Americans Against Discrimination

(San Francisco) A federal judge in San Francisco has refused to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to overturn California’s same-sex marriage ban.

U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn Walker also signaled Wednesday that the measure’s sponsors will need to show that allowing gay couples to wed threatens traditional male-female unions.

http://www.365gay.com/news/judge-refuses-to-dismiss-gay-marriage-ban-lawsuit/

By The Associated Press
10.14.2009 5:58pm EDT

The Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 federal law that allows states to not recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages and actually requires the federal government not to recognize them, is the new target of a group of House democrats. The three Democrats (if you live on the West Side one of them is your Congressman Jerrold Nadler) have introduced the Respect for Marriage act, which would repeal the DOMA.

If passed, the bill would require the federal government to recognize any marriage considered valid in whichever state it was entered into. Currently, same-sex marriages, even in the five states which currently provide for them, cannot be recognized by the federal government for immigration and social security benefits purposes. The Respect for Marriage act would require the federal government to recognize these marriages for any federal purposes.

Progressive have been disappointed by President Obama who, despite having criticized the DOMA during the 2008 campaign, actually defended the act in federal court. Adding to the new bill’s troubles, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank, the only openly gay Congressman, are conspicuously absent from its list of 90 co-sponsors. Pelosi, in particular, has expressed doubt that the bill could pass through Congress anytime soon. If you would like your views heard on the Respect for Marriage act, send an e-mail to your House and Senate representatives.

By Jessica Geen

A gay New York state senator has said that the Senate could vote on gay marriage in the next few weeks.

(Full story)  http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-13954.html

Associated Press

(Augusta, Maine) The governor of Maine has signed a formal proclamation putting the state’s gay marriage law up for a vote in November.

http://www.365gay.com/news/fate-of-maine-gay-marriage-law-in-hands-of-voters/

(Des Moines, Iowa)  A group that helped to outlaw gay marriage in California is turning its focus to Iowa, hoping to begin the long process of overturning a state Supreme Court decision earlier this year that legalized same-sex marriage.

The National Organization for Marriage has launched the Reclaim Iowa Project, targeting legislative races in the state in an effort to elect candidates who support putting the issue of gay marriage before voters.

http://www.365gay.com/news/group-that-opposes-gay-marriage-now-targeting-iowa/

In San Francisco today, a federal court will begin hearings in the case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger. Lawyers Ted Olson and David Boies — who faced off in the Bush v. Gore Supreme Court challenge in 2000 — brought forth the case to try to overturn California’s Proposition 8, which they say violates the equal-protection clause. The Times this morning has an interesting profile on how Olson, a lifelong conservative who has aided the Reagan and Bush regimes, came to this role. Largely, it had to do with director Rob Reiner. A few days after Prop 8 passed, the Hollywood Democrat bigwig and his wife, Michele, were having lunch with two prominent political consultants and lamenting the vote:

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/08/hearings_to_begin_today_in_fed.html

By Ali Davis, Contributing writer 08.04.2009 5:01am EDT Culture & Ideas

This weekend’s attack at the gay and lesbian center in Tel Aviv left me with a familiar feeling: helplessness. That awful moment of wanting to do something but knowing you’re half a world away.

I spent much of Saturday scouring the Internet for news and shaking my head. Fortunately there are a lot of people out there who had better ideas than me.

In Israel, LGBT leaders met with representatives from the Social Affairs Ministry to highlight the awful statistics on hate crimes and abuse against young people. Minister Isaac Herzog agreed that this weekend’s attack was a form of “social terror” and has ordered his ministry to set up a special program to help LGBT youth.

Community workers in Israel have already noticed that the immediate and moving response from the LGBT community and its supporters has helped to break the silence around hate crimes – phone centers have added staffers as more people than ever before have gained the courage to report attacks.

http://www.365gay.com/blog/davis-positive-steps-in-the-face-of-tragedy/

August 4, 2009

As many as three explosive devices reportedly detonated in two track stadiums of the Outgames in Copenhagen, leaving one person with minor injuries.

Before the men’s 4×200-meter track relay in the afternoon, two bombs were thrown onto the track and exploded instantly, according to a witness writing in an e-mail obtained by Advocate.com. An Outgames athlete was taken to a local hospital with injuries to his right hand from flying shrapnel. He has since been released.

Participants on the field were unharmed but shaken by the incident.

(Full Story) http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=137495293997&h=i9Xmk&u=yd1xL&ref=mf

Albania’s governing Democrats have proposed a law allowing same-sex civil weddings in the small, predominantly Muslim country.

(Full Story) http://www.365gay.com/news/albania-plans-to-legalize-gay-marriages/