Rod 2.0:Beta #gay #news #lgbt #gaynews

HRC: More Pro-LGBT Laws Passed in 2009 Than in '07 and '08 Combined

The Human Rights Campaign has released its annual, comprehensive state-by-state report detailing LGBT-related legislation in 2009. (PDF) The report notes that despite "disappointments in 2009, we witnessed a banner year for positive legislation affecting the LGBT community with as many positive bills passed this past year as in 2007 and 2008 combined."

According to the report (pdf): Three hundred thirty-two "good" LGBT bills were introduced last year and 50 passed, compared to 69 "bad" bills introduced and only four passed.

The highlights in 2009 include same-sex marriage recognition in Washington D.C., Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine (later overturned by voters); the expansion of federal hate crime protections to include sexual orientation and  gender identity; Washington state's expansive domestic partnership law and an anti-discrimination ordinance in Kalamazoo, MI overwhelmingly supported by voters.

News: Census, West Virginia, Chris Brown, Kanye West Fragrance

New York City Mayor Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine Quinn write to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke "asking the Census Bureau count legally married same-sex couples as 'married' in the 2010 census. As it stands, the bureau plans to count these couples as 'unmarried partners,' since federal law does not recognize same-sex marriages."

· Kanye West, Rihanna and Common to release fragrance lines launched by Parlux via Iconic Fragrances LLC., whose principal investor is rap icon Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter.

· Staten Island pastor charged with stealing money for Botox.

· Poll: 41 percent of New York voters supporters gay marriage.

· Legislation that would have banned discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment and housing dies in West Virginia House. "Supporters say state and national attention to gay marriage—including last week's Iowa Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage—overshadowed the discrimination issue in West Virginia. When the Iowa court issued its ruling, House Minority Leader Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, gave a floor speech urging a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman. That was a few days after House Republicans unsuccessfully tried to force a floor vote on a resolution against gay marriage."

· HRC President Joe Solmonese on CNN to debate anti-gay, Republican Iowa Congressman Steve King on the recent marriage victories in Iowa and Vermont.

· King: Marriage ruling could prompt run for governor.

· Chris Brown depressed and turning to alcohol? "The 19-year-old singer—who has pleaded not guilty to felony assault and making criminal threats in relation to his alleged attack on Rihanna—is believed to be struggling to cope with the fallout from his court case. A source reveals: 'Chris is a mess. He lost a lot of weight, about 15 lbs. I do know that Chris is also in a depression and is drinking a lot. He almost got his butt kicked about a week ago.' While Chris is becoming increasingly reclusive, Rihanna, 21, is determined to put the incident behind her and move on with her life. Although the pair briefly reunited after the incident, they are now said to be spending time apart to contemplate the future of their relationship."

Vermont Legislature Overrides Veto, Same Sex Marriage Now Legal

In a dramatic showdown between the executive and legislative branches, Vermont becomes the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage and the first to do so with a legislature's vote.

This morning the Democratic-controlled House and Senate overrode Republican Governor Jim Douglas' veto of a marriage bill. The vote was 23-5 to override in the state Senate. It then moved to the House, which voted 100-49, which was the exact number needed to override the veto. Under Vermont law, two-thirds of each chamber had to vote for override.

While the broad support in the Senate was predicted, the House vote came down to the wire. Tuesday morning, Democratic leaders said the vote could come down to a single vote, and they were right.

The vote comes nine years after Vermont became  the first state in the country to legalize civil unions in 2000. The marriage law will amend the civil unions law to allow marriage of same-sex partners beginning September 1. Civil unions would still be recognized but no longer granted after Sept. 1.

Vermont now joins Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa with legalized gay marriage.  Marriage equality bills are also being considered in Maine and New Hampshire.

This has been a great day for democracy.

Vermont Governor Jim Douglas Vetoes Gay Marriage Bill

Vermont's Republican Governor Jim Douglas fulfills his shameful promise to veto legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state.

In his prepared statement, the governor said even if the bill were to become law, federal benefits would still be denied to same-sex couples in Vermont. "This legislation does not address the inequalities espoused by proponents. Regardless of whether the term marriage is applied, federal benefits will still be denied to same sex couples in Vermont. And states that do not recognize same sex marriage or civil unions will also deny state rights and responsibilities to same sex couples in Vermont. This bill will not change that fact."

The full statement is here (PDF).

The Vermont House and Senate are expected to try to override the governor’s veto on Tuesday.  Both Houses are controlled by Democrats. The Senate is expected to override the veto and it's unclear what the House will do.

News: Louis Smith, Bill O'Reilly, Madonna, Vermont Marriage

· UPS will no longer advertise on anti-gay right-winger Bill O'Reilly's show on FOX News.

· Japan will recognize the marriages of nationals who legally marry same-sex partners outside the country.

· British Olympic gymnastics bronze medalist and Rod 2.0 fave Louis Smith warms up for Europeans. Smith took silver in the London Open and heads to Milan for the Individual European Championships this week.

· Bilerico.com shut down for 9 hours by hackers who targeted the popular gay blog for the past year and a half.

· Two victories for gay rights in Delaware. The legislature rejects "a proposed same-sex marriage ban and approving a bill to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation—though not gender identity."

· Spain considers a criminal case against six former Bush administration officials—including former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales—who approved torture.

· British children's charity to Madonna: "Please think twice before adopting another African child."

· More than 300 supporters of marriage equality rally outside the office of Vermont's Republican Governor Jim Douglas, who promises to veto a gay marriage bill expected to pass the legislature next week. "He met for about 10 minutes with a handful of same-sex marriage supporters, but they came away unsatisfied. 'I don't believe we made any headway," Sandi Cote-Whitacre of Georgia Center tells the Burlington Free Press. "We let him know we were terribly disappointed and we weren't going away." The bill passed the Senate earlier this week and is expected to pass the House. A two-thirds majority in both houses would be required override a veto and "it remains unclear" whether marriage proponents have the votes.

Vermont Governor Promises to Veto Same-Sex Marriage Bill

The latest on the fight for same-sex marriage in Vermont, where two nights ago the Senate overwhelmingly voted to legalize marriage equality. This afternoon the state's Republican governor promised to veto the same-sex marriage legislation if it passes the House, as expected.

WCAX-TV reports, "Governor [Jim] Douglas has said that he opposes the bill, and this afternoon he announced he plans to veto it. He said he made the announcement to stop speculation and to focus attention on economy." The Associated Press adds Douglas says "lawmakers shouldn't have spent their time on the bill this session because of the economy and the state's budget deficit."

Didn't realize legislators weren't allowed to multi-task.

The marriage equality bill is expected to pass the Democrat-controlled Vermont House. But will it be a veto-proof majority? Timothy Kincaid at Box Turtle Bulletin says it could happen if all the Democrats and Progressive Party members support the bill "they will have over two-thirds without requiring any support from Republicans or Independants." Stay tuned ...

Personal injury lawyers

Free accident claims advice

Vermont Senate Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill

In a special session, the Vermont Senate overwhelmingly votes to legalize gay marriage. The measure would replace Vermont's first-in-the-nation civil unions law with one that allows same-sex marriage.

The state Senate voted 26-4 in favor of the measure introduced by Democratic Sen. John Campbell. Later this week the bill goes to the state House, where Speaker Shap Smith, also a Democrat, predicts a majority would vote in favor of the bill.

"This was a tremendous victory for equal rights," said Campbell, majority leader of the Vermont Senate and chief sponsor of the bill. "Vermont will be the first state to enact this legislation without a court order. It was pretty clear that the facts dictated this. This is an equal rights issue."

It is not clear whether Vermont's Republican Governor Jim Douglas will sign the bill. Douglas opposes same-sex marriage and maintains the civil unions legislation is sufficient. His staff would not say whether he would veto the legislation. It is unclear if there are "enough votes in the Democrat-controlled House to override a gubernatorial veto."

Later this week, a similar bill is scheduled for a vote in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

News: Oprah and Michelle Obama, Madonna, Terrell Owens, Marriage

· Legislation filed in Pennsylvania to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in housing, employment, and public accommodations.

· For the first time in nine years, Oprah Winfrey will share the cover of O with someone else: First Lady Michelle Obama.

· Connecticut legislature hopes to amend the state’s marriage laws to become gender-neutral since same-sex marriage is legal. Civil unions would be elevated into fully valid marriages by 2010. Legislation to amend Minnesota's marriage law to make it gender neutral is filed in the state Senate.

· Darian Aaron reflects on the ridiculously talented Billy Porter.

· Gov. David Paterson appoints two lesbian judges to the New York State Appellate Division, said to be "the first openly gay or lesbian members" to serve at this level.

· Vermont Democrats will fast-track a marriage equality bill expected to "easily" sail through both houses despite Republican opposition.  Republican Gov. Jim Douglas opposes gay marriage legislation "but won’t say whether he’d veto a bill until after it comes out of the Legislature. The Senate would likely have no trouble with a veto override but the House would have a tougher time."

· Terrell Owens is released from the Dallas Cowboys. Outsports reports the Cowboys "decided a $9 million cap hit was worth getting rid of the future Hall of Famer. Sources are reporting that Owens finally just became too much of a distraction to deal with any more. Where does TO take the show from here? About 10 teams either leaked or blatantly said they have no interest." The San Francisco Chronicle adds, "One NFL team after the next say they have no interest in Owens. ... Multiple team sources said the Raiders have in no shape or form discussed the idea of signing Owens." Ouch.

· Did Madonna undergo the "ribbon lift"? The 30-minute procedure uses a "dissolvable ribbon implant to lift neck tissues'. The effect lasts up to three years and look considerably more natural than a regular face lift."

· RNC Chair Michael Steele stepping down? "Steele was guest hosting blowhard gambling man Bill Bennett's conservative talk radio," reports Pam Spaulding. "And gave this response to the whispers that he should step aside. 'Aww, trust me. Not me Baby! Nuh-uh. Not happening. No way, no how!' "

· Meanwhile ... Steele has taken his blog down. After criticizing Rush Limbaugh and being "ripped apart" by conservative critics on his blog, Think Progress reports "in the past few days, Steele’s blog has been disabled and now just redirects to the RNC homepage. 'One has to wonder if the RNC has taken the site down in response to the attacks being launched.' "

Obama Wins Vermont

As expected, Barack Obama wins Vermont and will claim the lion's share of its 17 delegates

Vermont is perhaps the "whitest" state in the union: It's 95 percent white and Obama overwhelmingly won all demographics here—even women. Vermont is also among the more educated and liberal states in the union, having sent a socialist to Congress, and, unlike most of the country focused on the economy, "in Vermont, by contrast, the war rivaled the economy as the main concern of voters—the first time the war has scored so high since the New Hampshire primary way back on Jan. 8."

Of the four states voting tonight, Vermont is the smallest, but, as Marc Ambinder explains, it may be the "most important state of the night."

Vermont will allocate 10 delegates based on the vote at the congressional district level and award three proportionally according to the statewide vote.

In all likelihood, Obama's delegate margin from Vermont will allow him to end this election night having earned a net of between six and ten delegates.

After the euphoria of potential Clinton popular vote victories in Ohio and Texas fades after 48 hours, the only number that will endure ... will be Obama's delegate margin in Vermont.