Wisconsin court upholds marriage ban
MSNBC. com reports the Wisconsin Supreme Court has upheld the state’s constitutional ban on gay marriage and civil unions.
In a 7-0 ruling, the court ruled June 30 that the 2006 constitutional amendment was properly put to voters in a statewide referendum.
The court rejected a lawsuit that claimed the amendment violated a rule that limits referendum questions to a single subject. The lawsuit, filed by a voter opposed to the amendment, argued that gay marriage and civil unions were two different subjects.
Justice Michael Gableman said both sentences “carry out the same general purpose of preserving the legal status of marriage in Wisconsin as between only one man and one woman.”
Lesbian runs for mayor of Oakland
Oakland, Calif.’s KRON 4 reports out Oakland City Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan announced June 30 she is running for mayor of Oakland in the November election.
If elected, Kaplan, 39, who was elected to the City Council’s at-large seat in 2008, would be the first openly gay mayor of a major Bay Area city.
Noting that Oakland has serious budget and crime problems, Kaplan said, “I want to provide for fiscal sanity and public safety at the same time and make it possible for everyone in the community to thrive.”
Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums has not yet announced whether he will seek reelection this year.
Amtrak to launch LGBT campaign
Advocate.com reports Amtrak has allotted $250,000 for a multimedia campaign targeted toward LGBT customers.
The rail service, which is government-owned and partially government-funded, has targeted other minority groups in the past. This, however, will be the first time that it will specifically reach out to this demographic.
“We are always looking for new ways to reach potential passengers and this community travels a lot,” said Amtrak representative Karina Romero.
Many other travel companies, including American Airlines, Expedia, JetBlue and Sweet Cruises, have already launched LGBT ad campaigns.
— Larry Nichols