Jay Z States Supports Marriage Equality

Rapper and entrepreneur Jay Z publicly supports President Obama’s and endorses marriage equality. In recent days many other public figures have done so as well, but this one stands out to me.

Jay Z and wife, Beyonce Knowles are very influential with young people in general and African American youth in particular. Right now, when so many African American ministers are denouncing the president and calling for something akin to Biblical Law to replace our constitution, it’s nice to see someone identified as one of the most influential people in America standing up for gay rights.

In a recent interview, Jay Z said:

“What people do in their own homes is their business and you can choose to love whoever you love. That’s their business. It’s no different than discriminating against blacks. It’s discrimination plain and simple.”

Facebook Co-Founder offers $100,000 Matching Gift to support Marriage Equality in Maine

Chris Hughes and his fiance, Sean Eldridge are offering a fundraising challenge to fund Mainers United for Marriage , a marriage equality group. Maine will be voting again this fall on whether to offer marriage equality to all in the state. The matching grant is pledging $100,000.

In 2009, the anti-gay politicians, clergy and hate groups deluged Maine with the usual lies about gays and what granting them equality would mean.

The overall message was that if it happened, all kindergartners would need to be taught about anal sex, and Christians would be shackled and silenced and be forced to marry gays, ducks and myriad farm animals… Oh yeah, and brothers and sisters would be lining up to get hitched.

Raising money to combat the bigotry of the GOP and evangelical ministries is vital. Mr. Hughs and his fiancé using their notoriety and fortunes to educate Maine about how important, necessary and inevitable movement toward Liberty and Justice For All will help drown your the shrill lies from the right.

The matching program runs until June 7 , 2012

Read an article drone the Bangor Daily News here.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock Responds to GOP Blocking Civil Unions

After the Colorado GOP lead congresses’ shameful mockery of the largest active process last week, Mayor Hancock

Quotable

“If we don’t succeed, we run the risk of failure.”

Anonymous.

Statement From One Colorado

Official statement from the Colorado based LGBT advocacy group:

“Not once but twice, House leadership has made a mockery of the legislative process.” #coleg http://t.co/eEwlFrud

Sadly, I’m not surprised. The far right wing of evangelical leaders have taken over the republican party.

My Response To Speaker McNulty

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Mmmmmm… Donuts!

Colorado Civil Unions Bill Killed by Republicans

Despite efforts by Governor Hickenlooper to have the Civil Unions bill debated on the House floor, a GOP controlled House committee killed the vote in a party line vote 5-4.

So gays are still second class citizens in Colorado. I hope Speaker McNulty is proud. He did what he set out to do. I’m sure history will judge him harshly… I know I do.

Nic Garcia of Out Front Colorado has an excellent article documenting the Bill’s rise and fall here.

RI Governor Signs Executive Order Recognizing Out of State Same Sex Marriages

Another step toward equality.

Gov. Chafee’s executive order is historic for Rhode Island in that it moves the state one step closer to full marriage equality. The move is significant for the rest of the United States in that today Gov. Chafee becomes the first governor in the country to issue an executive order regarding out-of-state marriages for same-sex couples.
“It’s important because all families deserve equal protection and recognition under the law,” said Ray Sullivan, MERI’s campaign director. “Gov. Chafee, by doing this today, is affirming that idea.”

Read the full article here.

Acceptance of Gays the ‘New Normal’

Gallup is calling acceptance of same-sex couple “the new normal” for Americans based on its latest polling.
In a poll released today, Gallup found that 54% of Americans say gay or lesbian relationships are “morally acceptable.”

Read the article from the Advocate here.