Gay marriage draws support from U.S. mayors led by Villaraigosa
By Stephen Ceasar
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
January 20, 2012, 2:57 p.m.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was among a group of 80 mayors in Washington on Friday who pledged their support for gay marriage and announced an initiative aimed at expanding marriage rights for same-sex couples.
The initiative, called Mayors for the Freedom to Marry, was announced during a press conference held at the U.S. Conference of Mayors' winter meeting. Villaraigosa will co-chair the group.
The mayors have pledged to push their cities to pass laws allowing same-sex marriage and urge Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman. Critics say it unfairly denies federal benefits to same-sex married couples and allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted in other states.
"If we truly believe in family values, we should value all families," Villaraigosa said. "Denying gay and lesbian couples the freedom to marry weakens society by hurting our communities, neighbors and families."
The group, among others, includes Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York, Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago and Mayor Annise Parker of Houston, who is openly gay. The group is an offshoot of Freedom to Marry, a national organization that pushes for same-sex marriage rights.
Also among the mayors in the group is Republican MayorJerry Sanders of San Diego, who in 2007 relented on his previous opposition to same-sex marriage, saying that he could not accept that his daughter was less worthy of marriage because she is a lesbian. "Allowing loving and committed couples to join in marriage has benefits not just for couples and their families -- but also for society," Sanders said.
Villaraigosa has long been a supporter of same-sex marriage rights and stringent opponent of Proposition 8, the 2008 California measure that banned gay marriage. In 2008, he presided over the marriage of a same-sex couple, uniting a Hollywood producer and his five-year companion in a short ceremony at City Hall.
Rick Perry Signs Anti-Gay Marriage Pledge Before Mingling With Virulently Anti-Gay Activist
WASHINGTON -- Republicans who support gay rights have seen their brief hopes for Rick Perry's candidacy dashed as old quotes surface, new pledges are signed and news of his forthcoming campaign events and associations emerges.
The Texas governor and leading presidential candidate briefly gave hope to the increasingly influential group of Republican LGBT advocates when he expressed his support for the rights of states to pass their own legislation governing marriage. Since then, however, he has said he would back a constitutional amendment banning the practice, while quotes from an old book surfaced in which he compared homosexuality to alcoholism. On Friday, meanwhile, Perry signed the National Organization for Marriage's pledge that would, among other things, commit him to support sending a federal marriage amendment to states upon becoming president.
But the icing on the cake could come this weekend, when Perry is set to mingle with one of the most virulently anti-gay activists and prominent social conservative donors in his home state.
The event, officially labeled a "call to action," will feature a retreat at a Texas Hill Country ranch. Among the event's hosts will be David Barton, an evangelical leader and founder of the organization WallBuilders.
Barton is most commonly known for holding revisionist historical views, specifically regarding the history of civil rights. But his incendiary stance on LGBT issues has made him an object of intense concern for both progressives who monitor right-wing figures and for Republicans who support gay rights. Most recently, when the state of New York legalized same-sex marriage, Barton argued that anti-gay groups should proverbially "scalp" the four Republican state senators who had backed the bill. He added some choice words for Ken Mehlman, the former RNC Chairman turned LGBT activist, as well.
“I want to see pro-family guys scared straight that are squishy on this issue, and if we can’t take out these four Republicans and the Majority Leader in New York, we will have opened a huge door for Melhman and his kind to come in and start rewarding these guys for going against pro-family stuff, and you just can’t let that happen," Barton said on his radio program, WallBuilders Live. "No disrespect to our Native American friends, but this is where you hang a bloody scalp over the gallery rail. You hang these four Republican scalps over the Senate rail and every other Republican senator looks up and sees those scalps and says, ‘my gosh, I’ll be hanging up there beside them if I don’t stay with this pro-family stuff.’ And that’s exactly what has to happen.”
Mehlman declined to comment on Perry's decision to attend this weekend's affair, and the Perry campaign didn't respond to a request for comment. But at least one Republican LGBT advocate expressed trepidation over Perry's association with Barton, calling his comments more anti-gay than those typical of even the most prominent social conservatives, including James Dobson and Tony Perkins.
"It is unfortunate Governor Perry decided to turn to a big government, anti-conservative position by signing the National Organization for Marriage’s pledge," said R. Clarke Cooper, Executive Director of the Log Cabin Republicans. "This pledge is out of step with America and the general electorate the GOP needs to win the White House."
"Recent comments by David Barton about the bipartisan achievements made in advance of civil marriage equality is a devise position and not helpful for Republicans to win in 2012," Cooper added. "Achievements made by former RNC Chairman, and Log Cabin member, Ken Mehlman actually strengthen our party and bring back voters in support of the pro-economic growth agenda advanced by Republican leadership. The 2012 election cycle is an opportunity to expand the Republican victories among younger voters, centrists and independents who remain critical for winning any election... Current RNC Chairman Reince Priebus just stated today, 'We need to provide a clear and articulate alternative to Obama.' Obama can be beat, however, the Republican path to victory is compromised when gay Americans are perceived as being attacked for just being how God created them."
On a broader note, Perry's quick move from saying he supported states' rights to signing the NOM amendment underscores how difficult it is to run for president on a federalist platform. Certainly, the Republican presidential field has discussed the importance of health care or education policy being decided on the local level. But each candidate has also been pressed to detail and outline the legislative philosophy he or she would adhere to as president. And on cultural issues in particular -- abortion, gay marriage, and others -- they have consistently backed the federal government's power to institute a set of universal policies.
This updated article appeared on The Huffington Post 10/26/2011
The initiative was instigated by Los Angeles groupLove Honor Cherish. The group must gather 807,615 signatures -- or 8 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the 2010 gubernatorial election -- in order to qualify the measure for the ballot, and all signatures are due by May 14, 2012.
The initiative would amend the California Constitution to read that, "marriage is between only two persons and shall not be restricted on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or religion." It would also clarify that the initiative "shall not be interpreted to require any priest, minister, pastor, rabbi, or other person to perform a marriage in violation of his or her religious beliefs."
The initiative comes on the heels of Perry vs. Schwarzenegger, the so-called Prop. 8 trial -- a federal lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of Proposition 8. The decision of that trial could be handed down as early as this month, but Love Honor Cherish says the group is not waiting for the lawsuit to unfold.
"Obviously we are hoping that case succeeds in overturning Prop. 8," said Love Honor Cherish interim Executive Director Eric Harrison to The Huffington Post. "But we need to be prepared to put this on the ballot in case the court case doesn't go well. We are approaching this with an offensive strategy and sending a message that we're not just going to be reactive anymore."
Love Honor Cherish is talking to firms that specialize in signature gathering, and has hired Harrison to focus specifically on the ballot measure.
"When we first approached this in 2010, we relied solely on volunteers," said Harrison. "And now, although we've always had tremendous community support, we don't have any illusions about what we need to do, and we know that we need people devoting their time and energy to this entirely. It's too important."
Proposition 8, the initiative that amended the California constitution to read that only marriages between a man and a woman would be considered valid, was passed with a 52 percent vote in 2008 -- just five months after the state Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. The proposition's passing surprised many Californians, and opponents immediately launched repeal campaigns,investigations and even a musical mocking support groups.
"Life is tragically short," said Harrison. "And every day that gays and lesbians aren't allowed to marry is another day that we are denying equality. That sends a message not only to those who aren't allowed to marry, but to everyone -- to our children. It's time for us to seize the day and claim our rights."
Brian Kraemer, the former PFLAG Pasadena chapter president was recently interviewed on Christian radio and things went so well the broadcaster asked if I would come back for two more segments. The first day he shared his story of "coming out" gay and Christian. The radio station for which he was invited to speak typically has very
conservative programming so this is a great step for them.
Additionally, days two and three (day three forthcoming) also debates an Anglican priest named Father Peter Hansen who believes all homosexual behavior is sin.
Palm Springs Police Chief David Dominguez resigned today over remarks he made during a sting operation targeting gay men in the city's Warm Sands neighborhood in 2009, the Southwest Riverside News Network reports.
Dominguez came under fire after a June 2009 operation in the Warm Sands neighborhood. The sting, which netted 19 arrests, was done in response to what police said were complaints about drug use, public sex and prostitution in Warm Sands. However, it drew complaints that police were targeting gay men unfairly.
During a pretrial hearing, one defendant said a police officer could be heard using a gay slur on a video recording in an undercover vehicle. An attorney for some of those arrested said Dominguez was in that particular car.
The lawyer lodged a complaint, alleging Dominguez disparaged the arrestees to his officers.
“What a bunch of filthy mother (expletive),” Dominguez allegedly said. “You guys should get paid extra for this.”
As Steve reported last week, "According to court documents, Dominguez used the phrase 'filthy motherf**kers' while another officer involved in the sting was overheard using the slur 'c**ksuckers.'"
Dominguez also apologized last week, but issued this statement today: "“After careful consideration of the events surrounding the Warm Sands undercover operation, I believe this decision is in the best interest of my family, the city and the Police Department."
