Tag: marriage equality

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Poll: Marriage equality leads by 19 points in Maine

A poll released today shows the attempt to return same-sex marriage to Maine leading by a wide margin.

55 percent of voters support a referendum to legalize marriage between gay and lesbian couples, while only 36 percent oppose the proposed law. If passed, the referendum will provide marriage licenses for same-sex couples without requiring any religion or clergy to perform a ceremony that would violate their religious doctrine. In 2009, Maine voters repealed a law legalizing same-sex marriage.

(Via JoeMyGod)

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Poll: Nevada Republicans support brothels by 66%, marriage for gays and lesbians 20%

I think this is truly the definition of hypocrisy.

You know how conservatives have a big problem with marriage equality for gays and lesbians because of their deeply religious beliefs?  Get this…

A new Public Policy Polling poll finds that brothels enjoy popular support across all political parties in Nevada, including 66 percent of both Democrats and Republicans.

A March poll found that only 20 percent of Nevada Republicans support same-sex marriage, a juxtaposition that PPP described as “an interesting take on family values.”

Nevada’s brothels have no legal restrictions on sexual orientation, so according to the state’s Republicans, it’s okay if gays and lesbians pay for sex, just so long as they don’t settle down and start families.

(Via ThinkProgress)

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A wedding in Iowa…

Good As You notes:

“It’s just an army man, Paul, and his love, David, in a non-church setting, entering into a *civil* marriage contract in the state of Iowa.  This is what we equal rights activists are fighting to achieve in all states and federally, even as our opposition continues to throw religious asides our way.”

Now – anyone threatened here? Didn’t think so…

I think this is beautiful. Reminds me very much of how Michael and I got married.

Great, fabulous day in my life. I wish Paul and David the very best. Congratulations.

Michael and I getting married in 2003

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Cook County State’s Attorney says gay marriage ban violates Illinois state constitution

The Illinois attorney’s office has announced that it will concede that the state’s ban on marriages for same-sex couples is unconstitutional in conjunction with two lawsuits filed against the Cook County Clerk.

The governor, the Attorney General, and now the state attorney of Cook County all support same-sex marriage in Illinois.

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez’s office says she’ll submit a filing Thursday that indicates she agrees with several parts of two lawsuits challenging the same sex marriage ban in Illinois, in a move that signals another legal victory for proponents of same-sex marriage. Alvarez’s office said it “will admit the salient allegations within the complaint and concede that the equal protection clause of the Illinois Constitution prohibits discrimination in the issuance of marriage licenses based upon sex or sexual orientation.” “We are in agreement with the plaintiffs that Illinois laws that prohibit same sex marriage are unconstitutional. We believe the plaintiffs are correct in their assertion that the Illinois Constitution upholds marriage equality for same sex couples just as it does for opposite sex couples,” the statement said.

I’m certain anti-gay groups will step forward to defend against the suit themselves.
Same-sex couples in Illinois are currently able to enter into civil unions.

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Montana Sen. Max Baucus praises state Dems for marriage equality platform

Democratic Senator Max Baucus of Montana praised his state’s Democrats for including marriage equality in their official platform this week.

According to activist and blogger D Gregory Smith, Baucus is the first elected statewide Montana official to endorse marriage equality.

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Marriott now welcomes gay weddings at their hotels

The Mormon-owned Marriott chain of hotels has begun welcoming gay weddings at their hotels.

From the Marriott website:

“Marriott hotels provide ideal venues for ceremonies honoring you and your partner. With luxurious hotels and stunning resorts all around the world, we offer the perfect settings and Planning Services for your most special day. Continue the magic of your union with the perfect honeymoon. With our Honeymoon Gift Registry, we make it possible for your friends and family to provide the get-away of your dreams.”

Mind you, Mitt Romney was once a member of the board at Marriott…

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Carrie Underwood supports marriage equality

Carrie Underwood has revealed to the Independent that she is a strong believer in marriage equality for gays and lesbians:

“As a married person myself, I don’t know what it’s like to be told I can’t marry somebody I love, and want to marry,” she said. “I can’t imagine how that must feel. I definitely think we should all have the right to love, and love publicly, the people that we want to love.”

Ms. Underwood was speaking to the British newspaper in preparation for her first-ever concert in the UK, which shall be held at the Royal Albert Hall later this month.

From the Independent:

Underwood draws much of her fanbase from evangelical Christians, speaks frequently about her faith and has made religion the subject of several of her best-known songs, including the No 1 country hit “Jesus Take the Wheel”.

She said, however, that her liberal attitude towards same-sex marriage comes because of her Christian values, rather than in spite of them. Though raised a Baptist, a church that tends to oppose homosexuality, Underwood and her husband Mike Fisher, a professional ice-hockey player, now worship in a non-denominational congregation.

“Our church is gay friendly,” she said. “Above all, God wanted us to love others. It’s not about setting rules, or [saying] ‘everyone has to be like me’. No. We’re all different. That’s what makes us special. We have to love each other and get on with each other. It’s not up to me to judge anybody.”

Underwood, 29, swept to fame in 2005 after winning American Idol. In the interview, she condemned “people who use the Bible for hate”, adding: “That’s not how I would want myself as a Christian to be represented.”

Underwood’s new album, Blown Away, and her single, “Good Girl,” currently occupy the top spots on the Billboard country charts.

(Via Towleroad)

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Support for marriage equality grows in Minnesota

Public Policy Polling reveals quite a shift in the past four months with regards to Minnesota voters’ stance on same-sex marriage.

Here are three of the proposed questions asked of 973 Minnesota voters from May 31 to June 3. The surveys have a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.

Q1 Should the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?

Yes: 43%

No: 49%

Not sure: 7%

Q2 Do you think same-sex marriage should be legal or illegal?

Legal: 47%

Illegal: 42%

Not sure: 11%

Q3 Which of the following best describes your opinion on gay marriage: gay couples should be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry, or there should be no legal recognition of a gay couple’s relationship?

Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry: 43%

Gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not marry: 32%

There should be no legal recognition of a gay couple’s relationship: 21%

Not sure: 4%

Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling says, “The pro-equality side is now winning on gay marriage ballot initiatives in Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, and Washington. The landscape has changed significantly since Barack Obama announced his support for gay marriage.”
(source)

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Ninth Circuit refuses to hear Prop 8 appeal

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that it won’t rehear a case in which Proposition 8 had been ruled unconstitutional, setting up a possible fight before the U.S. Supreme Court.

After a three-judge panel in February agreed with Judge Vaughn Walker’s 2010 decision in Perry v. Brown that Proposition 8 violated the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause and the due process clause, proponents of the law sought an “en banc review.” Such a review would have required judicial evaluation by the full Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and could have included 11 appellate judges, but a majority of justices voted to deny the rehearing.

Now Prop. 8 backers have 90 days to decide whether to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, setting the stage for a national case on marriage equality. If they don’t decide to appeal, then same-sex couples would again begin marrying.

The nation’s most populous state narrowly passed Prop. 8 in 2008 and banned same-sex marriage, which had already been legal but then became outlawed. A federal challenge to the ban, led by American Foundation for Equal Rights and attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies, has been very successful, with wins in federal district court and in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Read more at The Advocate