By Chingyu Wang – Talk Radio News Service

Conservatism is not only compatible with the principle of equality between homosexuals and heterosexuals, but such equality is an essential element of conservatism, says prominent British politician Nick Herbert.

Herbert, who was elected and became the first openly gay conservative member of Parliament in 2005, participated in a panel discussion on Wednesday hosted by the Cato Institute, along with notable gay blogger Andrew Sullivan and National Organization for Marriage President Maggie Gallagher.

“If we stand against equality of opportunity, which should be an article of faith for the Right, it becomes the preserve of the Left,” said Herbert. “For the modern Conservative Party, embracing gay equality is neither a temporary phenomenon, nor an agenda which can be reversed.”

Herbert said that although his party was once against homosexuality, current leadership has helped changed its agenda.

Gallagher, who opposes gay marriage, doesn’t see the U.S. following the footsteps of the British political system, citing data produced from a recent Gallup Poll that showed 48% of Americans oppose gay marriage, while just 13% support it.

After sharing his experience of same-sex marriage, Sullivan pointed out that the GOP isn’t as supportive of gay marriage as the British Conservative Party.

“In this country, those of who proudly call ourselves gay conservatives have struggled against the gay Left, and now we are struggling against the far Republican Right, which is now the Republican Party,” said Sullivan.

Proponents of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act testify before the Washington, D.C. city council in support of the bill, which would extend full marriage rights to same-sex couples in D.C.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) introduced legislation Tuesday that seeks to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

Former President Bill Clinton emailed Nadler mid way through the press conference and Nadler read off President’s opinion. (0:34)

 

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By Courtney Costello- Talk Radio News Service

Since New Hampshire passed a gay marriage bill yesterday, legal conversations on the issue are heating. Today, The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy held an update on marriage equality in the United States and where the issue will stand in the future.

“When your challenging a marriage ban for same sex couples all they have to do is take out that gender requirement and everything else about marriage remains the same,” said Camilla Taylor, Senior Staff Attorney at the Midwest Regional Office for Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund.

New Hampshire joins Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine and Iowa, in legalizing gay marriage. New Hampshire Gay couples will be legally allowed to marry on January 1st, 2010.

“This is becoming a bipartisan issue where people from both sides, you’re seeing supporting equal rights and marriage equality,” said Chris Edelson, State Legislative Director for the Human Rights Campaign.

Camilla Taylor, Senior Staff Attorney at the Midwest Regional Office of Lambda Defense & Education Fund talks about evidence suggesting that children raised by gay families do just as well in their endeavors as children of heterosexual families. (0:14)

 

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Former Vice President Dick Cheney comes in support of gay marriage. Cheney said that everyone should have a right to choose to enter into any union they want. (0:56)

 

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In this clip from his keynote speech at the annual membership conference, Anthony Romero, executive director of the ACLU says that because of the ACLU he can finally be recognized across the country in his gay marriage. He goes on to criticize bush and highlight some of his mistakes, specifically corruption within the administration. (1:27)

 

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During 2008 ACLU membership conference, executive director Anthony Romero criticized President Bush and said that his administration was focused on keeping gays in the closet and abortions in the back alleys. He said that since 9/11 America has been opposed by the White House and abandoned by a feeble congress. This is the time, he said, to lead America back to the core principles it was founded on.

Romero said that the ACLU is the worlds largest organized law firm, and since 2001 membership has nearly doubled growing from 300,000 to 550,000 members. He also said that the ACLU’s docket has grown to 2,000 cases and that they have doubled their sponsors since 2000. He spoke on recent ACLU victories, most notably gay marriage.

He also said that he expected Guantanamo Bay to be closed and evacuated the day the new president is sworn into office. He said that along with Guantanamo Bay, the most important issues of this point in history are gay marriage, separation of church and state, and immigration. He said that the ACLU has a long history of standing on principles and they believe that the Bill of Rights applies to every person in every circumstance. He also said that the protection of religious liberty was on the forefront of the group’s agenda.