Vermont Freedom to Marry

Town of Deerfield, NH, refuses to vote on the rights of NH residents

After 30 minutes of discussion, Deerfield, N.H., residents nixed voting on a proposed state constitutional definition of marriage.  The nonbinding referendum was submitted by the pastor of a local church and may appear on the slate in other towns on March 9, New Hampshire's Town Meeting Day.  But in Deerfield, residents voted 92-28 to strike all but two words from the amendment, effectively killing it.

"It's clearly a statewide, divisive end-around to try to impose individuals' religious and moral views on others," said Jim Deely, the Deerfield resident who made the motion that ended the issue for Deerfield.

On June 3, 2009, the New Hampshire legislature passed a marriage equality law, which was signed by Governor John Lynch.  Same-sex couples began marrying in New Hampshire on January 1, 2010.

For more information and to get involved, visit the New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition.

Join Vermont Freedom to Marry & Outright Vermont in St. Johnsbury

Prop 8 witnesses debate scholarship on families

By Dana Rudolph on January 30, 2010

Star witnesses for both sides in the recent Proposition 8 trial agreed on one thing: Children of same-sex parents benefit from having two parents who are happily married to each other.  [Pictured right:  Michael Lamb, head of the Department of Social and Developmental Psychology at the University of Cambridge]

The conclusion was most stunning from David Blankenhorn, an expert witness for the defenders of Proposition 8.

“I believe that adopting same-sex marriage would be likely to improve the well-being of gay and lesbian households and their children,” he said, during his testimony as the last person to take the stand during the trial.

Nepal to have marriage equality beginning in May

Imagine getting married on Mount Everest!  That's part of Nepal's plan to appeal to same-sex couples.  The freedom to marry begins in Nepal when a new constitution takes effect in May, 2010.  Possibilities include ceremonies at the Everest base camp and remote Tibetan enclaves.

Nepal will be the first Asian country with marriage equality.

Photo by Luca Galuzzi - www.galuzzi.it

The state of the new landscape in the Senate doesn’t kill chances

 By Patti Tihey on January 28, 2010

Scott Brown’s special election victory this month, taking the late Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat, could have the power to derail passage of pro-gay civil rights legislation this year. The GOP Massachusetts state lawmaker’s come-from-behind win January 19 eliminates the Democrats’ supermajority of 60 votes in the Senate—a margin necessary to stop a filibuster-prone Republican minority from stalling any liberal-leaning legislation for the remainder of the Congressional session.

But key gay civil rights supporters in Congress are not conceding any fight.

Prop 8 trial closes; Boies expresses confidence

By Lisa Keen on January 27, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO — There is nothing like turning an opponent’s own words against him to both rile his emotions and destroy his position, and that was the work of attorney David Boies Wednesday morning.  [Right:  David Boies (Photo credit: Bill Wilson)]

Boies is one of the lead attorneys on a team challenging the constitutionality of California’s same-sex marriage ban in a U.S. district court here. And Wednesday was the 12th and final day of the court proceeding in that case, Perry v. Schwarzenegger.

Boies’ mission was to tear down the claims by the pro-Proposition 8 supporters and, on this last day of the trial, Boies was finishing up his cross-examination of the second and final witness that attorneys defending the same-sex marriage ban brought to the court.

On the stand was David Blankenhorn, a man who clearly has a passion for reading, talking, and writing about marriage. He founded the Institute of American Values, a private think tank, to do just that —with a particular focus on how same-sex marriage has an impact on heterosexual marriages.

Final Yes on 8 expert concedes ‘no scientific evidence’ of harm

By Lisa Keen on January 27, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO — In the waning hours of the historic trial challenging the constitutionality of a state ban on same-sex marriage, the federal courtroom in San Francisco felt a little like a boxing arena.

[Right:  David Blankenhorn leaving the courtroom today after his testimony (Photo credit: Bill Wilson)]

After Yes on 8 attorney Charles Cooper massaged some testimony from his second, final, and reputedly best expert witness—David Blankenhorn—he sent him into the ring Tuesday with a man who has been dubbed as one of the best trial lawyers in the country, David Boies.

Mid-day report: Day 11 Prop 8 trial

By Lisa Keen on January 26, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO — Except for one very brief outburst in the courtroom by a man who has been ranting on the streets of downtown San Francisco, the predominance of drama in the Proposition 8 trial Tuesday morning has been coming from the intense cross-examination delivered by David Boies.  [Pictured right:  David Boies (Photo credit: Bill Wilson)]

The nationally recognized trial lawyer leading the challenge to the constitutionality of the California same-sex marriage ban in U.S. district court here could be said to have pulled out the wisdom teeth of the defense team’s first expert witness tooth by tooth.

Hawaii Senate approves civil unions, House votes soon

By Dana Rudolph on January 25, 2010

The mood among supporters of a bill to allow civil unions in Hawaii is “Imua!”—the Hawaiian word for “Forward!” said State Senate Majority Leader Gary Hooser. The bill passed the state senate Friday, January 22, by a vote of 18 to 7.  [Pictured left:  Gary Hooser]

“I’m very pleased that 18 members feel that equality is important and have voted to pass this bill,” said Hooser, a Democrat and sponsor of the legislation. “It sends a strong message to our community and people everywhere that this is an important issue.”

Yes on 8 expert contends gays wield coalition power

By Lisa Keen on January 26, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO – Defenders of Proposition 8, the 2008 initiative that amended California’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage, began their effort Monday to defend the measure in a U.S. federal district court.  [Pictured right:  Kenneth Miller (Photo credit: Bill Wilson)]

The court, presided over by Chief Judge Vaughn Walker, has already heard nine days of testimony put on by the legal team challenging the constitutionality of the law—including 17 witnesses. This week, with only a few reporters still watching and the courtroom audience thinning out, the defense prepared to bring just two expert witnesses to the stand.