Tag: marriage equality

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Jon Stewart breaks down marriage equality in red states

Via Mediaite:

Jon Stewart was admittedly surprised Thursday night at the gains gay marriage is making even in strongly red states like Utah in Oklahoma, even if in one of those cases people are stuck in a complex Schrodinger’s marriage paradox. Utah officially recognized gay marriage, except that it then decided not to, but then the federal government stepped in, so they’re sort of married, but not fully, and… well, Stewart couldn’t really make heads or tails of it.

Stewart also mocked Louis Gohmert for saying that pro-gay marriage judges need “plumbing lessons”, explaining that there are male-to-male, female-to-female, and two-male-one-female pipe parts that actually exist, and Stewart couldn’t help getting a little aroused by them.

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Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern is fit to be tied over marriage equality ruling

The Advocate is reporting that Republican Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern, who is unrelated to the federal judge who struck down the ban, is angry and speaking out about the recent ruling by a federal judge which found the state’s marriage equality ban.

“Homosexuality is not a civil right, it’s a human wrong,” Rep. Kern told KOTV.

One of the state legislature’s most virulent anti-gay members, Kern says that people who say they were born gay have simply told “a lie long enough [that] people begin to believe it.”

See KOTV’s report below.

NewsOn6.com – Tulsa, OK – News, Weather, Video and Sports – KOTV.com |

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Indiana: Two more city councils adopt resolutions opposing constitutional gay marriage ban

As the Indiana state legislature debates a proposed constitutional amendment banning marriage equality, the South Bend and Muncie councils both voted Monday night to adopt resolutions against the amendment.

The South Bend resolution was approved on a 6-2 vote, while the Muncie resolution was adopted in a 9-0 vote.

City councils in Indianapolis, Evansville and Bloomington and a bipartisan group of mayors from several cities have also spoken out against the proposed amendment.

The House Judiciary Committee on Monday delayed a vote on following more than three hours of testimony from supporters and opponents. If legislators approve the amendment during this year’s session, it will go before voters on the November election ballot.

(via EdgeOnTheNet)

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Greetings from Oklahoma

“Excluding same-sex couples from marriage has done little to keep Oklahoma families together thus far, as Oklahoma consistently has one of the highest divorce rates in the country.” – from Federal Judge Kern’s opinion striking down Oklahoma’s gay marriage ban as violating the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment guarantee of Equal Protection.

(via Politics with Jarred and Dave)

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Federal judge rules that Oklahoma’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional

Another surprising development for marriage equality from a surprising state – Oklahoma!

Via press release from the Human Rights Campaign:

Today U.S. District Judge Terence Kern ruled that Oklahoma’s ban on marriage equality is unconstitutional. His ruling is stayed pending appeal, meaning marriages will not occur immediately in the Sooner State.

HRC President Chad Griffin issued the following statement:

“Judge Kern has come to the conclusion that so many have before him – that the fundamental equality of lesbian and gay couples is guaranteed by the United States Constitution. With last year’s historic victories at the Supreme Court guiding the way, it is clear that we are on a path to full and equal citizenship for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Equality is not just for the coasts anymore, and today’s news from Oklahoma shows that time has come for fairness and dignity to reach every American in all 50 states.”

Two plaintiff couples, Mary Bishop and Sharon Baldwin and Gay Phillips and Susan Barton, filed their case, Bishop v. Oklahoma, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma in November 2004. Lead counsel in the case are Don Holladay and James Warner of the Oklahoma City law firm Holladay & Chilton PLLC.

More at the HRC website.

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Nigeria outlaws marriage equality

Nigeria has outlawed same-sex marriage and civil unions in a bill approved by president Goodluck Jonathan, according to his spokesman.The Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill 2013, called “discriminatory” by Amnesty International, sets jail terms of up to 14 years for anyone entering gay marriage or civil partnership and also bans LGBT organisations altogether.“I can confirm that the president has signed the bill into law,” Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesman Reuben Abati told AFP.Abati said the bill, adopted by the Senate in 2011, was signed by Goodluck Jonathan “because it is consistent with the attitude of most Nigerians towards homosexuality”.“More than 90 percent of Nigerians are opposed to same sex marriage. So, the law is in line with our cultural and religious beliefs as a people,” he added.

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Marriage News Watch – January 13, 2014

From the American Foundation for Equal Rights:

New polls show a dramatic shift in public opinion following marriage equality in Utah. But that’s hasn’t stopped the Supreme Court from blocking weddings — for now.

We have new details about cases in Arizona, Missouri, and West Virginia.

Plus, legislators introduce a new marriage ban in Indiana, but with fewer backers than expected.

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New Mexico County Clerk donates remaining legal fund to marriage equality group

Talk about a great postscript to an already happy ending!

Back in August, New Mexico’s Doña Ana County made history when it began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. County Clerk Lynn Ellins decided it was time and the law would allow it. His action emboldened other counties, and ultimately the New Mexico Supreme Court finally decided the matter.

Prepping for the court battle, however, Ellins began raising private donations to help the county cover the cost of its legal fees and the fundraising effort was so successful that there was more cash to spare.

Ellins is now donating that money to a campaign called New Mexico Unites for Marriage Equality, the Las Cruces Sun reports:

Ellins had raised private donations — via a website and at his county office — to pay for his defense in a civil lawsuit brought by opponents of his controversial August decision to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.

After paying his legal bill, Ellins estimated a few thousand dollars are leftover. And he said he’s giving that money to a campaign called New Mexico Unites for Marriage Equality.

“It’s a nonprofit organization that was established the last year to basically protect the same-gender marriage rights,” Ellins said.

Ellins’ legal expenses tied to the state district court lawsuit totaled nearly $31,759, according to a Doña Ana County news release.