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MN: House Debates Marriage Equality Bills

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Lawmakers in Minnesota’s House are considering several legislative bills on the subject of gay unions, Politics in Minnesota reported. Three proposals would limit marriage to a heterosexual union by amending Minnesota’s Constitution. Those bills have yet to receive a hearing in this session.

But on Monday, three pro-gay bills introduced last March were aired out in a House committee. One measure, sponsored by Representative Joe Mullery, DFL-Minneapolis, would recognize gay and lesbian couples with civil unions. And Golden Valley Representative Ryan Winkler’s bill seeks to recognize legal marriages performed outside the state. A third bill proposes legalizing gay marriage.

Representative Phyllis Kahn, a Minneapolis Democrat and sponsor of the measure, testified on behalf of her bill. “I just want to personally state that I think allowing other people to get married poses absolutely no threat to my marriage,” Kahn told the committee. “The legislative session is probably a little more damaging.”

Full Story from On Top Magazine
Click here for gay marriage resources in Minnesota.
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.

Posted in bills, Gay Marriage, house committee, marriage equality, minnesota, mn, same sex marriage | No Responses »

USA: 2009 Saw 50 Positive LGBT Bills Passed, and Only 4 Negative Bills

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

The number of pro-LGBT bills passed at state levels in 2009 totaled more than those passed in 2007 and 2008 combined. That, according to a report from the Human Rights Campaign, marks great progress despite a year wherein community members felt stinging defeats. At the same time HRC was releasing its annual rankings of LGBT-friendly companies, the national organization also unveiled its “Equality State by State,” a report of legislative actions across the country written by HRC State Legislative Director Sara Warbelow.

Overall, the LGBT community saw success on state-level legislation. A total of 332 pro-LGBT bills were introduced and 50 were passed. Only 69 negative pieces of legislation were introduced. Of those, only four passed.

Despite a setback in Maine, when voters chose to overturn their state legislature’s decision to offer marriage to all couples, other states and jurisdictions moved forward on marriage. On April 7, 2009, Vermont passed legislation opening marriage to all couples. New Hampshire decided to join Vermont on June 3, 2009. Their law went into effect on Jan. 1, 2010. And, on Dec. 18, 2009, the Washington, D.C. City Council passed legislation extending marriage rights there. In April, Iowa’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of a gay couple seeking a marriage license there.

Full Story from QNotes
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.

Posted in 2009, bills, Gay Marriage, gay rights, hrc, legislation, marriage equality, same sex marriage | No Responses »

TN: Legislature Likely to Consider Gay Marriage/Civil Union Ban This Year

Friday, January 1st, 2010

As the Tennessee General Assembly reconvenes this month, the state’s LGBT political leaders say that from adoption rights to discrimination issues, there will be many bills worth watching.

Despite wins in Memphis and Nashville for the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in nondiscrimination policies, the political landscape remains fairly inhospitable for many LGBT concerns. With an election looming in the fall and enormous budgetary issues that will likely dominate the session, it’s unclear what traction bills favorable to the community might gain.

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Hot-button debates are likely to occur over a proposed adoption ban for unmarried couples, which has been seen as a back-door way to disallow gay men and lesbians to adopt, as well as civil-union legislation that would preemptively ban not only gay marriage but also any other type of union with legal ramifications. In an election year, and with a body whose conservative majority is seeking to expand its presence, those bills are a given, said Christopher Sanders, TEP’s chair.

Full Story from Out & About: http://www.outandaboutnewspaper.com/article/3805

Click here for gay marriage resources in Tennessee.

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.

Posted in adoption, bills, civil unions, employment discrimination, Gay Marriage, legislature, tennessee, tn | No Responses »

Cleveland, Tampa Considering Transgender Protection Bills

Friday, November 13th, 2009

More cities are considering adding transgender protections in the wake of a critical vote in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

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In Cleveland, gay rights group Ask Cleveland is lobbying to win approval of such a measure. The group delivered more than 2,500 postcards supporting an expanded law to council members on Monday. The bill is sponsored by openly gay, outgoing Council member Joe Santiago.

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In Tampa, Florida, passage appears more certain, but opponents have only just begun to mobilize. A November 5 first reading of a transgender protections bill won unanimous approval after Council member Joseph Caetano altered his original no vote. Final passage is expected during a November 19th meeting.

Full Story from On Top Magazine: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=4859&MediaType=1&Category=26

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.

Posted in bills, cleveland, florida, ohio, tampa, transgender protections | No Responses »

Argentina: Gay Marriage Bills Being Considered in Congress

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Amid a maelstrom of opinions on the subject, the House of Representatives will begin to discuss two bills that enable same-sex marriages on Friday.

The legislative bills were driven by the deputies Silvia Augsburger (MSZP) and Vilma Ibarra (Popular and Social Encounter) and they aim to “give people the freedom to choose with whom to meet the commitments of cohabitation, regardless of whether they are from the same or different sex.”

The projects, which will be discussed at a joint plenary of the General Law Committee, and the Family, Women, Children and Adolescents Lower House of Argentina, seek an amendment to Article 172 of the Civil Code to replace the term “man and woman” by “spouses” without reference to the sex of the people who consumate a marriage.

Full Story from Momento 24: http://momento24.com/en/2009/10/28/congress-begins-to-debate-gay-marriage/