Box Turtle Bulletin

Congratulations Washingtonians

Today Washington State’s Senate Bill 5688 goes into effect. It was this bill, which upgrades Domestic Partnerships to contain all the rights, privileges, responsibilities and obligations of marriage, which was threatened by Referendum 71.

On November 4th, the voters of Washington State declared that they support full rights and responsibilities for same-sex couples.

Unlike their Senators, New Yorkers want marriage equality

NY Senators who voted against equality thinking that they were doing “the will of the people” may find themselves trying to make stuttering explanations in future debates. Cuz “the people” certainly didn’t ask for marriage to be denied to their gay neighbors.

A Marist Poll released yesterday:

Do you favor or oppose legalizing same-sex marriage in New York State?

Total:
Favor – 51%
Oppose – 42%

NYC:
Favor – 61%
Oppose – 33%

Suburbs:
Favor – 47%
Oppose – 47%

Upstate:
Favor – 48%
Oppose – 44%

Uganda Responds To International Furor Over “Kill Gays” Bill

(Update: The Daily Monitor has more details on Nsaba Buturo’s statement at the government Media Centre. See below for details)

James Nsaba Buturo, Uganda’s Minister for Ethics and Integrity, has issued a statement through the Ugandan government’s official Media Centre addressing criticisms over the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Act. This is the bill that provides the death penalty for conviction of homosexuality under certain circumstances, provides a lifetime imprisonment for all other cases, and a seven year sentence for “attempted” homosexuality. It also criminalizes free speech on behalf of LGBT citizens (seven year’s imprisonment) and criminalizes all acquaintance of gay people (failure to report gays to police within 24 hours of learning someone is gay brings a three year prison sentence). Sweden announced that they intend to cut aid to Uganda should this bill go forward. Nsaba Buturo responds:

There is a Bill in Parliament known as the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. This subject is causing a great deal of interest around the world. The people of Uganda believe that practicing anal sex at the expense of heterosexual sex is not a normal practice. Ugandans know or believe that homosexuality involves practices that are dangerous and high risk to the human body which is designed for heterosexual functions. Ugandans also believe that anal sexual intercourse, foreign objects used in sexual intercourse and promiscuity do not deserve to be defended at all. Having said that, it is clear to many of us that the over reaction so far is not surprising to us. Uganda accepts that in some countries it is normal practice for men to sleep with men and women with women. It is often defended that imperatives of human rights defend this practice. We do not believe so in Uganda. Majority of Ugandans hate to see the promotion of illegalities that they consider as dysfunctional, abnormal and unhealthy.

Ever since the Bill on Homosexuality was presented in Parliament, there have been various reactions as well as over-reactions from countries which are annoyed at our independence to enact our Laws. Consequently, we hear they are threatening to take action against Uganda. It is revealing that support to Uganda literally translated means that it is on condition that Uganda should do the bidding of givers of such support regardless of what Ugandans themselves think. It is also revealing that support which would benefit countless number of orphans, children and mothers can be withdrawn simply because Government is protecting its citizens against vices such as homosexuality. Government has been clear about this matter that homosexuality or homosexual practices will not be promoted, encouraged and recommended to the people of Uganda.

Finally, on the issue of the Bill, those who are promising threats to the people of Uganda need to be helped to understand that the Bill is going through the normal democratic process of debate. The Bill is not the final document that will become Law. If there is belief that threats will influence Parliament to debate against the wishes of Uganda, those responsible for such threats should forget. We should all wait to see how Members of Parliament will acquit themselves over this matter.

It’s difficult to know how to read this statement. It is certainly a vigorous defense of Uganda’s willingness to do whatever they want against a reviled minority. But it also hints at changes in the proposed law. Whether that comes to pass is uncertain. But one thing we do know is this: they are certainly feeling the heat. The UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on AIDS in Africa, Elizabeth Mataka, was in Kampala to attend events commemorating World AIDS Day. While there, she reportedly met on Monday with MP David Bahati, the primary sponsor of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, to voice the UN’s concerns over the bill’s effects on anti-AIDS efforts. She was also expected to meet with President Yoweri Museveni.

James Nsaba Buturo speaking at the government Media Centre (Geoffrey Sseruyange/Daily Monitor)

Update: The Daily Monitor has a story about remarks Nsabe Buturo made at the government Media Centre yesterday. In response to Sweeden’s threat to withhold aid to Uganda if the bill passes, Buturo said:

“Homosexuality will not be promoted, encouraged or supported in Uganda,” Mr Buturo added.

Mr Buturo told journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala that: “We should remind them (the donors) that there is integrity to be defended and threats are not the way to go. If one chooses to withdraw their aid, they are free because Ugandans do not want to engage in  anal sex. We do not care.”

…As Mr Buturo was castigating donors, the Uganda Human Rights Commission announced that it will scrutinise the Bill and make recommendations before it is debated. Commission Chairman, Mr Med Kaggwa, said the exercise will help establish whether the Bill, which has been criticised   by some rights groups, violates human rights.

“What I can say is that we are human rights defenders and if they (gays) come and complain of discrimination we shall handle their cases,” he said without divulging details.

Buturo also complained of foreign aid doners publicly denouncing the Anti-Homosexuality Act. He believes that such complaints should be made in private.

Click here to see BTB\’s complete coverage of recent anti-gay developments in Uganda.

International Healing Foundation Issues Statement On Uganda

Rachel Maddow finally got a statement from Richard Cohen’s International Healing Foundation about Uganda’s proposed death penalty for LGBT people under certain circumstances:

L-R: Unidentified woman, American holocaust revisionist Scott Lively, International Healing Foundation's Caleb Brundidge, Exodus International boardmember Don Schmierer, Family Life Network (Uganda)'s Stephen Langa, at the time of the March 2009 anti-gay conference in Uganda.

Caleb Lee Brundidge was one of three American anti-gay activists participating at a conference in Kampala last march which led to the current crisis there for LGBT people. Other American anti-gay activists participating were Holocaust revisionist Scott Lively and Exodus International board member Don Schmierer. Rachel also read portions of a statement from Scott Lively which we already covered last Saturday. Don Schmierer belatedly signed on to the November 16 letter from Exodus condemning the Ugandan legislation. His signature was appended just this past Tuesday.

The portion of IHF’s statement that Rachel Maddow read was brief:

We condemn any harsh and extreme punishment of persons who identify as homosexual or who engage in homosexual behavior. Instead, we advocate education and counseling for those with unwanted Same-Sex Attraction.

We don’t know whether this is the entire statement or not, as it can be found nowhere on the International Healing Foundation’s web site. You can find plenty of sales clutter, but no statement.

What we do have is a typically vague non-statement. What is “harsh and extreme punishment”? The death penalty? Lifetime imprisonment? Any imprisonment? And what do they advocate for those who don’t have unwanted “Same-Sex Attraction”? (Note the capitalization; it’s Richard Cohen’s terminology, often abbreviated as SSA, to indicate that he believes that homosexuality is a mental illness.) What they do advocate is left unclear.

If the International Healing Foundation is at all familiar, it is chiefly because of Richard Cohen’s unorthodox methods to “cure” homosexuality, which include “touch” or “holding” therapy. On March 23, 2002, Richard Cohen was permanently expelled from the American Counseling Association for multiple ethical violations. He now practices as an unregulated “coach.”

Caleb Lee Brundidge is also associated with Extreme Prophetic in Phoenix, AZ. Extreme Prophetic refused to condemn the proposed Ugandan legislation, saying “As a ministry we do not have an official opinion on political policies.” Grove City College professor Warren Throckmorton notes the inconsistency behind that statement, since Extreme Prophetic’s stated mission is to “take over spheres and adminstrate them for the glory of God.” Among those spheres of influence is the political sphere. Extreme Prophetic’s own theology makes a mockery of their statement.

Brundidge himself has maintained complete silence.

Click here to see BTB\’s complete coverage of recent anti-gay developments in Uganda.

Next CA Speaker of the House is gay

From KQED Capital Notes:

The 68th Speaker of the California Assembly has been chosen by a majority of the chambers Democratic majority — so says the 67th leader of the lower house, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass.

The new leader, says Bass, is Asssemblymember John Perez, a Democrat from Los Angeles. He could formally win the job as soon as next week.

Perez was elected to the Assembly last year.

Perez, whose cousin is Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, would set another “first” in leadership history: by becoming the first openly gay leader of the California Legislature (or, we’re still checking, any legislative body in the nation).

The Australian Marriage Waltz

Yesterday I told you of the complicated steps, kicks and strides in the Argentine Marriage Tango. Now it appears that Australia, with its love of ballroom dance, has a marriage waltz all of its own.

I feel a bit like a celebrity guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance. I don’t know the steps or what comes next but I am caught up it the drama of the swirling movement and will wing my explanation.

The dance has a basic premise: some local governments, particularly that of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), wish to grant to their gay constituents marriage rights as similar to that of their straight constituents as possible. However, federal officials are determined to keep sharp distinctions between the orientations and to minimize and diminish same-sex couples and their relationships.

Most of the back-and-forth has less to do with rights or privileges (though that is important) and more to do with status, social approval, and ceremony. Conservatives seem to be taking the position that you can be a couple, but that is nothing to celebrate.

In November the ACT voted for the third time to pass a bill that allowed for legally binding ceremonies between same sex couples. And for the third time the federal government vowed to veto it. They declared that ceremonies cannot be allowed but instead a registry should be used, just like for fishing licenses or building permits. Of course the federal government hasn’t actually enacted such a registry, but they are quite determined to block any I Do’s or Til Death Do Us Part’s until they do.

But, in the meantime, one couple of 20 years, Warren McGaw and Chris Rumble, exchanged vows in the rose gardens of the Old Parliament House in Canberra.

The dance is more confusing in that it seems to involve uncertain partners. Greens nationwide support marriage, while Labor in Victoria Tasmania, and the ACT are battling against the Labor leadership over the issue. The Greens, though a minority in the federal government, in June introduced a bill in support of marriage itself.

“The Greens will be pursuing passage of the bill when parliament resumes in the New Year,” Hanson-Young said.

“The Australian public wants to debate this issue. They responded to the Senate inquiry into the bill in record numbers and latest polling shows 60 per cent support for equal marriage.

“We urge the Prime Minister to bring this debate on, and to allow his party a conscience vote.”

When the bill was rejected by the Senate last Friday led to protest in the street.

Australian Marriage Equality spokesman Alex Greenwich said strong attendances by more than 2,000 people at rallies in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, ACT, Adelaide and Lismore on Saturday to launch a national year of action showed positive community support.

But lets circle back to civil unions in the ACT. The Commonwealth seems to have found a compromise.

The Commonwealth’s proposed amendment would create an additional step in the process, requiring couples who choose to have a ceremony to first notify the registrar-general of the ACT Office of Regulatory Services with at least five days’ notice of their intention to hold a ceremony.

The union will be legally created by the couple’s declaration in front of a legally-authorised celebrant. Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland told Chief Minister Jon Stanhope earlier this week that the Commonwealth would overturn the recently-passed laws unless the ACT agreed to its amendments.

”This is an important reform,” Mr Corbell said yesterday.

”This locks in the role of ceremonies for same-sex couples and maintains the legal effect, and it also maintains the role for a legally-authorised official to conduct those ceremonies.”

However, so far this isn’t pleasing anti-gays…

Jim Wallace from the Australian Christian Lobby says that mimics marriage and the Rudd Labor Government has betrayed Christians who voted for it.

“Once you cross this line you’ve opened the door to completely devaluing marriage,” he said.

“This will lead to other ways of mimicking it. We’ll have demands for polygamists marriages.”

…or the Greens.

Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury says he is yet to be convinced.

“It’s so much splitting hairs that people are saying why don’t we stick with the original bill – the original bill that the Greens put up is a good one,” he said.

He says there is no justification to change the laws.

“At this stage we’re not inclined to accept these amendments because there is no clear reason why we need to make them.

“Nobody has articulated what the problem is with the legislation, they’ve just said here’s a fix that we need for it.

“Our view is if it’s not broken you don’t need to fix it.”

The Greens appear to be taking a risk. If they refuse the administrative change, will the government dare veto the whole thing. If at the end of the dance they fling themselves backwards, will Rudd catch them or dare to let them hit the floor?

Primary elections may be key to NY equality

I am not particularly receptive to the argument that a representative can be excused at times for voting in a way that might not reflect their own views, but which is required to keep their seat. I think that equality is worth defending even if it requires personal sacrifice.

However, I have nothing but contempt for those who elect to endorse discrimination and bias even when there is no downside to siding with decency and equality.

And of the eight Democrats who voted to deny equal civil rights to their fellow New Yorkers, five were elected in 2008 with no organized opposition in the general election. They were either unopposed, or had only a token Republican opponent who received but a tiny percentage of the votes:

32nd • Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx)
10th • Shirley Huntley (D-Queens)
27th • Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn)
13th • Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens)
12th • George Onorato (D-Queens)

These are definitely not elected officials who secretly support us but were fearful of Republicans using that support against us. No, these Senators voted against our equality because they believe that we are inferior to them and that we don’t deserve the same rights that they enjoy.

The other three won by the following percentages:

15th • Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) — 58%
48th • Darrel Aubertine (D- Cape Vincent) — 53%
58th • William Stachowski (D-Buffalo) — 53%

While these are not landslides, they are comfortable majorities.

All of which suggests to me that an organized primary fight in which a supporter of equality could prevail might be all that is necessary in most of these districts to bring about marriage equality in New York in the very near future.

As Joe Jarvis at Joe-My-God seems to be on the same page:

Remember all of these names. I will be coming back to you to help fund their opponents.

The Vincent Ciampa example

On February 11, 2004, Massachusetts State Representative Vincent Ciampa, Democrat, voted to define marriage as “one man one woman”.

Ciampa feared no one – he could do what he wanted. He served in a Democratic safe seat and had done so for 16 years. Republicans didn’t even run candidates against him.

But in Ciampa’s lived a young man named Carl Sciortino. And Carl was gay.

Although he had supported Ciampa in the past, Carl was furious that his representative had voted to define him as a second class citizen. So Carl did the unthinkable; though only 26 and having no political machine or public service experience, he ran against Ciampa.

But Sciortino had something that Ciampa was missing. He had a moral cause – to advance equality – and a community that was outraged by elected officials that endorsed discrimination. So he fought the system.

And won.

Cardinal: Gays Will Never Enter Heaven

The retired head of the Vatican’s Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care workers is quoted as telling the Ansa news agency that LGBT people “will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan told the news service that “Transsexuals and homosexuals will never enter the kingdom of heaven and it is not me who says this, but Saint Paul.” He also repeated the completely unfounded belief that people become gay or transgender due to “education issues or because they did not develop their own identity during adolescence. It may not be their fault, but acting against nature and the dignity of the human body is an insult to God.”

The Cardinal added that while he believed that homosexuality is a sin, “this does not justify any form of discrimination… We on earth cannot condemn, and as human beings we all have the same rights.”

Roman Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination in Uganda, where the Parliament is considering a bill which would provide the death penalty for those convicted of homosexuality under certain circumstances. So far, the Church has maintained complete silence on the proposed legislation, both inside and outside of Uganda.

More biblical illiteracy from NOM

In a recent statement, National Organization for Marriage’s Brian Brown once again illustrates that his familiarity with his own Christian religion and its holy texts are only marginally better than that of an atheist raised as a Buddhist in Abu Dhabi.

In responding to the vote for Marriage in the nation’s capital, he declared (for the umpteenth time) that NOM would continue its fight to oppose equality.

We will fight in Congress. We will fight through the courts to get this to the people of D.C. who have a God-given right to vote for marriage and Charter-given right to overturn the council’s decision.

A God-given right to vote for marriage? What kind of nonsense is that?

Scripture doesn’t endorse democracy, in fact quite the opposite. Kings are set up by God to rule the people and it is your duty to obey them.

Hmmmm. Come to think of it, I’ll bet Brian Brown really would support a “biblical model” for government. For all his endorsement of democracy, he seems pretty fond of theocracy.

Marriage Equality vote fails in New York Senate

The New York Senate has finally voted on whether to treat all citizens equally and has voted to continue discrimination. The vote was 24 – 38. Those voting against equality will be listed as soon as the breakout is available.

We have much work to do – including a strong effort to remove from office those who have endorsed discrimination and proven themselves to be enemies of equality.

On a personal note, considering the way in which race has been played as a factor in campaigns to deny rights to gay Americans, I was greatly heartened by the number of African American legislators who rose to make impassioned appeals in favor of this bill and to do so in terms of civil rights.

UPDATE: Elizabeth Benjamin has the list

The final vote was 24-38. Seven Democrats voted “no” – Addabbo, Aubertine, Huntley, C. Kruger, Monserrate, Onorato, Stachowski – while not a single Republican voted “yes.”

(It was eight Democrats – Diaz also voted “no”)

We now know those Senators who find civil equality to be in opposition to either their ideals or their self interests. Those who believe that some citizens are entitled to special rights that are to be denied to others are obstacles to freedom and enemies to the principles behind American society. They do not deserve to be representatives.

Where possible, our community needs to focus its energy, time, and money in defeating all of the Republican State Senators and the seven Democratic State Senators and replace them with lovers of freedom and equality of whatever party.

Campbell’s new mayor is gay

In the early 1940’s my grandparents purchased a tiny house on Esther street in Campbell, CA. Just a block away, the neighborhood was still orchards.

Since then, Campbell has become part of the seamless urban sprawl called the Silicon Valley that stretches from the Santa Cruz Mountains to the San Francisco Bay. Yet it has sought to maintain a sense of identity and a small town community atmosphere.

In the early 1980’s I lived in Campbell with my grandmother while attending college nearby. So it was with a sense of pride that I read this story (SF Chronicle):

Sleepy, suburban Campbell’s City Council elected one of the youngest gay and youngest Asian American mayors in the country at a meeting Tuesday night.

The council promoted Evan Low, 26, from vice mayor to a one-year term as mayor of the 38,000-resident Silicon Valley city.

My favorite part of the story is the following:

Campbell seems to be an unlikely city for a young, gay, Asian American politician to gain a foothold in public service. The San Jose suburb is 70 percent white and 11 percent Asian, with a small, quiet gay community.

When Harvey Milk was elected as a city councilman it was a milestone, a breakthrough, a triumph. But the level of our success today is best measured when a small city, without a strong or organized gay community, elects and promotes a gay official, especially one who is not in the ethnic majority.

It is a happy day, indeed, when “that gay Asian kid” is judged first by his skill, his performance, and his commitment to his constituents.

NY Senate is now debating marriage equality

The New York marriage equality bill has been approved again by the Assembly (a technical step) and has also been passed by the Senate Rules Committee. Debate has begun on the Senate floor (HudLo.com)

The state Senate started its debate on same-sex marriage a little before 12:30 this afternoon, and the sides were imploring their colleagues to vote one way or another.

Sen. Thomas Duane, D-Manhattan, who is gay and the bill\’s sponsor, asked his colleagues to give him the same rights that the rest of the people in the chamber have.

Sen. Ruben Diaz, D-Bronx, a major opponent of the bill, said the issue should be decided by voters at the polls, not by politicians or judges. He encouraged Democrats and Republicans—whose votes will be needed to pass the bill—to stand up for family values.

You can watch the debate live on the Senate’s website.

UPDATE 2: Debate is closing

UPDATE: Espada will vote “yes”

Pedro Espada was the central figure in the contentious power struggle over control of the Senate this summer. There has been some uncertainly as to whether Espada would support marriage equality or would barter his vote for the advancement of areas of his own interest.

Elizabeth Benjamin reports the answer:

Senators were just treated to a treatise on “morality” by Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr., who urged his undecided colleagues to join him in voting “yes” on the gay marriage bill.

Espada held forth on his definition of a “vote of conscience,” which is what Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos has said he will allow his 30-member conference to take on this controversial issue.

Espada couched his support in terms of morality declaring equality to be the morally superior decision.

The Atlanta election results

Yesterday I posted a commentary in which I speculated that if the mayoral election came down to the gay vote (as some news sources were suggesting) that this would favor Mary Norwood.

Well, the results are in (kinda) and either the gay community was not the determining factor or my speculations were off base. The vote was much larger than expected and while the gay community turned out in large percentages to support gay candidates, overall increased turnout diluted the gay vote. As it stands, Sen. Kasim Reed is ahead by 758 votes, though provisional ballots are still untallied and a recount is expected.

The good news is that whoever is finally determined to be the victor, both candidates courted the gay vote and seem to recognize the importance of rights and recognition for gay couples and individuals. As the city and the police department are facing a lawsuit from the patrons at the Atlanta Eagle, it is hoped that a closer relationship between the community and the city can help heal rifts and facilitate a smoother resolution to the situation.

Additional good news is that Atlanta voters elected two gay representatives, Alex Wan to the Atlanta City Council and Simone Bell to the Georgia House of Representatives.

With their wins, Simone Bell becomes first black lesbian elected to a state Legislature in the United States. Alex Wan becomes first gay man and Asian American man elected to Atlanta City Council.

Welcome Out Meridith Baxter

Meridith Baxter today (L) and while on Family Ties (R)

She played the Mom, Elyse Keaton, from 1982 to 1989 on Family Ties , the sitcom that launched Michael J. Fox’s career in the U.S. She was actually only fourteen years older than Fox when she played his mother on the series. Before that, she was on the painfully earnest and perpetually sad-faced drama Family from 1986 to 1980, which earned her two Emmy Awards in 1978 and 1979. Since then, she has directed and stared in several TV movies and launched her own skin care product line, Meredith Baxter Simple Works, which raises money for breast cancer research.

This morning, Meridith Baxter came out as a lesbian on the Today Show:

“I am a lesbian and it was a later-in-life recognition,” she told Matt Lauer on TODAY. “Some people would say, well, you\’re living a lie and, you know, the truth is — not at all. This has only been for the past seven years.”

Baxter, 62, though anxious, decided to come out on national television after her sexuality became tabloid fodder.

“I\’ve always lived a very private life,” said the actress, who\’s never even had a publicist. “To come out and disclose stuff is very antithetical to who I am.”

The National Enquirer reported that Baxter was seen on a lesbian cruise in the Caribbean “with a female friend, and she seemed very relaxed and comfortable.” Yesterday, Perez Hilton posted more recent photos of Meredith with her girlfriend. She then decided to come out under her own steam. “I did not want some tabloid to take the story and make it up — I wanted it to be in my own words,” she told Lauer.

Meridith Baxter (L) and her girlfriend Nancy

She had married and divorced three times between 1966 and 2000, but she disclosed to Matt Lauer that she always chose men with whom she clashed, so that she could blame them for the end of the relationship. “It never occurred to me to think, oh, [the problem is] me,” she said. Then she met a woman seven years ago and suddenly things started to make sense:

“I got involved with someone I never expected to get involved with, and it was that kind of awakening,” she said. “I never fought it because it was like, oh, I understand why I had the issues I had early in life. I had a great deal of difficulty connecting with men in relationships.”

Meridith has been with her current girlfriend Nancy for four years.