Op-ed: Privilege and Advocacy

Learning about the true depth of one’s own privilege.

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Gregg Potter

www.advocate.com/commentary/2014/12/08/op-ed-privilege-and-advocacy

Court Orders Florida to Start Letting Gay Couples Marry in One Month
Marriage could be coming to Florida sooner than we expected. Plus, after last week’s big win, the Mississippi lawsuit is now on the fast to an appeal. And Kansas just lost their latest attempt to hold back the start of marriage.

A little over three months ago, a federal judge in Florida ruled that the state’s marriage ban is unconstitutional, but stayed his decision until January 5th so the state had time to appeal. Well, January 5 is coming up, and the state’s asked for an extension. This week the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals said no, the stay will expire, and marriage is going to start on the fifth.

This is a big deal for a couple of reasons. First, it indicates that the 11th Circuit probably expects that marriage is going to happen one way or another, so they might as well let it start a little early. Second, it shows that the 11th Circuit doesn’t see any harm to letting gay and lesbian couples get married. The state can still ask the U.S. Supreme Court for an extension, but their chances of getting one are not great.

Now, this ruling is limited to the stay, but the 11th Circuit will rule on the actual merits of the case early next year. So this is a promising sign that they’ll rule in favor of equality. The 11th Circuit is also likely to hear cases currently pending in Alabama and Georgia. This week’s Florida decision is also an early indication that we could get a favorable ruling in those states.

Also last week, a judge in Mississippi put that state’s case on the fast . Similar cases in Louisiana and Texas are currently scheduled for oral argument on January 9th, and since Mississippi is in the same circuit it’s likely that it’ll join them. The Fifth Circuit also imposed a stay that will prevent marriages from starting in Mississippi until the appeal is complete.

Marriage is still in a sort of gray area in Kansas. Some counties are granting licenses and others aren’t, following a District Court ruling the overturned the state’s ban. The state has twice appealed that decision to the 10th Circuit, and last week the court rejected the state’s request for a second time. From here, the state can petition the Supreme Court, but their chances of being heard there are pretty slim. So marriage is likely to come to Kansas very soon.

Those are the headlines this week. Subscribe here on YouTube for more on all these stories. For the American Foundation for Equal Rights, I’m Matt Baume. Thanks for watching and we’ll see you next week.

www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-baume/court-orders-florida-to-s_b_6286126.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Robbie Rogers's L.A. Galaxy Wins Soccer Championship

The win makes the Rogers ‘the first publicly out male athlete to win a big-time team pro sports title in the United States,’ Outsports notes.

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Trudy Ring

www.advocate.com/sports/2014/12/07/robbie-rogerss-la-galaxy-wins-soccer-championship

'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season Seven Cast Revealed (PHOTOS)
Hello, hello, hello!

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” is back for its seventh season with one of its most diverse line-ups of queens to date. Fourteen lucky ladies will once again go head-to-head for the coveted title of “America’s Drag Superstar” and a cash prize of $100,000.

Logo announced this year’s cast Sunday at the 2014 NewNowNext Awards, after airing a show celebrating 15 fan-favorite queens from the past six seasons.

“This year we have some of the youngest and oldest contestants in ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ herstory,” RuPaul said in an email statement sent to The Huffington Post. “Study each queen closely. Do not underestimate anyone. The girls that make it to the top this season will shock you.”

So who made the cut? Check out the list below and be sure to tune into the premiere of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season seven, slated for January 2015.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/07/rupauls-drag-race-season-seven-cast_n_6276782.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Massive Changes at New Republic Spark Critiques of Gay Owner

Facebook cofounder Chris Hughes, who bought the venerable magazine two years ago, is the target of much criticism after changes in leadership led to a staff exodus.

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Dawn Ennis

www.advocate.com/politics/media/2014/12/07/massive-changes-new-republic-spark-critiques-gay-owner