Tag: gay marriage

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Chicago Sun-Times Op-Ed in support of marriage equality

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

It’s time for gay marriage in Illinois. Not in the distant future. Not in the near future. But now. Backers of a same-sex marriage bill announced last week that they were “within striking” distance of the votes needed to pass the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act” in the Illinois Legislature. They hope to pull the trigger during the lame-duck session, which begins the first week of January. There is no good reason to wait. Legalize gay marriage bill now. Stand on the right side of history.

The Illinois legislature returns in two weeks. Should the bill pass during the lame duck session, Gov. Quinn has said he will sign it into law.

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Huge rally in Paris for marriage equality

Thousands took the streets of Paris on Sunday near the Place de la Bastille to rally for marriage equality and for laws that allow same-sex couples to adopt — both of which are being considered by lawmakers. 

Their signs read, “Same Families, Same Rights!” “Adoption For All Couples,” and “Biphobia, Transphobia, Enough!’

A French flag is inscribed with the message, “‘Gay marriage, yes, Sad marriage, no.”

More pics at Advocate.com

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Jon Stewart takes down Justice Scalia and the “Three Amigos”

Jon Stewart takes on Supreme Court Justice Scalia and the “Three Amigos” Sens. McCain, Graham and Lieberman regarding marriage equality, threesomes and that “sodomy slippery slope.”

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Dallas Morning News supports marriage equality

In January of 2011, the Dallas Morning News made news by announcing that it would not publish same-sex marriage announcements because same-sex marriage remains unrecognized in Texas. Six months later the paper to changed their policy due to public outrage.

Today, almost two years later, the paper has made another big announcement: they’re endorsing marriage equality.

Same-sex marriage has been percolating at the state level for several years, leading to a patchwork of laws that create more confusion than clarity. The court can undo that confusion by determining the constitutional parameters of this issue.
We urge the Supreme Court to affirm the right of gay couples to marry based upon the fundamental American ideal of equality before the law. It is critical that the court also make clear that such a ruling won’t require churches whose doctrines oppose same-sex marriage to perform such ceremonies.

The paper’s editorial also highlights the broadsheet’s own support for inclusion – they opposed a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage and support non-discrimination policies in their workplace – and concludes, “What’s at stake before the Supreme Court is how a secular society should respond to the growing demand for same-sex marriage.”

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Caribbean island legalizes same-sex marriage

The tiny Caribbean island of Saba has legalized same-sex marriage.

Two men were recently married in Saba, marking the first ceremony of its kind in the region and setting off a frenzy of calls from gay couples in other Dutch Caribbean islands seeking to marry, said Julietta Woods with Saba’s Civil Registry office.”People keep calling me every second,” she said by telephone this week.

As part of the Netherlands Kingdom, the islands of Saba, Bonaire and St. Eustatius have to recognize same-sex marriages. While Bonaire and St. Eustatius have balked at the idea of legalizing such unions, the idea has been embraced in Saba, long considered a gay-friendly destination. “We’ve seen it as a human rights issue,” said Saba council member Carl Buncamper, who is openly gay. “It is important to give the partners equal rights when it comes to inheritance and other benefits.”

The Netherlands became the first nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001.

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Illinois: Possible marriage equality vote in January lame duck session

Illinois may see a vote in the state legislature on marriage equality in the upcoming lame duck session this January.

From Chicago Business:

After counting heads and consulting with legislative leaders, the chief sponsors of a bill to permit same-sex couples to get married in the state this morning disclosed they intend to push for a vote in the General Assembly’s lame-duck session, which will occur over two weeks just after New Year’s.

And, in an indication of how big a campaign the pro side is launching, they’ve hired the firm founded by top presidential adviser David Axelrod to help them with media, organization and outreach to potential supporters, including corporate officials.

Chief Senate sponsor Sen. Heather Steans said, “We think we can get this done in January, while Rep. Greg Harris, lead advocate of the bill in the state house, concurred, “The timing is right for us to push this… Folks are seeing what’s going on around the country.”

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, as we know, is on board. “I hope that bill goes forward,” he said earlier this week. “It’s the House that probably the key arena at this time, and I think we’ll see how the members look at that issue. They should study it carefully and vote their conscience.”

(source)

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Scotland: Marriage equality by 2013?

The Scottish government has introduced a draft version of its marriage equality bill.  Via Gay Star News:

The draft legislation will allow same-sex marriage in Scotland and give all religious and belief bodies (for example Humanist) the right to conduct same-sex marriages, if they wish to do so. The bill will also remove the requirement on a married or civil partnered transgender person to divorce before obtaining full Gender Recognition. In addition the bill will introduce religious and belief ceremonies for civil partnerships. Finally, the bill will allow civil marriages to take place anywhere a couple and their registrar choose. The Scottish government will now be consulting on the implementation of the draft bill, including the details of the legislation and proposals relating to religious bodies and celebrants, freedom of speech, education and employment. Following the close of the public consultation on 20 March, the Scottish government will make any changes to the bill that are considered necessary, then introduce the bill for a vote into the Scottish parliament.

The bill may become law by the end of 2013.

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Atlanta Mayor announces support for marriage equality

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced his support for marriage equality yesterday with this statement:

“Today marks an important day as I announce my support for marriage equality. It is well known that I have gone through a good bit of reflection on this issue, but listening to the stories of so many people that I know and care about has strengthened my belief that marriage is a fundamental right for everyone. Loving couples, regardless of their sexual orientation, should have the right to marry whomever they want. By signing this resolution, I pledge my support to marriage equality for same-sex couples, consistent with equal protection under the law provided under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution…I believe in tolerance and acceptance, regardless of a person’s race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. That creed has been a guiding force for me throughout my life, as reflected by my actions and votes as a lifelong Democrat and elected official in the state of Georgia for more than 14 years.”

The mayor had been under added pressure after the City Council, led by City Council member Alex Wan, passed a resolution last week in support of marriage equality.

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Uruguay House Overwhelmingly Approves Same-Sex Marriage By 81-6 Vote

Uruguay voted today on same-sex marriage:

Legalizing gay marriage has long been a goal of the Broad Front, which has ample majorities in both houses of Congress. After the lower house votes, the project would go to the Senate. President Jose Mujica hopes to sign it into law early next year.

The “Marriage Equality Law” also would replace Uruguay’s 1912 divorce law, which gave only women, and not their husbands, the right to renounce marriage vows without cause. In the early 20th Century, Uruguay’s lawmakers saw this as an equalizer, since men at the time held all the economic and social power in a marriage, historian Gerardo Caetano said.

“A hundred years later, with all the changes that have occurred in Uruguayan society, this argument has fallen of its own accord,” Caetano said Tuesday. “It’s absolutely logical now that divorces can happen if either party wants it. And I really think it won’t have much of an impact.”

The AP adds that “The bill also would clarify rules for adoption and in-vitro fertilization, and eliminate the words ‘marido y mujer’ (husband and woman) in marriage contracts, referring instead to the gender neutral ‘contrayentes’ (contracting parties)” and the law “would let couples, gay or straight, decide whose surname goes first when they name their children.”

Uruguay joins The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina and Denmark as the 12th in the world to have state-wide marriage equality.

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GOP quiet on SCOTUS’ marriage equality hearings

Politico notes that thus far the leadership of the Republican Party has not responded to Friday’s Supreme Court decisions.

House Republican leaders had a uniform response to the Supreme Court’s decision to take up gay marriage: silence. The high court’s decision last week to hear two cases relating to same-sex marriage puts that issue at the center of the national debate. And it does so at an exceedingly awkward time for Republicans, many of whom are trying to downplay or moderate their party’s views on social issues to chart a path back to electoral success.

“I’m personally grateful to Speaker Boehner for being willing to defend the law, but it’s clear GOP elites don’t want to talk about it and want to keep it as quiet as possible,” said Maggie Gallagher, a founder of the National Organization for Marriage and a fellow at the conservative American Principles Project. “That’s so obvious, I don’t see any point in pretending otherwise.” Tom McClusky of the Family Research Council said he assumes from conversations he’s had with congressional aides that lawmakers are pleased the high court is taking up the issue. “But there’s just radio silence” publicly, McClusky said. “I was disappointed there wasn’t more from the Hill.”

In related news, Maggie Gallagher said yesterday that she expects SCOTUS to overturn DOMA but uphold Prop 8.