Tag: gay marriage

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Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern is fit to be tied over marriage equality ruling

The Advocate is reporting that Republican Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern, who is unrelated to the federal judge who struck down the ban, is angry and speaking out about the recent ruling by a federal judge which found the state’s marriage equality ban.

“Homosexuality is not a civil right, it’s a human wrong,” Rep. Kern told KOTV.

One of the state legislature’s most virulent anti-gay members, Kern says that people who say they were born gay have simply told “a lie long enough [that] people begin to believe it.”

See KOTV’s report below.

NewsOn6.com – Tulsa, OK – News, Weather, Video and Sports – KOTV.com |

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Indiana: Two more city councils adopt resolutions opposing constitutional gay marriage ban

As the Indiana state legislature debates a proposed constitutional amendment banning marriage equality, the South Bend and Muncie councils both voted Monday night to adopt resolutions against the amendment.

The South Bend resolution was approved on a 6-2 vote, while the Muncie resolution was adopted in a 9-0 vote.

City councils in Indianapolis, Evansville and Bloomington and a bipartisan group of mayors from several cities have also spoken out against the proposed amendment.

The House Judiciary Committee on Monday delayed a vote on following more than three hours of testimony from supporters and opponents. If legislators approve the amendment during this year’s session, it will go before voters on the November election ballot.

(via EdgeOnTheNet)

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Greetings from Oklahoma

“Excluding same-sex couples from marriage has done little to keep Oklahoma families together thus far, as Oklahoma consistently has one of the highest divorce rates in the country.” – from Federal Judge Kern’s opinion striking down Oklahoma’s gay marriage ban as violating the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment guarantee of Equal Protection.

(via Politics with Jarred and Dave)

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Federal judge rules that Oklahoma’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional

Another surprising development for marriage equality from a surprising state – Oklahoma!

Via press release from the Human Rights Campaign:

Today U.S. District Judge Terence Kern ruled that Oklahoma’s ban on marriage equality is unconstitutional. His ruling is stayed pending appeal, meaning marriages will not occur immediately in the Sooner State.

HRC President Chad Griffin issued the following statement:

“Judge Kern has come to the conclusion that so many have before him – that the fundamental equality of lesbian and gay couples is guaranteed by the United States Constitution. With last year’s historic victories at the Supreme Court guiding the way, it is clear that we are on a path to full and equal citizenship for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Equality is not just for the coasts anymore, and today’s news from Oklahoma shows that time has come for fairness and dignity to reach every American in all 50 states.”

Two plaintiff couples, Mary Bishop and Sharon Baldwin and Gay Phillips and Susan Barton, filed their case, Bishop v. Oklahoma, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma in November 2004. Lead counsel in the case are Don Holladay and James Warner of the Oklahoma City law firm Holladay & Chilton PLLC.

More at the HRC website.

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New Mexico County Clerk donates remaining legal fund to marriage equality group

Talk about a great postscript to an already happy ending!

Back in August, New Mexico’s Doña Ana County made history when it began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. County Clerk Lynn Ellins decided it was time and the law would allow it. His action emboldened other counties, and ultimately the New Mexico Supreme Court finally decided the matter.

Prepping for the court battle, however, Ellins began raising private donations to help the county cover the cost of its legal fees and the fundraising effort was so successful that there was more cash to spare.

Ellins is now donating that money to a campaign called New Mexico Unites for Marriage Equality, the Las Cruces Sun reports:

Ellins had raised private donations — via a website and at his county office — to pay for his defense in a civil lawsuit brought by opponents of his controversial August decision to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.

After paying his legal bill, Ellins estimated a few thousand dollars are leftover. And he said he’s giving that money to a campaign called New Mexico Unites for Marriage Equality.

“It’s a nonprofit organization that was established the last year to basically protect the same-gender marriage rights,” Ellins said.

Ellins’ legal expenses tied to the state district court lawsuit totaled nearly $31,759, according to a Doña Ana County news release.

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Twelve year-old gives emotional, epic speech at marriage equality rally in Salt Lake City

Riley Hackford-Peer speaks at the Utah State Capitol

Thousands of same sex marriage supporters deliver a petition with 60,000 signatures to governor Gary Herbert Friday.

Mary Barnes said, “these are good people. These are Americans. They are here, they have family’s they have kids.”

2,000 people crowded into the State Capital for the “Let it Stand” rally, organized by Restore Our Humanity.

The petition, calling on Governor Gary Herbert to recognize the 1,360 same-sex marriages that took place in the 17 days when such unions were legal, was delivered to the Governor’s office.

While the rally was full of impassioned pleas for equality, one 12-year-old’s speech made arguably the strongest, most heartfelt case for equality in the Beehive state.

With his little brother at his side, Riley Hackford-Peer delivered a poignant, emotional speech that garnered several enthusiastic rounds of applause.

“Some people do not believe that I am from a loving family, because my moms are gay,” said Hackford-Peer. “They are wrong. … And come on, think about it — gay means happy, so it only makes sense that we’re a loving, happy family!”

Watch Riley’s epic speech at the Utah state capitol below. More at the Advocate

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GOP Congressman introduces bill to limit recognition of gay marriage

Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) has introduced a bill called the “State Marriage Defense Act of 2014,” which seeks to limit federal recognition of same-sex marriage in lieu of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Under Congressman Weber’s new bill, the State Marriage Defense Act, the federal government would have to respect the definitions of marriage in all 50 states. A couple’s state of residence would define their marital status.

If this bill were to pass — which seems unlikely — couples’ marriage status would change as they travel from state to state, endangering the safety and security of their families.

More at Think Progress.