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GovTrack gives GOP anti-gay marriage Constitutional amendment zero chance of passing
Michigan: Equal protection lawsuit moves forward after DOMA repeal
An equal protections lawsuit that challenges Michigan’s ant-gay marriage law will move forward in the aftermath of the repeal of DOMA:
“Plaintiffs’ equal protection claim has sufficient merit to proceed.
“The United States Supreme Court’s recent decision in United States v. Windsor, No. 12-307 (U.S. Jun. 26, 2013), has provided the requisite precedential fodder for both parties to this litigation. plaintiffs are prepared to claim Windsor as their own.
“And why shouldn’t they? The Supreme Court has just invalidated a federal statute on equal protection grounds because it “place[d] same-sex couples in an unstable position of being in a second-tier marriage.” Id. slip op. at 23.
“Moreover, and of particular importance to this case, the justices expressed concern that the natural consequence of such discriminatory legislation would not only lead to the relegation of same-sex relationships to a form of second-tier status, but impair the rights of “tens of thousands of children now being raised by same-sex couples” as well. Id. This is exactly the type of harm plaintiffs seek to remedy in this case.”
Out PA lawmaker Brian Sims talks about his plans for marriage equality in his state
Out (and totally woofy) gay Pennsylvania state Representative Brian Sims, along with fellow Representative Steve Carter, sat down on Sunday to discuss their plans to introduce legislation in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that would make same-sex marriage legal in the Keystone State.
Asked about his motivation to act, Rep. Sims stated,
“I was lucky enough to be born into a country that says I won’t be treated any differently under the law based on anyone’s selective interpretation of their own faith. Right now there are upwards of a million LGBT Pennsylvanians that are being treated differently under that law than similarly situated LGBT New Yorkers or Californians and that’s a huge problem. And the moment they cross into Pennsylvania do they lose the thousand or so federal rights just attached to them? And if that’s the case, where are we at right now in our government that people lose rights by crossing a border?”
(via YouTube)
Neil Patrick Harris to marry David Burtka
Neil Patrick Harris says that he’s finally ready to put a ring on it and make an honest man out of his fiancé David Burtka.
The couple have been engaged now for seven years and had twins Harper and Gideon via surrogate in 2010. With DOMA now dead, and same-sex weddings back online in California, the couple is planning their very own, though no date is set as yet.
“Certainly, we have children and marriage is an appropriate thing to do [as] a part of their well being, so I’m sure it will be inevitable—and awesome!” Harris told E! News over the weekend. “We’re about to move to New York so it’s a tricky situation. I don’t know if it would be an east coast or west coast thing.”
“I’m not one who jumps around and cheers and screams because I thought that was inevitable and was going to happen,” he told E!. “It’s logical. If you look at public opinion polls, everyone, the majority of people, are very for people that fall in love with each other being able to own that.”
(via Queerty)
29 GOP Congressmen propose anti-gay marriage amendment to US Constitution
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| Rep. Tim Huelskamp |
Representative Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) and 28 other House Republicans have introduced a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage nationwide.
The proposed “Marriage Protection Amendment” to the U.S. Constitution would read, “Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.”
The amendment needs to be approved by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate before being ratified by three-fourths of states.
And so, it will go no where…
(via Raw Story)
Rachel Maddow slaps down Jim DeMint’s anti-gay marriage argument in 40 seconds
From yesterday’s MEET THE PRESS.
I love that Rachel Maddow did not let Jim DeMint’s lies about children of gay couples stand. And that she did so forcefully.
Saturday morning music: “Wedding Bell Blues” by the Fifth Dimension
What a perfect little ditty for this morning…
Happy weekend, kids!
Prop 8 plaintiffs get married in California
Proposition 8 plaintiffs Kris Perry and Sandy Stier were married in an ceremony officiated by Attorney General Kamala Harris on the mayor’s balcony at City Hall in San Francisco at approximately 4:45 yesterday afternoon.
And at 6:15pm, Paul Katami and Jeff Zarillo were married at L.A. City Hall in an emotional ceremony officiated by L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
(all photos via AFER)
California moves fast – same-sex marriage can begin immediately
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has dissolved a stay on Judge Walker’s injunction in California and gay and lesbian couples can begin marrying immediately.
From the AP:
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a brief order Friday saying it’s lifting the stay it imposed while a lawsuit challenging California’s gay marriage ban worked its way through the courts.
That means same-sex marriages can resume in the state for the first time since 2008.
Here’s the celebration statement from the Human Rights Campaign:
“After four and a half long and painful years, justice for committed gay and lesbian couples has finally been delivered. In California, a time of struggle and indignity are over, and love, justice and freedom begin anew. And now, no election, no judge – no one – can take this basic right away. At long last, marriage has finally returned to the most populous state in the nation.
“Kris Perry and Sandy Stier’s twin sons were just starting high school when their moms’ right to marry was taken away, now, as they prepare to start college, they will finally see their family recognized in the eyes of their state and their country. Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, now free to marry, can finally plan the family they’ve always wanted. Thousands upon thousands of lives are about to change for the better, for good. And young LGBT people across the Golden State will can today look forward to a future where they are truly and fully equal.
“Today is a day of profound celebration, but tomorrow – and every day from here on out – we will fight until joy, dignity, and full equality in all its forms reach each and every corner of this vast country.”
Rick Santorum can’t see the direction of history
As little Ricky marches to irrelevance…
Rick Santorum thinks the tide of marriage equality can still be turned back, and that the Supreme Court ruling overturning DOMA renders marriage in its current form “unconstitutional.”
But don’t worry. He’s wrong about things all the time. He’s used to it.
So, there.