This may just be the best commercial out there on the subject of marriage equality. And it comes from Ireland, and the group “MarriagEquality“. Watching this ad, “Sinead’s Hand,” makes it crystal clear that putting the question of marriage on the ballot is not only ludicrous, but it’s offensive as hell. This Fall, the state of Maine will vote on whether gay and lesbian couples should have equal rights to marriage. It’s important to win that vote.

But the premise behind putting civil rights on statewide ballots smacks in the face of the types of protections and rights that governments – whether in the U.S. or in Ireland – should automatically provide for its citizens. Watch the commercial, and then ask yourself, “What if you had to ask four million people to marry someone?”

If you don’t see the video above, click here.

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(click here if you don’t see the video above)

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thinkB4youspeak.com

(click here if you don’t see the video)

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We’ve talked about it for a couple weeks now, but plans have finaly solidified – we’re going to see The Facts of Life: The Lost Episode Friday night.

I was never a huge fan of the show; I’m sure I watched it a few times but couldn’t tell you much about it.  (I know Tootie!)  But everybody else is really excited – it should be fun!

If nothing else, I’ll be celebrating the end of my tenure at McAfee.  :)

Tickets are $27 (with fees); show starts at 8pm at The Rose Room in Station 4 (formerly Village Station for folks like me).  Let me know if you’d like to go with us or meet us there!  This is an extended run – it was such a huge hit they added 5 additional performances.

Here’s more info:

After sold-out runs in Provincetown and New York, we are proud to present The Facts of Life: The Lost Episode! Written by Jamie Morris, creator of the award-winning comedy Mommie Queerest, Facts features an all-male cast as the girls from Eastland.. As the sitcom’s popular theme song proclaimed, “You take the good, you take the bad…” these girls take it all.

Budget cuts are threatening to force Mrs. Garrett to leave Eastland. Blair, Tootie, Natalie and Jo are willing to do anything to raise enough money for her to stay. Anything….

NOTE: The Facts of Life: The Lost Episode does not incorporate actual episodes. This is a new parody inspired by the beloved sitcom.

No one under 21 will be permitted into this performance
Rated R for adult humor and situations

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I just joined thousands of others in showing my support for marriage equality for all. But recently, proponents of bigotry and hate collected even more signatures in an attempt to invalidate the California Supreme Court decision. And they won’t stop with California – extremists are even trying to add a ban of marriage for same-sex couples to the U.S. Constitution.

We are at a turning point in our nation’s history and I’m hoping you’ll join me in standing up against discrimination. Please sign the Million for Marriage petition and get us one name closer to showing that Americans overwhelmingly support marriage equality!

http://www.MillionForMarriage.org

Every committed couple deserves to enjoy the privileges and responsibilities conferred by marriage. Add your name to the petition and be a part of the movement to fight for marriage equality for all.

Thank you!

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PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Chuck Smith

Deputy Director

Equality Texas

512-474-5475

California Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples

Upholds State Constitution’s Guarantees of Privacy, Intimate Association & Due Process

Austin, TX (May 15, 2008) – In a historic decision, the California Supreme Court has ruled that existing state statute barring same-sex couples from marriage is a violation of the California Constitution because it discriminates based on sexual orientation and sex and violates the fundamental right to marry, which are protected by the California Constitution’s guarantees of privacy, intimate association, and due process.

Statement of Paul Scott, Equality Texas Executive Director

Today’s decision in California is a victory for all Americans who cherish fairness, due process, and equal protection under the law. The Court rejected the State’s argument that domestic partnership law was an equal substitute, noting that marriage-like rights without marriage smacks of a concept long rejected by the courts: separate but equal.

While Texans are legally unaffected by this ruling, we are hopeful that same-sex couples in Texas will one day have the same opportunity to solidify and legally protect their families.

According to a January, 2008 study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, approximately 50,000 same-sex couples were living in Texas in 2005. About 20% of these couples are raising an estimated 17,444 children. They deserve the same opportunity to legally protect their family relationships as all California couples now have.

Equality Texas will continue its ongoing efforts to help build strong Texas families, including those with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender family members.

Equality Texas works toward the elimination of social, legal, and economic discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression through lobbying, education, and research directed toward the Texas Legislature and other state governmental agencies.

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Editors’ note: Jeremy Bishop is Executive Director of Pride At Work, the constituency group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers. Pride At Work does not endorse candidates on any level.

In my job as Executive Director of Pride At Work, the organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender workers, I see every day the disastrous effects that our communities’ lack of access to the institution of marriage has on our families and our community.

Marriage isn’t simply a religious and ceremonial proceeding, it is the institution that protects and provides stability for working families of all shapes and sizes.

Our communities’ distinct lack of access to this institution adds stress to our already stressed-out families. Stressed out because of a job market in crisis due to the war economy, stressed out from the discrimination they face in their families and communities, and stressed out knowing that the simple act of putting their partners’ photo on their desk at work could lead to their firing.

One of the biggest challenges facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender working people in gaining unfettered access to marriage and the benefits that come with it is the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Passed when I was still in high school, DOMA was a reaction to Republican baiting attacks against the LGBT community and their attempts to enact a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Supported by President Clinton, the bill passed overwhelmingly, and our community has been profoundly damaged ever since.

Today, many companies hide behind federal laws, particularly ERISA, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, which governs most pension and health plans, as a way to deny their LGBT employees the same benefits they give their heterosexual counterparts.

This is all completely legal, for one reason: DOMA.

DOMA prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages for any purpose, even if recognized by an individual state. In addition, DOMA explicitly states that individual states do not have to recognize same-sex marriages from other states or municipalities.

Until DOMA is repealed, LGBT working people will continue to face enormous roadblocks in bringing their relationships on par with their heterosexual counterparts.

As LGBT people face the decision on who to vote for in this Democratic presidential primary, there is only one candidate that supports the full repeal of DOMA, and that is Senator Barack Obama.

Senator Hillary Clinton supports a partial repeal but would leave the language that other states do not have to recognize marriages performed in other states.

The practical application of this partial repeal would mean that for people who got married in Massachusetts, but now reside in Pennsylvania, their marriages would not be worth the paper they were written on.

The only way for our community to see full parity under the law is to repeal this unjust and un-American law.

The Clintons, both Bill and Hillary, moved the conversation about LGBT equality forward. They pushed for the repeal of the military’s ban on LGBT soldiers, and they fought for federal job protections on the basis of sexual orientation.

They got us this far. But its time for someone who has first-hand experience about the impact of unjust marriage laws to take us to the promised land. That someone is Senator Barack Obama.

The product of an interracial marriage, Senator Obama sees the unseemly parallels between the fight to stop miscegenation and the reactionary battle to stop LGBT people from getting married.

Outspoken about his desire to repeal DOMA since 2004, Senator Obama called DOMA “an abhorrent law perpetuating division and affirming a wedge issue,” according to a 2004 statement in Chicago’s LGBT newspaper, The Windy City Times.

When Pennsylvania LGBT residents go to the polls on April 22nd, LGBT working families would do well to look at where the candidates stand on DOMA closely and decide who has the background, principle, and dedication to fight for what is right, not what is politically expedient.

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