Rally in Las Vegas to celebrate marriage equality victories

photo credit: Anthony Pecora

Under a clear blue sky in 105 degree heat,  Nevada LGBT leaders held a rally - part celebration, part battle cry - at the fab new Gay & Lesbian Community Center, following Supreme Court rulings Wednesday that shot down DOMA and Prop 8.

Hosted by Las Vegas' favorite news anchor, Chris Saldana, community leaders and allies took to the stage to cheer the day and point to the battles ahead.

While Nevada doesn't allow same-sex marriage currently, the ruling opens the door for questions about the protections of rights for same-sex couples here in the Silver State.  In the last legislative session, both the Assembly and the Senate approved SJR13, the first step to repeal the same-sex marriage ban and give the rights of marriage equality to gay and lesbian couples of Nevada.

In attendance were Chris Miller (co-chair of LGBTQ Coalition), Merek Bute (president of AFAN), Tod Story (ACLU of Nevada), Assemblyman James Healey, Sen. James Parks, Assemblywoman Michele Fiore (only GOP vote for marriage equality bill SJR13 this past legislative session), Sen. Pat Spearman, Assemblyman Paul Aizley, Sen. Ruben Kihuen, Sen. Justin Jones, and Assemblyman Andrew Martin (co-sponsor of SJR13).

Over and over, LGBT leaders and allies sent the message: "The fight for same-sex marriage is not over. The fight for equality is not over. And we need you."

Rally host Chris Saldana gets the rally started

The crowd celebrates the day

Openly gay Assemblyman James Healy addresses the crowd

GOP Assemblywoman and ally Michele Fiore and her lesbian mom take the stage

Ryan Lyons of Le Reve and Broadway Bares shares a breather in the heat with Chris Saldana
Thanks for the beef cake, boys.

 Openly gay Sen. David Parks

Openly lesbian Sen. Pat Spearman

Walmart ends business relationship with Paula Deen

The news keeps getting worse for Paula Deen.

After her contracts with the Food Network AND Smithfield Foods were both severed due to her admitting to using racist language, today comes the news from Walmsrt that they, too, are ending their business relationship with Paula Deen.

From The New York Times:

Paula Deen’s culinary empire suffered a new blow on Wednesday, as Walmart announced it was ending their lucrative partnership, selling cookware, food and other products branded with the celebrity chef’s name.

The news came hours after Ms. Deen made a tearful appearance on the “Today” show, insisting that she was not and never had been a racist, as a former employee has charged in a workplace-discrimination lawsuit. Since last week, Ms. Deen has lost two other major corporate contracts, with the Food Network and Smithfield Foods, after her deposition in a workplace-discrimination lawsuit came to widespread attention. In it, she admitted to using racist language, and tolerating racist jokes in one of her restaurants.

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Walmart said, “We are ending our relationship with Paula Deen Enterprises and we will not place new orders beyond those already committed.” There are currently 215 Paula Deen-branded items on the company’s Web site, from aprons and salad dressings to reading glasses, china and a new line of "finishing butters."

Check out her emotional appearance on the Today Show this morning:

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Edie Windsor's remarks on winning at the Supreme Court bringing down DOMA

In all the hoopla, one of the most important people to speak on the repeal of DOMA is Edie Windsor, who brought the case to court when her wife died and she was hit with a $360,000+ tax bill because the federal government didn't recognize her marriage.

I've been strangely numb today about the rulings. I'm excited and happy, but it's almost not real to me. It wasn't until I saw this clip of Edie speak today that I felt something really moving about what has happened on this historic day.

This is history. For decades we'll look back and know how important this day is, and how it will lead us to our future.

And, in great part, because this senior citizen who lived most of her life quietly decided to raise her voice, and in doing so has raised up so many of us.

Thank you, Edie Windsor.

Impact of DOMA decision - Extending federal benefits to service members and families

In response to the repeal of DOMA today, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the Pentagon will extend health care, housing, and additional federal benefits to the gay spouses of service members as soon as possible, the AP reports:

Defense officials estimate there are 18,000 same-sex couples in the active duty, National Guard and Reserves. It's unclear how many of those are married.

The court ruling also could allow same-sex spouses to be buried at Arlington Cemetery. The Pentagon has said that by Oct. 1, it would extend a variety of benefits to same-sex partners, including access to on-base commissaries and some health and welfare programs.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi on Michele Bachmann - "Who cares?"

Ultra-conservative Congresswoman Michele Bachmann released a statement today on the marriage equality rulings by SCOTUS:

“No man, not even a Supreme Court, can undo what a holy God has instituted,” Ms. Bachmann said in a statement. “For thousands of years of recorded human history, no society has defended the legal standard of marriage as anything other than between man and woman.” She said the court action “will undermine the best interest of children and the best interests of the United States.”

Asked to react to Bachmann’s statement, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi summed up what increasing majorities of Americans feel about such strident opposition with a dismissive “Who cares?”

Here's the video:

(source)

Sen. Tim Johnson becomes 53rd co-sponsor of ENDA

Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota has announced his support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, becoming the 53rd co-sponsor of the legislation.

Forward.

Impact of DOMA decision - Binational couples and immigration

Today's ruling by the US Supreme Court on the unconstitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act will have sweeping effects on many levels for married gay and lesbian couples. Among those will be the ability to apply for a green card for foreign national spouses.

Via Immigration Equality:

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling striking down a core provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), lesbian and gay Americans will now be eligible to apply for green cards on behalf of their foreign national spouses, the organization Immigration Equality announced today. The court ruled today, in United States v. Windsor, that Section 3 of DOMA, which prohibited the federal government from conferring benefits to married same-sex couples, is unconstitutional. That provision of the law made it impossible for lesbian and gay couples to receive immigration benefits, including green cards.

“At long last, we can now tell our families that yes, they are eligible to apply for green cards,” said Rachel B. Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality. “Many of our families have waited years, and in some cases decades, for the green card they need to keep their families together. Couples forced into exile will be coming home soon. Americans separated from their spouses are now able to prepare for their reunion. Today’s ruling is literally a life-changing one for those who have suffered under DOMA and our discriminatory immigration laws.”

California Gov. Brown says same-sex marriage should begin ASAP

California Governor Jerry Brown issued this statement today on the Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8:

"After years of struggle, the U.S. Supreme Court today has made same-sex marriage a reality in California. In light of the decision, I have directed the California Department of Public Health to advise the state's counties that they must begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in California as soon as the Ninth Circuit confirms the stay is lifted."

The Governor's office adds:

The effect of today's U.S. Supreme Court ruling is that the 2010 federal district court's decision that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional is left intact and the law cannot be enforced.

In response, the Governor has directed the California Department of Public Health to advise county officials today that the district court's injunction against Proposition 8 applies statewide and that all county clerks and county registrar/recorders must comply with it. However, same-sex Californians will not be able to marry until the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals confirms the stay of the injunction, which has been in place throughout the appeals process, is lifted.

In preparation for this outcome, Governor Brown sought an opinion from California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris on whether the state, through the California Department of Public Health, can advise county clerks and registrar/recorders that they are bound by the federal district court's ruling that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

The Attorney General concluded that the California Department of Public Health "can and should" instruct county officials that they "must resume issuing marriage licenses to and recording the marriages of same-sex" couples. The Department will issue another letter to county officials as soon as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals confirms the stay is lifted.

(via Towleroad)