Tag: marriage equality

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Same-Sex Marriage Ban in Montana Struck Down

U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris has just ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in Montana, striking down the ban on marriage between same-sex couples in the state.

The ruling comes as no surprise in that Montana is under the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals jurisdiction, which recently struck down similar marriage bans in Idaho and Nevada.

Morris did not stay his decision and ordered the state to stop enforcing Montana law banning same-sex marriage immediately.

By my count, Montana becomes the 34th state to have marriage equality, with South Carolina to officially become #35 tomorrow, although some marriages have already taken place today in the Palmetto State.

From Freedom To Marry:

This ruling was in the case Rolando v. Fox, a federal legal case involving four couples, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana. The couples are Angie and Tonya Rolando, Shauna and Nicole Goubeaux, Ben Milano and Chase Weinhandl, and Sue Hawthorne and Adel Johnson. These couples were either married outside of Montana and denied respect in the state, or want to get married in the state.

From the ruling from Judge Morris:

These families want for their children what all families in Montana want. They want to provide a safe and loving home in which their children have the chance to explore the world in which they live. They want their children to have the chance to discover their place in this world. And they want their children to have the chance to fulfill their highest dreams.

These families, like all of us, want their children to adventure into the world without fear of violence; to achieve all that their talent and perseverance allows without fear of discrimination; and to love themselves so that they can love others. No family wants to deprive its precious children of the chance to marry the loves of their lives.

Montana no longer can deprive Plaintiffs and other same-sex couples of the chance to marry their loves.

You can read the ruling in it’s entirety below:

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First South Carolina Same-Sex Marriages Performed Today

Although the stay on the recent court rulings which cleared the way for same-sex marriage in South Carolina doesn’t expire until Noon tomorrow, the kids in SC are already getting hitched.

Congratulations South Carolina!

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Texas: Campaign Launched To Highlight Support For Marriage Equality

Freedom to Marry, in partnership with Equality Texas, today launched a public education campaign to amplify the bipartisan momentum for the freedom to marry in the Lone Star State.

The campaign, called Texas for Marriage, will highlight that support as well as the continued harms that committed gay couples face everyday until the state’s marriage case, DeLeon v Perry, is decided by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals early next year.

“Nearly every state and federal court from last year on, more than 50 — with judges appointed by Republican and Democratic presidents and governors — has ruled in favor of the freedom to marry and moving the country forward,” said Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry.

“Texas families should not be left behind. Government has no business interfering in important freedoms like who Texans marry, and no business putting obstacles in the path of families and employers trying to do the right thing. Our new campaign will show that Texans are ready for the freedom to marry, and so is America.”

The website features essay and interviews with equality supporters, as well as information like the economic impact same-sex marriage would have on the Texas economy ($182 million, don’t you know?).

Check out the website here.

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Marriage News Watch – November 17, 2014

• Marriage has started in Kansas, and a judge has overturned a ban in South Carolina but you still can’t get married there yet.

• The lawyer who got DOMA overturned is now taking on Mississippi’s marriage ban.

• A few states are taking a closer look at overturning marriage bans at the ballot or in the legislature, just in case the Supreme Court doesn’t come through for us.

For more info, head over to the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

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Former French President Sarkozy Calls For Repeal Of Marriage Equality

Nicholas Sarkozy, the former president of France, has called for the repeal of same-sex marriage in France.

It’s worth noting that Sarkozy has been married three times (sanctity of marriage my ass…), and in July of this year was arrested and charged with corruption on allegations that he interfered with an investigation seeking to prove that he “received up to €50 million in illegal campaign financing from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.”

Just the kind of person you want to represent you and your concerns, right?

Sarkozy is campaigning to lead the opposition centre-right UMP party and is expected to run again for president in 2017.

Referring to the “mariage pour tous” or “marriage for all” legislation passed by France’s Socialist government last year, he said it needed “rewriting from top to bottom”.

Sarkozy also opposes surrogate parenthood for gay couples which is currently illegal in France.

The former president has been critical of same-sex marriage in the past saying it was “humiliating families and humiliating people who love the family”, but it is the first time he has called for its repeal.

A recent Ifop poll shows 68% of respondents supported same-sex unions and 53% supported adoption by same-sex couples, which is illegal in France.

(source)

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Ireland: LGBT Advocates Launch Campaign To Register Young Voters For Marriage Equality

The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, and Marriage Equality Ireland and LGBT charity BeLonG To have released this ad targeting young voters, urging them to register to vote by November 25th so they can take part in a historic vote to bring marriage equality to the Republic of Ireland.

Via Pink News:

Michael Barron of BeLonG To said: “We know that Ireland is ready for this change and that Irish young people really want a fair and equal society.

“Irish young people have always been agents for progressive change and today we are reaching out to all young adults aged 18-25 to say – this is your opportunity to create the society the you want – this is your generation’s decision.

“By registering to vote by 25th November and coming out to vote for civil marriage equality you will help our country turn over a new leaf and create the modern society that you deserve and can be proud of.”

Early polls show strong support for marriage equality in Ireland.

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Kansas: Federal Judge Strikes Down Same-Sex Marriage Ban

The Washington Blade is reporting that a federal judge has struck down Kansas’s ban on same-sex marriage.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree, an Obama appointee, issued a preliminary injunction against the enforcement on Kansas law prohibiting of marriage rights for same-sex couples. The injunction is warranted, Crabtree writes, because of legal precedent and because state officials defending the law haven’t made a sufficient case they would prevail in court.

“Because Kansas’ constitution and statutes indeed do what Kitchen forbids, the Court concludes that Kansas’ same-sex marriage ban violates the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution,” Crabtree writes. “Accordingly, the Court grants plaintiffs’ request for preliminary relief and enters the injunction described at the end of this Order.”

A temporary stay was placed on the ruling which expires 5 pm CT on November 11.

The state can appeal to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals – however, that court is the same which ruled Oklahoma and Utah’s same-sex marriage bans were unconstitutional, which now has become legal precedent.

The state Supreme Court is slated to hear a similar matter on November 6.

Read the ruling below:

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Marriage News Watch – November 3, 2014

From the American Foundation for Equal Rights:

• The future of Florida’s marriage ban is hanging in the balance, with a big ruling that could allow marriage to start any day now.

• Anti-gay groups are still spending tons of money in multiple states, but they’re not getting much out of it.

• And there’s an election this week could determine the future of marriage in multiple southwestern states.

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Kansas Couple Denied Intervention On Same-Sex Marriage Law Suit Based On “Theft of Marriage”

Sandra and Phillip Unruh of Kansas

A married couple in Kansas, Phillip and Sandra Unruh, has filed for and been denied the opportunity to intervene in the state’s same-sex marriage lawsuit.

In what was a very “unlikely to succeed” strategy, the Unruhs filed a brief saying that allowing same-sex couples to marry is “deeply disturbing,” “inflicts profound harm” on them, and is tantamount to a literal theft of their own marriage.

In other words, the Unruhs claim is that “marriage” is for straight people and giving it to gays means stealing it from heterosexuals.

From KCWH:

A Harper, Kansas couple is upset after a judge said they can’t be a part of a same-sex marriage lawsuit filed earlier this month. The judge claimed they could not be parties in the casebecause their views will be represented. So now, they’re writing an amicus brief to have their opinions heard.

“We were disappointed that we weren’t allowed to become parties in the court case but we are also excited about the fact that the judge invited us to file an amicus brief which means friend of the court,” Phillip Unruh said. “It means the judge has allowed us into the court case and will consider our written arguments.”

As thrilled as Phillip Unruh may be, just about anyone can file an amicus brief.

The judge in the case gave the Unruhs until 5pm tomorrow to file their amicus brief.

Can’t wait for that one!

In related news, the crackpots over at Westboro Baptist Church (located in Kansas) have filed a similar request to intervene in the state’s marriage equality fight.  Expect a similar rebuke from the court on that one, too.

Here’s the judge’s denial of intervention below:

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Marriage News Watch – October 27, 2014

From the American Foundation for Equal Rights:

The number of states with marriage has gone up yet again this week. Only a handful of states are stil trying to defend their marriage bans, and they’re quickly running out of ways to delay their inevitable loss.

A straight couple in Kansas has filed a new anti-gay lawsuit, and it’s nuts.

A federal judge just ruled against the freedom to marry, but his decision has virtually no chance of being upheld.

Plus, there’s a powerful new lawsuit in Mississippi.