I've only been doing these diary rescues for a few weeks, but I'm already somewhat amazed. When I started, I thought there would probably be some weeks when there wouldn't be much to post because there wouldn't be much news on LGBT issues. Boy, was I wrong. So far, not a week has gone by in which there hasn't been some major LGBT-related news item.
I'm not sure which would be the biggest this week. Maybe it's the New York State Appeals Court decision not to recognize same-sex marriage. And maybe it is, but there are lots of other stories out there that have pretty important implications. We'll get to those in a minute, but let's look at the New York case first, since it inspired quite a few diaries.
- AlisaR, with tongue firmly planted in cheek laid the New York decision at the door of "NY Liberal Activist Judges."
- Brittain33 noted that NY ruling is a setback (I'm not so sure), but reminds us that of another case in the New Jersey Supreme Court in which the stakes are much better.
- I've been hard on Howard Dean (not in the good sense) in the past, but I have to give him credit for denouncing the NY court ruling, calling it bigoted and outdated, before the ink on the decision was even dry. Maybe Howard took some notes from the Eric Jaye column San Francisco Liberal posted, suggesting that Democrats "get our asses kicked" on the gay marriage issue by peddling "agreement messages" and just not taking a stand.
- Along the same lines progressiveyouth has some pointers for Dems on how to court younger voters on social issues, including gay marriage. Something about that sounds familiar.
- Some state efforts to ban same-sex marriage are having a hard time of it. As ChgoBrad points out, it looks like the Illinois anti-gay marriage amendment won't be on the ballot after falling short of valid signatures according to an early review.
- The folks behind Arizona's anti-gay marriage amendment seems to have more money than it has members (which oughta make you wonder where that money's coming from. Meanwhile Pennsylvania's anti-gay marriage amendment died in committee. (Now if we can just get rid of Santorum.)
- Tired of marriage yet? Too bad. Free Radical asks earlier why marriage is recognized by law in the first place, and RichardR notes that same-sex marriage bans can figure into some nasty gay "divorces."
- Back the blogosphere, Kip Esquire knocks first one leg and then another from under some pretty well-worn arguments against marriage equality.
- In the LA Times Daniel Gilbert muses that if only gay marriage caused global warming, the issue might get America's attention. (And then something might actually get done about it.)
- Speaking of looming dangers, Stephen Miller over at Independent Gay Forum has a problem with the argument that settling for civil unions and domestic partnerships will almost certainly doom gay marriage, because he says once straight people get used to those it'll be a short step to marriage equality. On the other hand he also argues that civil unions will almost inevitably be made available to heterosexual couples, which will weaken marriage by creating another alternative for opposite sex couples.
- Miller also argues that the courts are the wrong venue for the marriage fight. On the other hand, Slate highlights Nick Gillespie's point that legislative same-sex marriage might take lifetimes; time that during which same-sex couples and our families live without many important rights and protections.
- To Nick's argument, I'd just add my own point that eliminating the option of seeking justice through the courts advances the creeping majoritarianism that's becoming more evident in conservative politics.
- And while we're (still) on the subject of marriage, I know lots of people have read RenaRF's very personal and political diary, but if you haven't go read it. Now. We'll wait here.
- Now, with RenaRF's "Hand in there" still ringing in your ears while Gotham Gazette's Wonkster asks "What's next?", go get the answer from Kate.
Go. Now. Again, We'll wait.
- Bud Evans says there's room for all of us at the "marriage table." He may be right, but after reading Kate I'm inclined to think we may need to elbow our way in nonetheless.
- I don't begin to know how to categorize arodb's diary about the cost of gay marriage -- the cost to the progressive movement, that is, including the Oval Office and the war in Iraq, according to him. But read it anyway. I think he only ends up reinforcing Kate's point.
- If you want to hear about the real costs of marriage inequality, consider that this week the American Academy of Pediatrics reported denying our families marriage equality also denies our children the benefits of having parents who can legally marry. Then go check out plf515's diary.(And vote in the poll.)
- And if you're still not clear on how homophobia (and heterosexism) hurts children, check out this Mercury News article linked by Damn Straight.
- Still not sure? Well, Catholic Charities of Boston just shut its doors rather than let gay couples adopt, because Massachusetts prohibits discrimination in that regard. Better to let the kiddies languish in foster care, I guess. (Meanwhile, across the pond, even sperm donors want to discriminate.)
- In other Massachusetts-related news, 165 prominent business leaders signed an ad calling on the state legislature to reject a proposed anti-gay marriage amendment to the state constitution.
- Speaking of kids, Old 33 diaried the overturning of Arkansas' statute prohibiting gays from being foster parents, and RichardR covered Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee's request that the state legislature overturn the Supreme Court's ruling.
- And, by the way, the Democratic candidate for Arkansas governor also supports the gay foster parent ban.
- Speaking of heterosexism, check out this "Are my attitudes heterosexist?" test.
- Now that we're down to talking "isms," let's start linking them up. Good As You tells of a cross burning at the home of a gay man in Tennessee.
- In a related post Ex-Gay Watch wonders about the culpability of folks like James Dobson in acts like the Tennessee cross burning.
- Meanwhile New York Rabbi Yehuda Levin promises there will be bloodshed if World Pride takes place as planned in Jerusalem. Does that put him in the same class as Yusuf Qaradawi and other Muslim clerics like the ones in Iran?
- I don't have a witty segue-way into gender issues, but there are some items under that heading that shouldn't be missed. Like this one about how the Real ID Act adversely affects transgendered persons.
- Learn something? Good. Continue your education with the latest entry in rserven's gender workshop series.
- Speaking of education, I thought I knew more than the average person about the transition processes. I learned how much I didn't know when I watched Transgeneration. And then Koan Bremner explained some of the finer points of MTF transition.
- And to bring it back around to marriage let's go to Austria, where a passport application and an MTF transition resulted in the country's first official same-sex marriage.
- Also in Europe, Spain now has its first officially married gay couple. No signs of the apocalypse yet.
- That reminds me, before we finish, Good As You has video from the rallies in response to yesterday's ruling from the NY appeals court.
That's about all I got, folks. As usual, I'm sure there are lots of things out there that I missed. So, as usual, add yours in the comments and drop me an email if you come across anything that should go in next week's edition of QueerlyKos.
Enjoy!