Spitzer Offers Gay Marriage Bill Today -- Friday, April 27

By: PAUL SCHINDLER

Gay Ci ty News

A senior official in Eliot Spitzer's administration has confirmed to Gay City News that the governor will introduce his program bill enacting marriage equality for same-sex couples on Friday, April 27.

"The governor is fulfilling his promise to the community and a taking a courageous and historic step toward making equal civil marriage rights a reality in New York," the official said.

A lawyer from the office of the governor's counsel with deliver the bill and an accompanying memorandum, with a statement of support, to the offices of the Assembly speaker and the Senate majority leader. (Text from those documents will appear online at gaycitynews.com on Friday afternoon.) Also, on Friday, the state Department of Civil Service will order a policy change mandating that any entity participating in the state health plan - including hundreds of municipalities and local school districts - recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages for purposes of spousal and family benefits.

The governor's action comes just four days before a grassroots contingent of at least 1,000 LGBT advocates travel to Albany to lobby the Legislature to take up his challenge.

New Hampshire Approves Same-Sex Civil Unions

By Anthony Cuesta
247gay.com

New Hampshire lawmakers approved civil unions for same-sex couples Thursday, becoming the fourth state in the nation to extend legal rights to gay and lesbian partners.

“This legislation is a matter of conscience, fairness and of preventing discrimination,” said governor's spokesman Colin Manning, reports the Associated Press. “It is in keeping with New Hampshire's proud tradition of preventing discrimination.”

According to Reuters, the Democratic-controlled Senate voted 14-10 along party lines to give gay and lesbians nearly the same rights as married couples. The bill sailed through the House of Representatives on April 4, and Democratic Gov. John Lynch said last week he would sign it.

One of the state's best-known gay residents told the AP he would use it.

“My partner and I look forward to taking full advantage of the new law,” said Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, whose 2003 consecration shook up the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Union of which it is part, reports the AP.

New Jersey, Connecticut and Vermont already offer civil unions for gay couples. Neighboring Massachusetts in 2004 became the only state to allow gay marriage.

FINANCIAL PLANNING SEMINAR for LGBTI New Jerseyans

Garden State Equality's next event is deeply personal and it involves you. It will inform the decisions you make for yourself and your family for many years to come.

As part of Garden State Equality's "Helping You Personally" series, our Corporate and Professional Caucus is presenting a free FINANCIAL PLANNING SEMINAR for LGBTI New Jerseyans.

The seminar will feature several of the state's leading financial planners, as well as an LGBTI attorney and LGBTI accountant, all in one place for the first time. We believe this financial planning seminar is so important to your life, we are holding it twice -- once in North Jersey and once in South Jersey -- so as many of you can attend as possible.

In North Jersey: Wednesday, May 2, 2007 at 7:00 pm, Unitarian Church of Montclair, 67 Church Street. Followed by a reception with the financial planners, who will remain to answer your questions, including privately.

In South Jersey: Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 7:00 pm, Unitarian Universalist Church in Cherry Hill, 401 Kings Highway North. Followed by a reception with the financial planners, who will remain to answer your questions, including privately.

The seminar will cover every topic and will encompass every kind of LGBTI family unit, from single New Jerseyans to same-sex couples to families with children. The seminar will also encompass LGBTI individuals, couples and families of every income level. You don't have to consider yourselves well-off to benefit from financial planning -- quite the opposite, in fact.

This seminar is especially important now that we know civil unions in New Jersey are failing to work consistently in the real world, with an alarming 10 percent rate of failure.

We at Garden State Equality are working hard to replace civil unions with the only law that can work -- marriage equality -- within the next two years or less. But in the meantime, we want to help you protect yourself and your family to the greatest extent possible.

As you know, we often ask you to forward our emails to your family, friends, colleagues and members of your organization and congregation. This seminar will be of particular interest to other LGBTI people you know. If you would forward this to them using the Tell-a-Friend link below, that would be wonderful.

As with almost all Garden State Equality events, this seminar is free and no RSVP or ticket is required.

If you'd like to support Garden State Equality's campaign for marriage equality, join us at SUMMERTIME: RIO 2007! on Monday, June 25 at 6:30 pm at Moonstruck in Asbury Park. Tickets are on sale now at

http://eqfed.org/gse/events/summertime07/details.tcl
Thanks so much.

Best, Steven

N.H. governor says he’ll sign civil unions bill

Via AP/Boston Herald

CONCORD, N.H. - Gov. John Lynch told The Associated Press on Thursday he will sign legislation establishing civil unions in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire thus will become the fourth state to adopt civil unions and the first to do so without first having a court fight over denying gays the right to marry.
"I believe it is a matter of conscience, fairness and preventing discrimination," Lynch said in an interview.
Although Lynch had said previously he supports expanding health benefits to same-sex partners of state workers, he had declined to take a public position on civil unions. He came under fire from both sides for not weighing in _ especially after the surprise delay last week of the Senate vote on the House-passed bill.
Some legislators had worried the Democratic governor might part company on the bill with Democrats who control the House and Senate for the first time in more than a century.
He said he announced his position on the bill after extensive discussions with lawmakers, including most of the 24 state senators.
"I wanted to see that healthy debate happen in the Statehouse," he said...

Injured N.J. gov.'s surgery a success
By MARYCLAIRE DALE, Associated Press Writer

CAMDEN, N.J. - Surgery on Gov. Jon S. Corzine's injured leg was successful Saturday and he is slowly recovering from the serious injuries he sustained in an SUV crash, doctors said.

Doctors cleaned a 15-centimeter wound in his left thigh. Dr. Robert F. Ostrum said he would perform a similar procedure again Monday at Cooper University Hospital.

The governor is not able to speak and not aware of his surroundings because of his heavy sedation. He was expected to remain on a ventilator until at least Monday, doctors said. Corzine, 60, did not suffer any brain damage.

"His vital signs are slowly, I will reiterate slowly, improving," Ostrum said.

Meanwhile, authorities searched for the red pickup truck whose driver apparently caused Thursday night's crash on the Garden State Parkway...

Governor Corzine's Current Health Status
Press Conference
2.30pm Today in New Jersey
via WNBC.com and Yahoo! News.com

It has been reported yesterday that Governor Jon Corzine was severely injured in an automobile accident on the Garden State Parkway in the state of New Jersey (one of our service areas).

Reports further indicated that the Governor was en route from Atlantic City to Drumthwacket (the governor's mansion) in Princeton, NJ for a meeting with the Rutgers University Women's Basketball Team and former radio commentator, Don Imus.

You can view the comments by his son and daughter and the lead medical doctor by clicking here.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Governor and his loved ones at this difficult time. We are most grateful for his work for gay civil rights in our state and wish him a full and rapid recovery.

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RE: HARVEY FIERSTEIN'S
MARRIAGE EQUALITY OP ED
A Heartfelt "Thank You" from our CEO
MW Savant

Dear Friends,

The irrepressible, unflappable, irreplaceable and passionate HARVEY FIERSTEIN, has written an OP ED entitled Same Sex, Different Rules "Why Gay Marriage? All We Want Is Equal Treatment" which appeared in yesterday's (4-1-07) Hartford Courant Newspaper.

"Before you misinterpret my arguments, let me clearly say that I am not asking for your or society's approval of my love life. I do not need or seek your opinion of homosexuality at all. What I need - no, demand - is the full protection under the law that my status as a taxpaying citizen earns. In the words of Nina Simone, "You don't have to live next to me. Just give me my equality."

It is undeniably succinct, telling, honest, logical and I wish to commend Mr. Fierstein for his willingness to stand up and speak with a voice that is unwavering and glistening in its candor.

He joins a list of my personal heroes such as Steven Goldstein, Barbara Kasbar and all the general, caucus and committee members and supporters of Garden State Equality.

Pastor Niemöller had it right in his 'poem' "First They Came" (Attrib.). I read this again today as I first did years ago and it is still as relevant today. One can insert any culture/group and it still is chilling.

There are many versions of this timeless and illustrative prose. Here it is as it appeared in TIME magazine 8/28/89 (source: Wikipedia):

First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up,

because I wasn’t a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up,

because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up,

because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left

to speak up for me.

Amidst the unfathomable and blatant inequality, homophobia and bigotry in the twenty-first century, I thank you for speaking out as well, sir, before there isn't anyone left to do so.

-MW Savant, CEO

Washington Passes Domestic Partnership Bill!
Domestic-partner bill goes to Gregoire
By Andrew Garber
Seattle Times Olympia bureau

OLYMPIA — A domestic-partnership bill for gay and lesbian couples that cleared the state Legislature on Tuesday was hailed by supporters and criticized by opponents as a first step toward same-sex marriage.

The House passed the measure by a 63-35 vote after a rather tame hourlong debate. Two Democrats opposed the bill and three Republicans supported it. The Senate passed the legislation last month, and passage by the House was expected.

It now goes to the governor, who is expected to sign it.

"From the Palouse to Alki Point, this bill provides real relief," Rep. Joe McDermott, D-Seattle, told lawmakers during the debate. "If you've ever fallen in love, I call on you to support this legislation whether you welcome it or it makes you uncomfortable."

Most Republicans were clearly uncomfortable...

Congratulations New Hampshire!!!!!!
By TOM FAHEY
State House Bureau Chief, Union Leader.com

Concord – The New Hampshire House today voted by a nearly 2-to-1 margin to adopt a civil unions bill that allows homosexual couples to enjoy the same rights married couples have.

After two hours of debate, the House voted 243-129 to pass House Bill 437.

The bill would take effect on Jan. 1, 2008, if the Senate adopts it and Gov. John Lynch signs it. Lynch said today he has not yet taken a stand on the bill.

“I will weigh in on it after I make up my mind on it,” he told reporters.

Rep. Bette Lasky, D-Nashua, argued for the bill and against moves to delay a vote.

“The time is right. These families have waited long enough for recognition, legitimacy and legal relief,” she said...