Gay Men To That!!

Grover Norquist is NOT amused!!  This is why I love Dan Savage!  He points out the obvious and frames the argument so well! Watching Grover Norquist's reaction to Dan's statement about trying to inseminate his husband is reason enough to watch this video.

Via Huffington Post: The Obama administration on Friday urged the Supreme Court to strike down the Defense Of Marriage Act in a brief that calls the law unconstitutional because it violates "the fundamental guarantee of equal protection." Solicitor General Donald Verrilli argues in the brief that Section 3 of the 1996 federal law prohibits the marriage of same-sex couples and should get the court's close scrutiny. "The law denies to tens of thousands of same-sex couples who are legally married under state law an array of important federal benefits that are available to legally married opposite-sex couples. Because this discrimination cannot be justified as substantially furthering any important governmental interest, Section 3 is unconstitutional."

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy I'm a worrier.  On election night I got home from work, took a Xanax and turned on PBS, hoping for the best.  I had checked Nate Silver's blog every hour or so the previous month and I knew the chances were in Obama's favor.  I was still worried until the returns started coming in.  It's no surprise that, even with optimistic reports like this, I'll worry until the rulings are reported.  Via Talking Points Memo: When the Supreme Court takes up two  major cases  on  marriage equality  next spring, all eyes will be on an ever-important swing vote whom gay rights advocates are optimistic about winning: Justice Anthony Kennedy. The Reagan-appointed justice has pained liberals on many occasions, most recently this summer when he voted to wipe out the Affordable Care Act. But when it comes to gay rights, Kennedy has written passionately in its favor, spearheading the court’s two key rulings for gay ...

House Speaker Boehner: Financing Defense Of Hate Hey lob cabin republicans, aren't you glad your voted for these guys?  They're really looking out for you!!  Via Huffington Post: House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)  denounced the increased expense  in a statement: It’s bad enough that Speaker Boehner and House Republicans are wasting taxpayer dollars to defend the indefensible Defense of Marriage Act – and losing in every case.  Now, they have reached a new low – signing a secret contract to spend more public money on their legal boondoggle without informing Democrats.  Their actions are simply unconscionable; their decisions are utterly irresponsible. Hiding this contract from voters in the midst of an election season was a cynical move at best, and a betrayal of the public trust at worst. With Americans focused on the creation of jobs and the growth of our economy, Republicans should not be spending $2 million to defend discriminati...

photo via L.A. Times Blog This makes me nervous. Via Huffington Post: The United States Supreme Court will review the decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that struck down Proposition 8, a 2008 law which banned gay marriage in California. The appeals court's ruling was issued in February and found the law unconstitutional. The court will also hear a challenge to the  Defense of Marriage Act . According to  SCOTUS Blog, the court is expected to hear arguments in late March and make a decision in late June:

A few years ago, I was temporarily unemployed.  During that time, I got health care benefits through my husband's company.  Great!  They offer domestic partner benefits like many companies, large and small, now do.  We truly are making progress in this country.  We were both very happy and grateful, until he filed his tax returns.  Unlike straight married couples, my health care benefits counted as taxable income on my husband's return.  He had to pay taxes on my benefits.   This does not happen to federally recognized married heterosexual couples.  Why do I keep hearing that gays are asking for "special rights" and not just equal rights?  Because the mainstream does not know these specific details.  They do not know that we are, in fact, penalized because the federal government does not recognize our relationships.   I was surprised to realize that my current coworkers didn't know that, in most states, employees can be f...