With the stroke of a pen, the discriminatory “Defense of Marriage” Act from the 1990s was finally repealed and the right wing Supreme Court put on notice that this country won’t stand for the overturning the landmark Obergefell decision.
Tag: Marriage Equality
Respect for Marriage Act wins final passage in the U.S. Senate; returns to U.S. House
“Nobody should face the gut-wrenching pit in their stomach with the possibility that some politically motivated Supreme Court justices might suddenly tell them that their marriage is no longer recognized,” said Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon.
Respect for Marriage Act wins Senate cloture vote: Marriage equality will soon be codified!
On a bipartisan vote of 62–37, the Senate voted to invoke cloture on the Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 8404), which would send a powerful message to the Roberts/Alito Court that the executive and legislative branches of the United States federal government do not want the Obergefell decision overturned, and finally codify marriage equality into federal law.
McMorris Rodgers, Herrera Beutler vote against marriage equality in U.S. House
In a bipartisan 267–157 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives on July 19th approved legislation that would codify same-sex marriage into federal law as well as repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.
FREEDOM WINS!!! U.S. Supreme Court makes marriage equality law of the land nationwide
This morning, in a historic and groundbreaking decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled 5–4 that states may not prohibit couples from marrying on the basis of their sexual orientation. The court’s majority opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges means that marriage equality is suddenly and finally the law of the land in all fifty states […]
IRS: LGBT couples who are married can file joint tax returns beginning next year
The Internal Revenue Service announced today that in the wake of the Supreme Court’s late June decision striking down the poorly-conceived “Defense of Marriage Act”, American LGBT spouses will be able to file joint or separate tax returns as married couples beginning next year, no matter where they happen to live. “Today’s ruling provides certainty and […]
A HUGE morning for mariage equality: DOMA is unconstitutional, Proposition 8 is history
Progressives have a lot to celebrate this morning. In a pair of much-anticipated decisions, the United States Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” and let stand a lower court decision invalidating California’s Proposition 8, a 2008 attempt to amend California’s Constitution to outlaw civil marriages by same-sex […]
Referendum 74 gets a new ballot title; right wing to launch anti-equality signature drive
A couple hours ago, following a lengthy hearing, Thurston County Superior Court Judge Thomas McPhee ordered that Referendum 74, the right wing’s attempt to force a public vote on Washington’s new marriage equality law, be given a new ballot title, after considering challenges to the original ballot title written by the Attorney General’s office by […]
Washington State House sends marriage equality legislation to Governor Gregoire
Joyous news to report this afternoon: After many hours of debate, our state House has followed in the footsteps of the Senate and approved a bill making marriage equality the law of the land of Washington. The vote was fifty five to forty-three. SB 6239, prime sponsored by Senator Ed Murray, now heads to the […]
Washington’s Senate approves marriage equality legislation after long debate
Wonderful, wonderful news to celebrate tonight: After a debate that stretched for more than an hour and a half, and saw the adoption and rejection of more than a dozen amendments, Washington’s state Senate has voted to approve legislation making marriage equality the law of the land. The vote was twenty-eight to twenty-one. Four Republicans joined […]
Big vote on marriage equality tomorrow
In a matter of hours, Washington’s Senate is set to take up Ed Murray’s bill, SB 6239, to make marriage equality the law of the land across the Evergreen State. At least twenty-five senators (including some Republicans) have already committed to vote in favor of the bill, so it is expected to pass. However, if you […]
Marriage equality gains twenty-fifth vote in state Senate; Haugen to vote yes
Great news this afternoon: We finally have the votes to pass marriage equality in the Washington State Legislature! Minutes ago, Senator Mary Margaret Haugen — who had previously said she was only willing to support putting the issue on the ballot for a public vote — reversed her position and decided to join the forces […]
Governor Chris Gregoire announces support for full marriage equality in 2012
In a major boost to Washington United for Marriage’s efforts to make Washington the seventh state where marriage equality is the law of the land, Governor Chris Gregoire this morning declared her full support for legislation to overturn the state’s discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and permit gay and lesbian couples to legally wed […]
Poll Watch: Where do things stand in the Republican presidential race?
The 2012 Republican presidential race has been nothing if not entertaining, as the writers for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will undoubtedly attest. A new poll commissioned by Roger Ailes’ Fox Noise network, conducted from September 25–27, finds that Mitt Romney is now the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. The poll showed Romney at […]