Bill Clinton for Marriage Equality

In the most recent video, Bill Clinton for Marriage Equality, from Marriage News Watch, we learn that not only is the former president for gay rights but that in addition to forward movement for Colorado’s civil unions, there are several favorable polls for marriage equality in key political states.

See more videos from Marriage News Watch here.

LGBT Percentage-Where does your state rank?

In 2012, Gallup examined the LGBT percentage by state, by a poll that asked the following: “Do you personally identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender?”

Colorado came in with 3.2% identifying as LGBT, see a list of all of the states and their results here. You might be surprised!

LGBT Percentage

Here is a summary of the poll straight from Gallup.

The percentage of U.S. adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) ranges from 1.7% in North Dakota to 5.1% in Hawaii and 10% in the District of Columbia, according to Gallup surveys conducted from June-December 2012. Residents in the District of Columbia were most likely to identify as LGBT (10%). Among states, the highest percentage was in Hawaii (5.1%) and the lowest in North Dakota (1.7%), but all states are within two percentage points of the nationwide average of 3.5%…Overall, the results from this analysis of LGBT identity by state may run counter to some stereotypes that portray the LGBT community as heavily grouped in certain states of the union.

Marriage Equality and the Superbowl

American Equal Rights brings us a video highlighting recent developments for marriage equality.

Marriage Equality and the Superbowl
Anti-gay comments overshadow the Superbowl, but they can’t stop progress in Arizona, Hawaii, and Rhode Island. We have new legislation and strong polling to carry marriage forward from coast to coast.

It Gets Better pulls 49ers Gay Rights Ad for Super Bowl 2013

According to the Examiner, a San Francisco 49ers gay rights ad was pulled by “It Gets Better Campaign.” Read the full article below or click here to read it from its original source.

According to Feb. 1, 2013 reports, a San Francisco 49ers gay rights ad has been pulled by “It Gets Better Campaign”.

The San Francisco 49ers became the first NFL team to tape a gay rights ad and was also the first such team to get their ad being pulled off soon by the campaign.

Reports state that the San Francisco 49ers have not been talking good about gay community. Recently, 49ers defensive back Chris Culliver commented that they wouldn’t like a gay football player in a NFL locker room. However, he later apologized for his comment.

In another incident, which made things worse, Ahmad Brooks and Isaac Sopoaga denied having made any gay rights ad for “It Gets Better Campaign”.

They apparently forgot about the gay rights video made by their team and also denied having any knowledge about the ad being made for gay rights promotion. Rather they thought it was an anti-bullying ad.

It seems the players were not interested in getting associated with the gay rights campaign and now the organization is not looking interested in having anything to do with the San Francisco 49ers.

Is GOP Shifting Perspective on Same-Sex Marriage?

A recent article by Mark Oppenheimer in the New York Times discusses the shifting perspective on same-sex marriage by David Blankenhorn, a traditional marriage advocate. The unprecedented move may illustrate an overall shift in the GOP’s acceptance of same-sex marriage.

David Blankenhorn, a traditional-marriage advocate and star witness in the Proposition 8 trial in California in 2010, shocked his allies with an Op-Ed article in The New York Times last June announcing that he was quitting the fight against same-sex marriage. “Instead of fighting gay marriage,” Mr. Blankenhorn wrote, “I’d like to help build new coalitions bringing together gays who want to strengthen marriage with straight people who want to do the same.”

He is about to find out how much support such a coalition can get.

On Thursday, Mr. Blankenhorn’s research group, the Institute for American Values in New York, plans to issue “A Call for a New Conversation on Marriage,” a tract renouncing the culture war that he was once part of, in favor of a different pro-marriage agenda. The proposed conversation will try to bring together gay men and lesbians who want to strengthen marriage with heterosexuals who want to do the same.

Read the full article in its entirety here. 

Marriage Equality at Inauguration

President Obama’s Inauguration address is the first ever in the history of the United States to discuss marriage equality at an Inauguration. The American Equal Rights group released a video update on the recent movement that has been made in the realm of equal rights and gay marriage.

“We’re making major progress in multiple states, with bills advancing in Rhode Island and Colorado. Plus historic words from President Obama, strong polling numbers, and the anniversary of the Prop 8 trial.”

Check out the video below.

Thousands Rally in Paris for Same-Sex Marriage Bill

On Sunday, the French showed their support for marriage equality as thousands gathered to rally in Paris for same-sex marriage bill. In face, police estimate that 125,000 individuals marched in the streets to show support for the same-sex marriage bill that is set to go up for debate by lawmakers this Tuesday.

Marriage Equality French

The French President, François Hollande, had promised during his campaign that he would legalize gay marriage within a year of taking office. He took office back in May of 2012 and there are hopes that the bill could indeed pass and become law by this time. According to the New York Times, the bill, “redefines marriage to stipulate that it is ‘contracted between two persons of different sex or of the same sex,’ and the words “father” and “mother” in existing legislation are replaced by “parents.” The bill also would allow married same-sex couples to adopt children.”

A recent poll released by the French Institute of Public Opinion, 63 percent of the French favor same-sex marriage and 49 percent are for adoption by same-sex couples.

Passing of the bill would be monumental for marriage equality in France and would help to set a precedent for the United States and other European nations.

Read the full article by Steven Erlanger from the New York Times, here.

(Image Benjamin Girette/Associated Press)

Watch: The Inaugural Poem by Richard Blanco

httpv://youtu.be/AkSRy8SGTEE

Richard Blanco is a poet and teacher.  He has the distinction of being many firsts at this inauguration:

  • First immigrant
  • First Latino
  • First openly gay person
  • Youngest

Here he is in an interview on the PBS News Hour.

httpv://youtu.be/wdcle58xRaY

Watch: LGBT Inclusion at the Inauguration

httpv://youtu.be/PwnHJfYiSbY

From the Human Rights Campaign.

Yup, I cried.

Hickenlooper Talks Civil Unions

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper gave his longest State of the State address on Thursday, January 10th, 2013. While the speech did cover expected topics such as gun control, marijuana regulation and Medicaid, Hickenlooper did make a point to mention civil unions. This topic has not been on the forefront of recent Colorado debates given the media attention on other issues. However, Gov. Hickenlooper did take the time to urge lawmakers in Colorado to pass legislation allowing civil unions for same-sex couples.

Any mention in favor of gay rights and marriage equality in politics is favorable and we hope to see the encouraged legislation passed sooner than later.

See a clip of Denver Post reporters discussing Hickenlooper’s speech in the video below or read more about the speech from Tim Hoover’s article in the Denver Post.


Read more:Hickenlooper’s speech touches on issues from guns to civil unions – The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22347649/gov-hickenlooper-calls-universal-background-checks-gun-sales#ixzz2HoMXx2eU
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