Marriage Equality

NORTH CAROLINA: Court Dismisses Challenge To Law Allowing Magistrates To Refuse To Marry Gays

The Raleigh News & Observer reports: A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by three couples who challenged North Carolina’s law that allows magistrates to refuse to marry same-sex couples by citing religious beliefs. U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn ruled that the couples lacked legal standing as taxpayers to sue and lacked evidence showing they were harmed directly by the law …

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WASHINGTON: Brian Brown To Hold Anti-Gay Protest At Mexican Embassy In Advance Of Protests In Mexico

Posted to NOM’s Facebook page: Join us as we gather in front of the Mexican Embassy to the United States on September 23rd at noon for a demonstration in support of the family in solidarity with the Mexican people! We will join together to show support for the efforts by the Frente Nacional por la Familia (FNF) and other leaders …

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FLORIDA: Clerk Fired For Refusing To Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Cites Leviticus In Federal Lawsuit

Fort Lauderdale’s ABC affiliate reports: A former court specialist is suing Broward Clerk of Courts Howard Forman for firing her over what she is claiming to be religious discrimination. According to a lawsuit obtained by Local 10 News, Yanicka Parker also works as a minister and is a regular attendee of Faith Deliverance Tabernacle, in Fort Lauderdale. Parker claims in …

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Brian Brown To Take Hate Campaign To Mexico

Via press release from hate group leader Brian Brown: Dear Marriage Supporter, As we told you last week, our friends at Frente Nacional por la Familia (National Front for the Family) are leading a nationwide protest of citizens in Mexico to oppose the attempt of the ruling government party led by President Enrique Peña Nieto, to impose widespread legal recognition …

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AUSTRALIA: Proposed Change To Marriage Act Would Allow Civil Servants And Businesses To Refuse Service

The Guardian reports: The government will propose new protections for “conscientious objectors” to same-sex marriage which marriage equality advocates fear could allow civil celebrants, registrars and even bakers and florists to refuse to serve same-sex weddings. According to briefing notes on the plebiscite prepared for the Coalition party room, seen by Guardian Australia, the legislation would allow “conscientious objectors” to …

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AUSTRALIA: MP Confronted By Her Gay Brother Over Proposed Plebiscite On Same-Sex Marriage [VIDEO]

Buzzfeed reports: Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie was faced with a question close to home on ABC’s Q&A on Monday, when her gay brother asked if the government’s proposed plebiscite on marriage would affect his emotional wellbeing. “Given the majority of parliamentarians and Australians now support marriage equality, is a $160 million plebiscite necessary, and what impact do you think the …

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AUSTRALIA: Labor Party Leader Introduces Marriage Bill, Critics Denounce His Comment About Gay Suicide

News Corp Australia reports: Federal Labor has introduced to parliament legislation that aims to legalise same-sex marriage in an attempt to gazump the government’s planned national vote on the issue. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten introduced a private bill on Monday, saying it was a chance for the parliament to prove its worth and fulfil its purpose. “Today we can bring …

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MEXICO: 12 Year-Old Boy Tries To Block Anti-Gay Marriage March, Tells Press He Has A Gay Uncle

Andy Towle reports at Towleroad: Across Mexico over the weekend, thousands of “pro-family” groups protested against same-sex marriage as the country moves toward marriage equality. In one particular march in Celaya, Guanajuato, a 12-year-old boy was photographed in the middle of the street trying to block the march of 11,000 people from moving forward. Journalist Manuel Rodriguez captured an image …

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FINLAND: Parliament Debates Initiative To Repeal Same-Sex Marriage Law Before It Goes Into Effect

Early this year Finland’s parliament finalized the details of the marriage equality law which goes into effect in March 2017. Enter the group attempting to repeal the law before then. Via the Helsinki Times: A citizens’ initiative to repeal the upcoming legislative amendment granting marriage rights to same-sex couples was discussed at the Finnish Parliament on Thursday. Hanna Sarkkinen (Left …

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AUSTRALIA: Gay Icon Kylie Minogue Slams “Backward” Homeland For Dragging Feet On Same-Sex Marriage

Australia’s Daily Telegraph reports: Kylie Minogue and fiance Joshua Sasse have confirmed their support for marriage equality in Australia as it continues to dominate political debate. Minogue, a gay icon, has noted how “backward” Australia is on the same-sex marriage issue, stating that “the earth didn’t cave in” in other countries where it is now legal and that “love is …

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Texas Supreme Court Justice: Deny Benefits To Gay Spouses Because Marriage Is For Making Babies

The opinion of this Roy Moore wannabe was in the minority but Slate warns of what it portends. Mark Joseph Stern writes: On Friday, the Texas Supreme Court refused to review a lower court ruling holding that cities may not deprive married same-sex couples the benefits it provides to opposite-sex couples. The court’s decision leaves in place a pro-equality ruling …

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ALABAMA: State GOP Chair Seeks To Change Rules To Protect Unethical Renegade Judges Like Roy Moore

AL.com reports: Alabama’s process for punishing judges needs to be changed, the Alabama Republican Party’s executive committee says in a resolution aimed at what led to the suspension of Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore. The resolution asks that the executive, legislative and judicial branches of state government enact law for the election of all nine of the Judicial Inquiry Commission …

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AUSTRALIA: Multiple Marriage Bills Announced

The Guardian reports: Labor and a group of Greens and independent MPs have separately given notice that they will introduce private members’ bills to legalise same-sex marriage. Greens MP Adam Bandt and independents Cathy McGowan and Andrew Wilkie gave notice on Tuesday of a cross-party marriage equality bill, in identical terms to one before the previous parliament. On Tuesday, as …

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AUSTRALIA: PFLAG Hits Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull With Ad Mocking Marriage Plebiscite [VIDEO]

Via press release from PFLAG Australia: Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays has stepped up its campaign against a marriage equality plebiscite with the release of a new advertisement. The ad highlights the fact politicians can ignore the result of a plebiscite, as well as the plebiscite’s $160 million price tag. PFLAG national spokesperson, Shelley Argent, said, “As parents, …

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AUSTRALIA: Parties Plot To Stop Malcolm Turnbull’s Marriage Referendum, Demand Vote In Parliament

Two days ago Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Liberal Party announced that a national referendum on same-sex marriage will take place in February. Not so fast, says the opposition. Via Australia’s ABC News: A plebiscite on same-sex marriage is looking less likely, with the Federal Opposition determined to have a parliamentary vote to change marriage laws instead. The Government has promised …

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AUSTRALIA: Government Breaks Promise, Will Push Marriage Referendum Back To February 2017

The Sydney Morning Herald reports: The Turnbull government will push back the date of the proposed same-sex marriage plebiscite until February 2017, breaking a flagship pledge. The Prime Minister had said he wanted the vote to be held this year. However a spokesperson for Mr Turnbull told Fairfax that Special Minister of State, Scott Ryan, received advice last week from …

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HAWAII: Openly Lesbian State Rep Who Voted Against Same-Sex Marriage Loses Democratic Primary

Back in 2013, Hawaii state Rep. Jo Jordan became the first openly LGBT legislator in history to vote against same-sex marriage, earning her wild praise from hate group leaders Tony Perkins and Brian Brown. Today JMG reader Donovan writes to let us know that Jordan lost her seat to a former Green Party member in Saturday’s Democratic primary. Good.

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Brian Brown To Supporters: Thanks For Nothing, Losers

Yesterday NOM president Brian Brown called his supporters “pathetic” because he can’t even scrape up a few thousand dollars in a summer donation drive. In today’s money beg, he continues the wise fundraising strategy of berating the very people he’s trying to swindle. In fact, he effectively accuses them of being apostates. An excerpt: I imagine that Anthony Kennedy, the …

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GEORGIA: President Blocks Anti-Same Sex Marriage Referendum Backed By The World Congress Of Families

Democracy & Freedom Watch reports: President Giorgi Margvelashvili made it clear Tuesday evening that he does not support the proposed referendum about amending the Constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The reason, Margvelashvili said at a briefing, is that there is already a proper definition of marriage in the Constitution. With two hundred …

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ALABAMA: Court Orders Trial For Justice Roy Moore

A very late update from AL.com: Suspended Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore will go on trial next month on judicial ethics charges after the Alabama Court of the Judiciary late Monday issued an order that denied Moore’s request to dismiss the charges. The court, in a brief one-page order, also denied a motion by the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission …

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