Marriage Equality Comes to England and Wales

umbrella crop

 

Same-sex marriage is now legal in England and Wales!  The House of Commons approved the bill yesterday after considering amendments made by the House of Lords, which passed its version of the law on Monday.  Today, the Queen gave Royal Assent, making the law official.  Marriages are expected to begin in 2014!

According to an ABC report:

The law enables gay couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies in England and Wales, provided that the religious institution consents. The Church of England, the country’s official faith, is barred from performing such ceremonies.

It also will allow couples who had previously entered into civil partnerships — which were introduced in 2005 and carry similar rights and responsibilities to marriage — to convert their relationships to marriage.

Congratulations to all the loving couples in the UK!

Watch: Eli Lieb “Young Love”

photo courtesy of EQ Music Blog

photo courtesy of EQ Music Blog

Eli Lieb, an openly gay artist, has a new video – Young Love.  It’s a beautiful and romantic look at a young gay couple’s relationship – It’s a great video and I really like his voice.  You can read an interview with Lieb from Out Magazine here.

Hey! That’s My Husband!

 

marriedWe had a family tragedy recently. There has been an outpouring of love and support from family and friends – amazing words and kindness and good wishes. We’ve been overwhelmed by it all. But something struck me. Many people have sent messages of sympathy to me and my ‘partner’. These are people who know me. These are people who know that Michael and I, because of the discrimination in our own state of Colorado, had to travel thousands of miles to be married in New York. These are people who know we had to sacrifice a wedding surrounded by loved ones and families because we couldn’t ask people to spend thousands of dollars to travel to witness our wedding. These are people who know that, until 2 weeks ago, I could not apply for a green card for my Canadian husband like any heterosexual bi-national couple can. These are people who I have introduced to Michael as my husband. These are people who read my blog posts and Facebook updates that talk about my husband. There is no confusion on how we refer to each other. So knowing these things… why would they call us ‘partners’?

It reminds us that we still have a long way to go in this country. Even though we are slowly gaining equality in a legal sense, there is still a feeling that our relationships are still ‘other’. That we are still not the same as straight couples. How long will it take until the terms husband and wife roll off the tongues of straight allies without a second thought? How long until we are referred to as couples instead of gay couples? When will we just plain ol’ boring like everybody else? I guess, for the first time in my life, I’m hoping for a little mediocrity.

Out of curiosity, how many gay, married couples use husband and wife, and how many still use partner?

Lambda Legal/ACLU Seek Marriage Equaltiy in Virginia

banner for zazzle site - holding hands

 

Lambda Legal announced today in a press release that they and the ACLU are planning to file a federal lawsuit in Virginia to allow same sex couples to marry in the state.

“The end of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act opens a new chapter in our work to ensure same-sex couples and their families across the country are treated with dignity and respect,” said Greg Nevins, Supervising Senior Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal’s Southern Regional Office based in Atlanta. “We know that many same-sex couples and their families have waited a long time and we are excited to announce that the campaign for the freedom to marry is coming south.”

Lambda legal is asking couples who have been discriminated against in VA to fill out a survey explaining their situations.

The right-wing called it…. if DOMA falls, the gays would start chipping away at state laws prohibiting gay marriage until it is legal everywhere – they’re pretty smart!  Here we come, haters!

Gay Marriage Resumes in California

Prop 8 Plantiffs

Prop 8 Plaintiffs

 

Well that was quick!  According to the LA Times, The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted its stay issuing same-sex marriage licenses int he state of California.  Just days after the momentous Supreme Court decision that found the sponsors of Proposition 8, the law that prohibited same-sex marriage passed in 2008, had no standing to appeal a federal judges ruling that the law was unconstitutional.  Many legal experts predicted at least a 25+ day wait before marriages would resume.  Others felt more challenges would be brought that might block gay couples from marrying even longer.   But the order came down swiftly and marriages resumed yesterday!

Fittingly, the first wedding between brides since 2008 was between Kris Perry and Sandy Stier in San Francisco, plaintiffs in the Prop 8 case.  The officiant was tate Atty. Gen. Kamala D. Harris, who had refused to appeal the case in 2010.  Soon after,  Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wmarried Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, the other plaintiffs in the case, in L.A.

Congratulations to two very brave couples – what a fitting end to a long journey.

The religious right is going bananas!  Tee hee!

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