Jake and Allen, married couple from Illinois, share their experience with signing up for Obamacare.
(h/t JMG)
Illinois: Married Gay Couple Featured In Obamacare Ad
Tiffany & Co. Feature Gay Couple In New Ad
Tiffany & Co. debuted a new ad featuring a same-sex couple — a very welcome first for the brand. The image is a sneak preview of Tiffany’s forthcoming “Will You” campaign, which “honors the idea that love knows no boundaries,” a representative told us today.
According to fashion/style website Refinery29, the handsome men in the ad are a real-life New York City couple.
The text of the ad reads:
“Will you promise to never stop completing my sentences or singing off-key, which I’m afraid you do often? And will you let today be the first sentence of one long story that never, ever ends?”
“Nowadays, the road to marriage is no longer linear, and true love can happen more than once with love stories coming in a variety of forms,” a Tiffany spokesperson told Elle.com. “The Tiffany engagement ring is the first sentence of the story that a couple will write together as they create a life that is deeply intimate and exceptional, which is the message we hope to convey through this campaign.”
Ninth Circuit Denies Idaho Governor’s Request For En Banc Review Of Marriage Equality Ruling
As Idina Menzel might say to Idaho Gov. Butch Otter: “Let it go.”
In the wake of same-sex marriage coming to Idaho due to a ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Gov. Otter asked the 9th to take another look at the case, this time by a larger panel of judges.
They said “no.”
Via press release from the National Center For Lesbian Rights:
On October 7, 2014, a panel of Ninth Circuit judges ruled 3-0 that Idaho’s and Nevada’s bans on the freedom to marry for same-sex couples violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection.
On October 9, 2014, the Supreme Court rejected a request by Idaho officials to stay the Ninth Circuit’s judgment, clearing the way for marriages to begin.
Same-sex couples began marrying in Idaho on Wednesday, October 15, 2014.
The Governor of Idaho asked for review of the panel decision by a larger panel of Ninth Circuit judges.
Today’s order denied that request.
The text of the ruling is as follows:
“The panel has voted to deny the petitions for rehearing en banc. The full court was advised of the petitions for rehearing en banc. A judge requested a vote on whether to rehear the matter en banc. The matter failed to receive a majority of the votes of the nonrecused active judges in favor of en banc reconsideration. Fed. R. App. P. 35. The petitions for rehearing en banc are denied.”
No Word From SCOTUS On Same-Sex Marriage Cases
No word from the US Supreme Court today on whether or not the high court will take up one of five same-sex marriage cases submitted for review.
In October, the justices turned down similar petitions in a series of other same-sex marriage cases, but many observers expected the court to announce action on the new set of petitions Friday because of a split that developed among federal appeals courts late last year
That divergence occurred in November when the Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit Court of Appeals found no federal constitutional right to same-sex marriage. That decision parted company with the 4th, 7th, 9th and 10th Circuits, all of which held there is such a right.
In October, SCOTUS chose not to review any cases because at that time all appellate courts were in agreement. Now, with the 6th Circuit, that’s not the situation.
The justices could decide to pick any or all of the cases, or none. OR – could choose to wait a while before making the decision.
The justices are looking at cases from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee and Louisiana.
Currently 36 states plus the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriage. Approximately 70% of Americans live in states with the freedom to marry.
Reporters At The 5th Circuit: Same-Sex Marriage Bans Likely To Be Struck Down
Judges Higginbotham & Graves are very skeptical of LA’s arguments in defense of the state’s same-sex marriage ban, likely to be struck down.
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) January 9, 2015
Breaking: MS and TX arguments remain, but after LA args, the 5th Circuit appears poised to strike down state same-sex marriages bans.
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) January 9, 2015
My prediction: #5thCircuit will strike down marriage bans 2-1 based on Higginbotham’s skepticism of state of Louisiana’s arguments.
— Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82) January 9, 2015
Notably, Higginbotham had no questions for @LambdaLegal‘s Camilla Taylor during her arguments, but really grilled attorney for state.
— Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82) January 9, 2015
Judge Higginbotham, the swing, seemed not only skeptical of Louisiana’s defense of same-sex marriage ban, but amused by it. #5thCircuit
— Emma Margolin (@EMargoNY) January 9, 2015
Judge Higginbotham is considered the “swing” vote on the three judge panel hearing oral arguments today on same-sex marriage.
UPDATE – After Mississippi oral arguments:
Same outcome likely for MS, where @kaplanrobbie argued for plaintiff same-sex couples. TX args remain.
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) January 9, 2015
Smith gave @kaplanrobbie hard time on #DOMA ruling, noting last line says decision only applies to already married SS couples.
— Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82) January 9, 2015
UPDATE – After Texas oral arguments:
TX was no different. If anything, Judge Higginbotham was getting a bit frustrated with Judge Smith’s constant focus on Baker.
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) January 9, 2015
The 5th Circuit, after 3 hours of args, appears poised to strike down LA, MS, & TX same-sex marriage bans. I expect a 2-1 vote.
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) January 9, 2015
It should be noted there’s no telling when a ruling could be forthcoming – the 7th Circuit took one week, the 6th Circuit took three months.
Texas, Louisiana & Mississippi Marriage Equality Cases At The 5th Circuit Court Today
In New Orleans, the 5th Circuit federal appellate court will hear oral arguments in the marriage equality cases from Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi today.
Oral arguments in each of those hearings will last for 30 minutes, and the Court will hear from DOMA lawyer Robbie Kaplan in the Mississippi case.
The three judge panel consists of James E. Graves Jr., Patrick E. Higginbotham (pictured) and Jerry E. Smith – who will be hearing the cases today.
Additionally, the US Supreme Court will be considering, in private chambers, whether to take up one, all or none of the same-sex marriage cases that we lost in the 6th Circuit Court.
Big day today, so stay tuned for updates.
Amazing Night In Florida As Same-Sex Marriage Begins
What a gorgeous night for marriage in Florida last evening as marriage equality finally came to the Sunshine State.
Lots of joy being shared by Equality Florida on Twitter, here’s just a few. Plus, a video from the first ceremonies to take place in Broward County compiled by the Miami Herald.
Big props to Joe Jervis for following the celebrations over JoeMyGod.
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| Midnight mass marriage ceremony in Palm Beach County Via Twitter. Click to enlarge. |
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| First same-sex marriages begin in Central Florida Via Twitter. |
And then there was the midnight wedding of Aaron Huntsman & William Lee Jones, who were the plaintiffs in the Monroe County/Key West lawsuit.
Jeb Bush Shares His Thoughts As Same-Sex Marriage Comes To Florida
While he weigh his options for a 2016 presidential run, former governor of Florida Jeb Bush tells the Miami Herald, on the day that marriage equality comes to the state, that same-sex marriage should have been a “local decision:”
“It ought be a local decision. I mean, a state decision,” the former governor said Sunday in a brief interview. “The state decided. The people of the state decided. But it’s been overturned by the courts, I guess.”
UPDATE: Speaking to the New York Times today, Bush elaborated further regarding his thoughts on same-sex marriage in Florida:
“We live in a democracy, and regardless of our disagreements, we have to respect the rule of law,” he said. “I hope that we can show respect for the good people on all sides of the gay and lesbian marriage issue — including couples making lifetime commitments to each other who are seeking greater legal protections and those of us who believe marriage is a sacrament and want to safeguard religious liberty.”
First Same-Sex Marriages In Florida!
From the Twitter account of Ari Odzer, reporter for NBC6 in Miami:
First gay marriage in Florida just happened. @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/o3pQXQVlGk
— Ari Odzer (@ariodzernbc6) January 5, 2015
Jeff and Todd Delmay become Florida’s second gay married couple. @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/Fnu7I9E827
— Ari Odzer (@ariodzernbc6) January 5, 2015
Texas Police Officers Support The Freedom To Marry
New PSA from Fort Worth, Texas police officers (my hometown!) in support of marriage equality.
From the clip description: Three police officers from Fort Worth, Texas talk about why they support the freedom to marry in Texas – and speak out on their support for their colleague Chris Gorrie, a detective who wants to someday marry his partner Justin.
“Texans believe in freedom and liberty, and part of that is being able to marry who you love. Chris should be able to marry whoever person he loves.”
The ad is airing across Texas this week in advance of a key federal appeals court hearing Friday.
From The Houston Chronicle:
The $100,000 TV buy will air Sunday and Monday, just days before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans is slated to hear arguments in a case challenging Texas’ constitutional ban on gay marriage.
“The aim is to show gay Americans are really completely integrated into the fabric of our society,” said Mark McKinnon, a former advisor to President George W. Bush and Texas chair of Southerners for the Freedom to Marry. He called the ads an “electronic blanket” to reinforce a recent wave court cases validating LGBT Americans right to marry in other states.
Learn more at www.texasformarriage.org and www.freedomtomarry.org.