Tag Archives: gay marriage

France | Marriage Equality Now The Law!

With so much happening, and at such an awesome pace lately, marriage equality advances one more step across the world, and it’s a thrill to watch.

1st gay weddingFrance’s president has signed into law a controversial bill making the country the ninth in Europe, and 14th globally, to legalize gay marriage.  On Friday, the Constitutional Council rejected a challenge by the right-wing opposition, clearing the way for Francois Hollande to sign the bill.  He said: “I have taken [the decision]; now it is time to respect the law of the Republic.”  The first gay wedding could be held 10 days after the bill’s signing.  But Parliamentary Relations Minister Alain Vidalies told French TV he expected the first ceremonies to take place “before 1 July”.

More from the BBC

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Delaware joins the future

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Delaware joins the ever-increasing list of marriage equality states.

UPDATE: Governor Jack Markell signed the bill into law moments after it passed the Senate.  Marriage equality goes into effect July 1. “I do not intend to make any of you wait 1 minute longer,”  he said.

Winning Rhode Island and Beyond: Next Up, Delaware!

Winning Rhode Island and Beyond
By Thom Watson, Marriage Equality USA
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I was poised to write this column as a speculation about which state would be the tenth to recognize civil marriage equality for same-sex couples, joining nine other states and the District of Columbia where the freedom to marry is already guaranteed.

Would it be Delaware, where the House recently passed a marriage equality bill, just five days after the bill’s introduction?

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The Marriage Equality Count, So Far

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..and so far God hasn’t struck them dead. Allah hasn’t chimed in, either. Silence from Zeus, Odin, Ba’al, and Mithra, as well.

No Taxation with Discrimination: Ending DOMA and Beyond Equality

By Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis, Marriage Equality USA

Last week as we were busily collecting our 2012 receipts, W-2 and 1099 forms and preparing to hit the send button on our income tax returns, we thought maybe, just maybe, this year might be the last that legally married lesbian and gay couples will have to lie to their federal government about the nature of their love and relationships and file their taxes as supposedly single people. If the United States Supreme Court in the historic United States v. Windsor case upholds its duty to enforce the Constitution and strikes down section 3 of the misnamed Defense of Marriage Act, this indignity and real cost to thousands of same-sex couples will finally end. For many lesbian and gay couples, not being able to file their taxes jointly means writing a check to the same federal government that openly discriminates against them for thousands of more dollars – money that they, just like anyone else, could use for health care, retirement, emergencies, or a down payment on a house.

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MEUSA 15th annual gala and awards

The Marriage Equality USA national gala and awards events are coming soon in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.  Click the graphic below and make the jump to their website to find out more.

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Engaged

Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent are officially engaged!  How cute are they???  They’ve only been dating for 8 1/2 months, which concerns me a little, but they sure seem to make an adorable couple.  Best of luck to them, right!?  Click the link to embiggen and read the whole article at Wonder Wall here.

Nate and Jeremiah