By Dana Rudolph on November 3, 2011
New polls on marriage equality in seven states show mostly positive results for marriage equality advocates–but polls in two of the states indicate that the way the questions are asked can significantly affect the results.
Posted in Marriage/Relationships, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on September 14, 2011
The North Carolina legislature approved a ballot question this week that seeks to amend the state constitution to ban marriage of same-sex couples.
Posted in Ballot Measures, Marriage/Relationships, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on August 18, 2011
Opponents of equal rights for LGBT people have been using “bathroom scare” tactics for some years now to try and stop bills that would prohibit discrimination against transgender people, but fears about who can use public restrooms have a long history in the struggle for civil rights.
Posted in Issues, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on August 11, 2011
A right-wing group in Massachusetts has launched a new ad campaign using an old scare tactic–the fear of sexual predators in public bathrooms. The aim is not to shore up security in public restrooms. It’s to destroy a bill to prohibit discrimination against people based on their gender identity.
Posted in Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on July 26, 2011
Just as the Stonewall Riots in New York City in 1969 gave a lift to the nascent movement for equal rights for gays across the country, marriage equality in the Empire State appears to be giving a boost to marriage equality efforts outside its borders.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics, Uncategorized
By Dana Rudolph on July 3, 2011
Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee (I) signed a civil union bill into law on Saturday, July 2–but LGBT civil rights advocates are not happy with his decision to do so. And Chafee himself said the bill “fails to fully achieve” the goal of providing same-sex couples with equal rights.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on July 1, 2011
For the first time in history, LGBT activists are initiating a ballot measure to win marriage equality. EqualityMaine and Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) announced that they are taking steps to place a citizen’s initiative on the November 2012 ballot.
Posted in Ballot Measures, Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on June 30, 2011
The Rhode Island Senate passed a civil union bill 21 to 16 on Wednesday, June 29, which the governor has said he will sign but which LGBT civil rights advocates are not happy with and are urging he veto.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on June 24, 2011
New York State on Friday night, June 24, became the sixth and most populous state to legalize marriage for same-sex couples, after a tense several days past the scheduled end of the legislative session, in which it was unclear if Republican leaders in the state Senate would even allow a marriage bill to come up for a vote.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on June 15, 2011
With only a few days remaining in the legislative session, marriage equality took a step closer to reality in New York State this week.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on May 5, 2011
The openly gay sponsor of a marriage equality bill in Rhode Island has said he would push for civil unions instead. Six states are considering legislation that would ask voters to ban recognition of marriage for same-sex couples. And all this was on the heels of a loss for a marriage equality bill in Maryland. Has the state legislative fight for marriage equality lost momentum?
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on April 27, 2011
Each year, over 100,000 children in the U.S. foster care system are waiting for adoptive homes. And over two million gay and lesbian people are interested in adopting a child. But legislative and court battles are being waged in several states over whether gay and lesbian people should be allowed to adopt.
Posted in Adoption, Issues, National Politics, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on March 15, 2011
Supporters of allowing same-sex couples to marry in Maryland could see the altar: passing the House and sending the bill to a governor who said he would sign it. But on March 11, the House unanimously voted to send it back to committee.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on March 8, 2011
Proponents of marriage equality are holding their own this week in two battleground states, despite tough skirmishes that threatened ground they had previously gained. But in both states–Maryland and New Hampshire–more critical battles seem almost inevitable, perhaps on the ballot in 2012.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on March 1, 2011
Marriage equality in Maryland looks set to take one of two paths–and neither is likely to enable same-sex couples to marry in the Free State for many months to come.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on February 23, 2011
Marriage equality and legal recognition for same-sex relationships took a few big steps forward this past week—in Maryland, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Rhode Island. But they took a few steps backward, too—in Indiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on February 7, 2011
Marriage equality in Maryland got a boost in the past week from two prominent politicians, but a winter storm delayed a marriage equality hearing in Rhode Island. Elsewhere, conditions were variable.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on January 31, 2011
Two New Hampshire legislators have introduced bills to repeal the state’s marriage equality law, even though Republican leaders said such a repeal is not a party priority in 2011. And several other states saw legislative moves toward or away from equality in the past week.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 2, 2010
All three Iowa Supreme Court justices up for retention this month have been given the boot. The vote sends a chilling message to other justices who face retention votes and must rule on the constitutionality of laws that adversely affect LGBT people.
Posted in Campaigns, Election 2010, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Courts, State Politics, State Supreme Courts
By Dana Rudolph on May 20, 2010
There’s a tug-of-war underway in the movement to pass more laws to address the growing problem of bullying, and it centers on whether such laws should “enumerate” bullying that targets LGBT youth.
Posted in Politics, State Politics
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GOP gays and Florida back Romney
New HUD rule called ‘truly historic’
Religious bias cases at high court