http://whatmarriagemeans.org Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:57:40 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court in Massachusetts is retiring. She made history: "The Massachusetts chief justice who wrote the state’s landmark ruling legalizing gay marriage has announced she’s stepping down. Chief Justice Margaret Marshall said Wednesday she will retire by the end of October to spend more time with ... http://whatmarriagemeans.org/2010/07/mass-judge-that-supported-equality-announces-retirement/ Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader, said that the UK Government will allow same-sex couples to have “civil marriage” with same legal status as marriage between a man and a woman. Under current law, same-sex couples may receive a civil partnership, which is recognized but not given the same status ... http://whatmarriagemeans.org/2010/07/uk-coalition-will-give-gay-and-lesbian-couples-the-same-legal-rights-to-marriage-as-heterosexuals/ Ireland has signed into law benefits for gay and lesbian couples in the prominently Catholic country. Ireland now provides more rights for gay couples then the United States. The Civil Partnership Bill, which provides legal recognition for same-sex couples was signed today by President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin. This ... http://whatmarriagemeans.org/2010/07/ireland-signs-bill-giving-benefits-to-gay-and-lesbian-couples/ Wednesday the Argentinean Senate is expected to pass a Gay Marriage bill that would allow same-sex couples the same rights at heterosexual couples in the nation. President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has said she would sign the bill, which already passed the lower chamber of the legislature. Both she and ... http://whatmarriagemeans.org/2010/07/argentina%e2%80%99s-senate-set-to-vote-on-gay-marriage-bill-today/ Victory for Marriage Equality! A Boston Judge ruled today that the 1996 DOMA is unconstitutional because it interferes with a state’s right to define marriage. U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro handed down two influential rulings Thursday declaring DOMA unconstitutional.  The first case was brought by the state of Massachusetts. Judge Tauro ... http://whatmarriagemeans.org/2010/07/federal-judge-rules-defense-of-marriage-act-unconstitutional/ Tuesday Governor Linda Lingle vetoed legislation passed in April by Hawaii’s Legislature allowing same-sex civil unions in the state. She made the veto action on House Bill 444 on the last day to sign the bill, veto, or allow the bill to become law without her signature.  Governor Lingle has openly ... http://whatmarriagemeans.org/2010/07/governor-of-hawaii-veto%e2%80%99s-same-sex-civil-unions/ The following is a PostPartisan piece from the Washington Post opinion section by Jonathan Capehart. The upcoming decision from the California court on Prop. 8 will mean a lot in the battle for equal marriage rights in America. The judge's decision to overturn Prop. 8 or not will have an echoing effect on ... http://whatmarriagemeans.org/2010/07/could-impending-prop-8-decision-doom-same-sex-marriage/ After a watchful eye from the GLBT community, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has upheld the state's constitutional ban on gay marriage and civil unions. It is disappointing but no surprise. The ruling was 7-0 from the judges. Wednesday, they ruled that the 2006 constitutional amendment was properly put to voters in ... http://whatmarriagemeans.org/2010/06/same-sex-marriage-ban-upheld-in-wisconsin/ University of California, Davis law professor Vikram Amar told WSJ that he would be “quite surprised” if Judge Vaughn Walker didn’t rule that Prop 8 is unconstitutional.  Final statements were heard this week in the California federal trial of Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage.  Walker questioned the argument that marriage is ... http://whatmarriagemeans.org/2010/06/prop-8-trial-wraps-up-this-week/ Perry v. Schwarzenegger, which is currently before a federal district court in California but is likely to be appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, is the case to repeal Proposition 8 in California. The Perry case has scheduled closing arguments for next Wednesday. The case was taken ... http://whatmarriagemeans.org/2010/06/a-case-toward-equality/