Virginia attorney general ends defense of state’s marriage ban

In an announcement, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring has said that his office will join the growing consensus of opinion in arguing that the state ban on marriage for lesbian and gay couples should be overturned.  There are two cases in federal court challenging the Commonwealth’s marriage amendment and Herring is urging the courts to rule…

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Federal judge rules Oklahoma ban on marriage equality unconstitutional

Today U.S. District Judge Terence Kern ruled that Oklahoma’s ban on marriage equality is unconstitutional.  His ruling is stayed pending appeal, meaning marriages will not occur immediately in the state. Two plaintiff couples, Mary Bishop and Sharon Baldwin and Gay Phillips and Susan Barton, filed their case, Bishop v. Oklahoma, in the U.S. District Court for…

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Supreme Court stops same-sex marriages in Utah

Today the United States Supreme Court issued a stay temporarily suspending the issuance of marriage licenses to lesbian and gay couples in Utah. Hundreds of couples have been married since U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby ruled Dec. 20 that the state’s ban on such unions violated constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process….

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HRC on Utah’s same-sex marriage appeal: ‘Defending discrimination is indefensible’

WASHINGTON – The Utah Attorney General’s office has announced they would be continuing their appeal of a federal judge’s decision allowing marriage for lesbian and gay couples. With no other details, the AG’s office announced that they will bring in outside counsel at the expense of taxpayers.  HRC Vice President for Communications Fred Sainz issued the following…

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Thousands of students across Catholic high schools in Washington State protest an anti-LGBT firing

WASHINGTON – The future victory of LGBT equality has long been visible in demographic data. Public polling reveals that support for LGBT equality among so-called “Millennials” is currently between 70 and 80 percent and continues to grow. This broad support is mirrored across demographic groups, but it’s especially stark among American Catholics of all ages…

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NM Supreme Court ruling extends same-sex marriage statewide

With lesbian and gay couples having married over the past several months in many New Mexico counties, today the state Supreme Court ruled to allow same-sex couples throughout the state to continue making lifelong commitments through marriage. This makes New Mexico the first state in the Southwest with marriage equality and the 17th state nationwide….

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Australia’s High Court overturns same-sex marriage law

In a setback for marriage equality in Australia, the country’s High Court has overturned legislation allowing gay marriage in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). In October, the ACT parliament had passed a bill making the territory the first part of Australia to legalize same-sex weddings. The national government then challenged the bill stating it was inconsistent…

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