Tag: same-sex marriage

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Supreme Court Justice Scalia: Same-sex marriage decision coming “Soon! Soon!”

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia spoke to a group of high school students at the University of Colorado on Wednesday, taking questions ranging from marijuana use to same-sex marriage.

When asked about the recent legislation that legalized marijuana use in the state, Scalia declined to give his opinion as he would then have to recuse himself should a case concerning the issue come before SCOTUS.

But he did add a little insight to his current frame of mind:

But he added, “the Constitution contains something called the Supremacy Clause,” which is the provision stating that federal laws trump state laws.

The justice was also asked when we’ll find out if the high court will take up the question of whether state same-sex marriage bans are constitutional.

“I know when, but I’m not going to tell you,” he reportedly replied, getting a big laugh from the audience. “Soon! Soon!” he added.

I’m hoping the passage means two things: that a marriage equality case will be taken up by SCOTUS and soon; and that Scalia keeps the “Supremacy Clause” in mind when he hears said marriage equality case.

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Denmark: 25 Years Ago Today

Eigel Axgil and Axel Axgil became the first couple in the world to enter into a same-sex civil union.
Photo – Francis Joseph Dean

On this day, October 1st, in 1989, the very first same-sex civil union took place in Denmark.

The legal name was “registered partnership.”

Sounds loving, doesn’t it? But it was the first step in a long journey.

At the time, Eigil Axgil said, “Be open, come out, keep fighting. This is the only way to move anything. If everyone comes out of the closet, then this will happen everywhere.”

Check out this site with lots of pics.

(h/t JMG)

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Prime Minister David Cameron: “If I Can Kiss My Wife In Public, I Don’t See Why You Can’t Kiss Your Husband”

In trying to ascertain whether David Cameron is more of a “modernizer” or “socially conservative” politician, openly gay host Evan Davis on Newsnight asked the UK Prime Minister about a few scenarios, like, were he to see two men kissing in a park would he consider that “sweet” or “inappropriate?”

Via Gay Star News:

‘No, that’s fine. I’ve been very clear about this and this is where I do, as it were, marry traditional and modern values,’ Cameron said.

‘I believe in the family, I believe in marriage and I think it’s such a great institution I think men should be able to marry each other and women should be able to marry each other.’

He added: ‘If I can kiss my wife in public I don’t see why you can’t kiss your husband in public.’

Watch below – check around the 10:00 mark.

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Marriage News Watch: September 29, 2014

From the American Foundation for Equal Rights: This is the week when the Supreme Court meets to decide whether to take a marriage case.

After meeting in conference on Monday, the Justices will announce their decision next week, on October 6th.

Currently, cases from Virginia, Indiana, Wyoming, Utah and Oklahoma are ready for consideration. The court could take one case, or several, or none at all.

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Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Supports Marriage Equality

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, the largest group of businesses in Broward County,  has approved a resolution in support of same-sex marriage.

“Marriage equality makes great business sense for our state and our community,” Dan Lindblade, president and CEO of the Chamber, said in a statement. He termed it “reform.”

With a membership of over 1,400, the pro-business group had good reason to support the freedom to marry.

From Lindblade: “Simplification of benefits administration, a competitive edge on hiring top talent, growing an already diverse and strong tourism marketplace, and protecting the strong economic engine related to gay and gay-friendly businesses are just a few reasons.”

(source)

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US Justice Department Will File Brief with SCOTUS in Support of Same-Sex Marriage

“I expect that the Justice Department will file a brief and the brief will be consistent with the positions that we have taken in the past in support of same-sex marriage. I can’t imagine that that would be — that we would take any other position in — while this president is in office, and certainly as long as I am attorney general, or anybody who is my successor.

“I think the country is ready for that. I think all the polls certainly show that. The reactions to the continuing number of court cases that have found same-sex marriage to be constitutionally mandated — the polls have shown that the American people, I think, are prepared to accept that.

“Now this has been a sea change. This is something that has happened, I think, relatively quickly. Part of it is generational. I talk to my kids, who seem, no problems with this, no issues with this at all.

“But I think it’s more than a generational change. I think that people who know folks who are gay, who are lesbian, and who are their friends, their coworkers, they see the moral side to this. Um, it’s a civil-rights issue. From my perspective, it is the civil-rights issue of our day — gay and lesbian equality.”

– Attorney General Eric Holder speaking with NBC News‘ Pete Williams

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Freedom To Marry: “It’s Time”

Beginning on Sunday, a new national television advertisement released by Freedom to Marry will begin airing on Sunday morning network news shows in Washington, D.C.

The 30-second spot, which will later be broadcast on cable news programs next week, declares, “It’s time” for the freedom to marry and tells the stories of same-sex couples and their families in 31 states who are harmed by the denial of the freedom to marry.

(via press release)

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Louisiana: State Judge Rules Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Unconstitutional

According to KLFY News in Layfayette, Louisiana, a state judge has ruled in favor of marriage equality saying the state’s current ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional on the basis that the law violates due process clause of 14th amendment, equal protection clause of 14th amendment, and the full faith and credit clause of the constitution.

From Freedom To Marry:

The case, In Re Costanza and Brewer, was filed in 2013 on behalf of Angela Marie Costanza and Chastity Shanelle Brewer, who are raising their 10-year-old son in Lafayette. The case sought respect for Angela and Chastity’s marriage license; since Louisiana did not respect their marriage, one mother was not permitted to legally adopt her son.

The ruling today grants the second-parent adoption and affirms that the Louisiana amendment violates the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment.

The ruling today comes just three weeks after U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman became the first federal judge since June 2013 to uphold marriage discrimination, when he ruled in Robicheaux v. Caldwell in favor of marriage discrimination in Louisiana. Judge Rubin’s order today is a swift rebuttal of the out-of-step decision in Robicheaux and is another demonstration that America – all of America – is ready for the freedom to marry.

This marks the 40th ruling in support of marriage equality since the SCOTUS ruling in Windsor in June of 2013.

Of course, you can expect today’s ruling to be appealed.