40 Years Since Stonewall and 7 Weeks Since Iowa

Posted on May 14, 2009 at 10:24 a.m. by LeeH

Some thoughts from Kevin Cathcart in advance of his appearance:

Iowa - equality in the heartland. This was a Lambda Legal case, with the first unanimous state Supreme Court victory in the country on marriage. Followed closely by Vermont - where legislature overrode the governor's veto, and Maine, where the governor signed an equal marriage law.  

By the time I get to Minnesota, the governor of New Hampshire will either have signed, vetoed, or let that state's marriage law go into effect without his signature. And the California Supreme Court is likely to have ruled on our Proposition 8 challenge. It is even possible that the New York state Senate may have voted.

Should basic civil rights ever be put up for popular vote?

How Proposition 8 set off a new wave of grassroots activism - Stonewall 2.0, many people are calling it. 5 states done (three in the last 6 weeks), 45 to go

Why do so many people, including, apparently the president of the United States, have so much trouble understanding the distinction between civil marriage and religious marriage?

The "why do you have to call it marriage" argument - but wasn't "separate but equal" discredited as a legal, let along moral, argument years ago?

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and DOMA - the role of the federal government in enforcing anti-gay discrimination.  Does the focus on marriage help or hurt progress on other LGBT issues?

Lots to cover and I do expect breaking news before the end of next week.

Hear Lambda Legal executive director Kevin M. Cathcart speak on "40 Years Since Stonewall and 7 Weeks Since Iowa" on Saturday, May 23 at 1 p.m. and Sunday, May 24 at 7 p.m. in the Dowling Studio at the Guthrie.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224 or online at www.guthrietheater.org.