Ring around the capitol, Santa Fe

Ring around the Roundhouse;
A pocket full of rice;
Marriage Equality for everyone;
Now wouldn't that be nice??



Video by my friend Michal Anne who was there on behalf of us all.

--the BB

THE LOWEST DIVORCE RATE IN THE COUNTRY!

Lowest divorce rate in the nation? Massachusetts. In fact, it got lower (back to the pre-WWII level) SINCE gay marriage was legalized there.

h/t to Susan Russell

--the BB

Sinead's hand

Well then, that puts it right out there, doesn't it?

h/t to Chris Bodenner at The Atlantic

--the BB

Maine does it right.

h/t to Susan Russell

Behind Iowa?

Equality and the Australian Government (very cute):



My friend Rob, who lives in Australia with his partner, posted this on FB. Let's remember our siblings in Australia on 1 August!

--the BB

The License

Sent to me by my friend JoAnne

Love. Trust. Equality.

Traditions worth keeping.

--the BB

Knowledge is power

Here is a 9-minute video that can help arm you for addressing codswallop and confounding twaddlemongers.



h/t to Susan Russell

--the BB

Hey, why not vote?

"And now you have bastards. Buh-bye!"

h/t to Elizabeth

--the BB

A response to the "Gathering Storm"

h/t to David at Of Course I Could Be On Vacation

--the BB

Truth: the response to disinformation

Arm yourself with knowledge. You will be hearing a lot more of this in the days ahead.

h/t toIT at Friends of Jake

--the BB

The California Supreme Court hears the case tomorrow

Video courtesy of Susan Russell

Susan also informs us that 'Both the Assembly and the Senate considered identical resolutions, which stated that the Legislature "opposes Proposition 8 because it is an improper revision, not an amendment, of the California Constitution."'

Pray for all the minorities of California and for the upholding of fundamental constitutional principles.
--the BB

Don't divorce us

I found this on Susan Russell's blog.

From the Courage Campaign:

"Fidelity": Watch the video and sign our letter to the state Supreme Court

Tell the Supreme Court to invalidate Prop 8, reject Ken Starr's case, and let loving, committed couples marry. DEADLINE: Valentine's Day


"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.


Here is the letter you may sign by going here.

We, the undersigned, share President Barack Obama's view that "for too long, issues of LGBT rights have been exploited by those seeking to divide us. It's time to move beyond polarization and live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect."

Yet, on December 19, 2008, Ken Starr and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund filed legal briefs defending the constitutionality of Prop 8 and seeking to nullify the 18,000 same-sex marriages conducted between May and November of 2008.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in this case on March 5, 2009, with a decision expected within the next 90 days. We, the undersigned, ask that the Court invalidate Prop 8 and recognize the marriage rights of these 18,000 couples -- and all loving, committed couples in California -- under our state's constitution.

As Americans who believe in the rule of law and fundamental civil rights, we know that Ken Starr and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund's shameful attempt to nullify these unions will not be vindicated in the eyes of history. We know that, ultimately, love will prevail, no matter how hard they try to fight it.

Sincerely,

I signed. Care to join me?
--the BB

Oh, give yourself a giggle. "Prop 8 - the Musical"

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

h/t John Aravosis at Americablog
--the BB

Visibility and raising consciousness

Random Excess has a post up today at Daily Kos discussing the White Knot (Marriage Equality Symbol). There is a link to the White Knot web site, from which I borrowed two graphics for the one above. As they say at whiteknot.org:

The White Knot is the symbol for marriage equality. It takes two traditional symbols of marriage—white and tying the knot—and combines them in a simple way to show support for the right of gays and lesbians to marry. All loving couples deserve the same legal rights, benefits, and respect that civil marriage bestows.

Visibility is the goal. Whether you are gay or straight, please show your support by wearing the knot and telling people why you are wearing it. It may seem like a small thing, but imagine the white knot gaining the pervasiveness and instant recognition of the AIDS Ribbon.

Wear your white knot to work, to school, to your place of worship. Celebrities will be wearing white knots down red carpets this awards season. Together, we will keep the topic at the top of people's minds and keep the conversation going.

I doubt they will mind if I borrow prodigiously here.

How to make a White Knot

1. Start with a 6 inch piece of white ribbon. Widths between 3/4 inch and 1 inch work best.
2. Tie a double knot in the center of the ribbon. Pulling the first knot tight will line up the ends of the ribbon nicely.
3. Cut triangles into the ends of the ribbon. This will help prevent fraying.
4. Pin it on and you're good to go.

This is everyone's symbol. We do not own it.

You may wear it early but they are hoping for a big roll out date of January 20, 2009.

I pass this on in case you want to use this symbol to take a public stand and help raise awareness. (Gotta go ribbon shopping this weekend.)
--the BB

Dan Savage sums it up

When Are Your "Privately Held Religious Beliefs" Not So Private Anymore? When you donate $1500 to a political campaign to strip other people—people who are not your co-religionists—of their civil rights.

...

A donation to a political campaign is a public matter; and civil marriage rights for same-sex couples did not infringe upon the religious freedom of Mormons, devout or otherwise.

...

In the wake of Prop 8 millions of gays and lesbians all over the country have decided that we're no longer going to play by the old rules. We're not going to let people kick our teeth down our throats and then run and hide behind "Nothing personal—just my private religious beliefs!" That game's over.

Read it all here.
--the BB

Need a good dose of Vitamin Joy?

Head on over to Ralph's place.

You'll be glad you did [he said with a happy sigh].
--the BB

Stand!

[Lifted wholesale from the Cunning Runt at Little Bang Theory]

Just a reminder that tomorrow is your chance to ACT ON YOUR CONVICTIONS, to get off your comfy chair and put your body where your mouth is. We’re standing up for our brothers and sisters in the LGBTA community, because they’re human beings just like we are, because they’re citizens of this great country just like we are, and because Common Decency demands that we recognize their equality, their worth as human beings and their immeasurable contributions to the fabric of our society, our civilization, our world.

And because Love is Love.

Find a public event near you and BE THERE.

Thanks, CR.
--the BB

We ask that the Fair Political Practices Commission and the Attorneys General of California and Utah immediately begin a full and thorough ....

A complaint has been filed with the California Fair Political Practices Commission and the Attorneys General of California and Utah regarding activities of the Mormon Church with respect to Proposition 8. You can read it all at Americablog.

I believe the gist of the argument lies in acting beyond "member communication" to address the voting public at large, which would put these activities within the realm of reportable activities. Extensive non-monetary contributions are described including phone banks, the work or political operatives, Saturday rallies, satellite broadcasts, and a multimedia program.

Air and light are wonderful disinfectants.
--the BB

Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco

We don't give up the struggle.



h/t to, well, Gavin Newsom, who writes that "what we need above all is a sustained commitment to a strategy that will see this fight through to victory."

Markos reports that "SF City Attorney Dennis Herrera has filed suit (PDF) to halt the enactment of Proposition 8 eliminating the right of same-sex couples to marry. Paul Hogarth reviews the plaintiff's brief." Los Angeles County and other governmental entities have joined the challenge.
--the BB

Keith knocks it out of the park once again

h/t to Hoffmania
--the BB