Marriage Equality

As those of us who watched the live-stream know, last night’s county commission meeting in Blount County, Tennessee was abruptly adjourned without a vote on the resolution that would ask God to pass over Blount County when he kills everybody for loving gay marriage. The resolution’s author, Commissioner Karen Miller, says she was “blindsided” by the move. The adjournment brought …

The county commissioners of Blount County, Tennessee are about have a public hearing on the resolution of loony bird Commissioner Karen Miller, who wants them to formally ask God to “pass us by” during “His Coming Wrath” when he righteously kills the fuck out of the rest of America over gay marriage. Local activists are staging a protest outside the …

Bernie Sanders regularly touts himself as one of the first and most vigorous supporters of  marriage equality. And compared to Hillary Clinton’s relatively recent evolution, he’s right. But as Salon points out, Sanders too took a while to get there. Mark David Stern writes: In 2006, he took a stand against same-sex marriage in Vermont, stating that he instead endorsed …

After today’s big reveal about the Pope’s private audience with his former student Yayo Grassi, reporters are deluging Grassi’s DC home with interview requests. The Washington Post got some fascinating quotes from Grassi, who says that he had to speak out in the wake of the Kim Davis story. “Although I didn’t know any details, I knew immediately that he …

This morning the Vatican formally distanced Pope Francis from Kim Davis in a statement which declares that his meeting with her “should not be considered a form of support.” The Associated Press reports: After days of confusion, the Vatican issued a statement Friday clarifying Francis’ Sept. 24 encounter with Davis, an Apostolic Christian who has become a focal point in …

The Sixth Circuit Court today agreed to a Liberty Counsel request to consolidate all their various appeals on behalf of Kim Davis. Equality Case Files has the order: The defendant-appellant moves to consolidate these three appeals for briefing and submission. She also moves to extend the briefing schedule previously set in No. 15-5880 and for leave to exceed the word …

Marriage equality champion Jim Obergefell has penned an open letter to Kim Davis. Via the ACLU, here’s the full text of his letter: “As you may know, when you fall in love with someone, you hand your heart and soul over to them. Anyone who has committed to sharing their life with another human and forming a family unit knows …

Mediaite recaps yesterday’s appearance on The View by Rick Santorum: The View co-host Raven-Symoné, who considers herself a “part of the gay and transgender community,” was eager on Tuesday to challenge GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum on why he remains against equal marriage rights for same-sex couples even after the issue was settled by the Supreme Court. After pausing for …

ABC News this morning broadcast an interview with Kim Davis in which she describes meeting Pope Francis. “I was crying. I had tears coming out of my eyes,” Davis said in an exclusive interview with ABC News. “I’m just a nobody, so it was really humbling to think he would want to meet or know me.” Davis, who refused to …

According to an unconfirmed claim by the unofficial website Inside The Vatican, Pope Francis secretly met with Kim Davis and her husband Joe Davis at the Vatican Embassy in Washington DC last Thursday. The Pope reportedly embraced Davis and thanked her for her “courage.” From the report: Pope Francis entered the room. Kim greeted him, and the two embraced. There …

Carly Fiorina, much like the Liberty Counsel, doesn’t understand how the internet works. Via The Hill: A liberal watchdog group is accusing Carly Fiorina of falsely asserting that she never called the Supreme Court’s decision legalizing gay marriage the “law of the land.” The issue came up in an interview Fiorina gave to Iowa conservative radio host Jan Mickelson last …

“I am the very model of a modern fundamentalist. I’m not merely judgmental, I’m the absolute judgmentalest! I always follow scripture and I act on God’s authority, Though marital fidelity was never my priority.” Gilbert and Sullivan would approve.

A special committee called by Brazilian Chamber of Deputies President Eduardo Cunha has approved a statute that defines a family as a being headed by a man and a woman. The statute is seen as the first move in an attempt to roll back same-sex marriage rights. World Crunch reports: Rio de Janeiro daily O Globo reports that the text was …

NBC News reports: Pope Francis appeared to weigh in on the side of anti-gay-marriage clerk Kim Davis, saying government workers have a “human right” to refuse to carry out a duty if they have a “conscientious objection.” While returning from his visit to the U.S., the pontiff told reporters aboard the papal plane Monday that anyone who prevents others from …

Yesterday on Meet The Press, NBC’s Chuck Todd grilled Hillary Clinton on several policy flip-flops including same-sex marriage, prompting the Democratic front-runner to say, “On same-sex marriage, like a lot of people, including our president, I did evolve. And I was not raised to even imagine this. And I’m thrilled now that it is the law of the land. And …

Last night the Democratic National Committee held its annual LGBT gala at Manhattan’s Gotham Hall, where President Obama warmly embraced SCOTUS champion Jim Obergefell. Over 500 donors attended the event, paying from $1200 to the Federal Election Commission maximum of $33,400 per ticket. CNN reports on Obama’s remarks to the crowd: “One of their leading candidates argued that going to …

The usually moderate John McCain took the side of Kim Davis yesterday at the Values Voter Summit. Talking Points Memo reports: “I think she was right in that she can exercise the dictates of her conscience and everyone should respect that,” McCain said. “I do not believe that therefore she should violate the law. She should have just said, ‘I …

The Slate recaps last night’s show: “I think everyone should love whoever they want,” Colbert said. “So, I was miffed when Kentucky County Clerk and forehead magnate Kim Davis refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. But I also felt bad for her when that judge sent her to jail and even worse when she was sentenced to send …

Via the Associated Press: South Dakota on Friday agreed to pay $242,000 to attorneys for same-sex couples who challenged the state’s ban on gay marriages. Attorney Josh Newville said the deal was finalized Friday, bringing to a close the lawsuit filed in federal District Court in May 2014. “I’m glad we don’t have to fight over it anymore,” he said. …

Germany’s Bundesrat today approved a same-sex marriage bill. The Bundesrat is comprised of representatives from Germany’s 16 states. The German federal council (Bundesrat) on Friday approved a bill recognising same-sex marriage by a majority of votes from representatives of the country’s major political parties. The bill, which includes reforms to German civil law, was submitted by the governments of four …