WV: House Committee Blocks GOP Anti Gay Marriage Amendment Bill

The West Virginia legislative session reached its halfway point Thursday, and lawmakers have fulfilled predictions that they would be taking it slow this year.

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The primary election in May and the November general election typically make legislators reluctant to raise contentious issues. But that hasn't stopped some from trying.

The House Constitutional Revision Committee voted 6-19 Wednesday to reject a GOP-led bid to force an anti-gay marriage proposal onto the agenda. The measure seeks to ask voters to amend the state constitution and define marriage as being between one man and one woman. Supporters of that proposal have not ruled out further attempts to advance it.

Full Story from Forbes
Click here for gay marriage resources.
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VA: Delegate Tries to Repeal Gay Marriage Ban

Delegate David Englin, D-Alexandria, wants Virginia to repeal its constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. He says the amendment, which voters approved four years ago, is unfair to gay and lesbian couples. So he’s trying for the third time to repeal it. “If we are to take our founding values seriously, where we say that every human being deserves equal treatment under the law, then we cannot enshrine in the Constitution a policy that boils down to nothing but bigotry,” Englin said.

In the 2006 general election, 57 percent of voters supported amending the Virginia Constitution to say: Marriage is a union between a man and a woman.

Virginia will not recognize “a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage.” Nor will the state recognize “another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.”

Full Story from WTOP
Click here for gay marriage resources in Virginia.
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IA: GOP To Try to Force Gay Marriage Ban Out of Committee

A legislative push to overturn the Iowa Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage is likely to begin Monday, according to the state’s largest gay-rights organization. After numerous meetings at the Capitol Thursday, Brad Clark, campaign director for One Iowa, told The Iowa Independent that he expects Republican lawmakers in the Iowa House to attempt to bring about a vote on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage by invoking Rule 60, which allows a majority vote on the floor of the House to pull a bill out of a committee even if the committee has not approved it.

Democratic leadership has repeatedly promised that the legislature would not discuss gay marriage this session. Gay-rights advocates have long believed conservative lawmakers would attempt some procedural move to force a vote on the issue in spite of Democratic opposition.

In the closing days of the 2009 legislative session, Republicans in both the House and Senate made numerous attempts to force a vote on a constitutional ban on gay marriage, including attaching it to a tax proposal and the state’s Health and Human Services budget. Democrats successfully blocked the efforts.

Full Story from the Iowa Independent
Click here for gay marriage resources in Iowa.
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IN: Senate Approves Constitutional Ban on Gay Marriage

The GOP-led Senate voted again Thursday to approve a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage in Indiana. Senate Joint Resolution 13 passed 38-10 with all local senators in support. The resolution must be approved again in 2011 before voters could make the final decision in a 2012 statewide referendum.

“Marriage is one of the foundations of our society and one I firmly believe needs to be protected,” said Sen. Carlin Yoder, R-Middlebury.

Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, expressed concern that the second sentence in the amendment could affect domestic violence protections afforded to unmarried Hoosiers. That provision says a “legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.” “This certainly will not say welcome to many people in our society,” Lanane said.

Full Story from the Journal Gazette
Click here for gay marriage resources in Indiana.
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IN: Senate to Debate Gay Marriage Ban Tomorrow

Although this is a Chicago based blog, I can't help but share with you news about debate that will be going on in Indiana to ban gay marriage this Wednesday. Indiana's Marriage Discrimination Amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 13 (SJR-13) authored by Senator Carlin Yoder will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010, at 9:00 am in the Senate Chambers at the Indiana State House. "The Marriage Discrimination Amendment violates every Hoosier's basic right to fairness and equality. It's just an attempt to distract Hoosiers from the greater issues facing Indiana, threatening our state's current and future economic development" stated Indiana Equality Action President Randy Studt." Full Story from What's a Boy to Do

Click here for gay marriage resources in Indiana.

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MD: Anti Gay Marriage Bill Introduced in Legislature

A Baltimore County delegate is sponsoring legislation that would prohibit Maryland from recognizing gay marriages validated by other states or countries. Del. Emmett C. Burns Jr.'s measure would also declare that marriages between individuals of the same sex are against the public policy of the state of Maryland. The House of Delegates Judiciary Committee has rejected similar measures introduced before, which prevented the bill from going to the House floor for debate. In neighboring Washington, D.C., gay couples will likely be able to apply soon for marriage licenses. The district's City Council passed a bill last month legalizing same-sex marriage. Full Story from WTOP

Click here for gay marriage resources in Maryland.

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NM: Lawmaker to File Gay Marriage Ban Bill

After the dramatic February defeat of a proposed domestic partnership bill, a New Mexico senator is sponsoring a bill that would ban gay marriage in the state, the New Mexico Independent reported. Senator William Sharer, a Republican from Farmington, has pre-filed legislation that would define marriage as a heterosexual union in the New Mexico Constitution. The bill proposes adding the following text to the constitution: “Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman.” Voter approval is needed to alter the state's constitution. Similar attempts in the last two sessions of the Legislature have died in committee. Full Story from On Top Magazine: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5030&MediaType=1&Category=26

Click here for gay marriage resources in New Mexico.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

TX: AG Candidate Says Gay Marriage Ban Could Eliminate all Marriages in Texas

Texans: Are you really married? Maybe not. Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a Houston lawyer and Democratic candidate for attorney general, says that a 22-word clause in a 2005 constitutional amendment designed to ban gay marriages erroneously endangers the legal status of all marriages in the state. The amendment, approved by the Legislature and overwhelmingly ratified by voters, declares that "marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman." But the troublemaking phrase, as Radnofsky sees it, is Subsection B, which declares: "This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage." Architects of the amendment included the clause to ban same-sex civil unions and domestic partnerships. But Radnofsky, who was a member of the powerhouse Vinson & Elkins law firm in Houston for 27 years until retiring in 2006, says the wording of Subsection B effectively "eliminates marriage in Texas," including common-law marriages. Full Story from the Star-Telegram: http://www.star-telegram.com/local_news/story/1770445.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Texas.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Michigan Lawmaker Wants to Put Resolution to Reverse Gay Marriage Ban Before Voters in 2010

A gay marriage amendment could soon be up for vote in Michigan. House Speaker Pro Tem Pam Byrnes just introduced a resolution that would reverse the state's ban on same-sex unions. Right now Michigan's constitution recognizes marriage as being between one man and one woman. Byrnes says it's time for a change. She would need super-majority votes in both the House and Senate to get a same-sex proposal on the ballot in Michigan next year. Full Story from WWMT: http://www.wwmt.com/articles/vote-1368993-marriage-0in.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Michigan.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Jamaican PM Wants to Use New Constitution to Ban Gay Marriage

Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding said the country's parliament would not recognize same-sex marriage while he was in power. "I make no apology in saying decisively and emphatically that the government of Jamaica remains irrevocably opposed to the recognition, legitimization or acceptance of same-sex marriages or same-sex unions," Golding said on Tuesday. The prime minister was opening parliamentary debate on a major proposed amendment to the constitution which would lay out the scope of rights and freedoms for Jamaicans. Full Story from AFP: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gafp_36F8DXL5k7TIMo-qNzvpavw

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Poll Analyst Nate Silver Thinks Gay Marriage Ban Likely to Fail in Maine

Back in April, I conducted an analysis of the prospects of a gay marriage ban becoming law in each of the 50 states. The analysis found that support for gay marriage bans was strongly tied to two factors: the degree of religiosity in a state, as measured by 2008 Gallup tracking surveys, and the year that the initiative was up for vote -- marriage bans have lost support at a rate of about 2 percent per year, ceteris paribus. That analysis concluded that a Maine is one of 11 states that would probably vote to reject a ban on gay marriage if a referendum were held this year. Mainers, in fact, will soon have a chance to test this proposition. In November, they will go to the polls to vote on Question 1; a yes vote would overturn a law passed earlier this year by the state's legislature that permits gays and lesbians to get married in the state. I decided to re-visit my model, which consists of a relatively simple data set of all previous anti-gay marriage initiatives. 31 of 32 such initiatives have passed, the sole exception being Arizona Proposition 107, which failed in 2006, although Arizona's voters decided two years later to approve a similar measure that limited its scope to marriage rather than civil unions. I've expanded the model to include a new variable, which -- pursuant to the Arizona case -- is whether the initiative sought to ban civil unions in addition to marriage. (Although I'd given this a cursory look before, I evidently wasn't careful enough, because it turns out to be highly statistically significant). Full Story from FiveThirtyEight.com: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/10/analysis-gay-marriage-ban-is-underdog.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Maine.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Texas Judge Says State's Gay Marriage Ban Violates US Constitution

In a first for Texas, a judge ruled Thursday that two men married in another state can divorce here and that the state's ban on gay marriage violates the U.S. Constitution. Both a voter-approved state constitutional amendment and the Texas Family Code prohibit same-sex marriages or civil unions. Although the case is far from settled, and the state's constitutional ban on gay marriage is a long way from being thrown out, Dallas state District Judge Tena Callahan's ruling says the state prohibition of same-sex marriage violates the federal constitutional right to equal protection. Full Story from Dallas News: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/state/stories/DN-gaydivorce_02met.ART.State.Edition2.4bcd80d.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Texas.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com with "subscribe blog" as the subject. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Republican Lawmaker in NH Proposes Anti Gay Marriage Constitutional Amendment

A Fremont lawmaker wants to amend New Hampshire's constitution to protect parental rights and traditional marriage. Republican Rep. Dan Itse is affiliated with Citizens Leadership of New Hampshire, which was created a few years ago to highlight threats to constitutional freedoms. He said Wednesday he will sponsor two constitutional amendments when the Legislature reconvenes in January. One would make only marriages between men and women recognized by the state. The other would prohibit the state from abridging a parent's right to control their child's health, education and welfare. Similar efforts have failed in the past. If approved by the Legislature, the amendments would go before voters in November 2010, 11 months after gay marriage becomes legal. Full Story from WBZ TV: http://wbztv.com/wireapnewsnh/NH.lawmaker.proposes.2.1218312.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in New Hampshire.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com with "subscribe blog" as the subject. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Four Reasons Not to Ban Gay Marriage

This year, the California Supreme Court will decide whether or not to overturn Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2005 veto of a bill legalizing same-sex marriages. This should be a fairly easy day on the bench. The following are a collection of the most common arguments against gay marriage and some opinions as to why they are simply insufficient. 1. ‘The country, as a whole, has a right to determine what it will and won’t accept.’ This is a valid point. America is a democracy and we vote to express our opinions so we can be accurately represented. However, there are certain things the majority has the right to determine and then there are those it doesn’t. Our government has built-in checks against simple majority rule, because it’s incredibly dangerous. The majority of our country was, at various points in our history, in favor of slavery, segregation and President George W. Bush. Today we recognize those stances as regrettable and foolish. Might we be saying the same of this debate in 50 years? Full Story from the New University: http://www.newuniversity.org/2007/01/opinion/no_reason_to_ban21/

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com with "subscribe blog" as the subject. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.