. |
» Battle Begins.
New York state lawyers today asked a Bronx judge to toss the Alliance Defense Fund's lawsuit. The Arizona-based group claims Governor David Paterson overstepped his power when he ordered the state to recognize out-of-state gay marriages. Their argument rests largely on a dictionary definition of marriage. [Newsday] |
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The Arizona-based, right wing group filed a lawsuit earlier this year alleging New York Governor David Paterson overstepped his power when he ordered New York to recognize out-of-state gay marriages. n addition to citing separation of executive and legislative branches, ADF's relying on a far less sophisticated legal tactic: "The suit also cites the online edition of the Merriam-Webster dictionary as evidence that the word "marriage" applies only to a bond between a man and a woman." Ah, yes, the old dictionary defense. Because, like social conservatives, words can't evolve. The judicial fun begins tomorrow. |
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A Queerty Exclusive!
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Paterson made a big impression earlier this month when he announced that New York State would honor out-of-state same-sex marriages. While some politicians only turn out to pride during election years or out of official obligation, Paterson informs NY Times that he's been going to pride since the event's early days:
Honey, you'll never be anonymous again. You're a regular queen! |
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Just weeks after Governor David Paterson declared that the Empire State will honor out-of-state gay nuptials, the Senate voted 61-0 today to extend the family court law to include the queers. New York City's Anti-Violence Project's press release, which we've included after the jump, provides some more details: The bill, waiting to be signed into law, represents an important change from the current law, which only allows people related by blood, marriage or a child in common to obtain civil orders of protection. The new law will also bring New York in line with every other state in the U.S. that already protects victims who live with their abusive partners. "AVP has been involved in fighting for this law for a decade," said Jeannette Kossuth, AVP's Director of Client Services. "It will be instrumental in helping us to advocate for those who live with the risk of help coming too late. Here's the PDF of the aforementioned press release. It's absolutely titillating. |
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Things are pretty sweet for New York state's trans inmates. Except for that prison part… Transgender youth in New York's juvenile detention centers are now allowed to wear whatever uniform they choose, be called by whatever name they want and ask for special housing under a new anti-discrimination policy drawing praise from advocacy groups. Could this be "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" at its best? |
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In a column in The Long Island Catholic, Murphy suggested the governor was "subverting the democratic process" because he issued the order without consulting the state Senate or Assembly, or the public in general. Obviously Murphy's unaware that same-sex desire exists among other species, not just the "Biblically-backed" humans. |
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That's all well and good, but thinks get a little more complex as your break it all down: A majority of voters, 55 percent to 30 percent, said the issue should have been decided by the Legislature, not the governor. Democrats supported the governor’s executive order by a margin of 64 percent to 30 percent, and independent voters by a margin of 56 of 37 percent, while Republicans opposed it, 57 – 37 percent. |