Latest Statewide LGBT Developments
October 30, 2009
Every week at state and local levels, there are numerous developments taking place about the many key issues that deeply affect our community—domestic partnerships, marriage, hate crimes, employment discrimination and DOMA, to name a few. GLAAD is ensuring the media is paying attention.
Here is a brief summary:
Maine: Marriage
With Nov. 3 elections approaching soon, LGBT advocates and their allies are hoping that Maine voters vote “No” on Question 1 to ensure that marriage for gay and lesbian couples remains legal throughout the state. On Oct. 28, an hour-long televised debate took place at the University of Southern Maine.
The Associated Press wrote:
Brian Souchet of Stand for Marriage Maine and Mary Bonauto from Protect Maine Equality engaged in a wide-ranging hourlong debate at the University of Southern Maine in Portland on Wednesday.
Bonauto says the referendum is about fairness and allowing gay couples to join the institution of marriage. Souchet says it proposes a “radical redefinition” of marriage that could even lead to gay marriage being taught in schools.
LGBT proponents and allies have received serious support from statewide media. On Oct. 18, the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram urged its readers to vote for marriage equality. They shined a light on the “scare tactics” the opposition has used:
The ‘Stand for Marriage: Yes on 1′ campaign has struggled to come up with ways in which allowing this law to take effect would hurt traditional families. Too often they have resorted to inventing scenarios to scare voters.
The most prominent has been the charge that children would be forced to learn about same-sex marriage in school. All it takes is a quick reading of the law to see, however, that there is no mention of education in it. Curriculum in Maine is approved by local school boards, and those elected officials would be under no obligation to add lessons on marriage law to their areas of study.
But that’s not to say that children would be kept in the dark. They are smart, and they should be expected to notice that some of their classmates have two moms or two dads instead of one of each. This is not a function of the law, however, it is a reflection of reality. A ‘yes’ vote won’t make those couples go away. It would only make their lives more difficult.
For more information about protecting marriage equality in Maine, please visit the ‘NO on 1/ Protect Maine Equality’ website here‘.
District of Columbia: Marriage
Earlier this month, Councilperson David A. Catania introduced a bill 
that would allow gay and lesbian couples to legally marry in the District of Columbia. On Oct. 26, Washington D.C.’s council committee had an open forum to discuss the bill with its residents. Officials estimated that hundreds from both sides of the debate signed up to testify ―making this hearing the largest the council had ever moderated.
The Associated Press wrote that the language of the bill and other potential changes to the bill were discussed:
Take the terms “bride” and “groom” off D.C. marriage licenses and replace them with the word “spouse.”
That’s one change being suggested as supporters and opponents of a proposed bill to allow same-sex marriage in Washington take a hard look at the bill’s language. The bill was introduced earlier this month and had its first hearing in a city council committee Monday. Part of the reason for the hearing is to rigorously examine the bill’s language and propose changes.
Witnesses from a range of groups testified they have concerns about some of the wording. The bill, which is expected to be voted on as early as December, would let same-sex couples from both inside and outside the district marry in the city.
The Washington Post reported the hearings were emotional, especially for members of the LGBT community and straight allies who shared their personal stories and emphasized the need for this legislation to get passed.
More than 100 people showed up Monday night for a legislative hearing on the bill, which was co-sponsored by 10 of council’s 13 members.
Several same-sex couples broke into tears as they talked about the prospect of being allowed to get married. Marisa Levy went to the hearing to support her gay brother.
“Pass this bill and finally make my brother’s partner of 15 years my brother-in-law,” Levy said.
A second hearing took place on Monday before the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics. This hearing discussed whether or not they should be able to try to put a measure on the city ballot that would give voters the option of banning same-sex unions.
The Wall Street Journal wrote:
The Board of Elections began meeting Monday to hear testimony on an initiative that would go on the 2010 ballot. It would ask voters to decide whether they want “only marriage between a man and woman” to be valid in the city.
The two-member board won’t vote Monday on whether the measure meets requirements to go on the ballot. At Monday’s hearing, the board members seemed particularly concerned that the initiative may violate the city’s Human Rights Act, which among other things prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. According to D.C. elections law, a referendum cannot appear on the ballot if it violates the city’s human rights laws.
Earlier this year after Washington officials passed a law to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, the board rejected an effort to hold a referendum on the new law, citing the Human Rights Act.
It is believed the D.C. council will pass the bill before Christmas of this year, but if a proposed ban gets on the ballot and receives a majority of the vote, it would overturn any law supporting the right for gay and lesbian couples to be legally married.
Iowa: Marriage
Six months ago, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously decided to extend marriage equality to committed gay and lesbian couples. Although this is a definite cause for celebration, these newly awarded rights are tenuous, as evidenced by the struggle in California. As the legislative session is gearing up to begin in January, anti-gay candidates are setting their sights on ending this freedom for devoted couples to marry. That’s why it is important to start garnering support now in order to continue the vital conversations regarding marriage equality.
One Iowa, the leading LGBT rights group in Iowa, is hosting public forum panel discussions around the state in order to represent and share the experiences of community members, giving the cause a local perspective with the aim of maintaining respectful dialogue around an issue that affects all of us. The first of the series of sixteen scheduled conversations will be held on Nov. 5 in Washington, Iowa.
Michigan: Nondiscrimination Ordinance
The Kalamazoo Gazette, Kalamazoo, Michigan’s largest newspaper, encouraged its readers to “stand for equality” and vote “yes” in its official endorsement of the City of Kalamazoo Ordinance No. 1856, a November ballot initiative that would make it illegal for employers, housing authorities as well as public accommodations to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell, the YWCA, NAACP and the League of Women Voters are all supporting the ordinance.
Read more here.
Washington State: Domestic Partnerships
Ref. 71 will be decided by the residents of Washington State. Ref. 71―the referendum that will decide whether domestic partnership will remain legal―has been supported by numerous Washington-based newspapers, celebs and organizations throughout the state. All ballots are due by November 3rd.
Read more about Ref. 71 and the Approve 71 campaign here.
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GLAAD will continue keeping up with the latest developments on legislative LGBT issues around the country.
Related Posts:Actress Michelle Clunie Says, “Approve 71”
October 27, 2009
Michelle Clunie, an actress and activist, released a video today that encourages Washington voters to Approve Referendum 71 and get involved with the campaign.
“It’s just wrong,” Clunie says about the attempt to take away the protections that Washington’s domestic partnership law provides to lesbian and gay couples.Watch Actress/Activist Michelle Clunie on Approve 71 here.
Washington voters have until Tuesday to mark their ballots, “Approved,” stamp and sign the envelope and mail them. Washington voters should not delay and mail their ballots today to help ensure Referendum 71 is approved.
Michelle Clunie
When Clunie called the Referendum 71 campaign last week and asked, “What can I do to help?” GLAAD’s Senior Media Strategist Adam Bass began working with her to develop a video message to voters in Washington encouraging them to get involved in the campaign and cast their ballots. Her video today is the results of that work between Clunie, GLAAD and the Referendum 71 campaign.
Related Posts:Approve Referendum 71 Maintains Slight Lead While GLAAD Continues to Contribute to Campaign
October 26, 2009
GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios, Senior Media Strategist Adam Bass and 20-plus volunteers made more than 4,000 phone calls on Sunday, October 25th.
GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios calls voters for Approve 71
The campaign released a tracking poll on Monday, showing that the hard work of Washington Families Standing Together (WAFST) is beginning to pay off. Although the polling shows a lead for the “approve” vote – this lead could easily be lost if lesbian and gay couples stop sharing their stories or if they fail to vote. This is why the last week of the campaign is so important.
GLAAD has been on the ground in Seattle assisting the WAFST coalition since August. We continue to be committed to helping Washington voters understand the real life struggles and successes of lesbian and gay couples and understanding the harms that would result if voters take away domestic partnership protections.
Related Posts:Referendum 71 Earns Endorsement by Editorial Boards throughout Washington
October 26, 2009
Newspapers throughout Washington have endorsed Approve 71
The coalition to Approve Referendum 71 is growing stronger. In addition to major contributions from large employers like Microsoft, Starbucks, Puget Sound Energy, Boeing, and Nike, numerous editorial boards are also endorsing Approve Referendum 71. As the Nov. 3 election date nears, influential media like the Seattle Times, the Olympian, and the Oregonian editorial boards are casting their votes to keep the domestic partnership law. Here is what they have to say:
The Union Bulletin Editorial Board calls domestic partnership protections “sound public policy” and the Federal Way Mirror “recommends approving Referendum 71” because “this legislation helps maximize personal freedom and independence for a small slice of the population.”
The Oregonian Editorial Board states that the Approval of Referendum 71 “would be a big, and important, lurch forward” while students at Western Washington University are using their independent newspaper, The Western Front, to endorse Referendum 71: “Should the families of dedicated public servants be denied basic rights simply because their family breaks the traditional mold?”
The Olympian makes sure to note in its endorsement that Referendum 71 is about protecting families, creating legal protections for domestic partners and “ensuring that the 12,000 registered domestic partners in committed relationships in Washington State enjoy the same rights, responsibilities and benefits as married couples.”
The Seattle Times Editorial Board has been even more vocal about Referendum 71: penning multiple endorsement articles that urge the public to remember that these adjustments are vitally important, but “hardly radical” and that “nothing is taken away from one person, one couple or one family and given to another. This is about equal treatment for all Washington residents going about their private lives.”
Despite strong support from Microsoft, Nike, and others, The Seattle Times Editorial Board warns that these endorsements are only part of the equation and that they are “no substitute for a strong turnout during an off-year election. An array of endorsements reinforces the importance of this thoughtful extension of the state’s domestic-partnership law. Adoption of R-71 is still grounded in casting votes to approve its passage.”
Above all, it states, “The law at the heart of R-71 is about fundamental fairness for Washington families. Of course it should be approved.”
Endorsements have flooded in from the editorial boards of The Spokesman Review (“many people changed their minds because the basic unfairness violated their traditional values”), the Chinook Observer (“Discrimination based on who someone falls in love with just isn’t right”), the Daily Herald (“these protections are necessary precisely because gays and lesbians cannot legally marry,”) and the Wenatchee World.
Community groups, professional organizations, civic associations, and many of the region’s largest employers support the Referendum because it is about protecting committed couples, and they believe it’s wrong to take away the protections the domestic partnership law provides these couples.
Other endorsements have come from such groups as The Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Washington State Bar Association and the Washington Association of Churches.
By endorsing Referendum 71, each of these groups displays a commitment to basic fairness for all Washington families.
Related Posts:GLAAD, Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and Approve 71 Team Up
October 22, 2009
GLAAD continues to work with local leaders and organizations in Washington to help get Referendum 71 approved. One unique way we are reaching voters is by teaming up with the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. The festival, organized by Three Dollar Bill Cinema, runs for ten days and expects up to 10,000 visitors.
With ballots due on Referendum 71 in only two weeks, it’s important to energize voters to head to the polls, mail in their ballots and volunteer to help others do the same.
GLAAD teamed up with several local activists led by Shad Reinstein and Jody Laine to produce trailers for the Approve 71 campaign to run before all film festival movies. There are three trailers running throughout the festival. At the film festival’s opening night film, “An Englishman in New York,” the Approve 71 trailer was met by widespread applause.
In today’s world of digital media, everyone has the ability to communicate to a broad audience. Shad and Jody are examples of community members who had something to contribute. Their idea to create these trailers could potentially generate hundreds or thousands of votes for the Approve 71 campaign. Mail-in ballots have already been distributed in Washington and people must postmark their ballots by November 3rd for them to be counted. We hope these movie trailers will help encourage people to get involved and remember to vote.
At GLAAD we always encourage people to stand up and tell their stories – whether through a blog, a letter to the editor or making a video like Shad and Jody did.
Additionally, GLAAD partnered with the film festival for a special screening of “Training Rules,” on Saturday, October 24th. GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios will be in Seattle for the screening and a special panel on “Homophobia in Sports” will follow. Please join us at the event!
For those in Washington or interested in the campaign, visit the Approve 71 website today to see how you can get more involved.
Related Posts:Washingtonians Write Letters to the Editor About Referendum 71
October 20, 2009
GLAAD’s Senior Media Strategist, Adam Bass, is in Washington State working on the Approve Referendum 71 Campaign with the Washington Families Standing Together Coalition (WAFST).
GLAAD is exclusively focusing on the communications efforts of the campaign and is assisting the campaign’s communications team with coordinating dozens of tasks on a daily basis. Recently, GLAAD took the lead on a statewide push to help secure editorial page conversations about the need to Approve Referendum 71.
GLAAD authored a series of key talking points for letters to the editor along with an e-mail blast to the WAFST constituency that encouraged people concerned about Referendum 71 to write letters through WAFST’s on-line letter writing tool.
The campaign issued the call for letters mid-day Wednesday, and in less than 24 hours over 150 letters had been generated to papers large and small in every corner of the state. People told their personal stories to their neighbors, through letters to the editor, about why it’s vital Washington voters Approve Referendum 71 on ballots that arrived last week.
One submitted letter, in particular caught our attention, and we wanted to share it here:
Approve Ref. 71
I’m a retired fire captain and a lesbian. For 33 years, I fought fires and responded to medical emergencies. I have earned a good pension.
My domestic partner stood by me as other firefighters’ spouses stood by them, sleeping alone while I worked my 24-hour shifts, not seeing me for several days when I worked overtime, caring for me when I was injured, and knowing that I could face a life-or-death situation every time I went to work.
The married firefighters I worked alongside had the security of knowing that their families would be taken care of if they were injured or killed in the line of duty. Once they retired, they knew their spouse would receive a pension benefit after their death.
Lesbian and gay firefighters are treated differently. Under Washington law, my domestic partner would receive no compensation if I were injured or killed, and she is not entitled to any of my pension when I die.
When you call 911, we come to your aid regardless of your sexual orientation. Referendum 71 is your chance to do the same for us. Please vote to approve my domestic partner benefits. Approve Referendum 71.
Michele Kämmerer
Bellingham, WA
When people like Michele Kammerer, and her partner Janis, tell their story, people’s hearts and minds change on these important issues. At GLAAD, we’re grateful for the incredible response that people like Michele and the other 150-plus letter writers have shown to this call to action. We encourage lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and our allies to keep telling their stories as we work together to help get Referendum 71 Approved.
Related Posts:GLAAD Provides Media Assistance to Washington Campaign
October 13, 2009
This election season, Washington voters will be asked to either approve or reject Referendum 71, regarding whether or not to keep the state’s existing domestic partnership law intact.
There are over 12,000 registered domestic partnerships in the state of Washington and a vote to approve Referendum 71 will ensure that important protections for these families are protected. Voting to approve Referendum 71 will guarantee all families the same protections under the law, including the right to take medical leave to care for an ailing family member, collect worker’s compensation and pensions, and have insurance coverage. The referendum ensures that important protections will not be taken away from committed couples and that they will continue to be able to take care of each other, especially in times of crisis. 
The domestic partnership legislation was signed into law in May of this year but before it could take effect in July, the opposition presented the Secretary of State’s office with barely enough valid signatures opposing the law to force a referendum vote.
This is an important issue for GLAAD and the LGBT community as a whole. GLAAD was the first national organization on the ground in Washington beginning in mid-September. GLAAD has assisted the campaign with fielding reporter inquiries, pitching stories, promoting letters to the editors, developing positive messages, and spreading the word about this important law. This week the campaign released it’s first television advertisement, “Together,” that will begin playing in Washington immediately.
Major contributors to Approve Referendum 71 include companies vital to Washington’s economy, including: Microsoft, Puget Sound Energy, Boeing, Nike, RealNetworks and Vulcan Development. High profile endorsements have also flooded in from the Seattle Times, the Olympian, The Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Washington State Bar Association, the Children’s Alliance, and the Washington Association of Churches, just to name a few.
The Washington Families Standing Together coalition and their supporters encourages Washington voters to mail in their ballots early and to vote to APPROVE Referendum 71.
The ballot will read as follows:
REFERENDUM 71 Ballot Title Statement of Subject:
The legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5688 concerning rights and responsibilities of state-registered domestic partners [and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill].
Concise Description: This bill would expand the rights, responsibilities, and obligations accorded state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses, except that a domestic partnership is not a marriage.
Should this bill be:
Approved ___ Rejected __
Media Takes Note of Latest Statewide LGBT Developments
August 21, 2009
Every week at state and local levels, there are numerous developments taking place about the many key issues that deeply affect our community—domestic partnerships, marriage, hate crimes, employment discrimination and DOMA to name a few. The media is paying attention. Here is a brief summary:
Maine:
Gearing up for Vote on Marriage for Gay and Lesbian Couples
Last year, Maine legislators passed LD 1020—a law allowing marriage for gay and lesbian couples—but LS 1020 only stands if Maine residents vote to uphold it this November.
So the clock is ticking.
The Advocate wrote that in Maine, both sides, marriage and anti-marriage advocates are working aggressively:
Opponents of Maine’s same-sex marriage law have the upper hand financially thus far, raising more than $343,000 compared to [Equality Maine-based] No on 1’s $143,000, according to mid-July filings with the State Ethics Commission.
Marriage equality proponents had a total of 501 donors, according to a campaign spokesman, with the largest donation of $50,000 coming from Maine resident Diane Sammer, $25,000 from the Human Rights Campaign, $10,000 from the American Civil Liberties Union, and $10,000 from another state resident Jane Begert. An HRC spokesperson said the organization plans to chip in an additional $100,000 over the next couple months.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Maine-based advocates of same-sex marriage are not in this alone–people in California are lending a helping hand:
Equality California, one of this state’s largest gay rights groups, sent out a fundraising appeal urging supporters to send their donations to Maine.
The appeal noted that opponents of gay marriage, including many who were active in California’s $80-million battle over Proposition 8, have raised more than twice as much money.
View “Together”, the Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, Equality Maine Foundation and the Maine Civil Liberties Union Foundation’s new ad for upholding LD 1020.
Ohio:
Same-Sex and Unwed Partners of Employees to Receive Benefits
On August 18, Franklin County commissioners and employees voted unanimously to offer benefits to unmarried and same-sex partners of county employees.
The Columbus Dispatch reported on Wednesday that all county offices and independent agencies including Franklin County Children Services, the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and Metro Parks are to adopt this new policy.
This new policy, which goes into effect January 1st, 2010, could benefit roughly 60 domestic partners and 21 dependants in the area.
Tennessee:
Metro Council Votes to Ban Workplace Discrimination against LGBT Workers
In a 23-16 vote, the Metropolitan Council— the legislative body of Nashville and Davidson County —voted on member Meghan Barry’s proposal to ensure that all gay and lesbian workers were protected from discrimination in the workplace. According to the Nashville Scene, the majority of those who opposed the bill expressed that they wanted a bill that would protect all employees better based on “non-merit” factors.
This vote comes six years after a similar 2003 vote that refused to ban this type of discrimination.
Texas:
El Paso Officials Will Make Public Accouchement on Domestic Partner Benefits Next Week
This July, council members in El Paso voted to include benefits for partners of gay and unmarried employees. Kiva.com reported that on August 18, at a city council meeting, both those who support and oppose this new policy spoke out in the allotted public comment portion of the meeting. What exactly was said is unknown to the public, because council members are not allowed to divulge what community members say if it is not the agenda of the meeting.
Next Tuesday, council members will officially make a statement about this new measure to the public. Mayor John Cook stated that he will have a special meeting about this as well.
Ft. Worth Police Revising Policies After Raiding Local Gay Bar
Almost two months after the Rainbow Lounge raid, which resulted in six arrests and one hospitalization, Fort Worth police announced on Tuesday that they are revising some of their policies, reports the El Paso Times:
Chief Jeff Halstead told the City Council that problems happened at the Rainbow Lounge in the early morning hours of June 28 because the department’s bar inspection policy lacked specific guidelines, which he said was why no policies were violated.
He said a revised policy should be in place by Sept. 1 with rules for a three tiered-system: bar checks, inspections and investigations.
A final report should be finished in late September or October, Halstead said. It will include the department’s findings on whether allegations against some officers—including excessive force and unprofessional conduct—are justified and any recommended disciplinary actions
The June raid sparked accusations that police were targeting gay bars in the area. After public protests and marches, the city’s police chief announced the appointment of an interim liaison to the city’s LGBT residents and issued a public apology for the incident.
Washington State:
Referendum 71 Aims to Dismantle Domestic Partnerships Laws
Over the past few years, Washington’s state legislature has passed progressively more inclusive versions of a domestic partnership law. In 2009, the legislature passed Senate Bill 5688, a bill that would make domestic partnerships equivalent to marriage in the state, with the exception of the title of the agreement. Governor Chris Gregoire (D-WA) dubbed the bill, “everything but marriage,” and anti-gay forces have continued repeating the phrase. After contentious fights among leading conservatives in the state on whether it was a good strategy to force a referendum on the bill, a fraction of the anti-gay activists began gathering signatures for Referendum 71 (R-71)—an appeal that could overturn existing law if it wins majority vote this November.
On July 25th, Protect Marriage Washington turned in 137,689 signatures from registered Washington State voters supporting R-71–only 120,577 valid signatures were required. The Secretary State’s Office is still verifying all of the signatures on R-71 and will most likely make an announcement later this month.
The Seattle Times reported that the Protect Marriage Washington asked the Public Disclosure Commission on Thursday to hold an emergency hearing—they claim that they have received threats of violence.
GLAAD will be on the ground in Washington working with local LGBT organizations and media in reporting on this matter.
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GLAAD will continue keeping up with the latest developments on legislative LGBT issues around the country.
Related Posts:Equal Rights Washington Using Youtube Videos to Change Hearts and Minds
January 27, 2009
With the budget crisis looming in the state, as it is in the rest of the country, Equal Rights Washington (ERW) knows that it’s now more important than ever for LGBT people and our allies to ensure LGBT measures maintain momentum.
“One Minute for Marriage” is a campaign ERW has launched to put a human face on the issue of marriage. In 2007, Washington adopted a domestic partnership registry in the state for the first time. In 2008, the legislature expanded the protections the registry affords couples. However, though making these incremental moves in the law, ERW has never been shy about their intent to secure the right to marry for gay couples.
Using on-line, Youtube videos, ERW hopes to put a human face on the issue of marriage for gay couples. They hope to harness new media to effectively convey to legislators a widespread support or marriage for gay couples, by every day Washington residents.
GLAAD always encourages people to step up and share their story and use the media as a resource for effectively sharing messages, stories and ideas. “One Minute for Marriage” is an exciting new way for people in Washington to come together and raise many voices along with ERW and help change people’s hearts and minds around the issue of marriage.
