Headlines and Hotlinks
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State Senator Haugen Announces Stance on Marriage Equality
Planning for the Future
Same-sex couples in Skagit County wait with excitement for the possibility of marriage. More-
Skagit Valley Herald Saturday, January 28, 2012
Governor Gregoire News Conference
held on Wednesday January 4th 2012, 11:00AM
Governor Chris Gregoire addresses the issue of marriage equality during a news conference held in Olympia.
New Executive Director of the Pride Foundation
She values our work in rural communities and that means all of you!
Why Marriage | Why Now
Washington United for Marriage website -- People from all walks of life, including gay and lesbian couples, share the same values of love, commitment and family - and a majority of Washingtonians support these couples getting married and building their families. As we face the current economic challenges, no family should be confronted with additional burdens to care for their loved ones. Especially during this time of hardship, we should be doing everything we can to make all Washington families stronger.
Fairness For All Families Via Same-Sex Marriage For Washington
Seattle Times --For five years Washington state has worked to make domestic partnerships equal to marriage in the eyes of the law. The logical next step is legalizing same-sex marriage for those committed couples and their families. More...
Court Orders Immediate Halt To Gay Military Ban
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A federal appeals court ordered the U.S. government on Wednesday to immediately cease enforcing the ban on openly gay members of the military, a move that could speed the end of the 17-year-old rule. More...
New York Gay Marriage Legalization Transformed National Debate
NEW YORK (Reuters) - When New York became the sixth and by far the largest state to legalize same-sex marriage, following a grueling overtime session in the state Legislature Friday, it immediately transformed the national debate over the issue, legal experts said. More...
American Medical Association Makes the Case for Ending Marriage Discrimination
AMA Policy Regarding Sexual Orientation
Link to the Gay and Lesbian Medical Assoc. web site
UN Backs Gay Rights For First Time Ever
The United Nations endorsed the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people for the first time ever Friday, passing a resolution hailed as historic by the U.S. and other backers and decried by some African and Muslim countries. More...
Obama Extends Protections To Gay Couples Under Medicaid
The Obama administration is set on Friday to issue policy guidance to states expanding their ability to offer same-sex couples the same protections afforded to straight couples when they receive long-term care under Medicaid, the Washington Blade has learned exclusively.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Recommended Actions to Improve the Health and Well-Being of LGBT Communities
Here is a summary of the efforts taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, as well as recommendations for future action:
http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/about/lgbthealth.html
Press release about NYC adopting mandatory LGBT training
HHC Will Adopt Mandatory Cultural Competence Training for Staff to Improve the Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender New Yorkers. More...
Presbyterians Clear Way For Gay Clergy
After decades of debate, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ... struck down a barrier to ordaining gays, ratifying a proposal that removes the celibacy requirement for unmarried clergy, in the latest mainline Protestant move toward accepting gay relationships. More...
Defense of Gay Marriage by Minnesota Lawmaker
Representative Steve Simon said, "I'm Jewish. Eating pork or shellfish is not allowed in my tradition, but I would never ask the government to impose that on our fellow citizens.We have to be careful about trying to enshrine our beliefs, however religiously valid you may believe them to be, in the Minnesota Constitution."
He then referenced a clergy member who testified to the committee that sexuality was a gift from God. "I think that's true [...] and I would ask everyone on this committee [...] if that's true, if it's even possibly true, what does that do to the moral force of your argument?"
"How many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether or not God actually wants them around?" he asked to applause.
Here are his comments in full. The video is well worth the time!
Gay Teens Bullied to the Point of Suicide
It's a shocking trend. Isn't it time for all of us to encourage compassion and respect, no matter how we feel about homosexuality? This Ladies Home Journal article does a good job of discussing LGBT bullying and the importance of family acceptance and parent advocacy.
http://www.lhj.com/relationships/family/raising-kids/gay-teens-bullied-to-suicide/