The Historic Moment Of 01/01/10 - 12:01 AM: Marriages On A Wonderful First Minute Of A New Year

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Fri Jan 01, 2010 at 02:16:08 AM EST

About 60 people gathered a few minutes before Midnight on the State House Plaza.  With a nearly full Moon shining just above the golden State House Dome, looking almost painted there in the sky, seven happy couples stepped to the microphone to exchange words of their love and caring to their spouse.  

WEMJ Radio Show Is Pulled, And John Sununu Is Asked To "Break His Silence"

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Mon Nov 16, 2009 at 18:45:09 PM EST

Mr. Rob Fulmer, Nassau's NH Regional Manager, said "Although the comments by Mr. Lambert were not aired on our station, we find the comments by him to be completely out of line and unacceptable and we will not allow Mr. Lambert the opportunity to continue to air his show on our radio station."  Pulling of the program is effective immediately.

Mo Baxley, the NH Freedom To Marry Executive Director, has also asked Republican Party Chair John Sununu to "...break his silence..." on the incident.  She pointed out that this is the man who called House Bill 436 and marriage equality "...a San Francisco agenda..." and "garbage."

Mo makes a good point.  Fortunately, some other Republicans have spoken out against Lambert's rant, although in somewhat qualified terms.  Let's hope John Sununu meets her call and comes out against discriminatory and hateful comments.  Doing so might be a bit new to him, but we can hope.  

This incident, at least, has reminded people of the way gays and lesbians are bashed in different ways every day.  Most New Hampshire citizens are on the side of love and acceptance.  Not too long ago, such a comment as was made last weekend would have drawn hardly a notice.  It takes a while, but the world is changing day by day.  

More (Dean): Paul Hodes released a statement tonight as well. I believe it's the first from a prominent NH Democrat (other than Jim, of course!):

Manchester, NH--- Paul Hodes released the following statement condemning Doug Lambert's offensive and hateful comments on Saturday.

"Doug Lambert's comments were hateful and have no place in our public dialogue. This isn't a matter of 'political correctness'. This is hate speech and it can incite violence. It's why I worked hard to pass hate crimes laws in Congress. It's wrong and should be condemned without hesitation or equivocation. My Republican opponents have condemned this hate speech but I hope they will go further and support laws that could prevent this type of hate speech from turning into violence against targeted groups of Americans."

The Fight For Equality Continues At Home And In Washington

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 15:09:42 PM EDT

In 1997, New Hampshire became just the 11th state to prohibit such employment discrimination in legislation signed by then-Governor Jeanne Shaheen, but even today just 21 states have such protections.  Just 21.

That 1997 ahead-of-its-time legislation was put through thanks to leaders like Burt Cohen, Rick Trombly, Ray Buckley, Marlene DeChane, Peter Burling, Mo Baxley, Bill McCann and so many others.

In fact, until 1998 you could be fired from federal employment just for being gay, but President Bill Clinton issued an Executive Order prohibiting that, and the Order continues to be in force.  It is not, however, part of a law yet passed by Congress.

Thanks to now-Senator Jeanne Shaheen and almost forty other U.S. Senators, legislation has now been introduced into that body to formally prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

It is one more important step along with the hopeful elimination of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the military, the repeal of the "Defense Of Marriage Act," and the cause for Hate Crime legislation, toward eventual equality in our country.   That Senate bill joins a similar effort in the House of Representatives which has 152 cosponsors, including Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes.

The two bills are:  

S.1584 - "A bill to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity," introduced on August 5th has 39 cosponsors including Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Bernie Sanders Patrick Leahy, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, and lots of others.

H.R.3017 - "To prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity," introduced on June 24th, has 152 cosponsors including Representatives Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes.  The primary sponsor is Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank.  

Statements Of Support For HB 436 And The Governor's Language

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Tue May 19, 2009 at 07:10:52 AM EDT

Governor John Lynch took a big step last week in coming down on the side of marriage equality.  He will sign House Bill 436 if we put into another part of state law an additional and clearer protection of the independence and freedom of religious organizations and Churches.  His language follows some wording of Connecticut's marriage equality legislation, as well as Vermont.  

The language will appear as an amendment onto House Bill 73, which will come in from the Senate.  We'll see it in final form after the Senate Judiciary Committee considers it tomorrow, but it follows the wording that the Governor requested last week.  I have included his news release, and the draft language being offered by Senator Deb Reynolds.  

I have added comments about HB 436, and the Governor's requested language, from our friends of marriage equality.  We can put this issue behind us, successfully, by supporting HB 73 as amended.  This is about, and for, our young people of New Hampshire -- for our future.

SEX. Just Why Are Some Republicans So Preoccupied About It?

by: Rep. Jim Splaine

Sun Mar 16, 2008 at 18:49:45 PM EDT

By the way, New Hampshire adopted a similar law way back in 1997, with the help of visionaries like then-House Democratic Leader Rick Trombly, along with Ray Buckley, Mo Baxley, Bill McCann, Marlene DeChane, Martha Fuller Clark, Terie Norelli, Peter Burling -- and the list goes on. Each worked in different roles on the march toward greater equality -- a march that continues today.  That law was signed by Governor Jeanne Shaheen.  Compare ANY of our leaders to those Oregon Republicans and you'll see the difference between, well -- visionaries and reactionaries.  

In 1997, New Hampshire became just the 11th state to adopt such protections for gays and lesbians.  Unfortunately, even today only 20 states provide such a provision in their state statutes, including Oregon last year.  We have lots further to go, but we're getting there.

Just WHAT don't the Republicans in Oregon, or anywhere else for that matter, get about equality issues?  Just WHAT is wrong with preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation in areas of housing and employment?  

The Associated Press actually reported an answer to that question.  It seems that Oregon State Senator Gary George and State Representative Kim Thatcher just feel that "perverts" shouldn't be out about their "perversion."  They don't think that the workplace is the place to discuss gay sex and that if they do they should be able to be fired.

Simple enough.  Just gay sex though, I guess.  If you talk about straight sex, or have pictures of the Mr. or Mrs. on your desk and mention your kids, that's okay.  

Senator George was a little more specific.  He is quoted as saying "If you walk around talking about what you do in the bedroom, you should be on the pervert channel."  He told Oregon's biggest gay newspaper, Just Out, "As an employer, I don't wanna hear about it.  This workplace is for work purposes. My advice to the gay community is shut up, just don't talk about it. If you walk around talking about what you do in the bedroom, you should be on the pervert channel."

Glad we've got that straight.  Whoops, can I say that?

I'd like to hear more about why some Republicans are so preoccupied about the sex lives of their constituents.

In the meanwhile, I'm going to call my cable company and learn more about that Pervert Channel which Senator George seems to know about.