California court win for same-sex couples seeking benefits
Posted on Jan 21, 2011 at 07:30 am
In a victory for gay rights advocates, a federal judge has ruled that state employees in California can sue for discrimination over the federal government's exclusion of their same-sex spouses from a long-term health care program.
U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken of Oakland denied an Obama administration request to dismiss the suit Tuesday and signaled that she is likely to overturn provisions of the 1996 so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal benefits to same-sex couples.
Anti-gay definition of marriage bill passes 1st hurdle in Wyoming House
Posted on Jan 20, 2011 at 02:30 pm
Wyoming law already defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman, but state law also requires the state to recognize marriages performed in other states.
House Bill 74 would close that loophole, specifying that marriages of same-sex couples performed in other states or other countries wouldn't be considered valid in Wyoming.
IRS tax change for domestic partners causes headaches
Posted on Jan 20, 2011 at 01:00 pm
The Internal Revenue Service is requiring registered domestic partners and married same-sex couples to split their income equally on their federal tax forms. This change in policy toward what is known as community property has been anything but easy to implement. And tax professionals are warning LGBT couples they need to begin thinking about their taxes now to avoid headaches later.
BREAKING NEWS: In Iowa, GOP lawmakers trying to take away marriage equality
Posted on Jan 20, 2011 at 11:15 am
The new Republican-dominated House today revealed the first step in its anti-gay agenda, introducing a joint resolution that would allow Iowans to vote on a constitutional amendment to ban the freedom to marry.
Freedom to Marry's Evan Wolfson said, "Government should be on the side of all families, not putting barriers in their path as they seek to care for their loved ones. And the constitution should be respected as a shield of fairness for all, not used as a weapon to discriminate and harm.”
Momentum in Maryland
Posted on Jan 20, 2011 at 09:45 am
Sen. Richard S. Madaleno, Maryland's only openly gay state senator, announced on Tuesday that he will be introducing a marriage bill.
Stopping West Virginia’s anti-marriage equality amendment
Posted on Jan 19, 2011 at 05:45 pm
For the sixth year in a row, West Virginia will be considering a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between “one man and one woman.”
Last Thursday, the WV Senate and House issued a joint resolution calling for a public vote on marriage in 2012.
Freedom to Marry Urges Iowa Legislature to Protect Iowa Families, Reject Anti-Gay Amendment
Posted on Jan 19, 2011 at 02:30 pm
A statement from Evan Wolfson, Founder and Executive Director of Freedom to Marry, urging the Iowa Legislature to reject a bill introduced today that would harm Iowa families by amending the state constitution to strip away the freedom to marry from same-sex couples and bar other protections for their families.
Parenting by gays more common in the south, census shows
Posted on Jan 19, 2011 at 12:45 pm
According to census data, child rearing among same-sex couples is more common in the South than in any other region of the country.
Charles Barkley speaks out against anti-gay discrimination
Posted on Jan 19, 2011 at 09:30 am
Freedom to Marry Voice for Equality, Charles Barkley, spoke out Monday during a pre-game tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. against anti-gay discrimination.
The state of Marriage Equality in 2011
Posted on Jan 18, 2011 at 03:30 pm
After a 2010 with few marriage equality measures contested outside the courtroom, 2011 will likely see a number of battles state by state across the country.