Tag: marriage equality

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Utah: Federal judge hears arguments in marriage equality ban

U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby heard arguments Wednesday from both sides of a marriage equality lawsuit, who had each asked for a summary judgment—meaning that a ruling could be made without material facts.

Lawyers from the Utah Attorney General’s Office said it’s up to citizens of the state to decide, and roughly ten years ago, voters overwhelmingly passed Amendment 3 to the Utah Constitution—codifying only heterosexual marriage.

“It is evidence of the strong commitment of the people to abide with what the traditional definition of marriage has always been,” said Assistant Attorney General Phil Lott. “The state is concerned with fostering responsible procreation and generating an environment where children will be raised by their biological mother and father.”

Judge Shelby grilled the state’s attorneys on the connection between banning same-sex marriage and the number of babies born to heterosexual couples.

“How is it by excluding same-sex couples from marrying you’re increasing procreation?” the judge asked.

Stanford Purser of the Utah Attorney General’s Office declined to answer directly, saying the issue was irrelevant in this case.

Judge Shelby indicated he hopes to have a decision by January.

(source)

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Taiwan: Thousands protest in opposition of marriage equality

Tens of thousands gathered in Taiwan’s capital in protest of a proposed bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

From Focus Taiwan:

The demonstrators, many of whom were parents and children, crowded Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office, raising pink placards that read “Made by Daddy and Mommy,” “Defend Marriage” and “Oppose Amendment to Civil Code Article 972,” which states that an agreement to marry shall be made by the “male” and “female” parties in a relationship.

The Coalition for the Happiness of Our Next Generation, one of the organizers of the event, argues that allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt children will encourage “sexual liberation,” undermine traditional family values and confuse gender roles for children. Any changes to the marriage system should be put to a national referendum, the coalition said.

“God created human beings as male and female. Only the union of a man and a woman can create the next generation, and the ability to create offspring is an important function of a family,” said 40-year-old Ann Huang, who joined the rally with her friends.

The legislation passed in the national legislature on it’s first reading and is currently before committees.

According to BBC, polls show that while the country is divided on the issue, 53% of Taiwan supports marriage equality.

(via JMG)

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Croatian government to pursue civil unions in aftermath of marriage equality ban

After Sunday’s vote by the people of Croatia to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage, the Croatian government is signalling they may pass legislation legalizing civil unions instead.

From the New York Times:

Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic’s center-left government said on Monday that it would move ahead with a proposed bill to afford same-sex couples many of the legal rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples, including hospital visitation and inheritance rights, though the bill does not include the right to adopt children.

Mr. Milanovic said he regretted that the referendum had even been held. “I think it did not make us any better, smarter or prettier,” he said.

The state electoral commission said that 66 percent of those who voted answered yes to the question, “Do you agree that marriage is matrimony between a man and a woman?” Turnout was relatively low, with about 38 percent of registered voters casting ballots. Analysts said the turnout suggested that the sluggish economy and 18 percent unemployment rate were more on Croats’ minds than gay marriage.

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Hawaii says “Aloha!” to day one of marriage equality

Same-sex couples are taking advantage of Hawaii’s newfound aloha for gay weddings.

Six couples tied the knot early Monday, shortly after midnight, when the new law allowing same-sex couples to marry took effect.

A Waikiki resort was hosting mass ceremonies for anyone wanting to sign up, while a group of clergy who pushed for the new law planned to host a wedding for an openly gay Unitarian minister at a church near downtown Honolulu.

Take a look at all the shiny, happy people via Buzzfeed. Congratulations Hawaii!

The first couples to take advantage of Hawaii’s new found marriage equality gather for a group picture at the Sheraton Waikiki, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013 in Honolulu.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke/BuzzFeed

Michelle Broder Van Dyke/BuzzFeed

Michelle Broder Van Dyke/BuzzFeed

(source)

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Croatia passes constitutional ban on marriage equality

The Associated Press is reporting that Croatians on Sunday voted to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage:

The state electoral commission, citing initial results, said 65 percent of those who voted answered “yes” to the referendum question: “Do you agree that marriage is matrimony between a man and a woman?” About 34 percent voted against.

The result meant that Croatia’s constitution will be amended to ban same-sex marriage.

The vote has deeply divided Croatia. Liberal groups have said the referendum’s question infringes on basic human rights. The Church-backed groups have gathered 750,000 signatures in its support.

The Catholic Church leaders have urged their followers to vote “yes” in the referendum. Nearly 90 percent of Croatians are Roman Catholics.

Watch the new report from Euronews below:

(source)

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Cardinal Timothy Dolan: Catholic Church was “out-marketed” by gay marriage advocates

In an interview on Meet The Press that will air tomorrow, Cardinal Timothy Dolan says that that Catholic Church as been “out-marketed” by activists and politicians who have unfairly branded the church as anti-gay:

“We’ve been caricatured as being anti-gay,” Dolan said in an interview airing Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press. “And as much as we’d say, ‘Wait a minute, we’re pro marriage, we’re pro traditional marriage, we’re not anti anybody,’ I don’t know. “When you have forces like Hollywood, when you have forces like politicians, when you have forces like some opinion-molders that are behind it, it’s a tough battle,” he said. The legal battle over same-sex marriage has moved to states, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking down a tenet of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. “I think I’d be a Pollyanna to say that there doesn’t seem to be kind of a stampede to do this,” Dolan told David Gregory of Meet the Press. “I regret that. I wish that were not the case for the states.”

Via press release, Illinois’ Civil Rights Agenda has responded to Dolan:

The Catholic bishops have spent millions of dollars fighting hate crimes legislation and laws banning housing and employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,. Most egregious, the bishops have threatened to not support the immigration reform bill if it includes same-sex couples. The bishops consistently reduce gay people to their genitals and what they do or do not do with them and a number of bishops have supported and promoted dangers programs that seek to change gay people’s sexual orientation. The bishops have opposed any legislation or policy changes that would affirm gay people’s right to be treated equitably under the law. That is why the Church is perceived as anti-gay. It is not a caricature it is a sad reality,

(via JMG)

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Illinois: Marriage equality comes early to terminally ill lesbian

An Illinois judge has ruled that a terminally ill lesbian may marry her partner before the same-sex marriage law goes into effect next summer.

A lawsuit was filed Friday by Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois seeking immediate action for Vernita Gray and Patricia Ewert.

Gray has bone and brain cancer and is not expected to live until Illinois’ gay marriage law goes into effect June 1. Camilla Taylor of the gay rights group Lambda Legal says Gray wishes to marry the woman she loves before she dies.

County Clerk David Orr says his office will expedite a marriage license to Gray and Taylor per Judge Thomas Durkin’s order,  adding it’s a service already granted to heterosexual couples in similar situations.

(source)

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Hawaii: Marriage equality opponents find a lump of coal in their stockings

Well, it looks like Santa Claus is making his list and checking it twice when it comes to opponents of marriage equality in Hawaii.

All 19 House lawmakers who opposed SB1, the marriage equality bill, received lumps of coal in the mail from an anonymous sender, Hawaii News Now reports, along with a note:

“You left a piece of your heart at the State Building when you voted on SB-1….. Your lifestyle choice of judging others and ignorance is very unfortunate. Good luck in the next election.”

The Hilo Medical Center’s return address was on the boxes but denies any involvement with the stunt.

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Marriage News Watch – November 25, 2013

Marriage equality is law in Illinois, but questions remain over when marriages can actually start.

Virginia voters could have a chance to overturn that state’s marriage ban, and polling is surprisingly strong.

Lawsuits advance this week in Pennsylvania and Tennessee, and there’s more bad news for the National Organization for Marriage.

As always, www.afer.org is a great destination for up-to-date marriage equality news.