WA woman shares tale of denial at bedside of her dying partner
Posted on Jun 17, 2007 at 11:53 am
The Olympian
June 17, 2007
Four months ago, Lacey resident Janice Langbehn, her partner Lisa Pond and their children Katie, David and Danielle, ages 10 to 13, were set for a relaxing cruise from Miami to the Bahamas. But Pond, Langbehn's partner for nearly 18 years, was stricken in Miami with a brain aneurysm and died. After Pond was taken to the emergency room, Langbehn said she was informed by a social worker that they were in an "anti-gay state" and that they needed legal paperwork before Langbehn could see Pond. The family was not allowed to be with her in the emergency room, and Langbehn's authority to make decisions for Pond was not recognized. [Link]
June 17, 2007
Four months ago, Lacey resident Janice Langbehn, her partner Lisa Pond and their children Katie, David and Danielle, ages 10 to 13, were set for a relaxing cruise from Miami to the Bahamas. But Pond, Langbehn's partner for nearly 18 years, was stricken in Miami with a brain aneurysm and died. After Pond was taken to the emergency room, Langbehn said she was informed by a social worker that they were in an "anti-gay state" and that they needed legal paperwork before Langbehn could see Pond. The family was not allowed to be with her in the emergency room, and Langbehn's authority to make decisions for Pond was not recognized. [Link]
Personal stories changed minds
Posted on Jun 15, 2007 at 03:49 pm
The Boston Globe
June 15, 2007
The urgency, and power, of telling your stories, supporting public education efforts, and talking about why marriage matters: Representative Richard J. Ross, a Republican from Wrentham, had a revelation Wednesday afternoon after meeting with a gay Republican who presented him with this challenge: As director of his family's funeral home, Ross had surely treated every family the same, no matter what their race, religion, or sexual orientation. So why would he do anything else in his other job, as a lawmaker? [Link]
June 15, 2007
The urgency, and power, of telling your stories, supporting public education efforts, and talking about why marriage matters: Representative Richard J. Ross, a Republican from Wrentham, had a revelation Wednesday afternoon after meeting with a gay Republican who presented him with this challenge: As director of his family's funeral home, Ross had surely treated every family the same, no matter what their race, religion, or sexual orientation. So why would he do anything else in his other job, as a lawmaker? [Link]
One lawmaker, in her own words, who changed her vote in MA
Posted on Jun 14, 2007 at 03:51 pm
The Boston Globe
June 14, 2007
"For me, what all this comes down to is this: Same gendered couples are taxpaying, law-abiding citizens, who are important community contributors, well-loved and well-respected by their families, friends, neighbors and employers. They deserve and are entitled to the same legal protections enjoyed by all others citizens of our state." [Link]
June 14, 2007
"For me, what all this comes down to is this: Same gendered couples are taxpaying, law-abiding citizens, who are important community contributors, well-loved and well-respected by their families, friends, neighbors and employers. They deserve and are entitled to the same legal protections enjoyed by all others citizens of our state." [Link]
BLOG: The hidden nastiness of anti-gay marriage bans
Posted on Jun 06, 2007 at 04:38 pm
In This Moment
June 6, 2007
When we fought the Kansas ban on same sex marriage in 2005, I was struck by how vigorously our opponents claimed that the ban would never hurt a soul. [Link]
June 6, 2007
When we fought the Kansas ban on same sex marriage in 2005, I was struck by how vigorously our opponents claimed that the ban would never hurt a soul. [Link]
BLOG: Stop calling my civil union a marriage
Posted on May 23, 2007 at 03:24 pm
Blue Jersey
May 23, 2007
Ignoring the differences between civil unions and marriage doesn't make them go away. Pretending that civil unions are the same as marriage doesn't make it true. The latest news here in New Jersey is proving, just as Blue Jersey predicted, that civil unions are an inferior status that don't work in the real world, and aren't working in New Jersey. [link]
May 23, 2007
Ignoring the differences between civil unions and marriage doesn't make them go away. Pretending that civil unions are the same as marriage doesn't make it true. The latest news here in New Jersey is proving, just as Blue Jersey predicted, that civil unions are an inferior status that don't work in the real world, and aren't working in New Jersey. [link]
Top CT court hears the case for marriage equality
Posted on May 20, 2007 at 02:09 pm
New York Times
May 20, 2007
Like three other couples who are plaintiffs, Ms. Conklin and Ms. Peck have not entered into a civil union and are holding out for marriage. "A civil union carries a second-rate status for our relationship," Ms. Peck said. "Carol is the love of my life, and I want to marry her." [Link]
May 20, 2007
Like three other couples who are plaintiffs, Ms. Conklin and Ms. Peck have not entered into a civil union and are holding out for marriage. "A civil union carries a second-rate status for our relationship," Ms. Peck said. "Carol is the love of my life, and I want to marry her." [Link]
BLOG: Thinking of commitment…
Posted on May 17, 2007 at 02:40 pm
This Is Not My Blog
May 17, 2007
The Commitment Ceremony was very nice — held at a local park in the late summer. The program was designed by Tina with all of the artwork being hers. She and Sandra had picked out some very appropriate poetry to be read by various friends and it was beautiful. Both of them were activists and yesterday I re-read, with great interest, a statement that they had made in the program. [link]
May 17, 2007
The Commitment Ceremony was very nice — held at a local park in the late summer. The program was designed by Tina with all of the artwork being hers. She and Sandra had picked out some very appropriate poetry to be read by various friends and it was beautiful. Both of them were activists and yesterday I re-read, with great interest, a statement that they had made in the program. [link]
BLOG: Why it matters every day
Posted on May 04, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Pam's House Blend
May 4, 2007
Just yesterday [my neighbor] came over to visit, "to have conversation," as she put it. She told me that that very first day that I walked by and waved had changed her life..So today she wanted to come to tell me the impact I had on her life. And, with tears streaming down her face, to apologize for her cruelty to me personally in voting for the Mississippi Marriage Amendment. Every day we make a difference. We must remember that. [link]
May 4, 2007
Just yesterday [my neighbor] came over to visit, "to have conversation," as she put it. She told me that that very first day that I walked by and waved had changed her life..So today she wanted to come to tell me the impact I had on her life. And, with tears streaming down her face, to apologize for her cruelty to me personally in voting for the Mississippi Marriage Amendment. Every day we make a difference. We must remember that. [link]
Profs lobby for marriage equality
Posted on Mar 29, 2007 at 02:14 pm
Yale Daily News
March 29, 2007
Yale Law School professor Ian Ayres waited nine hours for his turn to speak — but for the opportunity to fight for what he called the most pressing civil rights issue of our time, he didn't mind the wait. Ayres testified with his wife, Quinnipiac University law professor Jennifer Brown, a Freedom to Marry steering committee member and Voice of Equality. [Link]
March 29, 2007
Yale Law School professor Ian Ayres waited nine hours for his turn to speak — but for the opportunity to fight for what he called the most pressing civil rights issue of our time, he didn't mind the wait. Ayres testified with his wife, Quinnipiac University law professor Jennifer Brown, a Freedom to Marry steering committee member and Voice of Equality. [Link]
Week intended to highlight inequality faced by gays
Posted on Feb 08, 2007 at 12:46 pm
RelishNow
February 8, 2007
Freedom to Marry Week was established 10 years ago. Each February, we remind our fellow citizens of the fundamental unfairness of marriage inequality and try to win their support. We hope to reach the "reachables" — straight folks who allow themselves to be educated and can ignore religious and social prejudices — by telling our stories. This is mine:
February 8, 2007
Freedom to Marry Week was established 10 years ago. Each February, we remind our fellow citizens of the fundamental unfairness of marriage inequality and try to win their support. We hope to reach the "reachables" — straight folks who allow themselves to be educated and can ignore religious and social prejudices — by telling our stories. This is mine: