Breaking: GetEQUAL Protesters Arrested in Capitol Rotunda

Several members of GetEQUAL, the direct action LGBT rights group that staged sit-ins at the Washington, DC and San Francisco offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in March and shut down traffic on the Las Vegas Strip last week, have been arrested after staging a sit-in in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC on  Wednesday afternoon. The group called on Pelosi to move forward with a floor vote on the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

GetEQUAL co-founder Robin McGehee said via FaceBook, "We are pressuring Speaker Pelosi to move on ENDA because, while we know that she values the legislation, we have yet to see her show the leadership she's promised in taking ENDA out of committee and moving it through the House."
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Gay Couple Marries After 62 Years (video)

Theirs is a classic love story that has endured for over six decades. Bob Davis and Henry Schalizki met 62 years ago while serving in the navy during World War II. Actually, the inseparable couple met three times before making their relationship permanent.

Bob and Henry's love has endured the Cold War, Stonewall, Viet Nam, Disco, AIDS and 12 U.S. presidents. Although the couple never engaged in public displays of affection, they were always accepted as a couple and attended work and social functions together.

On June 20th, Bob and Henry were finally able to make it legal in a beautiful wedding ceremony atop the J.W. Marriott, overlooking the Washington DC skyline. "Wow, what a long engagement that was!" Bob told their wedding guests. "Sixty-two years! Something had to give."

The following video comes courtesy of The Blade. There is also a great story in The Washington Post.

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Over 2000 Marriage Licenses Issued in DC Since Gay Marriage Became Legal

From WTOP News:

WASHINGTON - Same-sex marriage has only been legal in the District for about two months, but the city is on track to set a record for marriages this year.

The D.C. Superior Court has already issued more than 2,000 marriage licenses.

"To put that in perspective," Judge William Jackson says. "All of last year was about 3,000."

In the first three months of 2010, the court processed 376 applications. Since March 3 -- when gay marriage became legal in the District -- the marriage license office has received 2,082 applications.

Based on the early numbers, the District is on target to issue four times as many marriage licenses this year as they did in 2009.

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GetEQUAL Activists Stage Bi-Coastal Sit-ins in Pelosi's Offices (video)

What a day for LGBT activism yesterday! Activists from GetEQUAL staged sit-ins in the San Francisco and Washington DC offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday in an effort to push the speaker to take action on the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

According to en email blast from GetEQUAL, members "won't leave until Speaker Pelosi commits to bring the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to the floor for a vote this month – or until they are arrested."

Well that's exactly what happened in DC and San Fran. The coordinated bi-coastal protests took place within hours of  Lt. Dan Choi and Capt. Jim Pietrangelo taking over an HRC photo op with Kathy Griffin in Washington. Choi then led a march to the White House, where he and Pietrangelo chained themselves to the fence. The twowere arrested with activist Robin McGehee, founder of Meet in the Middle and an organinzer of the National Equality March.

The following video was posted on YouTube by GetEQUAL just minutes before the sit-ins took place.

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100+ Same-sex Couples Receive Marriage Licenses in DC

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Marriage Equality was celebrated in the nation's capital on Wednesday as over one hundred couples lined up to receive their marriage licenses at the DC courthouse. Of course there were protesters there to greet them, including the in-bred Phelps Klan from Westboro Baptist Church, who were shouted down by supporters of same-sex marriage.

Here's a video clip courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign.

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Supreme Court Decides Not to Block DC Marriage Equality

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Chief Justice Roberts, appointed by George W. Bush, has decided not to hear a challenge to DC's Marriage Equality Law. All I can say is "Wow!"

From AP:

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to block the District of Columbia's gay marriage law, freeing the city to issue its first marriage licenses to same-sex couples the following day.

Opponents of gay marriage in the nation's capital had asked Chief Justice John Roberts to stop the city from issuing the licenses on Wednesday while they appealed. They argued that D.C. voters should have been allowed to vote on the issue. Local courts have rejected the opponents' arguments.

"It has been the practice of the court to defer to the decisions of the courts of the District of Columbia on matters of exclusively local concern," said Roberts, writing for the court.

He also pointed out that Congress could have voted to stop the city government from putting the law into effect and didn't.

Opponents have also asked city courts to allow a voter referendum on gay marriage, and they "will have the right to challenge any adverse decision ... in this court at the appropriate time," Roberts said.

The Stand4MarriageDC Coalition, which tried to get a vote on the issue, said Tuesday it was disappointed in the court's ruling. It said it would continue to work for this effort among voters who believe in traditional marriage.

The city has said Wednesday probably will be the first day same-sex couples can apply for marriage licenses. Couples still will have to wait three full business days for their licenses before exchanging vows.

Same-sex marriages are also legal in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Iowa, Connecticut and Vermont.

On a personal note, Paul and I haven't discussed it yet, but before I can get gay married in DC I apparently have to go back to Puerto Rico to get a new birth certificate. MSNBC reported yesterday that they passed a law there that takes effect July 1st that nullifies all birth certificates prior to that date due to a huge amount of identity fraud involving illegal immigration from Latin America. Or we could get gay married before July 1st, then honeymoon in Puerto Rico while I try to get this worked out. Or I could do nothing and become an unmarried unperson. Would that mean I wouldn't have to pay taxes?

Why does this effect me? My sister Jane and I were both born in Fajardo, PR when my Dad was stationed in there with the Coast Guard in the late 50's.

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No Spousal Benefits for Catholic Charities Employees in DC

In its ongoing effort to spread Christianist love, the Archdiocese of Washington has decided that since it can't coerce the District of Columbia into backing away from marriage equality -- and to maintain its right to discriminate in the name of Jeebus -- it will no longer offer spousal benefits to any new employees.

Current employees will continue to receive any benefits they currently receive, but in a move reminiscent of Seinfeld's Soup Nazi, employees hired after March 2, 2010 will not be able to add their spouses to their employee health insurance coverage. Same-sex marriage will become legal in DC on Wednesday, March 3rd.

The Washington City Paper reported Monday:

The Archdiocese of Washington has been battling the D.C. government for the right to discriminate against gays and lesbians since D.C.’s same-sex marriage legislation got rolling last year.

One major point of contention: Once gays and lesbians are allowed to marry, the Archdiocese—which employs plenty of locals through Catholic Charities—will be required to provide health benefits to same-sex spouses, an act which it says would fly in the face of the Catholic church’s teachings on homosexuality.

The solution? No spousal benefits for anybody.

Today, Catholic Charities President and CEO Edward Orzechowski sent out a memo to staffers informing them of the change to the health care coverage, which will go into effect tomorrow.

In short: If you and your spouse are already enrolled in Catholic Charities health coverage, your spouse will be grandfathered in. Starting tomorrow, however, new employees (or newly married employees, hint hint) will not be allowed to add spouses to the plan. So: Longtime employees will receive the spousal benefits they’ve always had; Catholic Charities will get to keep its pool of covered spouses gay-free; only fresh employees and gays will feel the sting on this one.

 

 

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Mass Same-Sex Wedding Planned in DC

Same-sex marriage becomes legal in the nation's capital on Wednesday, March 3rd and an enterprising wedding planner is set to mark the historic occasion but making the Guiness Book of World Records with the largest mass wedding ever.

DigitalJournal.com reports:

On March 20 up to 400 same-sex couples will gather in Washington DC to get married as part of the Our Time Has Come event to become the current Guinness World Record.

GLBT Wedding Services is hosting the event in Washington on March 20 to celebrate legal marriage. Partners who are tying the knot will take part in a large group ceremony, individual private ceremonies and a gala-style reception at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium.

The event, though huge, is being designed so that each couple can feel special.
"The GLBT community has always found strength in numbers when it comes to advocating for equality," said Mike Wilkinson, Director of Wedding Services for Event Emissary is one of the planners. He added, "Now we can finally stand together to affirm our love and have it recognized legally by the District of Columbia."

Some in the queer community have criticized the event as nothing more than a publicity stunt for the wedding planners. Personally, in light of what happened in California with Prop 8, I think as many of us should get married as quickly as possible while the opportunity is available. You never know what the haters are going to pull to stop us from achieving full equality.

Visit the DC Court's web page for details about applying for your marriage license. There is a three day waiting period between receiving your marriage license and the day you can legally wed.

Warren Throckmorton: "Bahati will not attend National Prayer Breakfast"

Contrary to what was reported in Uganda's Monitor on Sunday, it seems that David Bahati, author of and lead attack dog for the infamous "Kill the Gays" bill, will not be attending the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Tuesday, according to Dr.Warren Throckmorton, Associate Professor of Psychology at Grove City College.

Dr. Throckmorton wrote on his blog Monday that according to his sources at the Fellowship Foundation (a/k/a The Family), "Bahati was invited months ago to come to Washington DC only as a volunteer and not to attend the NPB event. According to these sources, Bahati declined the invitation prior to introducing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. According to Mr. Hunter, the Monitor article and Bahati’s statements came as a complete surprise to the NPB officials here. However, in the event the article was accurate, the NPB officials and Congressional leaders were taking action to assure that Bahati did not come to any of the meetings. I have asked David Bahati for comment regarding these reports but he has not returned the email request."

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DC Judge says No to Gay Marriage Ballot Initiative

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge in Washington, D.C., has thrown out a lawsuit by opponents of gay marriage against the city's elections board.

Plaintiffs led by a Maryland pastor, Bishop Harry Jackson, sued after the Board of Elections and Ethics refused to put their initiative on the ballot. The measure would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman. The board ruled it violated the city's Human Rights Act.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Judith N. Macaluso ruled Thursday in favor of the city. She said the board's action was justified because the initiative would in effect authorize discrimination.

The District of Columbia passed a bill in December that would let same-sex couples marry. Because the city is a federal district, the law is pending a period of review by Congress.

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DC Marriage Equality Clears First Hurdle

On Tuesday the DC City Council voted 11-2 giving preliminary approve to a bill that will allow same-sex marriage in the nation's capital. The vote clears the way for a final vote on December 15. DC Mayor Adrian Fenty has said he will sign the bill into law when it gets to his desk.

Despite opposition from religious groups in the city, public turnout for the vote was relatively small compared to the over flowing crowds that turned out for a vote earlier this year when the council voted to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries.

The two opposing votes were cast by council members Yvette Alexander and former mayor-for-life and convicted crack-head Marion Barry.

DC Agenda reports:

"This bill is the next step, a logical step, in the progress we have made in significantly expanding our domestic partnership law over the last 17 years,” said Phil Mendelson, chair of the Committee on Public Safety & Judiciary, which shepherded the bill through the Council.

“I don’t think it’s a giant step,” he said. “It’s a final step in a process in a steady march since 1992 as the District of Columbia, as a matter of public policy, has proceeded toward full equality regardless of marital status or sexual orientation.”

What makes this marriage equality effort unique is that, just as with opposite sex couples,  there will be no residency requirement for couples seeking to marry in the District of Columbia, which could open the door to challenges to discriminatory marriage laws in other jurisdictions when those married in DC go home.

Catholic Church Threatening Women and Children Over Gay Marriage

On Wednesday, the Catholic Church threatened to end its charity work in the District of Columbia unless the city drops its plans to allow same-sex marriage. With the DC city counsel set to address the issue next week, the pope's posse issued a statement saying it will stop providing services for the homeless, battered women and adoption agencies. 

This one makes my blood boil. The folks that brought you the Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades and the Flat Earth have decided that bullying and extortion is the best way to spread Jesus' love.

The Washington Post reports:

Under the bill, headed for a D.C. Council vote next month, religious organizations would not be required to perform or make space available for same-sex weddings. But they would have to obey city laws prohibiting discrimination against gay men and lesbians

Fearful that they could be forced, among other things, to extend employee benefits to same-sex married couples, church officials said they would have no choice but to abandon their contracts with the city.

"If the city requires this, we can't do it," Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said Wednesday. "The city is saying in order to provide social services, you need to be secular. For us, that's really a problem."

Roanoke Equality is Booking Rooms and Travel to National Equality March

The yahoo group Roanoke Equality is helping Roanoke's LGBT community get to DC for next month's March for Equality. A bus has been chartered and a block of rooms reserved at the Capitol Skyline Hotel. Rates include travel and the room. Act fast, because the deadline is Monday, September 14th.

Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/roanokeequality/message/38 for details.

UPDATE: I've posted a flier giving details about the Roanoke Equality bus and lodging costs. This is all dependent upon getting enough people to sign on. The rates include hotel and bus fare. Click on the image to enlarge.

And the Winner is...

Wonder Woman
Wins DC Mayoral Race!

New Organizing Institute announced the election results by e-mail:

"The race was down to the wire, but we are prepared to announce that Wonder Woman will be the next Superhero Mayor of DC!

This has been an amazing race. The campaign teams of eight superhero candidates built interactive websites and dynamic graphics, wrote engaging emails that turned out a huge supporter base, created entertaining videos, and wrote successful field plans from scratch in five hours. Our 53 BootCampers, from across the country, have met and surpassed our expectations.

We are thrilled to announce that over 6,000 people voted for their favorite Superhero. The BootCampers picked up blog coverage from NPR, Daily Kos, Huffington Post, Roll Call and nearly 30 other blogs, and garnered endorsements from a wide support base across the country."

Update: More Superheroes Running For DC Mayor

As I reported yesterday, lesbian superhero, Batwoman announced her candidacy for the office of mayor of Washington, DC.

Raw Story is now reporting that nearly all of the Justice League as well as Marvel superhero, Spider-Man are also seeking crackhead/stalker Marion Barry's old job.

Update: I have personally received emails from both the Batwoman and Green Lantern camps asking for my support and a comment on this posting from someone named "Clark" urging me to support Superman.

Having grown up on Justice League comic books, and because the Marvel superhero movies and the last two Batman movies totally rocked, I feel compelled to remain neutral.

(From Rawstory.com)

"DC Comics characters The Atom, Batgirl, Batwoman, Cyborg, Green Lantern, Superman and Wonder Woman, as well as Marvel Comics favorite Spider-Man, are running for mayor of the District of Columbia in a mock election put on by a campaign training organization.

The eight superhero candidates are "battling it out to determine who can lead our fair city through crucial issues ranging from the budget to the goings-on of evil villains," jovially reports Roll Call.

But, the paper adds, the campaign "is turning increasingly bitter, with the superheroes attacking each other via Twitter and in Web videos that are quickly going viral."

The New Organizing Institute is putting on the race, meant to teach the use of traditional campaign messaging tactics with new online tools---and a dose of irreverence.

Green Lantern, for example, highlights his capture of former D.C. mayor (and "local nuisance") Marion Berry as he accosted a woman in the night.

The Atom, meanwhile, spoofs Fox host Bill O'Reilly's notorious profanity-filled outtake in a NSFW video viewable here.

All the candidates' Web pages are gathered here.

Voting commences Friday on the NOI Web site. DC and Marvel do not appear to be involved in or condoning the faux contest."

Batwoman Announces DC Mayoral Campaign

In the wake of Barack Obama's historic election as the first African-American U.S. president, it was inevitable. DC Comics' first out, proud, lesbian, Jewish super hero, Batwoman announced her candidacy for mayor of the District of Columbia on Monday.

(From Batwomanfordc.com)

"Today, I Batwoman, proudly announce my candidacy for mayor of Washington, DC. I do so because I believe that we are in a monumental period in the history of our nation's capital that requires a different kind of leadership. We need a real hero for real equality.

My father, my personal hero, instilled in me a commitment to community, family and service. Because of this and my love of DC, I am committed to making our city the most livable city on earth.

I have spent a majority of my adult fighting against corruption and crime as a superhero. I now look to continue my service to the people of DC by working to reduce violent crime, ensure that all residents are able to see a doctor when ill and that every person is able to marry the person they love."

For Batwoman's complete backstory (or should that be "bat-story"?) go to Wikipedia.com.