LGBT News Clips Friday (January 27, 2012)

Friday (January 27, 2012) News
Headline		Date	Outlet	Links
.HRC In the News (4)
	Al Franken Urges Americans To Support Gay Marriage	01/27/2012	On Top Magazine	Text	View Clip
	Same-sex marriage returns to political spotlight	01/27/2012	Dallas Voice	Text	View Clip
	Romney Donates to Anti-Gay Groups	01/27/2012		Text	View Clip
	Senator Al Franken Makes Marriage Equality Video	01/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
Activism/Protest (2)
	Adam Levine, Maroon 5 Boycott Restaurant Over Gay Marriage	01/26/2012	On Top Magazine	Text	View Clip
	Gay Groups Face Off Against Dallas Mayor Over Pledge to Support Marriage Equality: VIDEO	01/26/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
Courts/Legal (2)
	Law Firm Argues Wisconsin High School Student Has Right to Publish Article Saying Gays Should Be Put to Death: VIDEO	01/26/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
	Aussie Catholic Priest Helps End Gay Panic Defense	01/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
Education/Youth (2)
	Dennis Shepard Says Tenn. Legislature Is Bullying Gays	01/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	Tuscaloosa schools told: 'Let lesbians go to prom'	01/26/2012	PinkNews.co.uk		View Clip
Entertainment/TV/Movies (2)
	Bishop Gene Robinson Documentary Premieres at Sundance	01/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	FIRST LOOK:  TV Drama About Queer Life In L.A.	01/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
Marriage (10)
	Gay Marriage Bill Clears Washington Senate Panel	01/27/2012	On Top Magazine	Text	View Clip
	Marriage Equality Advocates Ready for Maine Referendum	01/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	NOM Cheers Chris Christie's Decision To Veto New Jersey Gay Marriage Bill	01/26/2012	On Top Magazine	Text	View Clip
	St. Paul, Minnesota City Council Opposes Gay Marriage Ban	01/26/2012	On Top Magazine	Text	View Clip
	Minnesotans on Defensive Over Anti–Gay Marriage Initiative	01/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	Op-ed: It's Time to Win in Maine	01/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	Washington Gay Marriage Bill Clears Senate Committee	01/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	Barney Frank Is Engaged to Be Married	01/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	Marriage Equality Question to Appear on 2012 Maine Ballot; LGBT Advocates 'Comfortable About Winning'	01/26/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
	Maryland State Bar Association Endorses Marriage Equality Bill	01/26/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
Military (1)
	LGBT Military Group Outserve to Hold Summit Focusing on Families	01/26/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
Politicians/Leaders (4)
	Black Leaders Blast Christie for Referendum Proposal	01/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	Mehlman Urges N.H. Republicans to Keep Marriage Equality	01/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	Liberty Counsel Backs Student Who Penned Antigay Editorial	01/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
	Newark, NJ Mayor Condemns Treatment of Gays as Second-Class Citizens: VIDEO	01/26/2012	Towleroad	Text	View Clip
Transgender issues (1)
	Transgender Pakistanis Celebrate Newfound Voting Rights	01/26/2012	Advocate, The	Text	View Clip
Al Franken Urges Americans To Support Gay Marriage | View Clip 01/27/2012 On Top Magazine Minnesota Senator Al Franken has recorded an ad for the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) Americans for Marriage Equality campaign Return to Top
Same-sex marriage returns to political spotlight | View Clip 01/27/2012 Dallas Voice NEW YORK — Same-sex marriage is back in the political spotlight and likely to remain there through Election Day in November as a half-dozen states face potentially wrenching votes on the issue. In New Hampshire, Republicans who now control the legislature are mulling whether to repeal the 2009 law legalizing same-sex marriage. Their state is one of six with such laws, along with Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont, as well as the capital district of Washington. In Maryland, New Jersey and Washington state, bills to legalize same-sex marriage have high-powered support and good chances of passage in the legislature. Gay-marriage opponents in Maryland and Washington would likely react by seeking referendums in November to overturn those laws, while New Jersey's Republican governor, Chris Christie, says he'll veto the bill if it reaches him and prefers that lawmakers OK a referendum so voters can decide. In all three states, polls suggest voters are closely divided on whether gays should have the right to marry, so there's a chance one could emerge as the first state to support same-sex marriage in a statewide vote. Three of the remaining Republican presidential contenders, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, have signed a National Organization for Marriage pledge opposing same-sex marriage and endorsing a federal constitutional amendment to ban it. But it's not among the topics prominent in the stump speeches of Romney or Newt Gingrich, the two front-runners. On the Democratic side, President Barack Obama has taken several steps during his first term that have pleased gay-rights advocates, but says he is still "evolving" in regard to same-sex marriage and isn't ready to endorse it. Some activists hope he will do so before the election, though there's been no strong hint of that from the White House. "Obama will get asked about it, and you can't straddle both sides of this forever," said Richard Socarides, a former Clinton White House adviser on gay rights. "Clearly he's not going to retreat, so he only has one place to go, and I think he will do it before the election." Maine voters also may have an opportunity to vote for same-sex marriage in November; gay-rights activists announced Thursday they are moving forward with a ballot-measure campaign, submitting more than 105,000 signatures to the Secretary of State. Proposed amendments for constitutional bans on gay marriage will be on the ballots in North Carolina on May 8 and in Minnesota on Nov. 6. Added together, the state-level showdowns will likely raise the prominence of the marriage issue in the presidential campaign, even though it's not a topic that the leading candidates tend to broach proactively. Another potential factor: Judgments could be issued during the campaign in one or more of several pending federal court cases about same-sex marriage. Appeals could result in the issue heading toward the Supreme Court, and the presidential candidates would be expected to comment on any major development. In all the showdown states, national advocacy groups are expected to be active on both sides. The Human Rights Campaign, for example, has promised to provide funding, strategic advice and field staff for the various campaigns supporting same-sex marriage. On the other side, the National Organization for Marriage is vowing a multistate effort, including promises of financial support in the primaries to defeat any Republican lawmakers who support gay marriage in Washington. Though several major national polls now show that a slight majority of Americans support same-sex marriage, National Organization for Marriage president Brian Brown predicts his side will continue its winning streak and prevail in any state referendums that are held this November. "There's a myth that history is on a trajectory moving toward same-sex marriage," Brown said. "There is no such momentum." Return to Top
Romney Donates to Anti-Gay Groups | View Clip 01/27/2012 As it turns out, Mitt Romney's donations in 2010 and 2011 include a non-trivial gift to several organizations that could be charitably described as viciously anti-gay: The Human Rights Campaign points out a report by CNN that says Romney's charitable foundation gave at least $35,000 to antigay groups in 2010, with $10,000 going to the Massachusetts Family Institute, which ran radio ads last year warning parents that a transgender civil rights bill could lead to all manner of danger in bathrooms. One woman said in a radio ad that if the legislation passed (which it did), she wouldn't let her daughter use the restroom alone anymore. And the group's website showed a restroom door with the provocative message, "Who's going to be waiting for your wife and daughter?" Considering how much LGBT-rights have been mainstreamed, I'm not sure that this won't hurt Romney among Republicans, at least the moderate Republicans most likely to vote for the former Massachusetts governor. That said, this would absolutely be a liability in a general election. More importantly, this should serve as a reminder that Romney—despite his persona—is just as conservative as his competitors, and will govern as such if elected president. Indeed, odds are good that a President Romney would be more conservative than a President Gingrich or a President Santorum, due to his strained relationship with the conservative movement. Because of the need to build trust with his political base, Romney will have every reason to hew right and accommodate conservative activists. That's not to say that his pragmatic instincts wouldn't be valuable during a crisis, but for the day-to-day business of being president, Romney would be as disastrous as any other conservative choice. Return to Top
Senator Al Franken Makes Marriage Equality Video | View Clip 01/26/2012 Advocate, The U.S. Senator Al Franken of Minnesota has contributed an online video to the Americans for Marriage Equality campaign from the Human Rights Campaign. Return to Top
Adam Levine, Maroon 5 Boycott Restaurant Over Gay Marriage | View Clip 01/26/2012 On Top Magazine Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and his band are boycotting a Los Angeles-area Mexican restaurant over its support for Proposition 8 Return to Top
Gay Groups Face Off Against Dallas Mayor Over Pledge to Support Marriage Equality: VIDEO | View Clip 01/26/2012 Towleroad Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings was not among the dozens of American mayors who signed the 'Mayors for the Freedom to Marry' endorsement of marriage equality last week, and the LGBT community in Dallas is not happy about it, WFAA reports:... Return to Top
Law Firm Argues Wisconsin High School Student Has Right to Publish Article Saying Gays Should Be Put to Death: VIDEO | View Clip 01/26/2012 Towleroad Over the weekend, Brandon posted about a high school student newspaper controversy in Wisconsin. The newspaper had published a point - counterpoint opinion piece (you can read it HERE) on gay adoption that had offended the gay parents of a... Return to Top
Aussie Catholic Priest Helps End Gay Panic Defense | View Clip 01/26/2012 Advocate, The A Catholic priest in Australia is responsible for helping to end the "gay panic" defense in the Queensland territory. Return to Top
Dennis Shepard Says Tenn. Legislature Is Bullying Gays | View Clip 01/26/2012 Advocate, The The father of slain gay college student Matthew Shepard spoke out to Tennessee's legislature, asking members to drop their antigay prejudices and the antigay policies they're considering. Return to Top
Bishop Gene Robinson Documentary Premieres at Sundance | View Clip 01/26/2012 Advocate, The "If my story can help a young boy or girl in their teens believe they can have a wonderful and productive life and family, then it's worth my putting up with a film crew following me around for two years in order to comfort and inspire them," Robinson told RNS. Return to Top
FIRST LOOK:  TV Drama About Queer Life In L.A. | View Clip 01/26/2012 Advocate, The From L Word producer Larry Kennar comes DTLA, a new series that will begin airing on Canada's OUTtv beginning late spring and will star Darryl Stephens, Danny Roberts, and Leslie Jordan. Return to Top
Gay Marriage Bill Clears Washington Senate Panel | View Clip 01/27/2012 On Top Magazine A bill that would make Washington the seventh state to legalize gay marriage cleared a Senate panel on Thursday Return to Top
Marriage Equality Advocates Ready for Maine Referendum | View Clip 01/26/2012 Advocate, The Marriage equality advocates in Maine have collected more than 100,000 signatures and are ready to announce a decision about whether to bring the issue back to the ballot in 2012, the Associated Press reports. Return to Top
NOM Cheers Chris Christie's Decision To Veto New Jersey Gay Marriage Bill | View Clip 01/26/2012 On Top Magazine NOM on Wednesday cheered New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's decision to veto a proposed gay marriage bill Return to Top
St. Paul, Minnesota City Council Opposes Gay Marriage Ban | View Clip 01/26/2012 On Top Magazine The St. Paul City Council has approved a resolution opposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that would ban gay marriage Return to Top
Minnesotans on Defensive Over Anti–Gay Marriage Initiative | View Clip 01/26/2012 Advocate, The With nine months before Minnesota voters weigh in on a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, LGBT leaders and equality-minded politicians are preparing a defense. Return to Top
Op-ed: It's Time to Win in Maine | View Clip 01/26/2012 Advocate, The The national campaign director at Freedom to Marry is opposed to voting on the rights of any minority group. But when it comes to Maine, he explains why he supports activists' ballot initiative. Return to Top
Washington Gay Marriage Bill Clears Senate Committee | View Clip 01/26/2012 Advocate, The The marriage equality bill in Washington State moved one step closer to becoming law Thursday when a Senate committee advanced the measure to the floor for a vote. Return to Top
Barney Frank Is Engaged to Be Married | View Clip 01/26/2012 Advocate, The Rep. Barney Frank is engaged to marry his partner of four years, Jim Ready, a spokesman confirmed today. Return to Top
Marriage Equality Question to Appear on 2012 Maine Ballot; LGBT Advocates 'Comfortable About Winning' | View Clip 01/26/2012 Towleroad A coalition of LGBT groups that have been collecting signatures in an effort to proceed with a ballot initiative to legalize same-sex marriage in Maine, say they have met their goal, Think Progress LGBT reports: The coalition, led by EqualityMaine... Return to Top
Maryland State Bar Association Endorses Marriage Equality Bill | View Clip 01/26/2012 Towleroad The Maryland State Bar Association has endorsed the marriage equality bill, the WaPo reports: The endorsement of the State Bar, which is comprised of 24,000 lawyers and judges, comes just days before Maryland lawmakers turn their attention to the bill... Return to Top
LGBT Military Group Outserve to Hold Summit Focusing on Families | View Clip 01/26/2012 Towleroad OutServe, the association of actively serving military personnel, announced the first OutServe Capital Summit, to be held May 14-15 in Washington, DC., which will focus on military partners and families, the group reports: The Summit will gather actively-serving military of... Return to Top
Black Leaders Blast Christie for Referendum Proposal | View Clip 01/26/2012 Advocate, The Prominent African-American elected officials including Newark mayor Cory Booker slammed the suggestion from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to put same-sex marriage to a public vote, as the governor, legislative leaders and advocates prepared for a protracted fight. Return to Top
Mehlman Urges N.H. Republicans to Keep Marriage Equality | View Clip 01/26/2012 Advocate, The Former Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman is continuing his work for marriage equality by urging lawmakers in New Hampshire to oppose a repeal attempt. Return to Top
Liberty Counsel Backs Student Who Penned Antigay Editorial | View Clip 01/26/2012 Advocate, The The right-wing legal group has taken up the cause of a Wisconsin high school student whose opinion piece opposing adoption by gays was pulled from the school paper. Return to Top
Newark, NJ Mayor Condemns Treatment of Gays as Second-Class Citizens: VIDEO | View Clip 01/26/2012 Towleroad Responding to a question about New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's call for a voter referendum on same-sex marriage, Newark mayor Cory Booker slammed Christie's suggestion and denounced the treatment of gays in the U.S. as second-class citizens. Said Booker: "Dear... Return to Top
Transgender Pakistanis Celebrate Newfound Voting Rights | View Clip 01/26/2012 Advocate, The It's been two month since transgender Pakistanis were granted voting rights and joyful celebrations continue as many register to vote for the first time in their lives. Return to Top