Tag: same-sex marriage

Posted on

Add Louisiana to the list of states being sued for discriminating against marriage equality

The statewide LGBT human rights organization, Forum for Equality Louisiana, has filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s constitutional ban on marriage equality based on the lack of recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Via press release:

The lawsuit charges that Louisiana’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriages violates the US constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process. The lawsuit also asserts that state officials infringe the couples’ First Amendment rights by requiring them to claim that they are unmarried on state tax returns.

The prestigious New Orleans law firm of Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann filed the suit in US District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, on behalf of Forum for Equality Louisiana and four couples who are members of the organization.

The basis of the equal protection violation claim is that Louisiana recognizes marriages legally performed elsewhere, including marriages that cannot be entered into inside the state, such as marriages between first cousins or common-law marriages. Louisiana singles out only same-sex marriages for unequal treatment, a violation of the constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process.

So just to be clear – right now, you can marry your 1st cousin in Alabama or Tennessee, move to Louisiana and THAT marriage will be recognized. BUT if you marry your same-sex spouse in California or New York, your marriage license is null and void as far as Louisiana is concerned?

That is messed up.

And for the record – Discrimination.

Posted on

NOM president Brian Brown cries over Nevada’s decision to not defend anti-gay marriage law in court

Brian Brown, NOM president, crying as he watches his very reason for being (and earning a living) slip away.

Via press release :

“In the end, this is simply an act of cowardice, with these officials bending to the false narrative of ‘inevitability’ projected by the radicals determined to impose marriage redefinition nationwide.”

Today’s whine is due to the state of Nevada deciding, due to a recent ruling in the Ninth Circuit of Appeals, to not defend the state’s ban on marriage equality.

Forward, kids.  Forward.

Posted on

Missouri: ACLU will file lawsuit this week challenging same-sex marriage ban

It looks as though Missouri will be next to join the current crop of states being challenged in court over the freedom to marry.

From News-Leader.com:

Couples from Kansas City, St. Louis, mid-Missouri and Springfield are included in the suit, which will be filed in state court in Kansas City.

The litigation comes less than a month after a federal judge struck down Oklahoma’s ban on same-sex marriage. The ban is similar to Missouri’s prohibition on same-sex marriage.

Missouri voters approved the ban in 2004 — 71 percent to 29 percent — the same year Oklahoma approved its ban. The bans in both states are amendments to the state constitutions.

Posted on

Indiana: State Senate committee moves anti-gay marriage amendment to full Senate by vote of 8+4

As expected, the Indiana state Senate Rules and Legislative Procedure Committee approved HJR-3, the current legislation which would allow for a statewide referendum to write a ban on marriage equality into the state’s constitution.

All eight Republicans voted for the measure, all four Democrats voted against.  From IndyStar.com:

The decision came with no discussion by committee members about whether to restore the amendment’s second sentence, which would also ban civil unions and similar arrangements. The House removed that provision before sending the amendment to the Senate.

Instead, the Senate will likely take up the question of whether to restore the second sentence when the measure comes up for second reading before the full 50-member Senate. That could happen as early as Thursday.

The “second sentence” issue adds complications for the legislation as constitutional amendments have to be passed in their original form in two successive state legislatures. By changing the language of the original resolution, the second sentence must either be restored before going to voters for 2014 OR must be voted on by the next state congress before heading to voters in 2016.

Considering the quickly changing landscape of marriage equality, the longer it takes to get to voters – where polls show the electorate split – the tougher it will be for anti-gay marriage proponents to see their amendment passed.

Posted on

Marriage News Watch – February 10, 2014

From the American Foundation for Equal Rights:

• A Virginia court finally hears arguments in AFER’s marriage case.

• A clearer picture of how Utah will fight to keep its marriage ban in place.

• A new lawsuit hits Wisconsin, with life-or-death stakes for one couple.

• This could be the week that we finally learn the fate of Indiana’s marriage ban.

Posted on

El Salvador fails to pass constitutional ban on marriage equality

El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly saw a proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage fail miserably by a vote of 19-65.

From On Top Magazine:

According to Spanish news agency EFE, only 19 out of 84 lawmakers on Friday voted in favor of the ban.

The measure, which cleared the chamber in 2012, defines marriage as between a man and a woman and their children. It also seeks to prohibit El Salvador from recognizing the foreign marriages of gay couples and bans gays from adopting children.

A constitutional amendment requires the approval of two consecutive legislatures; a simple majority (43 votes) during the first reading followed by a supermajority (56).

El Salvador is the only Central American country that allows gays to serve openly in its armed forces.

(via JMG)

Posted on

Ohio: FreedomOhio gathers 2x necessary petition signatures for same-sex marriage ban repeal

Ohio’s pro-marriage equality group FreedomOhio has gathered almost twice as many signatures as they need to qualify for the 2014 or 2016 ballot, but they aren’t stopping there:

The Columbus Dispatch reports:

The group pushing to overturn Ohio’s 12-year-old constitutional amendment limiting marriage to a man and a woman says it has 650,000 signatures on a petition to put a gay-marriage measure on the statewide ballot. FreedomOhio’s goal: a million signatures by this summer’s filing deadline for the November election. Only 385,247 valid signatures are needed. “We see strongest support amongst women, single moms, minority and youth voters, which is also termed the ‘rising American electorate,'” said the group’s leader, Ian James. “At FreedomOhio, we call these folks ‘the base.'”

But even if the group gets the million names, the decision on whether to go to the ballot in 2014 or 2016 remains up in the air. It will depend, James said, on “having the resources to identify and mobilize majority support.”

The most recent poll shows a slight edge in support for the freedom to marry,  48%-44%.

Posted on

Interactive map of the US covering current marriage equality rights

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/same-sex-marriage/

The Washington Post has created an interactive map where you can click on each state to see it’s current status regarding marriage equality rights  Plus you can click to see all the states that support or oppose those rights as well as those states that offer limited LGBT civil protections.

Click on over to see where your state currently stands on same-sex marriage.

Posted on

Scotland: Marriage equality passes 105-18

The Associated Press reports that the Scottish Parliament has overwhelmingly voted in favor of a same-sex marriage bill, allowing the first such ceremonies to take place by the end of the year.

Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil called the bill’s approval “one of the great historic days of the parliament.”

Good times, kids.  Remember this… 🙂

Posted on

Marriage equality passes in Scotland!

http://www.freedomtomarry.org/blog/entry/scotland-passes-the-freedom-to-marry-in-final-vote

Scotland’s Parliament today voted by 105 to 18 on final approval of the Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill.  The first Scottish gay and lesbian weddings will take place sometime this fall.

The Scottish government said the move was the right thing to do but Scotland’s two main churches were opposed to it.

Churches and religious organizations will have the option to choose whether or not to perform same-sex marriages.  No part of the religious community will be forced to hold same-sex marriage ceremonies in churches.

Freedom to Marry founder and president Evan Wolfson issued this statement:

With the freedom to marry bill clearing its final hurdle in Scotland today, same-sex couples can finally share in the freedom to marry alongside their neighbors in England and Wales. Today’s win comes after a rich and extensive debate, and after an overwhelming victory in its previous parliamentary vote. Freedom to Marry looks forward from afar to seeing the first Scottish marriages performed in autumn; and will continue working along the Roadmap to Victory needed to ensure that the United States joins them on the right side of history.

(source)