Tag: gay marriage

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Marriage for all families – Stories from Maine

The first of a four-part series made in each of the states that have marriage equality votes this November, this short shares the experiences of same-sex couples who want to get married in Maine. Three more short films will follow documenting the struggles in Washington, Maryland and Minnesota.

Marriage For All Families captures the real experience of same-sex couples, to show that they have the same challenges, responsibilities, and aspirations as other couples. Still, they are strangers in the eyes of the law. That’s why marriage equality is so important: it aligns personality reality with legal reality, as a simple matter of fairness and equality.

Read more about the short films and the support from The Four by clicking here.

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New from Washington United

Let’s hear it for the good guys at Washington United for Marriage!

Both of these ads are terrific in that they address the “religious freedom” concerns some people have. I think that’s a very good thing to at least attempt to let folks know churches and clergy won’t be forced to do anything against their faith.

I like these a lot.

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Chris Kluwe addresses the “think of the children” argument against marriage equality

The fantastic Mr. Chris Kluwe of the Minnesota Vikings has posted a new essay addressing a recent article by Riley Balling in the StarTribune.com in their Commentaries section.

The crux of Mr. Riley’s support for banning marriage equality rights is “For many of us who favor traditional marriage, marriage is about raising children in a healthy environment. Thus, any change to the definition of marriage affects our marriage.”

Chris Kluwe artfully takes down this argument. Here’s just an excerpt:

Which version of “traditional marriage” would you like to use Mr. Balling? Should we go back to ancient Israel and practice polygamy, with a woman’s only right that to own her own tent? Or should we use the ancient Greek definition of marriage, one more concerned with inheritance than love or procreation, one that would force a woman to divorce her current husband and marry a sibling if that was required to continue the family? Should we force a brother to marry his dead sibling’s wife? Or perhaps we should make arranged marriages with child brides, that’s certainly traditional enough. Wait, I know, let’s go with the one where you have to pay three goats and a cow in order to ensure the woman is yours to keep forever, and you can stone her to death if she cheats on you. That one sounds terrific!

[snip]

Frankly, sir, your blatant attempt to sway people by using the “OH MAH GAWD THINK OF THE CHILDREN” argument is tiresome, bothersome, and insulting to anyone who cares to take the slightest interest in pulling aside your curtain of self satisfied drivel to expose the ugliness underneath. Furthermore, you never made any sort of logical attempt to explain how same-sex marriage affects your marriage in any concrete way, instead offering up vague generalizations with no proof. When it comes to “the children”, I can assure you that I *am* thinking of my children, and not just my children, but all the children they will come in contact with, and all the adults they will someday be; and it is my sincerest wish as a parent that I can raise them to be tolerant, to respect the free will of others, and above all, to see beneath the smug bigotry and oppression of those who would enslave the world to satisfy their own ugly lust for control. If you have any children, it is my hope that they enjoy a peaceful life, one free of tyranny.

Read the entire essay at TwinCities.com

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Maine: Marriage equality issue leads by 21 points in new poll


A new poll by Critical Insights finds that Maine’s marriage equality referendum is set to pass, with 57 percent approval and only 36 percent rejection.

No one expects the 21-point lead to last, however. Maine has proven to be narrowly divided on gay marriage in past elections. Even with a strong lead, the issue is clearly dividing Maine voters along partisan, social and economic lines. The polls says:

* 81 percent of Democrats said they would vote “yes,” while 64 percent of Republicans say they would vote “no.”
* 86 percent of Obama supporters back same-sex marriage, while 75 percent of Romney supporters oppose it.
* 79 percent of King supporters back same-sex marriage, while 77 percent of Summers supporters oppose it.
* 69 percent of college graduates support the referendum, while 56 percent of people with a high school education or less oppose it.
* 77 percent of 18-to-34-year-old voters support it, while 50 percent of voters over 65 oppose it.

(source)

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Support for marriage equality surges in Illinois

A new poll from the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University suggests that support for marriage equality in Illinois is growing quickly, with 44 percent now in favor, up 10 percent from just two years ago.

Thirty-two percent support already legal same-sex civil unions, bringing the total support for LGBT rights to 76%

Only 20 percent said there should be no legal recognition for gay and lesbian families.

(source)

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Austin City Council to endorse marriage equality

My native Texas gives me yet another reason to be proud today.

I recently posted a video by the Austin Police Department for “It Gets Better.”

And now, today, Austin will be become the first city in Texas to endorse same-sex marriage when its city council will approve a symbolic resolution.

The Austin Chronicle has the details:

The feel-good proposal on Thursday’s City Council agenda (Sept. 27) is Item 77, an endorsement of marriage equality in the state of Texas. Sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole and co-sponsored by Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Council Member Laura Mor­rison, the symbolic resolution is unlikely to raise much dissent in the chamber and certainly none on the dais. It cites the historical, moral, and political reasons for same-sex equality – notably, the Bill of Rights of the Texas Constitution, which says rights cannot be restricted only to certain people – and should be recommended reading for all Austinites.

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Maryland: Gov. O’Malley says marrriage equality can pass but funds needed

On a conference call Monday night with marriage equality advocates, Gov. Martin O’Malley said marriage equality can pass at the ballot box in November, but funds are needed to support the cause.

“We have the ability to pass this in Maryland,” said the governor. “It is in keeping with the character of our state to protect rights equally under the law while also protecting religious liberty. But we do need to raise money here. We do need to raise another couple of million dollars, and if we are able to do that, I believe that we will pass this, and raising those dollars is critically important for our ability to be able to defend this at the ballot,” he said.

The Democratic governor signed the law passed by the legislature earlier this year, but the measure has not taken effect pending the outcome of the referendum brought by opponents.

Contribute to Marylanders for Marriage Equality here.

Maryland is one of four states facing ballot initiatives related to marriage equality, with campaigns also underway in Maine, Minnesota and Washington.

More at the Advocate

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Marriage News Watch – September 25, 2012

In what is easily the most anti-climactic possibility for an announcement regarding the Supreme Court and marriage equality, SCOTUS released it’s list of cases it will take up this year and the California Prop 8 case is not on the list.

However, that is not the end of the road for Prop 8 just yet.  There are still other variables in this equation.

From the American Foundation for Equal Rights:

The Justices meet nearly every week to determine the cases they will take up. The next time we could hear something is Monday, October 1 at 9:30 a.m. EDT / 6:30 a.m. PDT, when the Court is expected to release a list of cases it is not hearing this Term.

Some have speculated that the Supreme Court may wait to consider our case until later this fall when the Justices will decide whether to grant review in several cases challenging the so-called Defense of Marriage Act.

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Mainers United for Marriage – Firefighters on “Brotherhood”

Firefighters Andrew, Dave, Eric and Ryan talk about trust, respect and why they’re voting “Yes” on Question 1. They know marriage matters to ALL Maine families.

A recent survey from Public Policy Polling found 52% of likely voters in support, with 44% opposed and 4% undecided.

The Maine People’s Resource Center released a poll that showed 53% in support, 43% opposed and 4% undecided on Question 1 on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The ballot measure which repealed the law in 2009, also known as Question 1, passed 53% to 47%.

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Ginsberg says gay marriage likely to come before SCOTUS within the year

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said Wednesday that she believes the Defense of Marriage Act will likely go to the U.S. Supreme Court within the next year.

Ginsburg spoke at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She was asked a student-submitted question about the equal-protection clause and whether the nation’s high court would consider it applying to sexual orientation.

Ginsburg said with a smile that she couldn’t answer the question. She said she could not talk about matters that would come to the court, and that the Defense of Marriage Act would probably be up soon.

“I think it’s most likely that we will have that issue before the court toward the end of the current term,” she said.

Read more at FoxNews