Three Steps Forward, No Steps Back
Feb. 13th, 2012 07:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elrhiarhodanStep the First:
Christine Gregoire, the two-term (by the skin of her teeth) governor of Washington State has signed a bill into law making same-sex marriage legal. This makes Washington the seventh state to grant full and equal rights to all persons. The law goes into effect on June 7th. Washington state has had domestic partnership laws since 2007, and in 2009 passed an "everything but marriage" expansion of that law, which was ultimately upheld by voters after a referendum challenge.
Opponents said they would file a ballot challenge after Gregoire signed the measure that would require voters in November to either uphold or overturn the law. If the referendum gets enough signatures by June 6 the law is put on hold pending the outcome of a November vote.
Source: New York Times, Washington Governor Signs Gay Marriage Bill 2/13/2012
Step the Second:
The New Jersey State Senate voted on Monday to legalize same-sex marriage, a significant shift in support from two years ago, when a similar measure failed. The legislation faces a vote on Thursday in the State Assembly, but even if that chamber passes the measure, as expected, Gov. Chris Christie, who favors holding a referendum on the issue, has said he will veto it.
“The margin brought the notion of an override out of fantasyland,” said Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality, a gay rights group. “Before today, I would have said the chances of an override were one in a million. Now I’d say it’s about one in two.”
Overriding the anticipated veto would require the approval of two-thirds of both houses, which in the Senate translates to 27 votes. But Democrats, who control the Legislature and have made the bill their top priority this year, argue that they have nearly two years — until the session ends on Jan. 14, 2014 — to muster just three more votes than they won on Monday.
Source: New York Times, New Jersey Senate Votes to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage, 2/13/2012.
Step the Third:
Matt Bomer has, in one beautiful and classy moment, fully acknowledged his relationship with Simon Halls and their three children. Even though there has been some debate as to whether this constitutes a "coming out" moment, it is, for the the record, the first time Matt has publicly acknowledged a committed relationship with his partner. 'Nuff said.
Source: White Collar Fixation, quoting multiple sources, 2/13/2012
Christine Gregoire, the two-term (by the skin of her teeth) governor of Washington State has signed a bill into law making same-sex marriage legal. This makes Washington the seventh state to grant full and equal rights to all persons. The law goes into effect on June 7th. Washington state has had domestic partnership laws since 2007, and in 2009 passed an "everything but marriage" expansion of that law, which was ultimately upheld by voters after a referendum challenge.
Opponents said they would file a ballot challenge after Gregoire signed the measure that would require voters in November to either uphold or overturn the law. If the referendum gets enough signatures by June 6 the law is put on hold pending the outcome of a November vote.
Source: New York Times, Washington Governor Signs Gay Marriage Bill 2/13/2012
Step the Second:
The New Jersey State Senate voted on Monday to legalize same-sex marriage, a significant shift in support from two years ago, when a similar measure failed. The legislation faces a vote on Thursday in the State Assembly, but even if that chamber passes the measure, as expected, Gov. Chris Christie, who favors holding a referendum on the issue, has said he will veto it.
“The margin brought the notion of an override out of fantasyland,” said Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality, a gay rights group. “Before today, I would have said the chances of an override were one in a million. Now I’d say it’s about one in two.”
Overriding the anticipated veto would require the approval of two-thirds of both houses, which in the Senate translates to 27 votes. But Democrats, who control the Legislature and have made the bill their top priority this year, argue that they have nearly two years — until the session ends on Jan. 14, 2014 — to muster just three more votes than they won on Monday.
Source: New York Times, New Jersey Senate Votes to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage, 2/13/2012.
Step the Third:
Matt Bomer has, in one beautiful and classy moment, fully acknowledged his relationship with Simon Halls and their three children. Even though there has been some debate as to whether this constitutes a "coming out" moment, it is, for the the record, the first time Matt has publicly acknowledged a committed relationship with his partner. 'Nuff said.
Source: White Collar Fixation, quoting multiple sources, 2/13/2012
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Date: 2012-02-14 01:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 02:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 06:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 09:57 am (UTC)I'm glad that MB now feels comfortable and secure enough to be "out", even though the whole voyeuristic "celebrity culture" thing, and the public thinking they're somehow *entitled* to information about someone's private life just 'cause he's on TV, squicks me a LOT. But it's a good sign that his being openly gay doesn't seem to be the career suicide it would've been not so long ago.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 04:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 02:14 am (UTC)Ya gotta stop and ask yourself, what aren't these people concerned about, that they can spare the time to militate against giving their neighbors a civil right which will not affect them in any way?
Apparently, these folks are just fine with wars overseas, congressional malfeasance, insider trading, an economy in the toilet, vast federal deficits being blamed on the very poor while the richest among us continue to pay taxes at lower rates than their secretaries.
But they have time to fight to prevent some people, almost all of whom they don't know, from getting married.
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Date: 2012-02-14 02:16 am (UTC)And kudos to Matt for his award and his sweet speech. It just makes me happy that he finally felt like he could acknowledge them all in a public setting.
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Date: 2012-02-14 03:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 04:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 05:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 05:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-15 03:26 am (UTC)