The Human Spectrum News Network

URGENT from GetEQUAL TX:

As we’ve all witnessed over the past several weeks, state legislatures throughout the country are stepping up and putting marriage equality to the test in their respective legislative processes. Today, Maryland passed their Civil Marriage Protection Act by a vote of 25-22. Meanwhile, Texas still has our Constitutional ban on marriage.

With over 17,440 children in the state of Texas who are raised by same-sex couples, that’s an awful lot of kids who’s families are left unprotected by our unjust constitutional ban.

Over the last several weeks, the LGBT community in Dallas has been keeping the pressure on Mayor Mike Rawlings because he refused to represent his constituents in signing the Mayors for the Freedom to Mary Pledge.

Today, Friday February 24th, these organizers are asking for a little help in keeping that pressure up. They are asking anyone, whether or not they live in Dallas, to help by calling Mayor Mike Rawlings and asking him to sign the pledge.

Here is all you have to do anytime on Friday, February 24th,btween 9am and 5pm:

CALL: 214-670-4054

TELL THEM: “My name is______, I believe that all Texans should be able to marry the person that they love. I want Mayor Mike Rawlings to Sign the Pledge.”

Please be sure to be absolutely respectful. We only want to remind him that we are still watching and that we are not going to back down on our request that he represent his constituents.

You can further help by forwarding this email message to your friends and by sharing the facebook event page http://www.facebook.com/events/157864114333418/

Let’s help the folks in Dallas keep the pressure up!

Yours in Equality!

The GetEQUAL TX Team!

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Donations to GetEQUAL TX go to fund the fight for equality right here in Texas. They pay for materials for banners, signs, bullhorns and bail when needed. You can donate by credit card or paypal at the donate box in the left margin at http://www.getequaltx.org

GetEQUAL Texas is an all volunteer state-based chapter of GetEQUAL, based in Texas and fighting for full equality for LGBT Texans. You can follow GetEQUAL Texas on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GetEQUAL.TX or on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/getequal_tx.
You can also visit our website at http://www.getequaltx.org

Founded in 2010, GetEQUAL is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community and our allies to take bold action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way.

Gay Marriage Close to Legal in Maryland

From ABCNews:

ANNAPOLIS, Md. February 24, 2012 (AP)

Gay marriage is all but legalized in Maryland with the legislature giving its final OK Thursday to the law that is awaiting the expected signature of the governor.

The state Senate voted 25-22 for the law. The vote comes less than a week after the House of Delegates barely passed the measure.

Maryland will become the eighth state to allow gay marriage when Gov. Martin O’Malley — who sponsored the bill — signs the legislation.

Read the rest here: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/gay-marriage-close-legal-maryland-15779374#.T0bURfly7s4

Stylist to anti-gay marriage governor: No haircut for you

From NBC News:

By msnbc.com staff

A Santa Fe hairdresser is waging his own boycott of sorts: He is denying service to the governor of New Mexico because she opposes gay marriage.

Antonio Darden, who has been with his partner for 15 years, said he made his views clear the last time Gov. Susana Martinez’s office called to make an appointment.

“The governor’s aides called not too long ago wanting another appointment to come in,” Darden told KOB.com. “Because of her stances and her views on this, I told her aides, ‘no.’ They called the next day asking if I’d changed my mind about taking the governor in, and I said ‘no’ again.”

Read the rest here: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/23/10488531-stylist-to-anti-gay-marriage-governor-no-haircut-for-you

Gay Dallas judge won’t perform straight marriages

From NBC News:

By Greg Janda, NBCDFW.com

Dallas County Judge Tonya Parker says she won’t perform marriage ceremonies until homosexuals can be wed.

During a Feb. 21 meeting, Parker told the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas that while she has the power to perform legal marriage ceremonies in her court, she will not.

“I use it as my opportunity to give them a lesson about marriage inequality in this state because I feel like I have to tell them why I’m turning them away,” Parker said.

Read the rest here: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/23/10488677-gay-dallas-judge-wont-perform-straight-marriages

Mass-marriage remarks spark flap

From MySA.com:

By John W. Gonzalez, Updated 11:21 a.m., Wednesday, February 22, 2012

The honeymoon may be over between Bexar County and a preacher who performs free Valentine’s Day weddings on the steps of the courthouse.

Complaints from gay couples about the preacher’s remarks at a mass wedding last week prompted County Judge Nelson Wolff to call for a re-examination of the popular ritual and the perennial role of the Rev. Joe Sullivan.

Sullivan, who’s presided at the free weddings since 1989, couldn’t be reached for comment about claims that he offended several couples at the midnight ceremony Feb. 14 — the first of five that day.

Read the rest here: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Mass-marriage-remarks-spark-flap-3348327.php#ixzz1n9ofKNP7

BREAKING NEWS: DOMA ruled unconstitutional in California case

From San Diego Gay & Lesbian News:

Ken Williams – SDGLN Editor in Chief, February 22nd, 2012

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the U.S. Constitution’s equal protections clause, a federal judge ruled today in an important test case in California that could have national implications.

Lambda Legal just tweeted the breaking news, noting that this is the first DOMA-related ruling since the Justice Department said that the federal law is unconstitutional and that it would not defend it in court.

Tara Borelli, one of the lead attorneys in the case, said “This ruling spells doom for DOMA.”

Read the rest here: http://www.sdgln.com/news/2012/02/22/breaking-news-doma-ruled-unconstitutional-california-case

Santorum “homophobic,” former senator says

From CBS News:

By Robert Hendin, Alicia Budich, February 22, 2012 10:38 AM

Former Senator Alan Simpson had some choice words for his one time colleague, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.

“I know Santorum, I served with him,” he said. “He is rigid and a homophobic. He believes that gays and lesbians, he mentioned in an interview in 2003, about bestiality, and gays and lesbians. I think that’s disgusting,” said Simpson.

The former three-term Republican senator from Wyoming, who has always been known for both his candor and his ability to work across party lines, said Republicans are hurting themselves by focusing on social issues.

Read the rest here: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3460_162-57382599/santorum-homophobic-former-senator-says/