Same Sex Marriage
One Nation Under God brings you the latest news and legislation updates on same sex marriage and related issues

 

 

 

 

"The marriage bond, in which man and woman together constitute a life-long association, ordered by its very nature for the good of the spouses and the generation and education of children," is the basis of the family, the heritage and shared wealth of humanity. "Thus the Church cannot cease to announce that, in accordance with God's plans, marriage and the family are irreplaceable and admit no alternatives."

-Pope Benedict XVI

 

Same Sex "Marriage": Illegal in All Fifty States

About a month ago, the California Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, issued a declaratory opinion that Proposition 22, which states that, “Only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California,” enshrined into statutory law by 61.4% of California voters in 2000 (over four million voters), was “unconstitutional” on the basis that "gender discrimination" violates the equal protection clause of the state constitution.

The LA Times reported that:

"The California Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage Thursday in a broadly worded decision that would invalidate virtually any law that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation."

Sadly, many of the leading "conservative" and "Christian" pro-family organizations such as AFA, Liberty Council, ADF, FRC, ACLJ, and Focus on the Family have been in full surrender mode conceding this same liberal talking point that the court "legalized same-sex marriage in California" and that the only way to ensure preserving traditional male-female marriage is through a state constitutional amendment scheduled to be on the ballot in November. read more Townhall 7.7

 

McCain Backs Calif. Same-Sex Marriage Ban

The sponsors of a ballot initiative that seeks to ban same-sex marriage in California say Republican presidential candidate John McCain has endorsed the measure.

The ProtectMarriage.com campaign said it received an e-mail from McCain Thursday in which the Arizona senator expressed his support for the group's efforts "to recognize marriage as a unique institution between a man and a woman."

McCain has previously said that while he does not back banning same-sex marriage at the federal level, he thinks it is appropriate for states to do so.

In 2006, he came out in favor of a ballot measure, ultimately rejected by voters in his home state that would have banned gay marriage and prohibited granting any spousal rights to unmarried couples in Arizona. CBS

 

Heinz in Pickle as Gay Mayo Ad Continues to Spread Backlash - Now Gays Join Boycott Bandwagon

Trying to sell mayonnaise has turned messy for Heinz, the US food giant that has found itself in a public relations pickle as pro-family and homosexual organisations both are threatening boycotts. The controversy is over a British television advert that appeared to use mayonnaise as spread for the gay agenda.  

As part of an advertising campaign for its Heinz Deli Mayo in the United Kingdom, a Heinz advert features a brawny New York deli man making sandwiches for two children going off to school. The children call him "mum," and just before the "father" of the family goes off to work the two men exchange a kiss.

The deli man says in his thick New York accent, "Love ya! Straight home from work, sweet cheeks."

Heinz pulled the ad June 20 after more than 200 complaints were submitted to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), in which viewers complained the ad was "offensive" and "unsuitable to be seen by children." The ASA will decide in a few days whether or not to launch an investigation. read more LifeSite

 

Same-sex marriage could threaten civil liberties and religious freedoms

Catholic Charities in Massachusetts has been forced to shut down its adoption program because it refused to place children with same-sex couples as required by state law.

Matt Daniels, Founder and President of the Alliance for Marriage, has warned that the legal recognition of same-sex marriages further threatens Americans’ civil liberties and religious freedoms, some of which have already been affected by anti-discrimination laws protecting sexual orientation.

Daniels, writing in a press release, noted that a recent National Public Radio (NPR) story broadcast on June 16 listed some incidents in which liberties have already been curtailed by laws favoring homosexual rights over the rights of people with ethical and religious objections to the normalization of homosexuality.

“Most Americans believe that gays and lesbians are free to live as they choose,” Daniels continued, “but they don’t have a right to redefine marriage for our entire society.   But we are living in an era when adhering to the common sense definition of marriage – for the sake of kids – is increasingly a punishable offense.” read more CNA 6.26

 

Mormon Church Enters Calif. Gay Marriage Fight

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is asking California members to join the effort to amend that state's constitution to define marriage as being between a man and a woman.

A letter sent to Mormon bishops and signed by church president Thomas S. Monson and his two top counselors calls on Mormons to donate "means and time" to the ballot measure. A note on the letter dated June 20 says it should be read during church services on June 29, but the letter was published Saturday on several Web sites.

Church spokesman Scott Trotter said Monday that the letter was authentic. He declined further comment, saying the letter explains the church's reasons for getting involved.

The LDS church will work with a coalition of churches and other conservative groups that put the California Marriage Protection Act on the Nov. 4 ballot to assure its passage, the letter states. read more CNSNews 6.24

California Gay Marriage Inspires Gay Teens

In today's climate of greater acceptance, young gays increasingly seek happiness on their terms

"On a certain level, everyone wants the white picket fence," said A'Ja Lyons, 18, a member of Houston Area Teen Coalition of Homosexuals (HATCH). "We all want to be able to love who we love — and be respected."

Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts and, after a May 15 court ruling, California. Last month, New York state pledged to honor same-sex marriages from other states and countries.

For older members of Houston's gay community, these recent events may or may not change their lives and relationships. Some will venture to California, where there's no residency requirement to get married. Most won't.

But for local teens who are out or coming out, the lifting of the same-sex marriage ban in the nation's most populous state may benefit immediately. read more chron 6.23

 

Homosexual activists release 'marriage battle plan'

Homosexual activists often complain there's no such thing when pro-family groups refer to the "gay agenda." But now nine pro-homosexual groups have made a copy of their battle plan available to the public.

The document is called "Make Change, Not Lawsuits." In it, the nine pro-homosexual groups urge sympathetic activists not to rush to file lawsuits after taking advantage of the court-ordered legalization of homosexual marriages in California.

Mat Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, says the coalition has a multitude of reasons to discourage homosexual activists from filing lawsuits in order to force homosexual marriage on people who oppose it. "They're afraid that, if they continue to file these lawsuits on the state level, they'll actually lose lawsuits," Staver says.
 
"And, in fact, they've lost so many, the fact that they've won one in California should not overshadow the fact that they've lost so many more and they've actually lost ground," he continues.
 
Staver says the federal Defense of Marriage Act is a major hurdle to homosexual activists and one that they do not want to attack head-on. He contends that if the act is struck down in court, then an effort to push a constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage will kick into high gear. read more OneNewsNow 6.19

 

Hundreds of gay couples wed across California

Wearing everything from T-shirts to tuxedos and lavish gowns, hundreds of same-sex couples rushed to county clerks' offices throughout California to obtain marriage licenses and exchange vows as last-minute legal challenges to gay marriage failed.

All 58 counties began issuing licenses Tuesday following an order from the state's highest court.

San Diego County, typically a Republican stronghold, added four walk-up windows and assigned 78 employees to issue marriage licenses, up from the usual 19. It issued 230 licenses on Tuesday, breaking its previous single-day record of 176 on Valentine's Day 2005.

At the West Hollywood City Hall, George Takei - who played Sulu on the original "Star Trek" - beamed as he and his partner of 21 years, Brad Altman, obtained one of the new gender-neutral marriage licenses - with the words "Party A" and "Party B" instead of "bride" and "groom." They are planning a September wedding. read more APNews 6.18

 

Gay marriage: a new bind for church groups

Religiously affiliated schools, hospitals, and others may be the next flash point

The same-sex marriage march begins across California Tuesday, with thousands of gay couples expected to wed in the coming weeks. But some notes of discord and rebellion can already be heard above Pachelbel's Canon.

Several county clerks have said they will stop performing marriage ceremonies for all couples, gay or straight. And the state supreme court, fresh from its decision to legalize gay marriage, will decide shortly on whether a private-practice doctor can deny artificial insemination to a lesbian couple.

As gay marriage gains wider legal footing, scholars anticipate a flood of such conscientious objector cases. A key flash point will be religiously affiliated organizations that serve the public, such as hospitals, schools, and adoption agencies, and hold beliefs opposed to gay marriage.

Gay rights advocates say the courts have found workable compromises so far. But opponents warn that religious groups may have to retreat dramatically from the public square unless legislatures agree to create some religious exemptions. read more CSMonitor

 

Several California Counties Quit Performing Marriages Rather than Perform Homosexual "Marriage"

Officials in Kern, Calaveras, and Butte counties in California say they plan on closing their doors to performing all civil wedding ceremonies rather than be forced to "wed" same-sex couples when the state's Supreme Court ruling permitting same-sex "marriage" goes into effect tomorrow. The counties have cited staff and budget restrictions as their main reasons for closing their doors, saying they are not equipped to handle any influx of same-sex couples looking for "weddings."

Kern County Clerk Ann Barnett made the announcement after the county's legal counsel and attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund informed her office that she could not choose to marry some couples and not others without incurring a lawsuit.

For today the counties will continue to issue the neutered marriage licenses that replace the old appellations of "bride" and "groom" with the novel "Party A" and "Party B." But when the California Supreme Court ruling takes effect Tuesday, clerks in those counties will direct all couples seeking wedding ceremonies to other counties. read more LifeSiteNews 6.17

 

 

Gay marriage begins in California, courtesy of the judges and against the will of the voters

At 5:01 p.m local time, California will issue its first legally binding marriage licenses to same-sex couples. County clerks will stay open extra hours to accommodate the state supreme court's decision to redefine marriage along these lines. The media will be filled with stories of wedding bells and pictures of happy newlyweds.

If recent experience is any guide, the number of gay couples marching to the altar will taper off in a few months even if voters uphold the California supremes' decision in November. In Massachusetts, 1,635 such couples obtained marriage licenses in May 2004, the first month of judicially imposed same-sex nuptials. That figure, only 300 less than the number of traditional marriages in the commonwealth during the same time period, tumbled to just 148 in the first two months of 2005. Nearly 60 percent of Bay State same-sex marriages occurred in the first six months. read more AmericanSpectator 6.16

 

Calif. same-sex weddings will affect other states

After wedding-day celebrations subside, gay and lesbian couples from other states who marry starting this week in California face sobering challenges.

Many will return home to states which explicitly reject same-sex unions. Major gay-rights groups are urging them not to rush into lawsuits demanding that their marriages be recognized. Lawyers warn that they may have difficulty divorcing if things go awry.

"This is a very serious undertaking," said Richard Williams, a Chicago lawyer who has been helping local same-sex couples weigh their options.

"It may not be accepted here in Illinois, but it is legal, it is real," Williams said. "If you go to California and get married, there are potential problems and pitfalls that you have to think about."

Likely areas of contention could include inheritance, medical decision-making, health and pension benefits, and child custody.

Starting Monday, California will become the second state after Massachusetts to allow same-sex marriages, but the first to do so without any residency requirements. No one knows how many out-of-state couples will head there to wed, but for some it's an opportunity that's impossible to pass up. read more chron 6.14

Gays who wed in California won't have equal marriage rights

Thousands of gay couples will marry in California during the upcoming months, but when it comes to the law, not all marriages are created equal.

Same-sex married couples can expect many of the same marital rights as heterosexual couples under state law. But things will be different if they end up in bankruptcy court, take a leave from work or own a vacation home out of state. In those areas, federal law comes into play, and the federal government does not recognize marriages between lesbians or gay men. read more MercuryNews 6.11

 

California Supreme Court refuses to stay its decision on gay-marriage

The California Supreme Court will not stay its decision authorizing homosexuals to "marry" in that state, even though voters will consider a constitutional amendment to ban the practice in November. The court issued its 4-3 decision Wednesday.

Attorney Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, says the court's refusal to stay their decision until the November election is very telling. "When the California Supreme Court denied this stay, especially in light of the marriage amendment being certified for the November ballot, it indicates a clear political agenda," says Staver. "I believe that judges acting as judges, and not as legislators, would have granted the stay." read more OneNewsNow

 

Calif. Same-Sex Marriage Ban Qualifies For November Ballot

Measure Would Overturn State's Supreme Court Ruling

California's secretary of state said an initiative that would again outlaw same-sex marriage in the state has qualified for the November ballot. Debra Bowen said a random check of signatures submitted by the measure's sponsors showed that they had gathered enough for it to be put to voters.

The measure would amend the state constitution to define marriage as a union "between a man and a woman."

It would overturn the recent California Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in the state if it is approved by a majority of voters on Nov. 4. California public health officials already have amended marriage license applications and told local officials to start issuing them to same-sex couples on June 17. read more NBC 6.3

 

Episcopal Congregation, Macy’s Declare Support for California Same-Sex Marriage Decision

An Episcopal church in California intends to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies beginning in mid-June, according to BlackChristianNews.com.

All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, one of the largest congregations in the denomination, adopted the “Resolution on Marriage Equality” following the California Supreme Court’s decision to legalize gay marriage in that state.

The Episcopal Church as a whole supports GLBT rights, but has not made an official decision to bless same-sex unions beyond exercising restraint when authorizing them, according to the Web site.

Rev. Canon J. Edwin Bacon, Jr. of All Saints Church, after making the announcement to celebrate marriage ceremonies, said he believes blessing same-sex unions is compatible with Christian Scripture.

In other news related same-sex marriage in California, Macy’s department store has placed advertisements in the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the New York Times declaring support and words of congratulation on the California Supreme Court’s decision, according to TheHuffingtonPost.com.

Macy’s is known for its commitment to equality, according to the Web site. The ads’ copy reads “First comes love. Then comes marriage. And now it’s a milestone every couple in California can celebrate.” vitalvoice 6.3

 

 

California Attorney General Jerry Brown urged the California Supreme Court on Thursday to finalize its ruling legalizing gay marriage

The attorney general's brief said the Supreme Court's ruling should go into effect "without delay."

California Attorney General Jerry Brown urged the California Supreme Court on Thursday to finalize its ruling legalizing gay marriage, opposing efforts by foes of same-sex marriage to freeze the decision until after a possible vote in November.

"It is time for these proceedings to end," state lawyers wrote in a 33-page brief opposing a stay of the Supreme Court's historic ruling earlier this month.

Brown's office filed the arguments in response to a request last week from gay-marriage opponents for the Supreme Court to stay its ruling, which declared California's ban on same-sex weddings unconstitutional. Conservative groups argued that the Supreme Court should put the ruling on hold until at least November, when voters are likely to consider a ballot initiative that would amend the state constitution to again outlaw same-sex marriage.

The groups maintain that the Supreme Court should postpone the ruling to avoid legal chaos around the state as gay couples capitalize on their newfound right to marry and obtain marriage licenses in the coming months. The Supreme Court's ruling becomes final in mid-June, although gay marriages could still be delayed by the continued legal wrangling over the stay request. read more mercurynews 5.30

 

Calif.: Same-sex marriages OK beginning June 17

The gender-neutral nomenclature include lines for "Party A" and "Party B" instead of bride and groom

Barring a stay of a historic California Supreme Court ruling, same-sex couples will be able to wed in the state beginning June 17, according to a state directive issued Wednesday.

The state said it chose June 17 because the state Supreme Court has until the day before to decide whether to grant a stay of its May 15 ruling legalizing gay marriage.

Gay-rights advocates and some clerks initially thought couples would be able to wed as early as Saturday, June 14. The court's decisions typically take effect 30 days after they are made.

The guidelines from Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health, to the state's 58 county clerks also contained copies of new marriage forms that include lines for "Party A" and "Party B" instead of bride and groom. The gender-neutral nomenclature was developed in consultation with county clerks, according to the letter. read more AP 5.28

 

June 14 could see first gay weddings in California

Same-sex couples in some counties will be able to marry as soon as June 14, the president of the California's county clerks association said Monday.

Stephen Weir, who heads the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials, said he was told by the Office of Vital Records that clerks would be authorized to hand out marriage licenses as soon as that date - exactly 30 days after the California Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage should be legal.

The court's decisions typically take effect after 30 days, barring further legal action. read more LADaily

 

Battle looms for plan to ban same-sex nuptials

A constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in California isn't yet on the November ballot, but politicians, gay rights groups, religious organizations and others are preparing for a battle that will ripple across the state and could help decide who is elected president.

The initiative, which says California will recognize marriages only between a man and a woman, is expected to qualify for the ballot soon after June 16, when this month's state Supreme Court ruling overturning an 8-year-old ban on same-sex marriage is scheduled to take effect - clearing the way for gay and lesbian couples to legally wed.

But the run on orange blossoms could be short-lived. The California Marriage Protection Act, if approved, would trump the court's 4-3 decision and once again bar same-sex couples from marriage. read more SFGate

 

Maryland Gov signs two domestic partnership bills MD Catholic Conference opposed

O'Malley, who supports creating a civil unions law that has yet to find enough support in the Maryland General Assembly, said he believed the bills help address "inequities and unfairness" against committed couples who are not married, including gay couples.

"Without the ability to have the legal protections that say, a civil unions statute would give, then these other bills, will, I suspect, continue to come through the legislature and continue to be approved by the legislature ..." O'Malley said.

But the bills rankled opponents of gay marriage who believe legal marriage should only be recognized between a man and a woman.

Richard Dowling, executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference, criticized the governor's decision to sign the bills. Dowling said the laws put Maryland "on the road to becoming California East," referring to a state that started with similar bills and later expanded beyond health care and taxation.

Dowling also said the bills' definition of domestic partnerships "not only gives same-sex and unmarried heterosexual couples a status equivalent to marriage, it also is so broad and ambiguous that it can be extended to the most casual of relationships."

"This flies in the face of religious traditions that exalt marriage and regard it as sacramental," Dowling said. read more wtop

 

 

Poll: Calif. Rejects Gay Marriage

The poll suggests the outcome of the proposed amendment is far from certain. Overall, it was leading 54% to 35% among registered voters.

A Los Angeles Times/KTLA Poll has found that, by a bare majority, Californians reject the state Supreme Court's decision to allow same-sex marriages.

The survey also suggested that a majority of those polled would back a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at the November ballot that would outlaw such unions.

More than half of Californians said gay relationships were not morally wrong, that they would not degrade heterosexual marriages and that all that mattered was that a relationship be loving and committed, regardless of gender.

Those under 45 were less likely to favor a constitutional amendment than their elders and were more supportive of the court's decision to overturn the state's current ban on gay marriage. They also disagreed more strongly than their elders with the notion that gay relationships threatened traditional marriage. newsmax 5.23

 

 

Beyond same sex marriage

Civil unions, same sex marriage, then what? The final stop on this train ride is the complete de-gendering of society.

The “I’m against same sex marriage but favor civil unions” position is the major unheralded casualty of the California Supreme Court decision redefining marriage. Politicians from across the political spectrum have taken refuge in this dodge, believing it allows them to navigate the treacherous shoals of powerful but divided public opinion about same sex marriage. The court’s ruling has shown beyond any shadow of a doubt that civil unions are not a stable political or social compromise, however rational and reasonable that position may appear to be. Here is why.

The freight train of same sex marriage will not stop at the station called simple “equality.” The legal equivalence of same sex couples with opposite sex couples means that marriage will no longer be society’s most reliable method of attaching mothers and fathers to their children and to each other. Marriage will become a gender-neutral creation of the state, which actively detaches children from at least one of their parents. Parentage will not flow automatically from the marital union, but will have to be assigned by the state. The final stop on this train is the complete de-gendering of society, along with the continual incursion of the state into civil society. read more Mercatornet

 

California Supreme Court Betrays “We the People” on Marriage

Today the California Supreme Court imposed, through judicial fiat, so-called “same-sex marriage” on Californians, thus totally disregarding the sanctity of marriage and the will of the people. In 2000, Californians adopted Proposition 22 to protect marriage and maintain its definition as a union between one man and one woman, and expressly prohibiting the state from recognizing “same sex marriages.”

NOTE: the California Supreme Court decision is available on the court’s website at: http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S147999.PDF

To ensure that marriage is protected and the voice of the people is heard, a constitutional marriage amendment must be placed on the November ballot and national efforts need to be made to generate a federal constitutional marriage amendment. The decision must be removed from the hands of judicial activists and returned to the rightful hands of the people.

Matt Barber, CWA Policy Director for Cultural Issues [Barber is on the Board of Americans For Truth], said “The California Supreme Court has engaged in the worst kind of judicial activism today, abandoning its role as an objective interpreter of the law and, instead, legislating from the bench. It’s absurd to suggest that the framers of the California state constitution could have ever imagined there’d be a day when so-called ‘same-sex marriage’ would even be conceptualized, much less seriously considered. If anyone then had suggested the ridiculous notion, early Californians would have laughed their smocks off.

“So-called ‘same-sex’ marriage is counterfeit marriage. Marriage is, and has always been, between a man and a woman. We know that it’s in the best interest of children to be raised with a mother and a father. To use children as guinea pigs in radical San Francisco-style social experimentation is deplorable. read more AmericansForTruth 5.15

 

Ariz. backers of same-sex marriage ban call for Senate vote

In the wake of the California court decision legalizing gay marriage, conservative activists said Arizona needs to move forward on a constitutional amendment to block a similar move here.

Gay marriages are illegal in Arizona, and no court actions are expected soon to change that.

But just in case, the state House of Representatives, after weeks of false starts and delays, approved a measure Monday to put a constitutional ban on gay marriage on the fall ballot.

The measure, which follows a failed 2006 initiative, remains stalled in the state Senate, and it is unclear when or if senators will take up the issue. Both chambers must approve the resolution to send the question to voters.

"Until Arizona voters approve a state constitutional amendment, our statute of marriage in Arizona is at risk of being redefined just like we saw in California," said Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy and a key proponent of a marriage amendment. "It is time to get the marriage referendum out of the Legislature and let the people start considering this measure." read more AZCentral 5.16

 

Same-sex marriage still in doubt in Jersey

Gay rights advocates predicted yesterday's California court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage will encourage the New Jersey Legislature to follow suit, but a gay lawmaker is not so optimistic.

"What happens in California does not stay in California, and that is a great thing for equality," said Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality, which is pushing to legalize gay marriage by the end of this year.

Goldstein said the ruling by the California Supreme Court "will make it way easier for legislators in New Jersey to follow their heart and do the right thing."

But Assemblyman Reed Gus ciora (D-Mercer), the state's first openly gay lawmaker, said it will be harder to win approval of same-sex marriage in the Legislature than in court.

"I don't see the Legislature tak ing it up anytime soon," Gusciora said. "I think the political will is still not there."

The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that same-sex couples are entitled to all the rights that marriage conveys but said only the Legislature could authorize same- sex marriage. Lawmakers responded by creating civil unions, which provide the rights and responsibilities of marriage by another name. read more njcom 5.16

 

California Supreme Court overturns gay marriage ban

The California Supreme Court ruled today that same-sex couples should be permitted to marry, rejecting state marriage laws as discriminatory.

The state high court's 4-3 ruling was unlikely to end the debate over gay matrimony in California. A group has circulated petitions for a November ballot initiative that would amend the state Constitution to block same-sex marriage, while the Legislature has twice passed bills to authorize gay marriage. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed both.

The long-awaited court decision stemmed from San Francisco's highly publicized same-sex weddings, which in 2004 helped spur a conservative backlash in a presidential election year and a national dialogue over gay rights. read more LATimes 5.15

Ariz. House OKs amendment to ban same-sex marriage

Arizona voters who rejected a ballot measure on same-sex marriage two years ago may tackle the issue again in November.

The House voted Monday to put a proposed state constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage on the ballot in Arizona, the only state where a ballot measure on marriage was rejected in 2006.

The House's 33-25 vote sent the resolution (SB10242) to the Senate, whose approval would complete legislative action to put the measure on the ballot.

The proposal is a trimmed-down version of one rejected by Arizona voters in 2006, when seven other states approved same-sex marriage bans.

The current Arizona legislative proposal backed by social conservatives would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The 2006 version had that wording plus a provision that was widely interpreted as targeting civil unions and domestic partnerships. read more azcentral 5.12

 

Arizona Group Influences New York Litigation on Same-Sex Marriage

An Arizona-based group is playing an important role in New York's legal battles over same-sex marriage.

For the last two years, state courts across New York have been grappling with whether same-sex marriages performed elsewhere must be recognized in New York. Three of the cases that pose this question have been brought by a Christian group based in Arizona, the Alliance Defense Fund, on behalf of a handful of New Yorkers who say they object to having their government pay benefits to the spouses of public employees who are in same-sex marriages.

The question of whether the state must recognize gay marriages from Massachusetts, Canada, or elsewhere, was never answered in the landmark New York State Court of Appeals case in 2006 that found gay couples had no right under the state Constitution to marry. New York has long recognized marriages performed out of state, even if the couple might not be eligible to marry under New York law. This principle of comity has in the past led a New York court to recognize a marriage performed in Rhode Island between an uncle and a niece.

The Alliance Defense Fund lawyer who is bringing the three challenges, Brian Raum, said the development of the marriage recognition rule had at its core an understanding that marriage is a union between one man and one woman. read more NYSun

 

RI: No votes taken on same-sex marriage bills

In what may be a sign of changing times, the perennial legislative debate over gay marriage saw a new addition last night: the question of whether same-sex couples married in other states should be allowed to divorce in Rhode Island.

Sponsored by House Majority Leader and Providence Democrat Gordon D. Fox, an openly gay man, that proposal would do what the Supreme Court elected not to in a decision late last year –– allow couples to opt out of an unhappy marriage.

The passionate testimony before the House Judiciary Committee late last night came hours before another critical proceeding in the same-sex divorce debate. This morning, the state Superior Court is expected to hold a hearing to determine whether that court can grant a divorce to a Providence couple who were married in Massachusetts. read more ProvidenceJournal

 

New York Will Recognize Same-Sex ‘Marriages’ From Out of State

For now the Court of Appeals won't hear a case challenging New York state's policy of recognizing same-sex marriages performed outside of the state.

In February, Monroe County officials indicated the county would appeal the court decision barring the county from denying insurance benefits to Patricia Martinez and her partner, who were legally married in Canada.
 
Tuesday, the state's highest court ruled the issue of damages has to be settled before it can hear the case. 13wharm

 

PA Senate tables measure on same-sex-marriage ban

The state Senate yesterday indefinitely tabled a measure that would amend Pennsylvania's constitution to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions.

The bill had been scheduled for a floor vote last evening, but the chief sponsor, Sen. Michael Brubaker (R., Lancaster) told colleagues it would be set aside because it faced long odds in the House.

But Sen. Vincent J. Fumo (D., Phila.), an opponent of the measure, told reporters that Senate Republican leaders used House opposition as an excuse to table the bill. Fumo said a majority of senators would have supported a floor amendment to strip out wording to ban civil unions, which supporters considered crucial. "A win is a win," Fumo said. "It can look ugly, it can look great. But this is definitely a win." PhilInq

 

Same-sex marriage ban heads to Senate in PA

The Senate could vote as early as today. But the measure would have to be approved by the state House and, in the next legislative session, by both chambers to reach the voters in the form of a referendum question. The earliest a voter referendum could happen is 2009.

Despite a 1996 state law limiting marriage to the union of a man and a woman, amendment supporters argue the statute is vulnerable to a court challenge.

Opponents say the amendment is overkill and could sweep up heterosexual couples who take advantage of domestic partnership and health benefits extended to homosexual couples. They also argue that the bill runs counter to the spirit of the state Constitution, which grants, not restricts, rights to citizens. read more mcall

 

Same-sex divorce case takes a new turn

While the state Supreme Court has said she can’t get divorced in Family Court, one of the women seeking Rhode Island’s first same-sex divorce wants the high court to weigh in on whether another state court — Superior Court — can dissolve her marriage. read more Projo

 

Methodist delegates vote to reject same-sex unions

Delegates at the United Methodist Church's General Conference voted Wednesday to adhere to the church's position that marriage should not include same-sex unions and that homosexual acts are not compatible with Christian teaching.

Those guidelines are included in church's Social Principles, which do not have the force of church law but are to instruct the denomination's 11 million members. The nearly 1,000 delegates at the international conference at the Fort Worth Convention Center are struggling with social issues at the conference that ends Friday. read more StarTelegram

 

Effort intensifies for same-sex marriage ban in CA

The battle over same-sex marriage in California heated up Thursday, when supporters of an initiative to ban it in the state's Constitution submitted more than 1.1 million signatures in an effort to qualify the measure for the November ballot.

Representatives of a conservative coalition called Protect Marriage delivered boxes of signed petitions in each of the state's 58 counties. Opponents immediately pledged to wage what is expected to be a costly campaign to defeat the measure if it goes to voters. SFGate 4.25

 

Backers of California Gay Marriage Ban Ready to Submit Petitions

Supporters of an initiative that would outlaw same-sex marriage in California say they have enough signatures to qualify the measure for the November ballot.

A coalition of religious groups called Protect Marriage collected more than one million signatures in support of the proposed constitutional amendment.

Supporters of the Limit on Marriage initiative plan to deliver their signed petitions to county registrars this week.

The signatures must be verified before the amendment can be approved for the election. News10

 

A More Perfect Union? Vt. Panel: Legislature Should Consider Same-Sex Marriage

A commission studying same-sex marriage issued a report yesterday that cited shortcomings in Vermont's civil unions law but said it was up to lawmakers to decide whether the state should allow gays and lesbians to marry.

“It is the role of Vermont's policy-makers and elected officials to read and reflect on this report and in their best judgment determine what steps to take in their role as public servants of the people of Vermont,” the Vermont Commission on Family Recognition and Protection, created last year by top Democrats in the Legislature, said in its report. read more ValleyNews 4.22

 

 
An Overview of the Same Sex Marriage Debate Pew Research

The debate over same-sex marriage shows no signs of abating. In California, for instance, a high-profile case challenging the constitutionality of a state law banning same-sex marriage was argued before the state's highest court in early March 2008, with a decision expected by May.1 A similar suit is on the verge of being decided by Connecticut's Supreme Court. In addition, Florida will hold a referendum during the November 2008 election on a state constitutional amendment that would prohibit gay marriage. Other states, such as Arizona and Indiana, are considering putting similar referenda on the November ballot.

The American religious community is deeply divided over the issue of same-sex marriage. The Catholic Church and evangelical Christian groups have played a leading role in public opposition to gay marriage, while mainline Protestant churches and other religious groups wrestle with whether to ordain gay clergy and perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. read more pew research

 

New Study Shows Tragedy of Anti-Marriage Movement
Century-Old Catholic Adoption Agency Shuttered

Radical activists intent on destroying marriage cloak their campaign in sympathetic rhetoric, but excerpts from a new study released today by the Alliance for Marriage Foundation (AFMF) showcase the devastating effects of redefining marriage in law.

From the forced closure of a 100-year old adoption program run by the Catholic Charities of Boston, to the father who was jailed for asking when same-sex marriage would be taught in school so his child could avoid the lesson, to, the new study highlights actual results from governments which have changed marriage and family law.

AFMF will release selected excerpts of the new study in the coming weeks and post the entire study online at www.allianceformarriage.org in the near future.

“The anti-marriage movement has shrewdly disguised its campaign with civil rights rhetoric, but it’s time to take off the mask. Destroying marriage is indeed a civil rights issue, because it robs the rights of the majority of Americans who know marriage is between a man and woman.

Orphans have rights, children have rights, and parents have rights. Gays and lesbians are free to live as they choose, but they don’t have a right to redefine marriage for our entire society,” said Niger Innis, National Spokesman for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), one of the oldest and largest civil rights organizations in the country. read more AllianceForMarriage 4.9

 

 

Pro-Family Group Says Effort to Ban Calif. Gay 'Marriage' Looks 'Strong'

As the California Supreme Court weighs the legal arguments over same-sex ”marriage,” pro-family coalitions are continuing in their efforts to collect signatures to pull forward the “California Marriage Protection Act.”

While over 61 percent of California voters voted on Proposition 22 back in 2000 to “keep marriage between only a man and a woman,” the measure added language only to the California Family Code, not the state constitution.

And without an amendment to the state constitution specifying marriage between only a man and a woman, the institution of marriage cannot be guaranteed.

“The only fool-proof way to protect the traditional definition of marriage from the hands of legislators and judges is to place the language of Proposition 22 – passed by over 61% of voters – into the California Constitution,” the California Family Council, a coalition member of the petition drive, writes on its website. read more ChristianPost 4.5

 

NY Court Overturns Former Ruling Against Recognition of Canadian Same Sex marriages

Pro-homosexual legal group hails decision as "another NY win on marriage"

Last Tuesday, in a decision that follows the trend towards greater state recognition of same-sex "marriages," the New York Appellate Division invalidated a lower court decision stating that Brady Davis was not entitled to New York health benefits as the partner of the man he "married" in Canada. 

In 2006, a lower court had rejected Duke Funderburke's request to extend his New York Uniondale Union Free School District retirement plan to his partner, Davis, whom Funderburke had legally "married" in Ontario in 2004.

In May 2007, the New York State Department of Civil Service decided to grant benefits to same-sex spouses under the New York State Health Insurance Program, thus allowing Davis and other same-sex spouses of public employees to receive health benefits.

Because the state now afforded same-sex spouses the sort of coverage Funderburke and Davis appealed for, the appellate court considered their appeal moot.  In addition, the appellate court vacated the original 2006 lower court ruling that refused to recognize health benefit rights of same-sex spouses married in foreign countries.

"The decision from the appellate court wipes the lower court ruling off the books," explained Susan Sommer, Senior Counsel at Lambda Legal. read more LifeSiteNews 3.31

 

 

A ban on same-sex marriage in Pa.?

The amendment would strengthen the Pennsylvania Defense of Marriage Act, which was passed in 1996 and prohibits same-sex marriages and civil unions.

Twenty-seven states have constitutions with amendments that ban same-sex marriage. Now, Pennsylvania is considering whether to join them.

Last week the state Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance a bill that would amend the state's constitution to make both same-sex marriages and the "functional equivalent" of marriage - such as civil unions - illegal in Pennsylvania.

Under the Defense of Marriage Act, one court case with a favorable ruling for same-sex couples could overturn the statute. But if the state constitution is amended to ban same-sex marriage, only the U.S. Supreme Court or another state constitutional amendment could permit same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania.

Before the bill can be put into effect, it must pass the Senate Appropriations Committee and two consecutive General Assembly sessions. Then state residents would vote on it in a referendum. Daily Pennsylvanian 3.26 read more

 

 

Group to file arguments in Iowa's same-sex marriage case

A gay rights group filed legal arguments today in a case that will decide whether the state's ban on same-sex marriage is legal.

Lambda Legal is a New York-based group that filed the arguments in a lawsuit on behalf of 6 gay and lesbian couples in Iowa who were denied marriage licenses, as well as 3 of the couples' children.

Lambda Legal maintains that the ban denies gay and lesbian couples the constitutionally guaranteed right to liberty and privacy and equal protection under the law. The case is now before the Iowa Supreme Court. WQAD 3.28

 

 

Maryland: Sneaking Same-Sex 'Marriage' Through the Hospital Door

Having failed to win a Massachusetts-style court mandate for same-sex "marriage" in Maryland, homosexual activists there have turned to the legislature to redefine our most basic social institution. Liberals in Maryland have adopted a strategy of throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks, having introduced bills to create same-sex "marriage," civil unions, domestic partnerships, and even one to abolish civil marriage. However, the one that appears to be sticking would allow both same-sex and opposite-sex couples to form "domestic partnerships" for the purpose of "health care facility visitation" and the making of "medical decisions." Advocates of Senate Bill 566, which could receive final action this week, ignore the fact that it is completely unnecessary in light of the generous visitation policies hospitals already maintain and the expansive rights already granted to a "health care agent or surrogate decision maker" under state law. While making little practical change within medical facilities, the creation of "domestic partnerships" under the law would be the camel's nose in the tent for the future expansion of rights and benefits to the point where they are virtually marriage by another name. In California such "partnerships" are now serving as a stepping-stone toward imposition of same-sex "marriage," not an alternative to it. FRCAction

Gay Couples Say Civil Unions Aren’t Enough

Massachusetts is the only state that allows same-sex couples to marry, and Vermont, New Hampshire and New Jersey have civil unions, while California and Oregon have domestic partnerships that provide similar benefits to civil unions.

Though such arrangements were created, often under court mandate, with a promise of treating same-sex couples the same as opposite-sex couples, many gays and lesbians say they have not delivered and can never do so because separate institutions are inherently unequal. Many also resent being denied use of the word marriage, which they say carries intangible benefits, prestige and status. read more NYTimes 3.17

 

Networks Ignore Calif. Case on Same-Sex Marriage

If California's Supreme Court allows them to marry, homosexual activists plan to flock to the Golden State, get hitched, then go home and flood their home state courts with challenges to their marriage laws.

A landmark marriage case opened Tuesday in the California Supreme Court that could have profound legal and social consequences for the entire nation.

Yet the major news networks completely ignored the story on their evening newscasts and even on the Wednesday morning shows.

At issue is California's marriage law, approved by voters in 2000 by a wide margin, which defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Because of California's history of liberal legal activism, court watchers are taking bets over whether the high bench will sucker punch the electorate and impose "gay marriage" on the state.

If America wakes up one day and finds that marriage has been redefined away from its original, intrinsic meaning as the union of a man and a woman, people might ask, "When did this happen and how come we didn't know about it?" CNSNews read more

 

 

WA: Gay couples win new rights in bill

Gay and lesbian couples were brought one step closer to same-sex marriage Tuesday when the Legislature voted to extend 170 new rights to them, adding to groundwork begun last year with the passage of domestic partnership rights.

The Senate passed House Bill 3104, proposed by Rep. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, by 29-20 along a mostly party-line vote.

The bill grants same-sex couples additional rights -- including the ability to share bank accounts, the right to hold common property and immunity from testifying against one's partner in court. Divorce rights -- including child-custody provisions -- were also granted.

The measure now goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire, who is expected to sign it into law. read more SeattlePI

 

 

State Supreme Court takes up same-sex marriage

As gay-rights groups call for marital equality and opponents warn of a public backlash, societal decay and religious conflict, the California Supreme Court is prepared for an epic three-hour hearing Tuesday on the constitutionality of the state law defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

It shapes up as the most momentous case the court has heard in decades - comparable to the 1981 ruling that guaranteed Medi-Cal abortions for poor women, the 1972 ruling that briefly overturned the state's death penalty law, and the 1948 decision, cited repeatedly in the voluminous filings before the court, that struck down California's ban on interracial marriage. read more SFChronicle 3/2

 

 

Massachusetts Bills Would Dramatically Advance Homosexual Power in State

Pro-family activists in Massachusetts warn that a series of bills pending in the state legislature are pivotal for the future of the legal institution of marriage in the state and across the US. The group Mass Resistance writes that, due to the work of homosexual activists in the courts, proposed changes to Massachusetts law regarding the definition of marriage, will necessarily bleed into the laws of other states.

Two Senate Bills, S1029, S800 and House Bill 1728 propose to repeal Sections 11, 12, 13 and 50 of the General Laws that make it illegal for out-of-state couples to marry in Massachusetts if that marriage would be considered illegal in the parties' home state. The repeal would remove from Massachusetts law what is the norm in most jurisdictions in the US. read more LifeSite 2/29

 

 

Poll: Iowans against gay marriage, support civil unions

 

A new Iowa Poll shows that most Iowans are opposed to gay marriage but support civil unions to give gay couples benefits afforded to heterosexual couples.

The poll, published in a copyright story in the Des Moines Sunday Register, shows that 62 percent of Iowans believe marriage should be only between a man and a woman. Thirty-two percent support same-sex marriage, while 6 percent was unsure.

The random telephone survey of 801 Iowa adults was conducted last month. It has a sampling margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

More than half of those surveyed say Iowa should allow civil unions for same-sex couples. Forty percent oppose civil unions.

The poll also shows that Iowas are divided on whether the state constitution should be changed to ban gay marriage. Forty-eight percent support changing the constitution, while 47 percent oppose such a change. CBS KGAN

 

Iowa: Group accuses Democrats of holding up marriage amendment

A group that wants to ban same-sex marriage is accusing some Democrats of holding up legislation, saying the lawmakers are beholden to donors who want the marriages to be legal.

Members of the Iowa Family Policy Center said on Thursday that top Iowa Democrats had received more than $170,000 from "out-of-state homosexual activists."

That money has bought influence and resulted in the Legislature refusing to hold debate on an amendment to the state's constitution that would ban same sex marriage, said the group's president, former Iowa lawmaker Chuck Hurley.

The Iowa Family Policy Center cited donations to five lawmakers and one former candidate - all Democrats - who received a combined $91,616 from gay and lesbian donors. Its tabulation also included $100,800 that the group said was given directly to the Iowa Democratic Party.Quad City Times 2/29 read more

 

In First, N.Y. Judge Allows Gay Divorce

Trial Court Ruling Appears to Be State's First Allowing Divorce From Same-Sex Marriage

In what appears to be the first ruling of its kind, a New York judge will allow a lesbian couple who married in Canada to sue for divorce.

Though New York does not allow same-sex marriages, a state trial court judge refused to dismiss a divorce and child custody suit brought by a woman, identified only as Beth R., against her former partner Donna M.

New York is one of the few states that does not address same-sex marriages. At least 41 states have laws defining marriage as between a man and a woman, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures; those laws allow states to reject same-sex marriages from other states. In December, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that the state's family courts can't grant divorces to same-sex couples.

In her ruling Monday, Drager said New York will not recognize an out-of-state marriage only if it is prohibited by a state law or if it is "abhorrent to New York public policy." She said only polygamy and incest have been found to be abhorrent. read more ABCNews 2/27

 

 

Wisconsin Marriage Amendment Could Hinge on High Court Election

Whoever fills open seat could decide the future of traditional marriage.

 

 

At FAMU law-school forum, key players spar over gay-marriage ban

The FAMU law-school forum includes an ACLU leader and the head of a group that has pushed the issue onto the ballot.

Two sides of the amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Florida squared off Monday in front of students at Florida A&M's College of Law, with proponents saying that the amendment is essential and opponents saying it's unnecessary.

"Why do we need this? Same-sex marriage is illegal in the state of Florida," said Glenn M. Katon, director of the Central Region of the Florida American Civil Liberties Union.

The amendment is essential, countered John Stemberger, head of Florida4Marriage, to make sure same-sex marriage remains illegal. Unlike current state law, a constitutional amendment would be more difficult to be overturned in court, said Stemberger, whose organization collected the 649,000 signatures necessary to put the amendment on the November ballot. read more OrlandoSentinel 2/26

 

 

CA: Group opposing Marriage Initiatuve launches 'Decline to sign' campaign

A coalition of groups supporting same-sex marriage is asking for volunteers to help defeat an effort to make same-sex marriage unconstitutional in California.

Equality for All, a coalition of LGBT and allied civil rights groups, is launching a "Decline to Sign" campaign to discourage people from signing petitions that support putting an anti-gay marriage initiative on the November ballot.

The measure would amend the state's constitution to specify marriage can only be between a man and a woman. That effort is being led by California's ProtectMarriage.com and the New Jersey-based National Organization for Marriage, according to Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, which is part of Equality for All. BayAreaReporter 2/21 read more

 

 

Gay activists call for full marriage rights in New Jersey

Gay activists want same-sex marriage rights in New Jersey by year's end.

Steven Goldstein, chairman of gay rights group Garden State Equality, said Tuesday a state report that found civil unions create a second-class status for gay couples boosts their claims that the unions don't work.

Gay marriage opponents said they were surprised neither by the report for calls for gay marriage.

"In the end, the truth is, the homosexual lobby wants same sex marriage for one reason _ to use the power of the state to force heterosexuals to approve of homosexual activity and relationships," said Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Morris.

Gov. Jon S. Corzine has said he would sign a gay marriage bill, but doesn't want the issue considered before November's presidential election.

His office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Corzine and New Jersey legislators made the state the third to offer civil unions under a 2006 law that came after the state Supreme Court ruled gay couples should receive the same legal protections as married couples. read more Newsday 2/19

 

Indiana Lawmaker Avoids Same-Sex Marriage Lobbyists

Hundreds of e-mails. Petitions with thousands of signatures. Phone calls. Letters. Radio ads. Statehouse rallies.

Supporters of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage continue to press the issue, despite a key lawmaker's firm stance that he will not give the proposal a hearing.

Without that hearing this year, the amendment appears dead - good news for opponents. But they, too, are pouring on the pressure, hoping to offset efforts by supporters.

At the center of the storm of e-mails and petitions stands Rep. Scott Pelath, a Democrat from Michigan City who chairs the House Rules Committee. Pelath hasn't budged from his position, saying the amendment is unnecessary since Indiana law already bans gay marriage.

"You only amend the constitution when you absolutely have to," Pelath said. "We already have a law that's been upheld in court, and there's just no reason to do it." WBBM 2/19 read more

 

 

MD: Two Sides Testify on Same-Sex Marriage

Supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage clashed before a Maryland Senate committee yesterday, with traditionalists invoking religious convictions and gay rights advocates describing their cause as a civil rights struggle.

The lengthy hearing, which drew dozens of speakers on both sides of the most divisive social issue the General Assembly will take up this year, was headlined by Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D), who became Maryland's first elected statewide official to endorse legislation allowing same-sex marriage. WashPost 2/15 read more

 

California groups aiming for gay marriage amendment

As California's highest court prepares to take up a case seeking to legalize same-sex marriage, two groups that failed to get gay marriage bans on the state ballot two years ago are trying again, one with backing from a prominent Christian conservative organization.

The groups, ProtectMarriage.com and VoteYesMarriage.com, have filed ballot language with the California Secretary of State that would, if approved by voters, amend the California Constitution to limit marriage to one man and one woman regardless of how the Supreme Court rules.

They have until late April to gather signatures from 694,354 voters to qualify the measures for the November election and have begun circulating petitions, fundraising and recruiting volunteers through Southern California churches.

The Supreme Court has scheduled a March 4 hearing for oral arguments in four cases brought by 15 same-sex couples, the city of San Francisco and a gay rights group challenging state laws limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. SFGate 2/14 read more

 

 

Colorado same-sex marriage ban challenged

A lesbian couple charged with trespassing for refusing to leave a clerk's office without a marriage license is appealing the Colorado ban on same-sex marriage.

Mari Newman, the attorney representing Catherine Burns and Sheila Schroeder of Englewood, filed a motion Monday asking a court to strike down Amendment 43, The Denver Post reported. The amendment was adopted by referendum in 2006.

Newman argues that the amendment violates several amendments to the U.S. Constitution. UPI 2/13 read more

 

 

Maryland: Activists call for gay marriage

Gay-rights activists rallied in Annapolis yesterday and met with dozens of lawmakers to lobby for same-sex marriage, predicting they are close to having the necessary votes in the legislature only five months after Maryland's highest court upheld the state's ban on such unions.

Several hundred people in Lawyers Mall held signs that read "Protect all families" and "Love does not discriminate." Organizers with Equality Maryland, a gay-rights group, said they dispatched participants to make more than 115 visits with lawmakers and urged them to tell personal stories and why their relationships need protections afforded by marriage. BaltSun 2/12 read more

 

Maryland: Gay-marriage opposition is stepped up

Opponents of gay marriage vowed yesterday to bring the fractious debate over same-sex unions to a vote in the Maryland General Assembly and possibly to voters on the November ballot.

Del. Donald H. Dwyer Jr. is circulating a petition to take a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage directly to the floor of the House of Delegates without a committee vote. He also is seeking signatures to bring to the House floor a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage. While the Anne Arundel Republican is a fervent gay-rights opponent, he said Marylanders deserve to know their legislators' views.

At a news conference on Lawyers Mall in Annapolis yesterday, Dwyer said he has the backing of 34 of the required 47 lawmakers to bring to the floor the constitutional amendment, which has died in committee in previous years, and no backers to do the same for the gay-marriage bill. "It's only when the votes are cast that we really know where people stand," Dwyer said. Baltimore Sun read more

Pennsylvanians Say Now is the Time for Marriage Amendment

A recent survey indicates that 70 percent of Pennsylvanians believe that now is the time for our legislators to deal with the issue of same-sex marriage.

Furthermore, the survey indicated that 72 percent wants voters -- not the courts -- to have the final say on whether marriage remains defined as one man and one woman in the Commonwealth.

With the introduction of SB 1250 -- the Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment -- there is hope those voters will get their chance.

Sen. Michael Brubaker, R-Lancaster, along with 16 bi-partisan co-sponsors introduced the Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment legislation this week, kicking off the process of getting the question about marriage on the ballot for Pennsylvania voters. stnewswire

For more information, visit www.PA4Marriage.org

 

 

IN: House hearing sought on same-sex marriage ban

Nearly 8,000 Hoosiers have signed a petition demanding an Indiana House hearing on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, according to a news release Wednesday by the American Family Association of Indiana.

As chairman of the powerful House Rules and Legislative Procedures Committee, Pelath decided not to hear a House resolution that would have amended the state's constitution to ban same-sex marriages. Clark's group is demanding that Pelath hear an identical amendment that passed the Senate earlier this session. IndyStar read more

 

 

California: Warring sides on same-sex marriages look to March 4 court date

The California Supreme Court scheduled a March 4 hearing Wednesday for the long-awaited clash between gay-rights advocates, the state and religious conservatives over the constitutionality of banning same-sex marriage.

The case, to be heard at the court's chambers in San Francisco, is a consolidation of four lawsuits by same-sex couples and the city of San Francisco, challenging the marriage restriction, and two countersuits by private organizations defending the law.

The Knights of Columbus, organizations advocating alternatives to homosexuality, and the Mormon Church and the California Catholic Conference are among the state's supporters, while the Unitarians and other liberal denominations line up on the other side. Competing groups of constitutional law professors filed conflicting briefs. SFGate readmore

 

 

Bill Would End Civil Marriage, Create Domestic Partnerships

Sen. Jamie B. Raskin has sponsored a bill that would make marriage a purely religious institution.

Advocates for same-sex marriage plan to introduce legislation in the Maryland General Assembly today that would abolish civil marriage ceremonies now confined to heterosexual unions in the state and replace them with domestic partnerships for all couples.

The bills represent an unusual new tactic in the effort to push legal rights for gay couples through the House and Senate during the legislature's 90-day session. Sponsors of the measure say they are attempting to address head-on the concerns of lawmakers who oppose same-sex marriage on religious grounds.

Under their proposal, all couples -- straight or gay -- would be on equal footing with secular unions. Religious marriage in churches, synagogues and mosques would be unaffected, as would existing civil marriages.

The word "marriage" would be replaced with "valid domestic partnership" in the state's family law code. WashingtonPost 2/4 read more

 

 

New York: State Court Recognizes Gay Marriages From Elsewhere

A New York appellate court ruled Friday that valid out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples must be legally recognized in New York, just as the law recognizes those of heterosexual couples solemnized elsewhere. Lawyers for both sides said the ruling applied to all public and private employers in the state.

Even though gay couples may not legally marry in New York, the appellate court in Rochester held that a gay couple’s 2004 marriage in Canada must be respected under the state’s longstanding “marriage recognition rule,” and that an employer’s denial of health benefits had discriminated against the couple on the basis of their sexual orientation. NYTimes read more

 

 

Gay marriage ban makes Florida ballot

A citizen initiative to ban gay marriage will be on the November ballot, the only one of more than 50 active petition drives that qualified Friday at the deadline for signature verification.

Sponsors of the single-gender marriage ban announced in December they had obtained enough verified signatures. State officials then lowered the count due to a glitch in the Division of Elections’ electronic reporting system, which had double counted some signatures. MiamiHerald 2/1 read more

 

Indiana One Step Closer to Banning Same-Sex Marriage

The Indiana state senate has voted 39–9 to amend the constitution to define marriage as an institution between a man and a woman. The amendment is now before the house, where it was killed last year and is currently stalled, according to The I ndianapolis Star.

House rules and legislative procedures committee chairman Scott Pelath has already said he will not give the bill a hearing because, according to him, the focus this session is on property taxes.

However, Rep. Eric Turner, a Republican, is trying to add the ban to an amendment that would cap property tax bills, according to the Star. Advocate 2/1

read more

 

Iowa Lawmakers Ask Supreme Court to Overturn Gay Marriage Ruling

Attorneys representing five Republican lawmakers have filed court documents asking the Iowa Supreme Court to overturn a Polk County judge, who struck down a state law banning same-sex marriage in August.

The Alliance Defense Fund, an Arizona-based organization that defends religious liberty, filed a friend of the court brief Tuesday for Representatives Dwayne Alons, Carmine Boal and Betty DeBoef and Senators Nancy Boettger and James Hahn.

The brief says Judge Robert Hanson abdicated his duty to be fair and neutral in considering a legal challenge to a 1998 state law filed by gay couples. KCRG 1/29 read more

 

Maryland: Hundreds Protest New Gay 'Marriage' Bill

Hundreds of people protested outside the Maryland state house in Annapolis Friday after the legislature announced the birth of a new gay "marriage" bill.

The Rev. Harry Jackson Jr., head of the High Impact Leadership Coalition, one of the protest’s organizers, called for a constitutional ban on same-sex "marriages."

"This gathering is an expression of the desire of the Christian community in Maryland," Jackson said.

Former Republican Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele also made an appearance.

"We are here to affirm that marriage is only between a man and a woman. We need to make it clear where Maryland stands,” Steele said.

The new bill, dubbed the “Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act,” seeks to give homosexuals in Maryland the same rights as heterosexuals including equal protection under the law to marry. Christian Post 1/29 read more

 

Gore Defends Same-Sex Marriage

Taking a quick break from his environmental activism, Al Gore has spoken out on his Current TV site about same-sex marriage. He’s all for it.

Mr. Gore, chairman of Current TV, posted a one-minute speech on the video-sharing site stating why he thinks gay marriage should be legal. We’re not sure why, exactly, he chose this topic matter or this particular time to make such a strong case.

“I think it’s wrong for the government to discriminate against people because of that person’s sexual orientation,” he says. “I think gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women — to make contracts, to have hospital visiting rights, to join together in marriage, and I don’t understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage.”

Mr. Gore’s position stands to the left of the three leading Democratic candidates, who each support some measure of civil unions but stop short of endorsing same-sex “marriage.” Dennis J. Kucinich, another Democrat, often speaks about his support of gay marriage. NYTimesBlog

 

Florida Ballot initiatives short on signatures

A Florida recount knocks a proposed constitutional ban on gay marriages off the November ballot, leaving it two weeks to find 22,000 voters to get back in the game.

The Department of State on Monday afternoon released revised counts of signatures gathered for half a dozen resident initiatives hoping to go before voters.

The numbers -- necessitated after the state gave up trying to reconcile longstanding computer-reporting errors with counties -- won't be updated until after the Feb. 1 deadline to make the ballot.

Florida4Marriage.org's Florida Marriage Protection Act, the only initiative to seemingly surpass the state's mandatory minimum of 611,009 signatures, was set back by more than 30,000 signatures, to a new count of 589,020. FloridaToday 1/14 read more

 

Maryland: Majority favors legalized unions
31% in Md. oppose granting any form

As the General Assembly gears up for a debate on the rights of gay couples, a solid majority of Maryland voters supports some form of legalized same-sex unions, according to a recent Sun poll.

Nineteen percent of likely voters said they support gay marriage, and 39 percent said they back civil unions, meaning that nearly three out of five believe the state should formally recognize same-sex relationships. Maryland law bans same-sex marriage.

Thirty-one percent of those polled said they disagree with granting either form of same-sex unions, but only half of those opponents said a constitutional amendment is needed to ban them. Eleven percent said they were not sure or declined to answer the question. 01/17 read more

 

Vt. Gay Marriage Debate

Lawmakers say they're unlikely to push for a vote this year on pending legislation that would legalize gay marriage, although a state-appointed panel has been gathering public input and is due to report to the Legislature in April.

Last summer, the Legislature appointed an 11-member Vermont Commission on Family Recognition and Protection to explore the idea of gay marriage and hear how Vermonters feel about it. The panel, which opponents say is stacked with gay marriage supporters and have boycotted, has held seven hearings and has three more scheduled.

The hearings have generated plenty of input, but no name-calling or personal attacks. AP 1/13 read more

 

Activists renewing push for same-sex marriage amendment in PA

A billboard along the Pennsylvania Turnpike poses a provocative question: "Should Pennsylvania kiss marriage goodbye?"

A coalition of religious activists sponsoring that message and others like it hopes the ads will inspire citizens to prod lawmakers to pass a state constitut