EQUALITY - WHAT MATTERS: The Latest In The LGBT Rights Movement, June 29, 2011

(This update is for interested parties following the gay-rights movement.  It is produced by Equality Matters, a campaign for full LGBT equality.)

 
JUST POSTED TODAY: LOOKING BACK AT NOM’S FAILED CAMPAIGN (via Equality Matters’ Carlos Maza) – “Last Friday, New York became the sixth state in the country to adopt full marriage equality. The move represents a major milestone in the fight for full LGBT equality in America. It also represents an embarrassing defeat for the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), which invested over a million dollars in its efforts in the Empire State.” http://bit.ly/laLEdw
 
HOW THE BATTLE FOR NEW YORK WAS WON (via Equality Matters’ Richard Socarides) – “On March 9, 2011, when the still-new governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, walked into the history-laden Red Room at the state capit ol in Albany, the small group of us invited in secret just the day before to hear his plan for same-sex marriage weren't sure what to expect. Cuomo had said during his campaign that, if elected governor, he would support full marriage rights for gay New Yorkers.” http://bit.ly/je2hMN
 
CAN OBAMA BRIDGE THE ENTHUSIASM GAP? (via Equality Matters’ Kerry Eleveld) – “’Who else could gays vote for?’ That’s the question mainstream reporters had seemingly drilled down to as President Barack Obama prepped for a Thursday address to one of the Democratic Party’s most loyal constituencies: lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans. What else could matter in the scheme of politics? You either vote Democrat or Republican, right? Certainly, queer Americans are stuck between a rock and a hard spot.” http://bit.ly/iZjxQA

WILL NEW YORK SPARK OTHER SUCCESS?  Thomas Roberts interviews EQM’s Socarides: http://bit.ly/kATUit
 
NEW LAWSUIT ON MARRIAGE FILED TODAY (via Lambda Legal / Garden State Equality) – “Today Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit seeking marriage equality on behalf of Garden State Equality, New Jersey’s statewide LGBT advocacy organization, and seven same-sex couples and their children harmed from the unequal civil union system.  The case is captioned Garden State Equality v. Dow.” http://www.lambdalegal.org/nj-marriage
 
WATCHING THE AIRWAVES / CLIPS POSTED TODAY AT EQM:
 
--Gov. Christie “not a fan” of marriage equality (via MSNBC) http://bit.ly/mdh7h4
 
--Obama’s latest comments on marriage equality (via CNN) http://bit.ly/mp8mil
 
--Bi-national same-sex couple facing deportation (via CNN) http://bit.ly/jzhfjc 

--Pat Robertson: No civilization that has survived has “openly embraced homosexuality” (via CBN) http://bit.ly/m5hqub 

--Will marriage equality be a wedge issue in 2012? (via MSNBC) http://bit.ly/lzhgfj
 
--Jim McGreevey on American attitudes on equality (via CNN) http://bit.ly/lt2gah
 
--Rev. Sharpton debates NOM’s Brian Brown (via MSNBC) http://bit.ly/mpkh61
 
--John Heilemann on pro-equality republicans (via MSNBC) http://bit.ly/ikwtdw
 
--NY Sen. James Alesi on marriage support (via MSNBC) http://bit.ly/k9hgka
 
--Bachmann on anti-gay constitutional amendment (via Fox News) http://bit.ly/kphOCs
 
FOR MORE RELATED CLIPS: EqualityMatters.org/EMTV

THE 2012 RACE FOR PRESIDENT – WHY REP. BACHMANN IS EXTREME: http://bit.ly/jSEDnQ 

--Daily Beast: Bachmann Believes "That Homosexuality Can Be Cured."
 
--Bachmann: "It's Part Of Satan" To Call Homosexuality "Gay."
 
--Bachmann Suggested Melissa Etheridge's Breast Cancer Was An "Opportunity" To Reflect On Being A Lesbian.
 
--Bachmann Is So Anti-Gay She Introduced "Redundant" And "Unnecessary" Legislation Barring Gay Marriage In Minnesota.
 
--Bachmann Warned "Little K-12 Children Will Be Forced To Learn That Homosexuality Is Normal, Natural, And Perhaps They Should Try It."
 
--Bachmann: Being Gay Is "Bondage" And "Personal Enslavement." 
 
READ THE FULL REPORT: http://bit.ly/jSEDnQ
 
NEW YORK TIMES ON DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT – http://nyti.ms/jFFxm1
 
OBAMA’S POSITION ON MARRIAGE FACES NEW TEST (via New York Times) - http://nyti.ms/kvTvMp
 
SEC. CLINTON OFFERS REMARKS FOR PRIDE MONTH (via Wash Blade) - http://bit.ly/mfI157
 
OBAMA NOMINATES OUT MAGISTRATE FOR U.S. ATTORNEY (via Metro Weekly) - http://bit.ly/jghMjr
 
18 MONTHS AND 18 MURDERS IN PUERTO RICO (via AutoStraddle) - http://bit.ly/m8FGUc
 
LONGTIME LESBIAN POLITICO JEAN HARRIS PASSES (via LGBT POV) - http://bit.ly/iy4sCB

VIDEO: SENATORS TEAM UP TO SAY “IT GETS BETTER” - http://bit.ly/jFqtDk
 
IMPACTED SERVICE MEMBERS, SLDN STAFF SAY “IT GETS BETTER” – http://bit.ly/ioqlX5
 
DIEGO SANCHEZ SPEAKS WITH THE WASHINGTON BLADE - http://bit.ly/kHUnzL
 
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