ITN reports on the marriage ceremonies that took place across England and Wales this weekend as marriage equality arrived in the UK.
British Prime Minister David Cameron toasts the arrival of marriage equality to the UK
“The introduction of same-sex civil marriage says something about the sort of country we are. It says we are a country that will continue to honour its proud traditions of respect, tolerance and equal worth. It also sends a powerful message to young people growing up who are uncertain about their sexuality. It clearly says ‘you are equal’ whether straight or gay. That is so important in trying to create an environment where people are no longer bullied because of their sexuality – and where they can realise their potential, whether as a great mathematician like Alan Turing, a star of stage and screen like Sir Ian McKellen or a wonderful journalist and presenter like Clare Balding.
“Together we should be proud to live in a country judged to be the best place to live in Europe if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans. But we should equally be far from complacent about the challenges that remain – and I am just as committed as ever to working with you to challenge attitudes and stamp-out homophobic bullying and hate crimes.
“We are a nation that is growing stronger economically because of our long term economic plan. But I hope we can also be a country that is growing stronger socially because we value love and commitment equally. Let us raise a toast to that – and all those getting married this weekend.”
– British Prime Minister David Cameron on the arrival of marriage equality to England and Wales
Same-sex marriage begins in England! Celebrate!
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| Peter McGraith and David Cabreza |
Same-sex marriage has begun in England and Wales! Happy Dance Time!
Via Sky News:
The law changed at midnight, with a number of gay couples vying to claim the title of being the first to be married in Britain by trying to time it perfectly so their vows are being said just seconds after the clock struck midnight.
Among the first couples set to take advantage of the legalisation are Peter McGraith and David Cabreza, who have been together for 17 years.
Speaking before his wedding, Mr McGraith said: “We are thrilled to be getting married. It is a mark of significant social progress in the UK that the legal distinction between gay and straight relationships has been removed. “Very few countries afford their gay and lesbian citizens equal marriage rights and we believe that this change in law will bring hope and strength to gay men and lesbians in Nigeria, Uganda, Russia, India and elsewhere, who lack basic equality and are being criminalised for their sexual orientation.”
David Badash of The New Civil Rights Movement assembled this Storify for the momentous occasion:
Marriage equality begins tonight at midnight in England and Wales
Wedding cake at British Embassy in Washington DC to honor same-sex marriage law going into effect in England and Wales tonight at midnight.
Celebrate, you Brits!
Puerto Rico: Lesbian couple files lawsuit for marriage recognition
A lesbian couple married in Massachusetts has filed suit in their native Puerto Rico asking the US territory to recognize their marriage.
Together for 14 years and married since 2004, Ada Conde Vidal and Ivonne Álvarez Velez are unable to have their relationship recognized in their home territory because the 1999 amendment to Puerto Rico’s civil code restricts marriage recognition to only those unions involving opposite-sex couples.
In the suit, filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico in San Juan, contends that the commonwealth’s policy violates the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and heavily cites last summer’s landmark Supreme Court ruling in favor of marriage equality, U.S. v. Windsor.
In detailing the harm they’ve suffered through the territory’s lack of equal marriage rights, Conde recounts how, when her daughter had open-heart surgery, she was unable to designate her wife, Alvarez, to make even “simple decisions or determinations regarding her health. This also included simple decisions and/or determinations regarding her education.”
Ultimately, the suit contends that by denying the married same-sex couple the same rights afforded to other legally married couples, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico causes the plaintiffs “severe humiliation, emotional distress, pain, suffering, psychological harm and stigma.”
(via the Advocate)
State Rep. Mike Colona introduces proposal to revisit same-sex marriage in Missouri
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| Missouri state Rep. Mike Colona |
Missouri state Rep. Mike Colona has filed a proposal that would ask voters to revisit the state’s current ban on marriage equality.
Via Ozarks First:
Representative Mike Colona (D-St. Louis) has filed HJR 85, a proposed constitutional amendment that would ask voters to add language saying that a marriage may exist between a man and a woman and a same-sex couple.
71 percent of Missouri voters approved Constitutional Amendment 2 in 2004 that said to be valid and recognized in Missouri, “a marriage shall exist only between a man and a woman.”
Colona, who is openly gay, says he’s not sure the proposal will clear the legislature but feels it’s time to address the issue while two different court cases are being considered on the subject of same-sex marriage.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder says same-sex marriages will not be recognized
Gov. Rick Snyder says Michigan won’t recognize more than 300 same-sex marriages performed last weekend.
The marriages were performed Saturday before a federal appeals court suspended a decision that overturned the state’s ban on gay marriage.
Snyder’s announcement Wednesday closes the door to certain benefits granted to Michigan married couples. The move comes a day after an appeals court indefinitely stopped any additional same-sex marriages.
Snyder says the marriages were legal at the time but the stay means the ban now is back in effect.
The court is reviewing a decision by Detroit federal Judge Bernard Friedman, who struck down a 2004 constitutional amendment that says marriage is between a man and a woman.
The appeals process will take months to work it’s way through the court system.
(source)
Rachel Maddow breaks down the current state of same-sex marriage in Michigan
From MSNBC: Rachel Maddow reports on the series of developments that followed the striking down of Michigan’s same sex marriage ban, with couples rushing to get married on Saturday before a stay was imposed, leaving some couples in legal limbo.
Federal Appeals Court issues stay on same-sex marriage ruling in Michigan
The Sixth Circuit Appeals Court has issued a temporary stay on the recent same-sex marriage ruling in Michigan.
From the Detroit News:
The U.S. Appeals Court for the Sixth Circuit has issued a temporary stay on Michigan’s gay marriage case until Wednesday.
“To allow a more reasoned consideration of the motion to stay, it is ordered that the district court’s judgment is temporarily stayed until Wednesday,” the order read.
Earlier Saturday, the appeals court issued a one-page order directing the attorneys for the same sex couple who had sought to get married to respond to Attorney General Bill Schuette’s request for an emergency stay by noon Tuesday.
According to reports, before the stay was issued 323 marriage licenses were issued and more than 200 gay couples married in four counties across Michigan on Saturday. Stay tuned to see if the stay is upheld past Wednesday.
Michigan: Four Episcopal Bishops applaud overturn of state ban on same-sex marriage
Four Episcopal Bishops have released a statement applauding the ruling in Michigan which overturns the state’s marriage equality ban:
As Christians and leaders in the Episcopal Church, we applaud Judge Friedman’s decision to overturn Michigan’s ban on equal marriage as a step on the right side of history.
As the case of DeBoer v. Snyder continues to work its way through our judicial system, it is our hope that future judges will continue to find that the denial of marriage to same-sex couples is a denial of human dignity and a denial of rights under the law. We look forward in hopeful anticipation to the day when we can recognize all faithful and covenantal relationships between any two people regardless of sex, both within the Church and within our society.
Signed,
The Rt. Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs, Jr. – Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
The Rt. Rev. Whayne M. Houglund, Jr. – Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan
The Rt. Rev. Todd Ousely – Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan
The Rt. Rev. Rayford Ray – Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan
(source)