Tag: gay marriage

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When marriage equality begins in Washington, Maryland and Maine

Thanks to the American Foundation for Equal Rights, here is the timeline for implementing the recently passed marriage equality initiatives:

  • Maine: December 6 at the earliest. This date may change. The initiative goes into effect 30 days after the governor makes a “public proclamation of the result of the vote,” within 10 days after the result has been determined.
  • Maryland: January 1, 2013. This date was included in the original legislation passed by the state’s General Assembly, which was approved by voters.
  • Washington: December 6. All referendums that are approved by voters in the Evergreen State go into effect 30 days after the election.

A response from the US Supreme Court on Prop 8 and DOMA challenges is expected November 26th.

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Watch Minnesota’s big moment as they defeat anti-gay amendment

At 1:45 a.m., Campaign Manager Richard Carlbom of Minnesotans United for All Families announced to campaign staff and board members that the vote on the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota was too close to call.

As he was about to end his remarks and tell everyone to get some sleep, the news came that the Associated Press had confirmed the defeat of the amendment.

The big moment is at the 3:00 mark. This is joy.

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Washington state passes marriage equality!

Washington United just posted on their website the tally – 52%-48%

This is a clear win,” said WUM campaign manager Zach Silk. “We have run the numbers every which way, and we can now confidently say that we have won. This is an historic day for Washington, an historic day for our country and, most of all, for families across the state who have dreamed of this day and the wedding celebrations to come.”

Four states with marriage equality on the ballot last night.  Four wins for the good guys!

History, kids.  History.

Forward.

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Chris Kluwe on the marriage equality successes last night

Chris Kluwe celebrates the successes for marriage equality in last night's election

Writing for Slate, Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe expresses his – and many people’s – thoughts on the historic advances with last nights’ marriage equality successes:

“I would like to thank every single person that helped defeat the same-sex marriage ban in Minnesota, as well as every person who contributed to passing marriage-equality legislation in Maryland and Maine and (likely) Washington. Together, we made a statement that America is tired of division. America is tired of discrimination, of exclusion, and of unthinking oppression—the belief that people have to live their lives according to someone else’s views rather than their own free will.

“Together, we made sure that the world our children will grow up in is one step closer to tolerance, love, and equality; a world where our children can make their own choices instead of being shackled to dusty hate from the past. Together, we showed this nation that a polity functions best when it includes all of its citizens, when it celebrates their differences as part of one glorious whole, when it synthesizes a wide assortment of cultures and beliefs under the guiding principles of freedom and happiness for everyone.

“Together, we can approach the work still at hand. We can face the continuous fight for equality that every society must wage each generation. We may not know the specifics until they’re upon us, but the underlying foundation is always the same—living your own life vs. someone else making your choices for you.

“Together, we can promote free will over oppression. We can treat others the way we want to be treated, with dignity and respect. We can work together to find common ground, despite our differences, and build a stable, nurturing society. There is work yet to be done, but we passed an important milestone today. Ten, 15, 20 years from now, when our children ask us, ‘What did you do when it came time to fight for someone else?,’ we can tell them about Minnesota and Maryland and Maine, states where people finally said: Enough.

“Enough with the hate. Enough with the bigotry. Enough with the discrimination. We are all Americans, and we are all in this together. Without each other, we have nothing.”

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Marriage equality votes still being counted in Washington state

From the Washington United for Marriage website: “We feel very good and we are cautiously optimistic. We’re at 65% in early King County returns and we’re out performing in Eastern Washington. We’ll need patience, but the numbers are coming in the right way.”

All Washington state voters have to mail in their ballots.  So it may take a bit to get this all counted.  But it is looking good so far.

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Maine votes to pass marriage equality in 2012

All the votes are not yet in and the margin is only a few points at this writing, but virtually all of the LGBT organizations and the Portland Press-Herald are calling it a WIN.

Via press release from Freedom To Marry:

Maine today became the first state to approve the freedom to marry for same-sex couples through a majority vote on a ballot measure.

Maine is expected to begin issuing marriage licenses in mid-December.

“Today, a majority in Maine voted in favor of loving and committed same-sex couples seeking the freedom to marry,” said Freedom to Marry National Campaign Director Marc Solomon. “Now the commitment gay and lesbian couples have made in life will be respected equally under the law, celebrated before their loved ones, and called what it is: marriage.”

“It’s hard to overstate the national significance of this vote,” Solomon continued. “For years, our opponents have argued that we could not win a majority vote at the ballot. Today, Maine voters proved them wrong, standing up for the Golden Rule and for freedom for all Mainers.”

This means more to me than you can ever know. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your votes have made more Americans more “equal” than you will ever know.

Great, great day. Thank you.

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Yes! Marriage equality passes in Maryland!

Marriage equality has won in Maryland, with the Question 6 ballot measure succeeding!

With 92.7% Reporting – 51.7% approved the measure and 48.3% opposed it.

Voters approved Question 6, the Civil Marriage Protection Act, paving the way for gay and lesbian couples to receive a marriage license beginning in January.

Tonight is the first time in history any state has voted on and passed marriage equality on the ballot. Fairness and equality under the law won tonight,” said Josh Levin, campaign manager for Marylanders for Marriage Equality. “We’re sure to feel the ripples of this monumental victory across the country for years to come.”

Question 6 protects religious freedom of churches and clergy. No church or clergy member will have to perform any marriage they don’t want to. Legislatures and courts have legalized marriage equality in six states and the District of Columbia.

Maryland is the first state to legalize same-sex marriage through a vote of the people. “This victory would not have been possible without the unparalleled leadership of Governor O’Malley, resolve of the LGBT Caucus in the legislature, and the full-court press by the Human Rights Campaign, which has been here day in and day out for more than a year working for full equality.”

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Spain’s top court will rule on marriage equality

Spain’s Constitutional Court is expected to rule on an appeal against the country’s gay marriage law, seven years after the legislation was approved.

The conservative Popular Party filed the appeal in 2005 on the grounds that “marriage” in the Spanish constitution meant the union of a man and a woman in matrimony.

A court spokesman said the tribunal will meet later Tuesday to study the appeal and is expected to vote.

Spain’s Parliament passed the gay marriage bill in June 2005 when it was Socialist-controlled, with only Popular Party deputies opposing. The Popular Party has since come to power.

(source)

UPDATE: The verdict is in and it’s GOOD news!

Spain’s Constitutional Court upheld the legality of the country’s gay marriage law on Tuesday, rejecting an appeal contending that marriage in the Spanish constitution means only the union of a man and woman.

The county’s top court voted 8-3 to dismiss the appeal of the conservative Popular Party filed shortly after Spain became the world’s third country to approve gay marriage.