LGBTQ news and entertainment
In a new poll by Rocky Mountain Poll, 55% of Arizonans support the right of same-sex couples to legally marry versus 35% who are opposed.
Arizona currently does not allow same-sex marriage as a state constitutional amendment was passed in 2008 limiting marriage rights to only heterosexual couples.
Peruse all the findings of the poll by clicking here.
Gallup released the results of it’s latest poll concerning the support of marriage equality in the US.
From the poll:
Gallup’s May 2-7 poll suggests Americans’ support for gay marriage is solidifying above the majority level.
Recently, Rhode Island and Delaware legalized same-sex marriage, and Minnesota is likely to follow suit. That would bring the total number of states legally recognizing same-sex marriage to 12.
Just three years ago, support for gay marriage was 44%. The current 53% level of support is essentially double the 27% in Gallup’s initial measurement on gay marriage, in 1996.
The Minnesota state Senate voted moments ago in favor of a marriage equality bill, the final vote need to make Minnesota the 12th U.S. state, and the third in as many weeks, to legalize same-sex marriage.
Gov. Mark Dayton has promised to sign the bill and a ceremony is expected on Tuesday. The law would take effect on Aug. 1.
Prior to the bill’s third and final reading, the Senate rejected two amendments offered by GOP opponents.
The first amendment (A10), by Paul Gazelka (R-Nisswa), would have extended exemptions to individuals with religious objections to same-sex marriage, but also used the more generic term “any marriage.”
Gay marriage supporters said the amendment would have had the effect of legalizing discrimination against gay couples, and by the amendment’s language, couples in “any marriage” — effectively gutting the state’s existing civil rights protections under its human rights act.
That amendment failed by a vote if 26-41.
The second amendment (A51), from Sen. Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake), sought to legislate gender-neutral language such as “spouse” and “parent” for same-sex couples only, and utilize gender-specific terms such as “mother,” “father,” “husband,” and “wife” for opposite-sex couples.
That amendment failed by a vote of 31-36.
Here’s the vote board showing the 37-30 results that moves the bill to the Governor’s desk.
(source)
The Minnesota Senate will begin debate on the Minnesota marriage equality bill at noon Central Time today.
With 39 Democrats vs. 28 Republicans, the bill is expected to pass and Gov. Mark Dayton is likely to sign it in a ceremony presently scheduled to take place tomorrow.
You can watch today’s proceedings live on the website of the Star-Tribune and on the Senate’s official page. If you’ve never listened in to one of these debates, they can be quite boring in terms of public pronouncements made clearly for use in future campaigns, AND can be quite moving in their passion, depending on where you stand on the issue.
Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois tells reporters “it’s time to vote”:
“Illinois passing marriage equality into law, I think, sends a great signal to the people of our state and the people of America,” Quinn told reporters after appearing at a ceremony in Springfield honoring firefighters. “So, it’s important that Illinois and the House of Representatives get moving.
“I believe a majority exists to get this bill passed through the House onto my desk so I can sign it into law.”
“I think, you know, it’s time to vote,” Quinn said. “We’ve waited now three months, and it’s, I think, plenty of time for people to reflect on it. And now it’s time to pass it.”
The measure advances to the state Senate, where passage appears likely.
Gov. Dayton has stated he plans to sign the legislation into law, which would make Minnesota the 12th state in the US to legalize marriage equality.
The bill would take effect August 1, 2013.
Yay! Happy Dance!
A new ABC/Washington Post poll finds:
• 68 percent support Jason Collins’ decision to come out
• 63 percent want the Boy Scouts to allow gay scouts
• 56 percent oppose banning gay scout leaders
• 55 percent support allowing gays and lesbians to marry
As we are still celebrating the passage of marriage equality in Delaware, Minnesota is on a fast track to same-sex marriage and could bring equality to the state by Sunday.
TwinCities.com reports on Thursday’s vote in the state House:
House Speaker Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, said he believes the 73-member DFL majority has the 68 votes needed to pass the bill allowing same-sex couples to wed, even without a single Republican vote.
As of late Tuesday, no GOP House members have said publicly they would vote “yes.”
Meanwhile, Senate Democratic leaders say they also have the votes to pass a same-sex marriage bill, and DFL Gov. Mark Dayton says he’ll sign it.
If marriage equality passes the House as now expected, the Senate (where it’s approval is also pretty much assured) could vote as early as Saturday.
(source)
By a vote of 12-9! Yay! Happy dance!
During the debate, state Sen. Karen Peterson came out as a lesbian and challenged her colleagues, saying, “If my happiness somehow demeans or diminishes your marriage, you need to work on your marriage.” Truth.
The bill heads to Gov. Markell’s desk where he has promised to sign into law.
UPDATE: Gov. Markell plans to sign the bill TODAY! Marriage equality to begin July 1.
UPDATE II: Delaware Gov. Jack Markell as he signed the marriage equality bill – “I do not intend to make any of you wait one minute longer.”
