Tag Archives: marriage equality

Earlier this week an anti-gay Australian couple earned international headlines when they declared that that they will divorce in a symbolic stand against same-sex marriage. But as it turns out, their plan to remain living together may thwart any divorce under Australian law. The Family Law Act states that an application for divorce will only be considered if the parties …

Citing threats from Christian groups who last year physically blockaded the Seoul Pride parade, last week the Seoul police denied a permit for what would be South Korea’s 16th annual such event. The Korea Queer Cultural Festival kicked off this week anyway, but not without a rabble of Christian protesters who were watched over by about 1000 cops. Via the …

Two weeks ago 53 corporations advertised their support for same-sex marriage in a full-page message that ran in major Australian newspapers. Today that number triples to 154 in the above message running in News Corp outlets owned by Rupert Murdoch. Among the companies joining in are McDonald’s, Levis, Mastercard, Google, Twitter, H&M, Virgin, and Qantas.

Pope Francis will hold his first-ever meeting with a married gay activist during a visit to Paraguay next month. The activist is Simón Cazal, executive director of the Paraguayan LGBT rights group SOMOSGAY, who married another SOMOSGAY activist, Sergio López, in neighboring Argentina in 2012. Though the pope has reportedly held pastoral meetings with some LGBT people, this meeting marks …

The governor of Chihuahua yesterday declared that same-sex marriages are to commence immediately. Duarte’s announcement comes ahead of an expected ruling from the Mexican Supreme Court that Proceso said will order Chihuahuan lawmakers to decide the issue of marriage rights for gays and lesbians. The newspaper reported the decision will also require local authorities to compensate the 31 same-sex couples …

Via the Associated Press: The German Parliament’s upper house is calling on the government to embrace full-fledged marriage for gay couples, an attempt to step up pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party. The upper house represents Germany’s 16 state governments and has a left-wing majority — unlike the lower house. The resolution approved Friday doesn’t force the government to …

“It is true that a local BB&T branch in the Miami area hosted a fundraiser for a program called Legacy Couples, which recognizes same-sex couples who have been in committed relationships for 10 years or more, but the bank did not promote this program through a national advertising campaign (or we would still be looking for another bank). I think …

“The House of Representatives in North Carolina just voted 69-41 to override Governor Pat McCrory’s veto of Senate Bill 2, the critical legislation that will protect marriage and religious liberty. The state Senate previously voted to override McCrory’s veto meaning that this important legislation now becomes law! This is a huge victory for supporters of marriage and was brought about …

Anderson writes for the Heritage Foundation: Earlier today, the North Carolina House voted to override the veto of S.B. 2, a bill that protects the religious liberty of civil servants in that state. Because the Senate had already voted to override the veto as well, the bill is now law. This is good public policy, and it is a shame …

Via press release from Lambda Legal: Today was a discouraging day for equality and justice. Michigan today enacted a law that allows state-funded adoption and foster care agencies to turn people away on religious grounds, and North Carolina enacted a law allowing government magistrates to refuse to perform civil marriage ceremonies for couples whose union they object to on religious …

From an Australian version of The Onion: “In response to threats from a Canberra couple to divorce were equal marriage laws to pass, a local couple in a committed same-sex relationship have in turn threatened to absolutely not give the slightest shit were that to happen. Local couple Brett and Harry have said that while they are not heterophobic and …

Via the Associated Press: Nearly two-thirds of Americans expect the Supreme Court to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide when it rules on the issue within the next few weeks, according to a new poll. Only 25 percent expect the high court to leave existing state bans on gay marriage intact, while 65 percent expect the bans to be overturned, according to …

The override passed by a mere three votes. UPDATE: From the Campaign For Southern Equality. “Senate Bill 2 is unconstitutional, and will undoubtedly be challenged in court. This bill, which will now become law, is discriminatory and treats gay and lesbian couples as second class citizens. We are more determined than ever to achieve full equality for LGBT people in …

A coalition of hate groups and Christian pastors calling themselves Defend Marriage has published a full-page message to SCOTUS in the Washington Post. Among the signers at the bottom of the ad are Mat Staver, Elaine Donnelly, the Benham brothers, Alveda King, Jim Garlow, John Hagee, E.W. Jackson, Don Wildmon, Dave Welch, Robert Jeffress, and Penny Nance. From the text: …

Rick Santorum called into Glenn Beck’s show today to declare that as president he will not enforce a SCOTUS ruling on same-sex marriage. Because gay marriage is somehow against the First Amendment. “This is tantamount to government establishing religion,” Santorum said. “When the United States government comes in and says this is what you are going to believe, this is …

We didn’t have any video for my report on Monday, but Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore has thoughtfully posted the below clip to his Facebook page.

“My wife and I just celebrated our 10-year anniversary. But later this year, we may be getting a divorce. The decision to divorce is not one we’ve taken lightly. And certainly, it’s not one that many will readily understand. And that’s because it’s not a traditional divorce. Our view is that marriage is a fundamental order of creation. Part of …

Via the Associated Press: A judge ordered Arkansas officials on Tuesday to recognize more than 500 same-sex marriages performed in the state last year, a move that will let the couples enjoy a host of benefits such as filing taxes jointly and enrolling together in state health insurance plans. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen validated marriage licenses that were …

UPDATE: Just in from Brian Brown: As you may have heard, last week the North Carolina Senate overrode Governor Pat McCrory’s incredibly uninformed veto of critically important legislation to protect marriage and religious liberty. That was a great victory, but we are not done yet because now the House in North Carolina also needs to override McCrory’s veto. Please click …

Via the Associated Press: A judge says he’ll rule in the next two days on whether Arkansas should recognize more than 500 same-sex marriages performed in the state last year. An attorney for two of the couples told Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen that her clients’ rights were being deprived by the state not recognizing their marriage licenses. The …