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OH, USA: Attorney General Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit Against Marriage Equality Measure

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012

Ohio’s attorney general has asked the state Supreme Court to dismiss a lawsuit by a group that wants to keep a pro-marriage equality proposal off the ballot.

Atty. Gen. Mike DeWine (pictured) last month approved the language of the measure, which would repeal a state constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriage and replace it with an amendment permitting marriage between any two people regardless of gender.

DeWine said that while he opposes same-sex marriage, his opinion has no bearing on the matter. He was simply performing the duties of his office in certifying that the wording is a “fair and truthful statement of a proposed constitutional amendment” to go before voters, The Columbus Dispatch reports.

Full Story from The Advocate

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Tags: attorney general, initiative, lawsuit, marriage equality, mike dewine, ohio, supreme court

WA, USA: Competing Efforts to Repeal Marriage Equality Stir Up Confusion

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

This year’s political argument over same-sex marriage is already divisive; it shouldn’t have to be confusing to boot. Confusion has been arising from the two signature-gathering campaigns to overturn the Legislature’s legalization of same-sex marriage. Some citizens aren’t clear on what cause they’re be advancing by signing or not signing the petitions.

The short take: A signature on either petition helps subject marriage equality to a popular vote this November. That’s something you want to do if you oppose same-sex marriage or believe the decision belongs to the electorate.

The “decline to sign” counter-campaign seeks to secure same-sex marriage by preventing the threatened repeal from reaching the ballot. Yet an election would produce the best possible outcome if the new marriage law survived it: For the first time, same-sex marriage would have been directly ratified by voters rather than enacted by legislatures or imposed by courts. The law’s legitimacy would be beyond dispute.

Full Story from The News Tribune

Find more articles and gay wedding resources in Washington State.

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Tags: decline to sign, initiative, marriage equality, referendum, repeal, washington state

WA: Dan Savage Says Marriage Equality Opponents Trying to Confuse Voters

Friday, March 9th, 2012

Gay activist Dan Savage believes a referendum on gay marriage in Washington state would be a “nail biter.” Opponents of the state’s recently-approved gay marriage law have vowed to put it up to a popular vote.

Savage, the creator of the It Gets Better project and the editor of Seattle weekly The Stranger, said opponents are up to “very dirty tricks.”

“They’re going to try to put two referendums on the ballot, one that you’ll have to vote yes on, one that you’ll have to vote no on to keep marriage equality in Washington state,” Savage told 97.3 KIRO FM’s Ross and Burbank Show. “They’re doing it to confuse voters.”

Full Story from On Top Magazine

Click here for gay wedding resources in Washington State.

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Tags: initiative, marriage equality, referendum, washington state

WA: Judge to Decide if Marriage Equality Repeal Initiative Can Use “Redefine Marriage” Phrase

Thursday, March 8th, 2012

Does the same-sex marriage bill passed by the Legislature last month “redefine” the term marriage in Washington state? Gay-marriage supporters say no — that the new legislation does nothing to change the meaning of marriage. To them, “redefine” is a loaded word.

Their opponents, on the other hand, say yes — that redefining marriage is the very linchpin of the legislation. And on that point, at least, the state Attorney General’s Office sides with them.

The Solicitor General’s Office of the Attorney General’s Office is responsible for ensuring that language on all state ballot measures is clear, concise and tries to be neutral. In crafting language for a referendum on the recently passed legislation, the state lawyers say that the measure indeed “alters the current meaning of the term marriage.”

Full Story from the Seattle Times

Click here for gay wedding resources in Washington State.

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Tags: initiative, judge, marriage equality, redefine marriage, repeal, washington

WA: Profile of Sponsor of Anti Marriage Equality Initiative

Thursday, March 8th, 2012

It’s been less than a month since Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) signed her state’s marriage equality bill, but a number of anti-gay efforts to repeal the law are already underway. One such effort – Initiative 1192 – was filed in January by attorney Stephen Pidgeon (R), who is also a candidate for State Attorney General. Long before becoming the spokesman for Initiative 1192, Pidgeon made a name for himself peddling extreme right-wing conspiracy theories, ranging from “birther” theories about President Obama’s eligibility for office to accusations that Obama is the anti-Christ.

Pidgeon’s History Of Peddling “Birther” Conspiracy Theories

Pidgeon Led A 2008 Lawsuit Challenging Obama’s Presidential Eligibility. According to WorldNetDaily:

A new case challenging Barack Obama’s natural-born citizenship and, therefore, constitutional eligibility to serve as president has the potential to clear a hurdle that caused several other similar cases’ dismissal: the issue of “standing.”

[...]

In Washington state’s Broe v. Reed case, however, plaintiff’s attorney Stephen Pidgeon says a unique state statute grants everyday citizens the required standing.

Full Story from Equality Matters

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Tags: Gay Marriage, initiative, marriage equality, profile, steven pidgeon, washington

WA: Short Circuiting the Anti Marriage Equality Vote

Sunday, March 4th, 2012

ON Feb. 13 Washington became the seventh state to legalize gay marriage. Unfortunately, this well-earned victory for equality already faces a two-pronged assault. Opponents of gay marriage are attempting to place on the November 2012 ballot an initiative to (re)define marriage as being “between a man and a woman.” Additionally, opponents are also gathering signatures in hopes of subjecting the new law to a statewide referendum.

While it’s likely that Washington voters would reject these efforts, those who favor marriage equality should not have to wait until November to know the fate of the new law. This is especially true for those most affected by the battle: gays and lesbians, who have had to wait too long for the right to marry the person they love, and should not be forced to endure nine more months of uncertainty.

Fortunately, a mechanism exists for short-circuiting the anti-gay marriage push. Just six days before Gov. Chris Gregoire signed the marriage equality bill into law, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit struck its own blow for same-sex marriage when it held that California’s Proposition 8 was unconstitutional. Proposition 8 was passed by California voters in 2008 in response to a decision by the California Supreme Court that required the state to recognize gay marriage. Proposition 8 overturned that ruling by amending the state’s constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Full Story from The Seattle Times

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Tags: initiative, marriage equality, referendum, washington

ME: Catholic Church Says It Won’t Campaign Publicly Against Marriage Equality Initiative

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Maine will take no active role in a political campaign against a same-sex marriage referendum that’s expected to be on the November ballot, Bishop Richard Malone announced today.

Instead, the diocese is expanding an existing educational program to better inform church members about the qualities and benefits of marriage between one man and one woman.

Malone issued a pastoral letter on marriage today that will be used extensively to teach 185,000 Roman Catholics in Maine about the gift of traditional marriage and the need to preserve it as it is.

Full Story from the Online Sentinel

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Tags: catholic church, initiative, maine, marriage equality

ME: Both Sides Agree that State Has Changed on Marriage Equality, But Differ on How

Sunday, February 26th, 2012

Gay marriage advocates say much has changed since 2009 when Mainers overturned a law legalizing same-sex marriage. Opponents agree. But the two sides disagree on what those changes are and what they mean for this year’s gay marriage initiative, which is expected to be a statewide referendum in November’s election.

Gay marriage activists say many people who opposed gay marriage in 2009 have shifted their stance. They base that view on poll numbers, one-on-one discussions with 40,000 residents and strong response they had in collecting more than 100,000 signatures to get the matter on the ballot. “Mainers have changed their minds on this issue,” said Betsy Smith, executive director of Equality Maine, which is spearheading the campaign. “They want the chance to right a wrong.”

Opponents agree things have changed — but not in the way gay marriage supporters are suggesting.

Full Story from Boston.com

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Tags: Gay Marriage, initiative, maine, marriage equality

ME: What Happens Next for Marriage Equality?

Saturday, February 25th, 2012

Advocates of same-sex marriage turned in more than enough signatures to move ahead with a citizens initiative that would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry in Maine, the Secretary of State’s Office ruled Thursday.

More than 85,000 voter signatures were declared valid. The advocacy groups needed at least 57,277 valid signatures for their bill to get to the Legislature.

Lawmakers now will be presented with a citizens initiative proposing the legalization of gay marriage in Maine. Currently, seven states and the District of Columbia allow gay marriages.

Full Story from The Portland Press Herald

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Tags: Gay Marriage, initiative, maine, marriage equality

WA: Two Competing Measures In the Works to Repeal Marriage Equality Law

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Opponents of Washington state’s new gay marriage law want voters to select “no” on the November 2012 ballot. And also “yes.” That seeming paradox stems in competing efforts launched this week by two groups dedicated to the cause of keeping Washington from joining six other states and the District of Columbia from legalizing same-sex matrimony.

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They have until June 6 to gather the 120,577 valid signatures needed to secure a spot on the 2012 ballot. If the referendum qualifies, the gay marriage statute — already on hold until June 7 under the standard waiting period for new laws — would be kept from taking effect before the election. A majority of “no” votes on the referendum question in November would strip the new law from the books altogether.

But Thursday morning, a different repeal coalition, Protect Marriage Washington 2012, plans to start collecting signatures for Initiative 1192, asking voters to say “yes” to a measure that would define marriage as between one man and one woman. In contrast to a statewide referendum, initiatives have until July 6 to obtain 241,154 signatures, and only the referendum can delay the gay marriage law from taking effect before the election.

Full Story from GayToday

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Tags: amendment, initiative, marriage equality, referendum, repeal, washington state