Tag: marriage equality

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Out PA lawmaker Brian Sims talks about his plans for marriage equality in his state

Out (and totally woofy) gay Pennsylvania state Representative Brian Sims, along with fellow Representative Steve Carter, sat down on Sunday to discuss their plans to introduce legislation in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that would make same-sex marriage legal in the Keystone State.

Asked about his motivation to act, Rep. Sims stated,

“I was lucky enough to be born into a country that says I won’t be treated any differently under the law based on anyone’s selective interpretation of their own faith. Right now there are upwards of a million LGBT Pennsylvanians that are being treated differently under that law than similarly situated LGBT New Yorkers or Californians and that’s a huge problem. And the moment they cross into Pennsylvania do they lose the thousand or so federal rights just attached to them? And if that’s the case, where are we at right now in our government that people lose rights by crossing a border?”

(via YouTube)

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Neil Patrick Harris to marry David Burtka

Neil Patrick Harris says that he’s finally ready to put a ring on it and make an honest man out of his fiancé David Burtka.

The couple have been engaged now for seven years and had twins Harper and Gideon via surrogate in 2010. With DOMA now dead, and same-sex weddings back online in California, the couple is planning their very own, though no date is set as yet.

“Certainly, we have children and marriage is an appropriate thing to do [as] a part of their well being, so I’m sure it will be inevitable—and awesome!” Harris told E! News over the weekend. “We’re about to move to New York so it’s a tricky situation. I don’t know if it would be an east coast or west coast thing.”

“I’m not one who jumps around and cheers and screams because I thought that was inevitable and was going to happen,” he told E!. “It’s logical. If you look at public opinion polls, everyone, the majority of people, are very for people that fall in love with each other being able to own that.”

(via Queerty)

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29 GOP Congressmen propose anti-gay marriage amendment to US Constitution

Rep. Tim Huelskamp

Representative Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) and 28 other House Republicans have introduced a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage nationwide.

The proposed “Marriage Protection Amendment” to the U.S. Constitution would read, “Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.”

The amendment needs to be approved by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate before being ratified by three-fourths of states.

And so, it will go no where…

(via Raw Story)

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Brian Brown is rilly, rilly angry about gays getting married again in California

Brian Brown of NOM is super-duper mad that the gays can get married again in California:

In a case that has been marked by judicial arrogance and, frankly, lawlessness since the beginning, three judges of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals late Friday lifted their stay which had been in effect since a trial judge had ruled against Proposition 8.

Same-sex couples began being ‘married’ in California when state officials illegitimately declared Proposition 8 was no longer in force and ordered county clerks to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples immediately!

This, despite the fact that the US Supreme Court decision does not take effect for three more weeks.

It’s another sad example of the utter disregard for the rule of law and judicial propriety by those who swear an oath to uphold the laws of California, and the nation.

It would appear that the desire to impose same-sex marriage by some public officials trumps integrity, fairness, propriety, and even the rule of law. All Americans should be outraged!

This is quickly followed up with a “counting on your $upport” request for more money….

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Prop 8 plaintiffs get married in California

Proposition 8 plaintiffs Kris Perry and Sandy Stier were married in an ceremony officiated by Attorney General Kamala Harris on the mayor’s balcony at City Hall in San Francisco at approximately 4:45 yesterday afternoon.

And at 6:15pm, Paul Katami and Jeff Zarillo were married at L.A. City Hall in an emotional ceremony officiated by L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

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(all photos via AFER)

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California moves fast – same-sex marriage can begin immediately

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has dissolved a stay on Judge Walker’s injunction in California and gay and lesbian couples can begin marrying immediately.

From the AP:

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a brief order Friday saying it’s lifting the stay it imposed while a lawsuit challenging California’s gay marriage ban worked its way through the courts.

That means same-sex marriages can resume in the state for the first time since 2008.

Here’s the celebration statement from the Human Rights Campaign:

“After four and a half long and painful years, justice for committed gay and lesbian couples has finally been delivered. In California, a time of struggle and indignity are over, and love, justice and freedom begin anew. And now, no election, no judge – no one – can take this basic right away. At long last, marriage has finally returned to the most populous state in the nation.

“Kris Perry and Sandy Stier’s twin sons were just starting high school when their moms’ right to marry was taken away, now, as they prepare to start college, they will finally see their family recognized in the eyes of their state and their country. Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, now free to marry, can finally plan the family they’ve always wanted. Thousands upon thousands of lives are about to change for the better, for good. And young LGBT people across the Golden State will can today look forward to a future where they are truly and fully equal.

“Today is a day of profound celebration, but tomorrow – and every day from here on out – we will fight until joy, dignity, and full equality in all its forms reach each and every corner of this vast country.”