Category: MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Exploitation of binational same-sex couples continues as Immigration Equality continues to fund raise on the back of its failure

April 26, 2013

The group raised $1,765,000 in 2011 of which $1,131,220 was used for salaries and compensation, and increased employees to 20 for what? By Melanie Nathan, April 26, 2013. Immigration Equality has failed binational same-sex couples and is now scrambling to stay relevant, with the audacity to create a exploitative lobby event, all leading of course … More Exploitation of binational same-sex couples continues as Immigration Equality continues to fund raise on the back of its failure

Illinois LGBT community urgent call to counter the radical rights efforts to kill marriage equality

April 25, 2013

SB 10 Marriage equality in Illinois By Melanie Nathan, April, 25, 2013. On February 14, the Illinois State Senate voted to pass the legalization of marriage equality (IL SB10) bill, entitled the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, by a 34-21-2-2 score in favor of marriage equality. The vote is one step closer to making … More Illinois LGBT community urgent call to counter the radical rights efforts to kill marriage equality

Judge rules lesbian binational couple can challenge DOMA

April 21, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, April 21, 2013. In a case filed by  Los Angeles-based Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, a Judge has ruled that a lesbian couple facing immigration discrimination has the legal standing to challenge the federal Defense of Marriage Act, otherwise known as DOMA, because it violates the constitutional rights of immigrants … More Judge rules lesbian binational couple can challenge DOMA

Immigration Equality begs on backs of binationals | Failed strategy has its remedy in death of DOMA

April 20, 2013

Begging for money to fund a failed strategy for immigration inclusiveness is a waste of time, money and resources | It is too late because even if UAFA is included in CIR, it will be the demise of DOMA that get binational spouses their green cards. Immigration Equality has always described itself as the preeminent … More Immigration Equality begs on backs of binationals | Failed strategy has its remedy in death of DOMA

Breaking ground in South Africa with a traditional Zulu gay wedding

April 7, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, April 07, 2013. South Africa is a leader in the world of equality, enjoying an all inclusive constitution, where same-sex marriage is legal and discrimination against LGBTI people outlawed. However that has not stopped homophobia and fear to embrace LGBTI South Africans as fully equal. This video  and the report of the … More Breaking ground in South Africa with a traditional Zulu gay wedding

Gay Man in San Diego immigration detention ailing and desperate to reunite with Fiancé

April 5, 2013

ASKING FOR HELP TO BRING MAX HOME TO DONALD The worst outcome of the unconstitutional DOMA is when it separates spouses and partners | If Max and Donald were a straight couple, this would not be happening By Melanie Nathan and Ken Williams, April 05, 2013. A 26-year-old gay man is being held in immigration … More Gay Man in San Diego immigration detention ailing and desperate to reunite with Fiancé

A story from the steps of SCOTUS | Hoping the Justices consider the children hurt by Prop 8

April 4, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, April 04, 2013. There was no keeping me away from Washington D.C., on Tuesday 26th, the day that The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) would be hearing the Prop 8. arguments.  I was there ‘wearing many hats; activist, blogger, co-producer of Gay U.S.A. the Movie, and the most important of … More A story from the steps of SCOTUS | Hoping the Justices consider the children hurt by Prop 8

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr. as a leader in equality for all

April 4, 2013

Believing that Dr. Martin Luther King would have stood for marriage equality. By Melanie Nathan, April 04, 2013. When Dr. Marin Luther King, Jnr. was assassinated on April 04, 1968,  I was a small child in South Africa, living apartheid.  I came to the United States in 1985, before apartheid ended, expecting a country that … More Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr. as a leader in equality for all

After the Apology demands that HRC be all inclusive on all issues

April 2, 2013

Will HRC put its money where its mouth is? By Melanie Nathan, April 1, 2013 Thousands of LGBT community members and allies showed up at the steps of SCOTUS this past week to support marriage equality, and many were there because of the extraordinary organizing efforts of a coalition of LGBT organizations under the title, … More After the Apology demands that HRC be all inclusive on all issues

Activists ‘seeing red’ over HRC antics at SCOTUS hearings

March 29, 2013

as the Human Rights Campaign exhibits their typical lack of inclusivity… By Cathy Kristofferson, March 29, 2013. During the SCOTUS trials the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) convinced many in the Facebook world to change their avatars to red.  Following the hearings many activists are seeing a different red now that two incidents – insulting both the … More Activists ‘seeing red’ over HRC antics at SCOTUS hearings

DOMA Day at SCOTUS

March 27, 2013

Article by Melanie Nathan – Cross postings – March 27, 2013. PHOTOS by Melanie Nathan and Cathy Kristofferson, Oblogdee© A majority of the Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the constitutionality of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and whether it created unequal classes of married couples by denying federal benefits to legally wed same-sex couples. … More DOMA Day at SCOTUS

Photo-blog of the Prop8 the day of the SCOTUS hearings

March 26, 2013

Photo impressions from the first day’s activities.. I sure hope NOM comes back tomorrow, they were fun! By Cathy Kristofferson, March 26, 2013 This blog piece should really be titled ‘O-Blog-Dee goes to Washington, too busy to blog…’!  Both Melanie and I are here in Washington D.C. trying to keep up with all that’s going … More Photo-blog of the Prop8 the day of the SCOTUS hearings

Marriage Equality USA reports from SCOTUS on Prop 8 arguments

March 26, 2013

MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA HOPEFUL FOR RULING IN FAVOR OF THE  | FREEDOM TO MARRY AFTER UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT ARGUMENTS After oral arguments at the United States Supreme Court today, Marriage Equality USA is hopeful that the Court will rule in favor of the freedom to marry later this year.  MEUSA was heartened by many … More Marriage Equality USA reports from SCOTUS on Prop 8 arguments

Headline Speakers Announced for Tuesday, March 26 Marriage Equality Gathering at Supreme Court

March 23, 2013

Civil rights,  religious,  Republican, military leaders and families to speak at historic event By Cathy Kristofferson,  March 23, 2013 Supporters of marriage equality will gather at 8:30am Tuesday morning on the steps of the Supreme Court before the first of two marriage equality hearings. The speakers will include an impressive collection of civil rights activists, … More Headline Speakers Announced for Tuesday, March 26 Marriage Equality Gathering at Supreme Court

Equality is waiting, History is watching….

March 20, 2013

How long will we have to wait to get our Constitution’s promise of  Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness? By Cathy Kristofferson, March 20, 2013. The United in Marriage: Light the Way to Justice coalition has reached 160+ events in all 50 states and Washington D.C.  before and during the Supreme Court oral arguments … More Equality is waiting, History is watching….

Changing America and Bayard Rustin as we head to D.C. to rally for marriage equality

March 18, 2013

VISIT SMITHSONIAN EXHIBIT AND ASK PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR A MEDAL OF FREEDOM FOR BAYARD RUSTIN Posted by Melanie Nathan, March 18, 2013. On Bayard’s 101st birthday (March 17), we are well into the 50th anniversary year of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.  Many consider the March the highpoint of the African-American civil … More Changing America and Bayard Rustin as we head to D.C. to rally for marriage equality

Video Hillary Clinton talks about the importance of marriage equality

March 18, 2013

‘That more perfect union promised to us all” Hillary Clinton By Melanie Nathan and Cathy Kristofferson, March 18, 2013. Former Secretary of State speaks out about marriage equality and respect for LGBT Americans, through her international experience and as a mother. “Full and Equal rights and deserve full citizenship -“ Marriage is a fundamental building … More Video Hillary Clinton talks about the importance of marriage equality

Red White and Blue is for ALL as LGBT Americans prepare Marriage Rally Signs for SCOTUS

March 17, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, March 17, 2013. nathan@privatecourts.com Further to our post yesterday, (http://oblogdeeoblogda.me/2013/03/16/rallies-across-the-united-states-for-marriage-equality/)  about the LGBT community and supporters converging on D.C. to attend the events surrounding  the SCOTUS opening arguments for marriage equality in the DOMA and Prop 8 cases, and the 150 nationwide events, to rally in support of marriage equality and full … More Red White and Blue is for ALL as LGBT Americans prepare Marriage Rally Signs for SCOTUS

Rallies Across the United States for Marriage Equality

March 16, 2013

You MUST come OUT and Rally for Marriage Equality | Let the SCOTUS Justices hear your voice | Join United for Marriage: Light the Way to Justice in rallying for equality! By: Cathy Kristofferson and Melanie Nathan On March 26th and 27th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in two cases, respectively,  which are fundamentally … More Rallies Across the United States for Marriage Equality

Breaking: Lee Boys pull out from NOM’s rally against marriage equality

March 15, 2013

NOM’s National Organization for Marriage Rally Entertainment is falling apart By Melanie Nathan, March 15, 2013. It would seem that the vast majority of the entertainment world may not be available to those who rally against marriage equality. They should stick with Ted Nugent or a few bigots that are left in the world of … More Breaking: Lee Boys pull out from NOM’s rally against marriage equality

Katie Herzig says I DO support marriage equality

March 15, 2013

While NOM surreptitiously uses her music in must watch VIDEO to attract Marriage foes to rally at SCOTUS By Melanie Nathan, March 15, 2013. Updated March 19, 2013. There are a good many fallacious tidbits surrounding the NOM rhetoric and their call to thousands of their supporters to show up in D.C. to march against marriage … More Katie Herzig says I DO support marriage equality

National Organization for Marriage insults all adopted children by calling adoption ‘second best’

March 14, 2013

By Cathy Kristofferson, March 14, 2013. The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) specializes in insults.  Usually such insults are directed at the gay community – our love, our marriages, our families.  But today they struck out against adopted children.  And not just children in gay adoptions, but all adoptions!  NOM’s chairman, John Eastman, said: “Certainly … More National Organization for Marriage insults all adopted children by calling adoption ‘second best’

Gay binational couple commit suicide within a week of each other

March 12, 2013

The suicide of this couple should be blamed squarely on the laws of the United States that specifically excludes gay spouses  By Melanie Nathan, March 11, 2013. Wilfried Knight may be remembered as yet another adult industry porn star who happened to commit suicide; but there is much more and so that is not the … More Gay binational couple commit suicide within a week of each other

Scott Lively’s desperation means multiple marriage partners for bisexuals

March 4, 2013

Mere Stupidity or myth and lies;  Lively’s lack lustre impact in the LG community denotes time to tackle the BT community – Read this article and indulge in a big LMFAO By Melanie Nathan, March 04, 2013. “Is “bi-sexual marriage” really relevant?” asks fervently anti-gay pastor Scott Lively, in a recent post which appeared on … More Scott Lively’s desperation means multiple marriage partners for bisexuals

Obama Administration’s Historic Amicus Brief to the U.S. Supreme Court Opposing Proposition 8

February 28, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, February 28, 2013. Marriage Equality USA© (MEUSA™) and GAY U.S.A. the Movie, as well as other LGBTI activists are hailing the Obama Administration’s historic amicus brief which will be filed later today with the U.S. Supreme Court, urging the Court to end Proposition 8’s exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. Prominent Republicans … More Obama Administration’s Historic Amicus Brief to the U.S. Supreme Court Opposing Proposition 8

LGBT activists should be fighting for Supreme Court Justice Scalia to recuse himself from DOMA and Prop 8 Cases

February 28, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, February 28, 2913. Based on this latest news, noting that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has vented his belief through his skeptical questions about a key portion of the Voting Rights Act, a cornerstone of the civil rights movement that brought an end to Jim Crow-era racial discrimination at the polls in … More LGBT activists should be fighting for Supreme Court Justice Scalia to recuse himself from DOMA and Prop 8 Cases

Disney, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Adobe, New York Life and 273 other Employers file amicus brief to support marriage equality

February 27, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, February 27, 2013. A team of Bingham McCutchen lawyers today filed on behalf of 278 businesses, cities, and other employers and employer organizations an amicus brief in United States v. Windsor, the United States Supreme Court case concerning the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The brief, a copy … More Disney, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Adobe, New York Life and 273 other Employers file amicus brief to support marriage equality

THANK YOU President Obama for filing Brief to Strike Down DOMA

February 22, 2013

By Melanie Nathan, February 22, 2013. Activists in the U.S.A. have hoped that the Obama administration would take the imperative step of standing behind the promise for equality.  Now we can truly thank President Obama as the administration urged the Supreme Court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act in a brief filed Friday, … More THANK YOU President Obama for filing Brief to Strike Down DOMA

Same-sex couples and LGBT activists arrested at Valentines Day sit in at San Francisco City Hall

February 14, 2013

WATCH VIDEO Below – “I could have chosen to attend my children’s Valentine events at their elementary school — but I chose instead to get arrested in an act of nonviolent civil disobedience to take a stand for LGBTQ equality” Robin McGehee, Director, GetEQUAL! By Melanie Nathan, February 14, 2013 (Photos: Melanie Nathan) San Francisco City … More Same-sex couples and LGBT activists arrested at Valentines Day sit in at San Francisco City Hall