Articles tagged with: marriage equality
Sara’s News Roundup 3/5/12: Will “Bully” documentary reach its audience?
A petition for the documentary Bully to reach its intended audience, same-sex marriage in Archie’s world, abuse of transgender children, discrimination against the children of LGBT parents of color, and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
Sara’s News Roundup 2/27/12: Another federal ruling against DOMA
The prospects for marriage equality in Alaska, another decision against DOMA in the federal courts, same-sex marriage in Kenya, and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska.
A Valentine’s Day wedding at the Empire State Building
Anchorage residents Stephanie Figarelle and Lela McArthur today became the first same-sex couple to wed atop the historic Empire State Building in New York City, one of two same-sex couples to marry there today. Same-sex marriage became legal in New York on on July 24, 2011.
Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho joins 95+ U.S. mayors calling for marriage equality
Bruce Botelho, Mayor of the City and Borough of Juneau, has joined (at last count) 98 other U.S. mayors from over 25 states in calling for marriage equality. The formation of Mayors for Freedom to Marry, a bipartisan group in coalition with the national organization Freedom to Marry, was announced in a press conference at the U.S. Conference of Mayors on Friday, January 20.
“Out in the Silence”, award-winning docco on bullying & discrimination in smalltown America: Sunday at Out North
The United Gay-Straight Alliances of Anchorage are sponsoring a free showing on Sunday evening, November 6 of Out in the Silence, a 50-minute documentary which addresses bullying and discrimination against LGBT youth in rural and smalltown America. This is a free, all-ages event at Out North, though a donation of $3 at the door is suggested to help Anchorage GSAs develop anti-bullying initiatives in their schools.
Special thanks to The Family at UAA, Spectrum at APU, as well as Out North Contemporary Art House for their support as well as the many youth working to make this showing a success!
The aim of Out in the Silence is to expand public awareness about the difficulties that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people face in rural and small town America and to promote dialogue and action that will help people on all sides of the issues find common ground.
This is a community event and all ages, orientations, etc. are welcome to attend! There is a suggested $3 donation at the door, with all proceeds going to support Gay-Straight Alliances across Anchorage to develop anti-bullying initiatives within their schools.
- Date/time: Sunday, Nov 6, 7:00 to 9:00 PM
- Location: Out North Contemporary Art House, 3800 DeBarr Road Anchorage, AK (see map)
- Cost of admission: Free; suggested $3 donation at the door to benefit Anchorage-area Gay/Straight Alliances (GSAs).
- Further info: see Facebook events page, the Out in the Silence website, or the Out in the Silence Facebook page
Bent News, 10/1/11: Catholics and LGBT equality
Catholics and LGBT equality and and more in this edition of Bent News.
(Based on @bentalaska 9/30 tweets and Facebook shares, with supplementation.)
Catholics and LGBT equality
- MN Diocese: Catholics for Marriage Equality “not in good standing w/ church.” (via @TPEquality) http://t.co/fMlPXdZb # [ThinkProgress LGBT]
- (In fact, a majority of Catholics favor equality: it’s the church hierarchy that it out of step with the laiety.) #
When that second tweet landed on Bent Alaska’s Facebook wall yesterday, it raised questions with one reader, who asked, “Where does that information come from? In my personal life, I haven’t seen that.”
There have been a number of polls over the past year or two which show that of all faith traditions, Catholics are the most supportive of LGBT equality including legal recognition of same sex relationships through marriage or domestic partnership. Some of the figures from those surveys are included in the Think Progress article linked in the previous tweet, which describes how the Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC) and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis are attempting to weaken Catholics for Marriage Equality MN. Both sides are engaged in a hard-fought campaign over a proposed amendment to the Minnesota Constitution similar to the one which entered the Alaska Constitution in 1998: defining marriage as being only between one man and one woman.
“But the Catholic Church is not speaking on behalf of its membership,” Zack Ford of Think Progress writes,
In fact, if supporters of marriage equality were truly not “in good standing” with the Church, the Church would lose over half its membership:
- March, 2011: 53 percent of white Catholics support marriage equality.
- March, 2011: 74 percent of Catholics favor legally recognizing same-sex relationships.
- July, 2011: 59 percent of Catholics support New York’s marriage equality law.
- August, 2010: 63 percent of Rhode Island Catholics support marriage equality.
Follow this links to stories about the studies cited in the Think Progress article. Detailed information can be found in a March 2011 study from the Public Religion Research Institue, Catholic Attitudes on Gay and Lesbian Issues: A Comprehensive Portrait from Recent Research Analysis.
Another great resource for Catholics who favor LGBT equality is the national organization Catholics for Equality. They also have a Facebook page.
Other tweets
- Pentagon to allow military chaplains to perform same-sex ceremonies in marriage equality states (via @TPEquality) http://t.co/pFBjn6PF #
- Openly gay Congressman Jared Polis (D–CO) & partner Marlon Reis announce birth of their first child, a baby boy. http://t.co/BjN8AVnD #
Focus on the Family leader’s antigay testimony demolished at DOMA repeal hearing
In a Senate committee hearing on a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Senators Al Franken and Patrick Leahy demolished testimony by Tom Minnery of the antigay organization Focus on the Family. Tom Minnery is a cousin to Alaska Family Council’s Jim Minnery.
Sara’s News Roundup 6/27/11
Recent LGBT news selected by Sara Boesser of Juneau, Alaska.
1) Gay marriage backers: NY vote has national impact
New York, Associated Press, June 25, 2011
2) N.J. Senate President Sweeney calls abstaining from gay marriage vote worst decision of legislative career
Trenton, New Jersey, NewJersey.com, June 20, 2011
3) The Archbishop vs. the Governor: Gay Sera, Sera
New York, New York Times, June 18, 2011
4) When Parents Reject Their Transgender Child
Huffington Post, June 11, 2011
5) Cubs Deliver “It Gets Better” Message
Chicago, Advocate, June 20, 2011
6) Book Excerpt: From Here To Eternity, The Restored Edition
Advocate, June 21, 2011
7) Study finds half of college-educated gays in the closet at work
365Gay.com, June 21, 2011
8) The transgender surgeon as artist
San Mateo, Calif., Washington Blade, June 2, 2011
9) Giffords Intern Celebrates Gay Night at Nats Park
Washington, Advocate, June 22, 2011
10) Judge Exempts Same-Sex Spouse From Testifying
Maryland, Advocate, June 24, 2011
11) Tracy Morgan Meets With Gay Youths Shunned By Parents
Advocate, June 17, 2011
12) Oregon sued over transgender insurance coverage
Salem, Oregon, KATU.com, June 21, 2011
13) Marriage Equality Foes Speak Out
New York, Advocate, June 25, 2011
14) Soccer sisters accused of being more Arthur than Martha
Germany, Daily Telegraph, June 22, 2011
15) Culhane: Analysis (and Celebration!) of the NY Marriage Equality Law
365Gay.com, April 25, 2011
16) Coming Out Most Beneficial in a Supportive Environment
Psych Central, June 22, 2011
17) Some celebrity quotes on NY’s new gay marriage law
CBS, June 25, 2011
Marriage victory in New York!
The New York Senate passed a marriage equality bill 33-29 on Friday night and Gov. Cuomo signed it, making New York the 6th state in the U.S. to legalize same sex marriage. A similar bill passed the New York Assembly last week, and passed the Senate amendments tonight. The new law will take effect in 30 days.
Bent News, 6/2/11: a new White House LGBT site as we learn of a new DADT discharge
KTVA talks with ICOAA, Anchorage’s “rural” Pride events, a White House website on LGBT issues, a DADT discharge, antigay pastor Lou Engle visits Wasilla, and more in this edition of Bent News.
