(UKPA) – 3 hours ago David Cameron is to face a mass petition opposing plans to launch a “hostile strike” on the traditional view of marriage, campaigners have said. Christian groups backed by former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey said they were sending 175,000 emails out this week inviting people to sign a petition opposing [...]
ANNAPOLIS — With a bill to legalize same-sex marriages clearing the Maryland House of Delegates, the legislation now moves to the Maryland Senate for likely approval and then on to Gov. Martin O’Malley for his signature. After courting the votes of a couple delegates initially opposed to the measure, House members voted 72-67 to pass [...]
AP Feb. 13, 2012: Spectators in the balcony applaud the passage of the same-sex marriage bill in the New Jersey State Senate in Trenton. Gov. Chris Christie later vetoed the bill. The same-sex marriage debate has exploded back onto the national stage in a matter of days, exposing sharp divisions within and between the parties [...]
TRENTON, N.J. — The intensive lobbying that helped coax majorities in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature to support a bill legalizing same-sex marriage this week is expected to continue while supporters work to overcome a promised veto by Gov. Chris Christie. The Assembly on Thursday followed the lead of the Senate and voted [...]
Maryland Gov. Martin O’ Malley (D) speaking before a joint bill committee hearing on same-sex marriage bills on Feb. 10, 2012 in Annapolis. (Mark Gail – THE WASHINGTON POST) A debate on the Maryland House floor Thursday will set the stage for what is likely to be a close vote on a bill that could [...]
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — In an unusual two-committee vote Tuesday evening, Maryland delegates grappled with several proposed amendments before voting 25-18 to send controversial same-sex marriage legislation to the full state House, where it could be debated as early as Wednesday. The 25 yes votes included the first in the state House by a Republican, Delegate [...]
By Robert J. Hume The New Jersey Legislature’s votes this week on same-sex marriage have become even more critical in light of recent judicial activity. Last week’s decision from a federal appeals court in California has all but foreclosed the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court will issue a broad decision favoring marriage equality anytime [...]
“We’ve got momentum on our side,” said Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network. Referring to George’s controversial suggestion that gay rights activists might become “like the Ku Klux Klan” toward Catholicism, Thayer said, “The shrill comments coming out of the Catholic leadership are indicative that they believe they’re losing.” George apologized for the [...]
“We’ve got momentum on our side,” said Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network. Referring to George’s controversial suggestion that gay rights activists might become “like the Ku Klux Klan” toward Catholicism, Thayer said, “The shrill comments coming out of the Catholic leadership are indicative that they believe they’re losing.” George apologized for the [...]
One of the first same-sex couples to marry in California is now becoming one of the first same-sex couples in the state to call it quits. Robin Tyler and Diane Olson, whose lawsuit led the California Supreme Court to throw out the state’s ban on same-sex marriage in 2008, filed for divorce in Los Angeles [...]
Del. Mike McDermott, an Eastern Shore Republican, suggested introducing the measure as a constitutional amendment, which would be decided directly by the voters. O’Malley urged lawmakers to pass the bill. “People have sent you here to make decisions for them,” he said. “It is best to step up and make the decision.” Opponents opened with [...]
Jeff Giard, right, holds up a rainbow flag in support of same-sex marriage on the corner of Third and E streets as traffic flows through Marysville, Calif. after a federal appeals court declared California’s same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Appeal-Democrat, Nate Chute) After a federal appeals court ruled Proposition 8 [...]
Olympia, WA, United States (AHN) – Washington state is poised to legalize same-sex marriage following passage of legislation in the state House, a victory for rights advocates who early this week celebrated a court ruling striking down California’s ban on gay marriage. The House voted 55-43 to approve the bill introduced less than a month [...]
By Nicole Neroulias SEATTLE | Wed Feb 8, 2012 7:22am EST SEATTLE (Reuters) – Gay marriage proponents in the Pacific Northwest cheered a U.S. court ruling on Tuesday that overturned a California ban on same-sex nuptials, in what they saw as boost to their cause a day before a key vote to legalize such unions [...]
Lloyd C. Blankfein, the chief of Goldman Sachs who has become a lightning rod for Wall Street critics, might seem an unlikely advocate for same-sex marriage. But his credentials — a public figure in a conservative industry — could make him a powerful voice for that cause. The Human Rights Campaign, a national organization that [...]
Legalizing same-sex marriage would generate as much as $88 million in additional wedding and tourism spending in Washington, according to a study by UCLA Law School’s Williams Institute. The institute, which studies issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity, based its estimate on census data, economic-impact figures and the experiences of other states that [...]
Commenting Is OpenComments are allowed for two weeks from the posted date.If you have something to say, say it now! Shame on the 21 who voted against equal civil rights and protections for all Washington citizens! jasonjdotbiz.wordpre… I’m not looking forward to what is likely to be an ugly Referendum campaign, but I am looking [...]
The measure now heads to the House, which is expected to approve it and could take action on it as early as next week. Gov. Chris Gregoire supports the measure and has said she will sign it into law, though opponents have promised to challenge it at the ballot with a referendum. Democratic Sen. Ed [...]
The executive director of Freedom to Marry, a long-running national advocacy group for same-sex marriage, might consider eating his own words as the Washington state Senate votes Wednesday on marriage equality. “If you start by asking for half a loaf, you will be down to crumbs pretty quickly,” attorney Evan Wolfson warned during a 2006 [...]
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The Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act advanced this week in Trenton, when the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee voted 8-4 in favor of it. Though it was an encouraging sign for supporters of the bill, Gov. Christie has vowed to veto any marriage equality bill that reaches his desk. Instead this week he [...]
AUGUSTA, Maine — Advocates of gay marriage submitted more than 105,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office on Thursday to begin what’s expected to be a long and passionate debate over the right to marry in Maine. Dozens of advocates packed the small State House Welcome Center to announce their intention to get a [...]
Gov. Martin O’Malley introduced legislation this week that would make same-sex marriage legal in Maryland. Same-sex marriage was debated in Annapolis last year, but it ended up stalling in the House of Delegates. This year, O’Malley said “momentum is growing” for same-sex marriage in Maryland, which has endorsements this month that include labor organizations AFL-CIO and [...]
(WXYZ) – Imagine not being allowed to adopt a child you had raised since birth. That is what some same-sex partners are facing. Michigan is among a handful of states that still offers no legal protections for gays and lesbians – and that can have major consequences for their children. 7 Action News Investigator Heather [...]
Enlarge image Same-Sex Marriage Push Wins Support of Mayors Glenna Gordon/Bloomberg John and Eufemio Torres brought three bags of rice to City Hall in Brooklyn on July 24 to celebrate their marriage. John and Eufemio Torres brought three bags of rice to City Hall in Brooklyn on July 24 to celebrate their marriage. Photographer: Glenna [...]
<!–<!–<!– Houston Mayor Annise Parker is among the co-chairs of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry. Jackie Yodashkin at Freedom to Marry sends along word that the group has now posted a list of 74 of the mayors who’ve signed its pledge in support of same-sex marriage, as well as the text of the pledge [...]
Same-sex marriage advocates want to have a family values conversation with Iowans. They launched a statewide “public education campaign” Wednesday aimed at moving the conversation about marriage rights out of the political arena and into family rooms and dens. The effort, called Why Marriage Matters, is led by One Iowa, which seeks civil rights for [...]
State Rep. Laura Pantelakos, D-Portsmouth, was ready to vote today to oppose a repeal of the state’s same-sex marriage law. The issue was not on the House calendar, but lawmakers expected to cast their votes, she said. But Republican House leaders have delayed the vote on gay marriage, House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt, R-Salem, said [...]
Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerAssemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer) speaks before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a file photo. By Reed Gusciora In recent months, Gov. Christie has been to four out of the six states that recognize same-sex marriage: Iowa, New Hampshire, New York and Massachusetts. Moreover, when he visits Washington, D.C., he is in a city [...]
Thumbs up … Hugh Jackman. Photo: Reuters THE actor Hugh Jackman, film critic David Stratton and Oscar-winning costume designer Lizzy Gardiner have thrown their celebrity clout behind the push to legalise same-sex marriage. The trio, each of which is married to a person of the opposite sex, have endorsed a statement by advocacy group Australian [...]
ED MURRAY/THE STAR-LEDGERStephen Sweeney and Chris Christie: A win-win for these two. Next month, the state Legislature will gather to repeat an exercise we saw in the waning days of the Corzine administration: Democrats will push a same-sex marriage bill that has no chance of becoming law. The reason it won’t become law is that [...]
The federal government plans to change the law to legally recognize the marriages of same-sex couples who came to Canada to wed, even if the laws of their home country do not, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said Friday. “I want to make it very clear that, in our government’s view, these marriages should be valid,” [...]
By Thandi Fletcher OTTAWA • The federal Justice Minister said Thursday he will clarify the law so that gay couples who travel to Canada to get married can return for a divorce. But the federal government, Rob Nicholson said, has no plans to reopen the debate on same-sex unions and the definition of marriage. “I [...]
Updated: Thu Jan. 12 2012 07:21:40 The Canadian Press HALIFAX Prime Minister Stephen Harper says the federal government has no intention of reopening the debate on same-sex marriage. Harper’s comments come after the Globe and Mail reported Thursday that his government has served notice that same-sex couples who came to Canada since 2004 to [...]
By Ian Ransom MELBOURNE | Wed Jan 11, 2012 4:27am EST MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Tennis great Margaret Court told Reuters on Wednesday she was sad her religious views were being used as fuel for a planned protest at next week’s Australian Open, but said she remained staunchly opposed to same-sex marriage. Activists are calling for [...]
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) – As lawmakers prepare to consider a measure to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington state, an Everett attorney on Monday filed an initiative seeking to clarify the definition of marriage. Stephen Pidgeon filed the initiative with the state secretary of state’s office on the first day of the legislative session. Pidgeon previously [...]
Democratic leaders in Trenton are expected to hold a news conference later Monday to reintroduce a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in New Jersey. The same-sex marriage measure failed two years ago when a key democrat in New Jersey abstained from voting. Right now, New Jersey does allow and recognize civil unions. Still, some say that’s [...]
Jan. 8 Daily News Editorial Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire intends to make same-sex marriage a major issue during this year’s legislative session, a move that may have caught many state residents by surprise since Washingtonians have been wrestling with the issue for quite some time and appeared to have reached a final decision just a [...]
DUBLIN, N.H. — Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum hosted a town hall meeting at the Dublin School on Friday afternoon, once again having to field questions about his far-right positions on social issues from students. The first question posed to Santorum focused on same-sex marriage and the rights of LGBT individuals. The issue has been [...]
“Don’t you have to make a positive argument that the law should be changed?” he asked the crowd. “You, the person who wants do this, tell me, what is the justification? What is the public purpose?” The comment elicited a chorus of answers, which Santorum tried to quiet. “We’re not shouting out here. Raise your [...]
Polk County District Judge Eliza Ovrom ordered the new birth certificate Wednesday as part of her ruling in a lawsuit brought by Melissa Gartner, 41, and Heather Gartner, 40. The Des Moines couple sued the state when the Iowa Department of Public Health refused in 2009 to list both names on the birth certificate of [...]
Olympia, WA, United States (AHN) – Washington could become the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage after Gov. Chris Gregoire’s announcement that she would introduce such legislation next week. Democrats have vowed to push for passage despite being a few votes short in the state Senate. In an emotional statement on Wednesday, Gregoire said she [...]
THE Labor MP who will introduce a bill to legalise same-sex marriage has promised to meet marriage equality advocates to formulate a strategy to give his proposals the greatest chance of success. Backbencher Stephen Jones’s pledge, on Melbourne gay radio station Joy FM, follows accusations from gay marriage advocates that Labor was setting the bill [...]
Adewale Kupoliyu 3 January 2012 opinion The raging controversy on same-sex marriage (SSM) may not easily fizzle-out any time soon, going by the sensitive nature of the issue. The Nigerian Senate recently passed the Same-Sex (Prohibited) Bill, making it illegal for a marriage between persons of same sex, approving 14 years’ imprisonment for gays and [...]