By Dana Rudolph on February 23, 2011
Marriage equality and legal recognition for same-sex relationships took a few big steps forward this past week—in Maryland, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Rhode Island. But they took a few steps backward, too—in Indiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on February 7, 2011
Marriage equality in Maryland got a boost in the past week from two prominent politicians, but a winter storm delayed a marriage equality hearing in Rhode Island. Elsewhere, conditions were variable.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on January 31, 2011
Two New Hampshire legislators have introduced bills to repeal the state’s marriage equality law, even though Republican leaders said such a repeal is not a party priority in 2011. And several other states saw legislative moves toward or away from equality in the past week.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 2, 2010
All three Iowa Supreme Court justices up for retention this month have been given the boot. The vote sends a chilling message to other justices who face retention votes and must rule on the constitutionality of laws that adversely affect LGBT people.
Posted in Campaigns, Election 2010, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Courts, State Politics, State Supreme Courts
By Dana Rudolph on May 20, 2010
There’s a tug-of-war underway in the movement to pass more laws to address the growing problem of bullying, and it centers on whether such laws should “enumerate” bullying that targets LGBT youth.
Posted in Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on February 25, 2010
Just days before Washington, D.C.’s new marriage equality law is set to go into effect, the attorney general of neighboring Maryland issued a long-awaited opinion on whether same-sex marriages validated in other jurisdictions “may be recognized” under Maryland state law.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Dana Rudolph on January 25, 2010
The mood among supporters of a bill to allow civil unions in Hawaii is “Imua!”—the Hawaiian word for “Forward!” said State Senate Majority Leader Gary Hooser. The bill passed the state senate Friday, January 22, by a vote of 18 to 7.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on January 23, 2010
A New Hampshire House committee is expected to vote soon on two bills seeking to restrict marriage licenses to straight couples only.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Chuck Colbert on January 8, 2010
Even before the votes were tallied Thursday in the New Jersey Senate on a marriage equality bill, advocates of the bill knew they would fall short.
The marriage equality bill needed 21 votes to pass; it garnered only 14.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on January 6, 2010
Efforts are underway in both New Hampshire and Iowa to overturn marriage equality laws there.
On January 5, opponents of gay marriage were scheduled to deliver petitions to more than 200 town halls across New Hampshire.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 13, 2009
Annise Parker, an openly gay public official, won the final mayoral election race in Houston Saturday, December 12, becoming the first openly gay person to be elected as mayor of one of the top five most populated cities in the United States.
Posted in Campaigns, News, Politics, State Politics
By Chuck Colbert on December 8, 2009
The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee handed proponents of marriage equality an important first-round victory last night, approving a bill that could make New Jersey the sixth state to allow same-sex marriage.
The panel’s 7 to 6 approval came shortly after ten o’clock Monday night, after more than seven hours of emotional and at times highly personal testimony and discussion.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on December 2, 2009
Following one of the most dramatic and emotional discourses thus far in the gay marriage debate, the New York Senate voted 24 to 38 today to reject a bill guaranteeing equal marriage rights to same-sex couples.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 27, 2009
Annise Parker has been an out lesbian public official in Houston for 12 years. Yet this year, as she stands poised to become mayor of the fourth largest city in the country, her sexual orientation is an issue.
Posted in Campaigns, Issues, News, Politics, State Politics
By Lisa Keen on November 11, 2009
The struggle for marriage equality looks like a juggling act this week: New York’s up in the air, New Jersey is poised to hop from one hand (the legislature) to another (the governor). And Washington, D.C., is about to be hoisted upward. But, wait! There are more bills in the air: Michigan has one seeking to repeal its constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and New Hampshire has one seeking to repeal its newly approved-but-not-yet-enacted marriage equality law.
Posted in Issues, Marriage/Relationships, News, Politics, State Politics
Ginsburg on Roe: Is it a signal she’d curb a decision on marriage?
Leahy submits language to help bi-national same-sex couples
Delaware votes for marriage equality; becomes 11th state to make it the law
Rhode Island marriage law signed; Two more states could vote next week
President praises pro athlete Jason Collins for courage to come out
Rhode Island marriage bill clears final hurdle with all Republicans