Marriage Equality

GERMANY: Renewed Push For Same-Sex Marriage

Pink News reports: The junior party in the ruling coalition in Germany has announced a new bid for same-sex marriage. The Social Democrats (SPD), the junior party in coalition with Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats announced the new bid on Sunday. Accoring to Thomas Oppermann, the parliamentary leader for the SDP, the Green Party will also push for the move. Oppermann …

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Renewed Hope For Same-Sex Marriage As Conservative Party Loses Power To Block

The Belfast Telegraph reports: The DUP has lost the power to trigger a controversial Stormont veto mechanism that blocked the introduction of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. Tabling a “petition of concern” means a proposal before the Assembly can only be carried with the support of a majority of both nationalist and unionist members, rather than a straight head count. …

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TEXAS: State Supreme Court Hears Challenge To Houston’s Benefits For Same-Sex Spouses [VIDEO]

Watch the full hearing below. The CBS affiliate in Dallas reports: The Texas Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a case that conservatives hope will provide an opening to challenge the landmark 2015 ruling legalizing gay marriage nationwide. The all-Republican court initially refused to hear the lawsuit, which challenged Houston’s decision to offer same-sex spousal benefits to municipal employees. The …

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SLOVENIA: Same-Sex Marriage Becomes Legal Today

Reuters reports: Slovenia permitted same-sex marriages for the first time from Friday under a law giving gay couples largely the same rights as heterosexuals though barring them from jointly adopting children. The head of the unit in charge of weddings in Slovenia’s second largest city Maribor, Ksenija Klampfer, told Reuters the first lesbian wedding would take place there on Saturday. …

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Breitbart Hails French Fascist Leader Marine Le Pen’s Promise To Abolish Same-Sex Marriage If Elected

It’s worth taking note of this as Breitbart is the de facto voice of White House advisor Steve Bannon. They write: As part of her 144 pledges to the French people, anti-mass migration Front National presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has said she will abandon gay marriages in favour of civil partnerships. Earlier this month after holding her campaign launch …

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Marriage Equality Linked To Decrease In Teen Suicide

PBS reports: State legalization of same-sex marriage appears to be linked to a decrease in adolescent suicide, based on a new analysis published today in JAMA Pediatrics. The results give more context to the potential effects of social policy on mental health. The researchers found that suicide attempts by high school students decreased by 7 percent in states after they …

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FINLAND: Parliament Rejects Last Ditch Attempt To Stop Same-Sex Marriage, Weddings Start March 1st

Finland’s national broadcaster reports: Finnish MPs defeated a bill to strike down same-sex marriage on February 17. Opposition to the proposal was strong, as 120 parliamentarians voted against it, with 48 in support. Two members of parliament voted absent and 29 MPs did not cast a vote. A Finnish movement called Aito avioliitto (True Marriage) that seeks to uphold marriage …

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FRANCE: Fascist National Front Leader Marine Le Pen Vows To Repeal Same-Sex Marriage If Elected President

Gay Star News reports: Marine Le Pen is planning to abolish same-sex marriage if she wins the French election. The French presidential hopeful made the pledge as part of her 144-page Projet Présidentiels plan. Point 87 on her list states she wants to improve civil unions to ‘replace the provisions of the Taubira law’, which made same-sex marriage legal. The …

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TENNESSEE: GOP Lawmakers Flee Protesters At Presser For Bill To Defy SCOTUS On Obergefell [VIDEO]

Nashville’s CBS affiliate reports: A press conference was abruptly ended when protesters began shouting and yelling over the Republican lawmakers speaking at the podium. State Representative Mark Pody (R–Lebanon) and State Senator Mae Beavers (R–Mt. Juliet) held the press conference to discuss the recently proposed “Bathroom Bill” and “Defense of Marriage Act.” The room was full of people who, at …

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TENNESSEE: Republicans Introduce Bill Calling On State To Defy SCOTUS Ruling On Same-Sex Marriage

Nashville’s ABC affiliate reports: The same-sex marriage debate is back in the state legislature after two new bills were filed. It’s called the Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act, with bills filed by Sen. Mae Beavers in the Senate and Rep. Mark Pody in the House. The bills define marriage as between one man, and one woman in Tennessee, despite what …

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Protect Marriage Lawyer Who Defended Prop 8 At Supreme Court Likely To Be Named Solicitor General

The Protect Marriage lawyer who defended Prop 8 at the Supreme Court and who later appeared to “evolve” on same-sex marriage is expected to be Trump’s pick for Solicitor General. Yahoo News reports: Conservative lawyer Chuck Cooper has emerged as Donald Trump’s likely pick to be the nation’s next solicitor general, three sources say. As the nation’s top advocate, Cooper …

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PERU: Court Recognizes Foreign Same-Sex Marriages

The Associated Press reports: Peru has taken a small step toward recognizing same-sex marriage with a court’s recognition of the Mexican marriage between two men. Peruvian gay rights activist Oscar Ugarteche tried to register his marriage to his Mexican partner shortly after the two were wed in Mexico City in 2010 so that he could change his marital status on …

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NORTH DAKOTA: Republican Majority Senate Rejects Bill To Formalize Same-Sex Marriage Recognition

The Associated Press reports: North Dakota’s Republican-led Senate rejected a measure Tuesday that would have changed state law to reflect the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that same-sex couples have the right to marry. The bill failed 15-31. It would have changed dozens of references, such as “husband and wife,” to gender-neutral terms. North Dakota law lists “one man, one woman” …

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LIVE VIDEO: President Obama Delivers Farewell Speech

From laughter at Trump to sorrow and deep abiding thanks to President Obama, whose farewell speech begins at 9PM Eastern. ABC News reports on what to expect: In a farewell address to the American people Tuesday night, President Obama is expected to reaffirm his belief in the ability of ordinary Americans to bring about positive change in country, according to …

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Sessions: I Still Oppose Abortion Rights And Same-Sex Marriage But I’ll “Follow Those Laws” [VIDEO]

He’ll follow them until Trump stacks the Court against them. The Independent reports: Incoming attorney general Jeff Sessions admitted that he still opposed same-sex marriage and Roe v Wade, a 1973 law that guarantees a women’s right to an abortion. Mr Sessions said he would “respect and follow” both laws in their current form, but admitted he still held his …

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Sessions Spox: Obergefell Is Settled Law [VIDEO]

This morning Sarah Flores, the spokesperson for Jeff Sessions, appeared on CNN to declare that despite his history of loudly opposing same-sex marriage, Obergefell is “settled law at this point” and unlike his predecessor, Sessions will “enforce the laws as they’re written, not as the Justice Department wishes they were.” Flores added that Sessions will make the DOJ “an enforcement …

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TAIWAN: Marriage Passes First Of Three Legislative Readings As Christian Protesters Scream [VIDEO]

The Nikkei Asian Review reports: The first draft of a bill on same-sex marriage won approval from the parliament’s judiciary committee on Monday, opening up the possibility of Taiwan becoming the first in the Asia-Pacific region to let gay couples wed. Following its successful first reading, the bill will undergo cross-party negotiations. But it has also drawn protests, and whether …

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PENNSYLVANIA: Court Rules That Couple Together 46 Years Can Overturn Adult Adoption And Get Married

The Associated Press reports: A Pennsylvania court has ruled that a gay couple can have their 2012 adoption overturned so they could finally get married. A three-judge Superior Court panel on Wednesday handed down a decision saying that state law permits an adult adoption to be dissolved when no one’s opposed. Roland Bosee Jr, 68, and Nino Esposito, 78, of …

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Swag Tuesday: Ending Anita

We have a very special Swag Tuesday today – three autographed copies of Ending Anita, our own Father Tony Adams’ recounting of how two Key West bartenders become the first couple in Florida to win a same-sex marriage lawsuit. From the book’s Amazon description: ENDING ANITA is the story of Aaron Huntsman and Lee Jones, the two gay, outspoken and …

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How To Reverse Obergefell In Three Steps [VIDEO]

Just in from activist Matt Baume: “The National Organization for Marriage says that now Donald’s president, they have a plan to undo marriage equality. But can they do that? Is marriage equality really at risk? Well, yes — and in fact, they could weaken or roll back marriage in just three steps.” Watch below.

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