Gay Marriage

Bans Of Same-Sex Marriage Can Take A Psychological Toll

Submitted by ONE Community on May 20, 2013 - 10:05am

As the country awaits two important Supreme Court decisions involving state laws on same-sex marriage, a small but consistent body of research suggests that laws that ban gay marriage — or approve it — can affect the mental health of gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans. When several states passed laws to prohibit same-sex marriage, for example, the mental health of gay residents seemed to suffer, while stress-related disorders dropped in at least one state after gay marriage was legalized.

Here's the research trail: Read more »

ONE Community

Int’l Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia observed around the globe

Submitted by ONE Community on May 17, 2013 - 10:00am

LGBT rights advocates and allies will observe the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (or IDAHO) in more than 100 countries around the world on Friday.

First recognized in 2004, IDAHO commemorates the May 17, 1990 decision by the World Health Organization that decategorized homosexuality as a mental disorder, and aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights advocacy.

In 76 countries around the world, same-sex relationships are still considered illegal and punishable by jail, fines and in some countries, lifetime imprisonment. In seven countries, a conviction is punishable by death. Read more »

ONE Community

Gays 'thrown under the bus' in immigration bill

Submitted by ONE Community on May 16, 2013 - 3:44pm

The Senate Judiciary Committee is marking up the massive bill that leaders in both parties agree presents the best opportunity to reform immigration policy in decades. The bill contains many provisions sought by progressive groups, but lacks protections for LGBT families, specifically binational same-sex couples whose relationships are not recognized by the government.

While endorsing key provisions in the bill drafted by the bipartisan “Gang of Eight,” LGBT civil rights groups continue to urge the adoption of amendments that protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their families. Read more »

ONE Community

Polls Show Pro-Equality Majorities in Mich., Ariz., and Va.

Submitted by ONE Community on May 16, 2013 - 3:38pm

Momentum for marriage equality is spreading beyond the safely liberal strongholds of the East Coast, according to several new polls that found majority support for the freedom to marry in locales as diverse as Michigan, Virginia, and even Arizona. Read more »

ONE Community

Arizona House OKs religious-protection measure

Submitted by ONE Community on May 16, 2013 - 2:03pm

Supporters of a bill that would change the state’s religious-protection law say it would strengthen Arizonans’ ability to defend their “practice or observance of religion.”

But critics of the legislation, particularly in the gay and transgender community, say it’s so broadly worded that it could have dangerous implications, particularly in providing a legal defense for those who ignore state law or city ordinances meant to protect groups such as same-sex couples and transgender individuals from discrimination. Read more »

ONE Community

Older Americans Are Pushing Marriage Equality Forward

Submitted by ONE Community on May 14, 2013 - 9:25pm

Gallup has just released new data on public support for legalizing same sex marriage. They describe support as “solidifying” above 50 percent, and that’s not just because of the rise of the younger generation: older folks, according to the new data, are quickly coming around to the marriage equality cause.

According to the Gallup data, support for marriage equality has doubled in the 17 years since 1996 going from a meager 27 percent then to 53 percent now. This is a quite remarkable rate of change: about a percentage point and half per year. At this rate, we’ll hit 60 percent support by 2018: Read more »

ONE Community

Minnesota Senate approves same-sex marriage bill

Submitted by ONE Community on May 13, 2013 - 2:31pm

With deafening cheers and overwhelming emotion, the Minnesota Senate voted 37-30 to legalize same-sex marriage.

“Today, love wins,” said Sen. Tony Lourey, DFL-Kerrick.

The vote, on the heels of a vote last week in the House, brings to a close a decade of debate over marriage that has echoed through the Capitol, bringing thousands of friends and foes of gay marriage to its marbled dome to express their deeply held feelings.

The measure next moves to Gov. Mark Dayton, who will welcome it with his signature in a celebratory ceremony likely on Tuesday. Read more »

ONE Community

Mormons Largely Out Of Marriage Equality Battle

Submitted by ONE Community on May 12, 2013 - 10:09pm

The fight over marriage equality is going very well, and has been going rather well for a bit now. The problem might be more than just that the anti-gay groups are starting to collapse. Part of this has to do with the fact that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has largely abandoned the fight. After many years of funding anti-gay groups, the Mormon Church has pretty much pulled out.

Former Republican Presidential contender Fred Karger has been working to fight the National Organization for Marriage, a group that served largely as a front for the Catholic and Mormon Churches. He has uncovered evidence showing that the Mormons had 77 people working full time at their headquarters to get Proposition 8 passed. Read more »

ONE Community

New Mexico Faith Leaders Announce Support for Marriage for Same-Sex Couples

Submitted by ONE Community on May 12, 2013 - 9:55pm

Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico and Equality New Mexico (EQNM) released a statement of support for marriage for same-sex couples signed by 94 interfaith religious leaders in New Mexico. The statement is part of the ACLU of New Mexico and EQNM’s joint public education campaign Why Marriage Matters New Mexico (formerly All Families Matter New Mexico.) The signatories include both active and retired faith leaders from around the state, representing a variety of denominations and faith traditions. Read more »

ONE Community

Philadelphia Mayor Signs Broad LGBT Rights Legislation

Submitted by ONE Community on May 12, 2013 - 9:52pm

Mayor Michael Nutter signed legislation Thursday to afford equal rights to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, saying he hoped Philadelphia would become "the most LGBT-friendly" city in the world.

Nutter, city and state lawmakers and gay rights advocates said the legislation makes Philadelphia the first city in the U.S. to offer tax credits to companies that extend the same health care coverage to LGBT employees’ domestic partners and their children as they provide to heterosexual spouses and their children.

They said the legislation also makes Philadelphia the first city to offer businesses tax credits as a way to encourage providing transgender-specific health benefits. Read more »

ONE Community