Tag Archives: gay marriage

Spotted at the Supreme Court: Lezra ’11 Participating in “Most Obscure Protest”

Tons and tons and tons of young activists (including a handful of conservatives) descended on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court this week to express their support or opposition towards same-sex marriage as justices hear arguments that may well strike down the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8. Of the many demonstrators, perhaps none are nerdier than a pack of students from the Georgetown University Law Center, who are predominantly peeved about the Court’s decision to “review the arguments in Hollingsworth v. Perry using rational basis, the most lenient form of judicial review in the U.S. court system.” Haven’t been to law school yet? DCist’s Benjamin Freed, who dubs it the “Most Obscure Supreme Court Protest,” explains:

In a rational basis review, judges test if a law or other governmental action is in the reasonable interests of that government in a way that passes muster with the Fifth or 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The standard gives a wide berth to state laws, such as Proposition 8.

Spotted among the crew, second from the left in that photo, is former Argus editor, prolific soccer blogger, and all-around friendly dude Gabe Lezra ’11, who elaborates on his crew’s moral indignation:

“Rational basis means that the court will give great deference to any state law passed so long as that it is rationally related to government interests,” said Gabe Lezra, who was propped up one of four posters decorated to look like a court brief.

“We were going to do a table of authorities, but we ran out of time,” he said.

Marriage Equality Rally

Support marriage equality? All the cool senators are doing it these days. Follow Patrick Moriarty ’14 to Hartford:

On March 26-27, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider two cases that are fundamentally about whether lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender (LGBT) Americans should have the same freedoms as everyone else. Those two cases will decide the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and Proposition 8 — this is a huge and historic moment. Lend your voice to the rising tide of those speaking out in favor of marriage equality.

½ mile Community March to rally from Metropolitan Community Church gathers at 5:30pm, 155 Wyllys Street. Wear Red & Bring Signs

For more info visit FaceBook Marriage Equality Rally (Connecticut) or @ Light To Justice.

Date: March 25, 2013
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: Federal Courthouse: 450 Main Street, Hartford
Cost: Free

Film Screening: 8: The Mormon Propostion

Film board schmilm board, amiright? Will Fesperman ’15 sends word of a quite moving documentary that is being shown for free at the Career Resquash Center this Friday night:

Come see this poignant documentary about the mormon church’s campaign against LGBT rights and their funding of Proposition 8 in California that stripped marriage rights from gay couples. There will be a discussion after the film for anyone who wants to stay and talk about it.

Game changer: “There will be rainbow goldfish.”

Date: Friday, April 6
Time: 8 pm
Place: Career Center (I assume in the big room with the TV?)
Cost: Free
Friendster: LinkedIn

New York is like, sooo gay.

In case you missed it, New York recently legalized gay marriage, making it the largest state to do so thus far. The majority vote was only secured after many delays and dramatic changes of heart by several key senators. (Including Republican Roy McDonald, who famously declared to his critics, “Fuck it, I don’t care what you think. I’m trying to do the right thing.”) The New York City Pride Parade today was appropriately “off the chain,” as I heard one attendee describe it. With Governor Andrew Cuomo and openly gay Senator Tom Duane in attendance, crowds were pushing up against the barricades in the West Village and screaming for hours as all of the floats and marchers went by.

As a Wes student, a New Yorker, and a proud queer, I would like to say Congratulations, New York! After your weddings filled with lots of glitter, cake, and legal rights, I hope that you will continue to think beyond marriage and that the trend toward equality doesn’t stop here.

More pictures after the jump.

D.C. Council Gives Final Passage to Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Woo! From the Human Rights Campaign:

The D.C. Council voted today 11 to 2 to give final approval to the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009.  The vote recognizing same-sex marriage was the second in two weeks for the Council, which approved the bill in an initial vote on December 1, 2009 by the same margin.  Since last July, D.C. law has recognized marriages by same-sex couples from other jurisdictions, including foreign countries.  The new legislation would permit same-sex couples to marry in D.C. itself while ensuring that clergy and religious organizations would not be required to provide services, accommodations, facilities or goods for the solemnization of a same-sex marriage.

The legislation now goes to the desk of Mayor Fenty, who has said he will sign it.  The law would take effect at the conclusion of the Congressional review period, which lasts for 30 legislative days following the Mayor’s signature.

As a retrospective, here is a 1950s PSA about the roaming homosexuals:

Roth on HuffPost: “Remember the Maine Elections”

Spoiler alert: Michael Roth doesn’t like systemized discrimination any more than you do. And he’s not afraid to say it.

In a powerful new piece on the Huffington Post, President Roth responds to Maine voters’ repeal of gay marriage this week:

When two people in love decide to tie the knot, the community around them is filled with joy and support, right? But then on Election Day the voters of Maine decreed that Joan and Mary shouldn’t be able to save the date, plan the meals, send the invitations, hire the band, and join with family and friends in affirming their commitment to one another. On Election Day, under the paranoid banner of defending marriage, the voters of Maine decided that Joan and Mary were not welcome to come with family and friends to the beautiful coastline. Maine voters would protect marriages between men and women in their state by excluding my friends who thought to bless their own union on Maine soil.

Say what you will about HuffPost, but I’m giving kudos to Roth for putting a personal face on the people who are, y’know, actually affected by gay marriage. When a state as historically progressive as Maine still can’t embrace equality, then these stories clearly aren’t being broadcast enough.

Read the whole thing here.