WASHINGTON D.C. – DontAmend.com, one of the leading organizations working to prevent the anti-gay Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution, was the victim of a computer hacking attack on April 29, forcing the organization to temporarily shut down its huge email list of close to 20,000 people. The list was turned into an open posting system by the hacking, with literally 20,000 people being copied on routine administrative messages, causing a cascade of spam into subscribers' email boxes. DontAmend.com has issued an apology to its subscribers and a plea for financial support so that they can get the now secured list up and running on a new server.
Also, leaders of statewide gay rights organizations gathered in the nation's capitol for an emergency "Marriage Summit" to draft the plan to fight for marriage equality in every U.S. state and territory. The meeting was called by the Federation of Statewide Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Advocacy Organizations in Washington D.C. and took place April 22-26. Also at the meeting were experts in the areas of polling research, political campaigns, law, internet activism and more. The leaders returned to their respective states with a clear picture of what challenges to face and community resources to win marriage equality in every state. This strategy will be integrated with the existing strategies used by national GLBT organizations.
Alabama: The House Constitution and Elections Committee approved a proposed constitutional amendment to ban marriages between same-sex couples. It now goes to the full House.
California: The California Supreme Court plans to hear oral arguments May 25 on whether San Francisco's mayor had the authority to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The seven-member court said April 28 it would devote two hours to the arguments. Under court rules, the justices then must rule within 90 days.
Connecticut: State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said he would determine by the middle of May whether the state's laws recognize marriages between same-sex couples performed in Massachusetts. Blumenthal's decision will be in response to a letter Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney sent to leaders in 49 states questioning if laws in any state permitted gay couples to marry and stating that out-of-state gay couples will be prohibited from marrying in Massachusetts unless the laws in their home state permit the marriages. Connecticut's marriage laws have not been analyzed since 1980, when the attorney general's office ruled that state statutes did not specifically define marriage.
Kansas: Senators on May 2 adopted a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution to ban marriage between same-sex couples, leaving House passage as the only remaining obstacle to putting the measure on the November ballot. The vote was 27-13, exactly the two-thirds majority required for approval of a proposed constitutional change. The House planed to vote Monday, May 3 at press time. The proposed addition to the Kansas Constitution states that Kansas solely recognizes marriage between one man and one woman and denies the benefits of marriage to other domestic arrangements like civil unions.
Maine: Gov. John Baldacci signed a bill April 28 creating domestic partnerships in Maine. The new law, which takes effect in 90 days, extends domestic partnership rights to couples who live together under long-term arrangements and gives them the same inheritance rights as a spouse when a married partner dies without a will.
Massachusetts: Lawyers for the city of Boston are exploring whether it is legally possible to ignore a directive from Republican Gov. Mitt Romney to review residency documents before granting marriage licenses to gay couples. Romney wants cities and towns to enforce a 1913 law that says out-of-state couples cannot be married in Massachusetts if their marriages would not be recognized in their home state. The move is meant to head off a flood of out-of-state people applying for marriage licenses in Massachusetts when marriage for same-sex couples becomes legal in the state on May 17. Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino is considering ignoring the directive, if at all legally possible. Because the city has never asked heterosexual couples for proof of residency, asking homosexual couples for it may amount to discrimination and open the city to lawsuits, Menino said.
Meanwhile, Romney sent a letter to leaders of the 49 other states telling them out-of-state gay couples will be barred from getting married in Massachusetts unless officials in those states inform him that marriages between same-sex couples are permitted under their laws.
Also, thirteen state legislators asked the state's highest court April 27 to reverse its Nov. decision legalizing marriage for gays, a ruling that the same court reaffirmed in February. The lawmakers, represented by the American Center for Law & Justice which was founded by anti-gay televangelist Pat Robertson, argue that the Supreme Judicial Court lacked jurisdiction in the case under the state Constitution. Instead, they said, it is the Legislature and governor who are entitled to determine marriage laws.
New Hampshire: The House voted 213-140 April 29 to block recognition of marriages between same-sex couples. The bill now goes back to the Senate for review. The Senate passed a similar version of the bill last month. The House version also would establish a committee to look at what laws would need to be changed to make civil unions legal in the state.
New Jersey: On July 1 a domestic partnership law takes effect, giving gay couples the right to make medical decisions for each other and to file joint state tax returns. Although it's not even close to the rights married couples get, civil rights groups have praised New Jersey's leaders as progressive and fair-minded in passing the law. Partnerships between same-sex couples granted in other states will be honored by New Jersey. Couples will be able to register for partnership status at any municipal office in the state. To end a partnership, a divorce-like proceeding in Superior Court is required.
New York: A judge denied New Paltz Mayor Jason West's motion to dismiss a civil lawsuit seeking to bar him from performing marriages for same-sex couples after he performed a series of the weddings on Feb. 27. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for May 17. West also faces criminal charges for officiating at the weddings.
Ohio: Petitioners got the go-ahead to begin collecting signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 2 ballot that would require Ohio and local governments to recognize marriage as only a union between a man and a woman, the secretary of state's office said. The petitioners must submit 322,899 valid signatures of registered voters – 10 percent of the total vote in the 2002 election for governor – to the Secretary of State by Aug. 4 to qualify for the November ballot.
Tennessee: A constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman is headed toward the House floor for a vote. With no discussion, the bill was approved on a voice vote April 27 by the House Finance Committee. Even if the bill is approved this year by the House and Senate, it would have to be approved by a two-thirds majority of the next two-year General Assembly before it could go before the voters.
Washington: About 20,000 people filled a Seattle ball park for a "Mayday for Marriage" anti-gay marriage rally May 1 organized by conservative Christian churches around the state, according to the event's marketing director. Police offered no estimate. The event featured James Dobson founder of the notoriously anti-gay group Focus on the Family. Between 2,500 and 3,000 gay-rights protesters waved signs and chanted, "Bigots go home!" Arrivals had to walk between the counter-protesters to enter the stadium.
