California and the infamous Maggie Brooks
Does the infamous Maggie Brooks have name recognition all the way to California? It would seem that she does. Found this site from Natomas, California and in their article, “Only you can be the change”, this is what they had to say:
I don’t know about you, but I get tired of the constant assault on our community attempts to attain equal status in regards to family and probate law in this country. Seems for every Martinez story there is a Maggie Brookes counterattack or an ignorant rant from the likes of Sally Kern.
Here in California, we have it a little better than most of la familia who reside in other states. We have some family and probate law tied to our domestic partnerships, but we still do not hold all rights and responsibilities.
I suspect that the notoriety that was stirred up by the Monroe County vs Martinez law suit has become the talk du jour in the GLBT community around the country.
I was so happy to find this article after my post of earlier today. It makes it even more essential to get ourselves down to Albany to lobby the state legislature and try to make up for all the damage that our duly elected (or is that dully elected?) county executive has done.
We are all responsible.
Related posts:
Glad you snagged this item. Actually, Natomas is a neighborhood in Sacramento, CA, the home of lawmaking for our fair state. The Martinez case, while on its own being very important, also involves someone I personally admire and respect, Patricia Martinez. My little blog (Hahn at Home) has grown quite a bit in the last couple of years, so I try to spread the good Gay word wherever I can in hopes we can educate each other in how to effect change. Patricia and her partner are walking testaments to their dedication to do just that. The ineptitude and short-sightedness of your Monroe County officials on both the issue of the appeal of the Martinez decision and their half-baked end run in selecting a new community college president would make them quite laughable if the issues weren’t so important and the outcome so critical.
I recently started Natomas LGBTQ because the suburbs are dull, baby! Thank you for stopping by and I’ll be sure to touch base with you to keep up on NY issues!
Yes, the case is becoming well known. It’s frustrating that Brooks is doing some serious damage to Rochester’s reputation as an extremely gay-friendly city. Gay people are (were?) about the only people moving TO Rochester. Our gay community is an incredibly important part of the culture and vibrancy of our city, and is important economically, too. But the good feelings are gone. Now our reputation is that of a place with a gay-bashing demagogue in power.
I’m so saddened by this - that a reputation for open-mindedness and progressivism and acceptance that built up slowly over the years could possibly be quickly un-done by…. her. By them.
We should be doing everything we can to make Rochester a gay Mecca - instead, welcome to Kansas.
Well, as a former Midwesterner, all I have to say is have you been to Kansas City? It’s got a fabulous gay community! So does Omaha! But beyond that, I totally get your point! : )
Hey - I’m not trying to actually bash Kansas - it was a reference to the kind of far right anti-gay politics described in Thomas Frank’s book.
It’s dismaying to see the formerly respectable Monroe County Republican Party change from fiscally conservative country-club Bob Dole style Republicans to bible-thumping, public-praying, gay-bashing, porn-crusading culture warriors.
That they think this kind of politics can be effective here speaks to Rochester’s decline - that stuff’s effective with poorly-educated, laid-off, pissed-off religious whites.
Well said itchy.
It’s dismaying to see the formerly respectable Monroe County Republican Party change from fiscally conservative country-club Bob Dole style Republicans to bible-thumping, public-praying, gay-bashing, porn-crusading culture warriors.
I agree that this is exactly what is happening.
Hey, I want Rochester to be on the map, but not with this kind of notoriety.
If you are truly interested in supporting the Martinez case, check out Newly Wed in NY, A Community Celebration of Love and Recognition which was organized as a result of the Martinez decision and it’s happening in Rochester on April 26. Visit LGBT Friends of Good Government for more information, to buy tickets or to sign up as a vendor, advertiser or sponsor. Pat Martinez and Lisa Golden are very involved in the planning of this event. Pat will also be speaking there.
Interestingly, the response from local businesses has been OUTSTANDING. We have over 50 vendors signed up for Rochester’s first LGBT Wedding Expo happening at Newly Wed In NY.. the next largest we can find in the country is in NYC at just over 20 vendors. Our economy is hurting and people recognize that there is a lot of money to be made in the wedding business. Extending the wedding rights to the LGBT community is a REAL a stimulus package!
Hey, I think I just came up with the solution to both unanimous Appelate decisions (unFAIR and Martinez) Make marraige available to all consenting adult couples and market it outside of the area to bring people here to have their weddings! That could bring in over $10,000 of revenue for each wedding that would otherwise go to Canada or Massachusetts!!!!!
Thanks for weighing in Jo. Great solution for both situations!
Thanks, also for plugging the Newly Wed in NY event. I apologize for not getting to it sooner.
It seems like everyplace I go, there I am. *snicker*
Seriously, my blog buddy Lori (Hahnathome) is an excellent read and just darn good people, too.
And then there’s Jo — ever pitching that NewlyWedInNewYork thing, eh?
Not only will I be speaking, I’ll be dancing, too. Lisa seems to think THAT should sell tickets, if nothing else!
Pat-great to hear from you and thanks for giving me stuff to blog on.
I take it dancing is NOT your forte`?
Uh…not only is it not my forte, but…
Well, let me put it like this. Have you ever seen the movie Wild Hogs? There’s a part where William H. Macy says “Yeah, the music moves me, but it moves me ugly.”
That’s me.
No, I haven’t seen the movie, but now I will HAVE to!
[...] Pat and Lisa led with the first wedding dance (and, no Pat, the music does NOT move you ugly!) [...]
[...] is the first day for Gay couples to officially marry in the State of California. (So happy that Maggie couldn’t extend her “distain for human rights” tentacles all the way to California.) From [...]