First the facts. eHarmony.com does not accept gay or lesbians on their site which is one of the larger net based dating sites. It was founded by evangelical Christian Dr. Neil Clark Warren.

eHarmony was sued on Thursday for refusing to offer its services to gays and lesbians.

A lawsuit alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of Linda Carlson, who was denied access to eHarmony because she is gay.

Lawyers bringing the action said they believed it was the first lawsuit of its kind against eHarmony, which has long rankled the gay community with its failure to offer a "men seeking men" or "women seeking women" option.

The lawusit looks as if it will be a class action suit. So what do I really think about this? Who cares if the site is only for heteros? I'm no attorney, although I would assume that if this business is operating in California, they must adhere to California law.

But come on now folks. Who really cares? Let them discriminate. There are tons of other dating sites if you must find a mate online. PLUS, then we wouldn't get these funny commericals from eHarmony's competitor Chemistry.com

Labels: anti gay, business

This morning, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed a civil unions bill into law that grants same-sex couples the same rights and benefits of marriage. When the bill goes into effect in January, New Hampshire will become the 10th state in the nation, along with the District of Columbia, to provide at least some form of state-level relationship recognition for same-sex couples. Last month, the New Hampshire state Legislature passed the civil unions bill through the Senate by a vote of 14 to 10 and in the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 243 to 129.

Labels: civil union, new hampshire

The North Carolina House recently passed a school anti-bullying bill that includes sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The 73 to 46 vote in favor of the School Violence Prevention Act marks the first time in North Carolina history that a major pro-GLBT piece of legislation has passed either the House or Senate.

The FIRST. Congrats North Carolina!

Labels: anti-bully, north carolina

Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration announced on their website that the current lifetime ban on donating blood will remain in effect for gay and bisexual men. In March of 2006, the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), America's Blood Centers (ABC) and the American Red Cross (ARC) testified before the FDA that the lifetime ban for men who have sex with men "is medically and scientifically unwarranted" and that "it does not appear rational to broadly differentiate sexual transmission via male-to-male sexual activity from that via heterosexual activity on scientific grounds."

"Yesterday's affirmation of this policy by the FDA reflects a commitment to prejudice over science," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Our nation's leading blood services organizations agree that there is no rational justification for treating gay and bisexual men different than straight men. Given modern testing and the fact that anyone can be vulnerable to infection, there is no medical or scientific rationale for this discriminatory policy.

"Natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the threat of catastrophic terrorist attack make our nation's need for a robust and safe blood supply even more acute. The real public health threat is closing the door on countless numbers of men who selflessly want to donate blood. We are extremely disappointed that the Food and Drug Administration chose not to heed the advice of the Red Cross and other groups and put science and our nation's security over misguided prejudice."

The FDA policy dictates that even a single incident of MSM (men who have sex with men) activity since 1977 places that potential donor on a lifetime deferral list, a policy that was established in the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic before the advent of sophisticated DNA and serologic testing mechanisms that eliminate the risk of introducing HIV and other harmful agents into the general blood supply.

Via a press release from the Human Rights Campaign.

Labels: anti gay, discrimination, federal

Sean William Kennedy, 20, was leaving Brew's Bar in Greenville County, South Carolina, when a car pulled up next to him. Deputies believe 18 year old Stephen Andrew Moller jumped out of the car, punched Kennedy, and then took off.

Sean Kennedy fell after the getting blind-sided by the coward who hit him and hit his head on either a curb or the pavement below. He died less than 24 hours later from his injuries.

Yet another example of why The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act passed and signed by Bush this year. More about that here.

Here is a photo of the asshole (Stephen Andrew Moller) who attacked and killed Sean William Kennedy because he was gay...

Labels: anti gay, hate crimes

Today in the Daily Astorian there is a fantastic editorial blasting the individuals and groups who are leading a referendum effort on the two gay rights bills signed by Gov. Kulongoski last week. While we wouldn't normally put an entire editorial up here, it's worth it.

We don't need to fight this battle again
Newcomers to this state have always had some trouble with Oregon's libertarian you-leave-me-alone, I'll-leave-you-alone conservatism. This is especially true of newcomers of the authoritarian fundamentalist Christian variety who confuse it with "liberalism."

In the early 1990s, newcomer Lon Mabon became alarmed at Oregonians' toleration for homosexuals and formed The Oregon Citizens Alliance. The OCA put several initiatives on the ballot prohibiting state and local governments and public schools from "promoting" homosexuality by saying anything about not discriminating against homosexuals.

The OCA's Measure 9 was defeated in 1992, but the Christian Right became increasingly shrill, and eventually put Measure 36 on the ballot - a state constitutional amendment declaring marriage must be between a man and a woman. It passed.

During the campaign on Measure 36, some of its most vocal supporters declared they were only protecting the "sanctity of marriage" and did not oppose laws that would give same sex couples the domestic legal protections that heterosexual couples had.

With that distinction in mind, the Legislature passed and Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed Senate Bill 2 banning discrimination against homosexuals in housing, workplaces and places of public accommodation like restaurants or theaters. The Legislature also passed House Bill 2007, creating domestic partnerships that grant committed same-sex couples similar legal benefits in taxation, insurance, hospitalization, etc. that heterosexual couples have.

Then Jack Brown of Grants Pass, the chairman of the Constitution Party of Oregon, announced he is circulating a petition to refer both bills to the voters. Brown says the bills "violate the spirit" of Measure 36. They do not, of course. The bills simply violate Brown's personal prejudices.

The Constitution Party, headed by former Republican Howard Phillips, openly advocates theocratic, Christian government for the United States, so Brown is likely to have national money to hire signature gathers and buy their way onto the ballot as many interest groups have done in recent years.

Labels: HB 2007, house bill 2007, oregon, referendum, SB 2, senate bill 2

Oh the irony.

From 365gay.com:

Westboro Baptist Church says it intends to state a protest at the funeral of Rev. Jerry Falwell.

Falwell died died Tuesday at age 73. The funeral will be Tuesday at the Thomas Road Baptist Church, the church he founded, in Lynchburg, Virginia.

On its Web site, Westboro says it will "preach" outside the funeral "of the corpulent false prophet Jerry Falwell, who spent his entire life prophesying lies and false doctrines like 'God loves everyone.'"

The church is run by the Rev. Fred Phelps (pictured) and its 70 members are made up mostly of Phelps' relatives. Although it professes to be Baptist it is not affiliated with any national Baptist group.

In attacking Falwell the church says he "warmly praised Christ-rejecting Jews, pedophile-condoning Catholics, money-grubbing compromisers, practicing fags like Mel White (of Souflorce), and backsliders like Billy Graham and Robert Schuler, etc."

The Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro operates Web sites including GodHatesFags and GodHatesAmerica and has been described as a cult.

Phelps and the church first came to national attention when he organized a protest by his followers outside the 1998 funeral for Matthew Shepherd, the gay college student who was beaten to death in Wyoming. The killing, Phelps' protest, and the reaction of townsfolk led to the play "The Laramie Project."

Church members routinely demonstrate at the funerals of AIDS victims and most recently at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq.

Lately it has pointed its criticism overseas. Last month the Swedish royal family hired a lawyer after hundreds of threatening faxes clogged the offices of various members of the royal family threatening they will "spend eternity in hell" and suggesting various members of the family, including King Carl Gustaf, are gay.

Falwell for his part was no friend to the gay community.

Following the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington in 2001 Falwell declared that gays and pro choice advocates were to blame.

In 2003 Falwell announced that he was putting aside everything to devote his time to passage of a federal constitutional ban on gay marriage and in the 2004 election campaign he worked with Republicans to use same-sex marriage as a wedge issue.

Soulforce founder Mel White at one time worked with Falwell but the two split after White came out.

Labels: anti gay

I really want to be ecstatic about this, though it is death and it seems wrong to rejoice in the death of another. The problem is that he has caused so much pain among hundreds of thousands, if not millions. One of his best moments was when he blamed 9/11 on gays and lesbians.

Amen. The horrible man is dead.

From CNN:
Falwell has found himself at the center of several controversies, such as the one sparked by his comments two days after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in which he seemed to blame "abortionists," gays, lesbians, the ACLU and People for American Way for causing the attacks, saying they "helped this happen."

Evangelist Jerry Falwell died Tuesday after he was found unresponsive in his office, an official at Liberty University told CNN.

Falwell, 73, was rushed to a Lynchburg, Virginia, hospital, where he was given CPR.

Labels: anti gay

Labels: saturday fun

Today, Governor Kulongsoski signed into law a domestic partnership bill that would extend to same-sex couples the rights, benefits and responsibilities currently only available via a marriage contract... BUT only valid within the state of Oregon.

Today he also signed into law a comprehensive anti-discrimination bill that will outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodation, public education etc. Religious employers, institutions and organizations are exempt from this new law.

What an amazing day to be an Oregonian. Both laws go into effect Jan. 1, 2008.

Check out this viedo from the signing:

Labels: anti-discrimination, domestic partnership, HB 2007, house bill 2007, kulongoski, legislature, SB 2, senate bill 2

Tomorrow, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski will sign Oregon's Domestic Partnership bill and a comprehensive anti-discrimination bill. The day has finally come. 34 years after the first anti-discrimination bill was introduced.

Tomorrow Oregon will also become the first state in the U.S. to pass any sort of relationship rights law after passing a constitutional amendment banning marriage for same-sex couples. There is no doubt that Domestic Partnerships are not marriage, but this bill is an amazing step forward in proving the invaluable rights to Oregon families who are currently otherwise unprotected.

The domestic partnership bill is obviously not portable to any other state, therefore as a couple you are legally strangers in the eyes of that state if you travel. It also doesn't afford to couples and their families the 1,138 rights and immunities granted at the federal level.

Again, that said, absolutely amazing! Tomorrow is historic in every way. Way to go Oregon, I'm proud to call you home.

-GS

Labels: anti-discrimination, domestic partnership, gay rights, HB 2007, house bill 2007, oregon, SB 2, senate bill 2

A new study prepared for the Canadian government shows children do as well, perhaps better, when reared by same-sex parents as they do by opposite-sex couples.

From 365gay.com:
The study has just now become public even though it was commissioned by the government in 2003 leading to accusations that the Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper attempted to burry the research.

When the study was ordered the Liberals were in power and courts across the country were beginning to strike down federal restrictions limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples.

The Liberals went on to legalize same-sex marriage in 2005. The party was defeated the following year by the Tories who promised to revisit the vote.

The study on child rearing was not complete until after the Conservatives came to power.

Last December a motion to reopen the gay marriage issue was defeated by Parliament. During the debate no mention was made of the study, by Prof. Paul Hastings at Concordia University, but Harper's Tories cited a French study that said same-sex parenting was not in the best interests of children.

The study only came to light when Hastings used freedom of information laws to obtain a copy which he provided to the Canwest News Service.

The 74-page study references about 100 studies on parenting. It says that although most of the literature study was empirical, the vast majority of studies show that children living with two mothers and children living with a mother and father have the same levels and qualities of social competence.

"A few studies suggest that children with two lesbian mothers may have marginally better social competence than children in 'traditional nuclear' families, even fewer studies show the opposite, and most studies fail to find any differences," the study says.

It also notes there is still too little research on gay male parents.

Canwest also found, using freedom of information laws, that after Hastings had obtained the government copy of his research that the Tories had prepared "talking points" on the study should the issue come up in Parliament.

Those "talking points" suggest MPs say that the Justice Department which had ordered Hasting's report, was distancing itself from the findings and concluded "[there has been] very little research in this area".

Hastings, a psychologist who specializes in analyzing data, rejects any suggestion that the study is biased.

In a very surprising editorial this morning, the uber conservative David Reinhard writes a rather supportive piece on Oregon's Domestic Partnership bill that passed last week-to be signed by the Governor this week. His statements are below and some of our thoughts below that.

David Reinhard's Editorial:

Oregon's war over gay marriage ended this week, not with a bang but a whimper. The Senate passed not a bill establishing homosexual marriage or civil unions but one establishing domestic partnerships -- a legal contract giving gay and lesbian couples some of the benefits of marriage.

[...}

The domestic partnership bill the Senate passed last week and Gov. Ted Kulongoski will sign into law soon is the whimper -- and, really, "a big whup" for traditionalists. At least, it should be.

But social conservatives should look closely at what actually passed. It isn't marriage. That will remain between a man and woman in Oregon. The Democratic Legislature and Kulongoski only handed up a super-contract between two adults of the same gender.

Their domestic partnership act isn't marriage by another name, and even the bill's supporters know it. One Eugene gay man said, "It is kind of separate but not equal," and Sen. Vicki Walker, D-Eugene, had this to say last Wednesday on the Senate floor: "It's shameful that in the name of equality, we must set up a system of inequality."

[...]

It's hard to see this as much of a triumph for gay-rights forces -- or much of a threat to traditional marriage. Social conservatives should be honest with themselves, and be fair to gays and lesbians.

One, gay and lesbian couples do have justifiable, practical concerns. The domestic partnership bill may not have been the best way to address them, but it's good that these real concerns will be attended to. Having the law recognize that homosexual couples exist and face practical problems hardly gives homosexuality some societal stamp of approval or places same-sex arrangements on par with traditional marriage.

Two, far greater threats to marriage exist than the kind of domestic partnership arrangement we're talking about here. And homosexuality or gay rights -- or even same-sex marriage -- have little to do with these threats.

Truth to the tell, heterosexuals and heterosexuality are the real menace to marriage. Out-of-wedlock births and family nonformation, too-easy marriage and too-easy divorce, a me-centric approach to marriage on the part of adults and a silly, sex-obsessed popular culture -- no, heteros have been doing a bang-up job of undermining marriage all on their own.

If social conservatives want to do something to bolster marriage, their time would be better spent working on these matters than fretting over Oregon's new domestic partnerships law.

While for the most part I completely agree with him for once, I can't help but wonder what the intent is. There is no doubt that I think he believes what he is saying, though it comes on the heels of "The Oregon Family Council" saying that they have "no plans" to do a referendum on the Domestic Partnership bill (House Bill 2007).

Am I just being paranoid in thinking that this all just plays a part in a bigger strategy of attempting to calm the Oregon Family Council's base? I mean they did get their folks in a frenzy around this legislation and now they have decided to not go for a referendum which is contrary to what they said they would probably end up doing if House Bill 2007 passed.

And not to beat a dead horse, but them doing a referendum, or even testifying against the bill is contrary to their prior public statements--like the following statements from the Oregon Family Council and the so-called "Defense of Marriage Coalition":

"Same-sex couples should seek marriage-like rights through another avenue, such as civil unions." Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign, Bend Bulletin 8/20/2004

or

"If same-sex couples need legal protection, they should consult their legislative representatives. If they need legislation to do that, no one is going to stand in their way." Defense of Marriage Coalition Executive Director Mike White, Lincoln City News Guard 11/10/2004

Thoughts?

Labels: ballot measure, domestic partnership, HB 2007, house bill 2007, legislature, oregon, referendum

Last night I ventured out to NoPo to Mississippi Pizza Pub with a few friends to see a small concert. The singer's name was Eric Himan and boy was he great.

Labels: queer artist

Ross the Intern. Just watch this.

-G.S.

Labels: saturday fun

Done and done. Today, by a vote of 21-9 the Oregon Senate has voted to approve domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. Just weeks ago the Oregon Legislature passed a statewide anti-discrimination bill that includes sexual orientation and gender identity--becoming the 18th state to do so.

What an amazing day for all Oregonians.

Labels: anti-discrimination, domestic partnership, gay rights, HB 2007, legislature, oregon, SB 2

Tomorrow, the Oregon Senate plans to debate and vote on House Bill 2007, the Oregon Family Fairness Act. Already passed in the Oregon House and by a Senate Committee, HB 2007 would grants rights, responsponsibilities and protections currently only available via a marriage contract within the State of Oregon but with some limitations... about 1,143 of them.

Some of the limits of this legislation include:

No Portability: Unlike marriage, the protections afforded to a same-sex couple through a civil union are only available within the borders the state of Oregon. In other words, a same-sex couple traveling to another state or country will have none of the protections granted by civil unions.

No Federal Benefits: Unlike married couples, same-sex couples in a civil union gain no benefits under federal law, like filing of joint federal income taxes or entitlement to social security survivor benefits.

Residency Requirement: Unlike marriage, there is an Oregon state residency requirement to enter into a civil union.

Solemnization Unnecessary: Unlike marriage, a civil union is simply a civil contract, and does not require solemnization by a judicial officer, county clerk or member of the clergy.

Different Dissolution: Unlike dissolution of marriage (divorce), only Oregon courts can dissolve a civil union – regardless of where a couple seeking to “divorce” may live.

The other 1,138 rights, responsibilities and protections that come with marriage at the federal level are not available via Oregon's new Domestic Partnerships.

Labels: domestic partnership, HB 2007, legislature, oregon