Same-Sex Marriage Ruling One Year Later

Also...
GOP to Press for Gay-Marriage Ban  

Friends,

Not all our news is bad; we still have open-minded Americans that are fighting for our legal rights.  Although, every step forward appears to have backlash from our hardcore-conservative opposition including the Catholic Church.  It seems that both religious fanatics and the GOP are feeling empowered and plan aggressive campaigns to block legal protections in 2005.  

The best we can do now is support those who ARE on our side and try to change public opinion.                                            

Notable items this week:

Same-Sex Marriage Ruling One Year Later
 
Since the highest court in Massachusetts declared that the state constitution guarantees gays the right to marry, it's the intangible joys - not the material benefits - that newlyweds say they savor.

While marriage entitles gay couples to state financial protections and familial rights, many instead talk about a feeling of acceptance.

The effects also were evident after this year's elections, when 11 states pushed through constitutional amendments banning gay marriage, joining six others that had done so earlier. President Bush has promised to make a federal anti-gay marriage amendment a priority of his second term.

FULL STORY

  

GOP to Press for Gay-Marriage Ban
 
WASHINGTON -- Emboldened by the 11-state sweep of bans on same-sex marriage Nov. 2, conservative leaders intend to fuel the debate further when they return with an expanded majority to the next Congress, and press vulnerable Democrats into an awkward corner over the divisive issue.

Asked whether politicians should vote against same-sex marriage bans at their peril, senior White House adviser Karl Rove told reporters last week, "I think people would be well-advised to pay attention to what the American people are saying. This is an issue on which there is a broad consensus."

FULL STORY

  

Jeb Bush: No Gay Marriage Amendment

Jacksonville, Florida: Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has rejected a call to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage, a move that has put him at odds with his brother the President.

While George W. Bush continues to call for a federal constitutional amendment to block gays and lesbians from marrying, his brother this week said that a state amendment is not needed in Florida.

FULL STORY

  

Conservatives Plan New Assault On Cal. Gay Partner Law
 
San Francisco, California: A conservative Christian law group that lost a bid to overturn California's domestic partner law is preparing to appeal and has announced a recall effort aimed at throwing the judge who made the ruling off the bench.

The law, which is slated to go into effect January 1, 2005 was passed by the Legislature last year . It grants same-sex couples nearly identical legal rights and responsibilities as married spouses.

Lawyers for the Campaign for California Families sued to have the law declared illegal on the grounds it violates the spirit and intent of Proposition 22, a 2000 ballot initiative, that holds California will only recognize unions between a man and a woman.

FULL STORY

 

 

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