News Briefs 11/25/2008
- Florida ban on gay adoptions ruled unconstitutional, The Maimi Herald, Carol Marbin Miller.
- Conservative groups begin battle to preserve federal DOMA, 365gay.com.
- The Liberty Counsel calls on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to condemn “hate-filled” marriage activists, Joe. My. God. The most recent round in a PR war?
- Poll: Nearly 60 percent of Iowans support gay marriage or unions, Des Moines Register, Erin Jordan.
- Sweden inches toward gay marriage, On Top Magazine.
- NY county nixes same-sex marriage challenge, Newsday.com, Ben Dobbin.
- Same-sex marriage won’t happen, ABC News, Emma Rodgers.
- Saskatchewan government sued over same-sex marriage rites, National Post.
- Op-Ed: Proposition 8 wrongly grounded in religion, The Daily Cardinal, Tom Hart.
- Op-Ed: Standing firm, moving forward, The Bilerico Project, Rea Carey.
Excerpts from the above headlines follow:
Florida ban on gay adoptions ruled unconstitutional
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cindy Lederman Tuesday declared Florida’s 30-year-old ban on gay adoptions unconstitutional — a ruling state lawyers immediately said they would challenge.
Conservative groups begin battle to preserve federal DOMA
Socially conservative groups have begun mounting a campaign to pressure incoming members of Congress to resist efforts to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
The Liberty Counsel calls on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to condemn “hate-filled” marriage activists, Joe. My. God. Thanks to Joe. My. God.
The Liberty Counsel has gathered 12,000 signatures on an “emergency petition” demanding that Arnold Schwarzenegger condemn the “hate-filled” marriage activists in California.
Poll: Nearly 60 percent of Iowans support gay marriage or unions
The statewide survey of 586 Iowa voters found that 28.1 percent support gay marriage, while another 30.2 percent oppose gay marriage, but support civil unions. Thirty-two percent of respondents oppose both gay marriage and civil unions. Nearly 10 percent of respondents said they didn’t know or refused to answer, the U of I reported.
Sweden inches toward gay marriage
Sexual orientation is a protected class in the Swedish Constitution, yet the country defined marriage as between one man and one woman in 1987, making gay marriage illegal. But legislation to be introduced shortly seeks to make Sweden the seventh country to legalize gay marriage, reports AFP.
NY county nixes same-sex marriage challenge
An upstate New York county has decided not to challenge an appeals court ruling in February declaring that a lesbian couple’s marriage in Canada should be recognized in New York.
Same-sex marriage won’t happen
Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland says the Government has not changed its position on same-sex marriage and will not move to legalise it.
Last night the Senate passed almost 100 laws to remove discrimination against same-sex couples across a broad range of areas such as leave entitlements, superannuation, social security, health and tax.
Saskatchewan government sued over same-sex marriage rites
Two law firms are suing the Saskatchewan government over the issue of marriage commissioners being required to perform same-sex marriages.
Proposition 8 wrongly grounded in religion
Nov. 4, 2008 was a day of elation. An intellectual, progressive senator was elected U.S. President, becoming the first African-American to lead our country. State referendums eased restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. Pro-life measures were defeated. Marriage was restricted to the union of a man and a woman … wait, what?
Op-Ed: Standing firm, moving forward
Over the past few weeks, the nation witnessed an outpouring of emotion and determination from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the wake of both a historic and painful Election Day. The outcry by LGBT people at having a fundamental right taken away in California is understandable and our demand to participate fully and equally in society is inspiring.
