Keelin Godsey is one of 24 athletes scheduled to participate Thursday in the women’s hammer throw at the United States Olympic trials, but for Godsey, 28, of North Adams, Mass., there is much more than a spot in London at stake.
Lawyers for the House Republican leadership today told a federal court that the House Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group plans to ask the Supreme Court to overturn a federal appeals court ruling from May 31 striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Although the Supreme Court request had been expected, it was unclear when such a request, called a petition for a writ of certiorari, would be made since the deadline for the filing is not until Aug. 29.
The incidents [of violent preaching] drew outrage and condemnation from gay rights supporters. But they also left many Christians uncomfortable – even those who call themselves conservative. "I think these men expressed something that many Baptist preachers think," the Rev. Robin Lunn said. "We need to stand up and denounce this powerfully."
Minnesota for Marriage, the coalition advocating for a constitutional ban on marriage equality, filed its latest campaign disclosure documents this afternoon, and unsurprisingly, the group continues to hide the sources of most of its funding. Of the $588,317.30 of contributions received, over 96 percent came in lump sum from the Minnesota Catholic Conference ($400,000), Minnesota Family Council ($150,000), and National Organization for Marriage ($15,000). The coalition identified only 26 donors outside of those three organizations.
When religious protesters gather to rally against same-sex marriage or endorse a conservative candidate, it follows a familiar script. "Christian" becomes shorthand for conservative, anti-abortion, anti-gay beliefs. But as cultural views around homosexuality have shifted, there has also been an increase in voices on the religious left (yes, they exist), who are stepping forward to challenge the religious right.
Brickman is quick to point out that the pro-marriage equaliyt coalition are not trying to rebut any argument put forth by the Catholic Church. She doesn't want this to devolve into a rote rendition of Religious Right vs. Godless Left. After all, she says, among the 300 coalition members in Minnesotans United, more than one-fourth are faith-based organizations.
John Fugelsang says the bisexual community hasn’t shared in all the social progress made by the lesbian and gay communities and is still subject to prejudice from both gay and straight communities. Fugelsang points out that no open bisexuals serve in national elective office – and never have.
Jim Smith is a former Roman Catholic priest who left his post with the church 10 years ago. He's an ex-priest for several reasons, he says, but one of his main concerns was the church's stance against marriage equality and other LGBT issues.
But Smith remains a Catholic - though he says being a Catholic who actively campaigns for marriage equality can be difficult these days.
