A Good Way to Start the New Year

For many reasons the new year has gotten off to a good start, here's a sampling:

Gays Take Control Of Councils In 3 Cities

New Jersey has its first gay mayor, a gay man was returned to the mayor's chair in Cambridge, Massachusetts and a prominent lesbian became Speaker of the NYC Council, while in Arizona a lesbian joined the state Senate - all in all it has been a good week for LGBT politicians.

Cherokee High Court Dismisses Same-Sex Marriage Suit

The Judicial Appeals Tribunal of the Cherokee Nation, the highest Cherokee court, has rejected an attempt by several tribal council members to invalidate the marriage of a Cherokee lesbian couple.

The Court held that the council members, who are the legislative branch of the Cherokee Nation, had no standing to seek a court order invalidating the marriage of Kathy Reynolds and Dawn McKinley because the council members could not show that they were individually harmed or affected by the marriage.

DC Broadens Domestic Partner Law

The District of Columbia City Council passed measures Wednesday expanding benefits for registered domestic partners.

The bills would give domestic partners power of attorney, the ability to sue for negligence and immunity from testifying against one another and would create alimony-like obligations if a partnership is dissolved, among other protections.

“This is a step forward but we’re many steps away from D.C. couples having equal protections and responsibilities,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

Nominations Piling Up For Gay Themed Films

"Brokeback Mountain," "Capote," and "Transamerica" were among best-of-2005 nominees announced by guilds representing Hollywood actors, producers and writers.

The Screen Actor's Guild nominated the stars of "Brokeback Mountain" for four awards - more than any other film - a move that continues the momentum for the Oscars.
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On Wednesday the The Producers Guild of America nominated "Brokeback Mountain," and "Capote" for its top award - the coveted Darryl F. Zanuck producer of the year award.
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Wednesday also say the Writers Guild of America give nominations for best adapted screenplay to "Brokeback Mountain" and "Capote," along with "The Constant Gardener," "A History of Violence" and "Syriana."

H.S. Seniors Overwhelmingly Support Gay Families

A national poll of high school seniors shows that young people are twice as likely as adults to support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.

The survey was conducted by Zogby International for Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. The results, released Thursday, come at a time when conservative groups are trying to prevent the establishment of Gay Straight Associations at schools in a number of states nationwide.

The poll on "hot button" political issues also found that students in the high school class of 2006 support strong handgun control measures but oppose abortion.

Three-quarters of the high school seniors throughout the country favor the legal recognition of same-sex relationships, either as marriage or civil union.

The survey found that three in four seniors oppose a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Sixty-three percent support adoption by gay couples.

YES, A VERY GOOD START TO THE NEW YEAR!!! Let's hang in there and keep fighting the good fight. Young people will be of voting age soon and the hostile atmosphere will slowly but surely change in America.