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New Polls Show Growing Momentum for Gay Marriage in Virginia, Michigan and Arizona

New Polls Show Growing Momentum for Gay Marriage in Virginia, Michigan and Arizona

 

 
Newly released polls from Virginia, Michigan and Arizona reveal that the majority of voters in these states support marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples. 
A poll released in Michigan found that voters support gay and lesbian marriage at a rate of nearly 57 percent, which is up 12.5 percentage points from last year’s poll results. The Detroit News and other Michigan media outlets report that the majority of this movement was sparked by shifting opinions from independents and Republicans. 
 
“I don’t think I have ever witnessed a policy question move as quickly as this one,” said Richard Czuba, president of the Glengariff Group, which was responsible for conducting the poll in Michigan. These results come as partisans eagerly await a United States Supreme Court decision on two cases related to gay marriage. 
In addition to the results showing support for gay marriage rights, the poll also found that over 90 percent of Michigan voters favor some legal protections for gay and lesbian couples. Moreover, the poll revealed that at least 65 percent of voters favor changes to laws allowing for civil unions, adoption rights, inheritance, hate crime protections, and domestic benefits. 
 
A poll just released by the Washington Post found that 56 percent of registered voters in the state of Virginia believe that gay and lesbian marriage should be made legal for same-sex couples. This 10 percentage point increase in support from polling also marks a steep reversal in opinion from 2006, when voters amended the state constitution to express marriage as an act that only takes place between one woman and one man. 
 
Lastly, in conservative Arizona, a new poll conducted by the Behavior Research Center found that 55 percent of Arizona residents favor extending marriage rights to gay and lesbian partners. 
 
These polls reflect the sea of change in public support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality that continues to gain momentum throughout the county. 
 
 
Source: Human Rights Campaign

Moscow Rejects Bid to Hold Gay Rights Festival

Moscow Rejects Bid to Hold Gay Rights Festival

 

 
Moscow officials rejected an application by gay rights advocates to hold a parade this month, claiming the event would undermine a campaign to instill patriotic values on the city’s younger population.
 
This refusal emphasizes the Russian government’s support for a slew of legislation in cities across the nation which has banned “homosexual propaganda.” 
 
The decision was issued just days after a man was murdered in a brutal attack that investigators said was motivated by homophobia. “According to Russian law, we must work consistently on maintaining morality toward the teaching of patriotism in the growing younger generation, and not toward incomprehensible aspirations,” claimed Aleksei Mayorov, the director of regional safety for Moscow. 
 
“In our opinion, there is no demand for these kinds of events in our city,” Mr. Mayorov continued. 
 
Critics of a proposed nation-wide ban on “homosexual propaganda,” an umbrella term used for public demonstrations by gay advocates, claim that the local laws are encouraging hate crimes against homosexual males. 
 
The murder in southern Russia last week of a 23 year-old male, who authorities say had been beaten to death with a concrete block, was reported on national news stations and evoked an outcry from the nation’s gay community. 
 
In an editorial in the British publication The Guardian, Anton Krasovsky, the former editor of a Russian television channel who was fired for coming out as a homosexual man on the air, said that Russian legislators were creating a widespread culture of fear for gay men. “As far as the officials of Russia are concerned, I am not a human being in the same sense that every straight man is,” he wrote, referring to members of the Russian parliament. “I am viewed as scum, like a terrorist.”
 
 
Source: Human Rights Campaign

Shooting Death of Homosexual man Disrupts New York’s Birthplace of Gay Rights

Shooting Death of Homosexual man Disrupts New York’s Birthplace of Gay Rights

 

 
Greenwich Village, the birthplace of the American gay rights movement, remained in a state of shock on Sunday over the shooting of a homosexual man by gunman who police claimed uttered anti-gay slurs prior to targeting the victim. 
 
Mark Carson, age 32, was shot and killed in Greenwich Village near midnight on Friday in what Police describe as a hate crime. Others are postulating that the shooting could be a backlash against the advance of gay marriage laws across the nation.
 
The New York City neighborhood has long been a haven for artists, and its Stonewall Inn has served as a landmark for gay rights since a 1969 conflict when patrons of the gay bar stood firm against a police raid. 
 
Sympathizers built a shrine to the victim on Sunday, leaving flowers, cards, and lighting candles at the spot where he was slain, on Sixth Avenue at Eighth Street.
“This area is supposed to serve as the world’s capital for gay rights,” said Josh Steinman, age 42, who paused for a moment in front of the memorial. 
 
The killing marked the 22nd anti-gay hate crime in the city this year, compared to only 13 incidents at this time last year, said New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. 
 
“It is abundantly clear that the victim was murdered solely for the fact that he was thought to be a homosexual,” Kelly said. “There is no question about the motive; there were derogatory remarks, and the victim did nothing to instigate or antagonize the shooter. It was only because the shooter thought his victim was a homosexual.”
A suspect, identified as Elliot Morales, age 33, was arrested and charged with second degree murder as and a hate crime shortly after the shooting. Mr. Morales is currently being held without bail and two of his accomplices are cooperating with authorities. 
“I cannot fathom that something like this happened in the village,” said Carmine Tzavis, a bartender at the Stonewall Inn.
 
Residents of the Village said they were scared and feared the violence may have been motivated by the advancement in gay marriage laws throughout the country.
Last week, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signed a bill to make his state the 12th in the nation to allow gay couples to marry. 
 
 
Source: Human Rights Campaign

Gay Marriage Passes in the House of Commons

Gay Marriage Passes in the House of Commons

 

Gay Marriage Passes in the House of Commons
 
The House of Commons voted to permit gay marriage in Wales and England, despite 161 members of Parliament opposing the British government’s plans. 
 
Several Tory Members of Parliament spoke openly against the bill, which have caused a rift in the party, but leaders of the Labour and Democratic Party backed them. 
The Same Sex Couples Bill will not go before the House of Lords for final approval.  
Prime Minister David Cameron hopes the Same Sex Couples Bill to become law soon with the first gay marriages taking place by next summer. 
 
If passed the Same Sex Couples Bill will allow gay couples, who are currently allowed to hold civil ceremonies, to legally marry in Wales and England. 
 
According to the bill, religious institutions would be required to “opt in” to offering same sex weddings, with the Church in Wales and the Church of England being banned in law from doing so. 
 
The Secretary of Wales Mr. David Jones and Environment Official Owen Paterson voted against the Same Sex Marriage bill at its third hearing—these two officials were joined by 10 junior ministers of the nation. 
 
In total, 133 Tories opposed the same sex marriage bill, along with 15 Labour Members of Parliament, four members of the Liberal Democratic Party, one independent, and eight Democratic Unionists. Again, the proposal will now go to the House of Lords tomorrow, where it is expected to generate heated discussion. 
Demonstrators who oppose the proposed law held a vigil across from the Palace of Westminster as the vote took place. A woman was arrested by police after attempting to drive an automobile through the gates of the Palace as the vote was underway. 
The bill’s third reading was supported by 366 Members of Parliament, giving it the necessary majority of 205. There was a smattering of applause in the chamber after the results were announced. 
 
The result represents a marginal improvement for the Prime minister compared to the second reading, when 175 Members of Parliament opposed the plans. 
 
 
Source: Human Rights Campaign

Boy Scouts of America Take Monumental Step

Boy Scouts of America Take Monumental Step

 

 
Delegates to the yearly meeting of the Boy Scouts of America issued a landmark statement today, voting to allow openly gay young members to join their organization. 
Boy Scouts of America is comprised of a 1,400-member national council, which voted for the policy change that is set to take effect on the 1st of January next year. 
 
“No young person shall be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of their sexual orientation or their sexual preferences,” says the approved resolution. The Boy Scouts of America; however, will maintain its ban on gay adult leaders. 
 
“Today is a monumental day for Boy Scouts across the United States who want to be a part of this great national institution,” said Chad Griffin, the President of the Human Rights Campaign. “However, the new policy does not go far enough. Adults and parents of good moral characters, regardless of their sexual preferences, should be able to volunteer to mentor the next generation of great Americans.”
 
“The Boy Scouts of America can do a better job with their inclusion of homosexual members,” said Zach Wahls, the Executive Director of Scouts for Equality and an Eagle Scout. “We welcome the news with open arms that the ban on homosexual scouts is now a part of the past; however, our work is not over until we honor the Scout Law by making this great American institution open to all.”
 
In addition to the ban on homosexual scout leaders, the new policy does not answer the issue of employment discrimination. Currently, the job application for the Boy Scouts of America for positions for “professional commission” explicitly states that gays should not apply. The job application, which comes from the organization’s national office and appears to be used across the United States, reads: “The Boy Scouts of America will not accept applications from atheists, agnostics, and known homosexuals.”
 
 
Source: Human Rights Campaign

Going Backwards: Nigerian Lawmakers Vote to Outlaw Gay Marriage

Going Backwards: Nigerian Lawmakers Vote to Outlaw Gay Marriage

 
Nigerian lawmakers approved a bill today that outlaws gay marriage and significantly hampers gay rights, including placing criminal penalties on public displays of affection between homosexual couples. 
 
The Nigerian House of Representatives unanimously approved the measure which provides lengthy jail terms of up to 14 years for homosexual marriage. 
 
A subsequent bill was also approved by the Senate, but it has not been made clear if the two laws are identical. If the two bills are virtually the same, the bill will now go to the President for his final approval. 
 
Under the new bill, “individuals that entered into a same-sex marriage or civil union will be found guilty of an offense and will be jointly held liable on conviction to a term of 14 years in prison.”
 
Beyond concerns about gay rights in Nigeria, some prominent legislators have wondered whether funding delivered through non-government organizations in the nation for AIDS and HIV treatment would be jeopardized by the passing of the bill. 
Leaders and lawyers for various human rights groups claim that the passing of this bill is simply a publicity stunt or a sign of legislative showmanship due to the fact that homosexual couples have never approached any government office or registrar asking to be married in the nation of Nigeria. 
 
Many of those connected to the bill argue that Nigerian politicians are likely seeking to defy the mounting Western pressure over homosexual rights. 
 
British Prime Minister David Cameron issued a warning that his nation will consider withholding aid from countries that do not fundamentally recognize gay rights. The United States has also expressed significant concern over the Nigerian legislation. 
Last year, President Barack Obama ordered all public agencies that play a role in foreign policy to encourage foreign nations to place a premium on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender rights. 
 
The nation of Nigeria is a highly religious society, with its 160 million people divided in half between Muslims and Christians. 
 
 
Source: Human Rights Campaign

Gay Marriage Bill Temporarily Falters in Illinois

Gay Marriage Bill Temporarily Falters in Illinois

For supporters of gay marriage in the state of Illinois, this moment was supposed to a landmark time in a collective “I do” from state legislators.

Thousands participated on social media and live streams throughout the day on Friday of last week, sending messages and tweets of hope as they anxiously waited for the House to undergo a vote on the legalization of same-sex marriage. Homosexual couples who had traveled to the Capitol were invited to view the vote from the speaker’s gallery, and during breaks, families snapped pictures with sponsoring lawmaker Greg Harris.

However, as the hours passed, the energy and optimism faded away due to strong opposition from the Catholic Church and conservative African-American church groups, leading Harris to announce that he would not address the bill as a result of a lack of support.

“It felt like someone punched me to the floor,” said Robyne O’Mara who has been involved in a same-sex relationship for the past 30 years and took off work to witness the vote.

The state had appeared ready to become the 13th state to approve same-sex marriage. Governor Pat Quinn guaranteed residents to sign the bill, and Democrats held veto-proof majorities in the Senate and House. Moreover, President Obama called for its passage during a fundraiser in his home city, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also expressed support.

As anticipation mounted on Friday, so too did lobbying efforts from Harris and his fellow democrats. Harris spent several hours going desk to desk to gauge interest among his colleagues, occasionally going as far as holding meetings and huddling on the floor with various senators and House Speaker Michael Madigan.

In the end; however, Harris declined to blame any group of lawmakers for failing to proceed with a  vote, claiming individual members should make up their own mind and that several of his colleagues had asked to have the summer to contemplate the issue in their district, with the promise they would vote to pass the bill in November.

“This was the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life,” said Harris of the decision to postpone the vote.

According to the bill, the definition of marriage in the state would change from an act between a man and a woman to one between two people. Moreover, the bill would convert civil unions into marriages within a year of the law being affirmed. Also, the legislation would not require religious groups to perform a gay marriage, and church officials would not be required to open their facilities to homosexual couples looking to marry.

This push for gay marriages comes just two years after the state legalized civil unions for homosexual couples and reflects shifting attitudes in favor of gay marriage. 

 

Source: Human Rights Campaign

Mark another One Down: Republican Senator Mark Kirk Announces Support for Gay Marriage

Mark another One Down: Republican Senator Mark Kirk Announces Support for Gay Marriage

 

Mark another One Down: Republican Senator Mark Kirk Announces Support for Gay Marriage
 
Republican Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois announced today that he supports gay marriage. The announcement makes Kirk the second sitting Republican senator to affirm support for same-sex marriage. 
 
Senator Kirk, who previously opposed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, said in a post on his website “gay couples should be given the right to civil marriage.”
 
“Our time on this planet is limited, I know this better than most,” said Kirk, who survived a stroke in January of 2012. “Life ultimately comes down to who you love and who loves you back, and the United States government has no place in the middle.”
 
Kirk was required to go through months of rehabilitation before returning to the nation’s capital earlier this year. Kirk, through his posting, said that when he went back to the Senate he promised he would return “with an open mind and a greater respect for people.”
 
Kirk is the ranking Republican lawmaker in the state of Illinois, and his announcement comes less than one month after Senator Rob Portman of Ohio became the first conservative Senator to support gay marriage and one week after the United States Supreme Court held two days of arguments on the subject. 
 
The announcement also comes as the Illinois Legislature is giving consideration to a measure that would make Illinois the 10th state in the U.S. to allow same-sex marriage. 
 
The state senate voted in February to lift a ban on Illinois same-sex marriage; this legislation was then approved by a House committee, but has yet to be brought to the floor for a formal vote. House Speaker Michael Madigan believes that supporters are a dozen or so votes short the required mark to pass the bill. That said, Governor Pat Quinn announces that she would sign the measure if approved on the floor. 
Kirk’s announcement could offer political cover to the Republican party in the Illinois House who are for the first time considering a yes vote but remain fearful of a backlash from the conservative base. 
 
Senator Kirk served five terms in Congress representing Chicago’s northern suburbs before he secured the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama. 
 
Source: whitehouse.gov

Enjoy your Stay: Thousands Await Putin’s visit to Amsterdam to Protest the President’s Position on Gay Rights

Enjoy your Stay: Thousands Await Putin’s visit to Amsterdam to Protest the President’s Position on Gay Rights

 

 
Over 3,000 people gathered in Amsterdam to protest Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit on Monday. The throng of gay rights activists and supporters flew rainbow flags at half-mast around the city that prides itself on expression and enjoying every kind of freedom. 
 
The cheerfully dressed crowd constantly chanted “Go home Putting!” during a festive protest outside the museum where Putin enjoyed dinner with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. 
 
Amsterdam in 2001 became the first nation to legalize gay marriage. 
Protesters were primarily targeting a bill before the Russian parliament that outlaws homosexual “propaganda” among minors, but also a broad rights clampdown in the nation of Russia, where Putin is serving his third term as president. 
 
Western governments and activists have expressed considerable anger over the measure, which imposes fines of up to 500,000 rubles (roughly $15,850) for any “public acts” that promote homosexuality or pedophilia. 
 
“The law does not impose violations on the rights of sexual minorities in our nation,” said a defiant Putin. “These people enjoy full liberties and rights like everyone else in Russia.”
 
Putin went onto say that gay couples could not produce children and that “Russia and Europe have demographic problems.”
 
“We need to reach a majority with this community; we need to work collectively and not insult each other.”
 
Dozens of police units were deployed in the highly secured area, including anti-riot forces. Dutch police reported that they had briefly detained one individual, a gay activist who wrote expletives against the Russian President on the window of his Amsterdam studio. 
 
Putin’s visit centered on trade negotiations with the Netherlands; many business leaders traveled with Putin discuss trade deals. 
 
Russia and The Netherlands have a detailed trade relationship as many Russian companies are registered in The Netherlands because of its favorable tax regime. 
 
Source: CNN

Federal Folly: Federal Reserve Gaffs and Releases Minutes Early

Federal Folly: Federal Reserve Gaffs and Releases Minutes Early

 

 
The Federal Reserve typically releases minutes from its 2pm meetings; however, it was forced to put the minutes out five hours early on Wednesday after learning that some people inadvertently received the minutes on Tuesday. 
 
The Federal Reserve accidently emailed the minutes from its March meeting to approximately 100 people a day early. While no major announcements were expected to come from the minutes, they are nevertheless viewed as a primary document that can move markets and influence politics. Wall Street analysts and players often delve deep into the minutes for clues about when the central bank may cut back on its bond-buying policy or hike-up interest rates.  
 
For this reason, the minutes are typically protected by the central bank and their release is supposed to be executed in a precise manner. A spokesman for the Fed told various news outlets that the mistake was entirely accidental and it can be chalked up to a human error. The 100 or so individuals on the list included mostly Congressional employees and employees of trade organizations. These individuals received the minutes shortly after 2 p.m. on Tuesday. 
 
After noticing the error this morning, the United States Federal Reserve decided to release the minutes to the public at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. It is currently not clear whether any trading took place based on the premature release, but the Reserve Board’s Inspector General will conduct an investigation regarding the error. 
The minutes contained very little information regarding expected Fed policy. The primary takeaway from the release is that most Fed members think the central bank should keep buying $85 billion in assets a month, at least until the midway point of this year. 
 
The Fed’s current policy includes purchasing $45 billion in treasuries and $40 billion in mortgage-backed securities each month; the primary intent is to lower long-term interesting rates. That said, the program, which is regarded as quantitative easing, is viewing by some as the primary reason why the S&P 500 and the Dow are at record highs. 
 
The central bank continues to keep short-term interest rates close to zero to further boost the economy. The Fed announced it plans to keep the interest rate near zero until the unemployment rate dips below 6.5 percent or inflation exceeds 2.5 percent a year. The bulk of Fed officials do not expect this to happen until at least 2015. 
 
Source: AP
 
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