Gay Men To That!!

Public opinion has been consistently increasing in favor of Marriage Equality over the past few decades.   Via Huffington Post: Support for same-sex marriage has reached an all-time high, according to recent polls. A new  survey from Gallup  shows a record 60 percent of Americans now say they approve of legalized same-sex marriage. The trend measured by Gallup closely matches results from other polls that have been measuring public opinion on same-sex marriage. An  ABC/Washington Post poll  conducted in April found that 61 percent of Americans approve. Similarly, a  Quinnipiac University poll  from the same month measured approval at 58 percent. Approval of same-sex marriage has grown at a rapid rate in the last two decades. When Gallup first surveyed Americans on the issue in 1996, only 27 percent approved. Nineteen years later, that number has more than doubled, growing 5 points in the last month alone.

Marriage Equality Supporters via Irish Times Ireland could be the first country to approve Gay Marriage by popular vote on May 23rd. Via The Daily Buzz: For Ireland to get this far is nothing short of a phenomenal achievement. Homosexuality was only decriminalised in 1993; the Civil Partnership Act passed in 2010. The dedication of LGBT rights groups has changed hearts and minds. And now,  Ireland is staging a referendum  that enjoys support from all major political parties and the majority of the public, something unimaginable just a decade ago. Recent polling shows those is favor of marriage equality leading. Here is a wonderful "yes vote" video. 

Rep. Cecil Bell (Facebook) It is amazing that Conservative Republicans are constantly on the wrong side of history. They stick their heads in the sand, refuse to acknowledge cultural shifts and then whine that they're not allowed to discriminate.  Via MSNBC: On Tuesday, the Republican-dominated Texas House of Representatives is scheduled to consider  HB 4105 , otherwise known as the Preservation of Sovereignty and Marriage Act. If enacted, the legislation would prohibit state or local government employees from recognizing, granting, or enforcing same-sex marriages. It would also prohibit state or local funds from being spent on “an activity that includes the licensing or support of a same-sex marriage.” How does the bill's chief sponsor  Republican Rep. Cecil Bell  justify his actions? By citing the Dred Scott decision.  “If you simply say the Supreme Court should be upheld – period – you have to say that Lincoln was wrong,” he said, presumably refe...

Via NBC : A total of 58 percent of Americans said that they favor a high court decision to eliminate bans against same sex marriage, with 44 percent of those saying they strongly favor such a result. Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they oppose a court ruling in favor of the case's LGBT plaintiffs, with 29 percent said they strongly oppose it.  The video below shows how out of touch most Republican Presidential candidates are on this issue

Senator Lindsey Graham with his "Bitch, Please!" face. Suspected closet case  and soon to be Presidential Candidate Lindsey Graham seems to be "moderating" his views on Gay Marriage. At least he is distancing himself from the Mike Huckabees of the world. Via JoeMyGod Sen. Lindsey Graham, who is due to join the GOP 2016 clown car, said yesterday that if the Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage, it will be "time for us to move forward as a society." Graham added that he doesn't see any way for a federal ban on same-sex marriage to be passed.

The general consensus on both sides seems to favor Marriage Equality, though we're not opening the champagne  yet.  Via AmericaBlog : The Supreme Court heard  oral arguments  in  Obergefell vs. Hodges  this morning, and preliminary indications are that the Court is  ready to rule 5-4  in favor of marriage equality. However, while even those  opposed to marriage equality  concede as much, a win — especially one in which marriage equality is affirmed as a civil rights issue — is  no guarantee .

I think you can figure out which is which!  Congratulations to the 15th State to make Gay Marriage legal.  They are also making it possible to apply for the license and get married on the same day. Well done, Hawaii!! Via The Christian Science Monitor : Retired professors Rod Powell and Bob Eddinger have been partners in life since they met at the University of Hawaii in 1977. On Monday, they joined in marriage on the first day their home state allowed same-sex couples to form such unions.   Powell, 78, and Eddinger, 74, have raised three children and cared for ailing parents in their 36 years together. They tied the knot on Monday to be among those marking the civil rights milestone for gays and lesbians."I said to Bob, 'Would you choose me again?' And he looked at me and said 'I choose you every day.' And I think that says it all about how we feel about each other," Powell said in an interview before they signed their marriage papers.   "We ...

Hawaii will be the 15th State to grant marriage equality.  This country is becoming SO GAY!!  Via America Blog : Gay marriages will begin in Hawaii on December 2, 2013.   The Hawaii state Senate has just passed legislation legalizing the marriages of gay couples in that state, and Democratic Governor Abercrombie says he will sign the legislation in the morning.   The legislation goes into effect on December 2, so hopefully the marriages will begin on that date.   Man, I’m getting dizzy.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made minced meat of Pastor Matt Prater by pointing out his biblical hypocrisy.  It now seems that Pastor Prater is trying to minimize the fact that he is divorced and remarried. Here is a screen shot of a cached version of the site from August 27th, 2013. The first paragraph was: " Carol and I were married on May 17, 2003. I have three children: Lydia, Joshua and Grace. Lydia is from my first marriage and lives with her mum on the south side of Brisbane. She stays with us every second weekend, and most school holidays." This is a current screen shot of his bio page at  http://www.newhopebrisbane.org/index.php/about-us/pastor-matt-prater The first sentence now reads:  " Carol and I were married on May 17, 2003. I have three children: Lydia, Joshua and Grace." Where did the reference to his first marriage go?  Why was this changed?  The timing is interesting, to say the least!

Pastor Matt Prater looking a bit flummoxed by common sense This is one of the best arguments by a politician that I have heard for gay marriage!  Thank you, Kevin for standing up for marriage equality! From TheAustralian.com Mr Rudd turned feisty after first attempting to calmly explain to the ABC Q&A audience his conversion to support same sex marriage.  "If you call yourself a Christian why don't you believe the words of Jesus in the Bible?" Pastor Matt Prater then asked.  "Well mate, if I was going to have that view, the Bible also says that slavery is a natural condition," Mr Rudd replied, to extended applause.  "St Paul said in the New Testament, 'Slaves be obedient to your masters'. "Therefore we should have all fought for the Confederacy in the US civil war? For goodness' sake."

Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee It still needs to pass the Senate.  Gov. Lincoln Chafee will sign it into law if it does. Via Gay Star News: The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a marriage equality bill on Thursday (24 January) bringing the tiny New England state one step closer to legalizing gay marriage. The House easily passed the legislation by a vote of 51-19 but it now faces what is expected to be a much tougher battle in the State Senate. It will next face a Senate committee which must vote in favor of the bill being sent before the full Senate for a vote.

This is the first time I have watched any of Matt Baum's marriage equality videos.  My thinking was that I didn't need convincing so, why watch them?  O.K., sometimes I'm stupid...this is one of those times.  I should have been watching and recommending his videos all along! Via Unicorn Booty: Matt Baume has busied himself with debunking bigoted attacks and legal challenges to same-sex marriage for years now, but man-oh-man has he created a masterpiece this time around.  In all honesty, Matt’s levelheaded takedown of a NOM commercial that’s been polluting the interwebs in the final days leading up to Election Day could be used in history classes someday in the future to illustrate how those of us standing on the right side of the florescent pink fence met those who defamed us, locked us up, and did their damndest to strip us of all human dignity with the cool confidence that only comes with knowing you are right (and that your opponents are morons).

When the question of marriage equality is on the ballot in 4 states this year, It's wonderful to see this legend voice his support.  I love the graphic and wanted to share it with you.  Feel free to share it with others. While I think that marriage equality should never be put up to a popular vote, we still need to fight for our rights at the ballot box. The religious bigots are bringing the fight and we need to as well!

Austin will be the first city in Texas to declare its support for gay marriage.  When my husband and I decided to move to Austin from Los Angeles, we knew that Austin would be a welcoming city.  I am happy to be living here, knowing that our 20 year relationship is honored and supported. Via Instinct Magazine: We've been meaning to make a trip to Texas (where everything is apparently "bigger") and we're pretty sure our first stop will be in Austin! All signs point to the Austin City Council making Austin the first city in the state to formally back marriage equality in a resolution vote on Thursday! More after the jump! According to the  Dallas Voice : "Sources tell us the resolution is all but certain to pass, making Austin the first city in the state to formally back marriage equality. More than 1,700 people signed a  petition in support of the resolution  posted by Equality Texas last month. The resolution is sponsored by Mayor Lee Leffin...

This image, originally posted on Atheism Reddit , shows the true extremes on religion in government and marriage equality.  Look at this image, understand the implications of how these issues have been framed and spread the word.  The cause of marriage equality is the neutral position. Found at Huffington Post:

One could argue that President Obama's support of marriage equality may have hastened this support.  Words can and do make a difference. Via MetroWeekly: Today, the board of directors of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People endorsed the rights of same-sex couples to marry, stating in a resolution that the national civil-rights organization "support[s] marriage equality consistent with equal protection under the law provided under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution." Although NAACP leaders like former board chair and board member Julian Bond have been on the record as strong supporters of marriage equality, today's move represents the first time the organization took a position in support of marriage equality. The full resolution, which former NAACP senior vice president Maxim Thorne wrote was passed with only two members of the 64-member board opposed, states: The NAACP Constitution affirmatively sta...

Vice President Joe Biden It seems that more and more politicians are "evolving" on their position on gay marriage.  Some of them need to "evolve already"! Via The Advocate: WASHINGTON — During a Sunday morning appearance on NBC’s  Meet the Press , Vice President Joe Biden said he’s “comfortable” with full marriage equality and supports equal rights for same-sex couples — an unequivocal evolution for the Obama administration's No. 2. When asked by host David Gregory about his views on the issue, Biden responded, “I am vice president of the United States of America. The president sets the policy. I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties. And quite frankly, I don't see much of a distinction beyond that.” Biden declined to speculate on whether President Obama will formally ...

I am truly fascinated with the world view of homophobes, especially in this day and age.  Do they have no sense of history.  Do they not see themselves as the modern day equivalents of George Wallace in the civil rights era.  I guarantee you everyone else will.  Their children will.  Your children will.  Historians and novelists and readers of their books will.  Hopefully, for their sake, they will come to a point of reflection and regret their choices in the same way that Wallace himself did.  The "choice" is theirs and history's judgement of their bigotry will or will not be tempered by that choice. We have reached a tipping point that can not be reversed.  What really fascinates me are the holdouts.  Today, in the New Hampshire House, they're were much fewer "holdouts" than expected.  This is a Republican-led body that could not even gather a majority, let alone a veto proof majority.        Via The Advo...

It truly is a great thing to see so many professional athletes lending their voices in support of GLBT rights!!  Is it me or does Scott Fujita look like John Krasinski's younger, beefy brother?   Via ThinkProgress.org: Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita is the Human Rights Campaign’s latest   American for Marriage Equality . Fujita joins other pro-equality NFL players and former players, including   Nic Harris ,   Michael Irvin ,   Brendon Ayanbadejo , and   Michael Strahan . There are not currently any openly gay NFL players, but the league   added sexual orientation   to its contract non-discrimination policy this year. Watch Fujita’s supportive video: