Tag: same-sex marriage

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GOP Congressman introduces bill to limit recognition of gay marriage

Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) has introduced a bill called the “State Marriage Defense Act of 2014,” which seeks to limit federal recognition of same-sex marriage in lieu of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Under Congressman Weber’s new bill, the State Marriage Defense Act, the federal government would have to respect the definitions of marriage in all 50 states. A couple’s state of residence would define their marital status.

If this bill were to pass — which seems unlikely — couples’ marriage status would change as they travel from state to state, endangering the safety and security of their families.

More at Think Progress.

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Luxembourg to approve marriage equality by summer

From GayStarNews:

Justice Minister Félix Braz announced the news this week, saying he hoped it would be finally made law after years of delays.

Drawn up by the former government in 2010, the same-sex marriage draft law was due to be voted on late last year. But following a change of government in October, the vote was postponed.

Same-sex couples have only been able to mark their union under a PACS – based on French civil unions – meaning they have less rights and are unable to jointly adopt children.

While a small European nation, it is the first to have an openly gay Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister serving at the same time.

If approved, Luxembourg will be the 11th European country to recognize same-sex marriage, joining Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

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Indiana: Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage introduced in state House

Indiana took it’s first step to constitutionally banning marriage equality in the state today:

JCOnline reports:

A resolution that would amend Indiana’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage was filed in the Indiana House of Representatives as expected today, setting into motion a bitter fight between conservatives who want to protect traditional matrimony and those who want to protect the rights of same-sex couples.

However, a companion measure (House Bill 1153) clarifies that the intent of the proposal is not to deny employer health benefits to same-sex couples or to circumvent local ordinances that forbid discrimination.

That clarifying language would appear to address some of the concerns raised by employers and others that the amendment would make employee recruitment difficult and make Indiana appear unwelcoming. The clarifying bill, however, seems to still ban civil unions for same-sex couples — a provision that some see as a step too far.

(via Instinct)

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Utah: Gov. Herbert instructs state agencies to NOT recognize same-sex marriages in Utah

Utah governor Gary Herbert’s office late Tuesday informed state agencies that marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples in the state are not valid, and to not to recognize those marriages until the courts advise otherwise.

From the letter signed by Gov. Herbert’s chief of staff:

With the district court injunction now stayed, the original laws governing marriage in Utah return to effect pending final resolution by the courts. It is important to understand that those laws include not only a prohibition of performing same-sex marriages but also recognizing same-sex marriages.

Based on counsel from the Attorney General’s Office regarding the Supreme Court decision, state recognition of same-sex marital status is ON HOLD until further notice. Please understand this position is not intended to comment on the legal status of those same-sex marriages – that is for the courts to decide. The intent of this communication is to direct state agency compliance with current laws that prohibit the state from recognizing same-sex marriages.

Read the full letter here.

The legal ramifications on this decision are wide-ranging.

(via LGBTQ Nation)

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New Mexico Governor Martinez: Same-sex marriage is the law of the land

Unlike the state officials in Utah, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez says in light of the recent state supreme court decision in her state, she won’t support or seek an amendment to ban gay marriage in the state.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports:

Martinez said several times last summer — when several county clerks across the state began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples — that she believed state voters should decide the issue by way of a ballot question on whether to amend the state constitution.

“I think what I said before was that yes, the people should have decided on it, but the Supreme Court has decided,” the governor said Monday when asked by a reporter about the issue. “And it’s now the law of the land.”

Asked whether that meant she wouldn’t push for the Legislature to pass a measure like Sen. Bill Sharer’s Senate Joint Resolution 6, Martinez responded, “It’s the law of the land. The Supreme Court has spoken.”

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Comedy legend Lily Tomlin marries longtime partner Jane Wagner

Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner

Lily Tomlin married her longtime partner and collaborator Jane Wagner on New Year’s Eve. 

Tomlin, the 74-year-old comic genius best known for her diverse roles on television, film and stage tied the knot New Year’s Eve with longtime love and accomplished writer, Jane Wagner after 42 years together.

It appears the news first broke as a sidenote in a piece about Bob Fosse written for ChicagoTribune.com by friend of the couple, Liz Smith:

“It was an eventful New Year’s Eve … my longtime friends, Lily Tomlin and her love, the writer Jane Wagner, got married on the eve of 2014. … My wish is that their happiness will be as great as their combined talents.”

The two met in March of 1971 working on a comedy album. Since that time, they’ve worked on many projects including the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award-winning “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe.”

I’ve met Lily in person and, of course, enjoyed her genius many times on stage and on the big & large screens.  A great, great talent that like a fine wine grows deeper and richer (if that’s possible) with age.

Larry Edwards, Lily Tomlin, me and Michael backstage after Lily’s show at The Smith Center

Congratulations Lily and Jane!  

(via Instinct)

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US Supreme Court issues stay on marriage equality in Utah

Via SCOTUSblog:

The Supreme Court on Monday morning put on hold a federal judge’s decision striking down Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage, thus stopping a wave of such marriages across the state.

The Court’s order reinstates the state ban and will keep it intact until after a federal appeals court has ruled on it.

The order appeared to have the support of the full Court, since there were no noted dissents.

The ruling can be interpreted as an indication that the Court wants to have further exploration in lower courts of the basic constitutional question of state power to limit marriage to a man and a woman.

Had it refused the state’s request for delay, that would have at least left the impression that the Court was comfortable allowing same-sex marriages to go forward in the 33 states where they are still banned.

The Tenth Circuit of Appeals court has agreed to take up the issue on an expedited basis. State officials’ opening brief must be filed by Jan. 27. The response from attorneys for gay couples is due Feb. 18, and state officials have a chance to respond to that filing by Feb. 25.

We’re looking at months here, kids.

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Editorial of the day: “The tide has turned. Time for Utah to turn with it”

From the editors of the Salt Lake Tribune:

Same-sex attraction, far from being unnatural, has been around since the dawn of time, and in recent decades mainstream America has come to accept it as something other than deviant. The American Psychiatric Association has considered homosexuality a normal sexual variation, not a mental disorder, since 1973. The Supreme Court in 2003 made same-sex sexual activity legal in every state, and then last June the court took that step of saying same-sex couples have a due-process right to marry. Younger people by and large take a more libertarian view of same-sex relationships, and that is what has fueled the nation’s shift since Utah passed its ban in 2004.

There are 32 states with laws still in effect banning gay marriage, but only one state has passed such a law since 2006. Since that time seven state legislatures have passed laws to allow same-sex marriage, and three more states did so through popular vote. Court decisions have struck down the laws in another seven states, including Utah. One of those states is California, where state officials stopped defending their same-sex marriage ban when it became obvious where the future lies. Utah’s ban passed with 66 percent of voters approving it, but it’s a legitimate question whether it would pass today if another election were held. Even the LDS Church has gone from actively participating in the marriage wars to simply explaining its own beliefs and practices.

The tide has turned. It’s time for Utah to turn with it.

(h/t JMG)

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Former Gov. Charlie Christ apologizes for supporting same-sex marriage ban in Florida

Charlie Crist has publicly apologized to LGBT people for his past opposition to marriage equality.

The former Republican governor of Florida, who is now running for the same post as a Democrat, courted gay voters in an interview with Tom Dyer of Watermark, a Florida-based LGBT publication.   This is Crist’s first ever interview with a gay media outlet.

In his remarks, Crist expressed regret his past support of Amendment 2, which changed Florida’s state constitution to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions through a 2008 referendum.

“I’m sorry,” the 57-year-old politician told reporter Tom Dyer. “I’m sorry I did that. It was a mistake. I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

The examples you cited were examples of me trying to be a good Republican. I couldn’t do it anymore, and I’m sorry I did.

“I made a mistake. I’m not perfect… please don’t hold me to that standard. And I’m sincerely sorry. I understand when it’s necessary to say I was wrong. That‘s the journey I’m on… and I’m still on it.

One of the few interviews I’ve seen in recent history where the journalist actually follows up on questions and hold his subject accountable. During the interview, Tom stays on Crist’s pivots regarding LGBT equality and even mentions that for all Crist’s great soundbites today, his campaign website mentions nothing about the LGBT community and what his goals might be for our community.

Head over to Watermark for the entire interview. Really worth reading.

(source)