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MD: Senate Committee Passes Marriage Equality Bill

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

A Maryland Senate committee approved a gay marriage bill on Tuesday, sending the issue to the full Senate and moving Maryland closer to becoming the eighth state to legalize same-sex nuptials.

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted 7 to 4 in favor of the bill – supported by Gov. Martin O’Malley – and the full Senate was expected to vote later in the week. The bill was approved last week by the lower house.

“I believe the 25 votes that we had last year will hold,” said Senator Jamie Raskin, referring to last year’s gay marriage bill which passed the Senate but died in the House.

Full Story from the Huffington Post

Click here for gay wedding resources in Maryland.

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Tags: committee, marriage equality, maryland, senate, vote

NJ: Assembly Committee Passes Marriage Equality Bill 5-2

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

After a long hearing that produced heated and emotional testimony Thursday, an Assembly committee voted 5-2 along party lines in favor of a bill from Democrats that would allow gay couples to marry in New Jersey.

The measure still faces votes in both houses of the Legislature, with the Senate vote set for Feb. 13. Republican Gov. Chris Christie has promised to veto the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act if it reaches his desk.

Proponents touted the bill’s protections for religious organizations and affiliated groups that refuse to conduct a same-sex marriage as part of free exercise of religion, but that doesn’t address core religious concerns, said Rabbi Moshe Bressler, an Orthodox Jew from Lakewood.

Full Story from APP.com

Click here for gay wedding resources in New Jersey.

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Tags: assembly, committee, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, new jersey

WA: Marriage Equality Bill Clears Senate Committee

Friday, January 27th, 2012

The marriage equality bill in Washington State moved one step closer to becoming law Thursday when a Senate committee advanced the measure to the floor for a vote.

According to the Associated Press, “The Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee approved the measure with a 4-3 voice vote split on party lines. The bill is expected to head to a floor vote next, though a date has not yet been determined.”

The committee rejected several Republican amendments, according to the AP, including a proposal that would have required the marriage equality bill be sent to the ballot in November. Opponents have pledged to challenge any law passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire, but without a referendum requirement, they would need to collect 120,577 valid signatures by July 6 to put the issue on the ballot.

Full Story From The Advocate

Gay friendly wedding vendors in Washington State

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Tags: bill, committee, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, senate, washington state

US: Senate Committee Passes DOMA Repeal Bill

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

A Senate committee took historic action on Thursday against the Defense of Marriage Act by approving legislation that would lift the anti-gay law from the books.

The Senate Judiciary Committee reported the legislation to the floor by a vote of 10-8 along a party-line basis.

The committee vote marks the first-time ever that any component of Congress has voted to repeal DOMA, which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriage, since it was first enacted in 1996.

Full Story from The Washington Blade

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Tags: committee, doma, repeal, us senate, vote

MD: Committee Vote on Marriage Equality Finally Coming Friday

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

A bill that would allow gay couples to marry in Maryland has been stuck for days, but supporters believe they finally have the votes to move it forward. The bill has stalled repeatedly in the House after speeding through the Senate, but WTOP has learned there will be a vote Friday night on the gay marriage measure in the House Judiciary Committee, which is necessary to move the bill along.

“There will be 12 votes for the bill,” says Md. Delegate Luiz Simmons, D-Montgomery County.

House leaders have had trouble finding support on the committee for the bill and have spent the last two days lobbying members. “I don’t know whether the votes are there or not, we’ll wait and see,” says Delegate Joseph Vallario, D-Prince George’s and committee chairman.

Full Story from WTOP

Click here for gay marriage resources in New Hampshire.

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Tags: committee, marriage equality, maryland

MD: Is Marriage Equality Bill Back On Track in House?

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

A bill to legalize gay marriage is back on track after a delegate who held it up relented and agreed to show up for a vote. Advocates of the bill said Wednesday that a key committee is poised to approve it.

Delegate Tiffany Alston forced the House Judiciary Committee to delay a vote on legalizing same-sex marriage Tuesday after she and another delegate skipped a session. Alston, who is co-sponsoring the bill and a member of the committee, said Wednesday she’s ready to vote on it, but did not say whether she will support it.

Delegate Heather Mizeur, D-Montgomery, says gay marriage advocates have the 12 committee votes they need to advance the bill to a final vote. Mizeur is one of the chamber’s six openly gay members.
Delegates, including Mizeur, said they did not know when a new vote would be scheduled.

Full Story from Hometown Annapolis

Click here for gay marriage resources in Maryland.

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Tags: committee, Gay Marriage, house, maryland

IA: Conservatives Want to Alter Makeup of Judge Selection Panel

Monday, December 13th, 2010

Seven of the 15 members of a commission that will recommend finalists to replace three Iowa Supreme Court justices ousted after legalizing gay marriage should be disqualified from participating, a conservative lawyer argued last week.

Four Iowa residents filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday that notes since they are not attorneys they have no role in selecting the seven commissioners, who are lawyers elected through the Iowa State Bar Association. The lawsuit claims the selection system gives lawyers too much influence and is unconstitutional as a result.

“”his restricted election denies the citizens of Iowa the right to vote and the right to participate equally in the selection of justices and judges in Iowa,” the lawsuit says.

Full Story from Missouri Lawyers Media

Click here for gay marriage resources in Iowa.

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Tags: committee, Gay Marriage, judges, marriage equality, same sex marriage

Finland: Church Committee Says No Blessings for Gay/Lesbian Couples

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

A committee of Finland’s Evangelical Lutheran Church says pastors could pray on behalf of same-sex couples–but not offer them blessings comparable to traditional weddings. The committee presented its proposal at the church’s General Synod in Turku on Wednesday.

The committee backs the view that marriage is a union between a man and a woman.

The committee adds that pastors should be allowed to refuse to pray with same-sex couples. The proposal will function as the basis for the Synod’s discussion regarding homosexual couples on Thursday.

Full Story from YLE

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Tags: blessings, committee, evangelical church, finland, gay couples, lesbian couples

Argentina: Senate Discusses Gay Marriage

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

The Upper House General Legislation Committee, led by Liliana Negre de Alonso, held a meeting to discuss the same-sex marriage controversy. Lawyers, professors, judges and adoption leaders debated the matter. The discussion was divided into two parts.

The part of the debate held in the afternoon brought about several remarks in favour of same sex marriage. Different youth groups in favour of gay rights made their statements through a public letter, underlining their support of gay marriage.

Among the arguments, the letter reminded the Senate of article 16 of the Constitution, which holds all citizens “equal under the law.”

Full Story from the Buenos Aires Herald

Click here for gay marriage resources.

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Tags: argentina, committee, debate, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, same sex marriage, senate

Argentina: Gay Marriage Debate Begins in Senate Committee

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

Today, at 17, the discussion about gay marriage started in the Hall Illia of the Senate, chaired by L. Negre de Alonso. The session will host the Argentinean Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Trans, and the Homosexual Community of Argentina.

The block president of the Frente Para la Victoria, Miguel Angel Pichetto said “You begin to see there is a predisposition,” adding that there is “a significant number of senators who would support the ‘Yes’” to amend Civil Code.

When asked about his posture, the Kirchnerist said, “I am in favor of addressing this issue, of it being adopted and of ratifying the initial approval of the deputies” and said that there is a great chance that the General Law Committee will express its support for the measure.

Full Story from Momento 24

Click here for gay marriage resources.

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Tags: argentina, committee, debate, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, same sex marriage, senate