Marriage Equality

A few quotes from a lengthy Politico recap: Sen. Thom Tillis has helped ink plenty of bipartisan deals over the past two years. Tillis said that it shouldn’t have shocked people to see him so out front on same-sex marriage way back in July: “That’s probably the libertarian side of me.” “I do feel that the young populations are much …

The Associated Press reports: The passage of the legislation with support from both parties is an extraordinary sign of the shifting politics on the issue and a measure of relief for the hundreds of thousands of same-sex couples who have married since the Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalized gay marriage nationwide. Senate Democrats are moving quickly, …

NPR reports: Lawmakers are moving forward with the vote Tuesday afternoon after securing essential Republican support during a procedural vote on Monday. With bipartisan support, the legislation is expected to clear the Senate Tuesday, then head back to the House where it is expected to be passed quickly and sent to the president’s desk to be signed into law. The …

Via earlier press release from Sen. Mike Lee: My simple, common-sense amendment would prohibit the federal government from retaliating against any person or group for adhering to sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions about marriage. In no way would my amendment impair the RFMA’s ability to perform its simple, stated purpose: to protect same-sex marriage against an extremely unlikely …

Congress Minutes reports: Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the chamber will vote on three GOP amendments to the legislation — one each from Sens. Mike Lee (Utah), Marco Rubio (Fla.) and James Lankford (Okla.) — on Tuesday before voting on final passage. Lee’s, expanding religious protections, set at a 60-vote threshold. Lankford’s amendment, set at a majority threshold. And Rubio’s, …

The Hill reports: Senators ultimately voted 61-35 to advance the amendment to the Respect for Marriage Act that includes language related to religious liberty and conscience protections under the Constitution and federal law. It would also continues to prohibit polygamous marriage. But the voting was held open for almost two-and-a-half hours as senators wrangled over whether additional amendments could come up …

From the haters at the Heritage Foundation: Ahead of another vote on the so-called Respect for Marriage Act, most of the 12 GOP senators who previously voted for the legislation are refusing to divulge whether they support Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee’s amendment protecting Americans’ religious freedom. Following the Thanksgiving holiday, the Senate will hold a procedural vote Monday on …

Politico reports: The Senate is expected to vote this evening to end debate on a substitute amendment to the bipartisan marriage equality bill that narrowly advanced before the Thanksgiving recess with 12 Republican votes to clear a procedural hurdle. Final passage is still ahead. The bill would ensure that the federal government recognize a same-sex marriage if it was valid …

Bloomberg News reports: India’s Supreme Court has agreed to examine a petition that seeks legal recognition of same-sex marriage, in a development that could build on a string of rulings expanding protection for the LGBTQ community. The petition, which was filed this month by a couple, evoked India’s Special Marriage Act, a law that originally legalized interfaith unions. The petitioners …

From the far-right Catholic outlet LifeSiteNews: Former U.S. vice president Mike Pence gave mixed answers when asked about the federal codification of same-sex “marriages,” suggesting he personally believes in a Biblical view of marriage but recognizes the U.S. Supreme Court’s radical redefinition of marriage established in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). in an interview with CBS News’ “Face the Nation” that …

From the Family Research Council: Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee is urging the 12 Republican senators who voted for the so-called Respect for Marriage Act to oppose cloture on the legislation unless his amendment is added to the bill. “The free exercise of religion is absolutely essential to the health of our Republic,” the senator wrote in a “Dear Colleague” letter first obtained …

The New York Times reports: The Senate on Wednesday afternoon will hold a crucial test vote on legislation to provide federal protections for same-sex marriage, with proponents in both parties expressing fresh hope that they had at least 10 Republican votes necessary to break a Republican filibuster and move it through the 50-50 chamber. In the wake of midterm elections …

The Associated Press reports: Staring down the prospect of divided government in the next Congress, Senate Democrats are moving forward with legislation this week to protect same sex and interracial marriages. It’s a vote that’s “as personal as it gets,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. Schumer is holding a test vote on the bill Wednesday, betting that at least …

The Salt Lake Tribune reports: In an unexpected move Tuesday, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave its support to a proposed federal law, which recognizes all legal marriages, including ones between same-sex partners. The Utah-based faith’s doctrine “related to marriage between a man and a woman is well known and will remain unchanged,” according to a statement …

Semafor reports: Democrats will put the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act up for a vote this week just days after the midterms, according to a Senate aide. Earlier this month, Semafor reported that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer intended to pass the Respect for Marriage Act by year’s end and that it was expected to have enough votes. This legislation, …

From a column published today by the Daily Caller: Early voting in the midterm elections is underway. While the economy and abortion rights loom large in the minds of voters, polling shows that marriage equality is actively emerging as a key issue with suburban voters. Republican support for the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA) could very well maximize the impact …

Jezebel reports: Per Oz’s campaign website, the rally will take place at 7 p.m. at Ironstone Ranch on the Stone Gables Estate in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The estate—which also features the popular wedding venue, Star Barn Village—prohibits same-sex marriage due to the owner David Abel’s religious beliefs. The venue’s website states that it “reserve[s] the right” to restrict events that …

South Carolina’s Post & Courier reports: Gov. Henry McMaster said he’d support South Carolina’s voided bans on same-sex marriage if the U.S. Supreme Court ever overturned its 2015 ruling that guaranteed that right to gay couples nationwide. The statement came during the only debate between McMaster and his challenger, Democrat Joe Cunningham, as the governor made clear he still disagrees …

The Associated Press reports: Serious, standing upright and dressed in long gala dresses – despite the midday Cuban heat – Lisset and Liusba quietly walk up the ten steps of the notary office, their hands clenched and shaking. Less than a few feet ahead walk their two young daughters. Nearly an hour later, when they walked out of the doors, …

Via press release: GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, is releasing two urgent new ads about the stakes for LGBTQ Americans in the upcoming midterm elections, including the threat to marriage equality, to urge LGBTQ people and allies to vote. GLAAD created the 30-second spot “Marriage Threat” in collaboration with Family Equality. The ads premiere October 12th with …