So Proud To Be A Member Of This Team

What A nice surprise to see our steering committee getting a write up on the Human Rights Campaign Blog

HRC is Making a Difference in Arizona

October 15, 2008
Chris Johnson

From Tony Wagner, HRC's Western regional field director:
************************************************
While the Presidential campaigns battle it out elsewhere in the nation, HRC knows that there are important elections happening in Arizona. Whether federal or state level, we are committed to making Arizona a better place for all its people.



To that end, HRC has devoted substantial resources, both financial and personnel based. Below is a recap of what we have been up to:
• HRC held Camp Equality-Phoenix in May to train over 40 activists with the campaign skills they need to play volunteer leadership roles in the campaigns of fair minded candidates.
• Regional Field Director, Tony Wagner, came to Arizona to coordinate the field efforts of union, choice, LGBT, Latino, and conservation groups working through America Votes.
• HRC trained and deployed a campaign staffer to work with one of our endorsed congressional candidates though our Campaign College program.
• HRC donated $50,000 to Arizona Together to help defeat the marriage amendment.
• Local HRC leaders are playing significant leadership roles with Arizona Together.
• HRC set up a state PAC and raised funds to be committed to helping equality-minded, state-level candidates. Over $40,000 was raised.
• Two additional staff are being sent to Arizona to work with our endorsed congressional campaigns for the final push.
Thank you to all the local HRC leaders and volunteers who are working hard, day in and day out, to make this such a successful campaign year in Arizona!

Cool New Gig

I have not had a chance to write about this here but I am very excited that I have been asked to contribute to the new site Lez Get Real. This is a great place to get stories that are affecting the lesbian community. I will be making a lot of political posts as well as family posts. A list of my posts on Lez Get Real can already be found on the right side of this blog.

Wish me luck and please go there, read and leave some comments so I feel loved!

Woo Hoo - Connecticut Makes Three

 CONNECTICUT BECOMES THIRD STATE TO RECOGNIZE MARRIAGE EQUALITY FOR GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES

Human Rights Campaign Hails Landmark Decision as Latest Step toward Basic Fairness for All Committed Couples

WASHINGTON – Today, the Connecticut Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision and ruled that same-sex couples enjoy the same right to marry as different-sex couples under the state constitution. The court ruled that it is a violation of the state constitution to deny gay and lesbian couples the right to marry, and that it is not enough to provide rights to gay and lesbian couples through a separate system of civil unions.

“This is a very proud day for Connecticut and a very proud day for every American who believes in the promise of equal rights for all,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “The Connecticut Supreme Court recognized that gay and lesbian couples who form committed relationships and loving families deserve the same level of respect afforded to straight couples. The court did its job by making clear that the state constitution guarantees the same rights and protections for everyone. This decision strengthens Connecticut families. We congratulate and commend the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), Love Makes a Family, which worked closely with GLAD on this case, and, of course, the courageous plaintiff couples and their families who looked to the courts to vindicate their rights.”

On August 24, 2004, GLAD, working closely with Love Makes a Family, filed the Kerrigan & Mock v. Connecticut Dept. of Public Health case in Connecticut state court on behalf of seven same-sex couples (an eighth couple later joined the case). The plaintiffs argued that denying same-sex couples the right to marry violates the state constitution's guarantees of equal protection of law and due process.

On July 12, 2006, the Connecticut Superior Court ruled in favor of the state, denying same-sex couples the right to marry under the state constitution, and relying heavily on the fact that Connecticut, since 2005, has permitted same-sex couples to enter into civil unions. 
A growing number of states are providing relationship recognition to gay and lesbian couples. Connecticut joins Massachusetts and California as the third state to recognize civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples under state law. Four other states and Washington, D.C. provide same-sex couples with access to all the state level benefits and responsibilities of marriage, through either civil unions or domestic partnerships. Three other states provide gay and lesbian couples with at least some of the basic benefits and protections made available to married heterosexual couples. New York recognizes marriages by gay and lesbian couples validly entered into outside of New York. Gay and lesbian couples do not receive any federal rights and benefits.
Key results from the ruling:

• Gay and lesbian couples in Connecticut will now be able to obtain a civil marriage license and receive the same respect and protections afforded to all married couples.
• Churches and other religious institutions will not have to recognize or perform ceremonies for these civil marriages. This ruling is not about religion; it’s about the civil responsibilities and protections afforded through a government-issued civil marriage license.
• The court’s decision does not entitle gay and lesbian couples in Connecticut to receive the federal rights and benefits extended to married couples.  The so-called federal Defense of Marriage Act discriminates against gay and lesbian married couples by denying them over 1,000 federal rights and benefits, including social security benefits, the ability to file a joint federal tax return, and the right to petition for a spouse to immigrate.
• Other states may legally recognize the civil marriages of same-sex couples performed in Connecticut in the same way they recognize out-of-state marriages by different-sex couples.
• The court’s decision today does not change the law in any other state, or federal law. We will continue to fight for marriage equality across the country.

The Human Rights Campaign signed onto an amicus or “friend of the court” brief in the Kerrigan case to support and further explain the case for extending civil marriage rights to same-sex couples under the state constitution. A number of other civil rights organizations, religious groups, child welfare experts, law professors, family and legal historians and others also either signed or filed briefs of their own in favor of extending civil marriage laws to same-sex couples.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.