La.
marriage ban goes to state high court
The
amendment to the Louisiana state Constitution that will ban
marriage for same-sex couples is heading to the state
Supreme Court..
Last week state district court Judge William Morvant, a
Republican from conservative Baton Rouge, ruled that the
amendment was constitutionally flawed and should not go
into effect. Under the state Constitution an amendment is
only supposed to deal with one issue. The anti-marriage
amendment the legislators sent to voters on Sept. 18 defines
marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman, but
it also denies legal status to domestic partnerships, civil
unions and common-law relationships for both gay and
straight couples. Louisiana voters showed overwhelming
support for the amendment. They passed it 78 percent to 22
percent..
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Story
Ohio
GOP leaders reject gay marriage ban.
Ohio's Republican governor has come out against an
initiative that proposes to amend the state Constitution to
ban same-sex marriage.
The
ballot initiative, known as Issue 1, would not only define
marriage as between a man and a woman, but would prevent
public entities from offering domestic partner benefits.
Gov.
Bob Taft described the amendment as "an ambiguous
invitation to litigation … that will make it more
difficult for us to retain and attract the young, talented,
knowledgeable workers we need to advance Ohio's prosperity
in the 21st century.."
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Story
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Dear Jerry,
I had to get this e-mail out to you as fast as I could. MassEquality has just been presented with a fantastic opportunity. Three of our donors have gotten together to offer our supporters an amazing challenge.
They will match, dollar for dollar, every donation given to MassEquality.org between now and November 1st, up until we raise $104,000.
Why now? Why so much? Why a challenge and not a donation?
Here’s what the donors said to us…
Donor #1:
“Because I am terribly worried that supporters of equality have let their guard down since hearing about the appointment of the new House Speaker. I am totally clear that the fight is far from over.”
Donor #2: “Because I want to protect the civil rights of my lesbian daughter.”
Donor #3: “Because giving really matters right now, not later. We wanted to do our part to encourage others to give.”
Please consider making a special gift today in the amount of $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, or more.
To make a donation now, click here: https://host28.websitesource.com/massequality/don.php
The future of equal marriage rights may be determined on election day, November 2nd, here in Massachusetts. All our work right now is focused on supporting those legislators and candidates who will oppose the discriminatory amendment at the next Constitutional Convention in 2005.
On the heels of our victory in the primary elections, a win in the general election is strategically important because:
It will forever smash the perception inside the State House that supporting equality is a career-killer.
It will help create the unstoppable political momentum necessary to sweep us to victory at the 2005 Constitutional Convention.
Help us protect the legislators who risked so much for our sake.
MassEquality is about to launch its campaign to Get Out the Vote for the general election. Our campaign approach (mailing, phoning, e-mailing, polling, and deploying members strategically across the state) proved so successful in the primary. It can prove successful again, but without additional funds we simply WILL NOT be able to adequately implement our program.
Let’s send a powerful message to Beacon Hill and across the country that Massachusetts will not tolerate discrimination in its Constitution.
Should you wish to contribute by mail, please make your check out to “MassEquality.org” and send it to:
MassEquality.org
11 Beacon Street, Suite 1125
Boston, MA 02108
Thank you,
Marty Rouse
Campaign Director
(617) 878-2300
P.S. Please don’t wait. Massachusetts is the country’s best hope for permanently preserving the right to marry for same-sex couples. We must not repeat the disappointing electoral defeats we recently witnessed in Missouri and Louisiana.
Note: Due to the political nature of our work, your contribution, while greatly appreciated, is not tax-deductible.