The ACLU and Lambda Legal have filed lawsuits suing the state of Illinois for legal marriage. You met one couple who have been together for almost 50 years, time to meet the couples represented by Lambda Legal.

Click here for more information about the couples represented by Lambda Legal.

Ed Hamilton and Gary Magruder, they just want to marry before their 50th anniversary.

Get ready, the fight for Marriage Equality is gearing up for a slug-fest in Illinois, where Lambda Legal and the ACLU have just filed lawsuits demanding the legal right to marry. Here’s a clip from the Chicago Tribune:

A total of 25 couples from across the state are plaintiffs in the two lawsuits. Each couple tried to get a marriage license from the Cook County clerk’s office in May and was denied based on the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, which prohibits marriage “between 2 individuals of the same sex” and states: “A marriage between 2 individuals of the same sex is contrary to the public policy of this State.”

According to the Chicago Sun Times, the ACLU will argue a ban against same-sex marriage violates the right to privacy in Illinois’ Constitution and Lambda Legal will argue Illinois’ ban on “special legislation” would prohibit a ban on same-sex marriage because it would be benefiting one group over another.  As we know from previous civil-rights fights, separate is not equal.

Here’s a video from one of the nine plaintiff couples for the ACLU.

Passed by Congress, and signed by President Clinton on September 21, 1996, the act prevented the Federal Government from recognizing same-gender marriages, and allowed states to refuse to recognize any such marriages legally performed by other states.

This created the novel legal situation where both the Federal Government and individual states could pick and choose which marriage licenses they would accept as valid, and which they would ignore.  The courts have ruled that unconstitutional.

Judge Michael Boudin wrote for the panel, saying “Invalidating a federal statute is an unwelcome responsibility for federal judges; the elected Congress speaks for the entire nation, its judgment and good faith being entitled to utmost respect.  But a lower federal court such as ours must follow its best understanding of governing precedent, knowing that in large matters the Supreme Court will correct mis-readings.”

The court noted the results of DOMA, where lesbian and gay couples who were legally married in Massachusetts were denied Federal benefits granted to straight couples.  This, the Court found, could not withstand legal scrutiny.  “Under current Supreme Court authority,” the Court found,  “Congress’ denial of federal benefits to same-sex couples lawfully married in Massachusetts has not been adequately supported by any permissible federal interest.’’

Now we’ll wait to see if the defenders of DOMA (not the Justice Department, who declined to defend the case due to their finding the Act unconstitutional, leaving the defense to the House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner’s legal team) appeal to the full Appeals Court, or if the case goes to the Supreme Court.

Another nail in the coffin, another step on the road to equality.

Boston.com story, here.
Full ruling, here.

The bill prohibits any licensed mental health professional from engaging in sexual orientation change efforts, regardless of the willingness of the patient to undergo such treatment.

The bill’s author, Senator Ted Lieu (D-28th Senate District) said “Being lesbian or gay or bisexual is not a disease or mental disorder for the same reason that being a heterosexual is not a disease or a mental disorder.  The medical community is unanimous in stating that homosexuality is not a medical condition.”

You can read the text of the bill as passed, here.  NARTH (The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality) released an ‘action alert‘ in an attempt to stop the bill by flooding the phones of state Senators with calls urging them to vote “no”.  It apparently had no effect.

Today is the first Memorial Day in the post-DADT era.  As such, I’d like to take the opportunity to remember those who died in service, whether in combat or not, who were gay and lesbian.  While the ultimate sacrifice of all who died is what we remember today, those who died during the tenure of DADT, and especially before,  should be especially remembered by our community.

They made the ultimate sacrifice for a country who, as a matter first of military policy, then of national law, did not think them fit to serve.

Now that gay and lesbian Americans can openly serve, many are coming forward to show that they are as capable as any to do the job required, and are proud and honored to do so.  The doomsday predictions of those opposed to open service have not occurred, and the military is reporting no problems after repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (Don’t Pursue)”.

In the more than 236 years of military service, gays and lesbians have served, and died, next to their straight counterparts.  With the same valor, bravery, integrity, and honor, they have fought and died in response to the call of their nation.  Most of them who died in that service did so while deeply in the closet, since to be out meant immediate discharge.

The choice to be closeted, and serve, must have been, and must be for those who today are still serving quietly for fear their orientation might affect their military career paths, one for which we should hold special respect.  It wasn’t, and isn’t, easy to serve from inside that closet, and in many ways that service is evidence of more patriotism and inner strength than many of us may be able to imagine.

“All gave some, and some gave all”.  They all served under Old Glory, but some also flew the Rainbow flag in their hearts, as well.  Today we remember them all, but take a moment to remember and honor those who served and died in silence, all for the love of a country that often times scorned them.  There is no greater honor they could pay us, and we should never forget them.

Estimates are that up to 15,000 homosexuals were put to death in Nazi concentration camps during World War Two.  The hateful notion of gays and lesbians herded up and put inside electrified fencing, waiting to die, is something one would not expect of a person whose job is to preach the word of a supposedly loving “God”.  Perhaps the preacher forgot about the “love thy neighbor” part of his “Good Book”.  (Perhaps not, however.  That particular book, like so many others, has also been used to justify atrocities across the centuries, and hatred today.  Mr. Worley may simply be carrying on a long tradition.)

On Sunday, May 27, 2012, a crowd estimated at near 2,000 gathered along Newton’s Southwest Boulevard, on the grounds of the Catawba County Justice Center, to send a message to Pastor Worley and his church.  Originally to take place at the church, the event was moved to the Justice Center property due to expected crowd size, and the church’s threat to have any protestors on their property arrested.  About 50 counter-protesters gathered across the street, to support the sermon.

Catawba Valley Citizens Against Hate member Laura Tipton (who organized the protest) contacted Worley, who, according to Tipton, said he had used poorly chosen words, but did not apologize for the sermon.  (Shades of Mitt Romney’s “I would not have used those words” comment on Rush Limbaugh’s calling Sandra Fluke a slut.)

Such language and themes from the pulpit can drive some to react with violence.  It’s not surprising that someone on Saturday night set a fire under one of the Church’s air conditioning units.  The damage was minor, and did not prevent the Church from holding services Sunday.  Although rightly denounced as unacceptable by protest organizers and participants (and Queerlandia.com), it’s not difficult to see how the continued intolerance and hatred aimed at a minority could spark some to violent reaction.  The non-violent protest, and resulting publicity, are far more successful, and humane, than any violent action could ever be.  While the right-wing blogosphere may concentrate on the arson and gloss over or ignore the 2,000 protesters, the major coverage will be the size and visibility of the protest.

The pastor preaches a gay holocaust while protesters exercise peaceful speech.  Who really expresses the love of Jesus?

See the Hickory Daily Record for more on this event.

(oh, by the way, the good pastor has not responded to my email, and the church’s website is down.)

For more information click here!

“Every Friday and Saturday night, we’re flooded with requests from straight girls in penis hats who want to ogle our gogos, dance with the gays and celebrate their pending nuptials. They are completely unaware that the people around them are legally prohibited from getting married. Over the past 22 years, The Abbey has been a place that accepts everyone, gay, straight, lesbian, transgender, bisexual and everything in between. We love our straight girlfriends and they are welcome here, just not for bachelorette parties. It has long been a policy at The Abbey to deny admission to groups in costume, including Bachelorette regalia. Bachelorette parties had previously been allowed inside if they removed their costumes.

The Abbey’s Bachelorette Ban comes on the heels of a ban on Gay Marriage in North Carolina and a number of other states across the south. The Abbey encourages other gay-owned and operated establishments to institute their own bans as a sign of solidarity until Marriage is legal everywhere for everyone.“

The reasoning makes a lot of sense. It’s essentially saying “we don’t want you to throw this in our face,” which I think everyone can respect. Do any of you readers know other clubs or bars that do this?

Adair has posted the altered video, with his own, original version of Ben.  It’s still a powerful message for a traditionally homophobic genre.

Via Getty Images

Devin Dwyer at ABC gives us a fantastic story about the first openly gay cadets graduating from the Air Force Academy.

“It’s just been really open, a lot of acceptance. I haven’t heard anyone say, ‘I hate this. I can’t serve in the military with this,’” said 3rd Class Cadet Kevin Wise, a second-year management major. “It’s a sense of ‘OK, this is their lifestyle, but they’re still the person I’ve spent 21 credit hours a semester next to or I’ve gone through this with,’” he said.

Wise said he knew several classmates who chose to come out in the past few months. “Honestly, for me, it was, ‘Oh well, I kind of had a suspicion since I’ve known you for two years now, but you just move on,” he said.

“There wasn’t any sort of repercussion against them or anything,” said 2nd Lt. Jenny Kavalstan of her gay classmates who graduated with her today. “I thought of them the same way I did before; most people do.”

Video after the jump!