Tag: same-sex marriage

Posted on

Hawaii: House committees pass marriage equality bill onto the full House

After almost five full days of testimony from 5,182 citizens over 60 hours, the Hawaii House Judicial and Finance Committees have voted to pass the marriage equality bill currently being considered to the full House:

The committees added three amendments to the bill.

The first set the start date for December 2, 2013. The second removed section 572-C from the bill, which asserted parents’ rights and responsibilities including paternity, maternity, and parentage presumptions based on marriage. Lastly, the committee added religious protections similar to those included in Connecticut’s marriage equality law, protecting religious organizations from having to participate in the solemnization of a same-sex marriage.

The bill now advances to the House, where it is expected to pass, at least according to a whip count from two weeks ago.

Effective date has been changed to December 2, 2013. It now goes to the House floor for a second reading and full vote. If any amendments are introduced to the bill, House representatives will be given 48 hours to review those changes before a third and final vote on the floor.

(via Think Progress)

Posted on

Illinois House passes marriage equality 61-53

The Illinois House of Representatives finally took up marriage equality today and passed the bill 61-53.

Rep. Greg Harris, the chief sponsor of the marriage equality bill in the House, amended its language to change the date the legislation would go into effect, and to reiterate exemptions for private clubs that do not want to host marriages for same-sex couples. As a result, the Senate will have to approve the bill one final time, which they are prepared to do before the evening is over.

The law will then take effect June 1, 2014. Illinois will be the 15th state to legalize marriage for same-sex couples.  Hawaii could beat Illinois to the “alter” should that state’s bill pass this week.

Happy Dances for everyone!

(via Think Progress)

Posted on

Hawaii: State House begins 5th day of testimony on marriage equality

Hawaii's state House begins it's 5th day of testimony on marriage equality

And while Illinois House prepares to vote on marriage equality, the FIFTH day of public testimonies has begun in the Hawaii House, where anti-gay groups are continuing their “people’s filibuster” to run out the clock on the special legislative session by sending thousands of batshit crazy Bible-clutchers to speak.

Lawmakers have already heard from all 5,184 people who signed up, but they’re making their way through a second wave of people who missed their chance to speak the first time their numbers were called. After getting all the way to testifier #3,200 tonight — officials decided to recess and will continue the hearing tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10:30 a.m. with testifier #3,201. If possible, officials say they intend to complete decision making tomorrow. If they vote yes, it will advance the bill to the House floor for a second reading. If they vote no, it will kill the bill.

(from JMG)

Posted on

West Point Chapel to host first same-sex male wedding

West Point Chapel

Two graduates of West Point are set to become the first men to marry each other at the storied military academy.

Larry Choate III, class of 2009, will marry Daniel Lennox, class of 2007, on Saturday at the U.S. Military Academy’s Cadet Chapel. West Point hosted two same-sex weddings of women in late 2012, more than a year after New York legalized gay marriage. But this is the first time two men are being wed at West Point.

“It’s maybe one more barrier that’s pushed over a little bit, or maybe one more glass ceiling that’s shattered that makes it easier for the next couple,” Choate said Friday.

Choate, 27, said the landmark Gothic chapel at the Hudson Valley academy is a special place and it’s an honor to be wed there. He taught Sunday school at the chapel as a cadet and always thought of it as the place he would get married, if he could.

The pair did not know each other as cadets, but met later through a mutual friend.

Both men are out of the military. Lennox, a 28-year-old from Washington, D.C, is getting his master’s degree in business administration at Harvard University in Massachusetts. Choate, from Seattle, works at the business school there and is applying to Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

(source)

Posted on

President Obama supports marriage equality in Hawaii

The White House has released a statement expressing the president’s support for the passage of same-sex marriage in his home state.

A White House spokesman said Tuesday that Hawaii-born President Barack Obama would welcome a decision by the state Legislature to approve marriage equality:

“While the president does not weigh in on every measure being considered by state legislatures, he believes in treating everyone fairly and equally, with dignity and respect,” Shin Inouye, a White House representative, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “As he has said, his personal view is that it’s wrong to prevent couples who are in loving, committed relationships, and want to marry, from doing so.”

Should the legislation, having passed in the state Senate and now before the House, get the required votes, it would head to the desk of Gov. Abercrombie who has stated he intends to sign the bill into law. Marriage equality could begin as soon as November 18th.

(via Advocate)

Posted on

Third same-sex marriage in Oklahoma celebrated thanks to Native American ancestry

The third same-sex marriage has been celebrated in Oklahoma thanks to Native American ancestry.

Darren Black Bear, a member of the Arapaho Cheyenne tribe, married his partner of 9 years, Jason Pickel. They were married by Darren’s father, who marched in the civil rights marches with MLK Jr.

In Oklahoma, a marriage license is available from the Arapaho Cheyenne tribe as long as both people be of Native American descent and live within the tribe’s jurisdiction. Nowhere does it specify gender.

Oklahoma City’s KFOR has the story:

After dating for nine years, Darren Black Bear & Jason Pickel Wedding were able to get married because Darren is part of the Arapaho Cheyenne tribe.

The ceremony was held in a sacred place on sovereign land on Fort Reno Post Chapel.

The couple made their way down the aisle to Darren’s father, a minister who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement.

They exchanged vows, rings and then prayed for blessings from above.

While the couple was overjoyed, not everyone was celebrating.

“I find it kind of sad that this tribe is not willing to recognize what 75 percent of the voters of Oklahoma declared years ago, that marriage is a union between one man and one woman,” State Representative Sally Kern said, (R) District 84.

“Those of us who are Christians, who believe the Bible, are we going to have to give that up to satisfy the minority group that wants to redefine marriage,” Kern said.

The couple addressed the opposition.

“We heard some of the negativity but we have had far more support from people than anything else,” Pickel said.

He had advice for other couples who aren’t part of the tribe.

“I think they could go to another state, get married and spend their tax dollars there since Oklahoma doesn’t want same-sex marriage right now.”

Darren said he believes the Sooner State will one day legalize marriages like his.

“You just have to keep dreaming and hope that day will come,” he said.

Posted on

Hawaii: State Senate to vote on marriage equality – watch live

The capitol building in Hawaii

Popular thought is this vote is a done deal for the good guys, but it’s sometimes fascinating to watch history happen. I think it’s quite moving to be present when these steps forward in society happen.

The vote is expected to be in the realm of 21-4, but we never know what the real numbers will be here.

The real drama will be in House, although there are some reports that we have the necessary 26 votes there.

Posted on

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor officiated same-sex wedding at Supreme Court

The Associated Press is reporting that retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor officiated the wedding of a gay couple at the Supreme Court yesterday:
Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

The Associated Press is reporting that retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor officiated the wedding of a gay couple at the Supreme Court yesterday:

Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg says O’Connor presided over the private ceremony Tuesday in the court’s lawyers’ lounge for Jeffrey Trammell and Stuart Serkin of Washington.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg officiated at a weekend ceremony at the court in which two New Yorkers, including a former Ginsburg student at Columbia Law School, were married. Ginsburg has officiated at three same-sex weddings.