Tag: same-sex marriage

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Pennsylvania: County clerk will issue marriage license to “any same-sex couple that requests one”

Pennslyvania County Register of Wills Bruce Hanes will issue marriage licenses to gay couples

Another front has opened in the battle over same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania. Montgomery County Register of Wills Bruce Hanes said Tuesday that he will issue marriage licenses to any same-sex couple that requests one.

“Based upon the advice of [my solicitor], my own analysis of the law and mindful of the Attorney General’s belief that Pennsylvania’s marriage laws are unconstitutional, I decided to come down on the right side of history and the law, and was prepared to issue a license,” to a same-sex couple that had contacted him, Hanes said in a press release.

No state or county official can stop Hanes without legal action; in his role as the official in charge of issuing marriage licenses, he answers only to the court system.

Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced this month that she will not defend the state’s ban on same-sex marriages, which is being challenged in court by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Read more at PoliticsPA.

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Marriage News Watch – July 22, 2013

This week’s headlines:

  • Marriage equality is the law of the land throughout California, with at least one county setting a marriage license record.
  • House Republicans will stop defending federal bans on recognizing LGBT couples.
  • There’s a new lawsuit in Arkansas and strong new polls in Virginia and New Jersey.
  • Marriage equality spreads to England, Wales and Colombia.
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California Supreme Court says ‘no’ AGAIN to stopping same-sex marriage

You might think there’s going to be some “tone” the next time someone challenges marriage equality at the state supreme court level in California. The state justices seem to have had enough of the dumb questions.

For the second time this month, the CA Supreme Court said “no” to stopping marriage licenses from being issued to same-sex couples.

From SCOTUSblog:

For the second time in the past eight days, the California Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to order county clerks across the state to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. In a brief order, without a noted dissent, the state court turned down a plea by the clerk of San Diego County to halt all such licensing until the legal status of the “Proposition 8″ ban is further clarified.

The state court is still considering two pleas to keep “Proposition 8″ intact throughout most if not all of California, on the theory that it remains binding in the state despite a federal judge’s 2010 decision striking it down in the case of two same-sex couples. One of those challenges is by the sponsors of the ballot measure, the other by the San Diego County clerk. State officials and the clerks of 20 other California counties are resisting those requests.

Just to be clear, folks – the good guys won. Equality is the law.  Now sit down or go to your corner and sulk, but STOP MAKING ASSES OF YOURSELVES.

You lost.

Forward.

California Supreme Court denies attempt by anti-gay haters to stop marriage licenses from being issued
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New Mexico Attorney General will not defend state in marriage equality lawsuit

New Mexico Attorney General Gary King

New Mexico Attorney General Gary King yesterday told the state Supreme Court that he will not defend the state against a lawsuit calling for the legalization of same-sex marriage saying the current prohibition on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

In written arguments filed with the court, King said the justices should invalidate the state’s ban on gay marriage if they agree to resolve the issue in a lawsuit filed by two Santa Fe men who were denied a marriage license.

King, a Democrat who plans to run for governor next year against Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, said New Mexico law effectively doesn’t allow gay marriages although there’s no statutory provision that specifically prohibits, or authorizes, gay couples to be married. “New Mexico’s guarantee of equal protection to its citizens demands that same-sex couples be permitted to enjoy the benefits of marriage in the same way and to the same extent as other New Mexico citizens,” King said in the filing.

The state Supreme Court had asked King to respond to the lawsuit, but in yesterday’s response, King also said the couple’s case should be rejected because it had improperly bypassed lower courts and would set a precedent for direct actions to the high court.

Earlier this month the ACLU and the National Center for Lesbian Rights also filed a lawsuit on behalf of six gay couples asking the state Supreme Court to clarify whether same-sex couples can marry in New Mexico.

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Jesse Tyler Ferguson gets married to longtime bf

Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson got married in NYC  yesterday.  Congratulations to the happy couple!

According to US Weekly:

“Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita tied the knot yesterday in downtown New York City,” the rep said. “Tony Kushner officiated the ceremony.”

The pair, feted by over 200 guests, including Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi, Julie Bowen, Ty Burell, Jerry O’ Connell, Rebecca Romijn, Zachary Quinto, Isaac Mizrahi and husband, Arnold Germer, Nigel Barker, Cat Deely, Mary Murphy, Tyce Diorio, and Eric Stonestreet, celebrated their nuptials at the 82 Mercer space and the afterparty at the Crosby Street Hotel, which was organized by planner, Bryan Rafanelli.

Later that night, Ferguson sent out one last tweet on his wedding day:

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DVD: “Cloudburst”

Thom Fitzgerald (The Hanging Garden) directs Oscar-winners Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker in his critically acclaimed lesbian road movie, Cloudburst.

Dukakis and Fricker star as a long-term lesbian couple who escape from the nursing home to road trip from Maine to Nova Scotia to get legally married.

With a latter-day Thelma and Louise vibe,  they pick up a handsome gay male hitchhiker and encounter various other complications on their way to what viewers hope is a happy ending.

The film, which slowly made its way through the festival circuit last year to broad international acclaim, finally has a U.S. release date; Cloudburst will be available on digital platforms on Tuesday, and on DVD July 30 from lesbian-owned distributor Wolfe Video.

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British Prime Minister David Cameron cheers marriage equality passage

“I am proud that we have made same-sex marriage happen. I am delighted that the love two people have for each other — and the commitment they want to make — can now be recognised as equal. I have backed this reform because I believe in commitment, responsibility and family. I don’t want to see people’s love divided by law.

“I also want to acknowledge those that worked to bring about this moment: the campaigners, groups such as Out4Marriage and Freedom to Marry, and the team in the Civil Service and Parliament who worked to deliver it.

“The UK is rated as the best place in Europe for LGBT equality — but we cannot be complacent. There are subjects we must continue to tackle: not least taking a zero-tolerance approach to homophobic bullying, and caring for elderly members of the LGBT community.

“Rest assured, this Government will work tirelessly to make sure this happens.” – British Prime Minister David Cameron, writing for the Standard.

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Good marriage equality news from Virginia

From a new poll by Quinnipiac:

Virginia voters support 50 – 43 percent allowing same-sex couples to marry in the state.

Support is 68 – 26 percent among Democrats and 52 – 39 percent among independent voters.

Republicans are opposed 68 – 26 percent.

Women back same-sex marriage 55 – 39 percent while men are opposed 49 – 43 percent.

White voters support it 51 – 43 percent while black voters are opposed 48 – 42 percent.

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$2 million marriage equality campaign launched in Illinois

Marriage equality advocates are moving forward with the launch of a new $2 million statewide campaign, the AP reports:

In a statement Tuesday, the group says it will place 15 field organizers throughout the state to engage supporters. They plan to target legislators who oppose a measure to lift Illinois’ ban on same-sex marriage.

The Illinois Senate passed the bill in February. It wasn’t called for a vote in the House because the bill’s sponsor said it didn’t have the votes to pass.

It’s possible the state legislators may address the issue again this fall.