Brilliance at Pam's House Blend:
States that allow same sex marriage could refuse to recognize opposite sex marriages from states that do not recognize same sex marriages performed out of state. Once this was the policy opposite sex marriage would only be recognized nation-wide if they were performed in California, Massachusetts or New York.
full post
cbs5.com
SONOMA CO.: Marriage Numbers Remain High Month After Gay Marriage Legalization
In the month since same-sex marriages became legal throughout California, the rise in numbers of wedding licenses issued and ceremonies performed in Sonoma County has held steady, a chief deputy clerk said today.
From the evening of June 16, when the law went into effect, through Tuesday, the number of marriage ceremonies performed by the clerk's office has more than quadrupled when compared with the same time period in 2007, Chief Deputy Clerk Vicki Petersen said.
There have been 546 marriage licenses issued during that time period this year, compared with 340 last year, and 214 ceremonies this year compared to 51 in 2007, said Petersen, who attributes the rise to the change in law.
full article
UPI.com
BOSTON, July 10 (UPI) -- Massachusetts lawmakers say they are preparing to vote on whether to repeal a 1913 law that bans out-of-state same-sex couples from marrying in the state.
Lawmakers say they expect the state Senate to take up the law Tuesday and the state House to do the same soon after.
upi.com
MADISON, Wis., July 3 (UPI) -- Gay couples in Wisconsin have been warned that they could face jail time and fines if they marry outside the state.
Under a little-known state law, Wisconsin residents can be prosecuted if they enter a marriage outside the state that would be illegal in Wisconsin, with penalties that include a $1,000 fine and up to nine months in prison. In 2006, voters approved a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.
full article
In my wanderings today I ran across an article regarding gay marriage.
The comment section gave me a good chuckle when I saw:
I wish they would of had a law against opposite-sex marriage. It would of saved me a lot of money!
by Carla Marinucci, John Wildermuth, Chronicle Political Writers
San Francisco Chronicle
Democratic San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom jumped into the race for governor Tuesday, taking the first steps toward succeeding Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010.
Newsom opened a gubernatorial campaign committee so that he can start gathering campaign contributions for a race that is more than two years away. Supporters can give him up to $24,100 each for the 2010 Democratic primary and general election. The next race for governor is expected to be a highly competitive contest that could cost each major party candidate upward of $30 million.
The action by the mayor of the liberal Democratic bastion of San Francisco - who has made national news with his support of same-sex marriage, universal health care and strong environmental programs locally - puts him a step ahead of a potentially crowded field of opponents.
full article
Associated Press
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona voters will decide again in November whether to change the state's constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
A 16-4 vote by the state Senate on Friday night sends the gay marriage ban to the ballot. It had previously been approved by the House.
Arizona voters rejected a similar state constitutional amendment in 2006. That measure would have also stopped the state from recognizing civil unions of same-sex couples.
BACKSTORY
Wow, I was just visiting the Straight, Not Narrow site and read an article, which made my eyes well up. In my mind that means it’s really good.
The beginning of the article was the emotional part (for me), but as Jim and Brenda state the end is the important part.
One word struck a nerve for me, and that word was “vaccum”.
The article states marriage cannot be successful in a vacuum. (dictionary.com contains both spellings).
I disagree, but do feel it is MUCH, MUCH more difficult to achieve success.
But I want to expand on the concept and say, as GLBTQIA citizens, we all live our lives in a vacuum everyday.
Once again, it can be done, but is MUCH, MUCH more difficult.
Many folks like to point out the woes of the gay community. How we have more suicides, disease, etc.
Of course these are the same folks who help create the vacuum.
They create the vacuum we (GLBTQIA) endure and then blame us because we have problems. Weather it is based on their own sexual insecurities; religion or both they carry a bias against us (GLBTQIA lawful citizens).
Some people are not equipped to deal with such added stress. In other words, it isn’t an even playing field folks!
Let’s take a sporting event like running the 100-yard dash. If one lane had hurdles (and the others didn't) do you think they’d have a chance at finishing first? Do you think the person might fall occasionally? How about their self esteem since they will never finish first! Perhaps the person would drop out of sports!
Constitutionally we are equally empowered. I am glad to see GLBTQIA folks speaking up and out.
It's about time and is the only way we can release ourselves from the vacuum; from this unwarranted and unconstitutional oppression.
Silence = Death
In The New England Blade, Zachary Violette writes;
The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law released a new research study last week analyzing the economic gains that same-sex couples’ weddings would bring to New Jersey. Presently California stands as the sole recipient of the same-sex tourism and wedding windfall; if New Jersey extended marriage to same-sex couples it could share in that windfall. Massachusetts can’t benefit as current laws prohibit the state from performing same-sex weddings for out-of-state couples.
He continues by saying it would be a quarter of a billion dollar boost to the New Jersey economy over the next three years. Also, 800 new jobs would be created.
A Modesto, California resident, Ben Mesches, submits a challenge to readers of the Modesto Bee.
I have a challenge for Bee readers: to provide a constitutional argument for a ban on gay marriage. This means that the basis for your ban must not be, "because the Bible says so," or, "because that's what my pastor told me." Make sure that your ban follows the provisions of the Constitution.
Feel free to post your constitutional legal arguements here, or better yet, visit the Modesto Bee article to make sure Ben has the benefit of your wisdom.
A celebration of California Gay Marriages' (2008). This is a extended version with some audio changes.
In celebration of California Gay Marriage on June 16, 2008, I created the following video:
Throughout my life I’ve had more appreciation for the outspoken.
Even if I didn’t like what they said, at least I knew where they stood.
Not so long ago I noticed a singer dedicating a song to same sex marriage. Her name is Larkin Gayl and she tells a story about how she was moved to write the song after seeing Gavin Newsom marry gay couples in San Francisco (2004).
I was very impressed with her gesture to celebrate California Gay Marriage with us and in turn I created a video with her song.
People shown in the video contacted me which prompted me to place the video on YouTube so more folks could see it.
Larkin Gayl visited my blog and thanked me for creating it. She said how wonderful it was to be a part of all this.
Yesterday I wandered over to her myspace and was shocked to see her say;
I hope "I Do" is not only known as a "gay wedding song" but as a song that promoted love and acceptance in a time that needed it it desperately..
I was further shocked to see a video associated with the song which showed straight marriages as well as gay marriages. Some how John Lennon and Yoko Ono and many others are related to gay marriage! [www.larkingayl.com]
Ms. Gayl, in case you forgot, straights have been able to marry for many years, gays have not!
You claim to dedicate the song to same sex marriage and then you expand upon that dedication [after the fact] to cover all non-cookie-cutter marriages.
You use gay marriage as a springboard to benefit yourself and then dilute your dedication at the expense of the gay community.
I have removed the video.
In San Francisco, at 5:01 PM Mayor Newsom officiated a private marriage for Phyllis Lyon and Dell Martin at city hall.
Afterwards Phyllis, Dell and the Mayor entered the public reception area as rose petals were tossed from the second floor of the rotunda.
Phyllis and Dell cut a wedding cake at the public reception and remarked how they couldn’t have imagined this back in 1953, on Valentines Day, when they became lovers. Phyllis said they were so happy and hoped this would be the last time they have to cut a wedding cake.
“I can think of no greater example of commitment after 55 years together [Dell and Phyllis]. Today marriage as an institution has been strengthened. Today marriage has been affirmed. Today in California we are providing marriage equally, denying no one their right to live their lives out loud,” remarked Mayor Newsom.
A group of protestors assembled in front of San Francisco city hall. Carrying banners and signs. One rather large yellow banner read “Re-criminalize sodomy” and was held high by petitioners.
She dedicated the song to "same sex marriage" then Larkin Gayl says (on her myspace site)
I hope "I Do" is not only known as a "gay wedding song" but as a song that promoted love and acceptance in a time that needed it it desperately.."
San Francisco Sentinel
Mayor Ronald V. Dellums will officiate Alameda County ’s first gay and lesbian wedding ceremonies on Monday, June 16th starting at 6:00 p.m. at Oakland City Hall. Congresswoman Barbara Lee and other elected officials will stand as witnesses to these ceremonies.
“Marriage is a confirmation of the importance of love and commitment in a healthy society,” said Mayor Dellums.
“It is a fundamental right to which all people are entitled and I am proud that I can officiate the eternal unions of these Oakland couples. Our city is one of the most diverse cities in the country and we join in the celebration of this historic day of human rights for all people.”
Mari Payton, NBC 7/39 Reporter
NBCSanDiego.com
SAN DIEGO -- There are only about 20 appointments left for same-sex couples looking to tie the knot at the San Diego County clerk's office next week.
County clerk Gregory Smith said, "There's going to be a lot of media here. There's going to be a lot of crowds. If you don't have an appointment, it's going to be a long wait."
In preparation, the office has opened up four extra license windows to accommodate walk-ins.
full article
The Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Superior Court judge has refused to hear the divorce case of a lesbian couple, but questioned whether the law that barred the women from ending their marriage unconstitutionally denied them a right enjoyed by heterosexual Rhode Islanders.
The Rhode Island Supreme Court last year ruled that the state's family court could not grant a divorce to Margaret Chambers and Cassandra Ormiston, who wed in 2004 in Massachusetts soon after same-sex marriage became legal in that state.
The justices said the state statute that created the family court recognized marriage as between only a man and a woman and the court, therefore, could not divorce a same-sex couple.
Chambers then sought a divorce in Superior Court. Judge Patricia Hurst denied the request on Wednesday, saying her court does not have jurisdiction to handle divorce.
But she also questioned the constitutionality of the statute relied on last year by the Supreme Court.
"It seems to me that this is a matter needing immediate attention and one that very plainly belongs in the hands of the legislature and the executive branch," Hurst said.
full article
Subscribe to Email feed