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The House Civil Justice Committee will be the first in Minnesota’s history to conduct a hearing on the possibility of legalizing the freedom to marry in the state. Three bills will be up for discussion on Monday, and all three are supportive of expanded relationship rights for Minnesota’s same-sex couples. The Marriage and Family Protection Act would make marriages in Minnesota gender neutral. A civil unions bill is also being proposed and another bill would honor marriages of same-sex couples performed in other states where it is legal, such as neighboring Iowa.
Read MoreNew Hampshire's House has rejected a bill that would have repealed the state's gay marriage law. The House voted 210-109 to kill the bill. And a second measure to define marriage as between a man and a woman was also defeated by a wide margin.
Read MoreEvan Wolfson, Executive Director of Freedom to Marry made the following statement regarding the vote by New Hampshire House of Representatives rejecting HR1590-FN, a bill that would repeal the freedom to marry, and CACR 28, a resolution seeking to amend the state constitution to restrict marriage:
Read MoreRick Ungar gives his take on the signing, by Edwin Meese III and other conservatives, of a document subtitled: "Constitutional Conservatism: A Statement for the 21st Century“. "As I read through the document... I wondered, were the statements held in the Mount Vernon pronouncement really what the founders had in mind? ...I explored a few of the Constitutional tenents they put forth, such as how the Constitution honors the central place of individual liberty in American politics and life. Nothing wrong with that one -except that there was something profoundly disingenuous about hearing this from people who would deny individual liberty to Americans who wish to pursue their right to whatever sexual orientation they choose along with the freedom to marry whomever they please."
Read MoreThe Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has chosen to end its 80-year-old foster-care program in the District rather than offer benefits to same-sex spouses of employees under DC's new freedom to marry law which is expected to take effect in the next couple of weeks. Catholic Charities, which runs more than 20 social service programs for the District, transferred its entire foster-care program -- 43 children, 35 families and seven staff members -- to another provider, the National Center for Children and Families. Edward Orzechowski, president and chief executive of Catholic Charities, indicated that, regarding other social service programs with the city, the group will be looking at ways to avoid paying benefits to same-sex spouses or ways to write benefits plans so as not to characterize gay couples as "married."
Read MoreFour Democratic state senators — Dennis Black of Newton, Keith Kreiman of Bloomfield, Rich Olive of Story City and Joe Seng of Davenport — broke with their party and signed on to a Republican petition to force a vote on marriage equality. But with last week marking the first self-imposed legislative “funnel week” deadline for bills to clear committee to stay eligible for consideration this year, the marriage amendment is officially dead, at least in this form.
Read MorePresident Obama says he opposes same-sex marriage for religious reasons. Fourteen years ago, however, while a churchgoing Christian and a state legislative candidate, he endorsed the right of gays and lesbians to marry. Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, says, "I'm sure the president would agree that personal religious beliefs should not dictate whether government treats people equally," he said. "My advice to the president would be to be authentic and real and make the case for equality that you repeatedly declare yourself in favor of." A good role model, Wolfson said, would be Bill Clinton, who as president signed a 1996 law denying federal marriage benefits for same-sex couples. Clinton, whose Methodist Church opposes same-sex marriage, said in September that he now favors marriage rights for gays and lesbians.
Read MoreLast year, Maryland's Attorney General, Douglas Gansler, said that he would look into the issue of whether Maryland could recognize same-sex marriages performed out-of-state. Maryland has a three-decades-old law that bans same-sex marriage in their state (that law was upheld in 2007 by a sharply divided State Supreme Court), but the question of recognizing out-of-state marriages falls beyond the purview of that 1970s relic. Now the issue is getting an intense level of scrutiny. Unless hell or high water or right-wing fundamentalists take over, neighboring Washington, D.C. is set to start recognizing same-sex marriages, making the seat of the federal government a world-class destination for same-sex weddings. Will neighboring Maryland, just a fifteen minute ride on the Metro Red Line, recognize those marriages too? Or will the gay couple in Silver Spring start their train ride not married, then be married as they hit Union Station and Metro Center, then all of a sudden not be married once they reach Shady Grove?
Read MoreClergy of various faiths and community members gathered at the state capitol Thursday in an effort to push for marriage equality. OutFront Minnesota organized the event called "I Do Support Love Freedom to Marry Day Rally."
Read MoreOver 160 Iowa faith leaders held a news conference on Tuesday, saying they supported the freedom to marry and disagreed with those who cite the Bible in raising objections.
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