Early estimations say that there could be upwards of 1500 people filling Terry Shrunk Plaza at 5:30 tonight - all rallying for equality. As most of you know Friday is the federal court hearing on Oregon's Domestic Partnership law. We probably won't know the fate of the law on Friday as the judge is expected to take some time to make his ruling. Possibly a few weeks.

Not caught up on everything that has happened? Here is some of our recent coverage:
DELAYED: Oregon Domestic Partnership Law
Squashed: The Hope and Dreams of Oregon Families
Oregon Domestic Partnership Law Delay: What's Next?
Photo Journal: Portland's Candlelight Vigil
Judge Mosman Grants BRO's Motion to Intervene in Lemons v Bradbury


Stand Up and Be Counted TONIGHT. For more info on TONIGHT'S rally - click here.

Also - check out Jeana Frazini's (Exec. Dir. of Basic Rights Oregon) guest piece on Blue Oregon.

Labels: basic rights oregon, domestic partnership, federal court, lawsuit, oregon

John McCain who just won Florida tonight, also happened to stoop back down to the level of the current administration and played the gay card.

McCain's campaign conducted anti-gay robo calls. A robo call is an automated call that plays a voice message. Here is what the calls said:

"I'm calling with an urgent Mitt Romney [unintelligible]

"We care deeply about traditional values and protecting families. And we need someone who will not waver in the White House: Ending abortion, preserving the sanctity of marriage, stopping the trash on the airwaves and attempts to ban God from every corner of society. These issues are core to our being.

"Mitt Romney thinks he can fool us. He supported abortion on demand, even allowed a law mandating taxpayer-funding for abortion. He says he changed his mind, but he still hasn't changed the law. He told gay organizers in Massachusetts he would be a stronger advocate for special rights than even Ted Kennedy. Now, it's something different.

"Unfortunately, on issue after issue Mitt Romney has treated social issues voters as fools, thinking we won't catch on. Sorry, Mitt, we know you aren't trustworthy on the most important issue and you aren't a conservative.

"Paid for by John McCain 2008."

McCain: More of the same - just another fucking loser.

More at HRC's Back Story.

Labels: 2008 elections, 2008 Presidential Election, anti-gay, mccain

Gay and lesbian couples are just as committed in their relationships as heterosexuals and the legal status of their union doesn't impact their happiness, according to new research.

In two new studies that compared same-sex and heterosexual couples using different factors and methods to assess their happiness, scientists found few differences.

"Among the committed couples, there were very few differences that we were able to identify either in terms of how satisfied these couples were, how effectively they interacted with one another or how their bodies responded physiologically while they were interacting with one another," Glenn I. Roisman, of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne, said in an interview.

He and his colleagues compared 30 gay male and 30 lesbian couples with 50 engaged heterosexual couples, 40 older, married heterosexual couples and dating heterosexual couples.

They found that regardless of sexual orientation, as the level of commitment increased, so did the ability to resolve conflict -- debunking the myth that same-sex relationships are not built on the same level of commitment as heterosexual ones.

In the second study researchers, who focused on how legal status affected relationship quality, followed 65 male and 138 female same-sex couples in civil unions, 23 male and 61 female same-sex couples not in civil unions and 55 heterosexual married couples over a three-year period.

Read the entire article here.

Labels: relationships, study

Simply put Fox News Radio host John Gibson is a heartless asshole.

via THP:

Fox News' John Gibson found a way to outdo MSNBC's Courtney Hazlett for the most inappropriate comment on Heath Ledger's death. ThinkProgress reports that, on his radio show yesterday (which opened with funeral music), Gibson called Ledger a "weirdo" with a "serious drug problem." Making fun of the famous "I wish I knew how to quit you" line from "Brokeback Mountain," Gibson said of his death, "Well, he found out how to quit you."

This is not Gibson's first time making inappropriate comments in the wake of tragedy. In July 2005, just one day before the 7/7 terrorist bombings in London, Gibson said that "the International Olympic Committee missed a golden opportunity....If they had picked France instead of London to hold the Olympics, it would have been the one time we could look forward to where we didn't worry about terrorism. They'd blow up Paris, and who cares?" The next day, after the London bombings, Gibson repeated the remarks.

To hear the must-listen audio of John Gibson mocking Heath Ledger's death, visit ThinkProgress.

Labels: anti-gay, dickhead

Well known Portland Attorney Beth Allen who has played large roles in the Li v. Oregon and Martinez v. Oregon cases has penned a no hold barred op-ed in the Oregonian today blasting anti-gay forces who have infiltrated Oregon. These forces are masquerading themselves as saints attempting to alter the Oregon initiative process - when in reality it has little to do with the process itself, but the end result. The end result being to advance their extremist, out-of-state, anti-gay agenda here in Oregon.

Allen asks the question, "At what cost do we unravel our process?".

And here is her op-ed:

The Legislature last year passed a bill that would finally grant Oregon's gay couples state rights and responsibilities similar to those of married couples. The governor signed the bill in May, to go into effect on Jan. 1.

Some Oregonians, angered by the Legislature's vote, attempted to refer the issue to the ballot. They gathered petition signatures, but their usual constituency had apparently grown tired of the divisive issue, and the ballot measure's proponents turned in for review less than 62,000 signatures. They needed 55,179 valid signatures.

The process used to determine the validity of the signatures was the same process that has been used for years. The secretary of state's office employs a statistically appropriate sampling method to determine whether enough signatures are likely to meet the threshold number of valid signatures. This allows the state to avoid the burden of verifying every single signature, which would be prohibitively costly.

While reviewing the signatures submitted for the referral, people for and against the ballot measure peered over the shoulders of the signature verifiers, often offering comment. But unless there was a good reason to doubt the veracity of any signature, it was counted. By Oct. 8, the ballot measure proponents knew that the number of signatures they submitted was insufficient.

All of this should have come as no surprise. Oregonians (and, yes, too often out-of-staters) have been engaging in this process for decades. It's well-known that some signatures gathered in the petition process on Oregon's streets will be invalid, so it's advisable for advocates to submit significantly more than the threshold amount to ensure success. In this case, they didn't. And most people in Oregon breathed a sigh of relief -- one less discriminatory ballot measure to divide the state.

The days, weeks and months ticked by. And then, just as the law was about to go into effect, enter Joseph Infranco, an out-of-state lawyer with something called the Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative anti-gay group. He ran to federal court to cry foul on the state. And now, we all must wait for the law to go into effect while he attempts to argue why our state should review signatures the way he wants them reviewed.

To Joseph Infranco, I say this: This is not a football game, as portrayed in the analogy of your commentary in The Oregonian ("Hijacking Oregon's democratic process," Jan. 16), and no one was cheated of the opportunity to participate in democracy.

What you clearly don't understand is the damage that you are doing to the democratic process. If you and your anti-gay allies are successful, the victory will be Pyrrhic. It will become more difficult and much more expensive to get any measure on Oregon's ballot. If unsuccessful (my expectation), you will have wasted Oregonians' tax dollars, which are being used to defend our state's process, and hurt real Oregon families who could have benefited from the law while it was held up in court.

Oregonians will rue the day you rode into town. When you're done, you'll ride away, probably to muck about in some other state's political processes, looking for ways to oppress the civil rights of people you find distasteful.

Oregonians, on the other hand, will be left to wonder: Are we so afraid of gay people committing to one another that we're willing to allow outsiders to unravel our initiative process and continue to divide our state?

Only time will tell.

Labels: domestic partnership, lawsuit, oregon, referendum

Al Gore has a clip on Current TV (Al Gore/Google's station) where he addresses and supports gay rights including full marriage equality for gays and lesbians. Check it out...

Labels: al gore, gay rights, video

Heath Ledger was found dead Tuesday at a downtown Manhattan residence, and police said drugs may have been a factor. He was 28.

NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said Ledger had an appointment for a massage at the Manhattan apartment believed to be his home. The housekeeper who went to let him know the masseuse had arrived found him dead at 3:26 p.m.

The Australian-born actor was nominated for an Oscar for "Brokeback Mountain," where he met his wife, actress Michelle Williams, in 2005. Ledger and Williams had lived in Brooklyn and had a daughter, Matilda, until they split up last year.

Ledger was to appear as the Joker this year in "The Dark Night," a sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins." He's had starring roles in "A Knight's Tale" and "The Patriot," and played the suicidal son of Billy Bob Thornton in "Monster's Ball."

Ledger grew up in Perth, and began doing amateur theater at age 10. At 16, he moved to Sydney to pursue an acting career, quickly landing TV movie roles and guest spots on Australian television.

After several independent films and a starring role in the short-lived Fox TV series "Roar," Ledger moved to Los Angeles and costarred in "10 Things I Hate About You," a teen comedy reworking of "The Taming of the Shrew."

Offers for other teen flicks came his way, but Ledger turned them down, preferring to remain idle than sign on for projects he didn't like.

"It wasn't a hard decision for me," Ledger told the Associated Press in 2001. "It was hard for everyone else around me to understand. Agents were like, `You're crazy,' my parents were like, `Come on, you have to eat.'"

His latest role was in "I'm Not There," in which he played one of the many incarnations of Bob Dylan - as did Cate Blanchett, whose performance in that film earned an Oscar nomination Tuesday for best supporting actress.

via AP

Labels: entertainment

Studies of lesbian and gay couples reveal some key factors that may promote healthier relationships in straight couples, a U.S. psychologist says.

Psychologist and researcher Robert-Jay Green of the Rockway Institute and of Alliant International University in San Diego says the studies of lesbian and gay couples found that the homosexual couples had flexibility about gender roles and an equal division of parenting and household tasks.

In a series of studies Green conducted with Michael Bettinger and Ellis Zacks, lesbian couples were found to be emotionally closer than gay male couples who, in turn, were found to be emotionally closer than heterosexual married couples.

"It all comes down to greater equality in the relationship," Green said in a statement. "Research shows that lesbian and gay couples have a head start in escaping the traditional gender role divisions that make for power imbalances and dissatisfaction in many heterosexual relationships."

Heterosexual couples could learn from gays couples about sharing housework and childcare, using softer communication in conflict and having more nurturing behaviors toward one another and their children, the researchers conclude.

via UPI

Labels: relationships

Mitt Romney Defends Himself Against Allegations Of Tolerance

We've posted videos from the Onion before and people believed them to be true, instead of the satire that they are. Just a little FYI for those folks.

Labels: 2008 Presidential Election, video

To the untrained eye, the January/February issue of Details might appear to be gay-free. No mention of dudes who enjoy watching their wives enjoy a Mandingo. Nothing about all gay men being stylish. And you already know the back page no longer features "Gay or...?"

Except then you spot Zac Efron, who's not "gay or ___" anything. He just is.

Head on over to Queerty for commentary on filling the gay quota for the mag.

And here's the cover. That boy is so hot.

Labels: entertainment, zac efron

A conservative Christian group has failed to collect enough signatures to force a vote to repeal a California law protecting students from discrimination, harassment and bullying in publicly-funded schools.

But a legal challenge to the law is still before the courts.

Save Our Kids, the organization that spearheaded the referendum effort says it collected over 350,000 signatures to overturn the law - far short of the required 434,000 signatures that had to be turned in on Friday.

The Student Civil Rights Act, passed and signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last year, mandates that teachers and school administrators fully understand their responsibilities to protect LGBT youth.

Various California laws have prohibited discrimination in public education on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, religion, race, disability and gender for a number of years.

But in some instances school administrators have been unclear about all the laws and what they need to do to fight bullying. The Student Civil Rights Act updated the existing Education Code to bring all the discrimination laws under one section.

Opponents of the law have claimed it will force schools to "promote homosexuality" and to "persecute Christians who oppose homosexuality".

"Opponents of SB 777 have been spreading misinformation and outright lies for months, and whether they actually collected 350,000 signatures, we will never know," said Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors.

"What is clear is that they failed. Despite their vicious attack, Californians stood with us and said 'no' to turning back the clock on civil rights and protecting all youth from discrimination in our schools."

via 365 Gay

Labels: anti-bully, anti-discrimination, anti-gay, california, losers

New York reports decline in AIDS deaths; despite increased infection rates:
Deaths in New York City from HIV/AIDS fell by nearly 15 percent in 2006 the city health department said Wednesday.

AIDS deaths dropped from 1,419 in 2005 to 1,209 in 2006. The decline was reflected in both sexes and all ethnic groups.

"Numbers this low have not been seen since 1984, when New York City recorded 952 deaths from AIDS," the health department report said.

Circumventing Process, Vermont's Anti-Gay Groups Form Group to Block Gay Marriage:
Conservative anti-gay groups have been avoiding all legislative hearings regarding civil unions vs. marriage stating that the legislature is "pro-gay".

Conservative groups that boycotted legislative hearings on a proposed gay marriage bill in Vermont accusing it of being pro-gay announced Tuesday they have set up their own commission to "set the record straight".

The groups, which include Vermont Renewal an organization that for most of its history has fought all LGBT legislation in the state, held a news conference at the State House to announce the establishment of commission.

Spokesperson Stephen Cable said the commission will hold public hearings throughout the state. The first "Marriage Matters" forum will be held January 19th at the University of Vermont.

The commission also will open a Web site "to educate people" about the dangers of same-sex marriage, especially to children whose interests he said have been overlooked to date.

To save you from having to go to their website to learn about the 'dangers of same-sex marriage', here are three of them.
1.) Families will legally be able to take care of one another in times of crisis.
2.) Couples will legally be automatically able to leave their estate to their partner.
3.) Spouses will automatically be able to share a cemetery plot.

HORRIFIC I KNOW!

Clinton Wins New Hampshire:
Surprising to most who know me, but I have yet to pick my presidential favorite. I was very pleased when Obama won Iowa and also pleased to see Hilary come out on top in NH.

Labels: 2008 Presidential Election, new hampshire, new york, vermont

I came across an ad for the new BMW 3-series convertible that is very suggestive and hilarious to boot. Now I love BMW and I especially love my BRYMW, but I want you to judge this ad for yourself.



Now when I first read it I was a bit taken back. Is it because of my personal persuasion or am I right?

When asked by Radar magazine, this is what the ad agency had to say:

"You're the first person to bring it up," says GSD&M Idea City account director Corey Platt when asked about the seemingly suggestive advert. "I can definitely see how it can be taken that way, but we didn't set out to specifically target the gay audience. I think it was a bonus that it resonated so well with them." According to Platt, the ads worked particularly well in Miami and L.A. "We knew we could push it a little bit more in those areas," says Platt.

No matter how you cut it - it is a great ad.

Labels: advertising

All three major news networks have called the race. Obama for the D's and Huckabee for the R's. Very scary that Republicans would actually want more of the same from party leaders. I'll say it again. Very scary.

A tidbit of history for you. Mike Huckabee once advocated isolating AIDS patients from the general public, opposed increased federal funding in the search for a cure and said homosexuality could "pose a dangerous public health risk."

As a candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in 1992, Huckabee answered 229 questions submitted to him by The Associated Press. Besides a quarantine, Huckabee suggested that Hollywood celebrities fund AIDS research from their own pockets, rather than federal health agencies.

And this is who the Republicans want in office?

Compare Mike Huckabee's following stances on issues to that of George W. Bush:

"My faith is my life - it defines me. My faith doesn't influence my decisions, it drives them. For example, when it comes to the environment, I believe in being a good steward of the earth. I don't separate my faith from my personal and professional lives."

CHECK.

"I support and have always supported passage of a constitutional amendment to protect the right to life. My convictions regarding the sanctity of life have always been clear and consistent, without equivocation or wavering. I believe that Roe v. Wade should be over-turned."

CHECK.

"I support and have always supported passage of a federal constitutional amendment that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. As President, I will fight for passage of this amendment. My personal belief is that marriage is between one man and one woman, for life."

ALSO: "As Governor of Arkansas, I led the successful effort to pass a similar state constitutional amendment in 2002."

CHECK.

"I believe that we are currently engaged in a world war. Radical Islamic fascists have declared war on our country and our way of life. They have sworn to annihilate each of us who believe in a free society, all in the name of a perversion of religion and an impersonal god. We go to great extremes to save lives, they go to great extremes to take them. This war is not a conventional war, and these terrorists are not a conventional enemy. I will fight the war on terror with the intensity and single-mindedness that it deserves."

CHECK.

Are you fucking kidding me?

Labels: 2008 Presidential Election, federal

We just received word that counsel representing Basic Rights Oregon has been granted their motion to intervene in Lemons v. Bradbury. The motion was filed Wednesday and although the judge had two weeks to make a decision, it only took him one day to approve it.

Folks this is some fantastic news. This will give Basic Rights Oregon the proper standing in the case, enabling them to ensure that the voices of hundreds of families and committed couples are heard before the court.

The interveners in the case include:

Basic Rights Oregon

Jeana Frazzini, plaintiff in Parman v. State of Oregon et al, in addition to being the new Executive Director of Basic Rights Oregon

Erin Sexton Taylor, a woman who is in a committed partnership and is expecting her first child in May

Sally Sparks, also in a committed long-term relationship and is expecting second child in February

More to come.

RELATED POSTS:
BREAKING: Basic Rights Oregon Files Motion to Intervene

Labels: basic rights oregon, domestic partnership, lawsuit, lemons v bradbury, oregon, portland

While today would have marked the day that committed same-sex couples in Oregon could enter into Domestic Partnerships, we instead gathered with nearly 500 others to join side-by-side in candlelight in dedication to upholding the law. While no one can forget the nearly 35 year struggle for a statewide anti-discrimination law, we also cannot forget that last Friday the 28th, a federal judge put Oregon's Domestic Partnership law on hold for at least a month - pending another hearing on February 1.

I wanted to share some photos of this evening's ceremony which was on of seven across the state. Other cities south of Portland brought about 300 people. Photos below the recent story links.

Here are some photo highlights. Sorry about the lack of quality on some of them.

RELATED POSTS (old to new):

Squashed: The Hope and Dreams of Oregon Families

Judge Who Made Yesterday's Anti-Gay Ruling Has Shady Past?

Oregon Domestic Partnership Law Delay: What's Next?

One Oregon, One Hope: A Community in Mourning

BREAKING: Basic Rights Oregon Files Motion to Intervene



Nearly 500 people attended the vigil at the Q Center in Portland. Cops closed the street out front as it was so full inside, they began to fill the streets.


Basic Rights Oregon's former Executive Director Roey Thorpe.

Labels: domestic partnership, lawsuit, oregon, portland

This JUST in. Basic Rights Oregon, in cooperation with their counsel, has filed a motion to intervene in Lemons v. Bradbury. If granted by Judge Mosman, this would give Basic Rights Oregon standing in the case, allow BRO to work with the state to defend the law and ensure that the interests of Oregon families are represented fairly before the court.

Details are still coming in, but here is what we know so far aside from the above.

The interveners in the case would include:

Basic Rights Oregon

Jeana Frazzini, plaintiff in Parman v. State of Oregon et al, in addition to being the new Executive Director of Basic Rights Oregon

Erin Sexton Taylor, a woman who is in a committed partnership and is expecting her first child in May

Sally Sparks, also in a committed long-term relationship and is expecting second child in February

Judge Mosman has two weeks to make the decision as to whether or not he will allow this motion. Opponents will have a chance to way in on the motion to intervene.

More details to come as well as an interview with one of the expecting mothers.

Labels: basic rights oregon, domestic partnership, lawsuit, oregon

This is so atrocious. Bush's dream of bringing freedom and democracy was lost years ago, that isn't news. Though there is news today that the Iraqi "government" has agreed to grant amnesty to prisoners - unless they are terrorists or GAY.

The Iraq government is considering the release of some 5,000 prisoners but a spokesperson said it would not include terrorists or homosexuals.

The Iraqi government has about 20,000 people in custody, while the U.S. military holds about 25,000.

Homosexuality itself is not illegal in Iraq, but police regularly arrest gays on other charges often trumped up.

The amnesty bill drafted by the Shiite-dominated government falls far short of Sunni demands. About the only thing on which the two sides agree is that imprisoned gays not be freed.

Fucking disgusting. Also in the article it explains how gay and lesbians are being killed and the U.S. troops basically ignore it:

Death squads imposing strict Islamic law are reportedly responsible for the murders of hundreds of gay men across Iraq.

Last year the leader of an exiled Iraqi LGBT rights group told a London conference on homophobia that that militias blamed for the murders of hundreds of gay men and women are sanctioned by the government and the US-led coalition is doing little to stop the killings.

via 365gay.com

Labels: human rights, iraq, military

Tonight all across Oregon there will be candlelight vigils held - this comes on the heels of a federal judge halting Oregon's Domestic Partnership law, that would have gone into effect today, until at least February 1st. On February 1 there will be a hearing on the matter and the judge will then decide whether of not our law will go into effect. For more on the background of the story we direct you to an earlier post.

Those of us from Gay Rights Watch will be at the Portland vigil and we strongly encourage you to join us in masses. This is all part of the massive response from Basic Rights Oregon. Our community, be it straight or gay, must join together and stand up against injustice to our fellow Oregonians.

Portland
The Q Center (69 SE Taylor)
5:30 - 7:00 pm

Eugene
Grace Chapel (1166 Oak Street)
5:30 - 7:00 pm

Corvallis
Meet at the First United Methodist Church Community Center (11th and Jackson) at 5:30, then walk to the Benton County Courthouse (120 NW Fourth).
Adjourn at 6:30 to Iovino's Restaurant.
This event was organized jointly between Corvallis-Albany PFLAG and Corvallis BRAT.

Bend
Candlelight Vigil and Celebration of Equality
Meet at 5:30 at the corner of Wall and Greenwood.
Afterwards, join us for a celebration of all relationships at The Summit at 125 Oregon St.
This event was organized jointly between BRO and the Human Dignity Coalition

Ashland
Ashland First Congregational United Church of Christ
717 Siskiyou Boulevard
5:30 - 7:00 pm

Salem
Salem City Hall (555 Liberty St. SE)
Meet at the north entrance to city hall (the end towards the creek). Supporters will gather under the overhang near the fountain.

Pendleton
Courthouse clock tower (corner of SE 4th and Court Ave.) 5:30pm
Candles will be provided. Dress warmly!

Labels: basic rights oregon, domestic partnership, oregon, portland