How Governor Set His Stance on Gay Rights

When David A. Paterson was growing up and his parents would go out of town, he and his little brother would stay in Harlem with family friends they called Uncle Stanley and Uncle Ronald.

Todd Heisler/The New York Times

By JEREMY W. PETERS and DANNY HAKIM
Published: May 30, 2008

Uncle Stanley and Uncle Ronald, he said, were a gay couple, though in the 1960s few people described them that way. They helped young David with his spelling, and read to him and played cards with him.

“Apparently, my parents never thought we were in any danger,” the governor recalled on Thursday in an interview. “I was raised in a culture that understood the different ways that people conduct their lives. And I feel very proud of it.” [source]

New York to Back Same-Sex Unions From Elsewhere

By JEREMY W. PETERS
The New York Times
Published: May 29, 2008

ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson has directed all state agencies to begin to revise their policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, like Massachusetts, California and Canada... [source]

ALSO: Gay rights advocates score wins in NY, Calif.
By MICHAEL GORMLEY – 6 hours ago from The AP (click here)

Thoughts?

And the Sun Still Rose

An OP/ED by
savvyplanners.com™, LLC CEO
MW Savant

Everything today is as it was yesterday! Well almost.

Today is the day after the great State of California had the gravitas, intelligence and sense of fairness and justice, to make their citizens equal.

Today is the day when 100,000 or more same-sex couples in that state took their first breath as people who were no longer shunned or oppressed or denied in the quest for the rights and responsibilities previously enjoyed only by their heterosexual counterparts.

While some bitterly mourn the death of yesterday's inequity, it was a death that was overdue.

The quest for GLBTI rights (inherent ones--- not special ones) has been going on in California for the last fifty years. Congratulations California. You join Massachussetts in shining a light down the much-feared, and rhetoric-plagued, "dark tunnel" of GLBTI marriage equality. You have bravely and logically shown that there is NO gray area in Equality! You have proven that the tides, mountains and sunshine would not, as some would have had us believe, utterly cease to be.

Today, the voyage continues to the point where Californians, of every stripe, are nearing blissful equality. This day, GLBTI couples drink the elixer of fairness and feel counted. Today. As the naysayers and devout opponents decried the simple act of fairness and wisdom demonstrated by the bench and pledged that they would 'fight this to the death' going forward---they thumped through their newspapers and slammed through the TV channels, angrily and piously slurping their coffee and, alas, the sun still rose.

There is no gray area in equality. How can there be? Kudos California! Congratulations couples.

Mr. Takei, Mr. Altman, Ms. DeGeneres and Ms. DeRossi... We're here and ready to help! We were created for you!

Editor's Note: The opinion expressed above is entirely that of MW Savant and does not, necessarily, reflect the view(s) held by savvyplanners.com™, LLC, its principals, affiliates or subsidiaries. However, in this case it DOES.

The California Supreme Court has just ruled in favor of marriage equality for same-sex couples, a decision with huge national impact!

Statement of Garden State Equality chair Steven Goldstein, on the decision's impact on other states, including New Jersey:

"Today the California Supreme Court produced an earthquake for equality. From the Redwood Forest to the Gulfstream Waters to our own Jersey Shore, millions of Americans now rise in jubilation over today’s historic advancement for freedom.

California is so big and so impactful on the rest of the nation, what happens in California won’t stay in California, and that’s great for equality. The California decision will have a particular impact on New Jersey, where we are closer than ever to becoming the first state in American history to enact marriage equality through legislation.

Today, California becomes America’s freeway to equality. Next, New Jersey will be America’s turnpike to equality. So full speed ahead! Our dream is in sight.

All of us at Garden State Equality salute our incredible colleagues at Equality California and at the legal organizations which made today's historic decision possible: The National Center for Lesbian Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, Heller Ehrman and the Law Office of David C. Codell."

Since Garden State Equality’s founding in 2004, New Jersey has enacted 200 LGBT civil rights laws at the state, county and local levels – more LGBT civil rights laws enacted in less time than in any other U.S. state, ever. Visit Garden State Equality's two websites at www.GardenStateEquality.org and www.CivilUnionsDontWork.com

WOMEN-ONLY GLOBAL Catamaran Sails

This just in! Get ready for:

SAPPHO at SEA®!

savvyTravel™, the travel division of savvyplanners.com, LLC is now developing a series of trips for women, BY WOMEN, to the most exotic locales available on Earth! In partnership with Women 4 Sail & More and Coach Sappho®, we are creating a series of once-in-a-lifetime sailing adventures for WOMEN ONLY!

The women will be able to take first hand seminars with the acclaimed Lesbian Singles, Couples and relationship coach: Coach Sappho (BARB ELGIN)!! The sail will be led by US Coast Guard Captains Jill London and Tania Aebi (The youngest woman and the first American woman to solo-circumnavigate the globe; Guinness Book of World Records)!

Ten days in paradise, or anywhere on earth! Singles or couples welcome! All inclusive sail, consisting of onboard accommodations, on-board meals, beverages, one night in a hotel, a large farewell dinner and show on land before heading back to the USA!

Relationship seminars, sailing instruction and the chance to visit those out of the way places! UPCOMING DESTINATIONS: Lesbos, Mykonos, Vietnam and more. PLUS, if you've got a group of 40 women friends, we'll design a private, custom trip to the destination of your choice!!!

See some highlights of the Tahiti, French Polynesia Trip last month:




Price: U$D 3200.00 + Round Trip AIR from your point of origin.

The last group of ladies are ALREADY emailing regularly to inquire about booking their next trip!

E-Brochure can be found here!

Change your perspective. Change your experiences. Change your surroundings!

Change your life? Join us!

You Can Stop Workplace Discrimination

http://www.lambdalegal.org/clockin

Mourning The Loss of Mildred Loving

Mourning the Loss of Mildred Loving
by National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Acting Executive Director Rea Carey

The Task Force mourns the death of Mildred Loving, whose challenge to Virginia's ban on interracial marriage led to the landmark 1967 Supreme Court ruling striking down such laws nationwide.
Loving died May 2 at the age of 68.

Loving issued a statement last year on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Loving v. Virginia decision, in which she wrote:

"I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people's religious beliefs over others."

With tremendous strength and grace, the Lovings challenged the immorality of anti-miscegenation laws that sought to deprive Americans of one of the most personal decisions they would ever make: whom to marry. In doing so, the Lovings altered history for the better.

Read the press release Read Mildred Loving's 2007 statement

HAVE WE BEEN BUSY!!!!

What a MONTH!

We orchestrated a breast cancer benefit in New Jersey on one day, a wedding in Key West the next day! Booking travel for groups and couples all over the globe including Peru, Tahiti and the Greek Isles, changing our corporate structure...

Life is busy, but GREAT!

We'll get back to the regular posts as soon as possible but wanted to, at least, touch base.

Thanks and be well!

PS: Be sure to subscribe at right so that you're alerted to new posts.