The Boy Scouts of America will vote on Thursday on a proposal to remove its ban on openly gay scouts that has been in place throughout the organization’s 103-year history.
The vote by more than 1,400 delegates comes amid intense lobbying by gay-rights activists and members of conservative organizations. The proposal would not remove the organization’s ban on gay adult leaders.
Representatives from both sides have rallied in Grapevine, Texas, near Dallas, where the scouting organization is hosting its national annual meeting.
While much of the BSA leadership apparently supports the rule change, recent polls show that many of the people directly associated with the Boy Scouts of America aren’t as supportive. According to Reuters, an online survey of roughly 200,000 BSA members, parents, and leaders showed that the majority opposed the changes at a nearly 2-1 ratio.
We are extremely disappointed that our allies did not put their anti-LGBT colleagues on the spot and force a vote on the measure that remains popular with the American people. We will continue to work hard to include bi-national same-sex couples as the bill moves to the floor and remain committed to the underlying principles of inclusive and comprehensive immigration reform.A statement by The Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT rights advocacy group • Expressing dismay at today’s news that Sen. Patrick Leahy’s amendment to the immigration reform bill (which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier today), ensuring equal rights for immigrant LGBT spouses, has been withheld so as not to cause a potentially bill-killing revolt by Republicans. Said GOP Senator Lindsay Graham, one of the “Gang of Eight” who negotiated the bill: “When it comes to passing this immigration bill, to interject a redefinition of marriage would be a bridge too far.” source
This is no doubt a momentous day for Hollande, who had pledged to legalize same-sex marriage during his first year in office, and succeeded in doing so despite vociferous protests from swaths of his citizenry. No actual same-sex marriage figures to be conducted until the 29th, as French law states that a marriage license must be filed ten days prior to the ceremony.
The Minnesota Senate is expected to give final approval on Monday to a bill that would make the state the 12th in the United States to allow same-sex couples to marry and only the second in the Midwest.
Leaders in the Senate, where Democrats hold a 39-28 majority, have said they believe they have the support to approve a bill legalizing gay marriage. They set a vote for Monday on the measure that members of the state House approved last week.
Democratic Governor Mark Dayton has said he would sign the bill, which would make Minnesota the third state this month to legalize gay marriage after Rhode Island and Delaware. The law would take effect August 1.
Delaware just became the 11th state to pass marriage equality!
Same-sex marriage licenses will be available starting on June 1st, the result of a 12-9 state senate vote to codify marriage equality in the state of Delaware. Democratic Governor Jack Markell signed the bill just minutes after its legislative passage, bringing to a conclusion the tireless work of activists within the state.
And he wasn’t the only one: Three other politicians who are outspokenly opposed to marriage equality voted for the “Marriage for All” bill. Guaino was mocked by his colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and subsequently changed his vote. However, it didn’t matter; the bill passed by over 100 votes and now heads François Hollande, the country’s Socialist president, who campaigned on the issue of gay marriage and will sign the bill. source
(AP) The gay marriage legislation easily passed the Rhode Island House in January, and the Senate vote was seen as the true test. The bill passed 26-12, and now returns to the House for a largely procedural vote, likely next week, before going to Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who supports the legislation.
The second piece of good news today for proponents of marriage equality. The legislation was introduced by House Speaker Gordon Fox, who himself is gay, and could take effect as soon as August 1st. Meanwhile, in Delaware, legislation legalizing marriage equality passed the state House yesterday and now heads to the senate for consideration.
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Washington state’s governor signed into law on Monday the final piece of a six-year effort to rewrite state laws using gender-neutral vocabulary, replacing terms such as “fisherman” and “freshman” with “fisher” and “first-year student.”
While this may not have an immediate tangible effect, words and language play a significant role in shaping how we think, and mandating gender-neutral language in state statutes is a great first step in the right direction. The article notes that some words, such as “manhole,” won’t be replaced, because legislators couldn’t think of any other alternatives (whether or not “personhole cover” will ever gain traction remains to be seen).
France legalizes gay marriage despite angry protests
(Photo: AFP - Getty Images)
France became the 14th country in the world to allow same-sex couples to wed Tuesday, when its parliament approved a law that has sparked often violent street protests and a rise in homophobic attacks.
A big day for our French friends, no doubt. The law goes a step further than just marriage, as well — it also grants adoption rights to same-sex couples.
But seriously … I am not kidding.
I’m not watching all of...
Yahoo wants to buy Hulu now too. They’re going on an “I...
I’m moving back to New York in a few days. Unlike past...
OMG. I got so...
In this week’s Newsweek, a little...
Tumblr this morning. [h/t anne]
#@#$%!.tumblr.com
TIME’s new issue, featuring the story, ‘How Gay Marriage Won,’ hits newsstands Friday. Two couples who were photographed to illustrate the story appear on two separate covers this week.
Read the story here.
(Cover photographs by Peter Hapak)
How the times have changed, no?
Map of the week.
Today’s news has obviously been dominated by coverage of the Supreme Court’s hearing on California’s Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriages in the state back in 2008. And it’s worth keeping in mind just how the lay of the land looks for same-sex couples in this country. If this map looks familiar, that may be thanks to its resemblance of the electoral map from the 2012 presidential election — not a single state carried by the Romney/Ryan ticket so much as allows domestic partnerships, let alone civil unions or same-sex marriages.
I have come to the conclusion that our government should not limit the right to marry based on who you love…Good people disagree with me. On the other hand, my children have a hard time understanding why this is even controversial. I think history will agree with my children.Sen. Claire McCaskill, becoming the 42nd senator to support marriage equality. Extra points for making the announcement on her Tumblr
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