Schwarzenegger Mum On Gay Marriage Bill
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: September 15, 2007 - 4:00 pm ET

(San Francisco, California) Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has yet to publicly say whether he will sign or again veto legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry in California.

The governor's silence is uncharacteristic. In 2005 he was quick to warn he would veto a similar bill. The measure passed anyway, and Schwarzenegger rejected it.

The current bill passed the Senate a week ago. Schwarzenegger has until October 14th to sign or veto the bill.

So far the only comments on the legislation have come from the governor's spokespeople and only in response to direct questions from the media. Even so the replies have been guarded.

On Friday Schwarzenegger's office told KPIX-television that the governor hasn't taken a position yet on the marriage equality bill.

But the spokesperson noted that, "He has said in the past on this issue he will uphold the will of the people, when they passed Prop. 22."

Proposition 22 was passed by the voters in the year 2000 to stop gay marriage, but the courts have ruled it only applies to marriages performed out of state.

Supporters and foes of gay marriage have mounted massive campaigns to lobby the governor.

Last week conservative groups were in Sacramento pushing the governor to veto the bill.

Next Tuesday supporters of same-sex marriage will hold rallies across the state. One of the largest is expected to be in San Francisco at the Gay Community Center.

In addition Equality California - the statewide LGBT civil rights organization - has begun gathering names for a petition it wants to present to Schwarzenegger. It hopes to have 10,000 names on it.

"A couple thousand signatures aren’t enough. The governor’s office just won’t pay attention. That’s why we need an all-out push," the group said in a statement.

The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act,

would amend the Family Code to define marriage as a civil contract between two persons instead of a civil contract between a man and a woman.

The measure also reaffirms that no religious institution would ever be required to solemnize marriages contrary to its fundamental beliefs.

California law already permits same-sex couples to register with the state as domestic partners, affording them hundreds of state protections.

However, same-sex couples in California and their families still are not eligible for more than a thousand federal protections offered to married couples, including family and medical leave, social security benefits, long-term care insurance and the ability to sponsor a partner for immigration benefits.

Meanwhile, the California Supreme court is expected to hear oral arguments late this year or early in 2008 challenging the state's refusal to recognize same-sex marriage. (story)

Last Updated: Tuesday, 11 September 2007, 10:09 GMT 11:09 UK
Penn to play gay politician Milk
BBC

Sean Penn has been lined up to play gay 1970s San Francisco politician Harvey Milk, and Matt Damon his assassin, in a new film from director Gus Van Sant.

Van Sant hopes to begin filming once a distribution deal is finalised.

But the uncertain start date may affect Damon's participation as Milk's killer, Dan White, trade paper Hollywood Reporter said.

Milk, who was assassinated in 1978, was the first openly gay city supervisor of San Francisco.

Usual Suspects

Van Sant has been lined up to direct a biopic of Milk for over 10 years.

Two years ago Superman Returns director Bryan Singer was attached to a separate Warner Bros project based on the Randy Shilts 1982 biography, The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk.

This year the studio's art-house arm, Warner Independent Pictures, brought in Singer's Usual Suspects writer Chris McQuarrie to work on a new draft of the script.

But McQuarrie is currently working on the Tom Cruise drama Valkyrie, making production less likely to happen before Singer starts his Superman sequel, Hollywood Reporter added.

Damon would play White, who shot Milk and mayor George Moscone in 1978.

After serving five years of a seven-year sentence, White committed suicide in 1985.

アイオワ州地裁が同性婚を認める判決　禁止の州法は違憲と
2007.08.31
Web posted at: 15:54 JST
- CNN

（ＣＮＮ）　アイオワ州の同性愛カップル６組が、同性愛者同士の結婚を認めない同州法は州憲法に反しているとして、同州ポーク郡の地方裁判所に訴えていた裁判で、同地裁は３０日、原告の訴えを認め、同性婚を認める判決を下した。郡検察は上告する構えで、最終判断は州最高裁にゆだねられる見通しだ。

同地裁のハンソン判事は判決文の中で、「同性同士だという理由で、結婚を禁止すべきではない」と述べている。

アイオワ州法では、結婚が男女間のみに限定されてきた。原告のカップルは０５年１２月、この州法が「万人の平等を保証した憲法に違反する」として、訴えを起こした。原告側の弁護士によると、カップルは最長で１７年間も生活を共にしており、３組は子どもを育てているという。

米国で現在、同性結婚が合法化されているのは、マサチューセッツ州のみ。


Iowa court rules same-sex couples can marry

Story Highlights
Six couples file lawsuit in 2005 after they were denied marriage licenses
Suit: Denials violated equal-protection, due-process under state constitution
District judge rules: Same-sex couples "may not be denied licenses to marry"
Court strikes down state law declaring marriage only between man and woman

(CNN) -- An Iowa district court ruled Thursday that same-sex couples can marry based on the state constitution's guarantee of equal treatment, court documents show.

The ruling was in response to a December 2005 lawsuit brought by six same-sex couples seeking to wed. They were denied marriage licenses and claimed such treatment violates equal-protection and due-process clauses in the Iowa constitution.

The court also struck down a state law declaring valid marriages are only between a man and woman.

The Iowa District Court for Polk County advances the case to the Iowa Supreme Court which will make a final decision on same-sex marriage, according to Lambda Legal, a gay and lesbian legal organization representing the couples.

The 63-page ruling, written by Judge Robert Hanson states: "Couples, such as plaintiffs, who are otherwise qualified to marry one another may not be denied licenses to marry or certificates of marriage or in any other way prevented from entering into a civil marriage pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 595 by reason of the fact that both persons compromising such a couple are of the same sex."

The law describing marriage as between a man and a woman, "constitutes the most intrusive means by the state to regulate marriage. This statute is an absolute prohibition on the ability of gay and lesbian individuals to marry a person of their choosing," Hanson wrote.

Lambda says the six couples are all in long-term relationship - one couple has been together for six years, another couple has been together for 17 years.

"Three of the couples are raising children, others are planning families, and all want the responsibilities of marriage and the protections only marriage can provide," according to the organization.

"We respectfully disagree with the court's decision, and we're going to ask for a stay," said Polk County Attorney John Sarcone.

He said his office will examine whether it's best to file a motion to reconsider. But barring a change in the court's opinion, Sarcone will appeal the ruling.

Co-counsel for the plaintiffs along with Lambda Legal, Dennis Johnson called the ruling "a significant step forward in recognizing the constitutional rights of all Iowans, and it's an amazing day for same-sex couples and their families all across Iowa."

Gay and proud in Tokyo (Reuters Video 2007/08/12)

SCRIPT:
In costume for this year's Gay Pride march in Tokyo.

While it may not be the main event of the year on the global gay calendar,
organiser Takashi Nakada says it's important that gay people make themselves seen.

SOUNDBITE Takashi Nakada, parade organiser, saying (Japanese):
"In Japanese society, many gay and lesbian people still hesitate to
come out. We hope many straight people watch this parade today and find out that gays and lesbians are out there, naturally, just like straight
people"

Japanese society, which is often seen as conservative, is undergoing an
awakening in terms of lesbian, gay and bisexual issues.

In June, Kanako Otsuji, backed by the opposition Democratic Party became
the first openly lesbian politician to run for parliament.

Although she was not successful in her attempt, her campaign did raise
awareness of gay rights in Japan.

Many of the 3,000 participants want a change in the law in Japan to
recognize same-sex partnerships.

SOUNDBITE Joe, female participant, saying (Japanese):
"Unlike some other countries, in Japan same-sex couples are not
officially recognized as spouses or domestic partners. This is causing a
serious problem because we can never treat our partners as family
members."

For today however, these issues have been set aside as revellers party in
downtown Tokyo.

Daragh Burke, Reuters.

日本経済 2007/08/11 19:03
同性愛支援団体で候補演説会・米大統領選

　【ワシントン支局】2008年の米大統領選挙で、同性愛者らの権利擁護を訴える市民団体が初のテレビ中継による候補演説会を開き、ヒラリー、オバマ両上院議員、エドワーズ元上院議員ら民主党候補6人が参加した。各候補はいずれも同性カップルにも医療保険や税控除などで一般の夫婦と同じ権利を保障する考えを表明したが、法的な同性婚には反対の姿勢を示した。

　演説会は「ヒューマンライツ・キャンペーン基金」が主催し、候補が1人ずつワシントン・ポスト紙記者らパネリストの質問に答える方式で行われた。同性愛者向けテレビ局とネット上でも中継された。

The Visible Vote '08 on LOGO online