Slog
News & ArtsWednesday, May 6, 2009
Homo New Hampshire
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, May 6, 2009 at 3:55 PM
A bill that will legalize same-sex marriage in New Hampshire is now on the desk of Governor John Lynch. A Democrat, Lynch has said previously that he did not support marriage equality. Maine's Democratic governor had said the same thing—but Maine's governor signed a gay marriage bill into law this morning. The New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition is asking people to call Governor Lynch and ask him to support marriage equality and sign HB436.
Remember the despair you felt after Prop 8 passed in California? Doesn't that seem like ages ago? And can we get the folks who've run the marriage equality campaigns—particularly the ones behind the ad above—to move to California and head up on the Prop 8 repeal effort?
1
Not really, Dan. There's still a long road ahead. I'll feel better when a large state legalizes marriage equality; and for good measure, I'll feel fantastic if it ever passes a ballot initiative, depriving LC of her only remaining talking point. (That's the ONLY reason I'd care about that, BTW.)
3
Yes and no. Yes, because the future is so much brighter and I've been praying for this. No, because my email is full of emergency alerts from AFA and IFA to call on my senator about the "Hate Crime" bill. The amount of hatred and lies present in those alerts makes me want to vomit.
4
@3 I know what you mean. My grandfather has been forwarding those alerts to me on a regular basis. The hatred and lies are disgusting to the point that I usually can't even finish reading them. But, you know, just let them be consumed by their hate and ignorance. We've got to stay positive and not let those vile fuckers be a distraction.
5
Part of the reason we are going to win is because of support from younger voters. Part of the reason for that is because religion is losing it's death grip on the human mind.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=…
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=…
6
My husband and I were married in New Hampshire... I'll be happy to contact the governor and tell him that I want my marriage to be equally as valid as the gay couples in his state.
8
Oh noez! I can feel my heterosexual marriage crumbling under the onslaught of happy gayness!
...oh wait. Nope, my marriage is fine. Guess that was just hunger pangs. As you were.
...oh wait. Nope, my marriage is fine. Guess that was just hunger pangs. As you were.
9
Why at this rate, we'll get marriage in WA State by the year two thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight.
As opposed to never.
As opposed to never.
10
Dan--it doesn't seem like ages ago if you still live in California.
Of course, I'm single, so it's a sort of moot point, but still...
Of course, I'm single, so it's a sort of moot point, but still...
11
If we'd just impose an income tax @9, it would probably pass sooner as the neocons fled for Austria.
12
Seeing that the Cali supreme court will very likely uphold prop 8, I guess we, Cali marriage equality supporters, should start focusing on a ballot initiative Nov, 2010.
I'm in the process of coming out to my conservative but sizable extended families, in hope of getting their votes (or at least not to vote against us). "We all drink from the wells we did not dig." Guess it's time for me to grab a shovel.
I'm in the process of coming out to my conservative but sizable extended families, in hope of getting their votes (or at least not to vote against us). "We all drink from the wells we did not dig." Guess it's time for me to grab a shovel.
13
great. while new hampshire and other new england states are passing marriage equality bills, new hampshire rejected a bill that would include transgender people in the state's anti-discrimination laws.
how's that for equality?
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?…
how's that for equality?
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?…
14
Let the homos have marriage, who cares? They're not hurting anyone.
If it wasn't for these religious dictating nut jobs, this would be a better country to live in.
If it wasn't for these religious dictating nut jobs, this would be a better country to live in.
16
@12: I think that's a great idea and I wish you luck. My super conservative Catholic father was 100% anti-gay anything (well, maybe not so bad as to oppose hate crimes legislation, but still) until he met some of my close friends who are gay. Now he supports marriage equality. And that's not even a family member! I think putting a personal, human face to this issue makes it a lot harder to buy into the Right's crap.
@3 and 4: Are they pulling the old, "this will deprive us of our freedom of speech" saw out? I mean, what exactly can they say against passing a law that simply extends the groups already covered by Hate Crimes legislation? Are they aware that "religion" is currently covered? Is there just a disconnect for them, since on the one hand they keep saying, "we won't be allowed to say anything bad about gays if this law passes" and on the other hand they constantly complain about being verbally attacked and persecuted for their religion (with religion ALREADY being part of the hate crimes laws). Are they really that stupid or is there some other argument I haven't heard about.
@3 and 4: Are they pulling the old, "this will deprive us of our freedom of speech" saw out? I mean, what exactly can they say against passing a law that simply extends the groups already covered by Hate Crimes legislation? Are they aware that "religion" is currently covered? Is there just a disconnect for them, since on the one hand they keep saying, "we won't be allowed to say anything bad about gays if this law passes" and on the other hand they constantly complain about being verbally attacked and persecuted for their religion (with religion ALREADY being part of the hate crimes laws). Are they really that stupid or is there some other argument I haven't heard about.
17
Jen D,
Check out the Dobson post in most commented. L.C's is spitting out their new concern. Yes, their still using the "deprive us of our freedom to speak", too.
Check out the Dobson post in most commented. L.C's is spitting out their new concern. Yes, their still using the "deprive us of our freedom to speak", too.
18
Hooray for New Hampshire and gay marriage everywhere.
But can I note, once more, how embarrassed I am about my home state...that California is some kind of poster child now for intolerance. Ack.
But can I note, once more, how embarrassed I am about my home state...that California is some kind of poster child now for intolerance. Ack.
19
@ 18, I feel your pain. Colorado was the "hate state" in the 90's. Prop 8 actually makes me feel vindicated; I used to argue that any state would have passed Amendment Two* in 1992, and the fact that California passed Prop 8 in 2008 supports that case.
* For those who don't know or remember, this law outlawed any and all equal rights protections for GLBT. It was struck down by the Supreme Court which had more liberals back then.
* For those who don't know or remember, this law outlawed any and all equal rights protections for GLBT. It was struck down by the Supreme Court which had more liberals back then.
20
In Oregon we wrote discrimination into our constitution with the passing of Prop 36, by defining marriage as being between a man and a woman. We have domestic partnerships, but they're not the same thing.
21
Washington state has a difficult formula for amending the state constitution. Can't be by init. And requires 2/3rd votes in the legislature - so liberal Seattle Dems can easily block --- send a cheer to the Seattle Dems.
Hence, DOMA exists by legislative vote from the Locke era, but, can be repealed by legislative vote..... when? ... if anyone knows, tell us. Gregoire is so damaged that there will be a R. Gov. elected next round - and that could spell problems.
Rob Mc Kenna does not support gay marriage, the present Wa. state attorney general, and certain candidate for gov. the next election.
Hence, DOMA exists by legislative vote from the Locke era, but, can be repealed by legislative vote..... when? ... if anyone knows, tell us. Gregoire is so damaged that there will be a R. Gov. elected next round - and that could spell problems.
Rob Mc Kenna does not support gay marriage, the present Wa. state attorney general, and certain candidate for gov. the next election.
22
"Freedom to Marry" is a better name for this movement than "gay marriage" btw. Seize the high ground, be pro marriage, pro family. Stop arguing about what is marriage, just stick with "we're for freedom to marry" -- when the opponents say hey that's not marriage just stay with "we're for the right of everyone to marry, we're for marriage." Make it about freedom, not minority rights; freedom moves everyone's heart; it's how you get nongays to get it; it's American. Emulate Obama on this he usually defines policy goals as rooted in trad. American dream and values. It's in the Declaration, pursuit of happiness. A fife and tricorner hat woulnd't hurt. IMHO. It's freedom. Which btw is just another word for privacy too.
23
@17: Pedophiles? Really? I feel like everyone on our side should simply say that we agree to putting in the redundancy about pedophilia if we can go back and fix that glaring oversight in the religion portion of the hate crimes law, too. After all, it's clearly preventing all of these priests, pastors, youth ministers, etc from being charged as pedophiles since they are religious figures. That's how that works, right?
25
"On this point, I wanted to tell you guys about a discussion I had with a friend a couple of days ago about ERW....
So, I met up with a friend I used to work with who was laid off by ERW [recently]. He was actually XXXXX's direct supervisor until that point, a Field Organizer. We talked for several hours and he just totally went off on ERW top-down organizing style.
Part of his job was to try and organize things with smaller groups around the state. He told me that the problem is that ERW continually fucks people over because they're only really concerned with where the money is coming from, though they put up a front that they want to help the community. As an effect, he said that he'd have people from these different community groups calling him all the time cussing him out because ERW would last minute decide that plans with a certain group weren't profitable, and would just get the order to ditch out on them. He said that it felt like 80% of the groups they would work with would be so angry at them, because they were really only worried about the most profitable 20%: the big donaters.
He also said that he felt bad for the people that worked there because they're massively overworked and underpaid, working on average 60 hours a week, and more during big events. The bosses don't listen to the suggestions of any of the volunteers, but give orders to them based upon the wants of those with the dollars.
So basically I'm saying that our assessment of ERW as a top-down, conservative organization is pretty accurate, straight from the horse's mouth itself. Should we still work with them, yes. But should we be prepared for them to fuck us over if we can't bring them money? Yes. Let's just be as careful with them as possible. This is why I personally prefer a grassroots approach in which all of our opinions are valid and help shape the outward focus of the groups' activities. We're not tied down to donations, and they are. This is also why they're not prepared to "rock the boat", and why we have a very important role to play in building this movement."
More...
So, I met up with a friend I used to work with who was laid off by ERW [recently]. He was actually XXXXX's direct supervisor until that point, a Field Organizer. We talked for several hours and he just totally went off on ERW top-down organizing style.
Part of his job was to try and organize things with smaller groups around the state. He told me that the problem is that ERW continually fucks people over because they're only really concerned with where the money is coming from, though they put up a front that they want to help the community. As an effect, he said that he'd have people from these different community groups calling him all the time cussing him out because ERW would last minute decide that plans with a certain group weren't profitable, and would just get the order to ditch out on them. He said that it felt like 80% of the groups they would work with would be so angry at them, because they were really only worried about the most profitable 20%: the big donaters.
He also said that he felt bad for the people that worked there because they're massively overworked and underpaid, working on average 60 hours a week, and more during big events. The bosses don't listen to the suggestions of any of the volunteers, but give orders to them based upon the wants of those with the dollars.
So basically I'm saying that our assessment of ERW as a top-down, conservative organization is pretty accurate, straight from the horse's mouth itself. Should we still work with them, yes. But should we be prepared for them to fuck us over if we can't bring them money? Yes. Let's just be as careful with them as possible. This is why I personally prefer a grassroots approach in which all of our opinions are valid and help shape the outward focus of the groups' activities. We're not tied down to donations, and they are. This is also why they're not prepared to "rock the boat", and why we have a very important role to play in building this movement."
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
Hating People Doesn't Make Them Thinner by Jen Graves
-
Los Angeles Gay Bar Bans Bachelorette Parties Until Marriage Equality Is Attained by David Schmader
-
Fill in the Blank by Grant Brissey
-
This Reminds Me of the Great Calculator Scare of the Late '70s/Early '80s by David Schmader
-
Idiot Tries to Defend Bigoted Anti-Gay-Marriage Preacher on Anderson Cooper by Paul Constant
-
SL Letter of the Day: Putting It In by Dan Savage
-
Six Moms with Too Much Time on Their Hands and a Shitty Website Decide to Fight Gay Superheroes by Paul Constant
-
Why Mayor McGinn's Wife Canceled Her Family's Seattle Times Subscription by Eli Sanders
-
What the Hell Is Wrong With Seattle's Pride Parade? by Dominic Holden
-
Meet the UW "Swagga Suit" by David Schmader
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (25) RSS