Maine ethics panel seeking donor names
Posted on Jan 21, 2011 at 01:30 pm
The state ethics commission continues to seek the names of people who donated to the National Organization for Marriage in 2009 -- an inquiry the organization continues to oppose.
DesMoines Register: Iowa amendment eliminates many rights
Posted on Jan 21, 2011 at 11:29 am
The DesMoines Register editorial board: "The language proposed by 56 House Republicans Wednesday would amend the Iowa Constitution to say: 'Marriage between one man and one woman shall be the only legal union valid or recognized in this state.' That bans not only the marriages of same-sex couples but civil unions and any other domestic partnership. That should worry all Iowans."
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.
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.”
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.
Court rejects appeal over DC marriage equality law
Posted on Jan 18, 2011 at 02:18 pm
The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from opponents of marriage equality who want to overturn the District of Columbia's freedom to marry law.
Freedom to Marry announces expansion plans
Posted on Jan 14, 2011 at 01:00 pm
The first high-profile fundraiser of the year for marriage equality provided the occasion Thursday for Freedom to Marry to step forward as the campaign to win marriage nationwide, with plans that include an expanded public education effort and a new presence in Washington, D.C.
DOJ Files DOMA Defense in First Circuit Cases
Posted on Jan 14, 2011 at 09:00 am
Thursday, the Department of Justice filed its defense of the Defense of Marriage Act in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in a single filing for both Gill v. Office of Personnel Management and Massachusetts v. United States.
This past July, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Tauro ruled that Section Three of DOMA -- which sets a federal definition for "marriage" and spouse" -- is unconstitutional.
Affairs of the Heart in the Heartland: Evan Wolfson to Speak in Midwest about Marriage
Posted on Jan 13, 2011 at 09:00 am
Freedom to Marry Executive Director Evan Wolfson will be speaking next week at both the University of Michigan and Ohio State University.
New York Times: Impeachment as intimidation
Posted on Jan 12, 2011 at 05:00 pm
The New York Times editorial board: "The nation’s democracy and cherished rights rely on keeping court decision-making above the fickle tugs of ordinary politics. Ousting judges to register disagreement with a particular court decision is a dangerous road to go down."