Marriage equality in Taiwan lacks force of law despite social acceptance

TAIWAN — Despite  growing social acceptance of marriage between same-sex couples, equality in Taiwan remains largely a dream because of a lack of legal recognition reports gayasianews.com In the past, same-sex relations were taboo but recent studies show attitudes are changing, said a taipeitimes.com report citing last year’s poll conducted by Academia Sinica showing 52 percent…

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Federal judge announces he will strike down Ohio ban on recognition of same-sex marriages

A federal judge announced he will strike down Ohio’s constitutional amendment banning the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in states where they are legal.  The case Henry V. Wymyslo, was brought by legally married same-sex couples living in Ohio who wish to be listed as married on their children’s’ birth certificates.j “For the second…

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Indian High Court to reconsider ban on same-sex relations

The Indian Supreme Court April 3 has agreed to consider the plea by gay activists to reconsider its verdict that recriminalized same-sex relations. Naz Foundation, a voluntary organization fighting for gay rights and the repeal of the colonial-era anti-gay law, had filed a curative petition requesting the Supreme Court to “correct” its verdict. A bench…

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Taiwan rejects appeal from same-sex couple looking to wed

Despite a 28-year effort to get Taiwan to recognize same-sex marriage, Chi Chia-wei and his husband in all but name, have failed to persuade a Taiwanese court to strike down a ban preventing a government agency from registering their marriage. The decision, the ManilaTimes.net reports, is “a major setback for equal rights.” Taiwan, an outlier…

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Survey finds younger UK gay men more likely to get married than older counterparts

LONDON — Jack’d, the fastest growing gay app in the world among young adult gay men, today released the findings of a community survey conducted amongst its users in the United Kingdom. With same-sex marriage to be legalized  March 29 in England and Wales, Jack’d surveyed its community–80 percent of which are 18-30 years old–on their…

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Scotland legalizes same-sex marriage

In a landmark moment for LGBT rights the Scottish Parliament has passed the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill with an overwhelming majority of 105 votes to 18. Thirty-four years after Scotland decriminalized homosexuality, this victory comes after heated debates between religious bodies and MSPs (members of the Scottish Parliament) since the first petition was…

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Social Security publishes new Supplemental Security Income rules involving same-sex married couples

Social Security has published new instructions that allow the agency to process some Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims by individuals who are in a same-sex marriage. These instructions come in response to last year’s Supreme Court decision in U.S. v. Windsor which found Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. SSI is a program…

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Breitbart.com’s Shapiro: Hollywood’s ‘Hatred of Biblical Values’ will doom marriage equality

Media Matters for America’s latest post about how Breitbart.com Editor-At-Large Ben Shapiro predicted that Hollywood, which he credits with shifting American public opinion in favor of marriage equality, will soon push sentiment in the other direction. He bases this assertion on the assumption that the weddings of 33 same-sex and opposite-sex couples at the 56th annual…

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VA Home Loan Centers offers VA-backed mortgages to veterans married to same-sex partners

One of the major areas of change facing San Diego-based VA Home Loan Centers and other agencies responsible for administering the VA Home Loan Guarantee to veterans is the question of same-sex marriage. Under federal law, veterans and their spouses are eligible to apply jointly for mortgages backed by the Veterans Administration, whereas unmarried couples…

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