same-sex marriage Archives

January 16, 2015August 20, 2019

US Attorney General Issues Statement On SCOTUS Decision To Hear Same-Sex Marriage Cases

Attorney General Eric Holder released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear four cases on same-sex marriage equality:

“After the Justice Department’s decision not to defend the constitutionality of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, the Supreme Court sent a powerful message that Americans in same-sex marriages are entitled to equal protection and equal treatment under the law. This landmark decision marked a historic step toward equality for all American families.

“The Supreme Court has announced that it will soon hear several cases raising core questions concerning the constitutionality of same-sex marriages. As these cases proceed, the Department of Justice will remain committed to ensuring that the benefits of marriage are available as broadly as possible. And we will keep striving to secure equal treatment for all members of society – regardless of sexual orientation.

“As such, we expect to file a ‘friend of the court’ brief in these cases that will urge the Supreme Court to make marriage equality a reality for all Americans. It is time for our nation to take another critical step forward to ensure the fundamental equality of all Americans – no matter who they are, where the come from, or whom they love.”

January 16, 2015August 20, 2019

US Supreme Court Will Take Up All Four 6th Circuit Same-Sex Marriage Rulings

SCOTUS has agreed to hear oral arguments from the four states in the 6th Circuit – Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio – on the right of same-sex marriage.

From Buzzfeed:

The two questions granted by the court for argument are: 1) “Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex?” and 2) “Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state?”

There will be 90 minutes of argument on the marriage question and 60 minutes of argument on the marriage recognition question, per the court’s order.

The review comes from a rulng on November 6, 2014, from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals which saw the first conflict between federal appellate courts having disagreed with 5 previous appeals courts (the 4th Circuit, 7th Circuit, 9th Circuit, and 10th Circuit courts of appeals) on the constitutional right to same-sex marriage.

In June of 2013, SCOTUS ruled that the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional, and in doing so struck down the main portion of the law keeping LGBTs from federal recognition of legal marriages.

The cases will be heard in April and by late June we should finally have a decision on the freedom to marry across the US.

Same-sex marriage is currently legal in 36 states plus the District of Columbia.

You can read the order below:

SCOTUS

all have struck down such bans on various grounds.

January 15, 2015August 20, 2019

Fox News To Host Marriage Equality Debate Between Ted Olson And Tony Perkins

Tune in this Sunday at 10AM ET.

Via press release:

Both sides in the same-sex marriage debate are looking to the Supreme Court as it decides whether or not to weigh in on the issue. The High Court is set to discuss cases from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, and decide whether to rule on petitions challenging state bans on same-sex marriage.

We’ll debate what has become a key social issue within the country, exclusively with Ted Olson, former Solicitor General who served as Co-Counsel for the plaintiffs in Virginia’s same-sex marriage case, and Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council.

January 15, 2015August 20, 2019

Federal Judge Orders Michigan To Recognize 300 Same-Sex Marriages

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that a federal judge has ordered the state of Michigan to recognize 300 same-sex marriages in Michigan today, calling them a “fundamental right.”

“In these circumstances, what the state has joined together, it may not put asunder.,” U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman said in his opinion.

U.S. Supreme Court could decide whether to hear MI same-sex marriage case

The 300 couples wed last March after a federal judge struck down the state’s ban on same sex marriage. The state has since refused to recognize them.

January 15, 2015August 20, 2019

Strong Support For Same-Sex Marriage In Ireland

A new poll by Red C shows support at 76 percent for marriage equality in Ireland ahead of the upcoming referendum on the issue this May.

From The Journal:

It shows that 81% of women and 72% of men polled supported marriage for same-sex couples. People aged 18 – 24 were most likely to support it, with support generally declining as the age of those polled increased.

The news has been welcomed by Ireland’s human rights watchdog, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. Its director, Mark Kelly, said that the poll ”is further evidence of the deep repository of goodwill amongst voters in Ireland towards full equality for same sex couples.”

Labour Party TD for Dublin North West and Co-Chair of Labour LGBT, John Lyons, also welcomed the poll.

“Today’s poll builds upon consecutive national polls which show consistent support to afford gay and lesbian couples the right to civil marriage,” he said.

January 14, 2015August 20, 2019

Jon Stewart Skewers Florida Same-Sex Marriage Haters

Now that same-sex marriage IS the law of the land in Florida, Jon Stewart of The Daily Show skewers those in the Sunshine State who stood in the way of marriage equality.

For example, regarding the county clerks who decided to cancel ALL courthouse weddings rather that be forced to marry same-sex couples, Stewart says this: “Yes we don’t want to cause ‘discriminations’ against county court employees who don’t feel like following the law. These people didn’t choose to be county clerks. They were born that way.”

As always, Stewart is as funny as he is on point. Check it out below:

The Daily Show
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January 12, 2015August 20, 2019

Federal Judge Rules South Dakota Same-Sex Marriage Ban Unconstitutional

Freedom To Marry has tweeted that U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier, a Clinton appointee, has ruled South Dakota’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

From the ruling:

“In Loving, the Supreme Court addressed a traditionally accepted definition of marriage that prohibited Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving from marrying.

“Because Virginia’s laws deprived that couple of their fundamental right to marriage, the Court struck down those laws.

“Little distinguishes this case from Loving. Plaintiffs have a fundamental right to marry. South Dakota law deprives them of that right solely because they are same-sex couples and without sufficient justification.”

The order is stayed pending probable appeal to 8th Circuit Court.

Stay tuned as more info becomes available.

Read the ruling below:

4:14-cv-04081 #50 by Equality Case Files

January 12, 2015August 20, 2019

No Word From SCOTUS Today On 6th Circuit Court Marriage Ruling

Today was the first day we might have heard something from the U.S. Supreme Court on whether the justices will take up one or all of the same-sex marriage cases from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

And – we got nothing.

The justices will consider – again – on Friday whether to hear Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and/or Tennessee marriage cases.

The justices did deny Louisiana same-sex couples’ request to skip over the appeals court and take their case directly, but that was rather expected.

January 12, 2015August 20, 2019

SCOTUS Says “No” To Louisiana Marriage Equality Review

The US Supreme Court rejected a request from same-sex couples to review a Louisiana decision against the freedom to marry today.

The decision not to hear the Louisiana case was not unexpected as gay rights advocates had sought to skip the regular judicial process by seeking Supreme Court review before the case had been decided by an appeals court. Gay rights advocates representing the Louisiana plaintiffs said in court papers there is a “pressing need” to resolve the issue once and for all.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, which has jurisdiction over the state of Louisiana, heard arguments in the case on Friday and has not yet ruled. The same court is also weighing challenges to bans in Texas and Mississippi.