March 10, 2004
Marriage news roundup (2).
National
The Log Cabin Republicans have launched a US $1 million media campaign against the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment. The ad uses footage from the 2000 election campaign of then-VP candidate Dick Cheney saying that same-sex marriage is a matter to be left to the states. The ad will be running in Washington, DC and seven swing states.
The Log Cabin Republicans is the largest group of gay and lesbian Republicans, claiming about 10,000 members. More details on its campaign against the FMS are here, and a link to the television ad is here [RealPlayer required].
(Washington Post)
California
The San Jose city council has voted to recognize the marriages of its gay and lesbian employees. The vote was 8-1.
"We believe it is right and just that employee benefits provided to spouses of city employees should be applied evenhandedly in accordance with our firm and successful commitment to ending bias and discrimination in the workplace," San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales said in a memo to the city council.
(Reuters)
Maryland
The Maryland House of Delegates has voted down a bill that would have barred the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states. State law already defines marriage as a union of one man and one woman, so backers of the change were unable to convince most legislators that the new law was needed.
(Maryland Gazette Newspapers)
Michigan
A bill to amend the Michigan constitution to bar same-sex marriages has failed in the state House. Backers of the amendment fell 8 votes short of the number needed to pass the marriage amendment and send it on to the state Senate. The House may vote again on the measure, but no date has been set. If the amendment fails to get out of the House, the American Family Association of Michigan says it will sponsor a petition drive to get the amendment on the next state ballot.
(Lansing [MI] State Journal)
Minnesota
A committee of the state House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the Minnesota constitution that would ban same-sex marriages. The proposed amendment now goes to the full House, where the Republican majority is expected to pass it. The bill's fate is uncertain in the Democrat-controlled state Senate.
Minnesota has had a state law barring same-sex marriages since 1997.
Legislative information on the bill (including its status in each house of the legislature) is here. The full text is here.
(St. Paul Pioneer Press)
New Jersey
Under pressure from the state attorney general, the city of Asbury Park has stopped issuing marriage licenses to lesbian and gay couples. However, the city government plans to file a lawsuit against the state on the basis that the ban on same-sex marriages flies against the equal-protection clause of the New Jersey constitution.
"I've had friends who were beaten for no other reason than they were gay. For us to deny anyone the right to marry is wrong," City Councilman John M. Loffredo said.
"This is a civil rights issue," Councilwoman Kate Mellina said. Noting that the city has a large gay population, she said, "They deserve the same rights that anyone standing in this room deserves."
(Parsippany [NJ] Daily Record)
Tennessee
A gay male couple just married in San Francisco plan to challenge Tennessee's law against same-sex marriages. Jason McDowell and Bill Watson requested new driver's licenses with the last name McDowell-Watson, but were refused.
McDowell said they deserve the same rights and benefits that marriage brings in Tennessee with regards to tax filings, property ownership, inheritance and insurance benefits.
Watson said he has the larger income and if he dies he wants his Social Security benefits to go to McDowell and the child.
"He would have no rights to Social Security benefits if something happens to both of us," Watson said. He said they shouldn't be required to seek power of attorney arrangements.
The two are seeking an attorney to help them challenge Tennessee's version of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which allows states to refuse to recognize gay marriages outside their borders. A Tennessee attorney general's opinion in 1996 said gay marriage is unconstitutional.
(CNN)
Posted by Magpie at March 10, 2004 04:11 PM | TrackBack