The Today Show's Marriage Contest To Allow Same-Sex Couples

After a meeting with the GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), NBC announced that they would allow same-sex couples to participate in the Today show's wedding contest and have extended the deadline for contest entries to Monday, July 12, 2010.

Originally the Today show had argued that it couldn’t include same-sex couples because gay marriage is not permitted under New York law, where the Rockefeller Center wedding is set to take place. “Our intent was not to be discriminatory or exclusive. Moving forward, we ensure that our future wedding contests will be inclusive of all couples.”

The contest, now in it's eleventh year, allows viewers to vote on every detail of a couple’s wedding, which is then broadcast live on the show. Even though same-sex couples will be allowed to apply, it does not guarantee they will be on the show. The Today show producers sort through all the contest applications and pick four couples, then it is up to the viewers to vote for which couple will win the wedding and the all-expenses-paid honeymoon. The winning couple's ceremony will take place on the Today show in New York in October.

In New York Republican Candidate Backs Same-Sex Marriage, Democrat Oppose It

The Washington Blade reported today that Gay Republicans are rallying behind a New York GOP candidate who favors same-sex marriage in her bid for the U.S. House against a Democratic contender who opposes marriage rights for gays.

Diedre “Dede” Scozzafava, a Republican New York state Assembly member, is seeking to represent her state’s 23rd congressional district. A member of the Assembly since 1999, Scozzafava voted in 2007 and again earlier this year in favor of bills to legalize same-sex marriage in New York.

She’s facing off against Democrat Bill Owens, a Plattsburgh, N.Y., attorney, who last month said in a radio interview that he doesn’t support same-sex marriage. Doug Hoffman, a Lake Placid accountant, is running on the ticket for New York’s Conservative Party.

The seat will become vacant after the U.S. Senate confirms Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.) as Army secretary. Lawmakers are expected to confirm McHugh to the position shortly after they return from the August recess.

McHugh must resign his congressional seat before New York Gov. David Paterson (D) can call for a special election, but some media outlets have speculated that the election would take place on Election Day in November.

Charles Moran, a Log Cabin spokesperson, said Scozzafava represents the views of New York’s 23rd congressional district because “she fiscally is fairly conservative, but … on the social issues she’s very much mainstream in what the district believes in and also what America believes in with marriage equality.”

“We love Dede,” he said. “This is a district where Dede has represented and lived for many years and this is just another example of Republicans continuing to push for an inclusive message.”

Scozzafava, who was unavailable for comment for this article, was quoted in a July 24 article in the Politico voicing support for same-sex marriage.

“I’m pro-choice, and I also support gay marriage,” she said. “The leadership might not like that — but the people that I’m closest to have voted for me, know me, and they’re very supportive.”

But one group opposed to same-sex marriage is infuriated over Scozzafava’s position. Brian Brown, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage, said his organization contacted New York Republican officials and asked them to remove Scozzafava as their nominee in the race.

“It is a slap in the face to the voters of this district,” he said. “This is a socially conservative district and we hope that the nomination will be removed and someone else will be put in her place because this is not a good move for the Republican Party by any stretch.”

Scozzafava’s marriage position contrasts with that of her Democratic opponent. Owens, the Democratic contender for the House seat, told North County Public Radio on Aug. 12 that he doesn’t support marriage rights for same-sex couples.

“People who are seeking civil unions should have that option,” Owens said. “However, I think that the word ‘marriage’ has some very important religious connotations and I would not be in support of a bill that addressed it in that fashion. But I certainly fully support civil rights for everyone in every area.”

The National Stonewall Democrats didn’t respond to a request for comment on Owens’ marriage stance.

Moran said Owens’ position shows that Democrats aren’t “necessarily in lockstep” on LGBT issues, such as same-sex marriage rights.

Log Cabin’s political action committee, Moran said, can’t endorse Scozzafava until Paterson officially calls for a special election. But once that takes place, Moran said Log Cabin’s endorsement would “come out … swiftly.”

“Our New York operation is primed and prepared to send Dede Scozzafava to Washington, D.C.,” he said.

Log Cabin’s PAC will contribute to Scozzafava’s campaign, Moran said, and will bundle checks with a goal of reaching a combined contribution of somewhere between $25,000 and $50,000. Moran said he expects Scozzafava to win her bid for the U.S. House seat and that New York’s 23rd congressional district would stay in Republican hands.

Trevor Thomas, a Human Rights Campaign spokesperson, said his organization was seeking more information before making an endorsement decision.

“While the seat is not yet vacant, we have been in contact with both campaigns and have provided our questionnaire to learn more on their positions,” he said.

Brown said the National Organization for Marriage “will work to highlight Dede Scozzafava’s record” on marriage. He said NOM hasn’t determined whether it will endorse Owens or Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate.

“We’re determining how involved we are going to be, but are definitely going to be involved,” he said.

By Chris Johnson

Will New York be the 5th State to Allow Same-Sex Marriage?

Just this morning New York Governor David Paterson unveiled legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry in New York. “Marriage equality is about basic civil rights and freedom. That is why we stand together today to embrace civil rights for every New Yorker.” stated Patterson at today's press conference.“The timing is always right. It’s just a matter of who is willing to take the step, and I am.”

Paterson’s bill would amend the domestic relations law allowing civil marriages between same-sex couples, and he called on the Legislature to approve the bill.

This new bill is similar to the one that the Democratic-controlled state Assembly had passed in 2007, but was later shot down by the Republican majority Senate. And although Democrats now control the Senate, the State Senate Majority Leader stated he did not have the votes to pass marriage equality legislation and will not bring the bill to a vote.

Gov. Paterson has said in recent days that the State Legislature should move ahead now with the bill even if it cannot produce enough votes. His reasoning, which some gay rights advocates have questioned, is that he believes New York should make a statement by showing that they are committed to treating same-sex couples as they do heterosexual couples.

Paterson, accompanied by his wife Michelle, City Council head Christine Quinn, state Sen. Tom Duane and other officials, compared the need for same-sex marriage to the struggle to abolish slavery. “Gay marriage is a crucial issue of equal rights in America that cannot be ignored.” He continued on to say, "For too long, gay and lesbian New Yorkers — we have pretended they have the same rights as their neighbors and friends. That is not the case. All have been the victims of what is a legal system that has systematically discriminated against them."

Both Republicans and religious conservatives have already vowed to defeat the new same-sex legislature. And while Paterson was announcing his new proposal, Sen. Ruben Diaz of the Bronx, also a Democrat, met with religious leaders to discuss how to block the bill.

Diaz, an evangelical pastor, stated that his meeting in the Bronx was to inform Hispanics, Catholics, evangelicals and others who are opposed to same-sex marriage of their options to prevent this bill's passage.

New York City’s new Roman Catholic Archbishop, Timothy Dolan, has already promised to work actively to ensure the same-sex bill never passes.

“You can bet I’ll be active, present and articulate,” said Dolan. “We bishops aren’t into politics, we’re into principles…I won’t shy away from the fact. I realize with gratitude and humility that the pulpit has prominence that takes some getting used to.”

Earlier this month a Quinnipiac University poll was released showing that approximately 41 percent of New York State voters support recognition of same-sex couples, while 33 percent favored civil unions.

So do you think it will be California or New York that becomes the 5th US state to legalize same-sex marriage...I am hoping for a tie!