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.
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.
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.
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
See our full slideshow on changing attitudes towards gay marriage.
In 2001, Americans opposed same-sex marriage by a 57% to 35% margin.
Today, there is slightly more support for same-sex marriage than opposition to it, with 48% in favor and 43% opposed.
Pretty straightforward.
Interesting to see the opposition spike temporarily in 2004 and 2009, the two times over the last decade that same-sex marriage was most politicized, foremost as a wedge issue in the Bush re-election campaign, and subsequently in the aftermath of California’s approval of Proposition 8.
But seriously … I am not kidding.
I’m not watching all of...
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Tumblr this morning. [h/t anne]
#@#$%!.tumblr.com
Signal boost for our fellow Tumblrer meg!!!
Check out this video directed by my friend Will Welch, and edited/produced by me! It’s called “Out in Wyoming: LGBT Advocacy in the Cowboy State” and gives a summary of what’s coming up in this legislative session, advice from Wyoming state legislators on advocacy, plus instructions on lobbying and communicating with your state legislators — even if you don’t live in Wyoming. (Yes, it’s a little long, but we worked really hard, it’s entertaining, and YouTube has a pause button.)
However, if you know people who live in Wyoming, live in Wyoming yourself, or live near Wyoming, definitely share this video. We have a domestic partnership bill, a marriage equality bill, and a non-discrimination bill going to their respective committees on Monday beginning at noon. We’ll also be demonstrating in front of the state house starting at 9 AM in favor of equality on Monday, January 28. If you live close enough to Cheyenne to get to the state house, DO IT!
This action alert from Wyoming Equality’s Jeran Artery gives point-by-point instructions on what you can do to help. We have an excellent chance of passing non-discrimination and domestic partnership bills in Wyoming this year! If you live in Laramie, we’re phone banking tomorrow in the UW Union RRC from 4pm-7pm. It’s mobilizing constituents around the pro-LGBT bills in the legislature. All the bills have bipartisan support. Here’s the bills, with Republican sponsors in bold:
HOUSE BILL NO. HB 168 Domestic partnerships-rights and responsibilities
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Connolly, Byrd, Gingery, Greene, Petroff, Throne, Wallis and Zwonitzer, Dn. and Senator(s) Burns, Craft, Rothfuss and Von Flatern (5 Democrats; 7 Republicans)HOUSE BILL NO. HB 169 Marriage-definition
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Connolly, Byrd, Gingery, Petroff, Throne, Wallis and Zwonitzer, Dn. and Senator(s) Craft and Rothfuss (5 Democrats; 4 Republicans)SENATE FILE NO. SF 131 Discrimination
Sponsored by: Senator(s) Rothfuss,Burns, Case, Craft, Esquibel, F., Hastert and Von Flatern and Representative(s) Blake, Brown, Connolly, Gingery, Greene, Petroff, Wallis and Zwonitzer, Dn. (6 Democrats; 9 Republicans)PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE — pass it on! And thank you!
Cheers,
MegPlease, keep sharing! The bills have been assigned to friendly committees and we’re likely to get them out of committee. BUT WE NEED HELP!
For Wyomingites, there will be a lobbying and testifying workshop this Sunday in Cheyenne at 7 PM. It’s presented by Wyoming Equality and Geoff Kors, senior legislative and policy strategist from the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR). Be there or be square!
In which one of Tumblr’s finest pitches an important campaign in her state, and we give her post a signal boost.
We finally feel equal and happy to be living in Maine.Steven Bridges • Speaking as half, along with his husband Michael Snell, of the first same-sex couple married in Maine early this morning. Maine was one of a trio of states that legalized same-sex marriage in November, along with Maryland and Washington. The election day victories were especially critical to the history of the marriage equality movement, and LGBT rights in a broader scope — it was the first time that any statewide popular vote in favor of same-sex marriage proved victorious. source
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