Tag Archives: Utah

The attorneys general of fifteen states have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in which they predictably argue that a ruling in favor of same-sex marriage will “irretrievably” destroy their right to self-government. From the brief:  The Constitution takes no sides on same-sex marriage, and therefore leaves the issue up to the free deliberations of state citizens. The …

“I believe a great mayor needs a big heart! The mayor is the leader of the City. It is the mayor’s job to bring people together. Find common ground. Unite the community! A mayor needs to be out of his office. Out in the community – every day. Checking the pulse. Out in the neighborhoods. At the festivals. At the …

“Having visited the Beehive State and Governor Herbert less than two years ago, I know firsthand how hard Log Cabin Republicans of Utah President James Humphreys and his team have been working to achieve this monumental victory. The passage of this bill in Utah should show Republicans around the country that the balance between LGBT rights and religious liberty is …

As you can see in the tweet above, there were two pieces of good news out of Utah last night as the “license to discriminate” bill is dead for this legislative session. The clip below was posted to Gov. Herbert’s official YouTube channel.

Via Salt Lake City’s Fox affiliate: The gallery was packed as Rep. Brad Dee, R-Ogden, presented the bill. Behind him were his co-sponsors, Sen. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, and Senate Majority Whip Stuart Adams, R-Layton. “There was a lot of people and a lot of faith that went into this particular bill,” Dee said, crying. An LGBT nondiscrimination bill, which …

Details.

Via press release from the Human Rights Campaign: “Symbolically, seeing the church leaders advocating so openly for these protections will no doubt be deeply meaningful to Mormon families with LGBT members, and provide encouragement to LGBT youth in the church,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “But, as a matter of public policy, it appears deeply flawed.” Doctors would still …

Via Salt Lake City’s Fox affiliate: In at least one big and bruising culture-war battle, the Mormon church wants to call a partial truce. Convening a rare press conference on Tuesday at church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Mormon leaders pledged to support anti-discrimination laws for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people, as long the laws also protect the rights …

Via the Salt Lake Tribune: These six people put their names to the lawsuit challenging Amendment 3. They stood up, stood together and helped history along. Through 2014, they rode the legal roller coaster — to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld Shelby’s ruling, and onto the U.S. Supreme Court, which issued a stay on the ruling. …

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and state Attorney General Jim Hood this afternoon filed a motion with the Fifth Circuit Court which demands an indefinite stay extension on yesterday’s ruling by a federal district court. That court’s stay is scheduled to expire in two weeks and according to today’s filing, unless an emergency extension is granted, there will be another “debacle” …

Former porn actress Asia Lemmon (real name Jessica Steinhauser) was allowed to wear her Holy Colander while posing for her Utah driver’s license. Lemmon, who says she is an atheist, said claiming membership in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster was a decision she’s proud of. “I’m a really proud, outspoken atheist,” Lemmon said. “I am proud of Utah …

The Mormon Church has finally formally acknowledged that its founder Joseph Smith married as many as 40 women, one of whom was only 14 years old at the time. Elder Steven E. Snow, the church historian and a member of its senior leadership, said in an interview, “There is so much out there on the Internet that we felt we …

Via the Salt Lake Tribune: The Utah Supreme Court on Thursday lifted a stay which had barred from completion four pending adoptions of children by their same-sex parents. The action clears the way for the Utah Department of Health to issue birth certificates that list the same-sex parents as the children’s legal parents. It will also restart countless other adoptions …

Utah’s governor and attorney general today threw up their hands and said, “Sorry about all that hate. Besties forever?” Via the Salt Lake Tribune: Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said marriage licenses would be immediately issued to same-sex couples. “Not to issue one would be a violation of the 10th Circuit’s mandate and a violation of these couples’ …

Things are happening fast, people!

Via USA Today: The Supreme Court refused to get involved in the national debate over same-sex marriage Monday, leaving intact lower court rulings that will legalize the practice in 11 additional states. The unexpected decision by the justices, announced without further explanation, immediately affects five states in which federal appeals courts had struck down bans against gay marriage: Virginia, Indiana, …

Clip recap: “The Supreme Court hasn’t made a move on marriage yet. We’ll take a look at what they might be waiting for. US Attorney General Eric Holder reveals the Department of Justice’s plans to support marriage equality. We have hearings coming up in Alaska, Louisiana, and Texas. And the National Organization for Marriage makes another desperate move in Oregon.”