hehehe  just teasing (but some may be thinking that for real!)   I’m sorry I’ve been slacking with the postings lately but it’s for a good reason I SWEAR!  My baby and I bought a house together.  We made settlement on 5/15 and honestly, we’ve been working non-stop since then.  New carpet, paint, etc. etc.  And this past weekend we started moving the bigger items in…now we’re just basically going back and forth and moving the rest of our stuff in…ya know  clothes, cd’s, books, kids, cats, etc. etc.  lmao  All of the important thangs!

After I’m all situated, things will be back to normal here……..please just give me a few more days but I’ll do my best to try to make a post or 2 tomorrow because there are some fantastic things happening in the world right now in regards to glbt rights.

Btw, care to share any experiences you have may have had when you and your partner buy a house together and move into a primarily straight development?  Definitely want to hear about your experiences if you’ve happened to move into a very conservative/republican type of area with your partner.

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Posted under Misc.

You read that right. California’s Supreme Court ruled today that it is UNCONSTITUTIONAL to deny same-sex couples the right to marry.

But listen….California residents who are GLBT and also California residents who are friends or family members of the California GLBT community….there are those major opponents who are attempting to get an amendment going by November that will BAN SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

Sooooo, be happy and proud and breathe a quick sigh of relief in regards to the ruling today but then GET BACK TO BUSY and to what you know you and your family and friends need to do to keep protecting your rights as GLBT individuals.

For more information in regards to what is going on in your state and how you can keep up to date with this potential amendment and other issues….check out this link.

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Posted under Gay Relationships, Government, gay marriage, glbt rights

Do things like what happened in Michigan or what is being talked about in Pennsylvania tick you off? Want to learn how to protect your rights and actually learn what is going on in your area that may potentially take your rights away as a gay or lesbian individual?

Check out our interview with Stacey Sobel, Executive Director of Equality Advocates Pennsylvania. I sat down with Stacey last Tuesday at the Capital Building in Harrisburg after we attended a Senate Commitee Hearing about the SB 1250 bill, “The Marriage Protection” amendment, that they are trying to get passed in Pennsylvania.

I want to urge you to watch this video. Yes, Stacey and I are both located in Pennsylvania and we talked briefly about this bill in Pennsylvani but the majority of the conversation applies to everyone, regardless of where you live. Stacey shared many insights and advice on how you can protect your rights in your states. Please check out the video and let us know what you thought of it!

Once again, I want to take the time to thank Stacey for all that she does for the GLBT community in Pennsylvania! Your work truly is appreciated.

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Posted under Gay Relationships, Government, gay marriage, glbt rights, videos

The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that because of a 2004 amendment to their state constitution that it is illegal for employers to provide benefts to same-sex partners.

This includes health care and other related benefits.

I don’t even live in Michigan and this pisses me off! Seriously people, what is this world coming to when you can’t even give something as simple as HEALTHCARE to the person who you love and share your life with.

Honestly, I can’t see how anyone in Michigan, or this entire country, can think that this is OK. The bottomline is that 2 lesbians in love or 2 gay men in love..their relationship and their lives have ZERO effect on anyone else…..they do not effect anyones lives or relationships………..and the only thing they are portraying in the world is LOVE. Since when has love became such a bad word?

I’d like for every married heterosexual person to take a moment and think about your relationship, think about your struggles, think about your happiness, think about things you argue about, think about things you agree on….think about it……….think about how much you love your wife or husband, think about how you’d do anything for your wife or husband, think about how much you care about your wife or husband……. Everything you just thought about is EXACTLY what gay and lesbian couples think about too.

Now, please look at your husband or wife and imagine how you would feel if you state said that you could NOT provide something as simple as healthcare to your partner!!! How does that feel??

It’s absolutely ridiculous that the people of Michigan or any other state that has such an amendment in their state constitution, would actually ALLOW SUCH A THING TO OCCUR!!!! Each and every one of you that allowed such discrimination into your state constitituion seriously ought to be ashamed of yourselves!

You don’t have to be gay or lesbian to be outraged by your state constitution taking AWAY peoples rights instead of PROTECTING THEM! It’s absolutely pathetic. I just hope that Pennsylvania doesn’t make things even worse in their state with the SB 1250 bill they are trying to pass…….

Do we have anyone from Michigan who would like to comment on this? How about any straight folks? I want to hear what folks have to say…..am I the only non-Michigan person who is this pissed off by this ruling???

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Posted under Gay Relationships, Government, gay marriage, glbt rights

Remember we spoke about the “Marriage Protection” amendment that they were trying to get passed in Pennsylvania that would change the state consititution to basically ban any kind of civil union, domestic partnership, etc.

Well it is now stalled in the Senate. This in no way, shape or form means that it’s over….please read the email that I’m posting below that is from Equality Advocates Pennsylvania. It will give you more detail and tell you what’s next.

“S.B. 1250 Stalled in Senate!

Dear Carey,

Last night, the Pennsylvania Senate voted to “Table” the proposed constitutional amendment that would have banned marriages for same-sex couples, civil unions and possibly more for all unmarried couples.

SB 1250 is now off the voting calendar and can not be considered unless there is another vote to move it back on the calendar.

The prime sponsor of the legislation, Sen. Michael Brubaker (R-Lancaster), stated that he was proposing the legislation be tabled because the Speaker of the House, Dennis O’Brien (R-Philadelphia), was going to assign the legislation to the House State Government Committee if it passed the Senate. The House State Government Committee is chaired by Rep. Babette Josephs (D-Philadelphia), a strong supporter of the LGBT community, who is opposed to the legislation. Rep. Josephs has stated that she would not move the legislation out of committee.

It is important for everyone to understand that the bill is STALLED, not DEAD. Sen. Brubaker said that if the House indicates that the bill will go to another committee or that it is interested in voting on the bill, the Senate will bring it to the floor for a vote.

So we need you to call or email your state Representative now and tell them to oppose SB1250. Visit our Legislator Locater to find the name and phone number of your state Representative — please click on the “state” tab above the legislators pictures for your state elected officials.

Your calls and emails also had an impact. Many Senators were losing their enthusiasm for the legislation due to strong constituent opposition. We need to deliver the same message to the House.

Equality Advocates Pennsylvania was working hard in the Capitol to defeat this legislation last night and we will be there until this legislation is defeated. I would like to thank all of the members of the Value All Families Coalition and other allies for their hard work and dedication.

Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Your Representative (if you live in Pennsylvania)

Below is the sample letter:

Subject: Please Oppose Any Efforts to Move SB 1250 Out of Committee!

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

As your constituent, I urge you not to support SB 1250, the so-called “Marriage Protection Amendment,” or any other Constitutional Amendment that would deny legal recognition of unmarried families.

Senate Bill 1250 was tabled on May 6 in the Pennsylvania Senate. Please oppose any action to move this bill to the House!

I do not support the so-called “Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment,” and ask you to oppose it.

Please help to protect all Pennsylvania families and not harm some by writing discrimination into Pennsylvania’s Constitution, a document created to expand rights, not limit them.

Pennsylvania law already stops gay and lesbian couples from marrying. This amendment, therefore, is not necessary.

For the well-being of all Pennsylvanians, please vote against Senate Bill 1250 and writing discrimination into our Commonwealth’s Constitution.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Carey Buck”

——————————————————————————————–

It’s me again folks…..listen it really is super important for you to all actively participate in this entire process. Your futures depend on it! My partner and I were at the committee hearing last week and we went to our senators and expressed our opposition to the bill. We also called our Senator and Representatives yesterday and expressed our opposition again.

Please, please take 5 minutes out of your day to do the same. Just use that legislation locator above and find your rep and give them a buzz. Also, ask your friends and family members that live in PA to do the same. I just had lunch with my father today and was explaining to him everything that was going on with this and he was pissed! So you know he’ll make a call (my mom has been sending letters for quite some time now in regards to GLBT issues)….I’m sure your folks will too and anyone else that cares about you. It really is THAT important.

Send your letters but please, don’t forget to pick up the phone and speak to someone. If you can’t get your rep, leave your message with one of their aides or why not stop by their district office?? There is a lot that you can do and it doesn’t take that much time. Hey, I was painting my house yesterday but I took 5 minutes out of my day to make those 2 phone calls. It was a cinch. Please do the same.

Thanks everyone for your support thus far…let’s keep it going!

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Posted under Gay Relationships, Government, gay marriage, glbt rights

The Court of Appeals in NY refused to hear a case that challenged an appeals court decision where it found that same-sex marriages that were made in jurisdictions where they are legal must be recognized in New York.

Check out the rest of the article here.

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Posted under Gay Relationships, Government, gay marriage, glbt rights

Over 2,000 GLBT folks rallied to urge their legislature to legalize same-sex marriage.

A same-sex marriage bill was passed last year by the Assembly but it died out after the Senate did not consider it.

Keep at it everyone……remember, if you want things to change you MUST speak up about it. Contract your senators, have your friends and family contact your Senators………hook up with GLBT organizations in your local area that can help you figure out what is happening in your state Senate and can tell you how you can make a difference. YOUR VOICE COUNTS!

The Human Rights Campaign have a pretty useful system as far as picking your state, seeing what’s going on there and then being able to TAKE ACTION right away.

Also, check out this pamphlet from the hrc that gives you tips on how you can help yourself and the GLBT community and take action in getting things accomplished.

I also have a video and radio interview coming up in the VERY near future about ways you can help yourself and the GLBT community and really make a difference! Keep checking for that…….

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Posted under Gay Relationships, Government, gay marriage, glbt rights