Tag: same-sex marriage

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France: President Hollande signs marriage equality into law

Francois Hollande signed a bill on Friday legalizing such nuptials.

The Constitutional Council affirmed Hollande’s signing and the bill is now law.  The new legislation  will take effect on May 29.  France becomes the 14th nation to legalize marriage equality.

Leading up to Hollande’s signing, violent demonstrations for and against marriage equality rocked the country.  Anti-gay protesters have another protest against marriage equality planned for May 26.

LGBT people were also routinely attacked during the weeks leading up to the votes in the French legislature.

(source)

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France clears final hurdle in legalizing marriage equality


After months of sometimes violent street demonstrations,  France’s Constitutional Council gave the go-ahead to a law that will make France the 14th country to legalize same-sex marriage, in line with an election promise by Socialist President Francois Hollande.

“The law allowing same-sex marriage conforms with the constitution,” the council said in a statement.

The first gay weddings could take place as early as June, although some mayors across the country have refused to administer the ceremonies.

France, a predominantly Catholic country, follows 13 others including Canada, Denmark, Sweden and most recently Uruguay and New Zealand in allowing gay and lesbian couples to wed.

In the United States, Washington D.C. and 12 states have legalized marriage equality.

(source)

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Brazil: Is marriage equality settled?

Looks like the news out of Brazil yesterday that the country’s high court had effectively legalized marriage equality may not be the last word on the subject.

From the New York Times:

Brazil’s courts generally hew to the decisions of the National Council of Justice, which was created in 2004 and has functioned largely as a disciplinary body for the judiciary. But Congress could be another matter, as tensions simmer between Brazil’s legislative and judicial branches over the high court’s conviction of legislators involved in a vast vote-buying scandal.

Moreover, legislators who oppose same-sex marriage have recently grown more vocal in Congress. Marco Feliciano, a conservative evangelical preacher who now leads the lower house’s commission for human rights and minorities, has drawn criticism for comments that gay-rights activists call homophobic, but he has resisted pressure to step down from the post.

Same-sex marriage is already legal in 13 Brazilian states and in the capital federal district.

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Michigan: Marriage equality support over 56%

According to a new poll by The Detroit News and WDIV-TV Channel 4, 56.8 percent of Michigan voters now support the freedom to marry — up 12.5 percent from last year — while just 36.7 percent oppose it.

The support is in stark contrast to 2004, when Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

At least 65 percent favor some form of civil unions, but those are also banned by the state’s anti-gay constitutional amendment regarding marriage. The new poll shows 54 percent would be prepared to vote to repeal that ban.

A November poll similarly found that 56 percent support equality.

(source)

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Map: Updated view of US states with marriage equality

Twelve states plus the District of Columbia now allow same-sex marriages, including Rhode Island and Delaware, which approved their own measures this month. Colorado lawmakers this year also approved a civil union bill.

Iowa, the other Midwestern state to allow same-sex marriage, does so because of a state Supreme Court ruling.

Illinois could soon allow gay marriage as well. The state already allows civil unions and a measure passed the state Senate in February, but has stalled in the House. Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, called on lawmakers last week to approve the measure.

Thirty-three states now don’t allow gay marriage by either state law or constitutional amendment.

Click the image above for larger view.

(via Stateline)

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Minnesota: Gov. Mark Dayton signs marriage equality into law

From the Star Tribune reports:

“By your political courage, you join that pantheon of exceptional leaders who did something extraordinary,” Dayton said. “You changed the course of history for our state and our nation.”

Dayton signed the marriage measure at a historic outdoor ceremony, a day after the Senate and House passed the proposal….Dayton acknowledged that a difficult step has been taken, but called it a crucial moment for equality.

“Progress has often been difficult, controversial and, initially, divisive,” Dayton said. “However, it has always been the next step ahead to fulfilling this country’s promise to every American.”

The ceremony kicked off a parade that took supporters to a massive downtown St. Paul celebration. The parade route in was lined with rainbow flags for the event.

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Arizona: 55% support marriage equality

In a new poll by Rocky Mountain Poll, 55% of Arizonans support the right of same-sex couples to legally marry versus 35% who are opposed.

Arizona currently does not allow same-sex marriage as a state constitutional amendment was passed in 2008 limiting marriage rights to only heterosexual couples.

Peruse all the findings of the poll by clicking here.

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Gallup poll: 53% of Americans support marriage equality

Gallup released the results of it’s latest poll concerning the support of marriage equality in the US.

From the poll:

Gallup’s May 2-7 poll suggests Americans’ support for gay marriage is solidifying above the majority level.

Recently, Rhode Island and Delaware legalized same-sex marriage, and Minnesota is likely to follow suit. That would bring the total number of states legally recognizing same-sex marriage to 12.

Just three years ago, support for gay marriage was 44%. The current 53% level of support is essentially double the 27% in Gallup’s initial measurement on gay marriage, in 1996.

 Read more on the poll here.

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Illinois: Gov. Quinn says it’s time to vote on marriage equality

Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois tells reporters “it’s time to vote”:

“Illinois passing marriage equality into law, I think, sends a great signal to the people of our state and the people of America,” Quinn told reporters after appearing at a ceremony in Springfield honoring firefighters. “So, it’s important that Illinois and the House of Representatives get moving.

“I believe a majority exists to get this bill passed through the House onto my desk so I can sign it into law.”

“I think, you know, it’s time to vote,” Quinn said. “We’ve waited now three months, and it’s, I think, plenty of time for people to reflect on it. And now it’s time to pass it.”