Obama's promise to protect gay rights seems to be total bullshit. The New York Times wrote this brilliant article regarding the Defense of Marriage Act. I'll include a small excerpt to get to a point about how Obama is not simply saying that individual states and not the Federal Government should define marriage, but actually denying same sex couples' rights on a federal level:Under the act, same-sex married couples who pay their taxes are ineligible for the sort of federal benefits — such as Social Security survivors’ payments and joint tax returns — that heterosexual married couples receive.The full editorial is well worth reading. (Click here.) Please, Obama, step up and defend the rights of all your country's citizens.
The rights that are protected for religious groups prevent the government from forcing churches to officiate at same sex marriages if they are opposed. This may not make me popular, but I completely agree with the right to refuse to perform a service like that, and if the right of biggots to stay the hell away from what should be a beautiful day for a couple is all that's standing in the way of equal rights for us, I hope other states will follow suit.The law will take effect in January, exactly two years after the state legalized civil unions. New Hampshire joins Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and Iowa in recognizing same-sex marriages, though opponents hope to overturn Maine's law with a public vote.
Lynch demanded — and got — language protecting the rights of religious opponents of gay marriage before signing the bills.
Actors Kristen Davis, David Hyde Pierce, Audra McDonald and Ana Oritz also appeared at the event, which was sponsored by BroadwayImpact.com to support New York Governor David Paterson’s proposed bill granting legal equality to same-sex unions, another source on the scene told Access. Kristen appeared on stage with her “Sex” co-star but did not speak.
“I think we would definitely [get married] if it became legal in New York,” Cynthia told Access’ Shaun Robinson in an interview last year. “I don’t really want to get married to get married pretend. I think we’d like to do it in a real, actual, legal way that the state would recognize.”
Spielberg says:
"By writing discrimination into our state constitution, Proposition 8 seeks to eliminate the right of each and every citizen in our state to marry regardless of sexual orientation. Such discrimination has NO place in California's constitution, or any other."
Bruce Cohen - producer of Oscar-winning American Beauty and a vehement NO ON 8 activist - had this to add:
"It's phenomenal that Kate and Steven are affirming their unwavering commitment to equality in such a significant a way. More than 15 years ago, Steven was the first person in Hollywood who I came out to, news which he greeted with his full love and support then and ever since.
"It is my fervent hope that other entertainment industry leaders will follow the lead of Brad Pitt and the Spielbergs and fight to maintain equal rights for all Californians."
Bruce Cohen married his partner, Gabriel Catone, in June.
Cohen and his filmmaking partner Dan Jinks produced Milk, a film recounting the life of assassinated San Francisco city supervisor and activist Harvey Milk, who was also openly gay. The film is slated for release later this year.
It's great to see some big name support behind us. Curious that the actual queers in Hollywood are keeping mouth and wallet shut, but I suppose they have a little more to lose by associating with the "agenda" than their hetero counterparts.
Instead, the Democratic presidential candidate said that he would work through a step-by-step process with the military brass.
"The reason," Obama said, "is because I want to make sure that when we revert 'don't ask, don't tell,' it's gone through a process and we've built a consensus or at least a clarity of that, of what my expectations are, so that it works."
He is also hesitating on same sex marriage.Obama also said he would be reluctant to instruct his attorney general to go to court to try to overturn the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal recognition of same-sex marriages and gives states the right not to recognize such unions.
"I think we're going to have to take a different approach," he said, "but I am absolutely committed to the concept [that] it is not necessary." He said he would prefer to see Congress change the law.
Come on, Obama, don't let us down already!
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