The Massachusetts attorney general, Martha Coakley, asked that a federal court strike down the existing ban on gay marriage. Coakley filed suit against the ban, arguing that the law conflicts with a states individual rights to be able to define marriage or recognize civil unions in each state.  

The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act has been challenged in federal courts twice this month. Arguing that the act is unconstitutional, gay rights groups brought a case before the judge earlier in May. Activists describe that it is unfair to allow benefits to straight couples but not to same-sex couples.

 In Massachusetts., the attorney general’s offices is arguing that it is a state’s right to be able to define marriage. They claim that the Defense of Marriage Act could potentially deny couples Medicaid and several other same-sex couple benefits in Massachusetts.

 Massachusetts has 15,000 same-sex couples that have married in the stated following the 2004 law making marriage legal for same-sex couples. There have been no indications of which side the rulings will favor.

Gallup reports that the percentage of Americans who view gay relationships as morally acceptable has risen to 52 percent. This is the first instance that this issue has crossed the 50 percent symbolic threshold. Americans are increasingly accepting gay people. Although the numbers of those supporting same-sex marriages has not risen as high, these new reports mark that equality is in sight.  

 The reports also help to reveal the cultural divide in America between conservatives and liberals with a large growing moderate base. The middle ground moderate Americans have made the largest shift in beliefs and acceptance. Moderates are quickly shifting to embrace gay relationships as “morally acceptable.” Their approval jumped to 64 percent, which is up 14 points since 2006.

 The gradual increase and move towards acceptance are huge steps in the efforts for equality. Americans are still less supportive of same-sex marriage compared to gay and lesbian relationships. With continued efforts and work, this growing acceptance will turn into growing equality and support for same-sex marriage.

Gay and lesbian couples are packing their suitcases and traveling to marriage destinations. Since same sex marriage became legal in places like Iowa and Washington DC, gay men and lesbians are more than happy to take a trip to exchange their vows.

 Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health released this week that 60 percent of same sex couples married in Iowa since 2009 are from out-of state, the DesMoines Register is reporting.

Same sex marriage became legal in Iowa in April 2009 and since that time, Iowa has handed out around 2,000 marriage licenses but, only 815 are residents of Iowa. The rest traveled from surrounding states.  Of the couples getting married in Iowa, 728 were gay, and 1,292 were lesbian.

 Washington DC is reporting similar findings. The District of Columbia is reporting that with the legalization of same sex marriage, the district is headed towards issuing four times as many marriage licenses this year than in 2009, reports WTOP News. The large spike in numbers comes after same sex marriage went into effect in March.

 Both Iowa and Washington DC are destinations for same sex couples to take a trip to and say “I do.” They are the first regions in their surrounding areas to allow same sex marriage causing the recent flood of couples.

This week Portugal’s President Anibal Cavaco Silva made the announcement that he is ratifying the country’s law, permitting gay marriage. This would make Portugal the sixth European country to allow same-sex marriage.

 After political parties failed to reach an agreement on the issue, President Cavaco Silva decided that Portugal needed to shift focus to the economic crises and rising unemployment. His decision overturns the previous stipulation that marriage is between two people of different sexes.  

 ”Given that fact, I feel I should not contribute to a pointless extension of this debate, which would only serve to deepen the divisions between the Portuguese and divert the attention of politicians away from the grave problems affecting us,” Cavaco Silva said.

 Portugal lifted a law prohibiting same-sex relations in the 1980s and allowed civil unions in 2001. The President’s ratification would build on same-sex couples’ rights to include the ability to take each other’s last names and inherit processions and state pensions. Gay and lesbian rights advocates will continue to work for same-sex couple parental rights including adoption.

The New York Daily News reports that on June 3rd, New York City, after 17 years of registering domestic partners, will open its doors to marriage-like ceremonies, akin to the services offered to straight couples.

The city began registering domestic partners, most of whom are not gay, at the city clerk’s offices in 1993. Up until now, the nearly 50,000 domestic partners who signed up received nothing more than a piece of paper.

Registering as a same-sex domestic partner is not the same as gay marriage – which the state Senate nixed last year – but it does convey some legal benefits, especially if one partner is a city employee.

…

With last year’s rejection of a gay marriage law by the state Senate, a domestic partnership ceremony “is a good gesture,” agreed Councilman James Van Bramer (D-Queens). “Not everyone is going to want a ceremony, but if they do they should be able to have it,” Van Bramer said.

The idea of providing a ceremony was suggested by a group of Fordham Law School students who spent time last year working with the City Council’s legal division.

Unlike married spouses, domestic partners don’t usually receive inheritances. They also don’t have marital-type confidentiality privileges.

At least now, they can have a party.