Obama's campaign has released an "Open Letter to the LGBT Community" in which Obama reiterates his promises to eliminate discrimination, urge the states to treat same-sex couples with full equality, repeal DOMA and Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and address the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Open Letter from Barack Obama to the LGBT community

I'm running for President to build an America that lives up to our founding promise of equality for all - a promise that extends to our gay brothers and sisters. It's wrong to have millions of Americans living as second-class citizens in this nation. And I ask for your support in this election so that together we can bring about real change for all LGBT Americans.

Equality is a moral imperative. That's why throughout my career, I have fought to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans. In Illinois, I co-sponsored a fully inclusive bill that prohibited discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity, extending protection to the workplace, housing, and places of public accommodation. In the U.S. Senate, I have co-sponsored bills that would equalize tax treatment for same-sex couples and provide benefits to domestic partners of federal employees. And as president, I will place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment. But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples - whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage. Unlike Senator Clinton, I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) - a position I have held since before arriving in the U.S. Senate. While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does. I have also called for us to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and I have worked to improve the Uniting American Families Act so we can afford same-sex couples the same rights and obligations as married couples in our immigration system.

The next president must also address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. When it comes to prevention, we do not have to choose between values and science. While abstinence education should be part of any strategy, we also need to use common sense. We should have age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception. We should pass the JUSTICE Act to combat infection within our prison population. And we should lift the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. In addition, local governments can protect public health by distributing contraceptives.

We also need a president who's willing to confront the stigma - too often tied to homophobia - that continues to surround HIV/AIDS. I confronted this stigma directly in a speech to evangelicals at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, and will continue to speak out as president. That is where I stand on the major issues of the day. But having the right positions on the issues is only half the battle. The other half is to win broad support for those positions. And winning broad support will require stepping outside our comfort zone. If we want to repeal DOMA, repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and implement fully inclusive laws outlawing hate crimes and discrimination in the workplace, we need to bring the message of LGBT equality to skeptical audiences as well as friendly ones - and that's what I've done throughout my career. I brought this message of inclusiveness to all of America in my keynote address at the 2004 Democratic convention. I talked about the need to fight homophobia when I announced my candidacy for President, and I have been talking about LGBT equality to a number of groups during this campaign - from local LGBT activists to rural farmers to parishioners at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Dr. Martin Luther King once preached.

Just as important, I have been listening to what all Americans have to say. I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all LGBT Americans. But neither will I close my ears to the voices of those who still need to be convinced. That is the work we must do to move forward together. It is difficult. It is challenging. And it is necessary.

Americans are yearning for leadership that can empower us to reach for what we know is possible. I believe that we can achieve the goal of full equality for the millions of LGBT people in this country. To do that, we need leadership that can appeal to the best parts of the human spirit. Join with me, and I will provide that leadership. Together, we will achieve real equality for all Americans, gay and straight alike.

Labels: 2008 Presidential Election, barack obama

Hey gays! Have you ever wanted to be two people at the same time? Well now you can!

It looks as though gay and lesbian couples who register as Domestic Partners in Oregon are running into expensive roadblocks when it comes to establishing their own identity - and no not their sexual identity - their actual names.

Under Oregon's Domestic Partnership law you are able to take you partner's name, or as many do, hyphenate your last names. Sounds great right? Well sure, you no longer have to pay to legally change your name in Oregon. The complication comes at the federal level. Try telling the Social Security Administration that you have changed your name. 'You are who? No you aren't.", they will say to you.

So this is what happens. Your name is legally changed at the state level but in no way shape or form is that recognized by federal agencies like the Social Security Admin. So you basically have two names. Could get quite confusing in hundreds of situations even with passports.

The only way around this is to pay a $200 fee to the feds. So now a family has to pay hundreds just for what should be a no brainer.

As one couple told us:

We went ahead and petitioned the court to allow us to change our names legally because we found out that the Social Security office would not honor our DP certificate as a legal name change doc. So we had to pay $200.00 for something that we would have received automatically if we were a man/woman couple.

Just another example of an inequity in Oregon's Domestic Partnership law. Something that a straight couple who gets married never even has to think about.

Related Post:
OR Domestic Partnership Law Already Bleeding Inequities

Labels: domestic partnership, oregon

This news comes out of Sherwood Oregon (about 15 minutes outside downtown). Imagine this, not even a week after a 15 year old middle school student was shot in the head by his 14 year old classmate because of his perceived sexual orientation. This situation in Sherwood disturbs me so much.

Sherwood Middle School drama students would rather cancel their production of "Higher Ground" than give in to their principal's request for revisions.

The cast of "Higher Ground," an original play written by the school's drama teacher, Jennie Brown, that explores the effects of bullying and hate speech and that was originally scheduled to open this weekend, met Thursday, Feb. 21, to discuss Principal Anna Pittioni's announcement that the play was "too mature" for middle school students.

"They had two options," Pittioni said. "They could vote to work on revisions or to not revise the play."

(Principal Pittoni had two options as well. To choose to say that intolerance will not be tolerated or that intolerance will be tolerated and even more than that - protected. She sadly chose the latter.)

Not revising the script would mean not performing the play at the middle school. In the end, 35 of the 47 cast members present voted against making revisions, Pittioni said.

Pittioni postponed the play earlier in the week and said some of the content was too mature for her students.

"Based on the broad audience of students we serve, I believe that the existing content exceeds the maturity of many of our students," Pittioni wrote in an announcement sent out to parents on Wednesday, Feb. 20. "Additionally, I believe that the play can be revised and performed at a later date."

As some parents put it:

"The whole play has just a fabulous message with it and it's about bullying," said Horner.

On Tuesday, Horner sent an e-mail to local media and said he supported addressing the topic, having been a victim of bullying himself.

"To think that 'Higher Ground,' a play that confronts the abusive reality of bullying, was canceled three days prior to the performance because of a reference to homosexuality and other contemporary topics that some may have difficulty acknowledging, saddens me," he wrote.

Sarah Grant, whose 13-year-old son, Freddie, has a major part in the middle school production, she was upset with the late date of the postponement.

For a play that had been approved by school counselors, only to be cancelled by Principal Anna Pittioni mere days prior to it going on stage is ridiculous.

This is theater. Theater is art and expression - in addition, this production happens to have a great message.

Sadly, the message that has been sent to the kids at the school by Principal Anna Pittioni cancelling it is the polar opposite of the message that is delivered by the play. It is a sad day for Sherwood Middle School, especially for the kids who get bullied on a daily basis for any number of reasons.

Shame on Principal Anna Pittioni.

Our friend Recovering Straight Girl, who is a mother herself, put it quite eloquently:

Amazing isn't it? That Portland, Oregon is one of the most diverse and affirming cities in the United States but if you leave the city limits and drive just a mere 17 miles out of town; you are in a different world all together.

A local middle school administrator in Sherwood, a suburb of the Portland Metro area has halted a production of a play that promotes tolerance and has an anti-bullying message. She has deemed the play "too mature" for middle school students. Too mature? The students themselves stated in interviews yesterday that the content of the play is "tame" compared to what they deal with in real life. And in a world where 15 year old middle-school students are murdered because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, I think that it's vital that middle school students receive the most diversity training that they can.

Unfortunately this issue is not about promoting diversity or tolerance. It's about tolerating intolerance.

By promoting tolerance and acceptance, this school district is afraid that they will look as though they promote some kind of "alternate lifestyle."

Please.

This is a public school filled with students who have to deal with this crap every single solitary day. By statistical data, 10% of them are GLBTQ themselves, and some of them even have GLBTQ parents and family members.

This is outrageous and embarrassing that this kind of bigotry has a voice and it's voice is so prominent.

And as the Statesman Journal put up their list of "Winners and Losers" they wisely included this:

LOSER: Sherwood Middle School. The administration postponed a school play about bullying, contending that it was too mature for some students and would offend some people. Get real. Students know what's going on in society -- and in their schools.

I encourage you to email the administration at Sherwood Middle School let them know what you think about promoting a nasty message of tolerating intolerance in her school. Here are the contacts:

Anna Pittioni - Principal: APittioni@sherwood.k12.or.us
Steve Emmert - Assistant Principal: SEmmert@sherwood.k12.or.us
Chris Stevens - Dean of Students: CStevens@sherwood.k12.or.us
Marianne Funderhide - Dean of Students: MFunderhide@sherwood.k12.or.us

Labels: anti-gay, oregon, school

This sort of makes you wonder what other situations a couple may run into in times of crisis. Take a medical emergency. Should we all be prepared with our Declaration of Domestic Partnership Forms to bring to the hospital if something terrible was to happen to our domestically partnered other half?

Imagine a straight married couple having to bring their marriage license to the hospital just for their husband or wife to prove that they are actually just that - their husband of wife.

Picture it... "Oh what? My husband was shot? OK I will be a little late to the hospital, I need to run home to get my marriage certificate."

When Sally Sparks and her partner, Heather Dugas, registered as domestic partners at the Multnomah County Building the day the new state law took effect on February 4, Sparks was overdue with their second child.

"It was a good feeling that [the law] went through and we were going to walk into the hospital as domestic partners," Sparks says.

When their son was born on February 10, Sparks and Dugas made sure to bring their certificate of domestic partnership to the hospital, just in case.

[..]

The law took effect in time for their son's birth, but the women still ran into red tape. Instead of noting Dugas' name on the birth certificate forms -- which had not changed to reflect the new law, and only had spaces for a mother and father -- a clerk at Providence St. Vincent Family Maternity Center handed her a separate form. Marked "For informational purposes only. This is not a legal document," the form has spaces for info on the child, mother, and partner. According to a note from the hospital clerk to Sparks, the form is "supplied to the state to be kept with your son's birth certificate."

Read about the whole debacle over at the Portland Mercury.

Labels: domestic partnership, oregon

One of the judicial nominees Bush has been threatening a recess appointment for was recently arrested for DUI wearing a little black dress, fishnet stockings and stilletto heels.

Of course Federal Judge Robert Somma has resigned. The best part? He phoned in his resignation from a vacation spot in the Caribbean.

Via Pensito Review:

Somma's Mercedes-Benz E320 sedan hit a pick-up truck from behind about 11:29 p.m. on Feb. 6, the police report said. No one was hurt.

Somma, who lives in Newbury, Mass., fumbled in his purse for his driver's license before handing it to the officer who later arrested him, the police report shows.

"He had a difficult time locating his license in his purse. He passed over it multiple times before removing it," officer Paul J. Thompson wrote in his report.

The officer offered no other details with regard to the judge's attire or accessories. Nor would representatives of the Manchester Police Department or the city solicitor's office, which worked out the negotiated plea agreement with Somma's lawyer...

But lots of other people did offer those details, of which Audrey Hepburn would have been proud.

When authorities removed him from the vehicle, they said he wore a black women's cocktail dress, fishnet stockings and high heels.

But in his mug shot, the judge appears to be wearing blue eye shadow. Way to wreck a really chic look, Robert.

And where, you might ask, was the judge going that night dressed that way?

Somma told police he had been at the Breezeway Pub where he had one gin and tonic about two hours earlier, the police report reveals. He later said he drank two gin and tonics.

The Breezeway Pub, at 14 Pearl St., bills itself as "New Hampshire's favorite gay and alternative bar," according to its web site.

The arresting officer reported Somma smelled of alcohol, slurred his speech and fell backwards against the door frame while getting out of his car.

Labels: dick of the week, federal court, republican, scandal

Some people are gay. Get over it! reads the new billboards in the UK.

HOMOPHOBIC bullying in schools is being targeted in a poster campaign across Teesside.

Huge red and white billboards saying: “Some people are gay. Get over it!” are being displayed throughout Middlesbrough in a two-week campaign to raise awareness.

Launched by gay rights organisation Stonewall, in London, by Torchwood star John Barrowman, the national campaign aims to crack down on bullying.

A total of 600 posters are being rolled out across the country.

It is part of Stonewall’s Education For All campaign. The slogan was designed after consulting 150 schools.
Ben Summerskill, Stonewall chief executive, said: “Homophobia is almost endemic in our schools and blights the lives of people throughout society.

“It makes sense that this zero-tolerance message should be extended to the wider public."

Read the rest over here.

Labels: advertising, UK

Supporters of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages likely will have to wait at least another four years after a key House leader decided he won't consider legislation that passed the Senate.

Conservative activists and lawmakers expressed frustration Friday with the decision by Rep. Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, not to hear Senate Joint Resolution 7, the legislation that included the constitutional ban.

Pelath's decision did not come as a surprise because earlier this session, he refused to hear a House version of the legislation in his Rules Committee. His decision not to hear the Senate version of the proposal, however, is significant because it likely wipes out a decision by the General Assembly in 2005 to pass the measure.

In order to amend the constitution, two consecutively elected legislatures must pass the measure, and voters must approve it in a general election.

Read the rest here.

Labels: constitutional amendment, indiana, marriage

After the shooting of Lawrence King in his 8th grade classroom last week in Oxnard, California, and subsequently taking the 15 year old boy off of life support, a vigil was held. King was shot in the head by his 14 year-old classmate because he was perceived to have been gay.

An estimated 1000 people gathered to send a message of tribute and tolerance.

From the LA Times:

The Goths in their black T-shirts were there. So were the punks with fluorescent hair and multiple piercings.

There were even a few adolescent boys carrying skateboards among the nearly 1,000 Oxnard youth and other supporters who turned out Saturday for a hastily organized peace march to pay tribute to Lawrence King, 15, the Oxnard student shot to death in a classroom last week.

"Larry, Larry, Larry!" the crowd chanted before marchers clasped hands in a moment of silence for the fallen student.

There were no bullhorns, no speeches and no politicians. Just a mass of mostly adolescents wearing bright clothing, carrying signs and singing John Lennon's "Imagine" and "Give Peace a Chance."

The size of the turnout surprised police, school officials and even the two Hueneme High School sophomores who put the event together just three days ago, spreading the word with fliers, cellphone calls and MySpace bulletins.

"We were expecting maybe 100 or 200 people," said Courtney LaForest, 16, as she gazed at a broad "peace circle" formed by march participants at Plaza Park in downtown Oxnard. "This is incredible."

Courtney said the turnout reflected a community's anguish over a senseless shooting that has destroyed the lives of two young men. It was also a public plea for tolerance on school campuses for those who are different, she said.

"I didn't know Larry. A lot of people here didn't know him," she said. "We are saying you don't need to accept people who are gay, but you should tolerate them."

King, an eighth-grader at E.O. Green Junior High School in south Oxnard, had revealed he was gay this school year. In recent weeks, he had begun accessorizing his school uniform with feminine items and was often teased by other students, several of his classmates said.

"What he did was really brave -- to wear makeup and high-heeled boots," said Erin Mings, 12, who hung out with King at the school. "Every corner he turned around, people were saying, 'Oh, my god, he's wearing makeup today.' "

Erin said King was an outgoing and funny boy who stood his ground.

"When people came up and started punking him, he just stood up for himself," Erin said.

Jeremiah, another student and friend of the victim, said King had recently told the 14-year-old boy who is alleged to have shot him that he had a crush on him.

"I see no point in shooting someone for telling them that you like them," said Jeremiah, who didn't want to give his last name.

Brandon McInerney, 14, who attended E.O. Green with King, has been charged with premeditated murder and will be tried as an adult. He is being held in Ventura County Juvenile Hall in lieu of $770,000 bail. McInerney could face 50 years to life in prison if convicted. Prosecutors added a hate crime allegation that could bring an additional one to three years.

Saturday's march began at Carty Park, adjacent to the junior high school where the shooting took place Tuesday. Students busily scribbled signs on poster boards, with such messages as "RIP Larry King," "Gay Pride" and "Support Love and Tolerance."

Melissa Crutcher, 16, who helped organize the march, said King's slaying infuriated her. Sporting pink-tinged hair, hot pink pants and multiple ear piercings, Melissa said she knew what it was like to get picked on for looking different.

"I know I stick out myself," she said. "And it's just appalling that just for being himself he got shot."

Jerry Dannenberg, superintendent of the Hueneme School District, of which E.O. Green is a part, joined the marchers. He had been told that an event was being planned by students and sent word that the school should support it, Dannenberg said.

"We forget the goodness that is in most of our kids," Dannenberg said. "This tremendous turnout by kids is an expression of their voices, their opinions."

Connor Sipes, 13, showed up with two of his buddies. They attend a different middle school, Connor said, but learned about the march through a posting on MySpace.

Connor wore a headband and a gold peace sign around his neck as the three boys walked the two miles from the school to the city park. He participated because what happened to King "wasn't right," he said. "It will be a better future if we are more tolerant."

Labels: california, hate crimes

Washington State's Domestic Partnership expansion bill passes House 62-32.

Moments ago the Washington House of Representatives passed the 2008 Domestic Partnership Bill. This is a tremendous step forward in our work to protect LGBT families while we continue the fight to secure full marriage equality in Washington State.

The bill now moves to the Senate where we are confident that with continued hard work we can pass the bill. The governor a longtime supporter of civil rights for all Washingtonians has already indicated her support for this legislation. Still, we will take nothing for granted.

At stake is more than the 160 rights and responsibilities that the over 3,400 couples who have registered since July 23rd will receive when the bill becomes law. This bill is creating important media and lobbying opportunities to help elected leaders and the public understand the problems facing LGBT individuals & families.

via Equal Rights Washington

Related Posts:

Washington State Senate Passes Domestic Partnerships Bill

Washington Governor Signs Domestic Partnership Bill

Washington Domestic Partnership Law Effective Monday

Washington's Domestic Partnership Law in Effect

Labels: domestic partnership, legislature, washington

With Freedom To Marry Week ending, Evan Wolfson, of Freedom To Marry, wrote an insightful piece on the Huffington Post.

As Americans across the country celebrate Freedom to Marry Day today, seizing the opportunity to have conversations with family members, friends, and coworkers about the importance of ending same-sex couples' exclusion from marriage, hopefully they'll talk a lot about gay couples and why marriage matters -- without saying "gay marriage" and "same-sex marriage." Same-sex couples, their kids and loved ones, and those of us who favor equal justice in America are not working to win "gay marriage." We are working to win the freedom to marry, ending the current unfair denial of marriage to those who are already doing the work of marriage in their own lives.

Phrases such as "gay marriage" or "same-sex marriage" imply that same-sex couples are asking for something other than marriage. They imply that same-sex couples deserve something different or lesser than the security, protections, safety-net, and respect that married couples cherish. (PDF) And they play into the right-wing's fear-mongering that gay people are a threat to marriage, that equality and inclusion would somehow unacceptably "redefine" the law (in a country dedicated to those very values), and that "Defense of Marriage" is the answer to committed couples seeking to participate in a precious institution.

Read his entire piece here.

Labels: marriage

Thanks to all our faithful readers! Here's a little V-Day present from us.

His name? Channing Tatum.

More Channing here.

Labels: celebrity

Officials in the Poway school district near San Diego did not violate the First Amendment rights of a student they punished for wearing a homophobic T-shirt to class, a federal judge ruled.

Tyler Chase Harper sued the school district in 2004, arguing that his rights were violated when he was removed from class for wearing the anti-gay shirt on the Day of Silence, which is intended to promote tolerance of gays and lesbians. The shirt read "I Will Not Accept What God Has Condemned" on one side and "Homosexuality Is Shameful, Romans 1:27" on the other side.

The next day, he wore the same shirt, but it had been altered to read "Be Ashamed [of What] Our School Has Embraced." School administrators asked him to remove his shirt on the second day because they said it violated their dress code, which bans promotion of "violent or hateful behavior."

Harper refused, and he was removed from class and assigned to the front office to complete his day's remaining schoolwork.

"The main point of the case is free speech, and students have their right to be heard on campus," Kevin Theriot, one of Harper's attorneys, told The Advocate in May. "Just because other students don't agree, doesn't mean that he can't voice [his opinions]."

The case made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which eventually nullified it because at that point Harper had already graduated from high school. His sister Kelsie then took his place in the case, where it is now. When her brother first went to the federal court, he won.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge John Houston overturned the court's earlier decision. Houston decided not to issue an injunction to stop the district from enforcing the policy in 2006. A year later, he threw out the case against the district.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Houston's decision not to issue an injunction, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Houston wrote Tuesday that Poway school district's "interest in protecting homosexual students from harassment is a legitimate pedagogical concern that allows a school to restrict speech expressing damaging statements about sexual orientation and limiting students to expressing their views in a positive manner."

Free-speech advocates and the Harpers' legal team are distraught over the decision, which states that school districts are within their rights to protect students by limiting freedom of expression.

David Blair-Loy, the legal director for San Diego and Imperial County American Civil Liberties Union, told the newspaper that the ruling is troubling. The organization filed a friend-of-the-court brief on the student's behalf, siding with religious groups they normally argue against.

"And let's face it: What about high school is not psychologically damaging?" Blair-Loy said in the article. "This student wore a T-shirt that expressed an idea. It's an idea we don't agree with at the ACLU, but that is the essence of free speech. It's not just for ideas you like."

Via Planetout

Labels: anti gay, california, federal court, lawsuit

Twenty-one openly gay Democrats have been identified as super delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver this summer, and 12 have declared their support for presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton.

As of this week, just two of the gay super delegates had declared their support for presidential contender Barack Obama, while seven were listed as undeclared.

Under party rules, super delegates - who consist mostly of party activists, Democratic governors and members of Congress - are not obligated to commit themselves to any candidate and are free to switch from one candidate to another.

Read more over at the Washington Blade.

Labels: 2008 Presidential Election

This was the dramatic scene as the world's largest statue of Jesus was hit by lightning.

The bolt parted the thunderclouds over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to strike the statue of Jesus.

The statue is 130ft tall, is made of 700 tons of reinforced concrete and stands atop the 2,296ft Corcovado mountain overlooking the city.

Crazy!

Labels: religion

Goldman Sachs has joined the growing list of financial firms to include gender-reassignment surgery as part of its medical benefits. Both Goldman and Bank of America reportedly will pay for the actual surgery, while other financial companies, such as Wachovia, consider the procedure to be elective, but will reimburse for drugs and other related expenses.

Read the entire article here.

Labels: corporate, transgender

At last count at 4pm this afternoon, Multnomah County had registered 126 same-sex couples as Domestic Partners. We assume that number went up as the day ended.

Obviously this does not include the other 35 counties in Oregon. For some reason I thought that there would be a lot more couples in line today, though then again there isn't a huge rush as there was in Multnomah County back in 2004 during the stint with marriages. It seems that couples may not view it this time around as "we better do it today as it may not be here tomorrow", and they shouldn't view it as that. We're good here in Oregon, at least for the time being.

It's pretty amazing to think back to the 2005 legislative session where our bill passed the Senate only to be killed in the House by former Republican Speaker Karen Minnis. I remember those rallies on the steps of the capitol, the hearings and the floor sessions as if they were yesterday. A very short video from my digital camera from way back when is below.



Then came 2006 when Oregon's GLBT community, led by Basic Rights Oregon, was determined to change the make up of the legislature into one that was fair-minded. I remember election night (at least the early part of the night) when a blue wave swept over Oregon. It was an incredible victory. There was no doubt that it would be an uphill battle even in the Democrat controlled legislature, but we knew that victory was ours for the taking.

Snap forward to May 9th, the day that the Governor signed into law two landmark bills. Oregon's Anti-Discrimination law that went into effect on January 1st, 2007 and Oregon's Domestic Partnership law - that although delayed for a little over a month - is the law of the land as of today.

Here is video from the historic signing:





What a fantastic day to be an Oregonian.

Labels: domestic partnership, oregon

This morning marked the first day that Oregon's Domestic Partnership law was officially back on the books after Friday's ruling in an Oregon federal court.

Hundreds of couples lined up at county offices across the state to officially get registered as Domestic Partners (congrats to all of you!). In Portland, some arrived at the Multnomah County Building near the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge as early as 4 a.m. to get in line for the building's 8 a.m. opening.

We'll bring you more pictures throughout the day.

Labels: domestic partnership, HB 2007, oregon, portland

Inspired by a speech that Barack Obama made in New Hampshire, will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas joined with a number of musicians and actors and put Obama's speech to music. Not only is this video outstanding - but Obama's speech is absolutely phenomenal. Watch the video below. I promise it's worth it.

On a side note, Obama was endorsed by the Oregonian today.

Labels: 2008 Presidential Election, obama, video

I could not be more proud of my former coworker Jeana Frazzini (see video below) who has just in the last month filled the shoes of BRO's Executive Director. Hats off to her for an amazing job well done as well as to the staff at Basic Rights Oregon. And congrats to all our Oregonians! Fairness, justice and equality have had a bumpy ride - but Domestic Partnerships are the law!

The case, though won, will be appealed by the anti-gay, out-of-state groups. Be confident though as this ruling was incredibly strong - stating that the plaintiffs arguments had no constitutional basis.

Join Basic Rights Oregon in Portland Monday evening at Holocene for a major celebration at 6-11pm. Holocene is at 1001 SE Morrison, just up the road from the Multnomah County Building.

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

In an unexpected ruling from the bench today at about 4:20pm, Judge Mosman through out the case by out-of-state, anti-gay forces, allowing Oregon's Domestic Partnership law to go into effect immediately.

The ruling prompted applause and cheering in front of the courthouse and was greeted by honking cars passing by on SW 3rd Ave downtown.

Here are the details of what happened in the courtroom (via Just Out):

Only two witnesses, handwriting experts, were called today to be cross examined (all witnesses submitted their testimony by deposition). Heather Carlson, a forensics expert who trains clerks in the elections office, made a very weak case for the standard by which clerks use in determining the genuineness of signatures. Mosman later chastised the Secretary of State on that count.
Throughout the hearing, the plaintiffs, the Alliance Defense Fund, attempted to argue that signers of petition 303, which attempted to refer Oregon's domestic partnership law to voters, were constitutionally entitled to have their signatures counted, just as participants are in the vote-by-mail process.

The Secretary of State's attorney and Basic Rights Oregon's attorney argued that these signatures were not at all protected by the strict scrutiny of voters on ballots and that the petition process is actually at the whim of the petition controller, who is by no means a state official.

Although Mosman's ruling from the bench was swift, it was thorough. He engaged with attorneys throughout their closing arguments, asking both sides tough questions and citing a range of precedent that only the attorneys were following.
Mosman's ruling, which he said would be available this evening by clicking here, basically stated that the state never promised petition signers that their "votes" would be counted, therefore, they were not entitled to due process (he acknowledged this was a cruel thing to say) such as having their signatures rehabilitated.

Mosman agreed that calling every "disenfranchised" signer, which statistically represented 20 other signers, would place an unrealistic burden on the Secretary of State's office, which has 30 days to verify the signatures. He further said it was impractical to let one person speak for 20.

Alliance Defense Fund attorney Austin Nimocks told the media after the hearing that this was a sad day for Oregonians who sign petitions with the belief that our voices will be heard. He confirmed everyone's guess that an appeal will be filed. He would not extrapolate.

Marylin Shannon, a spokeswoman for the ad hoc committee of petition gatherers, also confirmed that she was ready to call on her resources for a reversal of this ruling.

Jeana Frazzini spoke for Basic Rights Oregon, saying that although she was surprised that Mosman ruled today, the outcome was expected. "I expected to win on the merits of this case," she said.

In any case, same-sex couples here in Oregon now have Domestic Partnerships. Though it is the law right this second, county buildings will not be open until 9am on Monday morning.

We'll be down at the county building snapping some photos at the Multnomah County building here in Portland and we will bring you those photos of this amazing, long awaited day.

What a long, long journey this has been.

IMPORTANT DETAILS IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON GETTING DOMESTIC PARTNERED:
Oregon has already made the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form available (they sure wasted no time getting this up!). you can download them here: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/chs/order/dp.shtml. IMPORTANT: This MUST be printed on legal size paper for them to accept it.

For additional details - please visit Basic Rights Oregon's Domestic Partnership Resource Guide located here.

Labels: domestic partnership, lawsuit, lemons v bradbury, oregon

The judge ruled against the anti-gay. out-of-state bigots on ALL COUNTS.

Come 9AM on Monday morning same-sex couples can get a Domestic Partnership.

More to come.

Labels: domestic partnership, lawsuit, lemons v bradbury, oregon

I just got a text message from a very reliable source saying that the judge in Lemons v Bradbury has ruled in our favor - meaning Oregon's Domestic Partnership law goes into effect.

There may be an appeal - BUT the injunction has been lifted!

More to come and I hope I'm not juming the gun. The text message said "We Won".

AMAZING. Oregon, welcome your domestic partnerships.

Labels: domestic partnership, lemons v bradbury, oregon

Thanks Portland Mercury!

Labels: basic rights oregon, domestic partnership, oregon

I just published a very matter of fact post on today's court hearing, but what doesn't come through is my incredible anger, disgust and contempt (and as most of you know, I typically don't have a problem holding back my feelings on this blog).

I'm outraged that these out-of-state, anti-gay extremist groups who have infiltrated the courts are parading around as "trying to fix the process". It's a lie. It's a joke. It's bullshit.

Up until the point that they filed suit, all they spouted was anti-gay filth. Absolute filth. The Portland based attorney brought in on the anti-gay side by the out-of-state group was there at the legislative hearings on the bill. He testified against the bills - and not only in 2007, but in 2005. He has a long track record.

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.

They are blind to the facts of the issue. Blind to the fact that these INCREDIBLY basic rights and responsibilities that come with Oregon's Domestic Partnerships do nothing more, though more importantly nothing less than grant committed same-sex couples and their families safety and security. The basic right to take care of one another in times of crisis.

So hey, fuck you, fuck your falsehoods, fuck your lies and fuck your "god". For my God is one of love and compassion, not one of hatred and bigotry. Leave us alone and get the hell out of Oregon - this is not your state to screw over and you have NO right to attack my family and steal what is not yours for the taking. You have tainted my state and for that the people of Oregon will not forget you. You are a stain in our history books.

Be it in Lemons v. Bradbury - or in November when Oregonians decide, fairness, justice and equality will prevail. Lets not forget a major ruling back in Parman v Oregon earlier this year. Judge Eric Bloch ruled that if Oregon's Domestic Partnership law did not go into effect, it would cause a "constitutional crisis".

So no matter what - Domestic Partnerships will happen, it is just a matter of when and these anti-gay groups need to realize that they are fighting the inevitable.

Whew. Glad I got that out.

Labels: anti-gay, domestic partnership, federal court, lawsuit, oregon

Starting at 10am this morning, a federal court has been hearing from both sides of the Lemons v. Bradbury issue.

They'll here from a myriad of people including the Secretary of State's office, handwriting experts, anti-gay attorney's from the Alliance Defense Fund and of course Basic Rights Oregon and their counsel.

While the fate of Oregon's Domestic Partnership law may or may not be decided today - at least we have made it to this day. Judge Mosman, who is hearing the case, made it clear at the first hearing in late December that he saw the harm that a delay in this law would cause, therefore he wanted to keep the timeline as short as possible.

So today we could see two outcomes. He could rule from the bench based on the close to 5 hours of testimony - or he could make a ruling in about a week to two weeks.

We should know in just a few hours. Stay tuned.

Labels: domestic partnership, federal court, HB 2007, lawsuit, oregon