gaywrites:

Drewry Fennell and Lisa Goodman, lawyers who have been together for 14 years, were the first same-sex couple to enter a civil union in Delaware when the state’s new civil unions law went into effect on January 1. 

Their ceremony was attended by 400 people, “including U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del., who delivered a sermon) and Lt. Gov. Matt Denns (who read a scripture).”

AP reported that Goodman helped lead Equality Delaware’s fight for state’s new law while Fennell heads the state’s Criminal Justice Council. The New Castle County Clerk of the Peace, Ken Boulden Jr., had opened his office on a Sunday, New Year’s day, so that eight couples — including the Goodman-Fennells — could get their licenses on the first day they were legally available. 

Civil unions also took effect in Hawaii on New Year’s Day. Such a happy start to the year. So excited to hear more stories like this. 

gaywrites:

The governor of Washington announced yesterday that she will support a push for marriage equality legislation in the state. 

Gov. Christine Gregoire spoke publicly on the need for marriage equality in the state of Washington, echoing the “it’s time” mantra that (perhaps unintentionally) calls on the viral It’s Time marriage equality video from Australia. There’s a video of her speech at the link above.

“I don’t think about the legal protections of a marriage license,” she said. “Instead I think about love, I think about commitment.”

Marriage, she said, is “not a contract.” Gregoire argued that same-sex couples want the right to stand in front of their friends and family and marry just like she had done with her husband. Research from the Third Way has shown that arguments about commitment are more persuasive with voters than those about rights and benefits — which voters don’t relate to as easily.

Democrats control Washington’s state House and Senate, so this is actually a possibility. Big things are happening. Are you ready? I sure as hell am.

projectqueer:

by Karen Ocamb

Antigay Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum was booed during an exchange with a group of college students in Concord, N.H., over the same-sex marriage. New Hampshire is one of six states where marriage between same sex couples is legal.

Santorum said “230 years marriage has been between one man and woman. So if you want to change the law … you have to make the positive argument about why.” Once again, he compared marriage equality to polygamy. Buzzfeed reports on 17-year-old Rhiannon Pyle who challenged the candidate.

Click the link above to watch the video.

youjolgbtq:

Sacramento took notice last year of the political clout of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. New laws that took effect Sunday include:

 1. Requiring school districts to have a uniform process for dealing with gay bullying complaints. 

 2. Mandating that school personnel intervene if they witness gay bullying.

3. Requiring state universities and colleges to create and enforce campus policies protecting LGBTs from harassment and to appoint employee contacts to address on-campus LGBT matters.

4. Correcting inequalities between domestic partnerships and heterosexual marriages, including domestic partner health benefits sharing.

5. Allowing courts to consider the relationship between a child and a nonbiological parent when considering child rights cases involving birth parents, adoptive parents and gay or lesbian guardians.

6. Providing public accommodation and protection in education, housing and employment for gender identity and expression.

7. Making it easier for transgender Californians to get a court petition to change their gender on official documents such as birth certificates.

8. Requiring employers with state contracts worth more than $100,000 to have nondiscrimination policies in place for LGBT workers and their partners.

9. Including gender identity and sexual orientation of potential judges into the state’s Judicial Applicant Data Report to ensure that state courts are diverse.

10. Providing that if a gay couple got married in California but live in a state that won’t grant them a divorce, the California court will have jurisdiction to grant them a legal divorce.

11. Mandating that school textbooks and social studies include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender accomplishments.

Everything EVERY state needs to be doing. EVERY STATE! You here that, LA? Because we’re everywhere and we need the same respect non-queers have!