The GOP have screwed themselves on gay marriage, it's mushrooming

[Brian_Expat]

Some interesting statistics:

1) After the SF event, the latest poll show over 55% of Californians support gay marriage (up from 37%).

2) Gay marriage support in Massachusetts, for the first time, now shows a majority beyond the margin of error in favour (57%).

3) New Mexico's areas that issued gay marriages and stopped are now suing NM under state constitutional law, stating that gender-based marriage violates the state constitution (and no genders are specified in NM's marriage laws!)

4) California's SC is likely to rule the Knight Initiative invalid since it violates the state constitution, thanks to Mayor Gavin Newsom's stand on this issue.

5) Two cities in New York (including New Paltz) are beginning to issue marriage licenses starting today (Friday). New York's marriage law also does not specify gender and its constitution, similar to CA and MA, bans discrimination based on gender.

6) On May 16th, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will begin issuing marriage licences to gay and lesbian couples. Any city refusing to issue same-sex licences will lose the right to issue any marriage licences at all.

7) Cook County (Chicago) IL is investigating how to go about issuing same-sex marriage licences.

Critical mass is gaining on this. The pictures from San Francisco and Massachusetts were compelling. People are seeing that gay people are just like them and want nothing more or less than the right to live equally and gain the protections and responsibilities of legally-recognized family life.

Bush has utterly fucked himself over. Rove can show all the pictures of topless lesbians and fat hairy men in chains and leather he wants, they will not be able to overwhelm the beautiful shots of all those families getting married, all over the country, as one-by-one, cities and towns stand up for what is right.

Meanwhile, gay activists everywhere should thank George W. Bush. These actions around the country aren't just the actions of our friends and supporters -- they're also the first major opportunity for angry Democrats in positions of influence to say "FUCK YOU!" to Bush and put him in an uncomfortable situation. As the snowball grows, rolling down the hill, this anger at Bush will not only make America a better place through equality, but will send the Busheviks and their Rovian counterparts fleeing.

[Florida_Geek]

1. But more important he lost some if not all

Log Cabin Repug votes. Maybe some will still vote for him but probably not.

Drip drip drip... the votes drip away.

[La_Serpiente]

2. I disagree vehemently with Feinstein and Frank

they both rebuked Newsome for his admirable action.

Perhaps they are trying to control it or make sure it doesn't get out of hand. Well, it is too late for that - this has taken a life of its own.

Great post by the way :thumbsup:

[aquart]

3. Gorgeous, isn't it?

Now we have to deal with those sexist words: husband and wife.

Never liked them anyway.

[Brian_Expat]

5. Call me traditional. . .

. . . but if I get married, I'll have a "husband." ;-)

[Atlant]

14. Husbands are handy around the house. ;) (NT)

[Kathy in Cambridge]

25. Not mine-I'm better at fixing things than him!

:D

[Laughing Mirror]

9. How does husband and husband grab you?

Wife and wife?

[KG]

4. the constitutional amendment is going to fail badly.

this is an issue the RWers can't win on.

[Atlant]

15. Actually, it may very well pass. But that would send a message...

Actually, it may very well pass. But that would send a message to a lot
of people who still somehow labor under the misapprehension that their
government represents them.

Atlant

[nostamj]

22. they don't have the votes in the Senate

and Rove probably knew that all along.

* gets to say: Hey, I tried. Your senators blocked me.

[John_H]

28. They don't have the votes in the House either.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Read Bob Herbert's Op Ed in the NYTimes today

He said that he wouldn't criminalize the joy and commitment that are obvious in same sex couples, and named names of such couples who are waiting to marry.

[rocktivity]

23. Originally posted by Ayeshahaqqiqa

(Bob Herbert wrote in the NY Times) that he wouldn't criminalize the joy and commitment that are obvious in same sex couples...)

I'm going to look up Herbert's e-mail address and send him this link.

http://www.blah3.com/love.html

:headbang:
rocknation

ON EDIT!!! 10:45AM EST From [e-mail]:

Thanks for your thoughtful email. It was greatly appreciated. Please be assured that I read every message but because of the volume I cannot respond individually to each one.
Take care,
Bob Herbert

[Viking12]

30. Excellent video!

Although this coverage has begun to humanize the issue, we need to do so on large scales. The more people that see this is issue not about sex, but about people caring for one another and being happy the more people will support the right thing.

[kayell]

7. This has been my sense of what is happening

I am so happy to see some statistics starting to back this up. Gavin Newsom's move in SF was sheer brilliance. It is as effective as if every gay or lesbian in America suddenly came out at once to their coworkers, neighbors, meter reader, postman, the clerk at their grocery store. Almost everyone now has seen pictures of happy, real gay couples. OMG, they look just like "normal" people. LOL Maybe they are normal people!

Sure, we won't change the hard core wingers minds. Black protests didn't change George Wallaces mind. But that's not who we're trying to influence. And your post gives me great hope for the future and for the sanity of most Americans.

We WILL overcome!

[Atlant]

16. One of my favorite posts from a week or two ago...

> OMG, they look just like "normal" people.
> Maybe they are normal people!

One of my favorite posts from a week or two ago went something like this...

Look at those couples on the TV! Why they look just
like ordinary people. That woman looks just like Aunt
Clarabel.

Wait a minute -- That *IS* Aunt Clarabel!!!

(I'm sorry but I don't have a link; it was in LBN)

Atlant

[kayell]

17. *blush* that was mine

it was Aunt Kate, although I like the name Clarabel even better. I do tend to stick to the same points. I'm glad you liked it.

[Atlant]

20. I knew it was "Kate"; I was embellishing. :-)

Thanks for stepping forward!

Atlant

[Lexingtonian]

8. links, please?

As I recall, the numbers have been the other way around at least here in Mass. The Against went from 40% to 55% during December and January but seemed to be sinking again, iirc, to 53% in mid February....

[Brian_Expat]

10. Latest poll published in this morning's paper in the UK. . .

. . . shows a solid majority in favour of gay marriage in the Commonwealth and also in California. Not that such a measure matters from a civil rights perspective, but it certainly does matter from a "Bush is screwed" perspective.

[Laughing Mirror]

11. Very encouraging statistics

Thanks for putting them here.

We see with this snowballing what happens with just a little education, and when aggrieved parties refuse to sit down and shut up.

[keopeli]

12. Everything Bush* touches this year will turn against him

It was a gift to America that this ugly, underlying cynicism that calls itself "compassionate" is revealed. In this case, I thank Bush* for being honest. He does not like gay people and he wants it written into our constitution.

[Bundbuster]

13. Perfect way for him to kick off his campaign

When I heard AWOL suggest it in his SOTU smirk, I was ecstatic. Now, for anyone who was blind, he's totally exposed the rancid, festering underbelly of his reichwing/fundie base. The party of fear, guilt, and divisiveness is hanging and swinging in the wind for all to see. Every day now I eagerly await the pompous, hypocritical uterrings from more and more mini-chimp clones who simply cannot control their vile moralizing. Sure as the sunrise it will be like a runaway train wreck that people will have to watch.

I suspect that many of the geniuses who decided on the squatter's "strategy" were also huddled in the back room with Reagan in the early '80's, whispering "Maybe we should ignore this AIDS thing - after all, it seems to be taking out the...you know...fags, niggers, whores, and druggies." I now exist for the day when common-sense Americans vote these vessels of bigotry back into their self-righteous holes.

*One last time - my email to Colorado's Congresspuppet mariln musgrave, co-sponsor and fire-breathing bully of legislative regression (copy to my Colorado senator wayne allard, strom thurmond's surviving pimp):

"Ms. Musgrave:

I'd like to know from where you evolve such bigoted hatred against your fellow humans. I've often said that if every Gay person in America were to "come out" tomorrow, only the most extreme hatemongers such as Fred Phelps would continue their homophobia. May I ask you to close your eyes for a moment and envision that scenario...suddenly people from every walk of life - countless friends, politicians, CEO's, ministers, teachers, soldiers, atheletes, policemen, firemen, doctors, lawyers, sons, daughters, fathers, mothers - most of whom you held in highest esteem the day before - all of them out en masse before your eyes and touching your life. The only reason this has not happened already is the guilt, fear, and shame which people like you have buried them in from the day of their birth.

You are a disgrace to the very concepts of "Christianity" and "Family Values." Your party has become a supreme instrument of fear, greed, and divisive guilt. Every time a shamed, marginalized, fearful homosexual decides that suicide is a better option than living in the constant shadow of your oppression, I want you to reflect on what your "values" are contributing to our society. I want you to get down on your own knees and pray that the next life senselessly lost is not a "loved one" in your own family."

[G_j]

18. conservative support

Strange Bedfellows
by Dale Carpenter

     Social liberals partner with political conservatives on gay marriage.

http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/10017
---------------------------
A Conservative Christian Case for Civil Same-Sex Marriage

<snip>
Why? Because the question of whether to allow civil same-sex marriage is a civil liberties question, and maintaining a respect for people's civil liberties in this country is always to the church's advantage. In fact, it is absolutely essential for the survival of our religious freedom in a pluralistic society. <snip>

http://www.musingson.com/ccCase.html

[calimary]

19. Time to start another "meme"

We need to start spreading it, by calling this attempted debauchery of the Constitution exactly what it is:

The Marriage DISCRIMINATION Amendment. Let's take back the language and reframe the agenda correctly. Because this is an attempt to force discrimination, officially, into our Constitution, for heaven's sakes!!!

By the way, note the sig line: TOLL FREE number to call Marilyn Musgrave's office in Washington and give 'em hell about this.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

21. The Anti-Marriage Amendment

I agree with the original poster too - this whole thing is back-firing on him big time.

[Iris]

24. Even here in Georgia,

an attempt to get a ban on gay marriage on next year's ballot backfired. Several African-American members of the GA House of Reps. equated this with the civil rights movement and banded together to vote against the bill.


(Unfortunately, 12 members were absent and this could go up for vote again next week. It was only defeated by 5 votes, so Georgia could still see this on next Nov.'s ballot, but STILL. . .)



http://wgnx.com/Global/story.asp?S=1672736


edited to post link

[Beetwasher]

26. Yup, Just as I Predicted

I knew this would backfire on them.

Who can see those pictures of those happy people and not be moved? Only a heartless bastard...

[John_H]

27. This is why daschle and pelosi should demand a vote now!

[jor_mama]

29. Three words: ex post facto

Even if they do get something across banning gay marriages, the law cannot apply to things in the past since it is "after the fact." At least and especially in the case of states like NM that Brian cited where there is nothing specifically defining "one man and one woman."

[foreigncorrespondent]

31. Thanks for posting these Brian.

I have been wondering about all the stats since Bush* made his bigoted announcment.

Has anyone heard what Bush*s ratings are doing since his announcment?