Jezebel: the fight for rights

Scenes From The National Equality March

hortense — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:55:00 EDT

The National Equality March took place in Washington, D.C. this weekend, and thousands came out to show their support and demand equal rights for the LGBT community. Ahead, a collection of images from the weekend's events.

Protesters Demand US Gay Rights [BBC]

Divorced Mother Not Allowed To Have Lesbian Partner And Children Sleep Over At The Same Time

hortense — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:15:00 EST

A divorced mother in Tennessee has been told by a family court that her lesbian partner is not allowed to sleep over on the same nights that her children come to stay at her house.

Angel Chandler's partner, who has been with Ms. Chandler for nearly 10 years, was given a "paramour" restriction by the family court, despite the fact that a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation deemed Ms. Chandler's partner to be "a positive influence on her children." According to Jeanne Sager of Strollerderby, "The ACLU has stepped into the fray, filing a brief this week that urges the court to remove the paramour restriction, calling it unconstitutional for interfering with Chandler's abilities to raise her children as she sees fit."

For now, Chandler and her partner are getting around the ruling by living side-by-side in a duplex, though the sad fact remains that the State of Tennessee seems to be making a point here as to what they consider to be "family"— Chandler's ex-husband, Joseph Barker, remarried 5 years ago; there are no restrictions on him or his new wife.

Court Bans Divorced Mom's Partner From Sleeping Over[Strollerderby]

Jerry Brown : "Proposition 8 Must Be Invalidated"

hortense — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST

California Attorney General Jerry Brown has filed a legal brief claiming that Proposition 8, the controversial amendment that declared gay marriage illegal in the state of California, is an unconstitutional measure and should be voided.

Brown, who once said he would dismiss challenges to the measure, has apparently made a dramatic turn-around. "Upon further reflection and a deeper probing into all the aspects of our Constitution" Brown said, "It became evident that the Article 1 provision guaranteeing basic liberty, which includes the right to marry, took precedence over the initiative. Based on my duty to defend the law and the entire Constitution, I concluded the court should protect the right to marry even in the face of the 52 percent vote."

Yes on 8 supporters, including Attorney Kenneth Starr, were urging the Attorney General's office to uphold the measure by invalidating all gay marriages that took place before the ban, an act that Starr claims would be "about restoring and maintaining the traditional definition of marriage." Brown disagreed, noting that the Proposition itself did not have any language in it that specified invalidating marriages performed before the election.

In the end, Brown declared, in what is potentially a very important step towards overturning the measure: "Proposition 8 must be invalidated because the amendment process cannot be used to extinguish fundamental constitutional rights without compelling justification."

California Attorney General Jerry Brown Urges Repeal Of Proposition 8[Huffington Post]
Brown Asks State High Court To Overturn Prop. 8[San Francisco Chronicle]

Love Not Hate: Proposition 8 Protest Pictures From Readers Across The Country

hortense — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST

Yesterday, we asked our readers to send in their photos from the various anti-Proposition 8 rallies that were taking place throughout the United States. The response was overwhelming; Jezebels from California to Ohio to Boston to New York City sent in their pictures, documenting a day spent fighting for love and equality. The pictures are striking and beautiful; in each of the various cities captured on film, there is a true sense of love and the desire to change the world for the better. A gallery of reader-submitted photos, after the jump.

(Click on any image to begin gallery)