Tag: marriage equality

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MN: Vikings’ Adrian Peterson doesn’t “believe in” marriage equality

In an interview with Sirius/XM NFL satellite radio last Thursday, show hosts Bruce Murray and Amani Toomer asked reigning NFL MVP Vikings running back Adrian Peterson what he thinks about same-sex marriage:

“To each his own,” Peterson said. “I’m not with it, but I have relatives that, you know, are gay. I’m not biased towards them. I still treat them the same. I love them. But again, I’m not with that. That’s not something that I believe in. But to each his own.”

“I’m sure the Vikings’ organization did not release him based on that,” he continued, weighing in on whether or not he thinks Kluwe was cut for his views on gay marriage. “They know Kluwe. They’ve been knowing him for a long time. They know he’s outspoken.”

Really makes you miss Chris Kluwe on the Vikings team, doesn’t it?

(Looking to the horizon to Oakland, CA, where Kluwe now is a Raider…)

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Paris: Anti-gay marriage protests end in violence

A large protest in France by opponents of the country’s new marriage equality law turned violent on Sunday.

Paris police estimate 150,000 demonstrators marched along three different routes before converging in the sprawling plaza along the Seine River. While mainly peaceful, at the end of the rally several hundred of the protesters became violent.

Interior Minister Manuel Valls said on Monday that police had made a total of 350 arrests, and that 36 people had been injured: 34 police officers, one AFP photojournalist and one protester. Valls blamed the “extreme right” for the violence.

“These incidents were provoked by several hundred individuals, most from the extreme right and the (nationalist) Bloc Identitaire, who violently attacked police,” he added.

On May 18, French President Francois Hollande signed into law a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt. The signing came a day after France’s top court, the Constitutional Council, ruled that the bill adheres to the constitution.

(source)

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NV: Marriage equality takes step forward – passes in state Assembly 27-14

Nevada took another step forward today in repealing it’s constitutional ban on marriage equality and making the freedom to marry possible for thousands of Nevadans.

The bill to repeal the ban passed in the state Assembly by a vote of 27-14.  Only one Republican legislator voted for the bill.

The state Senate had passed the bill, SJR13, earlier this year by a vote of 12-9.

SJR13 will have to be approved by the 2015 Legislature, and then voters in 2016 to take effect.

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Dominique Venner, french anti-gay marriage activist, leaves suicide note behind

The suicide note left near the alter of Notre Dame Cathredral by anti-gay marriage activist Dominique Venner has been released:

“I believe it is necessary to sacrifice myself to break with the lethargy that is overwhelming us. I am killing myself to awaken slumbering consciences.”

According to JoeMyGod, Venner’s suicide remains headline news across France today.

However, the ruling Socialist Party has issued a denouncement of his action.  Party head Harlem Desir: “The bill has been approved and opponents of marriage for everyone need to understand that it is now the law of the republic.”

(via JMG)

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Tennessee: 51% support marriage equality/civil unions

In 2006, 81% of voters in Tennessee approved a state constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman as “the only legally recognized marital contract” in the state.

A new poll by Vanderbilt University shows a marked improvement in LGBT rights in the state.

51% of Tennesseans would support  some sort of relationship recognition (32% support marriage equality, 17% support civil unions).

That being said, the state’s constitutional ban remains a big obstacle for LGBT rights advocates for years to come.

(source)

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France: Anti-gay activist commits suicide at the alter of Notre Dame

In an apparent protest of France’s recently passed marriage equality law, an anti-gay activist shot himself in the head today after placing a letter on the altar of Paris’ famed Notre Dame Cathedral.

From the Daily Mail:

Dominique Venner, who had recently been campaigning against gay marriage in France, is said to have calmly walked past the crowds milling around the 850-year-old Cathedral, one of the most popular tourist sites in the world, before taking out a Herstal automatic pistol.

The 78-year-old put the gun in his mouth and fired before collapsing on to the altar, according to French media reports.

The Cathedral was full of visitors when the horrific incident took place, at around 4pm.

My small understanding of the relationship of religion and suicide is that it is considered a mortal sin.

So, not to be unkind, but this man would rather commit a mortal sin and burn in hell forever than live with the fact that people who love one another can marry?

Wow – he really showed us, didn’t he?

I am sad that so much hate can be whipped up in the world that would lead someone to this end.

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Marriage News Watch – May 20, 2013

Matt Baume with this week’s marriage equality update from American Foundation for Equal Rights.

From the YouTube page description: Minnesota passes a marriage bill, bringing the total to twelve states with the freedom to marry. Can we make it thirteen?

Time’s running out for Illinois to pass its marriage bill this year.

And even with public support for marriage soaring, numerous states may be stuck with marriage bans for years to come.

Hit the play button to catch up on where we are with marriage equality thus far.

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Marriage equality supporters in Illinois: We have the votes

Marriage equality supporters in Illinois believe they have the votes to pass the bill and are ready to do so.

From the Windy City Times:

I have absolutely no doubt we’re going to be done with this by May 31,” said Jim Bennett, Midwest regional director for Lambda Legal. “I believe that this bill is going to pass.”

Bennett declined to give a specific vote count, but said that he expected the bill could be called and passed any day. Rick Garcia, policy advisor for The Civil Rights Agenda, said he thinks the bill has the 60 votes needed for passage in the House. “I believe we’re there,” said Garcia. “The cake is baked. We’re waiting for the icing.”

The bill passed the Senate on Valentine’s Day. House sponsors have since struggled to pull together enough votes to pass it in the House. Illinois Unites for Marriage, a coalition of groups working for the bill, has scheduled a community meeting to update supporters on the bill’s progress and share plans surrounding the vote Wednesday evening.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has stated he believes the bill’s passage was “within striking distance,” and has promised to sign the legislation.

(via Towleroad)

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George Takei responds to “traditional marriage” fans

Matt Stopera of Buzzfeed asked protesters who gathered during March Prop 8/DOMA hearings outside the Supreme Court to express their opinions on a pad of paper. The ever-fun and funny George Takei took the time to respond to some of these folks who proudly stand up for denying marriage rights to LGBT Americans.

From the above pic: “I support marraige between man and woman because as my God says, I believe.  As a true follower I beleive of him.  And I love him.”

George’s response below:

From above pic: “Because against God law, is a deadly sin.”

George’s response below:

Check out more from George and Buzzfeed here.

(via Good As You)