U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan became the first sitting cabinet secretary to announce support for marriage equality, saying on Nov. 15 that he ''absolutely'' supports marriage equality in an exclusive interview with Metro Weekly.
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday (November 10) voted to recommend passage of a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
During a Thursday meeting that embodied Washingtons ideological rift over marriage rights for same-sex couples, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to move forward a bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.
Freedom to Marry President Evan Wolfson said in a statement, ''The voters rebuffed the anti-gay attacks that sought to make undoing the freedom to marry a critical factor in the race, and instead elected a candidate who supports the freedom to marry for all Iowa families. [LGBT advocacy organization] One Iowa worked hard to make sure that marriage remains secure in Iowa and to elect a legislator who will focus on the real challenges confronting the state.''
A Democratic candidate won a special election on Tuesday for a seat in the Iowa State Senate a victory that will preserve marriage rights in the state.
Freedom to Marry president Evan Wolfson, whose group was among those that SLDN had discussions with on the lawsuit, said Thursday that Freedom to Marry “is working with SLDN and others to highlight the stories of service members and their family members who suffer or are put in harm's way because of the denial of marriage and discrimination under the so-called Defense of Marriage Act — and challenging that unfairness in court is certainly one powerful way to put these families forward and fight the cruel and unconstitutional marriage discrimination they experience.”
Evan Wolfson and Cheng He exchanged vows at their Oct. 15 wedding before a crowd of around 50 close friends and family members.
"Hundreds" of Rhode Islanders have signed petitions delivered Monday to Sen. Jack Reed, asking him to join in support of legislation to repeal the Clinton-era law that -- for purposes of federal benefits, tax breaks and the like -- recognizes marriage as being between a man and a woman.
When Freedom to Marry’s Evan Wolfson weds his partner Cheng He on Saturday, it will cap a long effort to win the right.
In the wake of the recent marriage equality victory, countless LGBT New Yorkers can finally secure legal recognition for their relationships. Experts warn, however, that this is no time to rest on our laurels. With these newly-won rights already under attack, the federal Defense of Marriage Act still in place and many other states lacking marriage for gays and lesbians, the fight for full recognition is far from over.
With minimal international attention, Portugal — tiny, overwhelmingly Roman Catholic Portugal — legalized same-sex marriage last year. Although the country is hardly seen as a Scandinavian-style bastion of social progressivism, it’s one of just 10 countries where such marriages can be performed nationwide, and in this regard it finds itself ahead of a majority of wealthier, more populous European countries, like France, Germany, Italy and Britain. In the United States, only six states and the District of Columbia allow gay marriage. How did that happen? And what wisdom do the answers offer frustrated supporters of same-sex marriage here and elsewhere around the globe?
Saturday evening, Oct. 1, President Barack Obama addressed the Human Rights Campaign for the second time in his presidency, speaking at the Washington Convention Center to a crowd of approximately 3,000 people.
Freedom to Marry president Evan Wolfson pointed in his statement to the fact that gay and lesbian Americans are paying for DOMA's defense: "At a time when Americans are struggling through one of the worst economies in our nation's history, it is shameful that House Republicans are now tripling the spending of tax dollars -- including those of gay and lesbian Americans -- to defend a discriminatory anti-gay law that makes it even harder for committed gay and lesbian couples to take care of and protect their loved ones."
When Jo Deutsch and Kathryn Lehman are en route to Capitol Hill for meetings with Republicans, they find it best to avoid certain conversations. The debt ceiling is off the table. So are their respective political resumes — one has worked for Barbara Boxer, the other Newt Gingrich. In fact, the two lobbyists could not be more divergent on most issues — except repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Military chaplains can lead same-sex marriage ceremonies on and off military bases, the Pentagon announced Friday (Sept. 30), in a move that closely followed the repeal of a ban on openly gay service members.
The Pentagon issued on Friday guidance clarifying that military chaplains are allowed to officiate over same-sex marriages and base facilities can be used for same-sex weddings in states where such unions are legal.
"The Census Bureau’s most recent estimates of same-sex couples reiterate the need to end marriage discrimination once and for all. The number of gay and lesbian couples in committed, loving relationships, raising families together, continues to grow, leaving more and more families without the critical safety-net of marriage,” Wolfson said.
“President Obama should not wait for a dinner to heed Freedom to Marry’s call — joined by more than 117,000 Americans on our ‘Say I Do’ Open Letter — to speak out clearly and authentically in support of the freedom to marry,” Wolfson said.