Heroes

Europe / Heroes / Historical / Role models / Wedding — 2 Comments
31
Oct 11

MARRIAGE EQUALITY PIONEER DEAD

This is terribly sad news.  Axel Axgil has died, aged 96 – after a lifetime of service to equality. Axel set up the world’s first national gay rights organisation in 1948 in Denmark - years before we had magazines like One, networks like Daughters of Bilitis or anyone had heard of Stonewall.

Axel and a small groups of others were fundamental to the implementation of civil partnerships in 1989 in Denmark and he was the first of the first at the first same sex wedding on Oct. 1, 1989, when he and his partner Eigil were among 11 couples to exchange vows. I interviewed the second couple, Ove Carlsen and Ivan Carlsen, in 2009 and they both spoke very highly of Axel.

LGBT Danmark said it planned a memorial service for Axgil at the organization’s annual meeting on Nov. 5 in Aarhus, western Denmark. Read more

 

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Australia / Campaigns / Heroes / Marriage / Personal Stories — 1 Comment
28
Aug 11

NEW AUSTRALIAN BOOK

Cover of SpeakNow

Exciting news about “Speak Now” a new Australian book on gay marriage that I have written a chapter for … it’s going to hit the bookstands and your e-readers in October 2011.

The blog about the book is now up and running here, thanks to the heroic editor of the book, Dr Victor Marsh:
http://speaknowaustralia.blogspot.com/

Australian activists such as Andrew Barr, Evelyn Gray and Rodney Croome, who have written for The Gay Marriage Blog are also contributing chapters amongst a stellar cast of 30 or so writers. This should make a great impact as debate around the Australian Labor Party conference heats up.

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Heroes / North America / Personal Stories / Republican — 2 Comments
26
Jul 11

NEW ANDREW SULLIVAN ESSAY

 

Andrew Sullivan with Husband

Andrew Sullivan with Husband

I am always challenged and/or inspired by what Andrew Sullivan writes. One of the most consistent centre-right advocates of equality in the world – Western world or otherwise. A new essay from him in Newsweek.

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Democrat / Heroes / North America / Politicians / Religion / Surprising Marriage Equality Supporters — 1 Comment
29
Jun 11

HERO: ANDREW CUOMO

Andrew Cuomo with his daughters at New York Pride this weekend

Andrew Cuomo with his daughters at New York Pride this weekend

It’s been a long while since I listed a “hero” on these pages, but New York Governor Andrew Cuomo definitely deserves the title. Like Tony Blair, he’s realised the magic feeling and feedback that comes with granting civil rights. A cynic who found his heart, a straight guy who went to the wall for us, someone who never gave up on bringing two sides of politics together. And a Catholic who stood up to his Church hierarchy … it’s the sort of thing they make movies and Presidential bids out of.

So here it is, my favourite columnist’s (Maureen Dowd) profile of the guy who steps up to join Gavin Newsom as the United State’s leading political advocate for equality…. Now we just need one other guy with an inspiration story to find his guts again.

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Campaigns / Europe / Heroes / Miscellaneous / Video — No Comments
29
Apr 11

NOT A GAY MARRIAGE – SHORT BREAK

Hello folks.  Somewhat in contradiction with my support for republican systems of government, I’m off to London tomorrow for THE Royal Wedding event of the well, let’s face it, the decade, only.

No, Stan isn’t a prince, and he isn’t shagging the security detail, we’re just joining a garden party. The relevant point is that means I won’t post for a few days.

I do support this effort by Peter Tatchell and Equal Love though. I wonder if they’ll do a shout out to the gays in during their vows? It’d be the only way to top the last memorable speech in Westminster Abbey – by the groom’s uncle at his mother’s funeral in 1997.

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Democrat / Heroes / North America / Video — No Comments
16
Mar 11

HEARTWARMING JOHN LEWIS

This speech shows exactly how and why marriage is a civil right, and why it’s stupid for ethinic minority communities to pitch themselves, or allow themselves to be pitched, against sexual minorities.
The lesson in the case of the Maryland cave-in, so eloquently detailed here by Jonathan Capehart, could not be clearer.

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Heroes / North America / Personal Stories / Politicians / Role models / Uncategorized / Video — No Comments
12
Feb 11

WOW! ZACH WAHLS GETS MY VOTE

I had trouble tracking down a decent quality version of this video of Zach Wahls, the 19 year old son of a lesbian couple from Iowa. But even though it’s a bit late, I think it still has to go up here, because he’s so damn good.
My favourite quote is at the end:
“Not once in my 19 years has anyone independently guessed that I was raised by two women. You know why? Because the sexual orientation of my parents has absolutely zero to do with the content of my character.”

Here is he is again – so articulate and nice – discussing the story behind why he gave his speech and why he has faith that Iowa will not crumble in the face of our well funded opponents.

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Asia / Gay / Global / Heroes / North America / Personal Stories — 1 Comment
14
Dec 10

THE BEST ARGUMENT AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE …

Kenji Yoshini

… And why it fails.

This is a great article by Kenji Yoshini, a New York University (NYU) professor who wrote an amazing book called “Covering” a few years back. My boyfriend studied under him at NYU and raves about him, and I have to admit the book was such a sophisticated take on how gays float between being out and not, that I crave anything he now publishes.

Enjoy!

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Campaigns / Celebrities / Global / Heroes / North America / Role models — No Comments
29
Nov 10

DOUBLE YOUR DONATION IMPACT!

SeanEldridgeandChrisHughes

Sean Eldridge (left) and Chris Hughes want your money ... so they can double it!

This is a great campaign put together by Freedom To Marry. Sean Eldridge and Chris Hughes have agreed to double every donation made to Freedom to Marry for the rest of this year. Sean is Freedom to Marry’s Political Director and Chris, his partner of five years, is one of the co-founders of Facebook, and now the founder of Jumo.

Because of their generosity, for every $25 you give, Freedom to Marry will get $50. For every $50 you can give, Freedom to Marry will get $100.

So get donating here!

Gay people can now marry in 12 countries on four continents – let’s do even better. It is your donation to Freedom to Marry or your local Marriage Equality group (which I am very happy to feature on here if you let me know the details), that will determine the pace of progress towards true and universal equality.  Join these guys in the catalogue of heroes that are helping to create change.

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Court cases / Democrat / Heroes / North America / Republican — No Comments
5
Aug 10

PROP 8 OVERTURNED !!

Amazing news from California where the Federal Court has ruled that the ban on gay marriage in California cannot withstand any scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause of the United States constitution.

Excerpts from the federal court decision that found Proposition 8 violated the U.S. Constitution. 
Lovely photos here of the reaction to the news.

Great line from LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: “the court has affirmed that love doesn’t discriminate.”  This from Lady Gaga on Twitter: “At the moments notice of PROP 8 DEATH I instantly began to write music. … THIS IS JUST THE BEGININNG!”

The state has no interest, according to the judgement, in disadvantaging selected groups.  Private moral views do not count as a basis for legal restraints on couples.

Most importantly the fact that voters rejected the right to marriage equality is irrelevant because:  “fundamental rights may not be submitted to [a] vote.” Gender no longer forms an essential part of marriage; marriage under law is a union of equals!

 

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