In a speech yesterday in the Philippines, Pope Francis sent another mixed message about same-sex marriage, reports Hayley Miller on the HRC blog. He hinted at the issue of same-sex marriage, stating, “The family is threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of marriage, by relativism, by the…
DENVER, Colo.—From stunning wins for the freedom to marry to Medicare’s lifting of the exclusion of coverage for transgender-specific healthcare, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans made gains on many fronts in 2014. However, despite these advances, deep disparities remain, including an overwhelming lack of employment nondiscrimination protections, high rates of healthcare discrimination, poorer…
A federal judge’s stay on a ruling overturning Florida’s ban on marriage equality expires at the end of the day today, making the Sunshine State the latest where same-sex couples can legally marry. With Florida, over 216 million Americans – 70 percent of the country – live in a state with marriage equality. Since this…
The U.S. Supreme Court has distributed a Louisiana marriage equality case for its January 9, 2015 conference. The justices will deliberate whether to take up Robicheaux v. George on appeal after a federal district court upheld the state’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples in September of this year. In response to today’s news, Human…
The government of Finland has passed legislation that will make it the 20th nation to grant full marriage rights to all of its citizens. “Finland should strive to become a society where discrimination does not exist, human rights are respected and two adults can marry regardless of their sexual orientation,” the centre-right prime minister, Alexander…
Dear Republicans of 2008 and 2012: I thought I’d give you a week or so to savor your progeny’s big wins before throwing a wet blanket over your victory party in the form of a reminder about your unfulfilled promises from the presidential campaigns of 2008 and 2012. I know ‘08 and ‘12 didn’t really…
Today the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit overturned lower court rulings that struck down Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee bans on marriage equality. Until today, no state marriage ban had survived a federal circuit court ruling. What’s more, the Supreme Court of the United States issued an order last month allowing the…
Today, marriage equality came to Wyoming, the Equality State. District Court Judge Skavdahl overturned its ban on same-sex marriage Friday, but stayed the decision for a full week to allow for an appeal. The state decided not to appeal, bringing an end to the stay a few days early. The state filed its notice this…
Today U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl ruled against Wyoming’s law banning marriage equality for same-sex couples. In Guzzo v. Mead, the National Center for Lesbian Rights sued the state on behalf of Wyoming Equality and four same-sex couples arguing that Wyoming’s ban on marriage equality violates the U.S. Constitution. Judge Skavdahl granted a temporary…
Just as same-sex marriages had started to proceed in Alaska the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a temporary stay halting the weddings for now. The Washington Blade reported that according to the two-page order, same-sex weddings are stayed until Friday at 12 p.m. Pacific Time (3 p.m. Eastern Time) to give state…
