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CO: Senate Committee Approves Civil Unions on 5-2 Vote

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

Gay couples waiting for rights similar to those afforded to married couples got closer on Wednesday to a legislative showdown with Colorado Republicans after a Senate committee approved civil unions legislation after hours of emotional testimony.

Hundreds of people packed a hearing room at the Capitol to plead with lawmakers to give them legal protections traditional couples enjoy. The issue has gained traction as more states have recently passed either civil union or gay marriage laws.

Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper urged lawmakers to pass civil unions during his State of the State speech last month, and more Republicans have expressed public support for the measure.

Full Story from The Washington Post

Click here for gay wedding resources in Colorado.

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Tags: civil unions, colorado, state senate

WA: Senate Passes Marriage Equality Bill

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Just got this from Washington United for Marriage:

It’s almost too good to be true.

Tonight the Washington Senate, on a bipartisan 28-21 vote, passed a marriage equality bill — the first time in Washington history that an equality bill has passed in either chamber of the legislature.

Our efforts are working, creating real changes in Washington’s marriage policy — and it’s all due to you, and thousands of other Washingtonians who care deeply about equality. We’re hearing that all the calls and emails to the Capitol are changing minds. But, while this is a historic victory, it’s far from the end of the road. The next step toward getting equality signed into law is a vote on the House floor, which may come as early as next week.

The overwhelming support we’re seeing from businesses, labor, faith communities and people all across the state is a testament to the momentum of this movement and the sensibilities of Washingtonians.

And it’s tempting to celebrate after such an important victory, but we just don’t have the luxury. If marriage equality is going to be a reality in Washington, we’re going to need to keep pushing, and keep speaking out.

Click Here to Help

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Tags: bill, marriage equality, state senate, washington

IA: GOP Senate Minority Leader Continues Anti Marriage Equality Push

Saturday, November 26th, 2011

Mapping strategy. Iowa legislators looking ahead to January’s new legislative session and next November’s general election. A conversation with two state senators, democratic majority leader Mike Gronstal and republican minority leader Jerry Behn on this edition of Iowa Press.

Glover: Senator Gronstal, way too many issues and way too little time. Last session you refused to allow debate on the issue of gay marriage. Will you do so again in the next session?

Gronstal: Yes.

Glover: Senator Behn, is that a winner politically for republicans? We just had a special Senate election …

Behn: It’s not so much an issue whether it’s a winner or a loser politically. The idea, the concept is should the debate be allowed. And as I have stated previously on other issues I believe the debate should be allowed. There are only 150 legislators and where we vote in the booth will not probably affect the outcome. The question is should Iowans get to vote on it. That is all we’re discussing. We’re not discussing whether that constitutional amendment would pass or not pass, we’re just discussing should Iowans get a vote on it. My position is absolutely Iowans should get a vote on that and I think it is outrageous that he’s going to say no.

Glover: Senator Gronstal …

Gronstal: People’s rights should not be put to a popular vote. If I can put, if you can put my rights to a popular vote of the people then I can put your rights to a popular vote of the people and eventually, and eventually — well, we didn’t put slavery to a vote of the people in Iowa, we didn’t put the right to go to a school in your neighborhood to a vote of the people of Iowa, we didn’t put public accommodations law to a vote of the people in Iowa. The Supreme Court said certain inalienable rights — you either — when you say the Pledge of Allegiance, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all, you don’t say for all except for gay people, you don’t say that.

Full Story from Iowa Public Television

Click here for gay wedding resources.

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Tags: iowa, marriage equality, repeal, state senate

IA: Gronstal Re-Iterates Promise to Block Marriage Equality Repeal

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

A proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in Iowa will again be a topic during the legislative session beginning Jan. 9, but the top Senate Democrat said Thursday he would block debate over the issue.

“People’s rights should not be put to a popular vote,” said Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs. “We didn’t put slavery to a vote of the people. We didn’t put the right to go to a school in your neighborhood to a vote of the people of Iowa.”

Senate Minority Leader Jerry Behn, R-Boone, said the debate is less about gay marriage than allowing voters to have their say on an emotional issue. He promised that Republicans will again push the issue.

Full Story from NECN

Click here for gay wedding resources in Iowa.

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Tags: iowa, marriage equality, mike gronstal, state senate

IA: Marriage Equality May Hinge on State Senate Vote

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

Local groups are worried that, in Iowa, the right to legally express the love that binds two people is at risk of being broken.

Democrats in Iowa — a state that legalized same-sex marriage in 2009 in a state Supreme Court decision — have been losing control of the Senate, with their numbers dropping from 27-22 to 26-24 in the November 2010 elections. After Sen. Swati Dandekar, D-Marion, announced in September that she was resigning, Democrats are at risk of losing control completely.

“If this does happen, if we were to lose that race, certainly it makes the chances of us seeing a Constitutional amendment passed through the Senate much more likely,” said Troy Price, the executive director of One Iowa, the state’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy group. “And should that happen, if it is able to pass in the next legislative session, as early as June 2013 you could see it on the ballot.”

Full Story from the Daily Iowan

Click here for gay wedding resources in Iowa.

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Tags: iowa, marriage equality, state senate, vote

NY: Senate Will Vote on Marriage Equality Bill

Friday, June 24th, 2011

The State Senate will vote on same-sex marriage, the Senate majority leader said Friday afternoon, setting the stage for a final decision on the most closely watched issue facing the Legislature as it wraps up its annual session. The exact timing was unclear, thought it was expected to occur Friday evening.

The marriage measure, which was proposed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and approved by the state Assembly, has been publicly endorsed by 31 of the 62 senators — leaving the measure one vote shy of the votes needed for passage in the Senate. The announced supporters include 29 of the 30 Senate Democrats and 2 of the 32 Senate Republicans. Supporters and opponents alike said that anything could happen when the Senate takes its vote.

The Senate easily defeated a same-sex marriage measure in 2009, when the chamber was controlled by Democrats; improbably, it seemed to face better odds this year, when it is controlled by Republicans, because Mr. Cuomo has succeeded in persuading all but one Democrat to support the measure, and because a few Republicans have changed their votes. Mr. Cuomo, a first-term Democrat, has said that passage of same-sex marriage is one of his top priorities.

Full Story from The New York Times

Click here for gay marriage resources in New York.

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Tags: marriage equality, new york, state senate, vote

HI: Transgender Workplace Protections Bill Passed By Senate Committee

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

From Care2′s Hawaii’s Trans Workplace Nondiscrimination Bill Advances:

A bill that would expand existing workplace nondiscrimination rules to encompass perceived or actual gender identity was advanced by the Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee this week in a 3-2 vote.

The bill, HB 546, was passed by the House at the beginning of March and would prohibit discrimination “on the basis of gender identity and expression as a public-policy matter and specifically with regard to employment.”

Protections in public accommodations already exist for trans Hawaiians. Workplace protections also exist, but this has been achieved through rulings made by the state Civil Rights Commission and not, as yet, state law.

Full Story from Pam’s House Blend

Click here for gay marriage resources in Hawaii.

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Tags: hawaii, state senate, transgender protections

DE: Civil Unions Bill Introduced in State Senate

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

Delaware Civil Unions Today a civil unions bill was introduced in the Delaware Senate. The Human Rights Campaign reports via press release:

“Today, members of the Delaware Senate have put forth a solid plan for providing critical benefits to same-sex couples and their children,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.

“Now is the time to treat all Delaware families with equality and we call on the Delaware legislature to swiftly pass the civil unions bill.” “EQDE is proud to have worked with the sponsors of this bill to get to today,” said Equality Delaware President Lisa Goodman.

Full Story from Joe.My.God

Click here for gay marriage resources in Delaware.

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Tags: civil unions, delaware, state senate

MT: State Senate Passes Repeal of Anti-Gay Sex Law

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Montana Gay Rights Montana voted to strike an obsolete law criminalizing gay sex on Wednesday:

The Montana Supreme Court struck down the law in 1997, and Senate Bill 276 carried by Sen. Tom Facey would remove it from state code. The Missoula Democrat said the measure would provide equal protection under the law for all Montanans.

The Senate endorsed the bill 41-9 with 19 of 28 Senate Republicans supporting the measure. It has one more usually procedural vote before it goes to the House. Republican backing for the measure goes against years of support for outlawing homosexual acts, which became part of the official party platform after the 1997 Supreme Court decision.

Full Story from Towleroad.com

Click here for gay marriage resources.

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Tags: anti gay sex law, montana, state senate

HI: State Senate Passes Civil Unions Bill

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

The Hawaii senate passed the final version of a civil unions bill by an 18-5 vote Wednesday afternoon. The bill will now go to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who has expressed his support for it.

“Today is a momentous day,” said Sen. Clayton Hee, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “There is no denying that by this action Hawaii takes a significant step towards true equality.”

Equality Hawaii and the Human Rights Campaign issued a joint statement about the bill’s passage Wednesday.

Full Story from The Advocate

Click here for gay marriage resources in Hawaii.

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Tags: civil unions, hawaii, state senate