Sometimes I still wish I lived in Athens County....

 

Looks like the YES was strongest in southern and northwestern Ohio, and less so in the major cities. What a surprise! :)

My county (Greene) is interesting. Percentage-wise, the results are very close to the presidential race- 62% to 38% in favor of Issue 1, 61% to 39% for Bush over Kerry. I wonder how closely those two correlate among the voters. That's different from the state as a whole, where the number of "yes" voters obviously exceeded the number of Bush voters. In Greene County there were actually fewer voters in total on Issue 1; fewer "yes" votes than Bush votes, and fewer "no" votes than Kerry votes.

 

Anyway, it's not a margin I like to see, but at least it's not among the worst of them on the list.

Sometimes its nice to be stuck in this lovely blue county in SE Ohio for the next few years... I just wish the economy was better so I could get a real job in my field. Going to be hard going back to Cincy when my girlfriend finishes in a few years, if we go back to Cincy...

^ :(

 

Don't let this election stuff get you down. Cincinnati repealed Article XII yesterday so there is progress.

 

I personally don't feel I live in an ultra conservative city. In all honesty it doesn't feel any different than St. Louis on a political level but I do understand numbers don't lie.

I personally don't feel I live in an ultra conservative city.

 

Neither do I, but then again I don't get to the suburbs where most of the people susceptible to voting for Bush live.

 

Long live the city.

Effect of gay marriage ban uncertain; Cleveland Hts. law appears unaffected

 

Thursday, November 04, 2004

Martin Stolz

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Cleveland Heights' domestic partnership registry and benefits program for gay city workers are safe from Ohio's sweeping constitutional amendment banning gay marriages and civil unions, officials say.

 

But the fallout elsewhere in Ohio from voters' overwhelming approval Tuesday of Issue 1 is far from certain.

 

Gov. Bob Taft, who opposed the measure along with other Republicans, said Wednesday it was "unclear, very ambiguous."

 

The amendment defines a marriage only as a "union between one man and one woman." Voters approved it by a margin of 62 percent to 38 percent, but the measure appeared headed for court challenges. The part of the amendment that worries Taft most bans Ohio municipalities and townships from creating or recognizing the "legal status" of any union other than a man and woman.

 

"It could be interpreted very broadly in court to affect all kinds of relationships, where even a man and woman are living together," he said. "So I'm concerned about how the courts will interpret that language. We won't know how adverse the impact is until the courts start interpreting this amendment."

 

...

 

http://www.cleveland.com/election/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/109956458962001.xml

Yep.

My comment also steams from the fact that I do live in the burbs.

 

But I agree, "Long live the city"

I'm sure we'll probably end up back in Cincy- I love the city proper, and we both have all our friends and family there. Besides that- I'm kinda stubborn, and feel like it would be "cheating" just to move to a city that's more in line with my way of thinking, rather than do what I can to make my own city a better place, and find the good that is definitely there. Of course, I'm technically from Miami Twp, Clermont Co (just not much hope in fixing that place), but I've always considered myself to be a Cincinnatian.

I should point out that the Dayton suburb of Oakwood defeated Issue One, and it very narrowly won in Dayton and Jefferson Township. A freind sent me an e-mail on some of the local results here in Montgomery County.

...and thats great news from Cincy about the defeat of Article XII. As y'all might remember I was pretty pessimistic about that one, but sure enough, Cincy did it! Hooray!

There may be hope yet.  Nebraska's was found unconstitutional for many of the same flaws that Ohioans saw in the law even before the election.  From the AP, 5/13/05:

 

 

US judge voids Nebraska's ban on gay marriage

By Kevin O'Hanlon, Associated Press  |  May 13, 2005

 

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A federal judge yesterday struck down Nebraska's ban on same-sex marriage, saying that the measure interferes not only with the rights of same-sex couples but also with those of foster parents, adopted children, and people in a host of other living arrangements.

 

The constitutional amendment, which defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, was passed overwhelmingly by voters in November 2000.

 

US District Judge Joseph Bataillon said the ban ''imposes significant burdens on both the expressive and intimate associational rights" of same-sex couples ''and creates a significant barrier to the plaintiffs' right to petition or to participate in the political process."

 

...

 

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/05/13/us_judge_voids_nebraskas_ban_on_gay_marriage/

 

Yes but I think we have learned, putting gay marriage on the ballot is bad for the Democrats.  If the Ohio gay marriage ban gets voided and put back on the ballot with different wordage in 2006/2008 then you can guarantee that a Conservative will win office if on the same ballot.  Gay Marriage Ban was probably the #1 reason Bush won, #2 was that Kerry was a moron candidate even though I voted for him.

I'd rather take my chances with it being declared unconstitutional and put back on the ballot than leaving it as the law of the state, though.  Damn the consequences!

From the 10/27/05 Enquirer:

 

 

PHOTO: Phil Burress

 

CCV, others hid funding, complaint says

Pro-family groups to be named in elections commission filing

By Jon Craig and Gregory Korte

Enquirer staff writers

 

COLUMBUS - Several pro-family, anti-gay organizations should be investigated for concealing more than $2 million in campaign contributions, according to a complaint being filed today with the Ohio Elections Commission.

 

The complaint by two Cincinnati lawyers cites last year's campaign to ban same-sex marriage in Ohio and the battle over Cincinnati's Article XII. The state ban passed. The city ordinance, which prohibited passage of a gay-rights ordinance, was opposed by gay-rights groups and repealed by voters last November.

 

...

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051027/NEWS01/510270356/1056/rss02

 

From the 11/29/05 PD:

 

 

Marriage ban effect on gays varied

Some flee, others battle in courts over interpretation

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Barb Galbincea

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Nathan Schaefer is young, well-educated and a former Ohioan because, he says, the state in which he grew up and came out made it clear a year ago that he and other gays are unwelcome.

 

For Schaefer, a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage "was like a slap in the face." The measure, approved by 62 percent of Ohio voters, took effect Dec. 2, 2004.

 

So, when he finished graduate school at Case Western Reserve University in May, Schaefer left for Washington, D.C.

 

"Why would you pay taxes to a government when it won't protect you?" asks the 25-year-old, who was raised near Sandusky and had intended to use his social work degree in Ohio.

 

...

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4185

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1133256708178000.xml&coll=2

 

The article says:

 

"...the group was encouraged that Ohioans elected five openly gay candidates - three in Northeast Ohio"

 

I wonder who the other two politicians are?

I've seen four and I've seen five.  A Google search led me to Gay People's Chronicle, which says five were elected out of six who ran:

 

 

Columbus elected Mary Jo Hudson to her first full term to the city council seat she has held since her appointment 14 months ago.

 

Cleveland’s Ward 14 will be represented by Joe Santiago, who defeated a two-term incumbent.

 

Nickie J. Antonio will serve the city of Lakewood as an at-large member of council.

 

Mark Tumeo will take the seat of the anti-gay Jimmie Hicks Jr. on Cleveland Heights’ city council.

 

In Dayton, Joe Lacey became the first openly gay school board member in Ohio.

 

In Toledo, gay council at large candidate Dave Schulz finished 10th of 12, in a race where the first six were seated.

 

http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stories05/november/1111051.htm

 

From the 12/14/05 Dayton Daily News:

 

 

Court: Domestic violence law applies to unmarrieds

Appeals panel lets case against man go to trial

By Lawrence Budd

Dayton Daily News

 

An appeals court in Middletown is apparently the first to decide that Ohio's domestic violence law and a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages can coexist.

 

The 12th District Court of Appeals on Monday ordered Judge Neal Bronson of Warren County Common Pleas Court to hear the case against Michael Carswell, 28, indicted in March on a domestic violence charge.

 

The South Lebanon man was accused of pushing a girlfriend to the floor of an apartment they shared in Lebanon, according to court records. His lawyer, Thomas Eagle, said he expected to appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court.

 

...

 

http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/1214reversed.html

 

From the 12/18/05 PD:

 

 

Ruling in Cuyahoga could gut Ohio ban on same-sex nuptial

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Jim Nichols

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

A key part of the state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and special rights for couples living together violates the U.S. Constitution, a local judge has ruled.

 

The year-old state amendment strips rights from domestic-violence victims who are not married to their batterers and leaves married victims with greater protections, Domestic Relations Judge James Celebrezze found. That violates the equal-protection clause of the federal Constitution's 14th Amendment, the judge declared.

 

Celebrezze's Nov. 28 opinion by itself does not nullify the disputed part of the state amendment. But it may force the Ohio Supreme Court - and possibly the U.S. Supreme Court - to decide whether Celebrezze's ruling is right. If it is, half of the amendment would be gutted. 

 

...

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4111

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1134898464152831.xml&coll=2

 

Phil Burress, the amendment's architect at the Cincinnati-based Center for Community Values, blasted Celebrezze as "an activist judge."

 

Phil Burress, the amendment's architect at the Sharonville-based Center for Community Values, blasted Celebrezze as "an activist judge."

And while we're at it, its Citizens for Community Values, not Center for Community Values

 

But no matter what you call them, they are still evil.

Well, here's some good news for a change....:

 

 

Court upholds domestic violence law

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Jim Nichols

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Unmarried victims of domestic violence have all the same legal protections as married ones, and their assailants are just as accountable as spouse batterers, an appeals court in Cleveland has ruled.

 

The court overturned a March ruling by a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judge who declared that the state's domestic violence law runs afoul of a year-old amendment to Ohio's Constitution that fortifies the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

 

The 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals rejected the judge's finding Tuesday, echoing recent rulings from two other Ohio district appeals courts.

 

...

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4111

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1135247686222690.xml&coll=2

 

From the 1/25/06 PD:

 

 

Funds flowed to Ohio for gay-marriage vote

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Julie Carr Smyth

Plain Dealer Bureau

 

Columbus - A national group of Christian conservatives spent more in Ohio to outlaw gay marriage than it spent anywhere else in the nation, a new spending analysis finds.

 

The report, by the Institute on Money in State Politics, found that $13.3 million was spent nationwide on both sides of the gay marriage issue in 2004, nearly $2.2 million of it in Ohio.

 

...

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1138181957163710.xml&coll=2

 

Ohio... what a fucked-up state.  As much as I don't advocate violent resolutions to conflicts, Phil Burress wouldn't want to meet me in a dark alley...

.........dirty politics

Couln't they have spent the $13.3 Million on something a little more "Christian" like feeding the poor? 

As a gay man, who has done foster care, big brothers, mentorships, I am disgusted!  Ther are so many children that need a loving home with loving parents, especially male children of color!  Sh*t like this burns me up!

 

State legislator proposes ban on adoption by homosexuals

 

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Barb Galbincea

Plain Dealer Reporter

 

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Ohioans would not be allowed to adopt or act as foster parents under a bill introduced in the state House this week.

 

The measure, sponsored by 10 Republican lawmakers, would extend that ban to anyone living with an individual determined by the court to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

 

www.plaindealer.com

I read this today, in a smiliar article in the Columbus Dispatch.  I am ready to pack my suitcase and move out of this state.  Who knows when Ohio will learn the young and talented professionals they are STRONGLY offended by this type of law.  I am afraid that it may be too late before this stops.  Of course this was proposed by someone from the Dayton/Cincinnati metro.  The bills that come out of those two metros (mainly those lovely conservative suburbs) are really driving our state into a hole.  I am just sick of it.  Living in Columbus I am proud of how openly gay our city is, but we will start to loose our creative class and strong community if this continues to occur.  Sad day.  I planned on living in Columbus after I finish school, but why would I?  There are other states where I am offered the same rights as a hetrosexual.  As long as Ohio denys rights to individuals the young professionals like myself will move out of here faster than the annual census can keep up with.

yea if this shit passes then im not living in Ohio after college.  this is flat out insulting

 

EDIT**

 

GOP Leaders: Ohio Anti-Gay Adoption Bill D.O.A.

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

 

February 11, 2006 - 11:00 am ET

 

(Columbus, Ohio) A bill to ban gays, bisexuals, and transgenderds from adopting, that was proposed this week by 10 far-right Republicans, is dead in the water GOP and Democratic party leaders said Saturday.

 

GOP leaders in the House and Senate said they would not permit the measure to move through committee.

 

House Speaker Jon A. Husted (R- Kettering) through his chief of staff blasted the proposed bill.

 

"Most reasonable people would have a preference for being in a loving, alternative setting rather than an abusive, heterosexual setting," Scott Borgemenke told the Columbus Dispatch.

 

"There’s a growing concern within the Republican party of continuing to introduce this divisive legislation."

 

Borgemenke said that Husted wants the House to concentrate on job creation. 

 

"I don’t think that’s a partisan issue. I think that’s the truth," he told the paper.

 

Democrats agree.  House Minority Leader Chris Redfern said Democrats will join with Republicans to ensure the bill never gets to a vote.

 

The bill's chief sponsor, Ashville Republican Ron Hood, said if the measure does not make it to the floor this session he will re-introduce it again and again until it does.

 

"Studies have shown that the optimal setting to raise children in is a traditional setting with a mom and a dad," Hood said.

 

Hood claims that children raised in gay households are at "increased risk" of physical and emotional problem.

 

Gay community leaders accuse him of faulty reasoning 

 

"To reach out and be a bigot is bad enough. To do it on the backs of children is just wrong," said Jeannette Birkhoff, of Equality Ohio.

 

"Let us be clear, this is not in the best interest of the Children of Ohio," said Russ Goodwin, President of Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio. " It would allow children desperately seeking a loving family to remain in the custody of the state." 

 

In 2004 Ohio was one of 11 states to pass constitutional amendments to block gays from marrying.

 

The only state with a blanket ban on gay adoption is Florida. Moves in other states to enact sweeping laws to prevent gays from adopting have failed.

 

 

Of course this was proposed by someone from the Dayton/Cincinnati metro.

Ashville is 20 miles or so south of Columbus.  Hardly the Dayton/Cincinnati area.  In fact, the article states that Jon Husted, the Republican Speaker of the House, from Kettering (Dayton suburb) is opposed to the proposal.

 

Now having said that...I agree...this is bullshit.  My partner and I are certainly considering adopting some day. I try to stay positive about Ohio and fight what I feel is wrong with the state, but with continued proposals like this, moving somewhere else looks better and better.  I'm not ready to give up on Ohio yet, but I hope our elected officials start tackling the issues that really matter and will truly make Ohio a better state. 

Hell, even as a straight guy I am offended by this!  Why waste our time on this bigotry when we need to be fixing our state's education and economy?  I can understand why many of you would feel that you want to move away from this.  Even though it won't effect my rights (yet- who knows what they're cooking up next), I want to live somewhere that is in step with the 21st Century!

Hood claims that children raised in gay households are at "increased risk" of physical and emotional problem.

 

I knew someone raised by two lesbians and I can confirm that there is an increased risk of emotional and physical "problem" to the child. What they don't mention is that the problem is from all the other kids harassing and attacking him and his lesbian parents.

 

His home life was perfectly happy. Normal. Even boring. His family existed as any other family in the world. When he had to exist in the outside world with all its preconceptions and biases and outright intolerance, that's where he encountered the only real problems he had growing up. So what did his two moms do? They fought for their child. They helped him stand up to all the bigotry he faced as a child, which helped him become what I feel is a pretty strong, independent thinking and, yes, heterosexual guy.

 

It's not that complicated. You fight for your loved ones.

 

I'm in Northeast Ohio, which I grant you is the blue end of a red state (for now). But Jesus, what is going on around Ohio any more? I always liked Ohio's role in "freedom". We sent so many soldiers to fight in the Civil War-a war predicated on freedom (and economy). But I like to believe mostly freedom.  My concept of how truly free you are as a person, community or country is your ability to argue with someone who you absolutely disagree with for hours and hours and then go your separate ways and live your lives to the embodiments of your beliefs. I like my freedoms but I can only enjoy my freedoms if I know people around me are able to enjoy those same freedoms. In my heart of hearts, I do not believe that is a "Blue State" belief. So it damages me when this sort of legislation is submitted or passed, as in the Gay Marriage Ban.

 

This state really gives me a headache sometimes.

 

As a straight guy, I'm also offended by this. I hope these hate-filled legislative efforts by the right-wingers and the "Bring Back the 1950s Family Puritanism" groups cause division in the Republican party. It sounds to me like the "problems" they are seeking to prevent are actually caused by the hateful, bigotted people these bumpkin legislators are representing. So, what they are really saying is "We need this legislation to protect kids from small-minded people like us."

This is truly stomach-churning.

I'm gay, and a lot of my gay friends here cite the increasingly anti-gay bull that goes on at the state level as a reason they'd like to move away from Ohio. If we allow stuff like this to keep passing, we will lose not only gays but also other progressive people of every stripe. The anti-marriage law has already done enough damage.

 

If you oppose this bill, please write to your state senator: http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/

^Is it time to bring up the NE Ohio secession discussion again?

This is truly stomach-churning.

I'm gay, and a lot of my gay friends here cite the increasingly anti-gay bull that goes on at the state level as a reason they'd like to move away from Ohio. If we allow stuff like this to keep passing, we will lose not only gays but also other progressive people of every stripe. The anti-marriage law has already done enough damage.

 

If you oppose this bill, please write to your state senator: http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/

 

Blinky its funny you say this, because many of my friends say the same thing.  But they also add, these bills seem like things that people from the south would bring to the table, not Ohioans.  We seem to think we're more progressive than they are, but shat does this say about "how progressive" our state is? 

 

This is part of the reason why we cannot attract a broader range of people to the state.  bigotry/racism, school funding, an idiotic Gov, bad Mass transit....ARGH!

 

Next we'll be targetting Latins, African Americans, Asians & women. 

 

Hi all,

 

Add my name to the list of those who are disgusted by all the anti-gay politics in Ohio. I am also a gay man and my thoughts are if someone is willing to take care of and share their lives with kids that need help, let them do so. And I am with you X, lets start up the lets get Northeast Ohio the hell out of the rest of the state. Bear hugz to all.

 

Jim S.

I'd also urge everyone to commend Husted for his opposition to the bill and others opposed to it while telling those in favor of it what f*cktards they are. I can understand people getting fed up and wanting to move, but let's at least not go down without a fight!

I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said here, but I just want to add my name to the list of very concerned and very frustrated Ohio citizens. 

 

One of the many reasons that I moved back to Ohio was to do my part to push our state in the right direction (right as in "correct," not "conservative!").  It was getting more and more aggravating watching it go down the wrong path from a place like NYC where there's no real concern over issues like this ever coming to light.  Voting in NYC made such a little impact.  Voting and acting as a concerned and responsible citizen in Ohio can actually swing pendulum and promote the well-being of millions of citizens whose rights are in danger.  That means children and minorities of all types whose civil liberties are constantly in question in Ohio. 

 

It's time we regain the majority!  We can't afford to fall any further!

It's doubtful this legislation will get very far, especially with Husted opposing it.  But it shows what legislative domination by the extreme elements of one party or another can do to our government.  In this case, the neo-con Republican majority in both Houses of the General Assembly have bullied through legislation like concealed carry laws and defense of marriage (I never knew mine needed to be defended).

 

Yet they choose to ignore things like school funding, the environment, diversifying our transportation systems and other issues that actually do have a significant and important impact on our daily lives.  I have a number of gay and lesbian couples as neighbors in Columbus.  They are the kind of good, decent people anyone would want for a neighbor and (dare I say it) any child would want for parents.

 

I spent many years working in broadcast journalism and saw enough human tragedy involving children whose parents should have never been allowed to breed.  If these idiots in our legislature want to do something... why don't they reform a children's services system that allows two foster parents to lock their kids up in cages (as we recently saw in the news)?

 

But no.  Instead we get twits like Mr. Hood (he probably wears one as well), who are so hell bent to please their fundamentalist Christian (and I use the term Christian very loosely) friends like Rev. Parsley.

 

But we all need to ask ourselves, how did we allow people like this to get elected in the first place.  I doubt any of you who posted replies here voted for candidates like Mr. Hood.  The problem is many of us either fail to vote in seemingly un-important primaries, or we don't mobilize enough of our friends to vote.  That's part of what enables one-party rule to such an extreme.

 

We have an election coming up this November. It's not enough to make your own vote count.  Get to really know the candidates and what they stand for, especially if they are an incumbent. Question them when they appear at local functions.  But most importantly, get others to start asking questions and participating in the process.  When I see people in Third Word nations who will literally risk their lives just to be free to vote in an election, it is shameful to think of how many people here just shrug off that right.  That's what people like Mr. Hood are counting on.

 

Prove the bastards wrong this November.

It's amazing how people will either "get up and leave" or "secede" when they feel something isn't right.  Black people in the 60's didn't just get up and LEAVE the country to go to England.  They fought tooth and nail for rights and it was granted.  Did Susan B. Anthony just "get out of dodge" when shit wasn't going her way?  Hell no.  Did Malcolm X?  No, he died for his cause. 

 

So people, quit the "Secede NE Ohio!" bullshit.  It's rather tiresome and downright cowardly.  If you feel strongly for the cause, then make your voice heard in the state house and throughout Ohio.  Otherwise, you are doing a disservice for everyone who has fought hard for a worthwhile cause. 

I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said here, but I just want to add my name to the list of very concerned and very frustrated Ohio citizens. 

 

One of the many reasons that I moved back to Ohio was to do my part to push our state in the right direction (right as in "correct," not "conservative!").  It was getting more and more aggravating watching it go down the wrong path from a place like NYC where there's no real concern over issues like this ever coming to light.  Voting in NYC made such a little impact.  Voting and acting as a concerned and responsible citizen in Ohio can actually swing pendulum and promote the well-being of millions of citizens whose rights are in danger.  That means children and minorities of all types whose civil liberties are constantly in question in Ohio. 

 

It's time we regain the majority!  We can't afford to fall any further!

 

 

 

Good comment, Mister Good Day! This is the way I look at it. Grow some balls and fight it with what you can.

 

• Unlike many responses in defense of Cincinnati as far as gay/lesbian rights go, I will not hold that attitude on this thread like I normally would, so before you start bashing and criticizing my comments... read through first. We are on the same page here. I am also very aggravated to wake up and read this kind of news.

 

 

A couple of points I want to bring up, since they have already been brought up...

 

 

Of course this was proposed by someone from the Dayton/Cincinnati metro

 

Well, let's take a look at the districts and city origins and see if the media didn't take this one and run away with it just like everything else (in regards to Cincinnati) ...

 

"As Introduced"

 

126th General Assembly

Regular Session

2005-2006

H. B. No. 515

 

Representatives in favor of:

Representatives Hood, Brinkman, Reidelbach, Willamowski, Seaver, Hoops, Bubp, Gilb, Buehrer, Schaffer 

 

Districts and Cities:

 

Linda Reidelbach ® - District 21 - COLUMBUS - (Born in Bronx, NY)

 

John Willamowski ® - 3rd District Lima, OH - (NORTHWEST OHIO)

 

Derrick Seaver ® - Auglaize County (West Central OHIO)

 

James M. Hoops  ® - District 75 - Napolean, OH (Southwest of Toledo)

 

Danny R. Bubp  ® - District 88 - West Union, OH (71 Miles southeast of Cincinnati)

 

Mike Gilb  ® - District 76 - Findlay, OH (46 miles south of Toledo)

 

Stephen Buehrer  ® - District 74 - Delta, OH (Greater Toledo)

 

Tim Schaffer  ® - District 05 - Lancaster, OH (Southeast Columbus)

 

 

 

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_HB_515

 

 

 

 

Not to mention... who took part in the AFA (American Family Association) national boycott that lasted for months against Proctor & Gamble, because they "forced" their employees to accept homosexuality as a lifestyle in the workplace & was a major advocate for the homosexual lifestyle then later called for P&G to pull their ads from gay/lesbian magazines? What city is P&G based out of? Did you hear about this in the local newspapers? ...

^Thanks for the list. Now I know who to express my displeasure towards.  :whip:

Thank you Cincy-Rise for setting the record straight.

Hmm...14-0 YES on the poll question.  Granted, we aren't exactly an average cross-section of the state on here.

It's amazing how people will either "get up and leave" or "secede" when they feel something isn't right. 

While I see your point, ColDayMan, how long do my partner and I have to wait until we can get married or, hell, even a "civil union"?   How long do we have to wait to have child if this passes (which I don't think it will, but nonetheless)?  It's not realistic for us to wait 30 years to have a child.  When we decide to start our family, that will be much more important to me than any loyalty to a state.  I do nearly everything I possibly can to promote change for the better in Ohio.  I vote in every election.  I try to educate those who have different opinions when I can.  I encourage others to vote.  I write and call my elected officials.  I donate to causes that support my point of view.  I volunteer for these causes when I can.  I work on committees promoting these causes.  I attend pride events--not so much because I enjoy them, but I feel the more people there, the better.  I do and will continue doing these things, but there will be a point in my life where if who I am has been completely condemned by the state of Ohio government, I will look elsewhere.  Until that day though, I will continue to fight the fight.

Although I'm not familiar with Jon Husted's politics, I'm quite surprised to see a Republican leader speaking (although indirectly) so strongly against a bill like this.  I'll take that as a good sign.  Call me cynical, but I've come to expect Ohio Republicans to pledge blind support to anything that's anti-homosexual.

dfly,

 

Out of curiosity... what are the laws on adoption, if you decide to adopt in another state while living in Ohio? Or, have a civil union made while living in Ohio? Can you not adopt now?

 

BTW, I don't think this will pass either. Just my opinion.

Nine states allow for openly gay and lesbian couples to adopt jointly:

California

Massachusetts

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Ohio

Vermont

Washington

Wisconsin

as well as D.C.

 

So far only one state, Florida, totally bans gay adoption.

 

It is more common for one partner to adopt and then for the second to apply as the second parent, or co-parent. Second parent adoptions creates a second legally recognized parent for the adoptive children. This is the only way for gay couples to both become legal parents of their children. Second parent adoptions have been granted by the courts in twenty-one states as well as D.C. These states include - Alabama, Alaska, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, and Washington.

 

I'll try to get some more info when I have some time, but good online resourses would be Lambda Legal and National Adoption Information Clearinghouse