After a dinner with the Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA) on Sunday, Senator Charles Schumer (NY) revealed his “evolved” support for marriage equality and a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). As of 2004, Sen. Schumer supported only civil unions.

Sen. Schumer’s office confirmed his support this morning:

“It’s time. Equality is something that has always been a hallmark of America and no group should be deprived of it. New York, which has always been at the forefront on issues of equality, is appropriately poised to take a lead on this issue.”

ESPA Executive Director Alan Van Capelle issued the following statement:

“I want to thank Sen. Schumer for his support of marriage equality and the repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. Like a majority of New Yorkers, Sen. Schumer recognizes that only marriage equality provides same sex couples the status, protections and rights afforded to all other Americans. We look forward to working with him to win marriage equality in New York State and around the country.”

Sen. Schumer speaks below at the HRC Gala dinner earlier this year. While he doesn’t mention DOMA or marriage equality, he does voice support for hate crimes legislation, repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and passing ENDA.

A Washington Post editorial today comes out in favor of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), which would allow gay Americans to sponsor their foreign-born partners and provide a legal path to U.S. citizenship.

The strain of the status quo on gay and lesbian binational couples should not be discounted. Because their relationships are not legally recognized by the United States, some couples have resorted to illegal marriages where the foreign nationals marry Americans to get green cards that allow them to stay in the country permanently. In other cases, Americans have exiled themselves to be with their partners. Sixteen countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, South Africa and the United Kingdom, allow residents to sponsor same-sex permanent partners for legal immigration. American gays and lesbians should not have to choose between their country and their partners.

Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy who introduced the bill spoke recently on Vermont Public Radio…

For more on the UAFA…

– Immigration bill to unite gay binational couples with path to citizenship
– Urge judiciary committees to take action on gay immigration bill (UAFA)

As horrible as it sounds, I’ve always taken a small measure of comfort in thinking Anita Bryant, who worked so tirelessly in the 70s to strip gays and lesbians of their human rights and reduce them to second class citizens, was no longer with us. Which is not the same as wishing them dead, not exactly anyway.

I guess I’ve been living under a rock. I was wrong. Terribly wrong.

And it looks like she may be up to her old tricks and more… (via Gossip Boy)

And in case we need to be reminded…

Inspiring words from Cleve Jones, friend of Harvey Milk and advisor to the film Milk, speaks prior to the Eve of Equality march in San Francisco on March 4, 2009.

Hearings start at 9am PST this morning and can be seen online at the websites below:

SFGTV
The California Channel
SFist
Yes on Equality

Video clips will be posted here later today.