New Hampshire’s State Senate voted on a 14-10 vote to pass the new gay marriage bill but the house however, voted it down on a 188-186 vote. They voted afterwards to send it back to the Senate to negotiate a compromise by a vote of 207-168. They did vote down a move to kill the bill altogether so it needs to be put into the context that they voted down the new language of the bill, which is a fluff piece for the religious right.
The bill will be up again in two weeks.
California’s Supreme Court was going to rule tomorrow, but it will no longer be doing so. It was rumored that Newsom requested the court to delay the announced decision as tomorrow is the 30th anniversary of the White Night Riots, which occurred after Harvey Milk and Mayor Mascone’s murder, Dan White was given the lowest penalty and Castro rioted and caused lots of damage.
Newsom’s office has denied that so whatever, it’s still get delayed which means it may not be good news if they are thinking it may cause a riot. But either way, it’ll cause quite a huge response. Expect it to go to the ballot in 2010 and for them to get their shit together. They need to get the minority Congressmembers from LA and Orange counties on board to communicate with the black and Latino community asap. They all way outperform their districts on social issues. I read a great article somewhere where Frank was questioned about minority voters voting for prop 8 and he was like, in Congress, the CBC is the biggest ally for gay rights after us gay members.
Maine has determined the language for the gay marriage amendment that would put on the ballot if Mainers can collect 55087 signatures in 90 days for it to be on the 2010 ballot. It’ll be..
“Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?”
I’d assume it’s going to be on the ballot, and it could be close. Anyone from Maine give us any insight?
I would also say the NH House is going to work something out to get it passed. The House passed it already before so it should want to do it again obviously. It’s not dead and we should hope to hear news soon.
Everyone is pretty pessimistic about California but a 2010 ballot to overturn Prop 8 would certainly be in the works.
really thinks the CA Court will overturn it. If you watch the oral arguments it would be surprising if it got more then one or two votes. I like that language in Maine. I think we can win. Maine seems to be much better organized compared to California in 2008. And speaking of California again all the major groups working on repealing Prop 8 are polling their members on if they should do it in 2010 or 2012. I voted 2010. I think we can win this time, lessons have been learned.
And legislatively I think NH can get their act together. My big question is will the New York Senate be able to get the Republican votes to get it passed the Senate and thus into law. A few Young Dems launched a really cool site recently trying to get some grassroots pressure on them
http://www.newyorkequality.com/
And in our home state of Minnesota I’ve got private or public assurances that every candidate except for Bakk is in favor of marriage equality.
http://www.mnprogressiveprojec…
In 2004 Kerry and Edwards campaigned in favor of anti-marriage equality constitutional amendments in Mass and MO. In 2009 it’s becoming a mainstream position. So much going on.
its a provision that specifically takes away their biggest argument against it, both legally and in popular opinion and does absolutely nothing to water down the validity of the bill or its accomplishments. It merely affirms religious rights of institutions to refuse to perform gay marriages, which they already do for the most part. Liberals shouldn’t be so pissy against it.
going to have some trouble in Maine. Maine also has a fairly large Catholic vote, and really isn’t as socially liberal as the fairly wide Democratic margins would lead you to believe.
That being said, the types of Republicans in Maine also tend to be of the Olympia Snowe/Susan Collins mold anyways, not the ultra-conservative types like you’d find in Pennsylvania (for example), so I could see a popular referendum fail.
They just passed an everything but marriage bill and their strategy has been to work their way up to marriage. Their governor has now said that she wants to see a marriage bill on her desk soon as well.
Im too lazy to go back and find the link but I read it first at towleroad.com
that the CA Supreme Court will issue its decision on Tuesday May 26.