Marriage Equality

NOM To Mark Obergefell Anniversary With Hate March

Just in via email: Great news — we’ve received official word that our permit application for the 2016 March for Marriage has been approved, and we are moving forward! The March is set for Saturday, June 25th, from 11:30am until 2:00pm. Please mark your calendar to attend and spread the word to everyone that you know. This year’s March will …

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Mexico’s President: Why I Acted On Marriage Equality

Following a 2010 ruling by Mexico’s Supreme Court, same-sex marriage is recognized in all 31 Mexican states, but currently only nine states have enacted laws that allow gay couples to marry locally without going to court. Last month President Enrique Nieto proposed a constitutional change to force the remaining states to comply. Yesterday he authored a Huffington Post column explaining …

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Florida’s Bill For Opposing Gay Marriage: $500,000

Via the Associated Press: Florida taxpayers are going to pay nearly $500,000 for the state’s losing battle to keep intact a voter-approved ban on gay marriage. State officials have now reached settlements with two separate groups of attorneys representing same-sex couples that challenged the state’s ban. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office reached a final settlement on Wednesday that brought the …

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Gay Weddings Celebrated In New Bud Light Commercial Starring Seth Rogen And Amy Schumer [VIDEO]

Advertising Age recaps: Bud Light has partnered with Ellen DeGeneres to launch a new ad today in support of gay marriage. “Gay weddings, they are just like any wedding,” Seth Rogen says in the spot, which shows a wedding between two males. The ad also features Amy Schumer. The two comedians have been starring in the politically themed “Bud Light …

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Woman In NYC’s First Gay Marriage Dies At Age 90

The New York Times reports: Connie Kopelov [seated], whose wedding to Phyllis Siegel in 2011 was the first legal same-sex marriage in New York City, died in Manhattan on Saturday. She was 90. Her death was confirmed by Ms. Siegel, who said Ms. Kopelov had been in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Ms. Kopelov and Ms. Siegel had been …

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AUSTRALIA: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull Predicts National Referendum On Marriage By Year’s End

From the Sydney Morning Herald: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he expects a plebiscite on same-sex marriage to be held by the end of 2016 if the Coalition is returned to government, his strongest commitment yet on the timing of the vote. “We will hold it as soon as possible after the election. Given that the election is on 2 …

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CANADA: Conservative Party Formally Ends “Obsolete” Opposition To Same-Sex Marriage By 2-1 Vote

The Globe & Mail reports: The federal Conservative Party shed its official aversion to gay marriage this weekend as rank-and-file members voted to remove the traditional definition of wedlock from their policy book – part of an effort to recast the Tories after bidding farewell to founder Stephen Harper. “It’s about telling Canadians that you can love whom you want,” …

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Colombia Sees First Same-Sex Marriage [VIDEO]

Michael Lavers reports at the Washington Blade: Two men on Tuesday became the first same-sex couple to legally marry in Colombia. Fernando Quimbayo and José Ticora, who have been together for two years, exchanged vows before a registrar in the city of Cali. El País, a Colombian newspaper, posted a video of the ceremony on its website. Colombia’s constitutional court …

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MEXICO: 65% Back Gay Marriage In New Poll

Via Rex Wockner: Sixty-five percent of Mexicans agree with “approving marriage of persons of the same sex at the national level,” a new BGC-Excélsior poll has found. Thirty-four percent disagree. Sixty-six percent agree or agree in part with changing the federal constitution to permit at the national level that persons of the same sex or different sex can establish a …

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ALABAMA: Republican Party Demands Judicial Ethics Charges Against Justice Roy Moore Be Dropped

Via press release from the Liberty Counsel: The Alabama Republican Party Executive Committee passed a resolution Saturday calling on the unelected Alabama Court of the Judiciary to drop the charges by the unelected Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) against Chief Justice Roy Moore. The JIC has charged Chief Justice Moore with six counts. The Chief Justice has been suspended with pay …

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ROMANIA: Orthodox Church Collects Three Million Signatures In Push To Ban Same-Sex Marriage

Agence France-Presse reports: Romanian campaigners said Monday they had collected three million signatures on a petition to block same-sex unions in the EU member state. Several groups linked to the Orthodox Church and united under the umbrella Coalition for Family are seeking a constitutional amendment to narrowly define marriage as the “union between a man and a woman”. It is …

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ALABAMA: Christians Rally For Roy Moore

Sanctity Of Marriage Alabama and World Net Daily predicted that “thousands” would rally for Roy Moore yesterday. Not quite. Via Al.com: Supporters of suspended Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore called for his reinstatement today at a rally at the state judicial building in Montgomery. Speakers led prayers and urged those at the rally to sign an online petition …

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IN THE NAME OF JESUS: Haters To Rally In Support Of Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore [VIDEO]

Roy Moore was suspended earlier this month following a judicial ethics complaint filed by the SPLC. This weekend haters will rally in Moore’s support in “Jesus’ mighty name.” Via press release: On Saturday, May 21st, at 11 AM in Montgomery, Alabama, a rally will be held to support Chief Justice Roy Moore, marriage, The United States Constitution, the Alabama Constitution, …

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MEXICO: President Denounces Homophobia, Calls For Immediate Marriage Equality Nationwide

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto today unleashed a flurry of tweets that recognize today’s International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia and call for immediate marriage equality nationwide. Same-sex marriage is recognized in all 31 Mexican states, but currently only eight states have enacted laws that allow gay couples to marry locally without going to court. From the Associated Press: Speaking …

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Pope Francis: Catholic Public Officials Should Be Allowed To Opt-Out Of Performing Same-Sex Marriages

Liberty Counsel will be thrilled: Public officials who are Catholic should not be obliged to celebrate gay marriages or civil unions, Pope Francis said Tuesday, his first public remarks on the issue since same-sex partnerships were legalised in Italy last week. “Once a law is approved, the state should be respectful of consciences. Conscientious objection must be possible on all …

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Anti-Gay Bakers Begin Appeal

The Irish Times reports: Christian bakers found guilty of discrimination for refusing to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan could not commit a sin by going against their deeply held consciences, their lawyer has told an appeal hearing. The McArthur family, who run Ashers Baking Company in Belfast, are seeking to overturn a judgment which found they acted …

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ITALY: Civil Unions Bill Nears Final Vote

The Local reports: The justice committee of Italy’s lower house of parliament on Wednesday approved the Senate version of a hotly-contested same-sex unions bill, paving the way for the lower house to begin examining the bill’s full text on May 9th. The bill, which Prime Minister Matteo Renzi put his government on the line for after resorting to a confidence …

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BREAKING: Alabama Commission Files Ethics Charges Against State Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore

UPDATE BELOW: Moore Has been suspended.  Earlier….. Just in from the SPLC: Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore could once again be removed from the bench as the result of judicial ethics complaints filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) after he instructed state court judges to defy a federal court order and enforce the state’s unconstitutional ban on same-sex …

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AUSTRALIA: $160M Budgeted For Marriage Vote

SameSame reports: Attorney-General George Brandis and Minister of Justice Michael Keenan have confirmed Australia’s Federal Government has set aside a sum of $160 million for a plebiscite on same-sex marriage in tonight’s budget. “The Government has also made provision in the Contingency Reserve of $160 million for the plebiscite on same-sex marriage,” they confirm in a statement tonight. They’ve also …

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Kasich: People Are Probably Born Gay [VIDEO]

John Kasich yesterday shrugged and said “probably” when a gay San Francisco man asked if he believes that people are born gay. CNN reports: Kelly Bryan, 62, asked Kasich the question at a forum hosted by the Commonwealth of California Club, telling the Ohio governor, “Gay people are human beings and not a lifestyle choice. Please respond without prayer being …

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