Tag Archives: marriage equality

Activist Jim Obergefell Launches Run For Ohio House

The Huffington Post reports: Jim Obergefell, who was at the center of the 2015 Supreme Court case that legalized marriage equality in the United States, announced Tuesday that he is running for a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives. “We should all be able to participate fully in society and the economy, living in strong communities with great public …

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Body Of FL Marriage Equality Activist Found In Landfill

The Tallahassee Democrat reports: Jorge Diaz-Johnston, whose body was found Saturday in a Jackson County landfill, was a plaintiff in a historic lawsuit that ended with Miami-Dade becoming the first county in the state to legalize same-sex marriages. Jorge was last seen Jan. 3 in the 2800 block of Remington Green Circle near his workplace, according to the Tallahassee Police …

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NJ Lawmakers Vote To Codify Same-Sex Marriage

The New Jersey Advance reports: Eight years after court decisions made same-sex marriage legal in New Jersey, both houses of the state Legislature on Monday passed a bill that would officially enshrine gay couples right to wed into state law. The state Senate voted 35-4 on Monday afternoon. The Assembly passed it by a 53 to-10 vote with four abstentions …

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NJ Moves To Formally Codify Same-Sex Marriage

Politico reports: For the first time since 2012, the New Jersey Legislature held a vote on gay marriage. In this case, just the Assembly Judiciary Committee. But it appears the bill, which writes the 2013 Superior Court decision legalizing gay marriage into law, is headed for a quick passage in the lame duck. The reason: With the right-leaning U.S. Supreme …

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Chilean Lawmakers Legalize Same-Sex Marriage [Video]

The New York Times reports: Lawmakers in Chile on Tuesday legalized same-sex marriage, a landmark victory for gay rights activists that underscores how profoundly the country’s politics and society have shifted in the past decade. By overwhelming majorities in both chambers, lawmakers put the unions of same-sex couples on par with others, making Chile the 31st nation to allow gay …

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Chile On Verge Of Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage

The Associated Press reports: A measure to legalize marriage and adoption by same-sex couples was approved by the lower house of Chile’s Congress on Tuesday, moving it close to final adoption. It had already passed the Senate. The bill approved 101-30 now awaits only final modifications related to the rights of same sex couples. President Sebastián Piñera has indicated he …

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Swiss Govt: Same-Sex Marriages To Begin On July 1st

The Associated Press reports: Switzerland’s executive body announced Wednesday that same-sex couples can get married starting on July 1 next year, making good on the resounding support Swiss voters expressed in a referendum. The Federal Council officially said that starting Jan. 1, Switzerland would recognize the marriages of same-sex couples who wed in in other countries instead of continuing to …

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DOJ Drops Opposition To Survivor Benefits For LGBTs

NBC News reports: Social Security survivors benefits will now be available to same-sex spouses and partners who had been denied access due to previous bans on gay marriage. The Department of Justice and the Social Security Administration on Monday announced that they dismissed appeals filed by the then-Trump administration in two class-action lawsuits related to Social Security survivors benefits for …

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Mary Cheney “Proud” Of Sister For Marriage Apology

“I love my sister very much and am so proud of her. It took a ton of courage to admit that she was wrong back in 2013 when she opposed marriage equality. That is something few politicians would ever do. I have nothing but respect and admiration for the strength of character she continues to show on a daily basis. …

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Liz Cheney: I Was Wrong To Oppose Marriage Equality

Mediaite reports: During her 60 Minutes interview on Sunday, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) admitted she was wrong for opposing same-sex marriage in 2013. Her sister, Mary Cheney, is gay, and she told Chris Wallace during a 2013 interview that she “believe[s] in the traditional definition of marriage.” “I love Mary very much. I love her family very much. This is …

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Exit Polls: Swiss Voters Approve Same-Sex Marriage

The BBC reports: Swiss voters have backed same-sex marriage in a referendum, according to projections. More than 60% supported the measure, which would bring the country into line with most of western Europe. In the build up to the vote, church groups and conservative political parties opposed the idea, saying it would undermine the traditional family. Switzerland has allowed same-sex …

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Switzerland To Vote Sunday On Same-Sex Marriage

Reuters reports: Swiss voters decide on Sunday whether to allow same-sex couples to wed and adopt children after a highly charged campaign pitted gay rights activists against conservative opponents in one of the last Western European countries to still ban gay marriage. The federal government and parliament approved opening civil marriage to same-sex couples, but opponents forced a referendum on …

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CO’s Polis Becomes First Gay Gov To Marry In Office

NPR reports: Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis wed his longtime partner on Wednesday, marking the first same-sex marriage of a sitting United States governor. In 2018, Polis became the first openly gay man ever elected governor in the U.S. A decade earlier, he was the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. House. “Over the course of Jared’s career …

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Thousands Rally For Marriage Equality In Switzerland

The Associated Press reports: Tens of thousands protested in Switzerland on Saturday for the legalization of same-sex marriage in the Alpine country. The protests came ahead of a national referendum on Sept. 26 on the legalization of gay marriage, which has already been introduced in many other European countries. So far, same-sex couples in Switzerland can only get official approval …

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Politico: GOP “Waves White Flag” On Marriage Equality

Politico reports: In interviews with Republican operatives, former Trump administration officials, and conservative leaders, there is a widespread acceptance that debate over marriage equality is settled. There is no serious discussion about trying to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark Supreme Court case that ruled states are required by law to recognize the marriage of same-sex couples. There were openly …

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Chilean Senate Approves Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Michael Lavers reports at the Washington Blade: The Chilean Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would extend marriage rights to same-sex couples. The vote took place less than a month after President Sebastián Piñera announced he supports marriage equality and urged lawmakers in the South American country to quickly act on the issue. The bill now goes to the …

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Court Tosses Suit By Judge Who Was Sanctioned For Refusing To Perform “Offensive” Same-Sex Marriages

The Waco Tribune-Herald reports: Travis County judge has thrown out McLennan County Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley’s lawsuit against the state panel that sanctioned her in 2019 for refusing to perform same-sex weddings. Neither Hensley nor her attorney, Jeremy Dys of the First Liberty Institute, returned phone messages Monday from the Tribune-Herald. In dismissing the suit, Soifer also ordered …

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Gallup: Support For Same-Sex Marriage At Record 70%

Gallup reports: U.S. support for legal same-sex marriage continues to trend upward, now at 70% — a new high in Gallup’s trend since 1996. This latest figure marks an increase of 10 percentage points since 2015, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that all states must recognize same-sex marriages. Republicans, who have consistently been the party group least in favor …

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German Priests To Defy Vatican, Bless Same-Sex Unions

The Associated Press reports: Germany’s powerful Catholic progressives are openly defying a recent Holy See pronouncement that priests cannot bless same-sex unions by offering such blessings at services in about 100 different churches all over the country this week. The blessings at open worship services are the latest pushback from German Catholics against a document released in March by the …

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Man Wants To Marry Daughter, Hate Group Blames Gays

From the American Family Association’s OneNewsNow: The U.S. ruled nearly six years ago in the Obergefell case that same-gender couples have a right to marry. Pundits at the time said it was the beginning of a slippery slope. Mary Beth Waddell, director of federal affairs for the Family Research Council (FRC), tells OneNewsNow the definitions of marriage and family have …

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