VIDEO: Touching and Emotional Remarks From 83 yo Edie Windsor After Today's Supreme Court Oral Arguments

NBC News - First-time buyers struggle as home prices rise

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First-time buyers struggle as home prices rise

Home prices are rising at the fastest pace since 2006, making it difficult for the first-time buyer to close a deal. NBC’s Diana Olick reports.

HRC Turns the Internet Red for Marriage Equality

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2013
Charles Joughin

Human Rights Campaign Turns the Internet Red for Marriage Equality

As Supreme Court hears arguments on marriage, HRC equality logo goes viral

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, yesterday released a modified red version of its logo in anticipation of arguments at the Supreme Court on two marriage equality cases.  The logo, which ordinarily features a yellow equal sign in front of a blue background, has gone viral on social media pages across the world.

Just today, U.S. Senator Jon Tester, D-Mont., announced his support of marriage equality for the first time by changing his Facebook profile image to HRC’s red equal sign and many other public officials have followed suit.  

Additionally, dozens of other iterations have spring up, with many individuals superimposing the equal sign over personal pictures or integrating it with other internet memes.  For example, the popular TV show True Blood shared a version of the photo with vampire fangs as part of the equal signAs part of HRC’s robust social media efforts around the two cases before the Supreme Court, the red logo launched on the HRC Facebook page at 1:00pm ET Monday and the original image has been shared more than 100,000 times and created upwards of 10 million impressions in all 50 states – not including countless user-created versions.  Additionally HRC.org has seen a 600% increase in normal traffic.

In addition to the logo being a constant presence on social media, HRC conducted highly targeted online marketing to provide supporters on the ground with digital support. This included promoted tweets on search terms and trends related to the Supreme Court cases. Geo-targeted mobile banner advertising was also targeted to users within a quarter mile of the U.S. Supreme Court building to inform them of the bipartisan support for marriage equality and how they could get updates on the cases.

Originally designed in 1995, the blue and yellow HRC equality logo is one of the most visible and recognized symbols of the LGBT equality movement.  A number of prominent Americans have shared the modified HRC logo, including U.S. Senators Chris Coons, Al Franken, Mazie Hirono, Frank Lautenberg, Bob Menendez, Chris Murphy, Patty Murray, Bernie Sanders, Brian Schatz, Jean Shaheen, Jon Tester, Mark Warner and Elizabeth Warren, as well as celebrities like Sophia Bush, George Takei, Tegan & Sara and Lance Bass.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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HRC - Americans Support Marriage Equality by Historic Margin in New Poll

Americans Support Marriage Equality by Historic Margin in New Poll

ABC News/WP shows 58 percent support for marriage for gay and lesbian couples

WASHINGTON – The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll shows a record high of 58 percent of registered voters nationwide supporting marriage equality.  Additionally, voters overwhelmingly say that the U.S. 

Constitution should be the basis for deciding if gay couples can marry rather than leaving the decision to individual states (64 to 33 percent).

“There can be no doubt that this country is on a one-way road to marriage for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples,” said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin.  “This new poll reflects the continued evolution of people’s attitudes through thoughtful conversations over dinner tables and water coolers.”

Today, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced her support for marriage equality in a video released by the Human Rights Campaign.  Just last week Republican Senator Rob Portman described his evolution on the issue once his some came out to him as gay.

The poll found increasing support of marriage for gay and lesbian couples among a variety of demographic groups.  Adults 18 to 29 support marriage equality at 81 percent.  Support among seniors has jumped 26 percentage points in the last nine years, Republican support has jumped 18 points since 2004, and Independent support is at 62 percent compared to 38 percent nine years ago.

Next week the Supreme Court will hear arguments in two marriage-related cases – one challenging the federal Defense of Marriage Act and another challenging California’s ban on marriage for gay and lesbian couples known as Proposition 8.  The poll shows both supporters and opponents of marriage equality say the Constitution should be the basis for determining who can marry – including majorities of self-identified conservatives and Republicans.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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VIDEO: Hills Market Downtown set to open doors on March 19

The Columbus Dispatch Friday March 8, 2013 2:48 PM

Drum roll, please: Hills Market Downtown is set to open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, March 19.

The Downtown version of the longtime local and organic food market in the Worthington Hills neighborhood of Columbus has been in the works since October 2011.

At 95 N. Grant Ave., the 12,000-square-foot former auto repair shop is a few blocks north of Downtown and several blocks south of Columbus State Community College, hoping to draw customers from both areas, said Jill Moorhead, its marketing director.

It's also on the edge of the area being renewed with the help of the Neighborhood Launch housing development, which stretches from from 4th Street to Grant Avenue along Gay and Long streets. The closest grocery store to the neighborhood is the Kroger in the Brewery District on Sycamore Street.

More here

HRC Statement in Response to Sen. Portman’s Marriage Equality Support

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2013
Charles Joughin 

HRC Statement in Response to Sen. Portman’s Marriage Equality Support

WASHINGTON – In response to Senator Rob Portman’s (R-OH) announcement he supports marriage equality, Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin released the following statement:

“Like countless dads across the country, Senator Portman has made the basic and courageous choice to put parenting before politics. When it comes to marriage equality, all Americans are on the same journey toward recognizing our common humanity. But while 8 in 10 Americans know a gay or lesbian person, it still takes unique courage to speak out publicly for equality. We are very grateful to Senator Portman for his virtuous stand in support of this civil rights cause.”

Sen. Portman announced yesterday his views had changed on the issue of marriage for same-sex couples after his son had come out as gay.  

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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HRC Statement on Announcement of New Pope

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2013

Paul Guequierre

HRC Statement on Announcement of New Pope

WASHINGTON – Today the Cardinals of the Catholic Church hierarchy exited their conclave announcing Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is the new Pope.  Now Pope Francis, he is the new leader of the 1.2 billion member Church.  Dr. Sharon Groves, director of the HRC Religion and Faith Program made the following statement.
  
“We congratulate Pope Francis in his new position as leader for the Roman Catholic Church.  As Pope, he has enormous power to be a source of spiritual healing for millions around the world.  But for him to be the best kind of spiritual leader, he must acknowledge the signs of the times and embrace LGBT people as worthy of dignity and respect.  American lay Catholics are fully supportive of equality, even more so than the broader population.

The new Pope should follow the virtuous lead of his flock.

“We hope the new Pope understands the time for religious-based bigotry is not only over, but must be denounced.  Demonizing LGBT people and their families from this powerful platform not only fails to keep faith with the most charitable principles of Catholic teachings and the Jesuit tradition of caring for the marginalized, but it does real psychological damage to millions of LGBT people around the world.” 

A recent poll from New York Times/CBS News found that more than six in ten American Catholics support equal marriage, compared to 53 percent of the country as a whole.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.