PRESS RELEASE: CA legislature again passes bill giving same-sex couples choice to marry
Posted on Sep 07, 2007 at 02:28 pm
Equality California
September 7, 2007
For the second time in two years, the California Legislature has passed legislation that would grant same-sex couples the ability to marry. With a 22-15 vote, the Senate on September 7 approved AB 43, authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and sponsored by Equality California. [link]
September 7, 2007
For the second time in two years, the California Legislature has passed legislation that would grant same-sex couples the ability to marry. With a 22-15 vote, the Senate on September 7 approved AB 43, authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and sponsored by Equality California. [link]
Zogby Poll: New Jerseyans say change civil unions law to real marriage equality
Posted on Aug 16, 2007 at 07:18 pm
Garden State Equality
August 16, 2007
As New Jersey marks the six-month anniversary of the civil unions law this Sunday, August 19, a new statewide Zogby Poll shows majorities of voters favoring changing the law to full marriage equality for same-sex couples. By 63% to 31%, New Jersey voters say they'd be fine with the state legislature upgrading civil unions to marriage equality. By 72% to 21%, New Jersey voters say state legislators would be in no electoral danger if they enacted marriage equality. By 61% to 29%, New Jersey voters say they expect the state to enact marriage equality within just a couple of years. [Link]
August 16, 2007
As New Jersey marks the six-month anniversary of the civil unions law this Sunday, August 19, a new statewide Zogby Poll shows majorities of voters favoring changing the law to full marriage equality for same-sex couples. By 63% to 31%, New Jersey voters say they'd be fine with the state legislature upgrading civil unions to marriage equality. By 72% to 21%, New Jersey voters say state legislators would be in no electoral danger if they enacted marriage equality. By 61% to 29%, New Jersey voters say they expect the state to enact marriage equality within just a couple of years. [Link]
BLOG: Soulforce’s Right to Marry campaign begins
Posted on Jul 15, 2007 at 03:57 pm
Soulforce Blog
July 15, 2007
After picking students up from train stations in New York City, they traveled to Albany to begin training. The leadership of the initiative assembled a host of seminars that would prepare the students for meetings with NY politicians, community leaders, and constituents. [Link]
July 15, 2007
After picking students up from train stations in New York City, they traveled to Albany to begin training. The leadership of the initiative assembled a host of seminars that would prepare the students for meetings with NY politicians, community leaders, and constituents. [Link]
Pride Agenda’s marriage ambassadors take the lead in NY
Posted on Jun 21, 2007 at 04:04 pm
Gay City News
June 21, 2007
Edith Windsor keeps working the phones. But this spring, she and Spyer decided that Thea couldn't wait any longer. With the help of three of Spyer's home care attendants, the couple flew to Toronto on Memorial Day weekend. The judge who married them, Windsor told the Toronto Globe and Mail, said that "we had married for all the people who died before same-sex weddings were possible." [Link]
June 21, 2007
Edith Windsor keeps working the phones. But this spring, she and Spyer decided that Thea couldn't wait any longer. With the help of three of Spyer's home care attendants, the couple flew to Toronto on Memorial Day weekend. The judge who married them, Windsor told the Toronto Globe and Mail, said that "we had married for all the people who died before same-sex weddings were possible." [Link]
Next stop: Marriage
Posted on Jun 06, 2007 at 01:06 pm
The Phoenix
June 6, 2007
"Marriage," Betsy Smith, the executive director of Equality Maine, says confidently when asked what her group's plan is for the future. She even offers a timetable: three to five years. "We know civil unions don't work in a real world, only marriage works in a real world," says Equality Maine's Darlene Huntress, noting that, like New Jersey, Connecticut, and Vermont, New Hampshire actually started with a push for marriage. [Link]
June 6, 2007
"Marriage," Betsy Smith, the executive director of Equality Maine, says confidently when asked what her group's plan is for the future. She even offers a timetable: three to five years. "We know civil unions don't work in a real world, only marriage works in a real world," says Equality Maine's Darlene Huntress, noting that, like New Jersey, Connecticut, and Vermont, New Hampshire actually started with a push for marriage. [Link]
Celebrating recent LGBT legislative advances
Posted on May 30, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Lambda Legal
May 30, 2007
Jon Davidson, Legal Director of Lambda Legal discusses the marriage-related achievements in early 2007, noting once recently passed laws go into effect "nearly 35 percent (34.7%) of same-sex couples live in states where some of the state law rights that spouses receive can be obtained by marrying or entering civil unions, reciprocal beneficiary relationships or domestic partnerships. What is perhaps most amazing about these figures is that NONE of this existed only seven years ago." Although these achievements deserve recognition, Davidson continues, "Same-sex couples still cannot marry in 49 states, and the federal government refuses to honor the marriages that same-sex couples validly enter." [link]
May 30, 2007
Jon Davidson, Legal Director of Lambda Legal discusses the marriage-related achievements in early 2007, noting once recently passed laws go into effect "nearly 35 percent (34.7%) of same-sex couples live in states where some of the state law rights that spouses receive can be obtained by marrying or entering civil unions, reciprocal beneficiary relationships or domestic partnerships. What is perhaps most amazing about these figures is that NONE of this existed only seven years ago." Although these achievements deserve recognition, Davidson continues, "Same-sex couples still cannot marry in 49 states, and the federal government refuses to honor the marriages that same-sex couples validly enter." [link]
Marriage emphasized at reception
Posted on Feb 21, 2007 at 01:26 pm
Windy City Times
February 21, 2007
The Sixth Annual Freedom to Marry Reception was hosted Feb. 15 in Chicago. The free reception was sponsored by Lambda Legal, Merrill Lynch, and The Aragon Ballroom, and spotlighted efforts to support equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. [Link]
February 21, 2007
The Sixth Annual Freedom to Marry Reception was hosted Feb. 15 in Chicago. The free reception was sponsored by Lambda Legal, Merrill Lynch, and The Aragon Ballroom, and spotlighted efforts to support equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. [Link]
A red-letter day
Posted on Feb 15, 2007 at 11:55 am
The Ocala Star-Banner
February 15, 2007
For Valentine's Day, and in observance of the 10th annual Freedom to Marry Week, the Metropolitan Community Church of Ocala recognized seven couples who are in long-term, committed relationships, but cannot be legally married. [Link]
February 15, 2007
For Valentine's Day, and in observance of the 10th annual Freedom to Marry Week, the Metropolitan Community Church of Ocala recognized seven couples who are in long-term, committed relationships, but cannot be legally married. [Link]
AK Court: policy holds lesbian and gay couples to higher standards
Posted on Sep 19, 2006 at 10:47 am
Juneau Empire
September 19, 2006
Following an action filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and nine Alaska couples, the high court ruled that denying gay and lesbian couples rights extended to married couples deprives them of equal protection guaranteed under the Alaska Constitution. As drafted, benefits for same-sex couples would require the partners to swear they have been in "exclusive, committed and intimate relationships" for at least a year. (Link)
September 19, 2006
Following an action filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and nine Alaska couples, the high court ruled that denying gay and lesbian couples rights extended to married couples deprives them of equal protection guaranteed under the Alaska Constitution. As drafted, benefits for same-sex couples would require the partners to swear they have been in "exclusive, committed and intimate relationships" for at least a year. (Link)
Court ruling stalled for resolution by governor, Legislature; city to comply
Posted on Jan 01, 2006 at 10:24 am
Anchorage Daily News
January 1, 2006
The nine couples who successfully won the lawsuit where the Alaska Supreme Court unanimously ruled it unconstitutional to discriminate against domestic partners in the workplace, still cannot enroll their partners in their health plans two months later. The ACLU has asked the court to give the city and legislature a deadline for compliance, while opponents stall and try to fight ways to challenge the ruling instead of executing it. (Link)
January 1, 2006
The nine couples who successfully won the lawsuit where the Alaska Supreme Court unanimously ruled it unconstitutional to discriminate against domestic partners in the workplace, still cannot enroll their partners in their health plans two months later. The ACLU has asked the court to give the city and legislature a deadline for compliance, while opponents stall and try to fight ways to challenge the ruling instead of executing it. (Link)