Freedom

This week has turned out to be quite the watershed moment for Nevada. After years of seeing the state government fight equality, its leaders are starting to signal that the fight is finally starting to come to an end. When Governor Brian Sandoval (R) and Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto (D) announced their decision to drop their legal defense of marriage discrimination in the Sevcik v. Sandoval suit, we couldn't help but see it as a critical turning point in this story.

Yet even with that occurring, the fight is not quite over just yet. We were also reminded of that this week when a host of G-O-TEA politicians decided to follow Richard Ziser's lead (instead of Governor Sandoval's) and continue fighting against equality.

With all of this taken into consideration, there isn't a better time than now for Freedom Nevada to launch. While the Sevcik suit is working its way up the federal judiciary chain, there's still the matter of SJR 13. Even though it passed the Legislature last year, it must pass there again next year before it can reach voters in 2016.

This is why now is the perfect time for Freedom Nevada and other marriage equality advocates to spring into action this year. In order for SJR 13 to pass the Legislature next year, voters must elect a pro-equality majority to send to Carson City this year. And even should the Sevcik plaintiffs prevail in court in the mean time, it always helps to build a pro-equality majority to cement in place those legal victories.

We're closer now than ever before to securing the freedom to marry in Nevada. But even now, a final push is needed to make it happen. The past decade plus of fights haven't been easy and occasionally offered painful setbacks, but now is the time to finish the job. Freedom is almost here.

Duck Duck Goose

So it's back. And oh, we can hear that quack. The G-O-TEA Culture Warriors have declared victory in their latest battle for "moral value$.



Yet even as the 21st Century Know Nothings celebrate the return of their beloved "Dynasty", they fail to notice they're still losing the overall Culture War. Keep in mind that they're now having to play defense in Utah and Ohio! Never mind their supposed triumphant quacks, it's increasingly looking like the religious right is trying to duck inevitable defeat.

We've even seen these winds of change blow into Nevada in recent years. Just look at the remarkable journey of SJR 13 in Carson City this past spring.





After many years of dismissing the possibility of marriage equality ever coming to Nevada any time in the near future, politicians and pundits had to finally face the Nevada of the 21st Century... Along with the rest of 21st Century America. In case the remarkable progress of SJR 13 in Carson City wasn't surprising enough, the US Supreme Court then upped the ante with a groundbreaking ruling.

Edie Windsor was stuck with a $300,000 tax bill after her wife passed away. She and her lawyer decided to do something about it.

And as a result, not only does Edie Windsor not have to worry about that $300,000 tax bill, but she's also just set incredible legal precedent for LGBTQ equality going forward. [...]

Going forward, any and all laws challenged as discriminatory against LGBTQ Americans will face strict scrutiny in federal courts. And yes, this is a big f**king deal. Even though SCOTUS didn't enact nationwide marriage equality today, the days of marriage discrimination in America are likely numbered.

Because "The Supremes" decided to make a broad anti-discrimination statement in striking down much of DOMA while also letting stand the trailblazing Prop 8 trial court ruling (overturning California's marriage ban), the future is looking bright for Nevada's own marriage equality law suit. (This is now working it's way through federal courts while SJR 13 is awaiting a second round of passage at the state legislature.) And not only that, but the SCOTUS decisions also set good precedent for the Utah and Ohio cases. It's no longer a question of if nationwide civil marriage equality becomes a reality, but when.

This is why the TEA fueled religious right is now scrambling. And this is why it's making last ditch efforts to halt progress on LGBTQ civil rights by picking fights over transgender students, meeting space for H8 groups, LGBTQ workers' rights, and duck hunting reality TV stars. This year, even some G-O-TEA "leaders" acknowledged their days of "winning the Culture War" are over.

And really, this is something to quack about.

We've Come a Long Way.

Believe it or not, we're commemorating another anniversary this week. And yes, it's another civil rights landmark. 10 years ago this week, the Massachusetts Supreme Court issued a ruling that would forever change the way we view civil marriage policy.

In the last decade since the Massachusetts Supreme Court declared a gay marriage ban unconstitutional on Nov. 18, 2003, marriage equality has made significant gains with public opinion and within state legislatures. Now 14 other states and the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriage. Illinois is expected to join those states Wednesday with Gov. Pat Quinn’s signature to legislation approving same-sex marriage for his state.

“A decade after marriage equality arrived in Massachusetts, support for gay and lesbian Americans continues to rise to historic levels,” GLAAD’s Wilson Cruz told msnbc. “Anti-gay activists said the sky would fall, but the sun has shone; they said marriage would become weaker and that Americans would turn their backs on our nation’s founding principle of equality for all, but we’ve only moved closer.”

Indeed, a September poll this year found that 85% of Massachusetts voters saw a positive or little to no impact from gay marriages in the commonwealth. In the poll, voters in the state support legalizing gay marriage 60% to 29%. Nationally, support for marriage equality has almost doubled since 1996 when a Gallup poll found 27% of Americans thought same-sex marriage should be legal. In 2013, that figure jumped up to 53%.

It's important to look back at our history HERstory to understand what happened, where we are now, and how to move forward. Just 10 years ago, marriage equality was considered "radical" and "dangerous". And just 5 years ago, marriage equality was considered "too controversial" for the mainstream... And even the vast majority of Blue States!

But now, marriage equality has majority nationwide support, is finally recognized by the federal government, and is now the law of the land in 16 states and DC. Just this month, Hawaii became #15 and Illinois became #16. And more are likely on the way.

And let's not forget what's happening in our own state. Here in Nevada, SJR 13 passed Round 1 in the Legislature this year while Sevcik v. Sandoval (Nevada’s federal marriage law suit) has reached the Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals. After waiting a number of years and suffering a number of painful defeats along the way, Nevada is finally on the road to equality.

And 10 years ago, none of this was considered possible. Even in Massachusetts, then Governor Mitt Romney (R) requested a constitutional marriage ban! While we've run into plenty of obstacles in the past decade, we've nonetheless experienced a whole lot of progress.

Who would have thought a decade ago that opposition to marriage equality would one day become a political liability? We've come a long way, baby.

FAIL Family Feud

Every so often, this happens. Worlds collide. Feuds erupt. And the "political media" behave like Hollywood paparazzi.

We're seeing it again today. But this time, there's an interesting policy twist. And that's (the only reason) why we're talking about it here.

No, we're not talking about Kanye West's bizarre tirade against President Obama. Rather, we're looking at the fast erupting Cheney family feud.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney and his family are back in the headlines today after his daughter, Liz Cheney, went on "Fox News Sunday" to promote her Wyoming US Senate campaign. When Liz stated her opposition to marriage equality on national TV, that sparked the anger of the Former Vice President's other daughter, Mary Cheney. Even his daughter-in-law and Mary's wife, Heather Poe, joined the fray!

Things erupted on Sunday when Mary Cheney, a lesbian, and her wife were at home watching “Fox News Sunday” — their usual weekend ritual. Liz Cheney appeared on the show and said that she opposed same-sex marriage, describing it as “just an area where we disagree,” referring to her sister. Taken aback and hurt, Mary Cheney took to her Facebook page to blast back: “Liz — this isn’t just an issue on which we disagree you’re just wrong — and on the wrong side of history.”

But then Mary Cheney’s wife, Heather Poe, went further, touching on Liz Cheney’s relocation from Northern Virginia to Wyoming to seek office. (Liz Cheney is already battling accusations of carpetbagging in the race.)

“I can’t help but wonder how Liz would feel if as she moved from state to state, she discovered that her family was protected in one but not the other,” Ms. Poe wrote on her Facebook page. “Yes, Liz,” she added, “in fifteen states and the District of Columbia you are my sister-in-law.”

The feud reveals tensions not just within the family but in the Republican Party more broadly as it seeks to respond to both a changing America and an energized, fervently conservative base.

We never thought we would say this, but Liz Cheney’s "Fox News Sunday" fiasco may be even worse than Governor Brian Sandoval's (R-Dios Mio) Univision Las Vegas interview in April that made news for all the wrong reasons. Governor Sandoval had wanted to use it to celebrate his (late) embrace of comprehensive immigration reform, but it instead grabbed headlines because he reiterated his opposition to marriage equality. Yet as awful as that convoluted statement on civil rights was, it pales in comparison to a TV interview sparking a family feud that's reminding the entire nation of the Republican Party's Culture War full of FAIL.

While the Cheney family feud may be the story everyone is talking about, it gives us a chance to notice what other prominent Republicans are saying about LGBTQ Americans. In Michigan, they're tapping discredited "experts" to lie "testify" in court about LGBTQ families. In Indiana, they're pushing a marriage ban that most voters there oppose. In Illinois, they're planning a massive exorcism in a last ditch effort to stop marriage equality (no, really). And in Colorado & California, they're still attacking transgender youth.

And let's not forget who's setting the example from on top. On Capitol Hill, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Burnt to a Crisp) still leads the way in H8... And in FAIL.

Just a day after House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) claimed the LGBT workplace protections are “unnecessary,” he [made] sure that an anti-gay group has a place to meet on Capitol Hill.

The World Congress of Families (WCF) is an Illinois-based group that believes homosexuality is a “deviation” from sexual norms comparable to pornography, promiscuity, and incest, and it has been directly responsible for exporting American homophobia to countries like Russia, organizing trips for anti-gay leaders like the National Organization for Marriage’s Brian Brown to go speak with Russian lawmakers. They had planned a meeting today in a Senate office building that features three anti-gay voices: Austin Ruse of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), Janice Shaw Crouse of Concerned Women for America, and Steven Mosher of the Population Research Institute. The session, called “The Family in America,” is specifically geared toward sharing lessons learned from successful anti-gay campaigns in other countries — like Russia.

On Thursday, Republican Sen. Mark Kirk, who represents WCF’s home state of Illinois, realized that his office had booked the space being used for this anti-gay symposium and canceled access to the meeting room. A spokesman for Kirk’s office told BuzzFeed that the Senator “doesn’t affiliate with groups that discriminate.” As of Friday morning, it seemed that the event would not be able to proceed.

That was, at least, until Speaker Boehner stepped in and secured new meeting space for the group on the Hill.

So not only did the House Speaker diss LGBTQ workers while lying about ENDA, but he also intervened to save space on Capitol Hill for a H8 group meeting! He supposedly has no time for comprehensive immigration reform, but he always seems to make time to spread the message of bigotry. How precious (NOT).

And Republicans wonder why Senator Harry Reid (D-Fierce) is telling them to pull themselves together? Their behavior has been sickening, but not in a good way. Perhaps "spreppy" is a better description.

The Cheney family feud is really just the surface of the larger G-O-TEA Culture War FAIL. It remains to be seen how many more Republican politicians embarrass themselves and each other on TV before they realize just how FAIL-o-rific their support for discrimination is.

The Last Laugh

Roughly 18 months ago, a whole lot of heads were exploding in Carson City and Las Vegas. Why? Sevcik v. Sandoval was filed in federal court. And with that, Nevada finally had its own marriage equality law suit.

Last November, the trial court judge dismissed the suit... But he did so in such a laughably bizarre way that he was basically daring an appeal. And now, his dare has been granted in San Francisco.

On Friday, Lambda Legal filed their opening brief inSevcik v. Sandoval, the challenge to Nevada’s same-sex marriage ban. The same-sex couples who are plaintiffs in the case lost at the district court in late November last year. Their appeal to the Ninth Circuit was filed within months of the challenge to Hawaii’s same-sex marriage ban, and the cases were put on a parallel track (although Hawaii’s is now on hold pending a special session of the state legislature to take up a marriage equality bill.)

The brief, filed along with a request to allow for 26,500 words, is the first argument in favor of marriage equality to reach a federal appeals court following the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Windsor striking down Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). And theWindsor case figures prominently in the new filing. Picking up an argument made in Garden State Equality v. Dow, a state court challenge to New Jersey’s same-sex marriage ban, the plaintiffs argue that Nevada’s marriage ban now has stateand federal repercussions:

"Same-sex couples’ exclusion from the institution of marriage brands them as less deserving of equal dignity and respect and demeans them and their children. The marriage ban also blocks same-sex couples from rights and responsibilities across the entire spectrum of federal law."

Here's where it gets quite interesting. Keep in mind that this is the first marriage law suit to reach a federal appellate court since the US Supreme Court took a major bite out of marriage discrimination in its US v. Windsor ruling this past June. In that case, "The Supremes" essentially established a precedent in applying strict scrutiny to cases involving anti-LGBTQ discrimination while also striking down Section 3 of DOMA (or the "Defense of Marriage Act").

Now add this to The Ninth's history on marriage equality suits, and we can understand why Steve Sebelius is feeling bullish about Sevcik's future. Both The Ninth and The Supremes have ruled against government denying LGBTQ families the same relationship recognition and legal protection afforded to other families. Lambda Legal and the attorneys working for the couples suing Nevada recognize this, and that's why they cite the Windsor decision quite a bit in their brief.

Last November, Judge Robert C. Jones laughed this case out of his trial court. But in the end, the last laugh may be on him. Both legal trends and public opinion have shifted dramatically in favor of equality in just the past four years. Judge Jones may have thought he was thwarting a challenge to Nevada's current marriage law, but he may ultimately play a role in setting up an even bigger legal battle with even bigger results for LGBTQ families in Nevada and throughout the nation.

The Meaning of PRIDE

In March, the Nevada Legislature was abuzz over a constitutional amendment. Not that long ago, SJR 13 would have been unthinkable. But now, Nevada is on the path to marriage equality.

This and other recent civil rights advances were on everyone's mind at this year's Las Vegas PRIDE. There was plenty to celebrate this past weekend in Downtown Las Vegas. And there was plenty to reflect on. While the overall vibe of the Friday night parade was quite fun and lighthearted, there was a more serious moment.





Assembly Member James Healey (D-Enterprise) and State Senator David Parks (D-Paradise) briefly talked about what's at stake, especially in regards to marriage equality. They drove in the parade, along with Culinary 226, PLAN, ProgressNow Nevada, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-North Las Vegas), Rep. Dina Titus, and HRC Las Vegas. And they drove alongside floats for casinos, bars/nightclubs, religious groups, social groups, and much more.



The fun continued the next day at the PRIDE Festival at the Clark County Government Center... Along with plenty of good work. Representatives from Senator Harry Reid's (D) Las Vegas office came by to talk with festival goers. The Clark County Democratic Party and Southern Nevada Stonewall were registering voters at their table, while the PLAN crew were doing the same at their table. Oh, and Rep. Horsford even came by to say hi to festival goers.





Senator Parks and Assembly Member Healey later had a chance to speak again at the festival. They were joined by Assembly Member Lucy Flores (D-North Las Vegas), who shared what PRIDE means to her.



Throughout the weekend, folks were reminded of the meaning of PRIDE. After many years of struggles for acceptance, the seeds of equality are finally sprouting. In just the past four years, Nevada has seen progress on relationship recognition, hate crimes, employment discrimination, and more. Half of Nevada's Congressional Delegation (guess who...) now support full LGBTQ civil rights. And now, Nevada is finally on the road to marriage equality.







And of course, the festival had plenty of fabulous live entertainment. After all, this was a celebration. After many years of shame, Nevada's LGBTQ community can finally begin to reap the rewards of PRIDE.

The Dream Reaches New Frontiers.

Tomorrow will mark the official 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington. This is the march where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his now famous "I Have a Dream" speech. So of course, we've been talking here and elsewhere about how far we’ve come since then... As well as how far we still need to go to achieve that dream.

State Senator Pat Spearman (D-North Las Vegas) touched on this back in June, as Southern Nevada locals were celebrating the US Supreme Court's rulings on marriage equality. Those marked major achievements in LGBTQ civil rights. Yet even now, much more needs to be done.



In May, the Nevada Legislature passed SJR 13 to undo the state's current constitutional ban on marriage equality. It came after weeks of powerful testimony and nerve-wracking deliberation.





And it's still far from over. SJR 13 must pass the Legislature again in 2015 before facing voters for final approval in 2016. It's a long process to undo a horrible mistake made a long time ago.

This also reflects the current state of LGBTQ civil rights nationally. There have been some major achievements in recent years, but we still have more to do to achieve full equality under the law and in society. While the recent Supreme Court decisions were major steps forward, anti-equality campaigns in Arizona and New Mexico remind us of what still needs to be done.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

But then again, New Mexico is becoming the new state on the front line for marriage equality as four counties are now granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Even as some Republican lawmakers there are throwing a temper tantrum over this, at least one law suit there has already been decided in favor of equality. And the state's Attorney General decided not to defend marriage discrimination.


This week, we're being reminded of the ongoing struggles for civil rights. However, we're also having to notice current and emerging struggles for equality. The dream is far from over. Rather, the dream continues to expand to new frontiers.

Tipping Point

The last session of the Nevada Legislature was historic for many reasons. One was the passage of SJR 13. For the first time ever, the Legislature cast a vote in favor of marriage equality. And not only that, but the final vote for this session happened just weeks before the US Supreme Court issued its Prop 8 and DOMA rulings.



In a relatively short amount of time, we've seen a major sea change in public opinion both in Nevada and nationally. We're seeing yet another confirmation of this, courtesy of Gallup.

If given the opportunity to vote on a law legalizing gay marriage in all 50 states, the slight majority of Americans, 52%, say they would cast their vote in favor, while 43% would vote against it. [...]

In the same poll, Gallup asked a separate half-sample of Americans whether they think marriages between same-sex couples should be recognized as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages. The 54% saying they should be recognized conforms with the 53% expressing the same view in May, and prior to that in November 2012.

This is the first update of this Gallup trend since the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act in July, making same-sex couples eligible for federal benefits in states where gay marriage has been legalized. The court also reportedly paved the way for gay marriage in California, by denying supporters of Proposition 8 in California standing to appeal a federal court's decision declaring the anti-gay-marriage amendment unconstitutional. It thus appears that these much-anticipated, and widely covered, decisions did not cause any realignment of public opinion, at least in the short term.

Gallup used two separate approaches to measure public support for gay marriage this month, and they produced similar results: 52% would vote for a federal law legalizing same-sex marriages in all 50 states, and 54% think gay marriages should be recognized as valid, with the same rights as marriages between men and women. This adds to the body of evidence in Gallup trends that public opinion on gay marriage has reached a tipping point, whereby the majority now clearly supports it.

Again, this is a major change from the not-so-distant past, when many Democratic and Republican politicians did not want to be associated with "gay marriage". Now, Nevada Democrats nearly universally support marriage equality while Republicans are divided. We truly seem to be under going a major tipping point.

Of course, nothing can be taken for granted just yet. After all, SJR 13 still must pass the Nevada Legislature in 2015. And if that happens, SJR 13 then goes to a vote of the people in 2016 for final approval.

But now, LGBTQ equality advocates feel more confident. The tipping point seems to be here. Progress is being made, and even more is now within reach.

Closure

Last night, wedding bells were heard across California. While the US Supreme Court's dismissal of the Prop 8 law suit is now widely known, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision to vacate the stay yesterday came as an interesting surprise. And once that happened, marriage equality finally returned to California for good.

Four years ago, I still had raw wounds over what had occurred.

Prop H8 had passed in California. And even though I didn't have any immediate marriage plans, I nonetheless felt like all my future hopes and dreams were ripped away from me. I didn't know what to do... Until I got active in working to undo the damage.

Yet even though I'm seeing progress in my new home state, I still have raw feelings about what happened in California last fall. I still have wounds that are only starting to heal.

The yard signs that were stolen from my front yard. The homophobic insults coming from my own family. The belligerent Yes on H8 paid canvassers trying to bully my dad into taking away my civil rights. The "urine yellow" Yes on H8 signs being sprinkled all over my neighborhood by the anti-equality churches. These are my memories from the campaign.

The married couples wondering if their marriages were still "legally valid". The couples that waited too long and missed the chance to get a "limited edition marriage". The kids who were bullied in school before and after the election. These are still memories I have from the first days after Prop H8 passed.

Beating myself up constantly about why I didn't do more to stop this oncoming tragedy. This is the guilt I still have over my failure to do enough to stop Prop H8 from passing.

This was the ghost that was constantly haunting me. That's why I was taken aback when this happened.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

This week's marriage equality rulings have already been incredibly momentous. Yet even though they do remind us of all the work that must still be done to secure full equality in Nevada and nationwide, I must admit that yesterday's big news finally provided some major closure for me.

Shortly after the 2008 election, I felt sub-human at times. Why was it OK to campaign to strip away my civil rights and the civil rights of so many other Californians? That's why Judge Walker's 2010 ruling was so monumental... And why Wednesday's SCOTUS decision was such a relief. It finally provided closure.

One political campaign over one ballot initiative may not seem all that life changing at first. But when one looks at Prop 8 and all the other marriage ban initiatives, it's incredibly difficult to continue thinking that. Even though I was not in a relationship at the time, I truly felt like my dream was stolen from me. And I wondered when I could ever have it back.

That's truly the message of these discriminatory initiatives. These votes to take away people's rights dehumanize people. There's a reason why LGBTQ youth suicides and anti-LGBTQ hate crimes spiked after Prop 8's passage. That's why this one political campaign over this one ballot initiative mattered so much. It threatened not just the well being of families, but also the lives of many others with dreams of starting their own families in the future.


Now, I live in another state with its own marriage ban initiative that needs to be overturned or repealed. And one day, that will happen. And one day, LGBTQ Americans across the country will be able to fulfill their dreams. But at least for now, I'm finally experiencing some closure.

The Long Road Ahead

This week has been an incredibly momentous one for LGBTQ civil rights. As soon as the US Supreme Court issued its rulings on two critical marriage equality cases, Americans across the country (and here in Nevada) celebrated. Locally, we've been reminded of the continuing struggle for marriage equality here.





And yesterday, Jon Ralston provided another reminder. Specifically, Ralston was speculating on what might happen under a worst case scenario of a Republican takeover of the Nevada State Senate in 2014 and a loss of Senator Ben Kieckhefer (R-Reno, and the lone GOP Senator to vote for SJR 13 this year) to higher office or a primary challenge. Under this worst case scenario, what should otherwise be a re-passing of something that already passed could quickly become an ugly demise for equality.

This is a stark reminder of the high stakes and fragile road ahead for equality here in Nevada.

Sure, the Nevada Legislature is not the only path forward for marriage equality. As we speak now, Sevcik v. Sandoval is still pending in the Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, which is the same court that ruled on Prop 8 early last year. But as we saw with the Prop 8 and DOMA cases, federal law suits take a long time to resolve. And while the DOMA case especially sets a good precedent for LGBTQ civil rights going forward, it's still a gamble to speculate on how the US Supreme Court will specifically rule on Nevada's marriage suit.

So there are two paths forward to full civil marriage equality. Both are doable, but neither is 100% guaranteed. One likely requires Democratic control of both houses of the Nevada Legislature in 2015, while the other requires an amenable US Supreme Court with a majority inclined to use US v. Windsor (the DOMA suit) as precedent in Sevcik v. Sandoval. Equality activists will need to prepare to continue traveling up that long road ahead.

The Journey Continues.

Yesterday, we saw history made. Even though the US Supreme Court did not "go full throttle" to endorse nationwide LGBTQ equality, civil rights did advance in a big way with the scrapping of DOMA Section 3 and invalidation of California's Prop 8 marriage ban. And even though the rulings don't directly (legally) affect most Nevada families, Southern Nevada's LGBTQ community nonetheless found reason to celebrate the historic occasion at The Center.





And there were a number of special guests stopping by to celebrate with the community. Several Nevada legislators spoke, including State Senator Justin Jones (D-Enterprise). He came with his brother-in-law, and reminded the audience of the many reasons why today's rulings and the ongoing effort for SJR 13 matter.



And that wasn't all. Several other legislators spoke, including the sole Assembly Republican to cross the aisle to support SJR 13. And not only that, but Assembly Member Michele Fiore (R-Las Vegas) took to the stage with her mother! Now that's what I call real family values.



We saw many poignant moments at The Center yesterday. It was particularly moving to see longtime community advocates take the stage to take in what had just occurred. After all, they remember the (not so) long ago days when queer folk had to fight like hell just for the right to exist.





Long before Assembly Member James Healey (D-Enterprise) and State Senator David Parks (D-Paradise) were elected to serve in Carson City, they were fighting for equality. Obviously, they've never stopped doing so. And they certainly had something to say about it yesterday.





And so did Senator Pat Spearman (D-North Las Vegas), as she's also been working on this for some time.



As we discussed yesterday, this was a long time coming. Yet with that being said, we still have a long way to go to reach full equality in Nevada and nationwide.

There were many reasons to celebrate yesterday. Overall, the nation inched ever so closer in the direction of full equality. And for LGBTQ families in California, the long and harrowing nightmare of Prop 8 finally began coming to a close.

I should know. After Prop 8 first passed, I fell into incredibly deep depression. It took days for me to leave the house again. But ultimately, I had to pick myself up and realize what needed to be done next.

In many ways, what happened yesterday felt like closure to me. Finally, that horrifying nightmare was over. Finally, I felt more human again. Finally, I felt more equal again.

However, this journey is still far from over. There's still more to be done here in Nevada, and all the speakers at The Center yesterday reinforced that message. Relief and jubilation were quite palpable in that very hot parking lot, but so was the drive to continue the journey to full equality.

Some on that stage yesterday had to fight a number of political obstacles to advance LGBTQ civil rights in Carson City. Many in the crowd have had to overcome intense bigotry and discrimination to reach The Center and its very hot parking lot. There's been plenty of progress over the years, and yesterday marked another promising milestone of progress. Yet today, the journey continues. This story isn't finished just yet for us.

Highlights of the Nevada Legislature (This Year)

So it's over. After 120 days of intrigue, drama, coaltion building, infighting, progress, backslides, cheers, tears, and so much more, we finally have a chance to reflect on what happened during the 77th session of the Nevada Legislature. So now that we have a chance to step back and reflect, let's take one more look at the 2013 Nevada Legislature.

Perhaps one of the greatest highlights of the session was the passage of SJR 13, the constitutional amendment to repeal the Question 2 marriage ban and enact marriage equality in Nevada. Here, the conventional wisdom of what had been considered "possible" in Carson City finally burst as we saw an outbreak of true courage. After the sharing of much heart-wrenching personal testimony, equality ultimately won the day... For now. We just have to do this all over again in two years... Unless federal courts deliver a big surprise in the coming weeks and months.



Another surprising moment was the second round of passage for SJR 15, the constitutional amendment to remove multinational mining corporations' sweetheart deal from the Nevada Constitution. While SJR 15 first passed in 2011, it looked to be on very shaky ground early this year as mining industry lobbyists doubled down to kill it. But then, a major twist of fate occurred as a prominent Republican (??!!) stepped forward to snatch a politically convenient way to kill IP 1 embrace mining tax reform. Yet even as his own mining tax scheme proposal died an ugly death, new life was quickly breathed into SJR 15. And after another shocking outbreak of courage in Carson City, SJR 15 ultimately sailed through the Legislature and onto our ballots next year.

And that wasn't all. The Nevada Legislature also surprised many by easily passing SB 303, the bill that creates driver's authorization cards for undocumented immigrants and other Nevadans with difficulties accessing personal documents (like domestic violence victims). The success was found in framing this as a critical driver safety issue... And in some Nevada Republicans' desire to fix their "Latin@ problem". So even as Nevada Republicans in Congress start succumbing to their toxic "TEA" and complicate efforts to pass comprehensive immigration reform this year, the Nevada Legislature found one way to work around their obstruction.

But wait, there's even more! SB 374, the bill to authorize medical marijuana dispensaries in Nevada, finally passed at the last minute. The state has been facing legal trouble over confusing current law, so there was an opening to act. Yet while another bill to fully legalize marijuana never saw the light of day, a surprisingly bipartisan coalition for medical marijuana emerged. And after a surprisingly bizarre last minute hiccup, the bill finally passed on the final day and headed to Governor Brian Sandoval's (R) desk (where he has yet to sign or veto).

And finally, we saw some encouraging environmental progress in the passage of SB 229. Like SJR 15, this bill had some troubling history behind it. In 2011, the Legislature agreed to SB 271, a bill meant to tear apart the regulatory framework protecting Lake Tahoe. And even worse, it was done simply because of juiced up power players' greed and disgusting backroom politics. That's why Governor Sandoval initially threatened to veto SB 229 (and keep 2011's SB 271 on the books). But after California stepped in and threatened to "go it alone" to protect Lake Tahoe, Governor Sandoval soon flip-flopped and embraced SB 229. And all of a sudden, Nevada then decided to keep Tahoe blue after all (yet it remains to be seen just how much blue and green will ultimately remain there).

And there's even more to discuss. But if I keep writing, I won't ever stop. So we'll leave it here for now, and we'll soon pick up where we left off in reliving the most memorable moments of the 77th session of the Nevada Legislature.

Special Session?! (Yes, We're Going to Overtime.)

It's over now. Wait... It's supposed to be over now. Isn't it? Isn't it... WHAT?!





I know I wasn't the only one who was shocked to wake up to the 27th special session of the Nevada Legislature. But alas, it's now here. And Governor Brian Sandoval (R) has already been cooking up schemes to try to take advantage of this.

The special session proclamation arrived just before 4 a.m., directing legislators to convene at 4:30 a.m. and end at 8 a.m. to consider five bills.

Perhaps the most significant measure to die at midnight was Assembly Bill 496, which would have allowed the Clark County Commission to raise taxes to fund more police officers. That bill was first on Sandoval's list.

The governor also directed the Legislature to take up the measure that directed $2 million to the national nonprofit organization Teach for America. Recognizing that the bill would likely die in the Assembly, where Democrats strongly oppose the measure, Sandoval recommended instead that the money be directed to the Millennium Scholarship Fund.

Also on the proclamation is a bill to changing the oversight of the state's Charter Schools account, a bill on class-size reduction policy and another bill on tax abatements for economic development.

"The key bill is the More Cops bill," Sandoval's chief of staff Gerald Gardner said. "The second is the TFA bill."

Indeed, it was a the More Cops bill that set off a mad, last-minute scurry in the final seconds before the midnight close to the 2013 regular legislative session.

Governor Sandoval has been trying to sneak in some school privatization since last week. But so far, most legislators aren't biting. So instead, Governor Sandoval is agreeing to toss additional tobacco law suit settlement money into the Millennium Scholarship (but of course, not into health care for lung cancer victims or tobacco addiction prevention).

So how did we get here? Well, the 77th (regular) session did turn out to be quite a busy one.

Indeed, Democrats, who control both houses, pushed a number of liberal bills through the Legislature this session on issues lawmakers have largely been loath to broach before.

The gay marriage ban may be on its way to a voters repeal in 2016. Voters can decide whether to take mining’s tax protections out of the constitution in 2014. Immigrants here illegally will be able to get a driver’s authorization card in 2015.

A bill to require background checks on private party gun sales is on its way to Sandoval. Another measure would allow medical marijuana dispensaries to open in Nevada next year. And if fracking takes off in rural Nevada, a bill exists to regulate the controversial practice.

“It really is a sea change,” said Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, who pushed many of the bills on the progressive agenda. “Last session, we couldn’t even get a hearing on marijuana.”

Indeed, SJR 13 (marriage equality), SJR 15 (mining tax reform), SB 229 (saving Lake Tahoe), SB 303 (driver's authorization cards), SB 374 (medical marijuana dispensaries), and even more critical progressive supported bills passed this spring. To be fair, there actually has been plenty of progress in Carson City this year. Yet with that being said, we did ultimately run into the same problem we always seem to have in Carson City.

Yet even on overall tax reform and restoration of our state's public infrastructure, We the People will have the opportunity to provide leadership next year when SJR 15 and The Education Initiative will appear on our general election ballots. Yet because the Legislature couldn't get modest class size reduction legislation and authorization for more police officers for Clark County (funded by a surtax on sales tax here in The South) to the Governor in time, we're going to overtime.

And while we may have a few more days of wild song and dance routines, we already have a strong sense of what has to happen going forward.

Far from Finished

So this has been one hell of a Memorial Day weekend for many of us. It's especially been an awkwardly rough weekend for those citizen activists who worked tirelessly on AB 230 and improving teen safety. Last Friday, PLAN's Bob Fulkerson and Nevada Advocates for Planned Parenthood [NAPPA]'s Elisa Cafferata provided further perspective on what had just happened on "Ralston Reports".



Last Friday, we saw plenty of raw emotion explode all over the progressive blogosphere and social media. And yes, it even happened right here. I couldn't help it. I was so stunned, so verklempt.

Since then, we've had a chance to step back and notice the larger picture of what happened. For a "so angry one must laugh" take, check out Laura Martin's GIF loaded explanation. And if more catharsis is needed, check out Sin City Siren.



So now, let's take a moment and discuss the big picture some more. For so long, we've become accustomed to seeing the powers that be in Carson City as Kings and Queens of Pain who continually disappoint by agreeing to continue the failed status quo. That's actually a reason why We the People will be deciding on change at the ballot box next year.

Yet this session, we've also seen something we had not been accustomed to experiencing in Carson City: a slew of progressive victories. SJR 13 (marriage equality), SJR 15 (mining tax reform), SB 229 (saving Lake Tahoe), SB 303 (driver's authorization cards), and more progressive priorities have actually been advancing and winning in the Nevada Legislature. At times, activists have pinched each other to see if this is for real.

Yet while the bubble of happiness occasionally leaked with reminders of continuing fiscal madness, it didn't completely burst until Friday. The shocking demise of AB 230 reminded progressive activists of the continuing headwinds hindering further progress. How on earth could such common sense legislation aimed at protecting teens face such a ghastly demise?

It comes down to this: There's still a Republican Governor. And there are not enough votes in #NVLeg to override his veto(es). So it limits opportunities. Governor Sandoval had to be shamed into backing SB 229 and SB 303, and his action wasn't needed on SJR 13 and SJR 15. Yet on AB 230, he dug in his heels and refused to budge on his opposition... To educating kids on how to prevent teen pregnancies and spreading dangerous infections.

Could Senate Democrats have joined their Assembly colleagues in passing the bill anyway? Perhaps so. It would have been vetoed by the Governor, and perhaps it would have been fodder for the coming campaign cycle. (And it may still be anyway.)

Should Senate Democratic leaders have done this? It's often been recommended to "do what's right and let the consequences follow". I can't help but wonder why they couldn't have at least laid the blame directly on Governor Sandoval and shown everyone why comprehensive sex education couldn't become law in Nevada. Instead, there's no more bill... And these very Democratic leaders are being blamed for the bill's demise. Was it really good politics to treat good policy so badly?

Yet with that being said, it still would have resulted in AB 230's death. So what then? As NAPPA's Elisa Cafferata explained on Friday, there's still the possibility of parts of AB 230 being resurrected and amended into other bills. Perhaps this way, it will be harder for Governor Sandoval to veto it all way.

But whatever happens to the remains of AB 230 in the final days of the 77th session of the Nevada Legislature, progressive organizers and activists will again have to figure out how to regroup and move forward on this and other issues left by the wayside in Carson City. As we've learned the hard way on the above mentioned victories, they were all long and hard fought. They didn't come overnight, and they all met plenty of resistance along the way.



So what made the difference? You did. We did. The grassroots did. It took relentless advocacy to get us to the point where we are now. And clearly, we're still far from finished.

All too often, leaders in Carson City need for the grassroots to lead the way. That's clearly the case now. Regardless of what happens in the coming days, we're far from finished. One election can't change everything. Not even one legislative session can. It will take longer to achieve victories on issues like sex education and public education funding, but activists shouldn't throw in the towel just because of screwy politics in Carson City... Far from it.

We're far from finished.

Idiocy on Full Display

Today is supposed to be a joyous one for Nevada's LGBTQ communities. SJR 13 finally passed, and Nevada is one step closer to enacting marriage equality. But of course, leave it to the 21st Century Know Nothings to rain on our parade. But be warned, Heidi Harris just used this very graphic and offensive language on Twitter.

Does #transgender mean you can't locate your "parts"? That explains the GOP males in the #nvleg who have caved on #sjr13.

Of course, we all know what this means. Congratulations, Heidi Harris. You just earned this award.



Oh, where do I begin? Let's start with the real definition of transgender.

'Transgender' is an umbrella term often used to refer to people whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth. However, people whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth may not self-identify as transgender; some may identify as transsexual, trans, genderqueer, a person of transgender experience, etc. Transgender people may or may not use a different name or pronoun than the one they were assigned at birth, and they may or may not pursue hormone therapy or surgery. When in doubt, always defer to the way a person self-identifies.

And let's talk about the real discrimination that transgender Nevadans have endured. What the fuck is wrong with Heidi Harris?! Is she really that oblivious to the pain and suffering of real people who have faced intense bigotry and historic oppression?

And then, there's this. She actually suggested that legislators who voted for SJR 13 are "less manly". Oh. My. Gawd! Has she ever met Senator Ben Kieckhefer (R-Reno)?





While I've disagreed with Senator Ben Kieckhefer quite a few times this session, I can't deny the real courage he showed in bucking Republican leadership and standing for what he believes in. And Heidi Harris says this means Senator Kieckhefer is less of a man? What the hell is she smoking?

Well, I should remember that we are talking about Heidi Harris, local princess of the 21st Century Know Nothings.

Has anyone in the #nvleg calcluated the cost of #gaymarriage and family court? Extra judges? Nah, that would require brains #sjr13

Has anyone tried explaining to Heidi Harris the many economic benefits of marriage equality? Nevada is a top wedding destination. And Nevada has increasingly been engaging in marketing to LGBTQ tourists. Nevada stands to gain far more revenue in enacting marriage equality than incur additional costs.

Apparently, Heidi Harris is blissfully unaware of any of this. Perhaps she's angling for a job at the local "newspaper"? I can't think of another explanation for all this idiocy on full display today.

SJR 13 PASSES #NVLeg for This Session

Today is another huge day at the Nevada Legislature. Several key bills are about to receive a final verdict as the Assembly takes up several bills for final passage. One is SJR 13, the resolution calling to amend the Nevada Constitution to enact civil marriage equality.

The bill received just a few minutes of debate. Assembly Member Elliot Anderson (D-Paradise) began by explaining how many policies are addressed in the Nevada Constitution... And slaying the excuse given by Senator Michael Roberson (R-Henderson) in opposing it.

Wow @ElliotAndersonv is nailing counterarguments on #SJR13. Talks constitutional law, notes sponsors represent 1 million Nevadans #nvleg

And that's not all.

.@ElliotAndersonv speaking on #gaymarriage ban repeal "The will of the voters is changing as it has with me." #nvleg #SJR13

@ElliotAndersonv "This isn't about rights, this is about love." #SJR13 #NVLeg

Assembly Member Michele Fiore (R-Las Vegas) also had something to say on SJR 13 on the Assembly floor today.

.@AaronDFordNV @Jones4Nevada watching Assembly debate on #samesexmarriage ban repeal. @VoteFiore "Mom this vote is for you." #SJR13 #nvleg

We also heard some incredibly personal and heartbreaking stories on the Assembly floor today. Assembly Member Andrew Martin spoke of his own experience with marriage discrimination.

Asm. @andrewmartin, been w/partner for 27 years, but doesn't have same rights as everyone else. #SJR13 Everyone should have same rights.

So did Assembly Member James Healey (D-Enterprise).

Oh, sob. Asm. @james4assembly showing picture of deceased partner and talking about their dreams of marriage and family. #SJR13

The final vote was 27-14. All Democrats (save Peggy Pierce [D-Las Vegas], who had an excused absence) voted in favor, along with Republican Michele Fiore. All other Republicans voted against. SJR 13 has now passed this session, and it will be returning to Carson City for Round 2 in 2015. And Nevada has moved another step closer to marriage equality.

One Word

Wow. This is just what I needed. There's nothing quite like a good Thursday morning tear jerker. And today, the Las Vegas Sun delivered the goods.

Sun reporter Jackie Valley penned an article on the Flamer-Fletcher family. They're like so many other families in Southern Nevada... Except that they must endure additional discrimination. Why? Read below.

They live in a spacious Summerlin home that boasts four bedrooms, a three-car garage, an outdoor pool and a sizable patch of grass in the backyard. The environment screams family atmosphere, and it is.

[Greg] Flamer and [Fletcher] Whitwell, a gay couple, consider themselves and their adopted daughter a family like anyone else in the gated neighborhood. They love each other and spend their nonworking hours as a family unit. They take Hudson to swimming lessons and gymnastics classes. They go out for an occasional brunch or dinner. They travel to see relatives.

“I feel like we’re a very normal family and treated as such,” Flamer, 40, said.

But the road to becoming a family was a difficult one because of Nevada’s ban on same-sex marriage, which added extra steps throughout the adoption process, they said. Flamer and Whitwell are one of eight couples that filed suit in April 2012 to overturn Nevada’s ban on same-sex marriage.

The couple had to spend $60,000 and wait through several months worth of court hearings just to adopt their daughter, Hudson. They had to file for single-parent adoption in Oklahoma, then jump through additional legal hoops to bring Hudson to Nevada. Fortunately for this family, they had the resources to endure this incredibly arduous process. But for many other LGBTQ families in Nevada and elsewhere in the nation, they simply don't have the time and/or money to endure the intense process of protecting themselves and each other legally.

This is why Greg Flamer and Fletcher Whitwell decided to become co-plaintiffs in the historic Sevcik v. Sandoval law suit now pending in federal court. While trial court wasn't kind to them, the case is now pending in the friendlier Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals. And regardless of the outcome there, the case will likely then head to the US Supreme Court. And of course, the outcome of this case may be decided even sooner depending on the outcome of the Prop 8 and DOMA cases now pending in the US Supreme Court.

Yet while we're all waiting to see how the marriage law suits ultimately shake out, the Nevada Legislature has not. Rather, Nevada's LGBTQ families SJR 13 has been moving in Carson City this session. It still must pass the full Assembly in the next 11 days, then it must pass both houses of the Legislature again in 2015 before going to the voters for final approval in 2016. It's a long process, but ultimately it secures full marriage equality regardless of what happens in court in the coming months and years.

Still, I can understand how difficult it truly is for families like the Flamer-Whitwell household to have to wait on pins and needles for seemingly endless months for legislatures to debate bills, initiatives to go before voters, and cases to go before judges. But alas, such is life for Nevada's LGBTQ families today. Just don't try to explain this to Bush Administration Defense Scretary Donald Rumsfeld. He's caught the vapors over... Well, you just have to see his bullshit explanation for yourself.



I guess Mr. Rumsfeld has never met the Flamer-Whitwell family, Zaki family, and/or any other loving LGBTQ family. Below is more from today's heart wrenching Sun story.

“We have a lot of friends who are parents, straight and gay,” Flamer said. “I think we’re doing a pretty good job. She’s definitely well provided for and loved.”

Flamer and Whitwell would like to adopt again to give Hudson a sibling, but the obstacles associated with their classification as an “unmarried” couple make them uneasy.

But their desire to be married goes beyond procedures and benefits, they said. It’s symbolic of their love for each other and maybe even a little old-fashioned: They want to raise their daughter and any future children in a married household.

“We’ve flown to every corner of the country going to all our friends’ weddings,” Flamer said. “We’ve seen how wonderful it is for the whole family. That would be nice.”

Rumsfeld and other 21st Century Know Nothings claim "morality" as an excuse to deny equality to millions of loving American families. They just don't seem to notice the disgusting immorality of breaking families apart because of others' bigotry. While Nevada hasn't been as challenging of a landscape lately, families here are still denied over 1,100 legal rights and the most basic recognition of a loving, committed relationship.

It may just be one word, but it's one word that can wield so much power over so many families. It's one word that can break families apart or keep them together. It's one word that shouldn't be denied to millions of loving families just because of who they are.

SJR 13 One Step Closer to Final Passage (for This Year)

We've talked about it before. This has been one amazing spring on the equality front here in Nevada. SJR 13 is moving. And last week, we saw another round of powerful testimony in favor.







But in the end, today's results were pretty predictable. The Assembly Legislative Operations & Elections Committee passed SJR 13 on a party line vote. It now moves to the Assembly floor for its final vote of the session.

And from there, it must be passed again next session (2015) before it can go to voters in 2016. And if approved by voters in 2016, marriage equality will finally be the law of the land here in Nevada...

Unless the court(s) intervene soon.

A New, Fabulous Beginning

Today has been quite the day. Right on the heels of the Minnesota House of Representatives passing marriage equality legislation, the Nevada Assembly took on SJR 13. And already, its committee hearing rivals the Senate committee meeting in its historic value.

And yet again tonight, I'm thinking of wise words from my favorite philosopher.



Original SJR 13 Assembly sponsor Elliot Anderson (D-Paradise) kicked it off with a real zinger.

PLANevada: "More important than rights, is love" -- Assm Anderson #SJR13 #nvleg

Out Assembly Member James Healey (D-Enterprise) was also on hand to give an impressive encore

MackWarrenTV: @james4assembly"We have a right to change our minds-that's the beauty of this country" Healy's pushing for repeal of gay marriage ban #SJR13

Yet so far, the biggest surprise tonight has been... Another out of the closet moment. And yes, this one was another big surprise. Here's the bomb Assembly Member Michelle Fiore (R-Las Vegas) dropped on the Assembly Legislative Operations & Elections Committee yesterday.

MackWarrenTV: @VoteFiore "My mom is gay." Fiore wants to give her mother the gift of marriage in return for her upbringing. #SJR13 #nvleg

Was any one expecting this? It wasn't even until last night when I heard someone suggest Assembly Member Fiore was a "potential swing vote" on SJR 13. It turns out that she's not a swing vote... She's already planning to vote for marriage equality. And she wants to give her mom something special in time for Mother's Day.

And then, there was this. When was the last time labor and management showed this much solidarity?

bobfulkerson: Great to see @ydc226, MGM Resorts, and Caesars Entertainment speaking out in favor of Marriage Equality. @SEIU1107 also in support! #NVLeg

I can't help but think of what Bob Coffin said at Stonewall last night. We've reached the tipping point. Conservatives, business minded folks, labor activists, immigrant rights activists, faith leaders, progressive leaders, queer families, straight allies, and many more all recognize it. This is the beginning... Of something absolutely fabulous.

Oh, and speaking of absolutely fabulous.

PPSouthernNV: RT @PLANevada: Shout out to @DREAMBigVegas for being here w/their parents to support #SJR13 #TimeIsNow #nvleg

Indeed, this is the beginning.

Opportunity

Yesterday, we saw some of Carson City in Las Vegas. No, it wasn't that cold here. Rather, State Senator Ruben Kihuen (D-Las Vegas) held a town hall at the East Las Vegas Community Center while former State Senator and current Las Vegas City Council Member Bob Coffin (D) held a discussion with Southern Nevada Stonewall.

And at both events, plenty of important topics were brought up. Sex education (AB 230), marriage equality (SJR 13), driver's privilege cards for undocumented immigrants (SB 303), public education, and tax reform were discussed last night. Senator Kihuen answered questions from constituents...





And Council Member Coffin talked with Stonewall members & guests about what happens behind the scenes in Carson City and how to make change there.





And he wasn't finished there. Council Member Coffin expounded upon the advances of LGBTQ civil rights in Nevada and nationally in the last 45 years. And he shared more insight on how bills do (and don't) become law in Carson City.





All too often, Carson City seems like another world for Southern Nevada residents. Why do policies that seem like common sense here become so controversial there? And why do policies that seem so toxic here become law there?

Yet despite the great geographic difference, one can still make a big impact here and there. It takes determination. And it takes extended commitment.





Most civil rights advancements didn't happen overnight. That's often been the case here in Nevada. Yet with that being said, we've been seeing openings on matters like marriage equality and immigrant rights that didn't seem possible just a year ago. The same can even be said regarding tax reform and restoring public education.

The opportunity is here. It's now a matter of how much progressives take advantage of it.