'08 vote

Chiah Presents [powered by Julia and Chiah] has created a video which showcases teenagers with lesbian and gay parents. The kids show their normalcy and highlight their healthy families. The group is using the piece to help strengthen community support to oppose California's Proposition 8.

A recent poll indicates that fifty-five percent of likely voters oppose Prop 8, an increase from 51 percent who opposed it just a few months ago. The percentage of undecided voters has been steady - at 7 percent.

Fair-minded citizens of Florida must get themselves to a voting booth this November. The plan to ban same-sex marriage - via a constitutional amendment - has generated anxiety and action for a growing number of Florida voters.

And the plan is moving forward. The Associated Press is reporting, the same-sex marriage ban was certified with 649,346 signatures - 38,337 more than the minimum.

The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting on the battle gaining momentum against Utah's adoption ban, which was passed in 2000. Utah is one of three states with the adoption prohibition.

Fair-minded advocates hope to get adoption restrictions on all cohabitating couples, including same-sex couples, lifted. Representative Rebecca Chavez-Houck, a Democrat representing Salt Lake City, is sponsoring the bill.

Signature collection is getting more difficult for right-wing extremists on both coasts. A group in California has failed to garner enough support to remove civil rights protections provided by SB 777.

And now the Orlando Sentinel reports that a conservative group backing the gay-marriage ban has failed to collect the appropriate amount of signatures necessary to place a constitutional amendment - to ban gay marriage - on the 2008 ballot.

Following the release of a new poll, conducted by University of Arkansas, 365gay.com reports that 53 percent of prospective voters would approve the ban, while 42 percent would reject it. Five percent of those questioned either had no opinion or refused to answer.

The poll surveyed 754 adult Arkansans by telephone between Oct. 7-18 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

An AP news analysis warns Republicans against depending on a gay wedge issue to drive their voters to the polls.

After one failed attempt in September, the homophobic Family Council Action Committee got their outlandish proposed initiative approved - which would ban gay and unmarried couples as foster parents.

Now the decision may go to voters, in the 2008 election.

Governor Mike Beebe opposes the proposed initiated act. He says the measure goes too far by placing restrictions on adoption.

An organized group of social conservatives has been collecting petition signatures needed to block measures that will allow same-sex couples the same benefits as married straight couples, and protection against discrimination.

Leading the charge against gay rights in Oregon is former Republican Senator Marylin Shannon (shannon.sen@state.or.us or 503-986-1011 or 503-986-1715).