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DC: Catholic Church Seeks Last-Minute Changes to Gay Marriage Bill

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

The D.C. Council is expected to pass a law Tuesday allowing same-sex marriages in the District of Columbia. The Catholic Church, which opposes the legislation, was still seeking change in the bill late Monday, and if the church doesn’t get them, that could negatively affect the city’s homeless.

Local Catholic Church officials met with D.C. Councilman Phil Mendelson Monday. The Washington archdiocese wants the Catholic Church exempted from having to pay spousal benefits to any gay employees — as the church doesn’t recognize gay marriage — and hopes to avoid being forced to handle gay adoptions.

The church warned that its social service arm — Catholic Charities — may have to withdraw from millions of dollars in public services to the poor and homeless that it provides if the legislation goes forward.

Full Story from NBC Washington: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/politics/Church-Still-Seeks-Changes-Before-Same-Sex-Marriage-Vote-78182362.html

Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington, DC.

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 catholic church, changes, gay marriage bill, last minute, vote | No Responses »

NY: Senate May Vote on Gay Marriage Bill Today

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

The New York Senate will likely vote on a gay marriage bill Tuesday, local NBC affiliate WGRZ reported. A spokesman for state Senator Dale Volker confirmed to the television station that the bill could reach the Senate floor for a vote tomorrow.

The bill remains a priority of Governor David Paterson, who has pledged to sign it into law if it clears its final hurdle in the Senate. Whether Democrats have the votes to approve the measure, however, remains unclear. Several senators reversed course after voters in Maine “vetoed” a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers in the spring. Win or lose, gay activists say they want a vote on the bill to put senators on record.

A similar bill is expected to receive its initial vote in the District of Columbia on Tuesday and final approval before Christmas.

Full Story from On Top Magazine: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=4934&MediaType=1&Category=26

Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.

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 floor, gay marriage bill, governor david paterson, new york, ny, senate, Tuesday, vote | No Responses »

DC: Vote on Gay Marriage Bill Tuesday

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Two states are expected to decide on whether to grant gay couples the right to marry before the end of the year, but gay marriage proponents are thoroughly sanguine about the District of Columbia, where passage of Council member David Catania’s gay marriage bill is expected to win approval on December 1.

Enthusiasm for gay marriage appears to be on the wane in New York and New Jersey after Mainers repealed a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers in the spring. Numerous New Jersey Democratic senators have expressed concern that now is not the time, while the New York Senate continues to delay action on a bill.

But the political consensus driving gay marriage in the District endures despite numerous attacks. City leaders have remained united on the bill, which is expected to win approval along a 10 to 2 vote at Tuesday’s meeting.

Full Story from On Top Magazine: http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=4929&MediaType=1&Category=26

Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington, DC.

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 city council, dc, district of columbia, gay marriage bill, vote, washington | No Responses »

NJ: Catholic Bishops Praying Against Proposed Gay Marriage Law

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

Roman Catholics throughout New Jersey are being asked to pray that state lawmakers don’t allow same-sex marriage.

It’s part of a continuing campaign by church leaders, who anticipate a possible legislative vote before Republican Gov.-elect Chris Christie takes office Jan. 19.

The prayer suggestion is contained in a letter that bishops told priests to read or distribute this weekend. It restates Catholic teaching that marriage should only be allowed between a man and a woman and says prayer is timely “because marriage faces challenges from a society more focused on individual satisfaction than on the Gospel.”

Full Story from Philly.com: http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20091128_ap_njcatholicbishopscampaignagainstgaymarriage.html

Click here for gay marriage resources in New Jersey.

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 catholic bishops, gay marriage bill, new jersey, nj, praying | No Responses »

NJ: Democratic Senator Says Gay Marriage May Not Get a Vote

Saturday, November 14th, 2009

A New Jersey bill to allow gay marriage might not go to a vote in the Legislature before the session ends in January and Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, who supports the measure, is succeeded by Republican Chris Christie, who does not.

State Sen. Paul Sarlo said he would not bring up the bill in the Judiciary Committee he chairs unless enough votes exist to pass it on to the full Senate. The Bergen County Democrat said that, currently, the bill does not have sufficient support in the committee for a recommendation to the Senate.

“Today, as I stand here, we do not have the votes in the Judiciary Committee,” Sarlo said after he and Gov.-elect Chris Christie toured the Xanadu entertainment complex under construction in the Meadowlands. “Until somebody can demonstrate that we have the votes in the Judiciary Committee, it will not be posted.

Full Story from NJ.com: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/nj_lawmaker_says_legislature_m.html

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

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 gay marriage bill, governor jon corzine, new jersey, senate, vote | No Responses »

DC:Catholic Church Threatens to Withdraw Social Services if Gay Marriage Bill Passed

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

In a surprisingly bold and seemingly unbiblical move, the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is threatening to discontinue its social support for nearly 70,000 people — including a third of Washington’s homeless — because of its opposition to a proposed same-sex marriage bill.

Under the proposed bill, according to a story by Post reporters Tim Craig and Michelle Boorstein, religious organizations would not be required to perform same-sex weddings, “but they would have to obey city laws prohibiting discrimination against gay men and lesbians.”

Apparently, the archdiocese is concerned that it could be forced, for example, to extend employee benefits to same-sex married couples, open adoptions to same-sex couples, or rent a church hall to gay and lesbian groups. “If the city requires this, we can’t do it,” Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said Wednesday. “The city is saying in order to provide social services, you need to be secular. For us, that’s really a problem.”

Full Story from the Washington Post: http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2009/11/the_archdioceses_ultimatum.html

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Washington, DC.

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 catholic archdiocese, dc, district of columbia, gay marriage bill, social services, washington dc | No Responses »

New York State Assembly Passes Gay Marriage Bill Again

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Last night, the State Assembly voted to approve the gay marriage bill. PolitickerNY reports the vote occurred “after four hours of debate and a technical problem that crashed the chamber’s electronic voting mechanisms.”

Previously, in 2007, the Assembly passed a similar bill 85-61; this year, three Democrats switched their votes from no to yes as did two Republicans.

One, Assemblyman Fred Thiele (R-Hamptons), explained, “There’s that little voice inside of you that tells you when you’ve done something right, and when you’ve done something wrong. That vote just never felt right to me. That little voice kept gnawing away at me.”

Full Story from the Gothamist: http://gothamist.com/2009/05/13/state_assembly_passes_gay_marriage.php

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

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 gay marriage bill, new york, ny, passes, state assembly, votes | No Responses »