You Need to Know: Same-sex marriage faces Senate test with GOP votes uncertain

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade and wiped out abortion protections, Justice Clarence Thomas (married to Ginnie Thomas who helped organize the insurrection on the Capitol) - told the press "Gay Marriage is Next to be eliminated."    Democrats in Congress are trying to protect this LGBTQ right, and pass a law to protect existing marriages.  

WHAT THIS MEANS: The Law keeps EXISTING Gay marriages legal in ALL 50 states and territories. Sadly, the only way Democrats can get a few Republicans onboard is to say it "protects existing marriages." It doesn't make gay marriage the law of the country. 

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE COURT OVERTURNS GAY MARRIAGE?  If the Supreme Court overturns the gay marriage right, it goes back to the states again, sadly, and this law wouldn't override the bigoted states, so LGBTQ residents in the  Southern U.S. would likely lose the right to marry in their state. 

KEEP IN MIND: Most Republicans refuse to vote for it. If you are vote Republican and  you have LGBTQ friends and family, you are supporting a party that wants to kill their rights to a Marriage like yours, that offers legal protections and benefits. That's just cruel. Think about it. 

Here's the story from Associated Press  

Same-sex marriage faces Senate test with GOP votes uncertain

AP  Nov. 16, 2022

WASHINGTON (AP) — Staring down the prospect of divided government in the next Congress, Senate Democrats are moving forward with legislation this week to protect same sex and interracial marriages. It’s a vote that’s “as personal as it gets,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

Schumer is holding a test vote on the bill Wednesday, betting that at least 10 Republicans will vote with all 50 Democrats to move forward with the legislation to ensure that same-sex and interracial marriages are legally recognized nationwide. The bill has gained steady momentum since the Supreme Court’s June decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and the federal right to an abortion. An opinion at that time from Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that an earlier high court decision protecting same-sex marriage could also come under threat.

If the Senate votes to move forward with the legislation, a final vote could come as soon as this week, or by the end of the month, while Democrats still control the House. Republicans are on the verge of winning the House majority and would be unlikely to take up the issue next year.

In the News; When are all the states going to get it?

On February 13, 2014, a Federal judge ruled that Virginia's marriage ban was unconstitutional. In Kentucky the courts ruled that all same-sex marriages from out of state must be recognized in the state (just like straight marriages! Imagine that!).  - This is all great news for equal rights. However, gay couples in both states can't marry there until it goes BACK to the Supreme Court. Dammit. 
 - If the Supreme Court did the right thing the first time, states wouldn't have to be sued to come the the simple conclusion that Equal means Equal. SIGH. 
   When are all of these conservative states going to understand that Equal means "Equal"?? All of this mess could be avoided. 
    Conservatives in Wisconsin took their intolerance a step FURTHER. They were voting on a law to imprison and fine up to $10,000 any gay couple residing in the state, who married in another state. 
STORY: Bloomberg News: WI criminal-gay-marriage-ban story 
Again, I ask - What is wrong with these conservatives?  Sigh.   - Rob

STORY: VA same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional
Feb. 14, 2014  NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- In a federal court ruling echoing decisions reached elsewhere in the U.S., Virginia on Thursday became the first state in the South to overturn a voter-approved prohibition of same-sex marriage.
U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen issued a stay of her order while it is appealed, meaning that gay couples in Virginia still will not be able to marry until the case is ultimately resolved. Both sides believe the case won't be settled until the Supreme Court decides to hear it or one like it.
Allen's decision makes Virginia the second state in the South to issue a ruling recognizing the legality of gay marriages.
A judge in Kentucky ruled Wednesday that the state must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. But that judge did not rule on the constitutionality of same-sex marriages inside the state. Decisions similar to that of the Virginia judge have been issued in in Utah and Oklahoma federal courts.
The office of newly elected Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring took the unusual step of not defending the law because it believes the ban violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. In her ruling, Wright Allen agreed.
"The court is compelled to conclude that Virginia's Marriage Laws unconstitutionally deny Virginia's gay and lesbian citizens the fundamental freedom to choose to marry. Government interests in perpetuating traditions, shielding state matters from federal interference, and favoring one model of parenting over others must yield to this country's cherished protections that ensure the exercise of the private choices of the individual citizen regarding love and family," Wright Allen wrote.

In the News: AG Eric Holder extends new and equal same-sex marriage federal benefits

   In the news this past weekend was an amazing push for equal rights and protections for gay couples. That means that in addition to the 17 states where our marriage is legally recognized by the state and the federal gov't, now in  the 33 states that don't yet recognize our marriage  the Federal Protections will be afforded to gay couples legally married in states where gay marriage is "legal."  
  This is a great step toward getting all states to recognize gay marriage (and they should have done it anyway).  Here's the article that came out this week.


AG Eric Holder extends new and equal same-sex marriage federal benefits
 SOURCE: Examiner.com
ARTICLE: http://www.examiner.com/article/ag-eric-holder-extends-new-and-equal-same-sex-marriage-federal-benefits?CID=examiner_alerts_article

 February 9, 2014

Attorney General Eric Holder has made civil rights a priority for the Justice Department and he has put that commitment into action when it comes to the equal rights of same-sex couples. According to NBC News on Feb. 8, the Justice Department will extend a new package of federal benefits to same-sex couples starting on Monday.

Atty General Eric Holder

AG Holder stated that these new benefits would be extended to gay couples who are legally married and will also apply to those who live in states that do not recognize same-sex marriage. Some of these new and extended benefits include federal death benefits as well as educational payments given to surviving spouses of public safety officers who suffer sustaining injuries or even death.
According to Holder, “the federal government should stand by that hero’s spouse – no matter whether that spouse is straight or gay.”
The action is a further indication of the change and transition that has taken place since the historic US Supreme Court ruling back in June of 2013 that struck down an important part of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Under the new benefits package, government lawyers will also recognize same-sex spouses with the same rights as opposite-sex couples in federal court cases. Spouses can decline to testify against a spouse in federal criminal and civil cases as explained by Holder. Again, “even in states where same-sex marriages are not recognized.”
These new benefits will also extend to inmates in federal prison, including visitation rights. Same-sex couples will also be treated equally in federal bankruptcy proceedings.
This is another step in the Justice Department’s dedication to “confronting discrimination based on sexual orientation.” These new benefits give “lawful same-sex marriages full and equal recognition” and assure recognition of those same-sex marriages beyond the 17 states that have made commitments to marriage equality.

Patchwork Marriage Rights - U.S. and U.K.

  The U.S. isn't the only country/entity that's patchwork over allowing gay marriage. The U.K. is the same way. England and Wales have it. Scotland does not (although part of the U.K.).
    The U.K. legalized same-sex marriage. It goes into effect in England and Wales (not Ireland or Scotland) on March 29, 2014.
   As for Scotland- Legislation to introduce same-sex marriage in Scotland was approved in principle by parliament, after MSPs voted on it for the first time. The Scottish government's Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill passed the first of three parliamentary hurdles by 98 votes to 15 with five abstentions. Ministers said the move was the right thing to do, but the Church of Scotland and Catholic Church are opposed. (OF COURSE).
  On Dec. 20th, attempts to amend gay marriage legislation to provide further "protections" (HA!) for those who are opposed to it on religious grounds have been rejected by a Holyrood
    It's as screwy as the U.S. Allowed in England and Wales, not allowed in Scotland and Ireland.  Can't everyone just do the right thing and let adult, gay couples in love get married to obtain all the legal protections a marriage can offer?  Someone's marriage does NOT affect the marriage of anyone else. I don't get all this stupidity, and don't even get me started on the backwards Uganda or Russia. UGH.
   SO, WHICH ARE THE MOST BIGOTED U.S. STATES? 
    In terms of the U.S. - the stupid, yes, STUPID, "red" states that have gone to the extreme and banned gay marriage in their state's constitution include  AL, AR, AZ, AK, CO, FL, GA, ID, KY, KS,  LA, MI, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA and WI.
  SO, if you live in any of those hateful, ignorant states, it's going to be a long time before you see marriage equality. Basically, all of the old, hateful conservatives need to die off, so the much more accepting and caring younger generation can make it happen.