Marriage Equality in IOWA!!!

This morning, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couple violates the constitutional rights of lesbian and gay couples!

The case, Varnum v. Brien, upholds the constitutional right of same-sex couples to marry!

WE NOW HAVE A MARRIAGE EQUALITY VICTORY IN OUR FIRST MIDWESTERN STATE! This is extremely exciting because many of the "middle America" states, which tend to be more conservative, can relate more closely to Iowa than Connecticut or Massachusetts. This victory leads the way for marriage equality throughout the country, beyond the New England states and California.

Three states (Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa) now allow lesbian and gay couples to marry. Legally married same-sex couples can also have their marriage recognized in New York state. Four other states (Oregon, New Jersey, California, and Vermont) provide all the same rights as marriage through civil unions or domestic partnerships.

Three states down, 47 to go!

Bill to Repeal "Dont Ask" Introduced in Congress

U.S. Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) is planning to introduce the Military Readiness Enhancement Act into the House of Representatives today.

The MREA would repeal the current "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy from the U.S. military, and allow gay and lesbian citizens to serve openly.The bill 144 co-sponsors, and a companion bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate later this year.

This is a big step, guys! We finally have a President that supports the repeal of DADT, and a majority in the House and Senate who will likely vote for it. Although Obama has signalled that repealling DADT will probably wait until after Iraq is taken care of, we are on the right track for once!

To read more, here are two articles about the bill:

Washington Blade: Tauscher to introduce 'Don't Ask' repeal
The Politico: Obama faces test on gay military ban

NY Senate Majority Leader supports Marriage Equality!

On November 4, the New York state senate finally turned over to the Democrats, after belonging to a Republican majority since 1965. This means that the marriage equality bill that was declared "dead on arrival" by previous Majority Leader Sen. Joseph Bruno now may actually be brought to the floor for discussion and vote.

Yesterday the state senate moved drastically toward achieving equality. Sen. Malcolm Smith, who is an outspoken advocate of marriage quality, was sworn in as the new Senate Majority Leader! This means that for the first time in over 40 years, we will finally have a shot of winning same-sex marriage for New York state.

So while all of you are enjoying your winter vacation, I hope that you are rejuvenating your inner-activists for our HUGE action next semester!! We're going to bring all of our petitions and photographs of supportive New York voters to the State Senate in Albany!

Are you ready for change? We are!

NYC Marriage Equality Rally!!! - General Interest Meeting

Are you upset about Proposition 8 passing?

Do you want to see Marriage Equality here in New York?

Then come to the General Interest meeting about our Marriage Equality Rally on:

Wednesday, November 12
9:00pm in Rocky 300

If you are interested in joining us but cannot make the meeting, feel free to email Clare Ciervo at clciervo@vassar.edu.

SAVE THE DATE - November 21

Save the Date!

ACT OUT will be holding a New York Marriage Equality rally in NYC on November 21, 2008.

More details to follow, but make sure to put this date in your calendar! We would love to have you with us for our first big action of the year.

Picture - NO on Prop 8 Fundraiser!

Here's a picture from our NO on Prop 8 Fundraiser, held on October 6:


A huge shout-out to Apple, for publicly opposing Proposition 8 and donating $100,000 to the campaign!

Californians: Remember to Vote NO on Proposition 8!! Election day is only six days away!!

NO on Proposition 8!! Gay Marriage in Connecticut!

Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, or spoke to us during our October 6 fundraiser!

For those who don't know:
On October 6, ACT OUT held an all-day fundraiser in the Retreat to raise money and awareness for the NO on Prop 8 campaign. Proposition 8 is a constitutional amendment on the ballot in California that would repeal the right for gays and lesbians to marry.

Thanks to the contributions of the Vassar community, we were able to donate over $250 to the campaign, which will allow them to get out the vote against Prop 8 (through television advertisements, canvassing, etc.).

If you are a resident of California, make sure to vote NO on Prop 8 on November 4!!! Tell all your friends and family!


ALSO, let's all give a huge round of applause for Connecticut, which just became the third state to legalize full marriage for gay and lesbian couples!