By Ramy Eletreby

Same-Sex Marriage / Domestic Partnership News in Washington, Wisconsin and New York

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced on April 20 that he plans to introduce a bill during the current legislative session that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. Should the bill pass, New York would become the second state in the union, after Massachusetts, to grant marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples. Though New York is considered a progressive “blue” state, Spitzer’s bill could meet strong opposition in Albany when gay rights groups convene for a day of lobbying. Ironically, Spitzer never mentioned introducing such a bill when he spoke a week earlier about his post-budget legislative priorities for the remainder of this session, which ends on June 21.

“[I] was listing bills that I think we can and should get passed by the Legislature in the next few weeks. And so I am focusing now on politics as the art of the possible,” The New York Times reported Spitzer as saying. “I think most who are close to the issue would agree with me that it’s not likely to be passed in the next nine-and-a-half weeks.”

In the past, same-sex marriage legislation has never made it to a floor vote in either the Assembly or the state Senate.

Also on April 21, Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a comprehensive domestic partnership bill. When the law goes into effect on July 21, Washington will become the seventh state to extend some of the critical protections and responsibilities of marriage to same-sex couples .

“This is a very proud moment for me as governor, to make sure the rights of all of our citizens are equal,” Gregoire said, according to the Associated Press. “Love manifests itself not in some cookie-cutter way. Love comes in many forms. Our families are different, but every one of our families deserves our undivided support.”

“Never before has a governor of Washington signed a measure that acknowledges the legitimacy of our LGBT families as families,” writes Barbara Green, interim executive director of Equal Rights Washington, in a statement. “With a powerful and moving statement, Gov. Gregoire did not merely sign the domestic partnership bill, she embraced it. In addition, the governor recognized that this bill is but a step on the road to equality.”

In Madison, Wisc., after newly re-elected Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and 20 city council members took the oath on April 17 to uphold the state and federal constitutions and the city charter, he and 10 council members signed a strongly worded statement denouncing the state’s new same-sex marriage ban, which was approved by 59 percent of voters in November.

“I cannot in good conscience take office without noting my strong opposition to the recent amendment that so blatantly discriminates against my fellow Wisconsinites who are gay or lesbian,” said Cieslewicz, after being sworn in for his second four-year term.

Cieslewicz and the council members vowed to work to overturn the ban in the future.

Employment Non-Discrimination Act Introduced in Congress and Oregon

On April 24, bipartisan members of the House introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would expand federal employment discrimination protections to cover sexual orientation and gender identity. Currently, federal employment discrimination protections are provided based only on race, religion, gender, national origin, age and disability. It is legal to fire someone based on sexual orientation in 33 states and to fire someone based on gender identity in 42 states.

“This legislation is first and foremost about fairness, about allowing all Americans to pursue their right to earn a living,” said Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH), one of the authors of the bill.

In Oregon, members of the House approved the Oregon Equality Act (SB 2) on April 17, which outlaws discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations. If Gov. Ted Kulongoski signs the legislation, Oregon would become the 18th state to ban workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and the ninth on the basis of gender identity.

Clergy Gathers in D.C. to Support LGBT-Inclusive Legislation

Hundreds of clergy from diverse faith backgrounds from all 50 states gathered on Capitol Hill on April 17 to show support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act.

“For too long, there has been a false perception in American politics that faith and religion stand diametrically opposed to equality for GLBT Americans,” said Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign president, in a statement. “The hundreds of clergy joining us are here because they understand that we are all God’s children.”

The Matthew Shepard Act would add sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability to already existing federal law allowing the government to investigate and prosecute violent crimes. Currently, hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity are a state issue.

For example, three teens in Tennessee were recently charged with hate crimes, vandalism and delinquency after two separate incidents involving a gay man from Irving College. The teens reportedly shot 80 paintballs at the home of Neal Anthony while shouting gay slurs and later scrawled hateful words on his house while also breaking his window and destroying his mailbox.

Equality Ride Concludes National Tour; Day of Silence Recognized

On April 26, the Soulforce Equality Ride wrapped up its two-month national mission to end religion-based discrimination against LGBT students at 32 Christian colleges as both the eastbound and westbound buses came together at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minn. The 50 LGBT young adults and their straight allies embarked on the tour on March 7 and met strong opposition, including numerous arrests, along the way with each campus visit.

“We come to Bethany Lutheran with seven weeks of dialogue and direct action behind us. We’ve experienced great conversations and solidarity with schools, and we have also experienced great rejection. We come together to ask Bethany Lutheran ‘will you choose hospitality or rejection?’” said Haven Herrin, Equality Ride co-director, in a statement. 

On April 18, students from 5,000 middle and high schools across the United States participated in the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s (GLSEN) 11th annual National Day of Silence, the largest student-led demonstration in the country. Over 400,000 secondary and college students took steps to raise awareness of the bullying and harassment their LGBT classmates often face by taking a vow of silence, wearing stickers and/or T-shirts, and passing out cards explaining their silence.

Rosie’s Leaving; Ellen Celebrates Coming Out

Rosie O’Donnell announced on April 25 that she is leaving The View, saying she could not reach a new contractual agreement with ABC. Barbara Walters expressed disappointment, while O’Donnell’s nemesis Donald Trump took credit for getting her “fired.” The ongoing feud between O’Donnell and Trump helped boost the ratings, but apparently caused the comedienne stress.

Meanwhile, on April 23 Ellen DeGeneres celebrated the 10th anniversary of her famous “coming out” on her eponymous sitcom. Actress Laura Dern revealed that she could not get a job for over a year after playing Ellen’s love interest in the historic April 30, 1997, “Puppy Episode.” —Karen Ocamb

FDA Panel Recommends New AIDS Drug

An FDA panel recommended the approval of Pfizer’s new antiretroviral drug maraviroc to treat people with advanced HIV disease or who have AIDS and are not responding to other treatments, the Wall Street Journal reported April 25. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation report, the drug blocks a protein called CCR5 on human immune system cells that allows HIV to infect the cell.

The FDA noted safety risk issues linked with liver damage, lymphoma and infections in other CCR5 drugs in development. According to the Kaiser Foundation, Pfizer said its studies indicate that maraviroc showed no increase in liver problems. —K.O.

Numbers as of 9 p.m., April 26, 2007

U.S. Deaths in Iraq: 3,334 - 10 pending DOD confirmation (http://icasualties.org)

Iraqi Dead since 2003: Between 62,417-68,428 (www.iraqbodycount.org)

Cost of War: $420,466,000,000+ (www.nationalpriorities.org)

National Debt: $8,838,328,776,917.48 (www.brillig.com/debt_clock)

U.S. Trade Deficit: $238,358,623, 000,000.00+
www.americaneconomicalert.org/ticker_home.asp)