The Massachusetts Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday on the suit filed by Peter Sacks and John Hanify on behalf of Governor Romney and 10 other plaintiffs. In a oral statement delivered after the closing arguments, Lee Swislow, the Executive Director of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders said:
"Legally, there is nothing new in this case. The questions asked by the plaintiffs have been answered by the Supreme Judicial Court consistently and repeatedly over the years. We see this action for what it is--an attempt to change the rules and create more onerous burdens just because it is the rights of a minority at issue."
The Legislature’s actions have not only been constitutional, but courageous and correct. They have refused to be bullied or intimidated, and we fully expect them to keep standing up for what’s right. The plaintiffs say they favor citizen input into this matter, but they have ridiculed the idea that the ballot box--that is voting out members who disagree with them--provides them a remedy. Just because they cannot elect a majority in the Legislature that favors taking away rights from gay people doesn't mean the courts should change decades of case law and change the rules of the constitutional convention.
It is simply wrong to put the rights of a minority up for a popular vote. That’s what this is about. Marriage equality is now part of our social and legal landscape in Massachusetts. We cannot and should not turn back the clock, or create a system in which legislators have to leave their common sense or good judgment off the convention floor."
It is now official. Governor Jon S. Corzine a N.J. Democrat kept his word and signed into law a bill legalizing same sex unions. While some people in the audience felt that it wasn't enough it is a step in the right direction. Veronica Hoff of Mount Laurel summed it up best when she said "It's a step forward, but it's not true equality." Among other things the law grants gay/lesbian couples the right to inherit, adopt, have hospital visitations and not be forced to provide legal testimony against their partner in state court. For those who want nothing less than marriage it would be wise to remember that there is enough controversy and opposition to gay rights in the country right now.
The Governor himself is worried about a revolt among NJ mayors in allowing the unions to be performed in their cities. While marriage remains the ultimate symbol of true gay equality, at this point in time there are to many people opposed to this idea to ever see it happen. Marriage may never be realized but if it is, it is going to be a gradual and lengthy process of educating and changing the mindset of marriage opponents at the grass roots level.
The Boston Herald screws up story on gay/lesbian condo and creates needless controversy due to poor reporting. According to U.S. Representative Brian Wallace:
"The Boston Herald flat out got it wrong...I had never even heard of Stonewall Communities before the reporter called me. The way I was approached, [Stonewall] was developing condos in Boston where only gay men and lesbians could live. Anytime you're excluding anyone � that's wrong."
In pursuing the story the paper according to Rep. Wallace, failed to tell him that the complex was not GLBT exclusive but inclusive. In simple talk the paper created much ado about nothing. Someone screwed up big time.
State Supreme Court to hear gay marriage challenge
On Wednesday the California State Supreme Court unanimously decided to review an October ruling by the San Francisco Appeals Court upholding the state's ban on gay marriage. Back in 2004 the state supreme court sidestepped rather than take further action for or against it. With the high courts mixed record of gay civil rights rulings it is any one's guess what the court will decide.
Most Troops comfortable with Gays, poll finds
The results of a poll conducted by Zogby International has found that 73% of military members are comfortable with a gay/lesbian member in the armed forces and 23% know for sure that someone in their unit is gay.
According to Dixon Osburn the poll is one more nail in the coffin of the failed policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue. The results will also put additional pressure on the establishment to change the official policy of Gays from exclusion to inclusion. It is unlikely though with the present administration in the white house that this will happen.
PV official offers $10,000 for info in gay-attack case
Paradise Valley Councilman Brian Cooney is offering a $10,000 dollar reward to anyone who has information about the assault outside of a Scottsdale Restaurant. According to Jean Rolland and Andrew Frost there may have been as many as seven people who attacked them outside the restaurant on Sunday.
Mr. Cooney was outraged when he heard of the incident and is quoted as saying
"Scottsdale's businesses and tourism are welcome to everyone except for violent thugs."
Given the number of people who took part in the attack it seems unlikely that someone working in the restaurant didn't see something or know someone who took part in the assault. If this is the case than the next questain is "Would the supposed witness turn in a friend for $10,000. When someone is working a job that only pays a few thousand more than that each year that could be a really tempting. Here's hoping that the people involved in the attack are caught and convicted quickly.
Palm Beach County School district unblocks access to gay supportive web sites
Good for them. To bad more school districts aren't as supportive of all minorities as this one is.
Cops lose 'gay-bashing' appeal
Good for them, to bad the whole department is out $453,000. Still I can't help but think of the cops theme song when I read this article.
Test of HIV drug disappointing, firm says
Panaco Pharmaceuticals recently announced that the new drug it is developing did not work as well in preliminary tests as hoped. The company plans to seek approval for future tests of its drug, bevirimat at greater dosage levels. The drug has previously been tested in a phase IIb study on HIV patients who had previously failed to respond to traditional treatments. The company, which is currently looking into possible reasons for the drugs disappointing clinical trial, is planning on seeking FDA approval to increase the dosage in the IIb trials as soon as possible.
Gay partners of state employees win benefits
It would seem that supporters of a bill allowing partners of gay state employees the same benefits as those of spouses. Given the fact that it is unlikely the Alaskan State Congress can muster enough votes for a 2/3 majority (needed to create a constitutional amendment) it would seem that come April 3rd when a constitutional amendment advisory vote goes to the people that the issue will be decided for good. The only way supporters of a possible amendment could win is if the advisory vote is approved with an overwhelming majority at the polls. With the state court siding with the gay community on this one opponents of the bill have little legal ground on which to outflank it.
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