Dozens Receive Gay Marriage Licenses as WA State Legalizes Same Sex Unions

Same-sex couples wed in Washington state for first time : Photo Gallery

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SAME-SEX COUPLES WED IN WASHINGTON STATE FOR FIRST TIME SAME-SEX COUPLES WED IN WASHINGTON STATE FOR FIRST TIME SEATTLE (Reuters) - As midnight chimed, public school elementary teachers Sarah and Emily Cofer tied the knot at a joyful mass wedding to mark the first day that same-sex couples can marry in Washington state. "We're so proud to live in this state that ...	Flowers, festivities for same-sex couples who wed in Washington Flowers, festivities for same-sex couples who wed in Washington Hopkins, 63, and her fiancee, Marji Lynn, in her 50s, are among 140 couples scheduled to marry at Seattle City Hall on Sunday — the first day same-sex weddings will be held in Washington state. Sunday, they said, a weight will be lifted from their ...	Supreme Court takes up same-sex marriage for first time Supreme Court takes up same-sex marriage for first time WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court stepped into the gay marriage debate for the first time on Friday by agreeing to review two challenges to federal and state laws that define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The high court ...	Same-sex marriages in state of Washington to begin today Same-sex marriages in state of Washington to begin today Margaret Witt are planning to marry after receiving one of the first marriage licenses for same-sex couples in Washington. OLYMPIA, WASH. ... “First, to be able to serve their country openly was in and of itself historical, and a significant step ...
Same-sex weddings in Washington State: Breakthrough for gay marriage? Same-sex weddings in Washington State: Breakthrough for gay marriage? For the first time, same-sex couples now are allowed to marry in their state as the result of a popular vote legally authorizing such unions. Until now, those few states where gay marriages can occur took that step as the result of legislation or court ...	Gay couples get marriage licenses in Washington state Gay couples get marriage licenses in Washington state Washington state now joins several other states that allow gay and lesbian couples to wed. Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed certified the election on Wednesday afternoon, as they were joined by couples who plan to wed and community activists ...	Gay Washington state couples get marriage licenses Gay Washington state couples get marriage licenses SEATTLE (AP) — Hundreds of same-sex couples across Washington state started picking up marriage licenses Thursday as a voter-approved law legalizing gay marriage took effect. ... In addition to private ceremonies that will start taking place across ...	Washington Gay Marriage: Same-Sex Couples Obtain Marriage Licenses For ... Washington Gay Marriage: Same-Sex Couples Obtain Marriage Licenses For ... Last month, Washington, Maine and Maryland became the first states to pass same-sex marriage by popular vote. ... In addition to private ceremonies that will start taking place across Washington state this weekend, Seattle City Hall will open for ...
Gay couples line up for marriage licenses in Washington Gay couples line up for marriage licenses in Washington The office opened at 12:01 a.m. to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples for the first time after Washington voters chose to legalize gay marriage in November's election. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images) (DAVID RYDER /AFP/Getty Images ...	Washington same-sex couples get marriage licenses Washington same-sex couples get marriage licenses 2012 - SEATTLE (AP) — Hundreds of same-sex couples across Washington state started picking up marriage licenses Thursday as a voter-approved law legalizing gay marriage took effect. King County, the state's biggest county, opened the ... In addition ...	Sam-sex couples begin marrying in Wash. just after midnight Sunday Sam-sex couples begin marrying in Wash. just after midnight Sunday Sam-sex couples begin marrying in Wash. just after midnight Sunday. OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Same-sex couples in Washington state started taking their wedding vows Sunday on the first day they could marry after the state's new voter-approved law allowing ...	Washington Gay Marriage: 30 Couples To Wed In Group Ceremony Washington Gay Marriage: 30 Couples To Wed In Group Ceremony "We're very excited that, for instance, Pete-e [Petersen] and Jane [Abbot Lighty, the first same-sex couple to obtain a license in Washington's King County], we performed their covenant ceremony several years ago, and at the time none of us believed ...
Dozens Receive Gay Marriage Licenses as WA State Legalizes Same Sex Unions Dozens Receive Gay Marriage Licenses as WA State Legalizes Same Sex Unions The office opened at 12:01 AM PST to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples for the first time after Washington voters chose to legalize same-sex marriage in November's election. Credit: Getty Images. Washington state now joins ...	Same-Sex Couples Can Now Marry in Washington State, as They Damn Well ... Same-Sex Couples Can Now Marry in Washington State, as They Damn Well ... Some of the state's same-sex couples lined up for hours yesterday in the cold so they could get marriage licenses in King County, which opened the doors to its auditor's office in Seattle at 12:01 AM because, as County Executive Dow Constantine told ...	Washington's same-sex couples line up to wed Washington's same-sex couples line up to wed SEATTLE — Hundreds of King County residents made history early Thursday by getting some of Washington state's first-ever marriage licenses for same-sex couples. Lined around the county's downtown Seattle administration building, snaked through a ...	Discharged service members among first to marry in Wash. Discharged service members among first to marry in Wash. Washington is the first of three states — which includes Maine and Maryland — where voters legalized same-sex marriage at the ballot on Election Day to allow same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses and legally wed. Col. Grethe ... Witt said the ...

Same-sex couples wed in Washington state for first time : Videos

SAME SEX MARRIAGE LEGALIZED MAINE MARYLAND SAME SEX MARRIAGE LEGALIZED MAINE MARYLAND In an historic election night for the gay rights movement, voters in Maine and Maryland became the first in the country to approve same-sex ... Rated: 5     Duration: 197 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 19:01:40 PST	Breaking news - Same-Sex Couples Obtain Marriage Licenses For The First Time Breaking news - Same-Sex Couples Obtain Marriage Licenses For The First Time VIDEO LINK : celebtale.com - FREE Breaking news - Same-Sex Couples Obtain Marriage Licenses For The First Time SEATTLE — Two by two, dozens of ... Rated: -1     Duration: 58 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:15:11 PST	President Obama - Gay Marriage: Gay Couples Should Be Able to Get Married - ABC NEWS EXCLUSIVE President Obama - Gay Marriage: Gay Couples Should Be Able to Get Married - ABC NEWS EXCLUSIVE Obama tells Robin Roberts in ABC News Exclusive Interview, "I think same-sex couples should be able to get married." For more on this ... Rated: 4.4579849     Duration: 464 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Wed, 09 May 2012 12:39:06 PDT	Fox News Contributor Wildly Overreacts To Gay Marriage Changes Fox News Contributor Wildly Overreacts To Gay Marriage Changes With same-sex marriage now the law in Washington state, Olympia has eliminated the terms "bride" and "groom" from their ... Rated: 1     Duration: 142 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 08:45:40 PST
VP Joe Biden ENDORSES same-sex marriage VP Joe Biden ENDORSES same-sex marriage WASHINGTON, DC -- Vice President Joe Biden became the highest-ranking official in the Obama administration to signal support for same-sex marriage ... Rated: 4.5820894     Duration: 169 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Sun, 06 May 2012 15:43:33 PDT	New Hope For Married Gay Soldiers: July 2 Marriage News Watch New Hope For Married Gay Soldiers: July 2 Marriage News Watch A proposed new law would let the Army recognize the spouses of service-members for the first time ever. Anti-gay activists in Maryland collect ... Rated: 5     Duration: 145 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 10:21:42 PDT	Bryan Fischer: Anti-Gay Exorcisms Work, People Never Born Gay, Gay Parents Bad Bryan Fischer: Anti-Gay Exorcisms Work, People Never Born Gay, Gay Parents Bad --Bryan Fischer, Director of Issues Analysis at the American Family Association & Host of Focal Point on AFR Talk, joins David to explain his ... Rated: 4.5102043     Duration: 894 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:02:02 PST	Historic LGBT Moment - Lesbian Military Couple Share First Kiss Historic LGBT Moment - Lesbian Military Couple Share First Kiss www.neuroticy.com - December 22, 2011 - For the first time, a lesbian couple today marked a time-honored Navy homecoming tradition in which a ... Rated: 4.7073169     Duration: 220 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:43:39 PST
American Vote For Gay Marriages and Marijuana American Vote For Gay Marriages and Marijuana Voters in four American states made history on Tuesday by approving same-sex marriage and recreational marijuana use. Maine and Maryland became ... Rated: -1     Duration: 31 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 07:47:37 PST	Republicans Boo Gay Soldier at Debate, Obsessed with Gay Sex Republicans Boo Gay Soldier at Debate, Obsessed with Gay Sex --Another Republican debate, even more absurdity, this time with a gay former member of the military being booed, and a Rick Perry zinger attempt ... Rated: 4.7714286     Duration: 446 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 06:00:00 PDT	Obama Supports Same-Sex Marriage: Now What? Obama Supports Same-Sex Marriage: Now What? For more coverage, visit the PBS NewsHour website: to.pbs.org President Obama said Wednesday that he now believes "same-sex couples should be ... Rated: 3.3728814     Duration: 854 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Wed, 09 May 2012 18:51:08 PDT	2012 State Propositions: Gay Marriage & Marijuana Win 2012 State Propositions: Gay Marriage & Marijuana Win --State proposition results, including the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington, multiple states legalizing gay marriage, and much ... Rated: 4.9     Duration: 214 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 09:01:16 PST
Gay Marriage Legalized in Maine, Maryland, and Washington! Major Victory! Gay Marriage Legalized in Maine, Maryland, and Washington! Major Victory! Maryland, Maine and Washington legalized gay marriage on Tuesday marking the first time that gay marriage has won as a result of a popular vote ... Rated: 4.6184011     Duration: 216 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:06:07 PST	Midweek Politics with David Pakman - Vatican Gay Sex Scandal, Prince Philips Off-Color Remarks Midweek Politics with David Pakman - Vatican Gay Sex Scandal, Prince Philips Off-Color Remarks The hilarious but creepy Vatican gay sex scandal continues, this time with gay prostitution transcripts, and it becomes clear that the Catholic ... Rated: 5     Duration: 534 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:49:44 PDT	Supreme Court Set to Tackle Same-Sex Marriage Supreme Court Set to Tackle Same-Sex Marriage News for Supreme court gay marriage TIME Justices to Hear Two Challenges on Gay Marriage New York Times ‎- 3 hours ago WASHINGTON — The Supreme ... Rated: -1     Duration: 109 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Sat, 08 Dec 2012 11:37:29 PST	As New York Marries, Al Franken Catches a Fibber As New York Marries, Al Franken Catches a Fibber , or from the federal government. In fact, for some gay and lesbian couples, getting married could carry special gay-only penalties. Under some ... Rated: 4.9047618     Duration: 273 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:04:12 PDT
End Time News by IPREACH4 on The Rapture is Imminent Channel For December 8, 2012 End Time News by IPREACH4 on The Rapture is Imminent Channel For December 8, 2012 Bless you brothers & sisters for tuning in once again for the End Time News Daily Update Report for December 8, 2012 brought to you by ... Rated: 5     Duration: 712 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Sat, 08 Dec 2012 20:59:39 PST	Colorado Legalises Marijuana Use. Colorado Legalises Marijuana Use. history on Tuesday by approving same-sex marriage and recreational marijuana use. Maine and Maryland became the first to allow same-sex couples to ... Rated: 5     Duration: 27 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:02:30 PST	Washington State Legalizes Gay Marriage Washington State Legalizes Gay Marriage Love made history in Seattle on Thursday. In the predawn darkness 300 couples got licenses that will allow them to marry their same-sex partner ... Rated: -1     Duration: 23 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:25:02 PST	Supreme Court Set to Tackle Same Sex Marriage Supreme Court Set to Tackle Same Sex Marriage Supreme Court set to tackle same-sex marriage, Mormon Church shifts stance on homosexuality The Supreme Court announced Friday that they will pick ... Rated: -1     Duration: 110 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Sun, 09 Dec 2012 02:55:44 PST
Citizens United, Super PACs, Health Care, Proposition 8, Same-Sex Marriage (2012) Citizens United, Super PACs, Health Care, Proposition 8, Same-Sex Marriage (2012) thefilmarchive.org February 7, 2012 With the exception of churches and houses of worship, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act mandates ... Rated: -1     Duration: 2962 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 01:45:16 PDT	Canadian Marriages May be in Danger After All: Jan 23 Marriage News Watch Canadian Marriages May be in Danger After All: Jan 23 Marriage News Watch Canadian marriages may not be so safe after all, with an author of the country's marriage equality law raising the possibility of an anti-gay ... Rated: 4.6190476     Duration: 359 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:35:11 PST	US Supreme Court steps into same-sex marriage debate US Supreme Court steps into same-sex marriage debate News for Supreme court gay marriage TIME Justices to Hear Two Challenges on Gay Marriage New York Times ‎- 3 hours ago WASHINGTON — The Supreme ... Rated: -1     Duration: 80 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Sat, 08 Dec 2012 11:38:07 PST	Gay Marriage on Ballot in Four States Gay Marriage on Ballot in Four States On Tuesday, four states are set to vote on same-sex marriage for the first time since President Obama affirmed his personal support this year. Rated: 4     Duration: 124 seconds     Video type: YouTube     Hosted by: www.youtube.com on Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:43:32 PST

Same-sex couples wed in Washington state for first time : Latest News, Information, Answers and Websites

How many countries in the entire world allow gay marriage?

Keep in mind that this is a number out of approximately 195 Dr Jazz: Are you delusional? You are one of the most intolerant people Ive ever seen on here Furyan: Wrong. The answer is 7 Furyan, lol. Most of those you list have legal CIVIL UNIONS, no gay marriage Aguadelf has it
Answer: Countries Where Gay Marriage is Legal Please note: In some of these countries there is a distinction made between civil unions and marriage; while civil unions are allowed marriage rights may or may not be granted. Where a note is made about expanded rights, it means same-sex marriage has been specifically recognized. •Mexico (since 2006) •Croatia (since 2003) •Denmark (since 1989) •Finland (since 2001) •France (since 1999) •Germany (since 2001/expanded rights 2004) •Hungary (since 1996/expanded rights as of July 1, 2009) •Iceland (since 1996) •Sweden (as of May 1, 2009) •Norway (since 2008) •Netherlands/Holland (no amendments needed; language of existing laws inclusive) •Belgium (since 2003) •Spain (since 2005) •South Africa (since 2006) •Luxembourg (since 2004 with limitations) •New Zealand (since 2004) •Portugal (since 2001) •Sweden (since 1995/expanded rights as of April 1, 2009) •Switzerland (since 2005) •United Kingdom (since 2005) •Canada (since 2004/2005) •United States (some states) US States Where Gay Marriage is Legal •Massachusetts(as of July 2008) •Connecticut (as of October 10, 2008) •Iowa (as of April 3, 2009) •District of Columbia (no gay marriages performed but will recognize the rights of same-sex couples who wed in other jurisdictions) •Vermont (as of September 1, 2009) •Maine (as of mid September, 2009) •New Hampshire (to be signed pending language that respects religious beliefs of opposite-sex couples) •New York (no gay marriages performed but will recognize the rights of same-sex couples who wed in other jurisdictions) •New Jersey (as of February 2007) •Oregon (as of February 4, 2008) •Washington (as of April 15, 2009) -----so far----- Obviously your information is old, and I'd be surprised if my sources are up to date, civil rights doesn't stop when you aren't looking Bear.
Category: Religion & Spirituality

Beyond New York, Gay Marriage Faces Hurdles

ALBANY -- After a string of defeats in recent years from California to Maine, the movement to legalize same-sex marriage is hoping its unexpected victory in New York will revive efforts to legalize gay weddings around the nation. But the movements success here could prove difficult to replicate. Twenty-nine states have constitutional bans on - By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE

THE BAY CITIZEN; From I.R.S. to Gay Couples, Headaches and Expenses

Scott James writes a column for The Bay Citizen. The Internal Revenue Service, not exactly known as a bastion of compassion, had these words for gay and lesbian couples this week: were sorry. The public apology was in response to inquiries from The Bay Citizen about problems faced by same-sex couples, most in California, who are filing returns in - Scott James is an Emmy-winning television journalist and novelist who lives in San Francisco. sjames@baycitizen.org - By SCOTT JAMES

Dozens Receive Gay Marriage Licenses as WA State Legalizes ...

The office opened at 12:01 AM PST to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples for the first time after Washington voters chose to legalize same-sex marriage in November's election. Credit: Getty Images ... Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed certified the election on Wednesday afternoon, as they were joined by couples who plan to wed and community activists who worked on the campaign supporting gay marriage. Because the state has a ...

How can a minister who performs weddings (independent of a church) protect against threats from gay couples?

No, this is not merely hypothetical. This is happening to one of my students. ___________________________________ A real-life context is vital to this question so the OPTIONAL DETAILS FOLLOW: One of my grad students came to me yesterday for advice. As a minister ordained by his denomination, he can legally perform wedding ceremonies as part of his own independent business. (That is, he is not officiating at weddings as a part of pastoral duties and the ceremonies are at various locations, some held in local church buildings rented for such events and some in other venues.) And one of his "specialties", and business advantages over the average busy, over-scheduled minister is his being on call 24/7 for "weddings on short-notice". So a couple which suddenly decides to elope or which is without a minister at the last minute because of illness or other emergency can call on my student to perform their wedding upon seeing him in the Yellow Pages (which is a telephone book advertising section in much of the USA). His problem: he recently got a call from a gay couple who needed a minister on short notice for their wedding. He told the two ladies that the county (i.e. the government jurisdiction) does not issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples because their state doesnt legally recognize such marriages. The couple told him that that didnt matter to them because unlike most of his wedding ceremonies, they wouldnt be expecting him to sign and mail the paperwork afterwards in order to register a valid marriage. They said, "We simply want to hire you to perform a traditional Protestant Christian wedding ceremony so that we can have that experience and a cherished memory, complete with wedding photos etc. We arent doing this as a protest or anything and we arent expecting you to be making some sort of political statement by going through the motions of submitting a signed wedding license. For that matter, we dont even care if you personally believe that God recognizes such gay wedding ceremonies, as long as you dont use the wedding homily to protest gay marriage or make anti-gay statements. As far as we are concerned, you can even think of your participation as similar to being an actor playing a role, a role that your Yellow Pages ad says you perform as a service to anyone who will hire you." Even so, my student turned them down and refused the booking. He told them and told me, "As an ordained minister, any wedding I perform is going to be assumed to have the blessing of God and the Church of Jesus Christ. And because the Bible does not recognize homosexuals marriage -- and prohibits homosexual acts using the very strong word "abomination" -- to in any way appear to condone or bless such a "marriage" is a lie at best and blasphemous at worst." Yesterday, he got a registered letter from an attorney (who Ive since learned is the brother of one of the ladies). The lesbian couple is demanding an out of court settlement of $3000 for gender-preference discrimination and the resulting inconvenience, emotional distress, and "spiritual duress for planting a seed of doubt in her eternal salvation" for the one ladys "formerly unimpeachable security of salvation that once comforted her but now has vanished under the negative influence of a minister of the Lord who cast doubt on the sanctity of her sacred union with her spouse." The letter concludes by stating that if the $3,000 and a written apology is not received within 10 days, they will file a lawsuit against the minister. I may post this question in a legal forum but that would be solely for litigation-related advice. In this forum I am asking about the broader implications and the related spiritual questions: WHAT DO YOU THINK? (1) Since the minister is not being asked to violate any law, is it ETHICAL/MORAL for a minister to discriminate in this way on the basis of gender-preference? (2) Should civil rights laws force the minister to perform the wedding ceremony regardless of his own personal beliefs just as some jurisdictions might force a pharmacist to fill a contraceptive prescription [just to pick one semi-analogous scenario]? (3) Should civil rights laws PROTECT the minister from being sued for exercising his conscience according to his personal religious beliefs. After all, litigation threats are one of the most effective and costly types of harassment. (4) Do you think that answers to these questions might or should be different if the lesbian couple had simply asked for a "secular ceremony" led by the minister instead of a "traditional Christian wedding"??? [Ones culture/county and religious/non-religious affiliations are likely to have an enormous impact upon your answers to these questions so I would appreciate any self-descriptions and your mentioning your country or relevant jurisdiction.] ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Not sure if I fully understand the first reply. Suppose the minister was asked to perform a "pretend wedding" between a 70 year old man and a 9 year old girl. Obviously, as a non-binding ceremony, no law would be broken. So by your logic, would it be discrimination for the minister to refuse? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PANGLOSS: You do understand the phrase "pretend wedding", right? (Or are you claiming that a law WOULD be broken under that scenario. Which one? Without submission of a marriage license, you DO understand it is not an actual marriage, right? Yes, these scenarios have actually arisen in case law, so it is wise to check your facts before trying to correct the professor. Avoids embarrassment. Usually.)
Answer: There are many frivolous law suites these days. This is one. They have NO chance of winning. Furthermore could you show some evidence of what you are stating to be true? I am having serious problems even beleiving your "story." It seems too fabricated. This entire situation seems like a ruse by anti-gay people trying to scare people in voting against marriage equality. No minister or priest has EVER been required to perform a religious marriage ceremony for two gay people. There is no law which would require them to do so. Sorry but I simply have trouble believing this is an honset inquirery If this was an actual true story, people like Limbaugh, or O'Rielly would have been jumping for joy and would have been lighting up their networks with another reason for bigots to hate gays. ========================================== ADD: I have just read a news article about some of the ads being broadcast in Maine by the two main groups (one the Catholic Church) trying to get people to vote against marriage equality in that state. This very story line -- which in fact is a LIE -- is being touted as part of their scare tactics. By any chance have you invented this story after watchiung such an ad? Here is the article: Protect Your Children: The Gays are Marryin' By Chief Editors Issue date: 10/29/09 I'm a little ashamed of Maine and Washington State right now. Next week's elections will see two major civil rights battles in two distant corners of our country. In Maine, Proposition One looks to repeal a state law which granted gay couples the right to marry. In Washington, Referendum 71 could lead to a repeal of the "everything-but-marriage" law which gave gay couples all of the rights and benefits associated with marriage without the word itself. The last two years have seen an immense amount of activity in the area of civil marriage. Several states, suddenly aware of the existence of the 14th Amendment, have realized that they may not "deny any person within [their] jurisdiction equal protection of the law" nor "make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States." There have been highs and lows for the gay rights movement, but the trends have generally been in their favor. Yet now, as Obama continues to delay action on controversial policies like Don't Ask Don't Tell, activists are beginning to feel some pressure. Polls in Maine are currently showing a small lead in the support for gay rights, but as California showed in 2008, anything can happen come November. The 'Yes on One' campaign that looking to repeal equal marriage rights is funded primarily by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and the Catholic Church (I have yet to receive a response to my letter asking how the $529,666 they donated to the campaign will ultimately be used to clothe the naked or care for the sick - Matthew 25:36-40). The campaign has aired commercials over the past several months warning parents that gay marriage will lead to the repeal of their church's tax exempt status, the legal requirement that their religion marry homosexuals and mandatory lessons about homosexuality in second grade public school classrooms. Boston College Law Professor Scott Fitzgibbon predicts a, "flood of lawsuits against individuals, small businesses and religious groups." His evidence? Certainly not his home state of Massachusetts, where the Massachusetts Discrimination Law Reporter has identified zero cases of the nature he describes since 2004, the year civil marriage was granted to homosexuals in the state.
Category: Religion & Spirituality

What happens if we legalize gay marriage, but forget to legalize gay divorce?

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Answer: The gay marriage slump Same-sex couples fought for the right to wed. So why are they deciding not to get hitched? By Caren Chesler Feb. 22, 2008 | In May 2004, as Massachusetts became the first state in the country to legalize gay marriage, more than 1,000 gay and lesbian couples streamed into city and town halls. "One small kiss for us, one giant kiss for mankind," said an ecstatic Erin Golden as she locked lips with her partner of 25 years, Eileen Counihan, on the steps of Provincetown Town Hall. It was supposed to be a whole new era, as celebrations accompanied the adoption of civil union and domestic partnership laws in several states. But a funny thing happened on the way to the altar: Gay couples decided they might not want to get married after all. So what happened? Gay couples are discovering the legal and financial drawbacks of marriage, for one thing, and the complications of letting the government get involved in your personal life. There's also a frustration about the current marital landscape -- with some states on board, others not, and the federal government standing on the sidelines. Currently, only eight states allow same-sex marriage or marriage equivalents. Massachusetts is the only one to call it marriage, but New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, California and New Hampshire -- and, to a large extent, the District of Columbia and Oregon -- have all created their own brand of union, granting couples the same rights and responsibilities as married couples in those states -- minus the federal benefits. Maine, Hawaii and Washington also have gay unions, but with fewer rights than those afforded to married couples. (That may change in Washington shortly.) "Personally, I'm holding out for real marriage, not the reconstituted variety," said Shawn Cowls, a 42-year-old insurance agent. "It connotes a second-class situation to me. What do you call us -- civil uniteds? Civil unionized? Civil union members? However you say it, it immediately implies 'people who aren't allowed to get married.'" He's not alone. In Massachusetts, there are some 30,000 gay couples living together, yet as of April of this year, only 9,695 opted to tie the knot, according to census data and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. And that includes the gay couples residing outside of Massachusetts who ran there to wed once the marriage laws passed. The figures are similar for the other states. California has about 108,734 gay households, yet only 40,663 are registered as domestic partners. In New Jersey, which allows for civil unions, the state has 21,405 gay households, yet only 2,069 civil unions have been registered. Connecticut has 9,540 gay households, yet only 1,750 civil unions have been recorded. (Only in Vermont does this trend not hold. The census bureau puts the number of same-sex households at 2,886, yet 8,598 civil unions have been recorded -- an indication that either census data grossly underreports the number of gay households or gay couples from other states are getting married in Vermont.) Some same-sex couples, of course, never wanted to get married in the first place. "For millennia, gay people have not had access to these institutions," said Joyce Kauffman, an attorney in Cambridge, Mass., who specializes in lesbian and gay family law. "And so to some people, marriage is anathema." Kauffman, who is gay, was among them. She says women like her, feminists who came out during the women's lib movement of the 1970s, viewed marriage as oppressive. Now 57, Kauffman says she's since mellowed her stance, but plenty of gay women have not. "For many of us, the idea of getting married sticks in your craw," she says. "Why would anyone want to get married? It's almost a visceral reaction." But for others, the reluctance is based on discoveries of troubling financial downfalls. "It's a difficult situation," said Jill Hollander, a financial planner based in Berkeley, Calif. "You're getting the responsibilities of the federal laws, but you're not getting the benefits." There are some upsides to getting married -- getting onto a partner's health plan, creating a stronger legal framework for having children, cementing the relationship in the eyes of the courts. But there are compelling financial reasons gay couples should remain single. For instance, in a divorce, alimony is normally tax-deductible for the person paying it and counted as income for the person receiving it. But because the Internal Revenue Service does not recognize gay marriage, alimony payments for same-sex couples could be treated as "gifts" and thus subject to taxes. The estate tax exemption that applies to married couples would also be a moot point. That is, in a heterosexual marriage, the surviving spouse pays no taxes on the estate. In a gay marriage, there would be no such exemption -- and an estate tax bill can be hefty. Privacy has also become a sticking point for some. After all, marriage documents, domestic partnership registrations and civil union applications are all public documents. Not everyone wants to be outed -- say, those in the military or with immigration issues. In California, the list of domestic partnership registrants is not currently available online, but you can purchase it for $50. Arlene Mose, a CPA in Pleasant Hill, Calif., said the tax and regulatory implications of domestic partnership (California's version of gay marriage) are so complicated, and the benefits so limited, that she and her partner of 15 years opted not to register. And that's true for most of her gay clients who are self-employed and not concerned about getting on their partner's health plan. "There can be many advantages to being 'legal strangers,'" Mose said, adding, "The less government involvement in our lives, the better." And if gay couples think the state is involved in their marriage, wait until they try to get divorced. Indeed, several divorce attorneys said gay couples who married and are now going through a divorce are often shocked to hear they may have to pay their former spouse alimony or be responsible for their debts. For some gay couples, divorce (and its unfolding nightmare) wasn't even on their radar. Frederick Hertz, an Oakland, Calif., attorney who advises gay couples on marriage and divorce, says gay couples have always been more financially autonomous than their heterosexual counterparts, and some are simply not comfortable with the potential financial exposure that comes with being married. Hertz tells concerned clients they have two options to avoid this risk: Enter into a prenuptial agreement -- for a fee of $5,000 -- or simply don't register. Many opt for the latter. But all of this applies to gay couples who can actually divorce. Given the convoluted gay marriage laws, which differ widely from state to state, attorneys say gay divorce promises to be a messy business. Those interviewed for this story say they receive calls and e-mails almost weekly from couples who "married" in one state and now live elsewhere and desperately want to get divorced. In Massachusetts, for instance, at least one party must reestablish residency in the state -- a process that takes a year -- in order to file for divorce. Divorce will be particularly problematic for couples who relocated to states that don't even recognize gay marriage. If a state doesn't recognize the marriage, it ain't going to recognize gay divorce. Hertz says he gets e-mails all the time from people who have moved and now want out of their marriage. He puts them into two categories: those who lived in one state and moved, and those with the "Holiday Wedding Problem." That is, they married three, four, even five times, as each state passed its own version of gay marriage, and now they want to untie those knots. Hertz tells them, "Get yourself a good lawyer." The problem is, if gay couples can't find a way to untangle their unions, they won't be able to marry anyone else. At least that's the theory. In practice, many will, and they could wind up bigamists, he said. "The bottom line is, states do not have to recognize a marriage if their state constitution has a Defense of Marriage Act included in it. And lots of states have that," Hertz said. Thomas Curtiss Jr., a principal with the California law firm of Rodi Pollock Pettker Christian & Pramov, says he has a lot of gay clients, and only a small minority of them have registered as domestic partners. Curtiss himself, who is gay, says he wouldn't even consider it. "My partner and I would never register, unless there was a real benefit," he said. He's not the only one. When California initially passed a domestic partnership law in 2000, 4,894 gay couples jumped on the bandwagon. But when the state beefed up its domestic partnership law in 2005, giving it more of the financial rights and obligations of a heterosexual marriage, gay couples were allowed to withdraw their domestic partnership registrations. And 2,513 did just that. Another 1,651 have done so since. Curtiss says he still gets clients coming to him inquiring how they can withdraw those early registrations. "I titled one of my speeches, 'Beware of What You Ask For,'" Curtiss said. -- By Caren Chesler
Category: Religion & Spirituality

Do you believe that a same sex relationship would actually last? as in forever? and ever?

Is it possible or is it too much to ask? And what do you think would the percentage be compared to a straight relationship?
Answer: I know one gay couple in Washington State that have been together since the late 1960s. They retired and now run a small business as a retirement job. They are happy and well adjusted and together till death. Now over 50% of heterosexual marriages fail. Thank Goddess I am a lesbian! going on 3 years together and soon to be wed!! Sharon
Category: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered

SAME-SEX COUPLES WED IN WASHINGTON STATE FOR FIRST TIME | The Penn ...

SEATTLE (Reuters) – As midnight chimed, public school elementary teachers Sarah and Emily Cofer tied the knot at a joyful mass wedding to mark the first day that same-sex couples can marry in Washington state.

Is gay marriage illegal to have in the state of Louisiana?

Please no homophobic answers. I am 19 and Im an openly homosexual male. I have a boyfriend who is 23 and we just got engaged last night to marry each other. I love my boyfriend very much but him and I were wondering if we are allowed to marry in this state since some states do prohibit gay marriage. We live in Louisiana. Can we get married in this state? if so then great but if not, what states allow you to have a gay couple wedding.
Answer: You can get married anywhere in the US but it won't be recognized by most states (including Louisiana). The only places that will grant gay marriage licenses in the U.S. are Washington DC, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Iowa. New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Rhode Island do not give same-sex marriage licenses but they do recognize same-sex marriage licenses from elsewhere. But you can certainly hold a ceremony in Louisiana if you want, but in the US, you could only get a marriage license in the 5 states priorly mentioned plus Washington DC.
Category: Law & Ethics

Same-sex marriage in the United States - Wikipedia, the free ...

The right to marry was first extended to same-sex couples by a United States jurisdiction on .... In the 2012 elections, state voters for the first time approved same-sex ... Washington State is the first of these three states that will permit same-sex ...

Argentina Approves Gay Marriage, in a First for Region

BUENOS AIRES -- Argentinas Senate narrowly approved a law early on Thursday authorizing same-sex marriages, making Argentina the first country in Latin America to allow gay couples to wed. After nearly 15 hours of debate, the Senate voted 33 to 27 in favor of the measure, which was sponsored by the government of President Cristina Fernández de - By ALEXEI BARRIONUEVO; Charles Newbery contributed reporting from Buenos Aires, and Marc Lacey and Elisabeth Malkin from Mexico City.

OP-ED COLUMNIST; Value Our Families

In the intensifying debate over same-sex marriage, what I sometimes find hardest to understand is why so many opponents dont see gay peoples longing to be wedded as the fundamentally conservative, lavishly complimentary desire it is. It says marriage is worth aspiring to and fighting for. Flatters it. Gives it reinvigorated cachet, extra - Frank Bruni Op-Ed column contends that conservatives should welcome same-sex marriage as a much-needed affirmation of the institutions value; notes that by fighting for their rights, gay people are saying that marriage is worth aspiring to, at a time when the rate of divorce and out-of-wedlock births are soaring. (M) - By FRANK BRUNI

Do you think that the GOPs new stance on same-sex marriage will be supported by their evangelical base?

Same-sex marriage gains GOP support A growing number of Republicans are breaking with the partys traditional stance to publicly state their support for same-sex marriage, a shift strategists say stems as much from demographics as from the renewed focus on economics and the "tea party" movement. A solid majority of adults younger than 30 - about six in 10 - support the right of gay and lesbian couples to legally wed, according to a Washington Post poll in February. But even many older Americans and self-identified social conservatives have changed their view on an issue that just six years ago galvanized voters in support of President George W. Bushs reelection. Gay Republican activists credit the shift to the heightened attention within the GOP base to jobs and the economy, and by a desire among strategists to expand the partys appeal. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/27/AR2010082705614.html
Category: Politics

Flowers, festivities for same-sex couples who wed in Washington ...

10 hours ago ... More judges volunteered their time, allowing more couples to take part. “People ... Washington is the first of those states to hold gay marriages.

Theists! Do you feel the 21st Century closing in on you?

"Washington gov signs gay marriage bill into law" "OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) – Gov. Chris Gregoire handed gay rights advocates a major victory, singing into law a measure that legalizes same-sex marriage in Washington state, making it the seventh in the nation to allow gay and lesbian couples to wed."
Answer: It's still a little early; ask them again in 87 years.
Category: Religion & Spirituality

Same-sex couples say "I do" in Washington state for first time | Yes ...

SEATTLE (Reuters) – As midnight chimed in Washington state, a lesbian couple exchanged vows in the first of hundreds of mass weddings on Sunday – the first day that same-sex couples can legally tie the knot there.

Same-Sex Marriage Legal?

Here is a quote from the New York Times: In March 2010, Washington, D.C. became the sixth place in the nation where same-sex marriages can take place. Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont also issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Are they referring to Civil Unions or do they mean actual marriage?? Thanks! :))
Answer: They're referring to state-recognized marriages. According to an article I read just this evening (about civil unions getting the go-ahead from Illinois' legislature), 5 states recognize same-gender marriages and five others (not counting IL) recognize civil unions. Of course, if you just want to get married, it's legal anywhere, and the state government won't stop you. They won't send the police to crash the ceremony or confiscate the wedding cake. They just won't recognize it or give you the legal benefits. But, if you need government recognition for a relationship to be real, then it isn't, IMHO.
Category: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered

Same-sex weddings in Wash. to begin on Sunday - USA Today

14 hours ago ... Voter-approved law allowing same-sex marriage took effect Dec. 6 ... Last month, Washington, Maine and Maryland became the first states to pass same-sex ... and several local judges are donating their time to marry couples.

The Marrying Kind

Washington PAT DWYER and Stephen Mosher bounded out of a beat-up blue van on Tuesday afternoon and set up a white barstool on the sidewalk in front of the United States Supreme Court. It was 25 years to the day since they had become a couple, and several dozen friends and relatives had come to the capital to celebrate. Mr. Dwyer and Mr. Mosher were - By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG

Beyond New York, Gay Marriage Faces Hurdles

ALBANY -- After a string of defeats in recent years from California to Maine, the movement to legalize same-sex marriage is hoping its unexpected victory in New York will revive efforts to legalize gay weddings around the nation. But the movements success here could prove difficult to replicate. Twenty-nine states have constitutional bans on - Gay-rights advocates hope unexpected victory in New York to legalize same-sex marriage will revive efforts to legalize gay marriage around the nation; New York is now the sixth and largest state in country where gay couples will be able to wed, and when law goes into effect in July, twice as many Americans will live in jurisdictions where same-sex marriage is permitted; photo (M) - By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE

Washington Gay Marriage: 30 Couples To Wed In Group Ceremony

Same-sex couples across Washington received marriage licenses for the first time on Thursday, and one Seattle church is planning to celebrate in a big way. Seattle First Baptist Church, which has been performing same-sex commitment ceremonies since ... Jane Abbott Lighty, left, and Pete-e Petersen embrace after receiving the first same-sex marriage license in Washington state at the King County Recorder's Office on December 6, 2012 in Seattle, Washington.

OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR; Is My Marriage Gay?

AS many Americans know, last week Gov. John Baldacci of Maine signed a law that made this state the fifth in the nation to legalize gay marriage. Its worth pointing out, however, that there were some legal same-sex marriages in Maine already, just as there probably are in all 50 states. These are marriages in which at least one member of the - Jennifer Finney Boylan Op-Ed article expresses hope that people reluctant to embrace same-sex marriage will see that it has been around for years in marriages in which one member of couple has changed genders since wedding; says she and spouse Deirdre Finney were wed as heterosexual couple in 1988 before author made change to female gender; says efforts to legislate binary truth upon wide spectrum of gender have only proven how elusive sexual identity can be and that time would be better spent focusing on celebrating loving legal unions that are good for couples, their children and their communities; drawing (M) - Jennifer Finney Boylan is a professor of English at Colby College and the author of the memoir Im Looking Through You: Growing Up Haunted. - By JENNIFER FINNEY BOYLAN

City Clerk's Office - Marriage Information for Same-Sex Couples

Marriage Information for Same Sex Couples ... June 24, 2011, allowing same-sex couples to marry legally in New York for the first time. .... as civil unions, and the State of Washington recognizes same-sex marriages as domestic partnerships.

Do same sex couples in CA who are already-wed maintain their legal marriage standing?

So heres the story: For now, no new same sex marriages are allowed, but what about already-wed? Theres about 16,000 couples that have already-wed since it became legal again. "Some legal commentators say Prop. 8, if passed Tuesday, would retroactively invalidate all same-sex marriages performed in the state since a state Supreme Court ruling legalizing such weddings took effect. Others say the court established rights that cant be taken away, even if the law changes." "The answer could come from the same court that overturned Californias previous law defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Or it could come from a higher-ranking tribunal in Washington, D.C." So my question is: Until the courts speak........as of now, Are they recognized? So if they try to file tax returns as married couples while were still awaiting to hear from the courts, will they be allowed to file as married? Whats the policy NOW? btw: When does prop 8 take affect? immediately or at a later date?
Answer: Yes. This is not an ex post facto law or amendment. It can only change things going forward.
Category: Law & Ethics

Washington Gay Marriage: 30 Couples To Wed In Group Ceremony

1 day ago ... Same-sex couples across Washington received marriage licenses for the first time on Thursday, and one Seattle church is ... The first couples to receive marriage licenses in Washington state pose with King County Executive ...

After reading below tell me which way you will vote?

Breaking from Newsmax.com 4 States To Decide Same-Sex Marriage When Nathan Meyer calls voters who are undecided about same-sex marriage, he talks about his parents marriage and how he sees it as a model for what he hopes to have — before he mentions that he and his boyfriend plan to one day wed. Meyer, 30, a high school English teacher from the St. Paul suburb of Roseville, is part of a team of volunteers who aim to reach 1 million Minnesota voters before the state votes on Nov. 6 on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. "All people get married for the same reasons. And my parents and their marriage, thats common ground for people," Meyer said. He said hes been surprised at how many people are willing to have such a personal conversation with a stranger on the telephone. While some people hang up on him, most calls last 10 minutes, some have stretched to 20 minutes or longer. Ballot initiatives banning the legal recognition of same-sex marriage have succeeded in 31 states, and no state has ever approved same-sex marriage by popular vote. In this years Nov. 6 election, advocates of same-sex marriage hope to change that. Maine — which rejected gay marriage in a referendum in 2009 by 53 percent to 47 percent — could become the first state to legalize same-sex marriage solely by popular vote. In Washington and Maryland, where the state legislatures passed laws expanding marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples earlier this year, citizens will vote on whether to let the laws stand. Meanwhile, defenders of traditional marriage hope Minnesota will become the latest state to pass a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman — effectively banning same-sex marriages. Six states, as well as the District of Columbia, have expanded marriage rights to include same-sex couples. In Massachusetts, Iowa and Connecticut, the laws followed court rulings that found same-sex couples could not be denied the right to marry. Legislatures brought on the change in Vermont, New York and New Hampshire. "Winning a ballot measure is really the last barrier that we have to overcome," said Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry, a national marriage-equality campaign. Bolstered by public opinion polls showing growing acceptance of same-sex unions, particularly among young people, advocates this year are hoping to win over skeptics with personalized appeals for allowing same-sex couples to wed. For example, voters reached by pro-gay marriage volunteers are asked if they know anyone who is gay, and the volunteers often bring up gay family members or friends. When Maine last took up a gay-marriage referendum, Lynn Sailor, 37, a divorced mother of three, opposed anything beyond civil unions for same-sex couples. A visit from an activist last summer changed her mind and this year she plans to vote in favor of the referendum. "My question is, why not allow gay people to get married if thats what they want to do? Its a free country and it doesnt hurt me any," she said. Advocates for same-sex marriage in Maine say they have had 200,000 one-on-one conversations with voters. They are now reaching out to those voters a second time for follow-up conversations. "In Maine, what were doing is were going on the offense for a change," said Matt McTighe, campaign manager for Mainers United for Marriage and a veteran of successful marriage fights in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. "We decided we were going to use the ballot option as a tool, whereas its been used by our opponents as a weapon." But Matt Hutson, campaign director for Protect Marriage Maine, which opposes the referendum, said the groups internal polling showed a dead heat on the issue. "I dont believe there are a whole lot of undecideds on this issue. People know where they stand, just as they did three years ago," said Hutson. "Quite honestly, were seeing a groundswell of people saying, we dont agree with this and we dont like that they keep bringing this up again, even though we already voted against it." A poll by the nonpartisan Maine Peoples Resource Center found registered voters think the state should issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples 53 percent to 43 percent. In Maryland, an OpinionWorks survey conducted for the Baltimore Sun found voters favoring same-sex marriage 49 percent to 39 percent. And in Washington, a SurveyUSA poll found voters back the referendum 50 percent to 43 percent. In Minnesota, a survey by Public Policy Polling found voters split almost down the middle, with 48 percent of voters supporting the ban and 47 percent opposing it. Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, rejects the idea that public opinion is turning in favor of expanding marriage rights to same-sex couples. jakepi--What specific right are we giving them? When Churches and State governments will not marry them than are we not to help them? As for who they think they be, just loving Americans with same rights as others.
Answer: Wow, long article! And totally unnecessary. It's like this. The trend for 40 years now has been towards more and more acceptance of the gay lifestyle. The Christians can bring a 'backlash' against the acceptance of gayness, but they can't change the trend. In fact that's one of the characteristics of a 'backlash', it doesn't change the fact. Witness the backlash we've been having for 30 years now against Roe v. Wade. Our Supreme Court has already banned laws against 'sodomy' (and miscegenation). Once the USSC decides something like this, it's almost always once and for all. There is no good legal reason for banning gay marriage. One group of citizens, even a majority of citizens, can't vote to limit the rights of another group of citizens. In California the voters passed a constitutional amendment against gay marriage, and it was overturned by the state Supreme Court. The anti-gay marriage people were given every chance to show just exactly how gay marriage threatens society, and they really didn't even try. Their attitude was "Gay marriage should be illegal because WE don't like it'" They had a chance to take this case to the US Supreme Court but they didn't do that, because they knew how it would turn out. I think it's inevitable that gay marriage will be legalized on a national level. Just a matter of time. Maybe not -this- Supreme Court, but it might be sooner than you think.
Category: Politics

SAME-SEX COUPLES WED IN WASHINGTON STATE FOR FIRST TIME | FidoSysop ...

SEATTLE (Reuters) - As midnight chimed, public school elementary teachers Sarah and Emily Cofer tied the knot at a joyful mass wedding to mark the first day that same-sex couples can marry in Washington state. "We're so ...

BELIEVERS: If invited, would you attend your nephews Same-Sex Civil Union / Wedding Ceremony? Why or why not?

Jurisdictions in the U.S. that offer civil unions or domestic partnerships granting nearly all of the state-recognized rights of marriage to same-sex couples include California (2000), Vermont (2000), Connecticut (2005), New Jersey (2006) and New Hampshire (2008). States in the U.S. with domestic partnerships or similar status granting some of the rights of marriage include Hawaii (1996), Maine (1999), Oregon (2008), Washington (2008), as well as the District of Columbia (Washington, DC) (2001). Massachusetts is the only state that offers same-sex marriage, which was legalized in (2004). [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_union ]
Answer: No. I never have and never will support man's law over God's Law. If my nephew were gay and wanted a "civil union" (I hate that so-called logic.They claim they are accepted by a majority of Americans, yet need to try and ride the coat-tails of the Civil Rights Act to secure minority legal status for their perversion) he would remain forever invisible to me.
Category: Religion & Spirituality

Same-sex couples in WA start taking wedding vows - Northwest ...

Same-sex couples in Washington state started taking their wedding vows Sunday on the first day they could marry after the state's new voter-approved law allowing gay marriage took effect this week. ... opened right at midnight, and started marrying couples in the early morning hours. Seattle City Hall will open for several hours on Sunday starting at 10 a.m., and several local judges are donating their time to marry couples there. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

can gays get married in washington state yet?

I know that the law was passed but I have been looking over the internet for quite some time and have not found any up dates on the date that gays can get married or the conditions of the marriage. Or if the time is going to be pushed back from sometime in June as I have heard it should be or if it will be longer for people to start getting married.
Answer: Not yet. The law permitting same sex marriage in Washington state goes into effect June 7th, 2012. It may be placed on hold IF enough verified signatures are turned in for Referendum 74, the bill to repeal the law which would go to a public vote in November. Gay marriage opponents need to collect 120,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot. Even if signatures are collected and the referendum is put to a vote, Washington may decide to allow same sex couples to wed in the interim between June 7th and the outcome of the vote in November, creating a situation similar to California same sex couples who were legally permitted to wed during the brief time same sex marriage was legal in that state (and then considered still legally married even after the passage of Proposition 8 that banned it).
Category: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered

Denied Veterans Benefits Over Same-Sex Marriage, Ex-Sailor Challenges Law

In what experts say is the first case of its kind, a disabled Navy veteran from Connecticut is challenging the constitutionality of two federal laws that define marriage as being between opposite-sex partners, saying the government denied her veterans benefits because she is married to a woman. The former sailor, Carmen Cardona of Norwich, married - By JAMES DAO

Spiritually speaking, do you support same sex marriage?

Same-sex marriage gains GOP support A growing number of Republicans are breaking with the partys traditional stance to publicly state their support for same-sex marriage, a shift strategists say stems as much from demographics as from the renewed focus on economics and the "tea party" movement. A solid majority of adults younger than 30 - about six in 10 - support the right of gay and lesbian couples to legally wed, according to a Washington Post poll in February. But even many older Americans and self-identified social conservatives have changed their view on an issue that just six years ago galvanized voters in support of President George W. Bushs reelection. Gay Republican activists credit the shift to the heightened attention within the GOP base to jobs and the economy, and by a desire among strategists to expand the partys appeal. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/27/AR2010082705614.html http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/08/26/ken-blackwell-ken-klukowski-gay-marriage-ken-mehlman-came-gop-party-social/
Answer: No! their is nothing right about it! if homosexuals are allowed to marry each other, who's to say incest or bestiality shouldn't be allowed?
Category: Religion & Spirituality

Mass gay weddings, now legal, expected in Washington state ...

22 hours ago ... Supreme Court takes up same-sex marriage for first time. Fri, Dec 7 ... For same- sex couples now preparing to marry in Washington, the path to ...

How many countries is gay marriage legal in?

Answer: Not enough :( Countries Where Gay Marriage is Legal Mexico (since 2006) Croatia (since 2003) Denmark (since 1989) Finland (since 2001) France (since 1999) Germany (since 2001/expanded rights 2004) Hungary (since 1996/expanded rights as of July 1, 2009) Iceland (since 1996) Sweden (as of May 1, 2009) Norway (since 2008) Netherlands/Holland (no amendments needed; language of existing laws inclusive) Belgium (since 2003) Spain (since 2005) South Africa (since 2006) Luxembourg (since 2004 with limitations) New Zealand (since 2004) Portugal (since 2001) Sweden (since 1995/expanded rights as of April 1, 2009) Switzerland (since 2005) United Kingdom (since 2005) Canada (since 2004/2005 - How to Get Married in Canada) United States (some states) US States Where Gay Marriage is Legal Massachusetts(as of July 2008) Connecticut (as of October 10, 2008) Iowa (as of April 3, 2009) District of Columbia (no gay marriages performed but will recognize the rights of same-sex couples who wed in other jurisdictions) Vermont (as of September 1, 2009) Maine (as of mid September, 2009) New Hampshire (to be signed pending language that respects religious beliefs of opposite-sex couples) New York (no gay marriages performed but will recognize the rights of same-sex couples who wed in other jurisdictions) New Jersey (as of February 2007) Oregon (as of February 4, 2008) Washington (as of April 15, 2009)
Category: Law & Ethics

Same-Sex Marriage News - The New York Times

6, 2012, voters in Maine, Maryland and Washington approved same-sex ... the first time that marriage for gay men and lesbians has been approved at the ballot box. .... signed the legislation, making the state the sixth to let gay couples wed.

I am a white American. How do I ask my Indian boyfriends parents if I can marry him?

I am a white American. My boyfriend is from India, and the rest of his family still lives there. We have been together for over six years. I have met and stayed with all of his immediate family in India, and they all approve of our relationship. (Please keep this in mind as I self-disclose further.) My boyfriends family are generally very progressive and go-with-the-flow. His parents as well as his older brother also have love marriages, so that is not too strange to them. I would like to propose to my boyfriend in the spring. Because it will be several months before we see his parents again, I want to write them a letter asking for their approval and blessing for us to be married. Now, what do I write in the letter? Im not even sure what the proper Hindi terminology is for a dating relationship! (Yes, I speak Hindi somewhat decently, and I want to write the letter in their native language. I will get help from a friend with translation, but I want most of the words to be mine.) The problem is that they will not be expecting this at all. You see, we are a gay (same-sex) couple. We still cannot be married in my state of Maryland, but if we get married in nearby Washington, D.C. where same-sex marriage is legal, Maryland will recognize the marriage. The federal government will not recognize our marriage, and therefore it will not affect or complicate his immigration, but I feel that our relationship has definitely come to the next level where I want to be able to say that we are married and he is my husband. I would like to include my boyfriends family and his culture (as well as my own) in the wedding, as much as possible, and as much as they are comfortable. I would like to schedule the wedding for a time when his family and friends in India will be able to be present. Although I have tried to learn about his culture as much as possible, I do not know many of the customs regarding courtship . . . and our situation is very unique for many, many reasons. I appreciate any advice at all. (If you do not approve of same-sex or interracial marriages or relationships, Id greatly appreciate your silence--that is not what Im asking about here. Thank you.) His parents *do* approve of our relationship. I just dont know how they will feel about it being marriage. My partner will stick up for me if he needs to, but I want the proposal itself to be a surprise. Which is why he cannot stick up for me in the letter telling them that I am planning to propose--its going to be a surprise to him!
Answer: wow!! im didnt even have to read all of that to know what you were talking about. i approve of interracial marriage. but in indian culture they dont approve of it.. just tell his parents this is 2011 and you love there son and would do anything for him.. he also has to stand up for you because its his family also!! so you shouldnt be in it alone!!
Category: Other - Cultures & Groups

Faith Groups Campaign To Block Gay Marriage

Evangelical, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Jewish leaders, determined to head off momentum for same-sex marriage in Albany, say they are mobilizing an extensive campaign to block legislation that would make New York the sixth state to allow gay men and lesbians to wed. Our pastors are fired up by the governors assault on marriage, said the Rev. - By PAUL VITELLO

Same-sex marriage in Washington state - Wikipedia, the free ...

Once certified on December 6, the state will recognize same-sex marriages as the ... partnerships to include all of the state-level rights granted to married couples. ... in one of the first same-sex marriage lawsuits in the U.S., gay activists John ...

Is gay marrige legal in Colorado and if it isnt where is it legal?

Where is gay marrige legal Iam 14 (male) and I want to know
Answer: As of Nov. 7, 2012, gay marriage has been legalized in the following nine states: Massachusetts (May 17, 2004), Connecticut (Nov. 12, 2008), Iowa (Apr. 24. 2009), Vermont (Sep. 1, 2009), New Hampshire (Jan. 1, 2010), New York (June 24, 2011), Maryland (Nov. 6, 2012), Maine (Nov. 6, 2012), and Washington (Nov. 6, 2012). [1] 31 states have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. [25] Six states have laws banning same-sex marriage. The District of Columbia legalized same-sex marriage on Mar. 3, 2010. Colorado does not allow same-sex marriage. As of Sep. 12, 2012, 12 out of 194 countries allow same-sex couples to marry: the Netherlands (2000), Belgium (2003), Canada (2005), Spain (2005), South Africa (2006), Norway (2009), Sweden (2009), Argentina (2010), Iceland (2010), Portugal (2010), and Denmark (2012). Gay couples are allowed to wed in parts of Brazil and Mexico. New countries that might be added to that list soon: Great Britain, France, New Zealand, and maybe a few others that I'm not sure of as of yet. More states that might soon be added to that list: Rhode Island, Hawaii, California, Delaware, and many others if everything goes well. Eventually all of them will be allowing it. It is just a matter of time. It may be sooner than you think.
Category: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered

Washington Gay Marriage: Same-Sex Couples Obtain Marriage ...

SEATTLE — Hundreds of same-sex couples across Washington state started picking up marriage licenses Thursday as a voter-approved law legalizing gay marriage took effect. ... In addition to private ceremonies that will start taking place across Washington state this weekend, Seattle City Hall will open for several hours Sunday, and several local judges are donating their time to marry more than 140 couples starting at 10 a.m. In Olympia, a group of local judges has ...

Same-sex couples say "I do" in Washington state for first time

As midnight chimed in Washington state, a lesbian couple exchanged vows in the first of hundreds of mass weddings on Sunday - the first day that same-sex couples can legally tie the knot there. ... The high court agreed to review a federal law that denies married same-sex couples federal benefits that heterosexual couples receive, such as in taxes and immigration. It also took on a challenge to California's voter-approved gay marriage ban. For same-sex couples ...

Male Couples Face Pressure To Fill Cradles

WASHINGTON -- When the jubilant couple were wed in June, they exchanged personalized vows and titanium rings, cheered the heartfelt toasts and danced themselves breathless. Then, as the evening was winding down, unexpected questions started popping up.One after another, their guests began asking: Are you going to have kids? When are you going to - As lawmakers and courts expand the legal definition of the American family, same-sex couples are beginning to feel the same what-about-children pressure that heterosexual twosomes have long felt; for some couples, it is another welcome sign of their increasing inclusion in the American mainstream; but for others, who hear the persistent questions at the office, dinner parties and family get-togethers, the matter can be far more complicated. Photo (M) - By RACHEL L. SWARNS

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