|
::Click here for information on NH civil unions
Taxing Times
Exclusion from marriage causes tax time to be even more expensive and time-consuming for same-sex couples across the country who are doing the work of marriage every day by taking care of their families.
As the tax deadline approaches, Evan Wolfson notes, “We all have an obligation to contribute, and, equally, the just expectation that our government and the tax system will treat us and our loved ones fairly. Denied the freedom to marry, gay Americans are not just deprived of precious security and respect for their loving commitments. They are also unfairly taxed.”
N.Y. Governor David Paterson Pledges to Bring Full Marriage Equality to New York
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force,
April 7, 2008
Honored at a Task Force dinner, NY Gov. Paterson reiterated his support for marriage equality and said in a video statement, "I am proud to have run on a ticket...that became the first ticket in this country to actually advocate for marriage equality for all citizens, and to win on that premise, and last year we passed a marriage equality bill in the Assembly...marriage equality in New York may not come just this moment, but it is no longer an issue mostly for conviction, it is an issue for courage...We will push on and bring full marriage equality to New York state."
Gay couples unite under new state law
By Adam Leech January 02, 2008 6:00 AM
PORTSMOUTH — Jim Verschueren leaned his elbow on the shoulder of
his partner of two years, Carlo Nittoli, as they sat among the 250 people gathered at South Church Tuesday to celebrate the legalization of civil unions in the state. Read more
Slide Show
United at midnight
Same-sex couples, supporters celebrate as a new year beginsBy ANNMARIE TIMMINS Monitor staff
Rita Lamy and Linda Archer came to make their three-year relationship legal. Anne Marie and Debra Menendez are already hitched but wanted to be supportive. And three friends home from the West Coast figured there was nowhere better to celebrate the new year. Read more
Civil union ceremonies worthy of Celebration
Monitor staff-
January 03, 2008 12:26AM
Yes, it was 23 degrees outside. Yes, it was way past our bedtime.
But the scene outside the State House on New Year's Eve was so joyous, so much fun and so long overdue that the crowd was warm and awake and abuzz with excitement. Read more
Civil unions worthy of celebration
January 03, 2008 6:00 AM
The Portsmouth Herald has long supported civil unions, and our heartfelt congratulations go out to those pioneering couples who took advantage of New Hampshire's new law and tied the legal knot Jan. 1.
Read more
Civil N.H.
The Keene Sentinel - January 03, 2008 It was fascinating to observe live-free-or-die New Hampshireover the
New Year’s holiday calmly transition into a state that authorizes and
recognizes civil unions. Read more
Gay marriage ban challenge OK
Judge says vote's wording "constitutionally defective"
Mike Miller — 11/29/2007 11:37 am
A University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh political science teacher's legal challenge to a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions can proceed, a Dane County circuit judge ruled Wednesday, throwing out a motion by the state to dismiss the lawsuit.
read more
STATEMENT ON THE HOUSE VOTE ON THE EMPLOYMENT NONDISCRIMINATION ACT
For the first time, the United States House of Representatives passed an employment nondiscrimination act that, if enacted, would ban discrimination against most lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people in the workplace. Equality Federation acknowledges three decades of work by our allies in Congress and by national and state lgbt organizations who have been passionate and determined to bring this civil rights legislation before Congress.
Many lesbian and gay people will celebrate the passage of this legislation, and it certainly reflects progress in the long march toward equality. However, New Hampshire Freedom to Marry and the Equality Federation remains steadfast in its opposition to this bill – not because of what it purports to do, but because of what it fails to do. This bill does not ban discrimination based on gender identity – despite the fact that transgender people experience phenomenally high unemployment rates and are the members of our community most in need of employment protections.
Over the past few weeks, Equality Federation and 40 state organizations have stood with over 350 national, state, and local lgbt groups in the United ENDA coalition to urge Congress to pass legislation that bans discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers. Federation member groups educated their constituents about the importance of inclusive legislation, and tens of thousands of equality supporters from across the country contacted their congressional representatives urging passage of an inclusive ENDA.
Equality Federation and state leaders are profoundly disappointed that these voices were not heard. But we are not defeated. The legislation passed today will not become law. Instead, it will be debated and reintroduced in a future session of Congress. Equality Federation and state organizations will continue educational and lobbying efforts to ensure that the ENDA finally enacted will be an inclusive law.
Twenty states and the District of Columbia already ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Only seven of those states do not ban discrimination on the basis of gender identity. Our movement has a great deal of experience passing non-discrimination laws at the state level, and our experience is clear: while it sometimes takes additional time and effort to pass inclusive laws, it is far less certain that laws excluding transgender people will be amended even with significant additional time and effort. Yet transgender people are the members of the lgbt community with the highest unemployment rates – and the greatest need for protection against discrimination.
Today we acknowledge the difficult achievement of taking a key congressional step toward the goal of passing a federal employment nondiscrimination law. Tomorrow, Equality Federation will begin work with all of our allies – both within and beyond the United ENDA coalition – to achieve the goal shared by all organizations within the lgbt community: passage of an inclusive employment discrimination law that protects lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
Lambda Legal’s Analysis of Stripped Down Version of
ENDA:
Gender Identity Protections Gone and
Inadequate Protections for Lesbians and Gay Men
‘You can’t be fired for being a lesbian or a gay man, but
you can be fired if your boss thinks you fit their
stereotype of one.’
(New York, October 1, 2007) — Lambda Legal’s preliminary assessment
of the revised version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act shows
the bill to be riddled with loopholes in addition to failing altogether to
protect transgender people against discrimination.
“Leaving out protections for transgender people is unacceptable, and
passing a bill riddled with loopholes will make it harder to achieve
equality on the job,” said Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director at Lambda
Legal. “You can’t be fired for being a lesbian or a gay man, but you can
be fired if your boss thinks you fit their stereotype of one.”
“After working together for so many years on a bill to provide protections
for the LGBT community on the job—we can do better than this,”
Cathcart added.
Preliminary Analysis Summary:
As a point of clarity for the community: The recent version is not simply the old version with the transgender
protections stripped out—but rather has modified the old version in several additional and troubling ways.
- In addition to the missing vital protections for transgender people on the job, this new bill also leaves
out a key element to protect any employee, including lesbians and gay men who may not conform to
their employer’s idea of how a man or woman should look and act. This is a huge loophole through which employers sued for sexual orientation discrimination can claim that their conduct was actually based on gender expression, a type of discrimination that the new bill does not prohibit.
- This version of ENDA states without qualification that refusal by employers to extend health insurance
benefits to the domestic partners of their employees that are provided only to married couples cannot
be considered sexual orientation discrimination. The old version at least provided that states and local
governments could require that employees be provided domestic partner health insurance when such
benefits are provided to spouses.
- In the previous version of ENDA the religious exemptions had some limitations. The new version has a
blanket exemption under which, for example, hospitals or universities run by faith-based groups can fire or refuse to hire people they think might be gay or lesbian.
More than 350 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations tell Congress: Don't leave transgender people behind!
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 — More than 90 national and state lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations have signed a letter hand-delivered this morning to Congress that urges lawmakers to reject substitute legislation that removes transgender protections from the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and instead get back to work to pass H.R. 2015, an ENDA bill that provides job protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Last Thursday, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) announced that he was introducing new legislation that would only provide protections on the basis of sexual orientation. In the three days since his announcement, there has been widespread community objection to this strategy. The letter delivered to Capitol Hill today makes this point clear.
The letter follows:
United opposition to sexual-orientation-only employment nondiscrimination legislation
October 1, 2007
Dear Madam Speaker and Representatives:
The undersigned represent the vast and celebrated diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in this country. Some of us are national leaders of organizations with tens of thousands of members and constituents, some of us run the only local organization in our state. But we are united in a common cause: We ask you to keep working with us on an Employment Non-Discrimination Act that protects everyone in our community, and to oppose any substitute legislation that leaves some of us behind.
We ask and hope that in this moment of truth, you will stand for the courage real leadership sometimes demands. You each command enormous respect from all of us and we do appreciate the difficulty of balancing a variety of competing demands. But the correct course in this case and on this legislation is strikingly clear. We oppose legislation that leaves part of our community without protections and basic security that the rest of us are provided.
You told us you supported a fully inclusive ENDA and would bring it up for a vote this year. We expect that you will honor that commitment and we look forward to working together to pass a bill that we can all be proud to support.
Sincerely,
October 3, 2007
STATEMENT OF EQUALITY FEDERATION
ON PROPOSED REMOVAL OF PROTECTIONS FOR TRANSGENDER AMERICANS
FROM FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT
The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has been working for over thirty years to pass the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill which would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, perceived sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in the workplace. Late last week, Congressional leaders put forth a version of ENDA which would omit protections based on gender identity and expression -- a move neither sanctioned nor supported by the vast majority of lgbt organizations. The stated justification for this modified version of ENDA is that Congress will not pass the bill if it includes protections for transgender Americans.
read more
Senate passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act
The Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act passed the U.S. Senate today by a vote of 60 - 39.
The Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 provides federal funding and support to local law enforcement agencies who are investigating and prosecuting hate crimes. In addition, it removes the restrictions that previously made this funding available only to people engaged in a federally protected activity such as voting or going to school. The legislation is supported by twenty-six state attorneys general as well as 230 law enforcement, civil rights, civic and religious organizations.
The following is a statement by NH Freedom to Marry Coalition Board member Brian Rater regarding this important development.
“Today our country moved closer to the moment where LGBT people can feel some level of protection, knowing that their government opposes violence against them. New Hampshire passed similar state legislation in 1992 under than Governor Gregg. We applaud New Hampshire Senator Gregg for his longtime, consistent position against discrimination and violence.”
We at New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition know all too well how much this legislation has been needed for many years. This legislation will provide much-needed resources, services and attention to victims of violence. As the Congress has taken a stand it is now the President’s turn to take the same stand and sign this legislation at the earliest opportunity.”
CA legislature again passes bill giving same-sex couples choice to marry
Equality California September 7, 2007 For the second time in two years, the California Legislature has passed legislation that would grant same-sex couples the ability to marry. With a 22-15 vote, the Senate on September 7 approved AB 43, authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and sponsored by Equality California.
PRESS RELEASE: Stonewall Democrats' statement on support of IA platform
Stonewall Democrats September 4, 2007 National Stonewall Democrats strongly supports the platform of the Iowa Democratic Party, which clearly states that Democrats recognize the freedom of all Iowans to marry. We call on Governor Culver to affirm the freedoms laid out by the Iowa Constitution and the platform of the Iowa Democratic Party which were articulated in the Polk County
FAIRNESS WINS IN LAWSUIT SEEKING MARRIAGE EQUALITYFOR SAME-SEX COUPLES
District Court Grants Equal Treatment to Same-Sex Couples
DES MOINES, IA - The Iowa District Court for Polk County District has issued its decision in a lawsuit seeking marriage equality for same-sex couples: Iowa same-sex couples deserve equal treatment under law.
"We're thrilled by this decision," said Carolyn Jenison, One Iowa's Executive Director. "This is a great day to be an Iowan and a monumental day in Iowa history."
A recent poll by the Des Moines Register found that a majority of Iowans support equal rights for same-sex couples in the state, 49% to 38%. Additionally, studies in New Jersey, New Hampshire, California,
and other states have shown that equal marriage increases business and tourism revenues, contributing millions in new tax dollars to the state.
"This judgment is reflective of Iowa values," said Jessica Brackett, Director of the Marriage Initiative at One Iowa. "Iowans believe in fairness and equal rights for all of our citizens."
Current Iowa law provides no access for LGBT people to the myriad rights, protections, and responsibilities provided by marriage. One Iowa advocates for equal access to civil marriage, meaning religious marriages would still be left to individual churches to decide.
One Iowa is working with Lambda Legal to provide education surrounding the Iowa Marriage Equality lawsuit, which was filed in November of 2005 by Lambda Legal on behalf of six same-sex Iowa couples.
EQUALITY Maine's supreme court(called the Law Court) ruled today that a same-sex couple may legally adopt children!
The Law Court ruled that Ann Courtney and Marilyn Kirby, as a couple, may legally provide a permanent home to two children they have cared for and nurtured for the last six years. The Court said that Ann and Marilyn may jointly adopt “M” and “R” because it is in the best interest of the children to remain in the only secure and stable home they have ever known.
Today’s ruling marks the first time in Maine history that a same-sex couple can jointly adopt a child. Until now, only a married couple or an unmarried person has been allowed to petition to adopt a child.
EqualityMaine applauds Attorney General Steven Rowe for supporting the adoption. The Attorney General knows that there are many Maine children in foster care who need loving, stable homes like the home that Ann and Marilyn have given M and R.
M and R (sister and brother) were removed from their home at a very early age after DHHS determined their biological parents were unable to care for them. They were placed in the care of Ann and Marilyn, a committed couple with foster parent and adoption experience. For the last six years, Ann and Marilyn have devoted much of their time to addressing the children’s emotional, learning and developmental challenges.
Zogby Poll: Six months into New Jersey civil unions, voters say change the law to real marriage equality
By 63% to 31%, New Jersey voters say they’d be fine with the state legislature upgrading civil unions to marriage equality.
By 72% to 21%, New Jersey voters say state legislators would be in no electoral danger if they enacted marriage equality.
By 61% to 29%, New Jersey voters say they expect the state to enact marriage equality within just a couple of years.
Zogby asked the baseline question – do you favor marriage equality versus civil unions – in two ways. Results are 48% to 45% for marriage equality in one question, 48% to 30% in another.
And a significant 35% of respondents said they would be less likely to do business with a company that denies equal benefits to gay employees. 20% said “much less likely.”
As New Jersey marks the six-month anniversary of the civil unions law this Sunday, August 19, a new statewide Zogby Poll shows majorities of voters favoring changing the law to full marriage equality for same-sex couples. The poll of 803 New Jersey voters was taken from August 8th through 10, 2007, with a margin of error of +/- 3.5%. Though Garden State Equality commissioned the poll, Zogby collected the data independently.
With news organizations reporting on the failure of the New Jersey civil union law to consistently provide equal rights to same-sex couples – and with statistics showing the law failing at least 1 in every 7 times – the poll asked:
read more...
Justice
Published: August 5, 2007
This story has a happy ending.
United Parcel Service agreed last week to offer health benefits to partners under New Jersey’s civil union law. The company had said previously that it would not do so because the couples were not legally married, and therefore did not qualify under the union contract.
The turnabout followed pressure from Gov. Jon Corzine and the state attorney general’s office, who maintain that the New Jersey law gives partners the same legal rights as married couples. The State Supreme Court ruled last fall that all couples must be treated equally, and gave the Legislature the option of achieving that either through same-sex marriage or civil unions. Legislators opted for the latter.
Since then, gay-rights advocates say, more than 200 gay couples have complained that their companies have not recognized the civil union law regarding benefits. Like UPS, some of the companies have reversed their policies after coming under pressure, but many have not. New York Times.. Read more
ENDA, hate crimes pushed back to fall by Democrats
The long-awaited Employment Non-Discrimination Act is slated for a House vote in September, according to a spokesperson for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Meanwhile, in the Senate, the gay- and transgender-inclusive hate crimes bill, which was attached to defense legislation pulled by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is unlikely to get a vote until September, or even later in the fall. Washington Blade (7/26)
Analysis: Democratic Congress not delivering on key LGBT promises:
The Democratic-led Congress has made frustratingly little progress so far in passing key LGBT priorities such as the hate crimes bill and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and only managing a relatively small increase in funding for the Ryan White CARE Act, according to this article. Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco) (7/26)
Hate Crimes
Iraq war debate delays vote on hate crimes bill
Senate Democratic leader withdraws ‘vehicle’ for measure
By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | Jul 18, 4:45 PM Washington Blade
A vote in the U.S. Senate on a gay- and transgender-inclusive hate crimes bill was put on hold this week after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) abruptly withdrew a controversial defense authorization bill to which the hate crimes measure was to be considered as an amendment. Read more
‘Matthew Shepard Act’ Submitted as Amendment to Defense Reauthorization;
WASHINGTON – Senators Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) filed the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 1105) as an amendment for consideration to the Department of Defense Reauthorization currently being debated before the U.S. Senate. The bill, commonly referred to as the “Hate Crimes Bill”, could receive a Senate vote as early as today. The virtually identical House version of the bill passed overwhelmingly on May 3rd, 2007 with a bipartisan vote of 237 to 180 – with more than 20 Republicans voting in support of the bill.
Take Action
In Denying Benefits, Firm Says Civil Union Not Marriage's Equal
By Robert Schwanberg
United Parcel Service's refusal to offer health benefits to couples with a New Jersey civil union illustrates the many problems facing couples whose civil union is being treated as less than marriage.
Sunday 07.08.07
Read more
Civil Union Laws Don't Ensure Benefits
Same-Sex N.J. Couples Find That Employers Can Get Around New Rules
By Anthony FaiolaWashington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, June 30, 2007; Page A03
When New Jersey became the first state outside liberal New England to approve same-sex civil unions, Craig Ross and Richard Cash were among the hundreds of couples who hurried to get their licenses. With Cash unemployed and his private health insurance costing $480 a month, the couple hoped the new law would be their financial white knight -- compelling Ross's employer to give his partner the same spousal benefits as heterosexual married couples.
Read more
Poll: Gay Marriage Not An Issue For N.H. Republicans
Read entire poll here
A new poll shows that New Hampshire Republicans do not consider same-sex marriage to be a concern.
The survey, in the the state with the first primary in the nation, found
that among registered Republicans gay marriage did not factor in a list of issues concerning them.
"This poll of Republican voters confirms what many of us in the GOP
already knew-the GOP primary election should focus on the issues
rank-and-file Republicans care about and same-sex marriage isn't one of them," said Log Cabin Republicans President Patrick Sammon in a statement on Wednesday.
"Republican candidates should focus on issues that unite our Party,
instead of using marriage as a wedge issue in this campaign," Sammon said.
The poll was conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center for CNN and WMUR-television.
It asked likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire, "In your
opinion, which one issue is most important to your vote in the
presidential primary? Which is next most important? What is the third
most important?"
It found that the war in Iraq topped the list at 36 percent, followed by illegal immigration at 11 percent and then the economy at 9 percent.
Same-sex marriage was 17th on the list with the number of replies too low to measure.
"Our Party is hungry for leadership on the big issues of the day such as the war in Iraq, reforming immigration, homeland security, and keeping our economy strong," said Sammon.
"New Hampshire primary voters have long distinguished themselves as astute voters who understand the nation's priorities," he said. "GOP Party leaders and all candidates for elected office should listen to these voters in the first-of-the-nation primary. 2008 will be a
critical election that demands attention on important issues-not
divisive politics."
::Click here to write to your local paper and tell them you support equality!::
Civil Unions in the news
NEW YORK TIMES, June 7, 2007
Editorial
The Inadequacy of Civil Unions
A potentially groundbreaking legal battle over Connecticut’s exclusion of gay people from the state’s marriage law has catapulted the debate over same-sex marriage to a new level. read more
Visit our news page for some of the articles that have been written about New Hampshire's journey toward equality: www.nhftm.org/newsroom.
Connecticut Moves Closer to Marriage Equality!
On Friday, the Judiciary Committee voted 27 to 15 to pass a marriage equality bill! Just two years after legalizing Civil Unions, Conn. is now on the way to full marriage equality!
For more information, read the news story here.
UNH Polling Data
A new UNH Granite State Poll conducted in February 2007 finds increased support for civil marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples. When asked “Would you favor or oppose allowing gay couples to go a justice of the peace and get a marriage license?” 61% of New Hampshire Residents say that they would support such a law.
Additionally, when asked “would it bother you if gay couples could go to a justice of the peace and get a marriage license,” 74% said it would not.
::View the chart of polling results here::
::Download additional polling data here::
Watch the NH House debate the Constitutional Amendment
Click here to watch the streaming video -- the debate on CACR 1 begins around the one hour, 45 minute mark (1:45:00). The video requires Windows Media Player or Real Player, and does not work on all versions. If your video does not work, click here for some solutions.
Victory!
The NH House of Representatives has voted 223 to 124 to kill CACR 1, the Constitutional Amendment which would ban all recognition of gay and lesbian partnerships.
Click the link below to see how your Representatives voted, and be sure to thank those that voted against this amendment!
..Voting Records for CACR 1..
"On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency
asks the question, 'Is it politic?' And Vanity comes along and asks the
question, 'Is it popular?' But Conscience asks the question 'Is it
right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is
neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because
Conscience tells him it is right."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Democrats say to gay people, 'What do you care [about marriage equality]? You can still live together, we're not stopping you, we're not breaking into your bedroom.' My answer is, 'F**k you. We're all equal, or we're not."
- Bill Maher in The Advocate, January 16, 2007
|
