Tag Archives: Gay

The LA Times is reporting that gay rights pioneer, Mary Bonauto, who may be best known as the lawyer who won the first gay-marriage rulings in Massachusetts and Vermont, will lead the argument before the Supreme Court in favor of a constitutional right to same-sex marriage nationwide.  She was selected by the attorneys and the couples from four states whose cases will be heard on April 28.

Bonauto will be representing April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, two nurses from Michigan who are raising four adopted children. She will argue that the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of liberty and equal protection of the laws requires the state to issue them a marriage license.

You can learn more about this amazing woman and her list of accomplishments from her profile on Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), here.

This weekend Indiana’s Governor Mike Pence seemed to be everywhere justifying the “religious freedom” bill he signed into law.  He continually denied that this bill was designed to intentionally discriminate against the LGBT community.

I agree with GLAAD, Governor Mike Pence is a liar. Just because so many Indianans are gullible doesn’t mean everyone else is so naive. #BoycottIndiana

Indiana’s State House earlier today approved the nation’s most anti-LGBT legislation.  According to the IndyStar, similar legislation was passed by the State Senate and Indiana’s Governor has said he intends to sign this into law – all under the guise of protecting religious freedom.  The legislation is modeled on a 22-year old federal law known as the Religious Freedom and Restoration Act. You may recall this act because it was what the US Supreme Court cited in allowing Hobby Lobby to opt out of the Affordable Care Act requirement that they cover contraceptives.

This sort of thing really ticks me off because I get so frustrated having these discussions over and over again. Legally barring a group from a business has haunting parallels to the civil rights struggles from the 1950s and 1960s not to mention more recent legislation organizations like GLAD, HRC and others have overturned in the courts for our community.

Shame on you Indiana – and shame on Indianans.  You may not agree with your state government but this is your home and your home makes me sick.