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OMG, 2011 -- what a year for marriage equality. We're still not ready to get married yet,
but wow we are so close. Think about where we were a year ago -- so much has happened.
I'm Matt Baume; let's do a quick year-in-review to look at all the amazing stuff of 2011,
and look ahead to where we're going to win in 2012.
There were five big trends this year:
1. Multiple polls that show a majority support the freedom to marry -- and that includes
a lot of Republicans.
2. Lots of action around civil unions.
3. Some big shakeups at statewide equality orgs.
4. International progress that sometimes outpaced the US.
5. Laying the groundwork for some major victories in 2012.
Let's dive in.
January:
Republican Committee head Michael Steele tells the National Organization for Marriage thathe
supports them 100% -- and within a month, he's out of a job. The Ninth Circuit punts
the Prop 8 case to the California Supreme Court, which will eventually issue a ruling
10 months later. Rhode Island and Maryland introduce marriage bills (both of which eventually
fail), andNew Hampshire Republicans decide they won't fight marriage equality this year.
The Dept of Justice is still defending DOMA, even as an additional lawsuit is filed against
the anti-marriage ban.
February:
Big advances for civil unions: Hawaii passes a CU bill 11-2 and the Illinois governor signs
a CU bill into law. Washington state introduces a marriage bill that eventually flops but
is now its way back for 2012, Maryland's marriage bill passes the house, and the Indiana house
passes a bill to ban marriage and CUs. The DOJ reverses course and says that DOMA is
unconstitutional, and Dianne Feinstein introduces a DOMA repeal bill.
March:
Colorado's Senate passes a CU bill and Wyoming defeats a bill that would constrain recognition
of LGBT couples. Maine orders NOM to disclose donors. Maryland lawmakers reject a marriage
equality bill.
April:
Following the failure of the marriage bill in Maryland, Equality Maryland fires its Executive
Director. Anti-gay bills die in Illinois and Iowa while Delaware's CU bill passes the Senate
and House. Colorado Republicans kill a CU bill. Grainy snippets of the Prop 8 trial
arebroadcast on C-SPAN. For the fourth time, a national survey shows majority support for
marriage equality, but House Speaker John Boehner doubles down and hires Paul Clement
to defend DOMA.
May:
A fifth national survey shows majority support for marriage equality. Paul Clement and his
law firm separate over DOMA disagreement. Anti-gay groups attack the judge in the Prop
8 case after he confirms that he's gay, but their arguments sound at best homophobic,
and at worst crazy. A marriage bill goes down in flames in Rhode Island, but another pops
up in NY. Times are tough for civil unions in Wisconsin, where Governor Scott Walker
attempts to dismantle the state's domestic partnership registry. But times are better
in Delaware with the signing of a new CU law. Attorney General Eric Holder orders the Bureau
of Immigration and Naturalization to revisit whether CUs can be considered for naturalization
petitions. Big international advances: Brazil's Supreme Court votes unanimously for CUs, and
the Scottish National Party wins big with a vow to consult with constituents on the
legalization of marriage. Equality Maryland's turmoil continues: now they're nearly out
of money. Equality North Carolina's Executive Director resigns.
June:
Scott Walker's attempts to derail DPs in WI are dealt a legal setback. Civil unions start
inIllinois. Target refuses to reform its policy of donating to anti-gay politicians. More
big international news: Lichtenstein voters approve civil unions, French lawmakers reject
marriage equality, and the anti-gay Prime Minister of Australia auctions off 6 dinner
invitations for charity, but is startled when all six are snatched up by LGBT couples. To
date, she has still refused to honor those invitations. Marriage equality passes in New
York, more than doubling the number of LGBTs who can have their marriage recognized by
their state. The number of LGBTs whose marriages are recognized by their country is still zero.
July:
Equality Maryland gets its act together and releases a plan to pass a marriage bill in
2012. Other states will soon follow with 2012 plans of their own, only some of which include
marriage. Rhode Island signs its new CU bill into law. The American Medical Association
endorses marriage equality while lawmakers in DC hold hearings on DOMA repeal. Senator
Al Franken catches one anti-gay mouthpiece in a bit of a deception. Marriages start in
New York.
August:
Taking a cue from the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association endorses
marriage equality. Signature-gathering to repeal the anti-gay law in Maine begins.California
hears oral arguments over releasing the tapes of the Prop 8 trial. The President of Chile
proposes a civil unions bill and a Scottish survey shows 61% of citizens support marriage.
September:
"8″ premiers on Broadway on the same day that the Federal District Court orders the
release of the tapes of the Prop 8 trial. Those tapes still haven't been made public,
since the Prop 8 Proponents immediately appeal. The governor of Maryland promises a marriage
bill in 2012.Uruguay introduces a marriage bill with a vote expected in 2012. DOMA repeal
gets its first Republican co-sponsor.
October:
Equality California announces that it won't pursue Prop 8 repeal at the ballot in 2012,
since it would be prohibitively expensive, there's already a lot of other marriage fights
around the country in 2012, and the polling is still very close in California. Within
a few days Equality California's Executive Director resigns. Another national survey
shows more people favor marriage equality than oppose it, and the Servicemembers' Legal
Defense Network files a lawsuit over DOMA since it unfairly harms military families.
John Boehner allocates another million dollars to defend the anti-gay law. New Hampshire's
Senate Judiciary Committee passes a bill to strip away both marriage and civil unions.
November:
Dozens of major employers and professional organizations oppose DOMA. The Senate Judiciary
Committee passes DOMA repeal. Washington announces a marriage bill for 2012, but Oregon decides
not to go back to the ballot to repeal its anti-gay laws -- instead, they'll pursue a
public education campaign. The California Supreme Court advances the Prop 8 case after
a nearly yearlong delay. A New Jersey lawmaker tries to introduce a marriage billduring the
lame duck session. He's ultimately unsuccessful.
December:
The Australian Labor Party adds marriage equality to the party platform despite the best efforts
of the anti-gay Prime Minister, while Nigeria's Senate approves harsh penalties for anyone
involved with marriage equality. Back in the US, a third of the Senate now supports DOMA
repeal. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals hears arguments in the Prop 8 case, with a
ruling expected early in 2012. Equality California starts staffing up with an eye toward legislation
and education in 2012.
So, yeah: wow. All that in one year. Now, where's our attention going to be for the
next year?
First, Perry v. Brown, the Prop 8 case. We're expecting a ruling any day now from the appellate
court, and then it's full steam ahead to the US Supreme Court.
Then there's going to be big election fights in a bunch of states -- and don't forget,
we're also going to be in a presidential campaign. Minnesota, North Carolina, and Maine are the
states to watch in November.
And then there's the legislative fights. Lawmakers are expected to tussle over marriage or civil
unions in Washington state, Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
And watch for public outreach campaigns in just about every state, particularly Oregon,
California, and Ohio.
Don't forget about the DOMA lawsuits -- there's nearly a dozen suits that involve the federal
marriage ban, and although their progress has been slow and their trajectory's hard
to predict, they'll all make advances next year. And of course, the big national question
is Obama. What's he going to do? A lot of smart people say he's going to come out for
marriage equality. And a lot of other smart people say "mmmmmaybe."
Internationally, keep your eyes on Scotland, Ireland, England, France, Uruguay, Chile,
Colombia, Brazil, and Australia, which all show signs of progress in the coming year.
But things could get worse in Spain and Nigeria.
It is amazing how much is happening and how quickly. This is an incredible time to be
alive and fighting for our rights. And these advances are possible because of you. Every
time you talk about marriage equality -- committed couples who just want to share their lives
together -- you win more people over to our side. There've been setbacks, but on balance
we've been gaining momentum every single day.
And it's so easy for you to play your part in all this. All you have to do is spread
the word. Hit like on this video, post it with a comment, send it around, make sure
all your friends and family see it -- and then talk about it with them afterwards. Every
conversation gets us closer.
I'm Matt Baume, and I would really like to get married. And so would a lot of other people
you know. Let's make it happen. Here we go: 2012.