Tag: same-sex marriage

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North Carolina: Crowd Goes Wild As Gay Couple Renew Marriage Vows At Edward Sharpe Concert

Rather than cancel their scheduled concert in North Carolina, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros took a different approach to protesting North Carolina’s HB 2,

Frontman Alex Ebert told the crowd of 2,500 that although he had to miss his friends’ wedding, wouldn’t it be a good idea if he could help them renew those vows in front of the audience?

He then invited those friends, Dan Mathews and Jack Ryan, on stage to do just that.

And the crowd goes wild!

Ebert told Rolling Stone,  “HB2 was passed by an immoral minority – North Carolina has many thriving, creative, modern communities. We were tempted to cancel the show, but decided at the last minute to rally the crowd instead by renewing the vows of our good friends onstage.”

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Mexico’s President Denounces Homophobia, Backs Nationwide Marriage Equality

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, in observation of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, signed initiatives that would seek to add same-sex marriage provisions to Mexico’s constitution and the national civil code.

President Enrique Pena Nieto proposed Tuesday to legalize same-sex marriage in Mexico, a move that would enshrine on a national level a Supreme Court ruling last year that it was unconstitutional for states to bar such couples from wedding.

Pena Nieto said he would seek to reform Article 4 of the constitution to clearly reflect the Supreme Court opinion “to recognize as a human right that people can enter into marriage without any kind of discrimination.”

“That is, for marriages to be carried out without discrimination on the basis of ethnicity or nationality, of disabilities, of social or health conditions, of religion, of gender or sexual preference,” he added.

Pena Nieto’s Twitter page and other government Twitter accounts were turned to include the rainbow colors as he made the announcement.

Although same-sex marriage is recognized in all 31 Mexican states, only 8 states have passed legislation which allows couples to marry locally.

The Mexican president’s Twitter feed was full of posts regarding today’s actions.

Worldwide, same-sex marriage is currently legal in the Netherlands (2001), Belgium (2003), Canada (2003-2005), Spain (2005), South Africa (2006), Norway (2009), Sweden (2009), Argentina (2010), Iceland (2010), Portugal (2010), Mexico (2010-2016; see section below), Denmark (2012) + Greenland (2016) + Faroe Islands (2016), France (2013), Brazil (2013), Uruguay (2013), New Zealand (2013), England and Wales (2014) + Scotland (2014), Luxembourg (2015), the United States of America (starting with Massachusetts in 2004 and growing to 37 states before the 2015 Supreme Court nationwide ruling), Ireland (2015), Colombia (2016), and Finland (starting in 2017).

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Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore Suspended, Facing Removal From Office – Again

For the second time in his career, virulently anti-LGBT Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore has had ethics charges filed against him via the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission.

This time the charges relate to orders he issued in the wake of the historic ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on same-sex marriage. Chief Justice Moore instructed the state’s probate judges that they had a “ministerial duty” to continue enforcement of the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

From the New York Times:

As a result of the charges, Chief Justice Moore, 69, has been immediately suspended from the bench and is facing a potential hearing before the state’s Court of the Judiciary, a panel of judges, lawyers and other appointees. Among possible outcomes at such a hearing would be his removal from office.

“We intend to fight this agenda vigorously and expect to prevail,” Chief Justice Moore said in a statement, saying that the Judicial Inquiry Commission, which filed the complaint, had no authority over the charges at issue.

Referring to a transgender activist in Alabama, Chief Justice Moore said the commission had “chosen to listen to people like Ambrosia Starling, a professed transvestite, and other gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals, as well as organizations which support their agenda.”

It is the second complaint lodged by the state’s Judicial Inquiry Commission against the judge. In 2003, he was ousted by the same body from his position as chief justice after disobeying a federal court order to remove a two-ton monument of the Ten Commandments that he had installed in the rotunda of the state judicial building.

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Colorado Supreme Court Upholds Ruling Against Anti-Gay Masterpiece Cakeshop

The haters lose yet again as the Colorado Springs Supreme Court upheld an appellate court ruling that held the Masterpiece Cakeshop violated state public accommodation laws when the bakery refused to sell a same-sex couple a cake for a private wedding ceremony.

From the ACLU:

“The highest court in Colorado today affirmed that no one should be turned away from a public-facing business because of who they are or who they love,” said Ria Tabacco Mar, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union’s LGBT Project, who argued the case. “We all have a right to our personal beliefs, but we do not have a right to impose those beliefs on others and harm them. We hope today’s win will serve as a lesson for others that equality and fairness should be our guiding principles and that discrimination has no place at the table, or the bakery as the case may be.”

In 2012, Colorado residents David Mullins and Charlie Craig, along with Charlie’s mother Deborah Munn, visited Masterpiece Cakeshop to order a wedding cake. Mullins and Craig planned to marry in Massachusetts and then celebrate with family and friends back home. Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips informed the couple that, because of his religious beliefs, it was his standard business practice to refuse to provide cakes to customers for same-sex weddings. Phillips has turned away several other couples for the same reason.

Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act prohibits businesses, such as Masterpiece Cakeshop, from refusing service based on factors including race, sex, national origin, or sexual orientation. The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Colorado filed suit on behalf of Mullins and Craig in 2013. In December 2013, an administrative judge ruled that the bakery had illegally discriminated against the couple. In 2014, the Colorado Civil Rights Commission affirmed that ruling. Masterpiece Cakeshop appealed. In a unanimous decision issued on August 15, 2015, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that the bakery unlawfully discriminated against David Mullins and Charlie Craig by refusing to sell them a cake for their wedding reception.

When businesses and other institutions that serve the public have sought exemptions to laws barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the courts have held that businesses are required to comply with anti-discrimination laws. The courts have ruled without regard to whether LGBT people could have obtained the goods or service elsewhere. Instead the courts have recognized the harm to equal opportunity if lesbian and gay people can be turned away from businesses otherwise open to the public because of who they are.

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Former U.S. Senator Harris Wofford Shares Late Life Love Story As He Prepares To Marry At 90

Former U.S. Senator Harris Wofford of Pennsylvania has penned an essay for the New York Times as he prepares to marry his partner of 15 years, Matthew Charlton.

Married for 48 years to his wife (who passed away from cancer), Wofford was surprised to find love a second time with Charlton, who is 50 years younger. The two met in Florida 15 years ago and have been together ever since.

The essay is truly a must-read. Wofford writes with clarity of the deep, rich bond he shared with his wife, as well as the joy of his upcoming nuptials.

From Wofford’s column:

It was afternoon, and the tanning beachgoers faced west, toward the wall of concrete buildings lining the boulevard, to catch the sun, ignoring the beautiful sea. I swam alone in the water, attracting the attention of two bystanders near the shore. They came over to say hello, which is how I met Matthew Charlton.

As we talked, I was struck by Matthew’s inquisitive and thoughtful manner and his charm. I knew he was somebody I would enjoy getting to know. We were decades apart in age with far different professional interests, yet we clicked.

I admired Matthew’s adventurous 25-year-old spirit. When he told me that I was “young at heart,” I liked the idea, until I saw a picture of him on a snowboard upside down executing a daring back flip. The Jackson Hole newspaper carried the caption, “Charlton landed the jump without mishap.”

We took trips around the country and later to Europe together, becoming great friends. We both felt the immediate spark, and as time went on, we realized that our bond had grown into love. Other than with Clare, I had never felt love blossom this way before.

It was three years before I got the nerve to tell my sons and daughter about Matthew. I brought a scrapbook of photographs, showing Matthew and me on our travels, to a large family wedding. It was not the direct discussion the subject deserved. Yet over time my children have welcomed Matthew as a member of the family, while Matthew’s parents have accepted me warmly.

[snip]

Twice in my life, I’ve felt the pull of such passionate preference. At age 90, I am lucky to be in an era where the Supreme Court has strengthened what President Obama calls “the dignity of marriage” by recognizing that matrimony is not based on anyone’s sexual nature, choices or dreams. It is based on love.

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President Obama: My Children Helped Me ‘Evolve’ On Marriage Equality

Speaking to a group of 500 young leaders in London today, President Obama was asked which social activist campaigns had changed his mind while in office.

Answering the question, Obama spoke to his “evolution” on marriage equality (text via Towleroad):

“In the United States what has been remarkable is the rapidity with which the marriage equality movement changed the political landscape and hearts and minds and resulted in actual changes in law. It’s probably been the fastest set of changes that, in terms of the social movement, that I’ve seen. On issues of LGBT rights generally I didnt need a lot of pressure. I came in working on ending a policy called Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell that was preventing LGBT citizens from serving in our military openly. We did that very systematically. Policies in terms of those who had HIV AIDS being able to emigrate to our country, hospital visitations, there were a whole host of things that we were already doing.

“But on marriage equality I was in favor of what’s called civil unions. My notion was initially that labeling those partnerships as marriage wasn’t necessary as long as people were getting the same rights and it would disentangle them from some of the religious connotations that marriage had in the minds of a lot of Americans.

“And that’s where I think…I have to confess that my children generally had an impact on me. People I loved who were in monogamous same-sex relationships explained to me what I should have understood earlier. Which is it was not simply about legal rights but about a sense of stigma – that if you’re calling it something different it means less in the eyes of society. I believe that the manner in which the LGBT community described marriage equality as not some radical thing but actually reached out to people who said they care about family values and said ‘if you care about everything that families provide – stability and commitment and partnership – then this is actually a pretty conservative position to take, that you should be in favor of this.’ I thought there was a lot of smarts in reaching out and building and framing the issue in a way that could bring in people who initially didn’t agree with them.”

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GMA: Ted Cruz Side-Steps Question On Same-Sex Marriage

GOP White House hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz was asked a question this morning on Good Morning America by a gay Republican businessman concerned about so-called “religious freedom” laws and Cruz’s support for a constitutional amendment to overturn same-sex marriage in the United States.

It will come as no surprise that Cruz stealthily side-stepped what the gentleman was asking and instead talks on how “religious freedom” in the Constitution “protects everybody.”

Even though hosts Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos circle back to the center of the question, Cruz never really addresses the issue.

The moment feels like everyone is being a bit “polite” – the question gets posed but no one really goes to the heart of the matter. Watch below from ABC:

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Kentucky Governor Signs Law Removing County Clerk’s Signature From Marriage Licenses

This past Wednesday, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin signed into law a bill that removes county clerks’ names from the state marriage license.

You’ll recall the long drawn-out story from last year of County Clerk Kim Davis who refused to sign any marriage licenses for same-sex couples after the historic ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on marriage equality.

From Reuters:

Senate Bill 216, signed by Republican Governor Matt Bevin, also creates a single form that either heterosexual or same-sex couples can use. Applicants can choose between being called bride, groom or spouse.

“We now have a single form that accommodates all concerns. Everyone benefits from this common sense legislation,” Bevin said in an emailed statement. “There is no additional cost or work required by our county clerks. They are now able to fully follow the law without being forced to compromise their religious liberty.”

Michael Aldridge, executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, issued a statement saying he welcomes the move which creates a uniform license for everyone in the state.

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John Kasich: Marriage Equality Is Settled Law, Move On

During last night’s town hall with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, GOP presidential candidate Gov. John Kasich said that while he believes in “traditional” marriage, he considers the issue of same-sex marriage settled law.

From NBC News:

“There could be an effort to pass a Constitutional Amendment. I’m not for doing it. I’m for moving on,” the Republican presidential hopeful said Thursday in a town hall airing on MSNBC. “Exactly where it is now, I’m fine with it,” he said when asked if there are any laws that should be changed to address the issue.

In a landmark decision last year, the Supreme Court ruled same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. Many in the once crowded Republican presidential field opposed the ruling, and while Kasich affirmed he believes marriage should remain between a man and woman, he told Matthews that everyone should be “a bit more tolerant.”

The Ohio governor often talks about how he recently attended a friend’s same-sex marriage ceremony. “I don’t think it’s right and the wedding that I went to, they know that I don’t agree with them,” Kasich said. Asked by Matthews what gay couples who love each other should do, Kasich said: “They should love one another. That’s the end of it.”