Special to ABC news that President Barack Obama has declared his support for gay marriage today:

http://gma.yahoo.com/obama-announces-his-support-for-same-sex-marriage.html

President Obama is the first U.S. President to openly support gay marriage.

On the 2008 campaign trail I heard Democratic nominee Barack Obama say that he was unsure about taking this stand, though he believed in civil unions. Now running for re-election in 2012, the President has joined Vice President Joe Biden in his support of same-sex marriage.

U.S. States that grant gay marriage (from wikipedia):

“Such licenses are granted by six states: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, plus Washington, D.C. and Oregon’s Coquille and Washington state’s Suquamish Indian tribes. The states of Washington and Maryland have passed laws in 2012 to begin granting same-sex marriage licenses, but each may be delayed or derailed by November 2012 voter referenda. Same-sex marriages could be legally performed in California between June 16, 2008, and November 4, 2008, after which voters passed Proposition 8 prohibiting same-sex marriages. California also recognizes any same-sex marriage from around the world that took place before that end date.”

Gay marriage is a civil rights issue, allowing loving & committed same-sex couples to legally marry, if they choose to. I also see this as an equal protection issue, as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution…”nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

“Two nationally known leaders will bring the same-gender marriage discussion to Tucson in hopes to find common ground. Maggie Gallagher, president and founder of National Organization for Marriage and the Rev. Dr. Welton Gaddy, president of Interfaith Alliance, will meet in Tucson to discuss their views on same-gender marriage and religious freedom.”

Television reporter Lupita Murillo of KVOA Channel 4, Tucson, will moderate the conversation. The event is free and open to the public.

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Same-Gender Marriage Conversation
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Berger Performing Arts Center
1200 West Speedway Blvd.
Contact: Organizer Paul Barby, pmbarby@earthlink.net

“The national conversation about same-gender marriage is most often played out in sound bites and protest signs. We hope to have a deeper discussion in Tucson,” said local organizer Paul Barby. “This is an important conversation to have because what is really at stake when we talk about same-gender marriage is religious freedom and the nature of democracy.”

From the press release:
“The Washington Post has described Gallagher’s National Organization for Marriage, as “the preeminent organization dedicated to preventing the legalization of same-sex marriage.” Gallagher and her organization played a key role in getting Prop 8 on the ballot in California. She also helped orchestrate the rollback of gay marriage via referendum in Maine, and block gay marriage bills in the New York and New Jersey State Senates.”

“As President of Interfaith Alliance, the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, promotes the idea that marriage is a civil issue, not a religious issue in the United States and that discussions about same-gender marriage should begin from the perspective of religious liberty. Gaddy serves as a pastor at Northminster Baptist Church in Monroe, Louisiana, in addition to leading Interfaith Alliance, a national grassroots organization of more than 150,000 individuals and 75 different religious traditions.” He is also the author of a Green Paper entitled “Same-Gender Marriage & Religious Freedom”.

Sounds like a fair & balanced discussion on same-gender marriage, not legal in Arizona.
Can this issue find common ground? Why shouldn’t gays/lesbians be allowed to marry? Attend this conversation/discussion & find out.

Note: I wrote a blog entitled “Why marriage?” earlier this year (click here), where this issue came up in the comment section.

Interfaith Alliance logo

NOH8 logo

Over 3,000 people so far have had their photos taken as models with duct tape over their mouths, symbolizing their voices being silenced by the passing of Proposition 8 in California and similar legislation around the world, with “NOH8″ painted on one cheek in protest. (Regarding that logo “NOH8″, the “H” stands for “Hate”, as this is a “No Hate” campaign and the “8″ stands for Proposition 8).

Background info from the website, www.noh8campaign.com: “On November 4, 2008 Proposition 8 passed in California, amending the state Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. The defeat provoked a groundswell of initiative within the GLBT community at a grassroots level, with many new political and protest organizations being formed in response."

The NOH8 Campaign is a "photographic silent protest” created by celebrity photographer Adam Bouska and his West Hollywood partner Jeff Parshley, as they wanted to bring publicity for the need for marriage equality for gays/lesbians. Parshley has stated that the duct tape over the mouth represented the 48% of Californians who favored marriage equality, and yet were “silenced” when Prop. 8 passed.

Perhaps two of the most famous NOH8 models have been Cindy McCain (2nd wife of Arizona U.S.Senator John McCain, who is up for re-election in November, 2010) and their daughter Meghan McCain. Congratulations to these McCain women for their courage to stand up for equality in marriage and civil rights for the GLBT community.

Cindy McCain photographed by Adam Bouska

You too can contact info@noh8campaign.com, to inquire about having your face duct taped and added to this campaign.

Check out the website for their online Store, to purchase the usual campaign paraphernalia: t-shirts, bumper stickers, buttons, and even tattoos, with the “NOH8″ logo, pictured above.

Sidenote: U.S. Senator John McCain will be bringing newly elected U.S. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) to Tucson tomorrow for 2 events at the Arizona Inn, and the Manning House. Information on his campaign website above.