Tipped by SFist:
National Organization of Marriage (NOM), an anti-gay and anti-San Francisco group with strong ties to the Mormon church, unleashed this video on Aug. 27 about–what else–gay marriage and “San Francisco values.” The video is deplorable, offensive, and worst of all, wrong — nothing unusual for NOM.
Matt Baume (local writer and founder of Stop8.org) just came out with this impressive, sensible, and most best of all accurate rebuttal to NOM’s propaganda.
A conservative legal group is trying to force Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown to defend California’s gay marriage ban in court.
The Pacific Justice Institute petitioned the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento on Monday for an emergency order that would require state officials to appeal a ruling that overturned Proposition 8.
Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker struck down the voter-approved measure as unconstitutional last month.
Full Story from the Washington Post
Click here for gay marriage resources.
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A Texas court of appeals has reversed a lower court’s ruling allowing a gay couple to divorce. The court ruled Tuesday that the state’s ban on gay marriage does not violate the Texas Constitution, the AP reported.
The Fifth Texas Court of Appeals overruled a ruling by District Judge Tena Callahan that allowed two Dallas men – known only as J.B. and H.B. – married in Massachusetts to divorce. The court concluded that Callahan did not have the proper jurisdiction to make such a determination.
Callahan’s ruling also declared Texas’ ban on gay marriage unconstitutional. The appeals court disagreed. Attorney General Greg Abbot appealed the ruling, arguing that the marriage should be “voided,” which essentially nullifies the marriage as invalid.
Full Story from On Top Magazine
Click here for gay marriage resources in Texas.
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The legislature of the Australian island state of Tasmania has voted to recognize same-sex marriages and civil unions from other jurisdictions.
Only three of the 25 Lower House MPs voted against the amendment to the Relationships Act – Liberal members Rene Hidding, Michael Ferguson and Jacqui Petrusma. Attorney-General Lara Giddings says the changes will remove discrimination for same-sex couples in registered relationships.
“This is really a small step, but a significant and important step for those people who have registered or been through a civil union process elsewhere around the world and want us to recognise that relationship as indeed being in existence,” she said.
[End of Article]
Click here for gay marriage resources in Australia.
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.
(Full Events List & Details: http://www.purpleunions.com/mn/gay-marriage-events-list.html):
–USA, CA, West Hollywood: 09/01, Equality Network Meeting, TBD, TBD.
–USA, IA, Des Moines: 08/31, Phonebanking w/One Iowa, One Iowa, 6-9 PM.
–USA, IA, Iowa City: 09/01, Fairness Fundraiser, Plaza Towers Penthouse, 5:30-7:30 PM.
–USA, NY, New York: 09/01, MENY General Meeting, LGBT Center, 6:30-7:30 PM.
–USA, RI, Providence: 08/31, Providence Equality Action Committee Meeting, Bell St. Chapel, 7-8:30 PM.
–USA, WA, Seattle: 09/01, Equal Rights WA Volunteer Night, Equal Rights WA Office, 6-8 PM.
Tipped to this by Pam’s House Blend;
Video from the “Make The Right Choice” series illustrating the difference between civil marriage and other similar contracts (domestic partnerships, civil unions, etc.) by comparison to segregated drinking fountains based on race during the 20th century in America.
A retired lesbian minister who officiated at a number of same-sex weddings during the period in which they were legal in California, says she will appeal against the ruling of a Presbyterian court last Thursday which rebuked her for going against the constitution of her denomination.
The court ruled that Reverend Jane Adams Spahr’s actions sent contradictory messages about the church’s support of gay rights. The court, part of the Redwoods Presbytery district of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Napa, California, did however, acquit Rev Spahr on a charge of failing “to further the peace, unity and purity of the church”"
Rev Spahr was also praised by the court for “her prophetic ministry that for 35 years has extended support to ‘people who seek the dignity, freedom and respect that they have been denied’”.
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.
A new clash over a State Bill dealing with same sex marriage is emerging and two of the main opponents are San Francisco Democratic Senator Mark Leno and Bakersfield’s Republican Senator Roy Ashburn, two openly gay California legislators. Senate Bill 906, commonly called the Civil Marriage Religious Freedom Act was introduced back in January by Senator Leno with the support of Equality California, the state’s largest gay rights advocate. The California Assembly passed the bill early August 46-25 followed by a 22-11 vote in favor of the bill by the State Senate.
The bill details, perhaps to some, a premature safe guard to religious institutions allowing them freedom to choose who they will and will not sanctify in marriage. The bill would protect clergy who decline to perform marriage ceremonies that conflict with their religious beliefs. In the language of bill, religious institutions would also be protected from losing their tax exempt status for any refusals.
In a state whose position on the legalization of same sex marriage hangs in the balance at the 9th Circuit court of Appeals, some may find SB 906 as a prediction of the outcome of the upcoming trial. If marriage of same sex couples becomes legal, California’s legislature has given religious institutions the power to practice their faith without the state imposing new restrictions when it comes to performing same sex weddings.
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.
(Same-sex) Love is in the air this winter aboard SAS. The Scandinavian airline is hoping to host the world’s first same-sex wedding in the air aboard one of their A340s between Stockholm and New York on December 6. To find the lucky couple for the mid-air nuptials, the longtime gay-friendly airline is launching a major social media contest campaign titled “Love is in the air.” Cute. Not fierce. But cute.
The airline has partnered with VisitSweden and Stockholm Gay & Lesbian Network to offer one European couple and one American couple the chance to get married aboard SAS flights and honeymoon packages – the European couple be married aboard the outbound flight to the U.S. and will get to vacation there, and the American couple will be feted on the way back to Sweden.
The European couple will get married on flight SK903 on December 6 from Stockholm to New York. The entire 32-seat Business Class cabin will be converted into a wedding hall where the captain of the aircraft will wed the lucky couple, then guests and media will celebrate with a wedding banquet, wedding cake, and even dancing if the airline has its way.
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.
The joint synod of Italy’s Waldensian and Methodist Protestant churches has, as the denominations’ highest governing body, agreed to authorise the blessing of same-sex couples in church under certain conditions.
The Synod president, Marco Bouchard, described the 26 August decision as “a clear and firm step forward that needs to be placed into a context that will be better defined, especially the relationship between churches and homosexual couples”.
The synod statement said, “The words and practice of Jesus, as seen in the Gospel, call us to welcome each experience and each choice marked by God’s love, freely and consciously chosen.”
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.
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