Meet Its Match

Remember this gem from last month? NRA lobbyist Brian Judy was very upset over Nick Hanauer donating to the pro-I-594 campaign in Washington State. So he went Godwin and slid down the rabbit hole into "libertarian populist" gibberish.



We can't help but wonder what Brian Judy is saying now. Nick Hanauer just delivered on a $1,000,000 pledge he made in June for I-594. And none other than Bill & Melinda Gates. The philanthropists and tech industry legends also donated $1,000,000 to the Yes on I-594 campaign.

Go ahead and queue the "libertarian populist OUTRAGE!!!!11111!!!111" now.

Also go ahead & ask this: If the NRA is so "OUTRAGED!!!" at the likes of Bill Gates, Nick Hanauer, and Michael Bloomberg spending on pro gun safety campaigns, why did the NRA spend over $25 million during the 2012 election cycle? Why have the NRA and its gun industry backers spent so heavily on lobbying and campaigning during the past couple of years?

We've seen the results of the NRA's political shopping spree here in Nevada and nationally. A basic background checks bill was filibustered in Congress last year. Similar state level background checks legislation was vetoed by Governor Brian Sandoval (R-NRA) shortly after. And the NRA has bought itself "open carry orgies" across the nation, from Georgia to Idaho to Florida and elsewhere.



But now, the NRA wants us to believe it's concerned about the overflow of money in politics? That's funny. We don't remember the NRA endorsing any kind of state or federal campaign finance reform legislation. (That's because the NRA never has.)

So why are NRA mouthpieces now screaming at Bill Gates? They're just worried about the NRA finally meeting its match. And now that Nevada is now considering The Background Check Initiative, the NRA is running scared.

In an ideal world, none of this would be necessary. In an ideal world, we'd have a clean money system in place so that no well heeled special interest could buy oneself whatever policies one wants. Hell, in an ideal world, we wouldn't have to resort to ballot initiatives to make major policy changes!

But alas, we don't live in the ideal world. We live in the real world. Yet in this real world, the NRA has finally met its match. And that's why it's suddenly worrying about the big money rolling in for gun safety reform.

What Boobs

They still haven't learned. And no, not even an entire online TV channel can save the fine folks at the NRA from their own insani-TEA. Hell, not even an entire online TV channel can save the NRA (and its BFF Open Carry Texas) from an army of topless women armed with "boobs for peace"!



But wait, there's more. Not wanting to be outdone by a bunch of ragtag Texas women daring to "bare it all", the NRA decided to go Godwin.

Oh, yes. That's right. An NRA lobbyist Brian Judy actually compared expansion of background checks to the genocidal tyranny of Nazi Germany. Wait, what?!

The NRA and its "TEA" powered allies in Washington State are furious over Seattle venture capitalist Nick Hanauer supporting I-594. So not only did the NRA decide to engage in "Everyone gets a gun!" style socialism, but one of its Washington lobbyists actually attacked Hanauer, his Jewish heritage. And then, he claimed Hanauer is trying to disarm the proletariat, provoke Helter Skelter, and celebrate his family's escape from Nazi Germany by endorsing the alleged policies that would have exterminated them.



Wait, what?! We know the NRA is trying hard to "rebrand" itself as "the nation's oldest civil rights organization", but this is just beyond the pale. It was bad enough when the NRA celebrated George Zimmerman's ruthless slaughter of Trayvon Martin. It only worsened when the NRA then encouraged Cliven Bundy and his "Patriot Movement" comrades to start a "Range War" in Bunkerville. And it only became more tragically revolting when the NRA's favorite G-O-TEA politicians boasted about being "what stood in the way" of mere background checks legislation (like Washington's I-594) that could have prevented Jerad & Amanda Miller from obtaining the weapons they needed to slaughter two Las Vegas Metro police officers and one civilian in June.

Those women in Austin may have revealed their bare breasts as a response to ammosexual idiocy, but the NRA and its allies seem to be the real boobs here. Either they're incredibly clueless about their own "legacy of civil rights", or they're attempting to be "too clever by half" by adopting this rhetoric. Either way, they sound like idiots. Either way, they're the ultimate boobs.

Caught

Last week, someone was arrested. She registered to vote in Clark County... Twice, as a Republican and as a Democrat. And Biqui Diana Parra Rodriguez has been caught.

In April, Hortencia Segura registered as a Republican in Washoe County... Even though she's not a citizen. And she was caught.

Last week, Washington State Rep. (and aspiring Hollywood beefcake) Mike Hope (R) resigned from the Washington Legislature when news reports revealed that he has been registered to vote in Washington State and Ohio since last summer. Once he resigned, Mike Hope then revealed that he hasn't had a permanent address in his district for a while. In fact, he no longer has a permanent address anywhere in Washington State. He's now relocating back to Ohio. Oh yes, and he has been caught.

Notice a pattern here? For one, all these registration fraud cases just happened to involve Republican voter registrations. And ultimately, all of them were rather quickly caught.

But of course, certain G-O-TEA politicians (cough- Barbara Cegavske -cough) are now demanding voter suppression. And of course, they do so whenever stories like these emerge. Never mind that members of their own party were doing it. Never mind that they're advocating a system where voters are presumed guilty before they can prove their innocence, something that is the exact opposite of American legal tradition. And never mind that the tiny handful of people who try their hands at voter registration fraud are ultimately caught in a rather short amount of time.

So why are they now demanding voter suppression (again)? Why do they want to risk violating the legitimate voting rights of many thousands of Nevadans and millions more Americans? Why are they demanding a "solution" in search of a problem?

The jig is up. They've been caught. We can see right through this latest political stunt, and we sense we're not alone.

Here's the Solution.

Yesterday, it offered its latest "solution" for "security". And yes, that "solution" involves more guns. The NRA wouldn't have it any other way, even if that means more guns in schools.

Yet while the NRA is busy "rebranding", gun safety advocates seem to be busy preparing to win some elections.





Last night, we dropped by an OFA phone bank. And this wasn't just any phone bank. Southern Nevada volunteers were calling into Washington State for I-594.

Why? Initiative 594 (I-594) is the background checks initiative on this fall's ballot there. Just like Nevada, a handful of politicians in Olympia (Washington's State Capital) blocked a background checks bill that had strong public support. So after the bill died in the State Capitol, gun safety advocates gathered more than enough signatures to place I-594 on the 2014 general election ballot.

Last night, OFA volunteers in Henderson were calling voters in Washington State to explain I-594 and ask them to vote for this background checks initiative. The NRA & gun industry have been hoping that lower midterm turnout and snazzy "media strategy" would be enough to kill I-594. But last night, volunteers were calling voters the NRA wasn't counting on to vote. And they were sharing with these voters the message the NRA doesn't want them to hear.







While the NRA wants to continue debating the "philosophy" of "well regulated militia" and trying to redefine the English language, the rest of America wants an end to the bloody reign of #gunfail. The rest of America is looking to end the armed madness that senselessly threatens so many lives.

#GunSense will be on the ballot in Washington State this year... And may then be on the ballot in Nevada in 2016. And perhaps in more states, voters will finally have the opportunity to do what the NRA has forbidden so many politicians from even considering. Here may finally be the solution concerned citizens have been looking for.

This Isn't Child's Play

Target is a big store. One can now find clothing, electronics, home appliances, fast food, a pharmacy, and even a grocery store there. For some, it's all about convenience. However, we suspect most of those shoppers wouldn't want to find a certain item lying around at Target...

Especially in the children's department, lying around with toys. Yet in March, Open Carry Texas began posting photos to its Facebook wall of members packing heat in Target. And yes, they were even carrying AR-15 assault weapons in the children's department.

Then last week, a loaded gun was found in the toy aisle of a Target in South Carolina. Think about that. What if that gun had fallen into a child's hand? Then we certainly wouldn't be talking about "child's play" any longer.

Students and faculty at Seattle Pacific University had to endure everything but "child's play" last Thursday. A gunman opened fire and shot one person dead.

The shooter wanted to kill even more people last Thursday, but he was thwarted by two things. One was the limited magazine capacity of his handgun. The other was the pepper spray that SPU student Jon Meis used to subdue the shooter.



Jerad Miller had an extensive criminal record. Both he & his wife, Amanda Miller, had openly boasted about their plan to "start a revolution", overthrow President Obama, and kill police officers. How was he then able to purchase firearms?

Joseph Robert Wilcox attempted to thwart the Millers at Walmart yesterday. He didn't realize that Amanda Miller was right behind him. Just as Wilcox was taking out his concealed pistol, Miller shot him dead from behind.

The NRA's theoretical "good guy with a gun" became a reality yesterday. He also passed away. Sometimes, just being that "good guy with a gun" isn't enough to stop the "bad guy with a gun".



This isn't child's play. Guns are not meant to be toys. And gun violence is an issue we sorely need to take seriously.

Target & Walmart are big stores. We can find many things there. We shouldn't be finding the end of our lives there. Target & Walmart may carry plenty of toys, but this isn't child's play. We can't ignore this bloody reality any longer.

Make Ends Meet

There's a reason why a number of Southern Nevada's fast food workers took part in #FastFoodGlobal last week. They're working incredibly hard to survive. Yet even as they're working, they're still finding it difficult to survive and make ends meet.

Just look at the numbers Desert Beacon unearthed earlier today. Those numbers tell a sobering story. Even workers who earn slightly more than the minimum wage struggle to make ends meet for their families.

Yet when we've seen Congress debate even a fairly modest increase in the minimum wage, we've heard the usual "job killing" rhetoric from G-O-TEA politicians. Rep. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) tried it at a Henderson town hall in February. And Senator Dean Heller (R) tried it when he voted against raising the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. (FYI, #FastFoodGlobal strikers last week were demanding $15 per hour because that's what a parent with child needs just to make ends meet.)

What they fail to acknowledge is that Washington has the highest state minimum wage in the nation... And the highest rate of growth for small business employment last year. They also fail to acknowledge is that San Francisco has the highest municipal minimum wage in the nation... And the highest rate of growth for small business employment. Oh, and Seattle is the #2 city for small business growth. It's the largest city in Washington State, and it's now implementing a plan to #RaiseTheWage to $15 per hour citywide by the end of the decade.

We've yet to figure out how businesses would be hurt by guaranteeing workers' ability to make ends meet. To the contrary, workers with higher wages mean consumers with more income to drop back into the economy. And that ultimately means less poverty and more economic growth.

If anything, our current system isn't working. Case in point: McDonald's, the nation's largest fast food chain. McDonald's low wage business model costs US taxpayers an average of $1.2 billion per year due to McDonald's forcing its workers to utilize the social safety net just to make ends meet. And McDonald's executives are wondering why their company's profits have been so weak lately?

Maybe it's because low wage workers are struggling so hard just to make ends meet that they can't afford to buy their kids a lot of "Happy Meals"? Maybe it's because they've contributed to the inequality gap that's threatening to undo the foundation of this very nation? Maybe it's because their short term avarice has harmed their company's (and this nation's) long term success?

Think about it. How are we supposed to succeed as a society if so many of our people are finding it increasingly difficult just to make ends meet? And how can our democracy function if so few can afford to participate? How will America then be able to make ends meet?

Now It's Really Scary...

And now, it gets worse. Certainly, the current manufactured crisis has led to anger across America. But now, it's getting bloody... Literally.

Just two and half weeks after the Navy Yard Shooting, another shooting has occurred in the Nation's Capital. And this time, it happened on Capitol Hill.

The United States Capitol was placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon after shots were fired in the vicinity of the chamber. At least one Capitol Police officer was injured, officials said

The FBI was responding to the scene, and a helicopter landed in front of the Capitol. A message from the Capitol Police ordered anyone in a House office to "shelter in place."

"Close, lock and stay away from external doors and windows," the message said. [...]

“We’ve locked the doors. We closed the window shades. And we are awaiting further instructions,” Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) told MSNBC. “We’re more or less cut off here. We’re watching TV and just trying to figure out what happened.”

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I guess it was only a matter of time before this erupted. People across America are angry. And they're without work. And a raging manufactured crisis has become a real source of pain.

Apparently, this began with an attempt to breach White House security. When that didn't work, the suspect then attempted to flee from police in a high speed chase along Pennsylvania Avenue.

But shortly after reaching the US Capitol, a shootout with the suspect occurred. And she was then shot by police. A Capitol Police officer was also shot and is now in critical condition.


It's terrible enough that we don't have a functioning government. But now, we also have to worry about violence tearing down what's left. What are we coming to? What's about to become of this nation?

Endless Cycle of Tragedy

Yesterday, the US Senate went to recess. While a decision like this would usually be met with criticism, this happened for a very understandable reason. Keep in mind that the US Capitol is less than two miles from the Navy Yard.

Here's what Senator Harry Reid (D) had to say when he announced the recess.



And that's not the only local aspect of this story. Don Andres is on Rep. Steven Horsford's (D-North Las Vegas) DC staff. He also lives near the Navy Yard, so he was eyewitness to the terror that fell upon his neighborhood. He spoke with MSNBC's Chris Hayes about what he experienced yesterday morning.

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What happened yesterday was horrific. And it was quite saddening. However, it wasn't all that shocking.

Six of the twelve deadliest mass shootings in US history have occurred in just the past six years. Think about it. Oh, and three of those mass shootings have occurred just in the last fourteen months: the Aurora, Colorado, theater massacre; the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut; and yesterday's Navy Yard massacre in Washington, D.C.

We're now staring down an endless cycle of tragedy, yet all we hear from the gun lobby is ruthless spin. When will the madness end? When will more elected "leaders" actually develop the courage to lead?

In so many other ways, we take precautionary measures to prevent horrific tragedies like the one that happened yesterday in DC. Yet when it comes to the most basic precautionary measures, "we can't go there" because they're "too controversial". And the endless cycle of tragedy continues... (Until we can finally agree to do something to stop it. When will that happen?)

Update on Navy Yard Shooting

This morning, many of us were awaken to the horrific news of the Navy Yard Shooting in Washington, D.C. At least seven have died today. And law enforcement in the nation's capital are now on a manhunt for the two surviving shooters. (Police now suspect three shooters committed the massacre.)

“The big concern for us right now is that we have potentially two other shooters that we have not located at this point,” Lanier said.

Lanier described one of the possible shooters as a white male wearing what appeared to be a khaki tan military uniform and a beret, and carrying a handgun. She said police also are looking for a black man, about 50, wearing an olive military-style uniform, and possessing a “long gun.”

Police are asking anyone with information on these two people to call 202-727-9099.

Authorities have confirmed at least seven fatalities, including the shooter.

At least two police officers were among those shot. Police on the scene said one is a D.C. Metropolitan Police officer who was shot twice in the leg and was evacuated to a hospital. Lanier said he was in stable condition after engaging the shooter with gunfire. The other was a base officer. The D.C. officer, a male, was conscious at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and his chances for survival were good, hospital officials said.

Three victims are in critial condition and are being treated at Washington Hospital Center. Two are civilians, and one is a Washington Metropolitan police officer. All were likely shot using a semi-automatic assault weapon.

Before President Obama was set to deliver his scheduled speech on the state of the economy, he commented on the shootings.



The shootings occurred less than two miles from the US Capitol and just east of the Washington Nationals Stadium. So far today, this has led to closed schools, closed roads, and plenty of fear throughout The Beltway as two of the three suspects are still on the loose.

This morning, many of us woke up to the news of yet another gun violence tragedy. Seven people are now dead, and another three people are still in the hospital and in critical condition. And so far, examinations of the gunshot wounds seem to confirm earlier reports of the shooters using AR-15 assault weapons.

And this tragic, horrific beat goes on...

(We'll keep updating the blog as more news breaks on the Navy Yard Shooting.)

Another Day, Another Tragedy

Today, we have another unfolding tragedy on our hands. And this time, it's happening in the nation's capital. Yes, there's been a shooting at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.

The Navy said at least three shots were fired at 8:20 am (13:20 GMT) in the headquarters building of the Naval Sea Systems Command.

About 3,000 people work at the headquarters.

Al Jazeera's Rosiland Jordan, reporting from Washington, said the shooter may have barricaded himself on Navy Yard grounds. Witnesses saw police with rifles running towards the building where they believed the attacker might be.

One of the injured was said to be a police officer, shot in both legs.

Twelve people were shot this morning. And two of them were police officers on duty. And just moments ago, four were announced dead.

There's also a local angle to this story. About an hour ago, Tim Hogan (who works communications for Rep. Steven Horsford [D-North Las Vegas]) tweeted photos from the crime scene. Another Horsford staffer, Don Andres, was near the Navy Yard at the time of the shooting.

The shooter(s) apparently used an AR-15 military grade assault weapon. And the shooter(s) used it at a US Military office to kill people there.

At this point, it's unclear if the shooter(s) was/were military staff or civilian(s). There are now even reports of potential multiple shooters. The Navy Yard ad surrounding neighborhood are still swamped with first responders, as the Navy Yard is still being treated as an active emergency.

So another day, another tragedy. Another week, another horrific incident of gun violence. And we still must wonder what it will take for us to finally stop this bloody madness.

What Does Prop 8 Ruling Mean for Nevada?

On Tuesday, we were delighted to see the Ninth Circuit ruling that upheld the 2010 overturning of California's Prop 8 marriage equality ban on federal constitutional grounds. And while most of the focus has been on marriage equality in California, there are also questions on what happens next here in Nevada. KNPR hosted a good discussion on marriage equality in "State of Nevada" yesterday with State Senator David Parks (D-Paradise) and Steve Sebelius. And yesterday afternoon, Sebelius wrote more about this on his blog and explained why our Question 2 marriage equality ban probably isn't going away any time soon.

So wait, what just happened? Yes, a 3 judge panel of the Ninth Circuit struck down Prop 8... But they did so on narrower grounds.

The narrow legal grounds on which the court decided to affirm Walker's decision about the constitutionality of Proposition 8 were those established by the U.S. Supreme Court in Romer v. Evans -- referenced as a possibility by Metro Weekly earlier today.

[Ninth Circuit Judge Stephen] Reinhardt introduced the discussion of Romer by noting of California's amendment, "This is not the first time the voters of a state have enacted an initiative constitutional amendment that reduces the rights of gays and lesbians under state law." In Romer, Colorado voters adopted an amendment prohibiting state and local entities from passing sexual orientation protections. The U.S. Supreme Court struck Colorado's Amendment 2 down as a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause because the amendment's aim was "not to further a proper legislative end but to make [LGB people] unequal to everyone else."

Reinhardt then wrote: "Proposition 8 is remarkably similar to Amendment 2."

So what does this mean? Well, the bad news here is that this new ruling applies exclusively to California for now, and that the court wasn't interested in addressing other state marriage equality bans, such as Question 2 here in Nevada (despite Nevada also being in the Ninth's jurisdiction). And moving forward, it's not incredibly likely for the full Ninth Circuit or The US Supreme Court to take a broader view of marriage equality nationwide with this case (though it's far from impossible, as some legal experts think "The Supremes" may be inclined to take a broader view if they decide to take the case).

However, the good news here is that the narrower scope placed by the Ninth may lead The Supreme Court to decline an appeal and let this ruling stand. If that happens along with the full Ninth Circuit upholding this ruling, then same-sex weddings will resume in California sooner rather than later.

And regardless of the narrow scope of this ruling, this Ninth Circuit panel nonetheless set an important legal precedent. On Tuesday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals unequivocally stated that discrimination against LGBTQ families is unconstitutional. The court also used strong language to explain how important marriage is as an American institution, and that it's unconstitutional to demote LGBTQ families to a type of relationship recognition that's less than civil marriage. So despite this ruling being narrowly tailored to California, it was nonetheless decided on critical federal grounds, chiefly the 14th Amendment and equal protection, that paves the way for a future federal legal challenge to Nevada's Question 2.

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As Steve Sebelius noted yesterday, replace the ruling's references to "Proposition 8" and "California" with "Question 2" and "Nevada", and the very same legal reasoning can be used to declare our marriage equality ban unconstitutional. All that needs to be done is to wait and make sure that Tuesday's Ninth Circuit ruling stands, then find someone here in Nevada willing to sue in federal court and make a case on Question 2.

Or of course, there's the other route still available to Nevadans. The State of Washington is set to become the next state to allow for full civil marriage equality (and hey, don't forget to thank WA Governor Chris Gregoire here!). And while they were able to do what we can't do (just pass a bill), they may have to go back to the ballot box to defend this win... Which we can do. Now amending our state's Constitution can also be a long and grueling process, but it may also be an attractive option as the political tide turns in favor of equality. In addition to Washington, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Maine, and possibly even California may also be voting on marriage equality this year. And if pro-equality advocates finally see major ballot box victories this year, perhaps we'll see more willingness to ask Nevada voters to reconsider Question 2 soon.

So unfortunately, Nevada's LGBTQ families will have to wait a little longer before they can start rushing to wedding chapels from Lake Tahoe to the Las Vegas Strip. However, hope remains on the horizon. With the federal legality of Prop 8 questioned, and with the political momentum for equality building throughout the country, the days of marriage discrimination here in Nevada may indeed be numbered.

(In the mean time, don't forget to thank Washington's Governor for standing up for equality!)

Best of 2009 #2: "Maine (& Washington, & Nevada): Why Marriage Matters"

Probably one of the biggest disappointments for me in 2009 was the stinging marriage loss in Maine just one year after Prop H8 stole fundamental civil rights away from LGBTQ Californians. Conversely, the biggest victories for me were the comprehensive DP wins here in Nevada and up north in Washington State. So as I reflect on all that's been queer in 2009, I want to go back to something I wrote just before the November election on why marriage matters.

...

OK, so the Yes on H8/Yes on 1 anti-equality forces are now saying they "don't oppose civil rights". Uh-huh. So they just want "equality by another name"?

Not really. After all, why did these same religious right forces fight SB 283 here in Nevada that isn't even marriage?



And by the way, Maine Domestic Partnerships are not even comprehensive like ours in Nevada. They're very limited to only a few medical decisions and property rights. Is this type of third-class (since it isn't even second-class) citizenship what Yes on 1 calls "equality"?

OK, so let's assume some of these Yes on 1 folks are serious about "changing" Maine's domestic partnership law to look more like Nevada's. I did my homework on SB 283, the domestic partner law that's now being practiced here in The Silver State. I did my homework and I know what's in the bill and what isn't. Let me give you the gist of SB 283.

[State Senator and SB 283 author] David Parks wasn't joking when he said that this is NOT marriage. While SB 283 provides for domestic partnerships (DPs) that are supposed to treat "domestic partnered" couples just like married spouses, let's remember that this theory doesn't always work out in practice. So while we celebrate the first major advance in civil rights in Nevada in decades, let's keep working toward the final goal of true civil marriage equality. [...]

But again, we must stress that DPs under SB 283 are not marriage and will not be treated by the federal government as such. Even if you and your partner file for a DP this fall, you will still not be able to file a joint federal tax return. You won't be able to receive any spousal benefits from the military or the VA. You won't be able to sponsor your partner for US citizenship or permanent residency if he/she is a foreign national. Unfortunately, DOMA still applies here as it does across the nation. This is why it's crucial that not only Nevada law change to give our families full equality, but that federal law change as well.

When it comes to federal law, marriage is marriage is marriage. And even if DOMA is repealed soon and same-sex marriages will be recognized by the federal government, comprehensive DPs and civil unions will still not be recognized by the feds and treated as "marriages". So all of us in Nevada will still be left in the cold and so will Mainers if Question 1 passes.

And even worse, comprehensive DPs and civil unions are not even treated equally when it comes to state law. That was the experience in Vermont until marriage equality was legalized there. That's what New Jersey is dealing with in regards to their civil unions. That's what California, Oregon, and Nevada are now facing with DPs. No matter how well intentioned the "separate but equal laws" are, separate is simply never equal.

Marriage equality is important because it gives LGBT families the same equal rights and responsibilities under the law as straight families. And even more so, civil marriage equality gives our families the same respect and dignity they deserve.

And again, I doubt the anti-equality folks will even allow DPs. After all, Richard Ziser is attacking us here in Nevada once again. DPs are under attack in Washington state this year. This is just another excuse for the anti-equality religious right to make LGBT families in Maine and elsewhere suffer. Don't believe them.

....

And I'll finish on an upbeat note by bringing back this explanation in November why the R-71 win in Washington is our glimmer of hope for equality in the future.

....

Well, at least not all the news from last night was bad. Washington looks to be expanding domestic partner rights. If this holds up (and so far the returns and the locations of the remaining uncounted ballots are pointing this way), Washington will be the very first state to approve of relationship recognition rights by popular vote.

In Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill in May granting same sex domestic partners all the rights of married couples. That same month conservative interests announced they would attempt to overturn the new law and enough signatures were collected enough to place R-71 on the November ballot.

Gay rights supporters were not ready to declare victory Tuesday night.

"We are hopeful, but we are not stupid. We know better than to think we've got this in the can," said said Jody Lane of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "They may be recounting 'til January, for God's sake."

Before the first batch of results came in at 8:15 p.m., supporters laughed as a clip of Stephen Colbert jokingly endorsing Washington's domestic partnership law played on a projector at the Pravda Studios party.

With a bigger crowd by 9:05 p.m., they were still having fun -- but no one was celebrating. "We are really very guardedly optimistic, remembering that a very very large percentage of King County ballots have not been counted," campaign manager Josh Friedes told the crowd.

So far, so good. Washington is on the right path... And here's why it's so important and why we should care about it.

First, the opposition made this about "gay marriage" even though people were actually voting on DPs. They called themselves "Protect Marriage Washington" and warned about how approving R-71 would "put Washington on the path to let teh gayz merry!" Ironically, this proxy war over marriage equality will encourage pro-equality activists to one day go for full civil marriage equality in Washington.

Secondly if the anti-equality forces couldn't muster an off-year election in Washington, what makes them think they can pull a win in Nevada next year with Harry Reid, Rory Reid, and a number of other high-profile races on the ballot? Nevada Democrats have now proven to have a superior turn-out machine than the Republicans, so I doubt voters in a regular general election will be in the appetite to hate on LGBT families just for the sake of hating on them.

And finally, this is truly historic. Again, R-71 in Washington is the first time EVER that voters in any state approved legal relationship recognition. And again, if they can't win in an off-year election like this it gives me hope that 2010 and 2012 won't be so scary for us after all.

And really, I need hope now. The Maine results still scare me. I guess they were just too religious right there... And Obama (again) was hurting us there. Whatever went wrong, hopefully one day it will be made right in Maine.

But at least today, Washington is making baby steps toward equality... And we can breathe a little more easily about Nevada coming along as well.

DC Gets Marriage Equality!

YAY!

Today the D.C. Council voted in favor of marriage equality. In the first of two votes held at noon today in the John A. Wilson Building, the Council voted 11 – 2 to legalize same-sex marriage.

“What a splendid moment this is for all of us,” said Council member Jim Graham (D – Ward 1). “When one of us is denied a right, we are all denied the right.”

With 10 of the 13 council members sponsoring the bill, a favorable outcome was expected. This is the first step in a long road ahead. A second vote will come in two week, and then the bill has 10 days to be approved by Mayor Fenty (D), who has pledged to sign it. The District has limited home rule, meaning Congress has 30 legislative days to reverse any law the Council passes.

“Republicans say it is unlikely they could attract enough Democrats to overturn the law,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

...D.C. has the largest percentage of same-sex couples in the nation, where 1.5 percent of all households comprise same-sex couples. This is more than double the percentage of any other state, according to Our Families Count. A favorable vote, could give more than 3,600 couples the ability to marry.

It's about damned time for this to happen. Now we can finally get married at our nation's capital... And hopefully soon, we'll also see our federal government there actually recognize our marriages.

Washington: It Ain't Over 'Til the Fat Cat Plays Piano... Oh Wait, She IS!

Hehe, it's over! ;-)



And remember: Don't be tardy for the party!





No really, it's over. Stick a fork in it. The good guys won. Hooray for Washington!

Victory in Washington (So Far) & Hope for Nevada

Well, at least not all the news from last night was bad. Washington looks to be expanding domestic partner rights. If this holds up (and so far the returns and the locations of the remaining uncounted ballots are pointing this way), Washington will be the very first state to approve of relationship recognition rights by popular vote.

In Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill in May granting same sex domestic partners all the rights of married couples. That same month conservative interests announced they would attempt to overturn the new law and enough signatures were collected enough to place R-71 on the November ballot.

Gay rights supporters were not ready to declare victory Tuesday night.

"We are hopeful, but we are not stupid. We know better than to think we've got this in the can," said said Jody Lane of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "They may be recounting 'til January, for God's sake."

Before the first batch of results came in at 8:15 p.m., supporters laughed as a clip of Stephen Colbert jokingly endorsing Washington's domestic partnership law played on a projector at the Pravda Studios party.

With a bigger crowd by 9:05 p.m., they were still having fun -- but no one was celebrating. "We are really very guardedly optimistic, remembering that a very very large percentage of King County ballots have not been counted," campaign manager Josh Friedes told the crowd.

So far, so good. Washington is on the right path... And here's why it's so important and why we should care about it.

First, the opposition made this about "gay marriage" even though people were actually voting on DPs. They called themselves "Protect Marriage Washington" and warned about how approving R-71 would "put Washington on the path to let teh gayz merry!" Ironically, this proxy war over marriage equality will encourage pro-equality activists to one day go for full civil marriage equality in Washington.

Secondly if the anti-equality forces couldn't muster an off-year election in Washington, what makes them think they can pull a win in Nevada next year with Harry Reid, Rory Reid, and a number of other high-profile races on the ballot? Nevada Democrats have now proven to have a superior turn-out machine than the Republicans, so I doubt voters in a regular general election will be in the appetite to hate on LGBT families just for the sake of hating on them.

And finally, this is truly historic. Again, R-71 in Washington is the first time EVER that voters in any state approved legal relationship recognition. And again, if they can't win in an off-year election like this it gives me hope that 2010 and 2012 won't be so scary for us after all.

And really, I need hope now. The Maine results still scare me. I guess they were just too religious right there... And Obama (again) was hurting us there. Whatever went wrong, hopefully one day it will be made right in Maine.

But at least today, Washington is making baby steps toward equality... And we can breathe a little more easily about Nevada coming along as well.

Washington: It's Crunch Time to Protect Domestic Partnerships!

Remember that other election happening next Tuesday? You know, the one in Washington? The one where domestic partnerships are up for a popular vote?

Yes, you heard me right. Domestic partnerships are now at risk in Washington. There's only one week left until Election Day, and the time is now to get working to protect Washington's LGBT families!





These are some of the ads now on the air in Washington thanks to our support. And fortunately, they're up just at the right time. The KING 5 poll shows Referendum 71 narrowly ahead 50-43, even though the University of Washington poll shows a stronger 56-39 lead for Approve 71. And even if the actual numbers are more like UW's, we can't just rest on those laurels in an unpredictable low turnout election. And especially if the numbers are more like KING's, then this may be a close election where every vote counts!

Think about it. For many thousands of senior couples and LGBT families, their basic rights and responsibilities are on the line. Their lives will be made far more difficult if R-71 is rejected and domestic partner rights are stripped away. All families deserve equal protection under the law, and Washington families will get something closer to equal protection if R-71 is approved.

Don't these families deserve protection?



Obviously, the anti-equality forces don't. Focus on the Family and NOM are now dumping money into Washington to deceive voters into rejecting R-71. They whine and scream over all of the usual objections to marriage equality... But in this case, it isn't even marriage equality!

Sound familiar? It should! Here in Nevada, our very own "Luv Guv" Gibbons used these same tired and blatantly false "arguments" to try to block final passage of SB 283, Nevada's domestic partnership law. Fortunately he didn't succeed this year, but perpetual homophobe campaigner Richard Ziser is already planning to try again next year. Believe me, what happens in Washington this year will have a profound impact on what happens in Nevada next year and in other states considering similar DP/civil union legislation.

This is why I must ask you one more time to remember all the families in Washington at risk. Please donate what you can to approve R-71 and/or volunteer to call for equality. Our action will really make the difference.

These are the last days for Washingtonians to mail in their ballots. Again, turnout will be critical in determining the fate of domestic partnerships. Let's get R-71 approved in Washington so that families there are protected and all of us in Nevada and elsewhere need not worry about any more radical religious right attacks on our families.

R-71 This Year... And SB 283 Next Year?

Remember when I warned you last week that serial anti-equality campaigner Richard Ziser is threatening Nevada LGBT families again, this time considering a ballot initiative to strip away our hard fought domestic partner rights won with SB 283? Well, the threat is real. We now know.

However, there's a way we can stop it before it really starts. We can help our friends and family in Washington state Approve Referendum 71 so that we send a message to the forces of bigotry out West that we won't allow any more of their H8!

Equal Rights Washington recently released this video explaining the importance of domestic partnerships.



A similar video can easily be made here in Nevada regarding our families and the unnecessary burdens they've had to carry until just last week. Yes, yes, I already know that they're not marriage and that we still have work to do to win full equality for our families and our community. But that's just it... We need to move FORWARD, NOT BACKWARD!

Just like us in Nevada, LGBT families in Washington also won comprehensive domestic partnerships this year. They were also supposed to start seeing all the new rights and responsibilities in place this fall, just like Nevada. However, R-71 qualified for the ballot and LGBT families there are now under attack.

This is why we need to help R-71 win approval. If "liberal Washington" voters reject domestic partnerships, think of how this would embolden Richard Ziser and his bigoted allies in starting yet another campaign to strip many thousands of Nevada families of their fundamental civil rights. Think of how it would pose a challenge to repeal the Prop H8 marriage ban in California next year. Think of how it would threaten the limited domestic partner benefits just passed in Colorado this year. Think of how it could hurt efforts to expand legal protections for LGBT families in Arizona and New Mexico.

Make no doubt about it. What happens in Washington will very much happen throughout The West. That's why we need to ensure that R-71 is approved!

If R-71 is approved, Washington LGBT families and seniors will finally have the legal protections they deserve. And Nevada LGBT families and unmarried couples need not worry about losing theirs. And California equality activists can get back to repealing Prop H8. And we can see more progress happen in more Western states.

Aren't you sick and tired of losing these elections and seeing our community constantly being bloodied up and kicked to the ground? I am, and I don't want this to ever happen again! I lived through Prop H8 in California last year, so I'd rather not see a repeat of that pain and suffering for my friends and family here in Nevada. We need to move the ball forward on LGBT equality in The West, so let's start doing that by stopping the radical right in Washington!

Sure, the opposition's ads are lame. However, we can't underestimate their power. This is an off-year election, so they're counting on this and a horrfyingly radical right anti-environment, anti-education, anti-social safety net initiative to turn out the homophobic teabagger base. We can't afford to sit idly by and do nothing. No, we need to make sure progressive voters turn out to Approve R-71!

Again, think of the families in Las Vegas, Reno, Elko, Pahrump, and all throughout Nevada who now depend on SB 283 for basic legal protection. Let's not put them in danger. Approve 71 in Washington now to stop any more attacks in The West.

Why I Still Hope for No More H8

Those first few days were the worst. I was scared. I was depressed. I felt less than human.

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 is why the special elections in Maine and Washington are so important. I don't want my friends in either state to feel what I felt after Prop H8's passage. I don't want their civil rights stripped away from them. I don't want to see any more Prop H8s succeed in hurting any more LGBT families.

Just like California last year, the opposition is using blatant lies to deceive people into voting for discrimination. And in fact, the very same scumbags that ran Yes on H8 in California are doing the same with Yes on 1 in Maine!

And just like California last year, real families will be seriously hurt if the anti-equality forces succeed. In Maine, LGBT families will be stripped of their marriage rights if Question 1 succeeds. In Washington, LGBT families and seniors will lose important domestic partner rights if Referendum 71 is rejected.

Family values are important. All of our families should be valued. President Obama understands this, and hopefully voters in Maine and Washington will as well. We shouldn't make them face the same fate that so many California families had to endure last fall.

This is what's motivating me now. I don't want my friends in Maine to suffer. I don't want my friends in Washington to suffer. I don't want a "deja vu experience" of seeing the same California sad story unfold all over again.

This is why I'm doing all I can to help. Will you please join me? If each of us pitches in a few spare dollars, we can stop the radical right from assaulting our families and our community any further. We can stop being victims and start turning back the tide of hatred.

Time will soon run out. We have just over a month left until the election. Please join me in giving whatever you can to help No on 1 Maine and Approve R-71 Washington have the resources necessary to win this year. Whatever your "Prop H8 story" is, remember it and do what you can to prevent it from repeating.

H8 and CaliforniWashingMaine

It's happening...



All over again!



This pack of lies has now made its way from Massachusetts to California to Maine. Again, it's the same ol' friggin' story. And just like California, the religious right is heavily invested in stripping many thousands of Maine families of their fundamental civil rights.



Real families will be hurt if Question 1 passes in Maine...





Just like real families in California are now suffering because of Prop H8.







Fortunately, groups like Courage Campaign and the Restore Equality 2010 are working to undo the damage of H8 in California. But in the mean time, we can't let the same mistake be made again. That's why it's critical that we do whatever we can to ensure that Maine LGBT families don't suffer the same painful loss that California's families had to endure. Please give whatever you can to No on 1 so they can fight the lies.

And by the way, don't believe the radical right when they say they're only concerned about "traditional marriage". The State of Washington is not even voting on marriage this November, but they are already using many of the same ugly attacks tossed out in Maine and California to strip Washington families of domestic partner rights. Yes, you heard me right, comprehensive domestic partnerships in Washington state are under attack!

Just today, a new poll on Referendum 71 (R-71) has been released by the Approve 71 campaign. While R-71 is ahead 51-44, it's a small margin that leaves no room for error or complacency. If R-71 is rejected, then many thousands of Washington families will lose even the most basic legal protections that even California and Nevada now have with comprehensive domestic partnerships.



Now let me say this again. R-71 is not even about marriage equality, yet the radical right is out to strip many thousands of Washington families of even the most basic civil rights and legal protections. This should be a wake-up call to all of us love warriors for equality that the forces of bigotry won't be satisfied until we're all locked away in the closet again.

This is why it's critical that we get involved!



2009 is an off-year election. Most people typically don't vote in these special election. That's why we progressives must work extra hard to turn out enough votes to defeat Question 1 in Maine and approve R-71 in Washington. Failure to do so could very well set back further pro-equality legislation on the federal level. Failure to do so could very well hurt the California campaign for marriage equality in 2010. Failure to do so could jeopardize even our domestic partnerships in Nevada.

Believe me, our opponents won't give up easily. Even if you think you don't care about Washington and Maine, reconsider. Remember the pain we all felt when Prop H8 passed in California. Imagine feeling it all over again... And then do something to stop this from happening all over again! Please do whatever you can to help defeat Question 1 in Maine and/or approve R-71 in Washington. Let's defeat the same radical right forces behind Prop H8 once and for all so we can move forward in fighting for full equality.

APPROVE R-71: Washington DP Rights Are at Stake

We have some late breaking bad news to report. Up in Washington state, it looks like Referendum-71 will likely qualify for the ballot. This means that the anti-family homophobes will probably force a vote this November on the recently passed bill to expand domestic partner (DP) rights for LGBT families.

Here's a quick crash course on what R-71 is all about:

The Domestic Partnership Law (SB 5688) was passed by the Legislature in 2009 to ensure that all Washington families are treated the same, with the same protections, the same rights and the same obligations as their neighbors. Under this law, registered domestic partners (same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples where at least one partner is over age 62), and married couples, are treated equally under state law throughout Washington.

Key rights and obligations in the law include:

Death benefits for the partners of police and firefighters killed in the line of duty.
Pension benefits for the partners of teachers and other public employees.
Victims' rights, including the right to receive notifications and benefits allowances.
The right to use sick leave to care for a seriously ill partner.
The right to workers' compensation benefits if a partner is killed in the course of employment.
The right to receive unemployment benefits if an employee must leave a job to care for a seriously ill partner.
The right to adopt a partner's child without paying for a home study.
The areas covered by the law include labor and employment law; pensions, survivor and other public employee benefits; family law; insurance rights; higher education; banks, financial institutions and loan agencies; creditors' rights and business licenses.

Opponents of the domestic partnership law are seeking to repeal it. Referendum 71 would ask voters whether the law should be approved or rejected. A vote to "APPROVE" keeps the law so that all families will have these protections in all parts of the state.

Again, please remind your friends and family in Washington that they need to vote "APPROVE" on Referendum 71 in order to protect LGBT families' DPs. And if you'd like to help Washington Families Standing Together, the grassroots campaign working to get R-71 approved and protect LGBT civil rights, please click here.

Remember that we only have two months until Election Day, so time is of the essence. Please do what you can to ensure R-71 is approved!