This Week in Lesbian News…

Residents of both New York and New Jersey support marriage equality, according to polling results, and Connecticut passed legislation that codifies the court decision recognizing marriage for lesbian and gay couples. Meanwhile, the GLSEN is calling on schools to do more to stop bullying and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced his plan to run for Governor. It’s all this and more in a week of lesbian news…

Majority of New Yorkers support marriage equality. A new poll released by The Siena College Research Institute found that New Yorkers support marriage equality legislation by a margin of 53 to 39 percent. Support was strongest among New York City Democrats and opposition most prevalent among Republicans, men, older voters, blacks, and Protestants. Gays fared better in the poll than the Governor responsible for the gay-friendly legislation – David Paterson – as the same poll found that he is now viewed unfavorably by 63 percent of New Yorkers, down from 58 percent last month.

Poll shows NJ supports same-sex marriage. 49 percent of New Jersey residents (where the House and Senate are likely to consider marriage equality legislation during this year’s legislative session) support marriage for same-sex couples, and 43 percent oppose it – according to a Quinnipiac University poll released on the 23rd. Female and white respondents tended to favor a gay-marriage law, while those who are black, male, or attend religious services weekly were more likely to oppose it.

Marriage Codification Bill in CT. Last week, Gov. M. Jodi Rell and the Connecticut state Legislature enacted Senate Bill 899, legislation that codifies last year’s court decision recognizing marriage for lesbian and gay couples. SB 899 passed the Senate by a 28-7 vote and passed the House by a 100-44 vote. The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, congratulated Governor Rell and the Connecticut state Legislature for taking this valuable step toward equality.

GLSEN calls on schools to do more to end bullying. In the wake of two suicides in two weeks related to bullying and anti-gay bullying, GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is now calling on schools and educators to evaluate their anti-bullying efforts and for federal officials to take action to address the bullying problem. A leading anti-bullying education organization, GLSEN has worked for 15 years to make schools safer for all students. GLSEN offers programs and resources for all grade levels, including No Name-Calling Week for elementary and middle school students. A complete list of GLSEN’s anti-bullying resources and programs, as well as concrete steps schools can take to begin addressing bullying now, is available at http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/antibullying/index.html.

Deportation reprieve for Shirley Tan. Sen. Dianne Feinstein stepped in last week to help Shirley Tan, a Filipino immigrant facing deportation and separation from her partner and family, remain in the U.S. through next year. Feinstein introduced an emergency immigration bill in Congress that would give Tan two years to apply for a new visa or for permanent U.S. residency.

Gavin Newsom announces bid for CA Governor. Last week, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom formally announced (via Twitter) his candidacy for California governor.  Newsom has been an outspoken supporter of marriage equality for same-sex couples since 2004, when he directed city agencies to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The Democratic Party’s primary will be held in June 2010.