Great article.

We're a love movement, let's move it along with love :)

The same is true re: cannabis reform. I will have to watch my rants...

The contrast between the ravings of the xtian right, and the pro marriage equality testimonies in Olympia last week was staggering. Nothing but frothing hatred from God's Loving People, versus calm, rational explanations of fairness from our side.
I'm just concerned about all those "I just think 'marriage' is between a man & woman" folks out there, many of whom supported the rejection of R-71, but might not support full marriage equality when it comes to a vote.

"No state has ever legalized marriage equality by popular vote. Washington would be the first,"

Well, hopefully it's the second (or third), since Maine (and possibly Maryland) will vote on marriage equality this year, and their voting ends a few hours before Washington's. :)

appealing to people's better instincts was definitely Ed Murray's approach, and I applaud it, in the end, you win, and you win in a way that improves the political climate. And the right is wide open to criticism of its methodology in a political "fight" but seriously, wouldn't The Stranger be open to the same criticism - not on the issue itself (that's a no brainer) but on methodology? Suddenly, it's all "love will win the day" here in Slogland? Could'a fooled me.

You can make a case that if you're being oppressed that a vitriolic approach is justified (even if I happen to think it's the lesser approach and usually takes longer to work) but you can't lay claim to having taken a "win them over with love" approach when the history says otherwise.

I just went to her website to email and thank her, and saw this blurb:

Sen. Haugen being attacked by national a…

So it's worth sending her a note of support, if you can.

MMH's statement of profound disinterest in the people who have no business interfering with local Washington policy is inspired.

I wish more politicians had this sort of integrity.

Thank you again, Mary Margaret.

Thank you, Mary Margaret, and bless you all for supporting same-sex marriages! I just called and left a message!!

I called and left a message. Got a live staffer, too!

I know it is a little early, but in keeping with the love theme, perhaps we should send her valentines.

yes! bona fide valentines you make yourself with construction paper and doilies and glitter.

Maybe we should be telling the fence-sitters that the word "marriage" matters because it symbolizes an act on the part of government not to implicitly endorse discriminatory social attitudes. After all, if we're allowed everything but the word, it only means that something is still amiss.

Maybe we should be telling the fence-sitters that the word "marriage" matters because, granting it, the government is not implicitly endorsing discriminatory social attitudes. For as long as we are denied everything but the word, it means that something is still amiss.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/201…

A bill that would make the death sentence mandatory for gays who are "repeat offenders" has been reintroduced in Uganda's parliament.

"The anti-homosexuality bill was re-tabled on the floor of the House today and has been referred to parliament's legal and parliamentary affairs committee for scrutiny," Helen Kawesa, the parliamentary spokesperson, said on Tuesday.

"The committee is expected to examine it and conduct public hearings and then it will report back to the house for a formal debate on the bill," she said.

A small but vocal anti-gay movement, led by several MPs and a group of bishops, said it was determined to reintroduce the proposed legislation.

The bill was originally proposed as a private member's bill in 2009 by David Bahati, a legislator with the ruling National Resistance Movement party, provoking an international outcry.

It brings in the death penalty for anyone caught engaging in homosexual acts for the second time as well as for gay sex where one partner is a minor or has HIV.

It also proposes to criminalise public discussion of homosexuality and would penalise an individual who knowingly rents property to a homosexual.