Tag: marriage equality

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US Supreme Court issues stay on marriage equality in Utah

Via SCOTUSblog:

The Supreme Court on Monday morning put on hold a federal judge’s decision striking down Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage, thus stopping a wave of such marriages across the state.

The Court’s order reinstates the state ban and will keep it intact until after a federal appeals court has ruled on it.

The order appeared to have the support of the full Court, since there were no noted dissents.

The ruling can be interpreted as an indication that the Court wants to have further exploration in lower courts of the basic constitutional question of state power to limit marriage to a man and a woman.

Had it refused the state’s request for delay, that would have at least left the impression that the Court was comfortable allowing same-sex marriages to go forward in the 33 states where they are still banned.

The Tenth Circuit of Appeals court has agreed to take up the issue on an expedited basis. State officials’ opening brief must be filed by Jan. 27. The response from attorneys for gay couples is due Feb. 18, and state officials have a chance to respond to that filing by Feb. 25.

We’re looking at months here, kids.

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Editorial of the day: “The tide has turned. Time for Utah to turn with it”

From the editors of the Salt Lake Tribune:

Same-sex attraction, far from being unnatural, has been around since the dawn of time, and in recent decades mainstream America has come to accept it as something other than deviant. The American Psychiatric Association has considered homosexuality a normal sexual variation, not a mental disorder, since 1973. The Supreme Court in 2003 made same-sex sexual activity legal in every state, and then last June the court took that step of saying same-sex couples have a due-process right to marry. Younger people by and large take a more libertarian view of same-sex relationships, and that is what has fueled the nation’s shift since Utah passed its ban in 2004.

There are 32 states with laws still in effect banning gay marriage, but only one state has passed such a law since 2006. Since that time seven state legislatures have passed laws to allow same-sex marriage, and three more states did so through popular vote. Court decisions have struck down the laws in another seven states, including Utah. One of those states is California, where state officials stopped defending their same-sex marriage ban when it became obvious where the future lies. Utah’s ban passed with 66 percent of voters approving it, but it’s a legitimate question whether it would pass today if another election were held. Even the LDS Church has gone from actively participating in the marriage wars to simply explaining its own beliefs and practices.

The tide has turned. It’s time for Utah to turn with it.

(h/t JMG)

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Utah: Anti-gay sheriffs call for “uprising” against equal rights for gays and lesbians

At a meeting of law enforcement members calling for an “uprising” against same-sex marriage in Utah, former Graham County, Ariz., Sheriff Richard Mack had this to say:

“The people of Utah have rights, too, not just the homosexuals. The homosexuals are shoving their agenda down our throats…

“That’s a lie. That’s an absolute lie [that the federal government’s ruling overrules Utah’s laws]. We have a right to raise our kids without homosexuals being part of the Boy Scouts, the schools and teachers and doing everything. They can be all that, but don’t shove your agenda down my kid’s throat.

“We have a right to raise our kids how we want not how you want.”

I’m not sure I understand how anyone has told Mr. Mack how to raise his kids differently than he was before marriage equality came to Utah. No school or teacher is “teaching” homosexuality.

Strange the sound bites these guys come up with. Check out the video report below:

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Former Gov. Charlie Christ apologizes for supporting same-sex marriage ban in Florida

Charlie Crist has publicly apologized to LGBT people for his past opposition to marriage equality.

The former Republican governor of Florida, who is now running for the same post as a Democrat, courted gay voters in an interview with Tom Dyer of Watermark, a Florida-based LGBT publication.   This is Crist’s first ever interview with a gay media outlet.

In his remarks, Crist expressed regret his past support of Amendment 2, which changed Florida’s state constitution to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions through a 2008 referendum.

“I’m sorry,” the 57-year-old politician told reporter Tom Dyer. “I’m sorry I did that. It was a mistake. I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

The examples you cited were examples of me trying to be a good Republican. I couldn’t do it anymore, and I’m sorry I did.

“I made a mistake. I’m not perfect… please don’t hold me to that standard. And I’m sincerely sorry. I understand when it’s necessary to say I was wrong. That‘s the journey I’m on… and I’m still on it.

One of the few interviews I’ve seen in recent history where the journalist actually follows up on questions and hold his subject accountable. During the interview, Tom stays on Crist’s pivots regarding LGBT equality and even mentions that for all Crist’s great soundbites today, his campaign website mentions nothing about the LGBT community and what his goals might be for our community.

Head over to Watermark for the entire interview. Really worth reading.

(source)

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Rose Bowl Parade features float with same-sex marriage couple, wins “Color and Color Harmony” Award

Danny Leclair, 45, and Aubrey Loots, 42, a gay Los Angeles couple of 12 years, were married atop a float in Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses Parade today sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and intended to mark the first New Year’s Day that same-sex marriage is legal in California and the role that marriage can play in helping to reduce new HIV infections among gay men, according to an AHF official.

Despite anti-gay protests and threats of “boycotts” of the this year’s Parade, the annual event happened splendidly. As a matter of fact, the AHF float won the award for “Color and Color Harmony.” 

During the 30 seconds that the float was onscreen during NBC’s coverage, the two grooms atop the wedding cake smiled, waved and did all those things you do when you are featured in a nationally televised parade.  From the look of it, the couple seemed to have a great time.

Parade host Al Roker: “A sincere shout-out to the newlyweds and the happy couples on the float.”

You will note, haters, that the sky has not fallen…

Happy 2014 folks!

(via Towleroad)

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Utah calls marriage equality an “affront to the soverignty of the State” in court filing

Here’s the request to SCOTUS to stay marriage equality in Utah via the Associated Press:

In papers filed Tuesday with Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the state asked her to overturn court decisions to let the marriages go forward.

Sotomayor handles emergency requests from Utah and other Rocky Mountain states. She can act by herself or get the rest of the court involved.

Nearly two-thirds of Utah’s 2.8 million residents are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Mormons dominate the state’s legal and political circles.

U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby’s decision on Dec. 20 came as a shock to many in the state, which approved the ban on same-sex marriage in 2004.

Since the judge’s decision, more than 900 gay couples in Utah have gotten marriage licenses.

Shelby and the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals have already refused to halt weddings while the state appeals.

And ironically, in some twisted logic, the filing claims that same-sex couples will be irreparably harmed in their dignitary and financial interests if their marital status is retroactively voided.”

SO – don’t void them Utah!

The full court filing can be read here.

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Marriage News Watch – December 30, 2013

From the clip description by AFER on YouTube:

We end the year with big marriage wins in Utah and New Mexico. But those victories could still be overturned.

We’ll have the latest on attempts to undo marriage in those states.

We’ve also seen some major steps towards equality in Oregon, Ohio, Florida, Arkansas and Illinois.

Plus, AFER has date for a hearing in its Virginia case.

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Still no SCOTUS request for stay of marriage equality in Utah

https://twitter.com/BenWinslow/status/417718465990905856

At this point, you have to wonder what could justify a request for an “emergency stay” against marriage equality when clearly the Utah Atty General’s office is taking so much time to prepare.

How much of an “emergency” could there be if there’s this much foot-dragging?

Answer?  There is no emergency.

Forward.

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New Mexico’s largest newspaper to anti-gay opponents: It’s time to move on

In an op-ed in the Albuquerque Journal, the editors urge those still opposed to marriage equality in New Mexico to “move on:”

The reality is that same-sex marriage is here to stay. In the past few years, it has gained wide support, reflecting a changing U.S. society that is more tolerant of different lifestyle choices and a growing consensus that allowing people of the same sex to marry is the right thing to do.

[snip]

The state Supreme Court has concluded that all people, no matter their sexual orientation, should be treated equally under the law when it comes to the right to marry. It’s time to recognize that and move on.

Thoughtful and balanced, you can read the rest of the article here.