The Minnesota House on Thursday afternoon approved legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, moving the state one step closer to embracing marriage equality. The state House voted 75-59 to extend the freedom to marry to same-sex couples with just two weeks left in the 2012 legislative session. The…
Archbishop of San Francisco calls Rhode Island marriage equality ‘a serious injustice’
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco on Friday lashed out at the state of Rhode Island over a newly signed law that allows same-sex couples to legally marry. Cordileone, the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of…
Why conservatives should support immigration equality
A majority of Americans now support marriage equality, and a (slowly) growing number of Republicans have recently come around to the idea, too. Despite this, the opposition to the inclusion of gay binational couples and their families in immigration reform remains strong. Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ), of “Gang of Eight” fame, told the New York Times on Wednesday that “there’s a reason this language wasn’t included in the Gang of Eight’s bill: It’s a deal-breaker for most Republicans… Finding consensus on immigration legislation is tough enough without opening the bill up to social issues [like gay marriage].”On Thursday in the Daily Beast, writer Jonathan Rauch called Flake’s “deal-breaker” misguided — and a GOP “suicide mission” (emphasis mine):Continue Reading… … Read More
Russia to change agreement with France to prevent adoption by same sex couples
“We treat our partners with respect but we also ask them to show equal respect to our cultural traditions, our life and our ethical, legislative and moral norms. I think that we have the right to make correction and changes” Putin told a meeting with Russian lawmakers on Friday, when the head of the legislative assembly from the western region of Kaliningrad expressed concern that the legalization of gay marriages in France which could lead to adoptions of Russian orphans by same sex families.France is one of few countries that have bilateral agreements with Russia on adoption. It ranks fourth in the number of adopted Russian children.The head of the Upper Chamber, Valentina Matviyenko, told President Putin that the Russian Foreign Ministry was already working on changes to the adoption agreement with France.Earlier this week the French parliament gave its final approval to the bill allowing same sex marriages in the country as well as the adoption of children by same sex couples. The bill is yet to be signed by President Francois Hollande, but given that the move was one of the key promises in Hollande’s electoral program the deal can be considered sealed.The legalization caused massive protests in France, with thousands of people demonstrating in Paris demanding the authorities respect traditional values.Russian officials have warned France of the possible consequences of the move. Presidential Plenipotentiary for Children’s Rights, Pavel Astakhov, said in a recent newspaper interview that the authorities were very resolute over the issue.“Our position is stated in our basic laws – in the Constitution and in the Family Code. They directly state that only a union of a man and a woman can be considered marriage. We have nothing else. Period,” Astakhov told Rossiiskaya Gazeta daily.President Putin said during a recent visit to the Netherlands that the legalization of same sex marriage was against the Russian mentality and traditions, could lead to a surge of violence and was, therefore, extremely undesirable. He also noted that however hard the activists try to protect same sex marriage, such a marriage would never produce children.At the same time, President Putin claimed Russian authorities were not violating the rights of sexual minorities and vouched to personally protect these rights. “I hold that these people do not have any other President for themselves and I, as a President, is protecting their rights,” Putin said. … Read More
Minnesota bill would institute universal civil unions, leave marriage to churches
While Minnesota state lawmakers consider a measure to legalize gay marriage and an alternative civil unions bill for gay couples, Democratic state Rep. Kim Norton has signed on to a third option: Universal civil unions.The bill would offer civil unions to gay and straight couples, getting the state government out of the marriage business altogether and making “certain that every Minnesotan couple gets a civil union in the state of Minnesota,” Norton told ABC’s KAALTV. The measure would leave marriage “to the churches that are offering them,” she added. Norton did not address how the measure, which was introduced on Thursday, would secure federal benefits for Minnesota couples or out-of-state recognition of civil partnerships.Norton had previously supported the Republican-backed measure for gay civil unions, but withdrew her support after calling the bill unfair and unequal. This, she says, is a better compromise.Continue Reading… … Read More
Rhode Island on the verge of legalizing same-sex marriage
Rhode Island is virtually assured to become the tenth state to legalize same-sex marriage. The Rhode Island Senate voted 26-12 on Wednesday to approve legislation that would allow same-sex couples to legally marry in the state as early as August 1. “This is a historic piece of legislation,…
Thousands rally against France’s gay marriage bill before parliament reading (PHOTOS)
Authorities fear Sunday’s rally could turn violent as tensions in France over the so-called “marriage for all” bill, which is expected to get final approval by the parliament on April 23, reach boiling point. Security forces in the French capital are on high alert. Organizers of the march said that up to 50,000 people could turn out to protest against the controversial legislation. Supporters of the reform, backed by Socialist President Francois Hollande, also called for a counter demonstration to take place on Sunday.According to opinion polls, most French people support same-sex marriage. However, the majority is against allowing adoption by gay couples.“We’ve been to all the protests,” a rally participant – 32-year-old mother Camille – said. “We’re here for children’s rights. We don’t want the state to be complicit in a child being deprived of a father or a mother,” she added, as cited by AFP.The law that will make France the 14th state to legalize same-sex marriage has split the society and sparked protests – sometimes turning violent- both for and against the bill. Rights groups also reported a rise in homophobic assaults in France, with two gay bars being targeted.President Hollande urged opponents of the law to stop violence.“I cannot accept … homophobic acts and violence against property in the midst of protests, or any defiance of law enforcement officials,” he said earlier in the week. “[Democratic] procedures must be respected, sensibilities must be respected, and everyone must be heard … But the law and parliament also need to be respected,” he added, as quoted by Reuters.In parliament’s lower house, the National Assembly, the final debate on the legislation was marred by unprecedented scuffles between lawmakers of Friday.On Saturday, several hundred supporters of the bill rallied in the city of Nantes to denounce what they said was a climate of fear created by a “fascist” wave of homophobia. The pro-bill marches have not proven as numerous been as those of its detractors, with supporters hoping that anti-gay marriage sentiment will depreciate once the bill becomes law.“I think we will quickly move on to something else,” said Christophe Girard, the gay Socialist mayor of Paris’s 4th district, cited Canadian Ottawa Citizen news outlet. “The demand for gay marriage and adoption is the same for almost all advanced democracies,” he added. The official – who noted that he was going to marry his boyfriend once the law is adopted- has proven vocal on the issue, but stresses its an issue that must be ruled on by legislators. “I organised 10 debates in my town hall, but after that parliament decides, not the street or a handful of groups,” Girard added.In March, over 300,000 people took to the streets of the French capital to say ‘no’ to the controversial bill. It was noted as one of the largest rallies in Paris since the 1984 protest against education reform. … Read More
