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New Jersey Marriage Update

There are several new developments to the marriage equality fight in New Jersey. As you're aware, the Senate will vote tomorrow on the marriage bill (S1967/A2978) that passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in December. The clock is running out of time but there are some strategies.

Via Blue Jersey:

"After a month in limbo, both houses in the NJ legislature cracked open new possibilities yesterday for a vote on marriage equality, with Senate President Dick Codey scheduling a full Senate vote for tomorrow, and Speaker Joe Roberts promising that if the bill clears the Senate, he will post it in the full Assembly 'immediately' for Monday, without committee hearing, leaving just a day for Gov. Jon Corzine to fulfill his promise to sign equality in marriage into law."

Meanwhile: Garden State Equality has begin an innovative online advert campaign through Google Ads that link to YouTube video.

John Bohrer also offers this advice at the Huffington Post:

"Currently, there are five Democratic Senators voting no. That means at least three Republicans are needed to pass. Right now, there is only one -- which is still one more than the New York state Senate had. Bill Baroni is a Central Jersey GOPer from a Democratic leaning district. But the guy is no Republican-In-Name-Only, nor the kind who has everyone wondering, 'Why doesn't he just switch parties already?' In fact, he's one of the brightest Republican stars on the state horizon. In terms of Jersey politics, think of him as the Republican Cory Booker, who, by the way, also supports marriage equality—which tells you where this issue is headed."

Last month, five of Baroni's Republican colleagues released a letter that said they would rather "fix" New Jersey's outdated civil unions legislation than vote for marriage equality. We'll see where they stand tomorrow ...

New York Times Editorial on Uganda: "Hate Begets Hate"

On Monday, the New York Times finally weighed in on the extreme state-sponsored terror campaign against gays in lesbians in Uganda, encouraged by conservative American Christian missionaries and partially funded by your tax dollars. In an editorial entitled Hate Begets Hate, the editors slam the conservative evangelicals for creating the extreme anti-gay climate:

The government’s venom is chilling: “Homosexuals can forget about human rights,” James Nsaba Buturo, who holds the cynically titled position of minister of ethics and integrity, said recently. What makes this even worse is that three American evangelical Christians, whose teachings about “curing” gays and lesbians have been widely discredited in the United States, helped feed this hatred. Scott Lively, Caleb Lee Brundidge and Don Schmierer gave a series of talks in Uganda last March to thousands of police officers, teachers and politicians in which, according to participants and audio recordings, they claimed that gays and lesbians are a threat to Bible-based family values. Now the three Americans are saying they had no intention of provoking the anger that, just one month later, led to the introduction of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009. You can’t preach hate and not accept responsibility for the way that hate is manifested.

The editorial closes by calling on Washington to make it clear to Kampala that if the Anti Homosexuality Bill is passed—which attempts to legislate gays out of existence and will include life imprisonment and/or death penalties—we will suspend foreign aid and ensure they are "shunned globally." The Obama Administration, which only recently publicly came out against the heinous bill, has indicated it is not likely to suspend or reduce its approximately $300 million annual aid to Uganda.

Anti-Gay OK GOP Legislator Wants Exemption from Fed Hate Crimes

A conservative Republican Oklahoma state senator who has compared homosexuality to necrophilia has challenged the "morality" of the Matthew Shepard Act, the historic law signed in October by President Obama that expanded federal hate crime definitions to include gays, lesbians and transgenders. Russell—the former commander at Ft. Hood—wants to exempt the Sooner State from the law's provisions. Russell doesn't mind working with the federal government on hate crimes only those related to his state's LGBT community, reports MetroStar.

State Sen. Steve Russell stated his plans to introduce legislation in the upcoming Oklahoma legislative session that would exempt Oklahoma from adhering to the expanded Federal Hate Crimes law. This proposed measure would forbid state and local law enforcement from cooperating with Federal authorities investigating a gay hate crime in Oklahoma. As Senator Russell stated, "Basically if Oklahoma decided a case that the Feds wanted to overturn, they would be on their own. We would not share evidence or manpower." Russell did state further that his proposed bill would not interfere in cases Oklahoma deemed appropriate in accordance with existing state hate crimes laws which do not include sexual orientation.

There's this reality check from Russell's only openly gay colleague in the Legislature:

Among those in opposition to this legislation is State Representative Al McAffrey, a Democrat representing District 88 and Oklahoma’s only openly gay legislator. As he puts it, "Senator Russell is employing the same tired arguments from yesteryear. Preventing crimes against Oklahomans because of who they are is in no way an attack on freedom. That argument is nothing but empty rhetoric used to scare and mislead folks." McAffrey also added that should this legislation pass it would be superseded by Federal law anyway, elaborating that "I believe this is a political ploy because of his position and probably that of his church in opposition to gay rights."

As the former commander at Fort Hood, Sen. Russell knows that federal law always supersedes state and local law. But it makes you wonder if the former military commander believe only certain demographics are worthy of being protected by our troops.

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Karl Rove Destroys the "Sanctity" of Marriage, Divorces Second Wife

Karl Rove, the "architect" of the George W. Bush presidency and strategist behind dozens of same-sex marriage amendments in the 2004 elections and Bush's ill-fated fated attempt at a Federal Marriage Amendment, wants us to respect his "privacy" because he just divorced his second wife of 24 years. The job was just too stressful, reports The New York Times:

When Mr. Rove resigned from his senior position at the White House in 2007, he said he owed it to his family to return it to a sense of normalcy that was impossible to maintain in his high-pressure, high-profile job. A friend, who spoke about the Roves only on condition of anonymity out of respect for their privacy, said the couple maintained an amicable relationship but the rigors and challenges of Mr. Rove’s time at the White House had clearly taken their toll.

Former White House press secretary Dana Perino—who recently claimed there was never a terrorist attack under Bush—released this statement: "Karl Rove and his wife, Darby, were granted a divorce last week. The couple came to the decision mutually and amicably, and they maintain a close relationship and a strong friendship. There will be no further comment, and the family requests that its privacy be respected."

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Senate Passes Health Care Bill 60-39, LGBT Provisions Uncertain

After an often bitter and acrimonious partisan debate, the Senate passed its version of health insurance reform on a strict 60-39 party-line vote. The New York Times:

The vote, on the 25th straight day of debate on the legislation, brings Democrats a step closer to a goal they have pursued for decades. It clears the way for negotiations with the House, which passed a broadly similar bill last month by a vote of 220 to 215. If the two chambers can strike a deal, as seems likely, the resulting product would vastly expand the role and responsibilities of the federal government. It would, as lawmakers said repeatedly in the debate, touch the lives of nearly all Americans.

The bill would require most Americans to have health insurance, would add 15 million people to the Medicaid rolls and would subsidize private coverage for low- and middle-income people, at a cost to the government of $871 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The budget office estimates that the bill would provide coverage to 31 million uninsured people, but still leave 23 million uninsured in 2019. One-third of those remaining uninsured would be illegal immigrants.

The Senate's more conservative and insurance-friendly bill now heads to conference to merge with the more progressive House version. And it's not likely to be changed: Conrad (ND), Lieberman (I-Aetna) and Nelson (NE) have threatened not to support the final bill if it includes a public option and/or Medicare expansion, or, any changes advocated by the House Progressive Caucus. Losing even one vote of the 60 super-majority would leave the Democrats vulnerable to filibuster.

It's uncertain how LGBTs will fare under this bill. While the House bill included several benefits for LGBTs—most importantly by incorporating the Early Treatment for HIV Act, key for black and Latino gay men who often learn they are HIV positive in later stages—the Senate bill does not offer such provisions. As mentioned numerous times, LGBT families and same-sex couples are not included in the definition of "family" coverage (=DOMA). Low-income gay and lesbian families, who can’t afford private insurance, will be hit the hardest and forced to buy multiple policies. Black and Latino gay men, more likely to be un- or underinsured and more likely to be raising children, even more so. There is also nothing to prohibit discrimination based on sexuality orientation and/or gender identity. Oh and there's always the issue of hospitals refusing to allow gay men and lesbian to see their hospitalized partners. All the more reasons to strategize in 2010.

But the bill does meet the broad goals of insuring many of the uninsured and expands Medicaid for the working poor. That's major. As far as the bill being a "starter house" and substantive changes being addressed "in a year or two" ... extremely unlikely to happen. It is what it is. WYSIWYG.

Horror! Drag Queens and Mao on White House Christmas Tree

Proof of the radical gay agenda? Simon Doonan—the Barney's New York creative director last seen hooking up with NBA hotness Ben Gordon—decorated the White House Christmas Tree in the Blue Room. The right-wing wingnuts and teabaggers are outraged the decoupaged ornaments include a signed photo of New York City drag star Hedda Lettuce and Andy Warhol's campy presentation of Chairman Mao.

The predictable shock and horror from FOX News, who notes the ornaments are "too close to baby Jesus" AFTER THE JUMP...

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5 Republican Congressmen Condemn Anti-Gay Ugandan Law

Five Republican congressmen are condemning the proposed extreme anti-gay Ugandan bill that would mandate the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality" the Associated Press reports. The members include Joseph Cao, the New Orleans moderate Republican who was the only one in his party to support the House health care reform bill.

"The lawmakers say they are all men of faith, and that the bill is antithetical to the Christian belief of "inherent dignity and worth" of all people. The congressmen used a Tuesday letter to urge President Yoweri Museveni to stop the bill from becoming law.  The letter was signed by Reps. Frank Wolf of Virginia, Chris Smith of New Jersey, Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania, Trent Franks of Arizona and Anh "Joseph" Cao of Louisiana."

Museveni—who only recently declared European gays were recruiting in Africa—reportedly told an American diplomat that he will block or veto the proposed draconian Anti Homosexuality Bill. The bill is currently with Parliament's Committee on Legal and Parliamentary affairs. Members are scheduled to begin public hearings on it when members return from their Christmas break. We'll see what happens...

While we're on the subject of Republicans opposing this outrageous bill: One of the first and loudest voices on Capitol Hill against the extremist Ugandan legislation was Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Florida moderate Republican who is a strong ally on most LGBT rights issues. Back in October, Ros-Lehtinen and Tammy Baldwin, the openly gay Wisconsin Democrat, contacted Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with "grave concerns" over "one of the most extreme anti-equality measures ever proposed."

H/T: Steve Rothaus and AMERICABlog Gay

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Senate Vote Dec 24 on Health Care

This morning, the Senate moved its health care bill forward by voting 60-39 on the second of three procedural measures to wind down debate and move toward final passage. The result was on a strict party-line vote.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has scheduled two important votes for later this week: "The Senate will now hold the last of the procedural votes on health care—to cut off the last Republican filibuster of the bill—on Wednesday afternoon. They will hold the final vote on major health care legislation at 8 a.m. on Thursday—Christmas Eve—followed by a vote on raising the nation’s debt limit. Absent any Democratic absences for a procedural vote on Wednesday afternoon, or some other unforeseen development, the health care bill is expected to be adopted."

Sen. DeMint: Gays Are "Immoral", Same Sex Marriage "Destructive"

Right-wing South Carolina social conservative Sen. Jim DeMint, described as a "favorite of the grassroots 'tea party' brigade and Fox News", tells Bloomberg News that same-sex marriage is "destructive" to our society and gays are so "immoral" he could never imagine one as president:

"He takes a hard line on social issues, passionately anti- abortion and pro-guns. He has been most outspoken as an opponent of any form of gay marriage. 'Marriage is a religious institution. The federal government has no business redefining what it is,' DeMint says. This is one issue where he doesn’t support states’ rights; state government shouldn’t have the right to permit gay marriage: 'Governments should not be in the business of promoting a behavior that’s proven to be destructive to our society.' He cringes at the notion of a gay or lesbian president: 'It would be bothersome to me just personally because I consider it immoral.'"

Speaking of marriages and morality, DeMint has been virtually silent regarding his state's governor, Mark Sanford, who abandoned his wife and children over Father's Day and flew to Argentina for a jump-off.

In October, the anti-gay conservative slammed the hate crimes bill that just passed Senate and claimed it "undermine[[d] the principles" soldiers are fighting for.

Anti-Gay, Adulterous South Carolina GOP Gov. Sanford to Stay in Office

Mark Sanford will be allowed to stay in office. The disgraced South Carolina Republican anti-gay "family values" governor disappeared for almost a week while carrying on an extra-marital affair in Argentina. Legislators say the governor's dereliction of duties and missing in action ... doesn't quite rise to a "high crime".

South Carolina lawmakers on Wednesday quashed a move to oust Gov. Mark Sanford over his summertime tryst and his use of state aircraft, saying his embarrassing conduct was not serious enough to merit impeachment. Lawmakers were still considering whether to recommend an official reprimand. Six of the seven panel members said they believed the events surrounding Sanford's extramarital affair involving an Argentine woman did not rise to a high enough level to warrant his removal from office prior to the end of his second and final term in January 2011. "We can't impeach for hypocrisy. We can't impeach for arrogance. We can't impeach an officeholder for his lack of leadership skills," said Rep. James Harrison, the Columbia Republican who headed the panel.

The serial philandering Sanford is a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage and adoptions by gay couples. 

Sanford's impeachment would have presented the South Carolina Republican Party with a vexing public relations issue. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, who called for the resignation of the governor, has been outed as gay.