Breaking Marriage Equality News Headlines from AP

	Britain's gay marriage bill passes major hurdle Members of the House of Commons voted by 366 to 161 in favour of the same sex marriage bill, a majority of 205, and it will now go to the unelected House of Lords for consideration. ... AP • May 22, 2013

	Brazil Must Register Gay Unions as Marriages The council that oversees the country's judiciary says in a Tuesday statement that notary publics cannot refuse to marry gay couples or convert a same-sex civil union into a marriage. ... AP • May 16, 2013

	Wyoming House defeats domestic partnership bill The House voted 35-to-24 against the bill. It marked the first time that pro-gay legislation reached a full floor debate in the state Legislature. ... AP • Jan 31, 2013

	Indiana gay marriage opponents push ahead with ban A lawmaker says he will push the Indiana General Assembly to debate a gay marriage ban this session. Republican state Rep. Eric Turner, of Cicero said Tuesday he'll file a resolution this session to write the state's ban on gay marriage into the Indiana constitution.... AP • Jan 9, 2013

	TENS OF THOUSANDS IN PARIS STREET FOR GAY MARRIAGE Tens of thousands of people supporting the Socialist government's plan to legalize same-sex marriage and adoptions in France have marched in a Paris demonstration.... AP • Dec 18, 2012

	Socially liberal Uruguay already has civil unions, now considering same-sex marriage law The country already has a civil unions law and has stood out in Latin America lately for legalizing abortion and planning to sell government-grown marijuana to any citizen who wants it. ... AP • Dec 4, 2012

	Court won't hear anti-gay marriage group appeal The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal from a national anti-gay marriage group that tried to thwart Maine's campaign disclosure law requiring it to release its donor list. The high court turned aside an appeal from the National Organization for Marriage, which donated $1.9 million to a political action committee that helped repeal Maine's same-sex marriage law.... AP • Oct 1, 2012

	First gay H.K. lawmaker seeks same-sex marriage Hong Kong's first openly gay lawmaker is known as "Slow Beat" from his days as a disc jockey, but Raymond Chan says there is nothing slow about his plans to reform the Asian banking hub. Chan publicly revealed his sexuality only after winning a seat in the former British colony's legislature last weekend, as a representative of the radically pro-democracy People Power party. He said he plans to us... AP • Sep 17, 2012

	NEW ZEALAND PASSES 1ST STAGE OF GAY MARRIAGE LAW New Zealand lawmakers on Wednesday overwhelmingly cast a first vote in favor of a gay marriage bill that was given impetus by President Barack Obama's public support of the issue.... AP • Aug 30, 2012

	POLL: 65 PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE The partisan gap over same-sex marriage continues to widen, with 65 percent of Democrats now supporting it compared to 24 percent of Republicans, according to poll released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center. The poll found an increase in support among Democrats since President Barack Obama announced in May that he favors same-sex marriage. In April, a Pew poll gauged support among Democrats at 5... AP • Aug 1, 2012

	CHENEY DEFENDS HIS SILENCE ON GAY MARRIAGE IN 2000 Dick Cheney says he didn't see the point of raising the issue of gay marriage in the 2000 presidential campaign, even though he supported it.... AP • Jul 30, 2012

	May be too late for Iowa GOP to end gay marriage But the legislative process would take at least two years, while public interest in the cause is declining. A Des Moines Register poll in February showed 56 percent of Iowans opposed an amendment banning same-sex marriage, up slightly from a year earlier. The results tracked with national opinion on the issue. ... AP • Jul 9, 2012

	Lawmaker backs spousal benefits for military gays Rep. Adam Smith of Washington is top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. Smith is introducing legislation to make the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments recognize any marriage that has been recognized by a state, the District of Columbia, commonwealths or territories. ... AP • Jun 29, 2012

	Opponents block Washington state gay marriage Washington's gay marriage law was blocked from taking effect Wednesday, as opponents filed more than 200,000 signatures seeking a public vote on the issue in November. Preserve Marriage Washington submitted the signatures just a day before the state was to begin allowing same-sex marriages. State officials will review the signatures over the next week to determine if proposed Referendum 74 will q... AP • Jun 7, 2012

	ACLU lawsuit challenges Ill. gay marriage ban The two lawsuits - backed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and the New York-based gay advocacy group Lambda Legal - include couples from the Chicago area, Bloomington and Marion. Both challenge a state law that defines marriage as between a man and woman, arguing that the Illinois Constitution guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry under due process and equality clause... AP • May 30, 2012

	NAACP chief: Marriage equality is a civil right NAACP President Benjamin Jealous said Monday he hopes the group's resolution supporting same-sex marriage will encourage blacks to support marriage equality as a civil right if the question is put to voters on the ballot in Maryland or other states.... AP • May 22, 2012

	Biden OK with equal rights for married gay couples Vice President Joe Biden says he's "absolutely comfortable" with gay couples who marry getting the same civil rights and liberties as heterosexual couples, a stand that gay rights advocates interpreted as an endorsement of same-sex marriage. But the White House and President Barack Obama's re-election campaign, eager to avoid a debate on a hot-button social issue in an election year, insisted tha... AP • May 7, 2012

	Colo. civil unions measure survives key vote Rep. B.J. Nikkel, a Larimer County Republican who isn't running for re-election, was the deciding vote. She voted no on the bill last year, but said after her vote Thursday that she was swayed by the crowd of gay couples who wore red and spent hours sharing painful personal stories of the pains of lacking legal protections. ... AP • May 4, 2012

	Okla. Methodists organize to support gay marriage In conservative Oklahoma, a group of United Methodists are signing a statement in support of marriage equality ahead of an April global policy conference of the church, which prohibits gay marriage. Retired Oklahoma City minister Jim Gragg is collecting signatures and said 62 clergy and 203 members have signed the statement calling for "full equality and inclusion to lesbian, gay, bisexual and tra... AP • Mar 24, 2012

	Obama opposes NC gay marriage amendment President Barack Obama is speaking out against a proposed North Carolina constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman.... AP • Mar 16, 2012

	Bruising gay-marriage showdowns likely in 5 states Foes and supporters of same-sex marriage are gearing up for five costly and bruising statewide showdowns in the coming months on an issue that evenly divides Americans. It's an election year subplot sure to stir up heated emotions -- even beyond the confines of North Carolina, Minnesota, Maryland, Maine and Washington state. National advocacy groups will be deeply engaged, and advertising is likel... AP • Mar 10, 2012

	Top gay rights group taps new leader The Washington-based campaign's directors voted to hire Chad Griffin, 38, to replace outgoing president Joe Solmonese, who announced last year that he would step down after seven socially transformative and sometimes internally stormy years at the organization's helm. ... AP • Mar 2, 2012

	Md. governor signs bill legalizing gay marriage With Maryland legalizing gay marriage, some conservative opponents and religious leaders are counting on members of their congregations, especially in black churches, to upend the legislation at the polls this fall.... AP • Mar 1, 2012

	England: Petition against same-sex marriage Christian groups backed by former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey said they are sending 175,000 emails which will invite people to sign a petition opposing the introduction of same-sex marriage. ... AP • Feb 21, 2012

	Maryland Senate takes up gay marriage legislation The chamber's Judicial Proceedings Committee is scheduled to send the legislation to the full Senate on Tuesday and a final vote on the bill could come by the end of the week, said committee chairman Brian Frosh, D-Montgomery. ... AP • Feb 21, 2012

	NJ Gov. Christie vetoes gay marriage bill as vowed Lawmakers in New Jersey have until the end of the legislative session in January 2014 to override the veto. They would need two-thirds of the lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate to agree. Both votes to pass it fell short of that mark. Christie has virtually guaranteed that no override would succeed because Republicans wouldn't cross him.... AP • Feb 17, 2012

	NJ Senate OKs gay marriage bill in milestone vote New Jersey lawmakers gave their blessing to legalizing gay marriage for the first time Monday as the state Senate passed a bill that would allow nuptials for same-sex couples, despite Gov. Chris Christie's insistence that he will veto such legislation. The Senate's 24-16 vote sends the bill to the Assembly, which is expected to pass it on Thursday.... AP • Feb 13, 2012

	Court won't release CA gay marriage trial videos A federal appeals court refused Thursday to unseal video recordings of a landmark trial on the constitutionality of California's same-sex marriage ban. Siding with the ban's supporters, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled the public doesn't have the right to see the footage.... AP • Feb 2, 2012

	Black NJ leaders: No public vote on civil rights Two of New Jersey's most influential black leaders blasted Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday for proposing gay marriage be put to a popular vote in November, but the Republican governor insisted he's offering a reasonable compromise amid his personal opposition to same-sex nuptials. Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and Newark Mayor Cory Booker said in separate forums that civil rights are guaranteed... AP • Jan 26, 2012

	Senate panel OKs gay marriage bill; gov vows veto A New Jersey Senate panel has approved a same-sex marriage bill the same day Gov. Chris Christie vowed to veto it. The Democratic-controlled Senate Judiciary committee forwarded the bill to the full Senate in an 8-4 party-line vote.... AP • Jan 24, 2012

	Coalition begins campaign against gay marriage ban The Coalition to Protect All North Carolina Families unveiled plans at a news conference today in Raleigh. The group is launching an effort to defeat the amendment question put on the ballot by the state legislature. ... AP • Jan 18, 2012

	Gay marriage champion joins Vt. Supreme Court A woman who pushed for Vermont's ground-breaking civil union and gay marriage laws has been sworn in as the first openly gay member of the state Supreme Court.... AP • Nov 29, 2011

	NH gay marriage push highlights GOP shifts Despite the presidential candidates' support for the New Hampshire repeal, younger Republicans in this state are skeptical, especially as voters are focused on the economy. "Why is the NH House wasting time trying to repeal gay marriage? Capital ugh," Robert J. Johnson, chairman of the New Hampshire College Republicans, wrote on Twitter. Polling suggests it may not be a winning issue. A recent ... AP • Nov 28, 2011

	Pivotal CA gay marriage ban decision due Thursday The court says it will file a written opinion Thursday morning clarifying whether the sponsors of ballot initiatives can defend their measures from legal challenges without the cooperation of the governor and attorney general. ... AP • Nov 17, 2011

	Senate panel OKs repeal of Defense of Marriage Act The repeal bill would need 60 votes in the 100-member Senate, and sponsors acknowledged the votes aren't there. The measure would have no chance in the House, controlled by conservative Republicans. ... AP • Nov 10, 2011

	Wash. releases names on anti-gay rights petition Washington state officials on Monday released copies of signature petitions that forced a vote on a 2009 domestic partnership law, disclosing the names of signers after a judge rejected arguments that supporters could be harassed. The Washington State Archives provided a DVD to The Associated Press showing the 138,000 signatures for Referendum 71. The release came despite an attorney's vow to app... AP • Oct 18, 2011

	Gay marriage rights group forms in N.C. The Campaign for Southern Equality kicked off its "We Do" effort by having three same-sex couples unsuccessfully attempt to obtain marriage licenses from the Buncombe County Register of Deeds. Organizers and participants knew they'd be denied the licenses, since North Carolina state law already forbids same-sex couples from marrying.... AP • Oct 7, 2011

	Court puts gay marriage trial videos back on hold A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said late Monday it was temporarily staying a lower court judge's order to make the videos public on Sept. 30 so the court could be briefed on the matter.... AP • Sep 28, 2011

	RI ACLU calls civil union a "bust" The Rhode Island American Civil Liberties Union is calling the state's new civil union law a "fiasco" and says lawmakers should pass gay marriage legislation in its place.... AP • Sep 26, 2011

	Video of Calif. gay marriage trial to be unsealed A federal judge decided Monday to unseal video recordings of last year's landmark trial on the constitutionality of California's same-sex marriage ban. Chief U.S. District Judge James Ware agreed with lawyers for two same-sex couples who sued to overturn Proposition 8 and with a collection of news outlets -- including The Associated Press -- that no compelling reasons exist to keep the recordings ... AP • Sep 21, 2011

	Video of Calif. gay marriage trial to be unsealed A federal judge decided Monday to unseal video recordings of last year's landmark trial on the constitutionality of California's same-sex marriage ban. Chief U.S. District Judge James Ware agreed with lawyers for two same-sex couples who sued to overturn Proposition 8 and with a collection of news outlets -- including The Associated Press -- that no compelling reasons exist to keep the recordings ... AP • Sep 21, 2011

	Poll: Near-split in US over legal gay marriage Fifty-three percent of the 1,000 adults surveyed believe the government should give legal recognition to marriages between couples of the same sex, about the same as last year, according to the nationwide telephone poll by The Associated Press and the National Constitution Center. Forty-four percent were opposed. ... AP • Sep 14, 2011

	Play About Prop 8 Fight Readies for Broadway Debut A one-night-only staged reading on Broadway has already attracted an all-star cast including Morgan Freeman, Anthony Edwards, John Lithgow, Christine Lahti, Rob Reiner, Larry Kramer and Marisa Tomei. "We're very lucky that we were able to assemble actors that can amplify and show what actually happened in that courtroom," says Chad Griffin, president of the foundation. "It's made for the stage." ... AP • Sep 13, 2011

	AP Interview: Gronstal opposes gay marriage vote Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal said he intends to block efforts in the Iowa Legislature next year to refer a gay marriage ban to voters.... AP • Aug 29, 2011

	Gay marriage amendment not clear winner for NC GOP A political science professor said he doesn't expect an amendment restricting marriage to one man and one woman to draw many voters who wouldn't otherwise be motivated to head to the polls. Opinion polls from the past year are mixed on how much support there is for such an amendment.... AP • Jul 29, 2011

	Fight against NY gay weddings has only just begun Well-funded national groups that pursue freedom of religion and free speech cases already are soliciting New Yorkers who say their civil rights will be trampled by the new right of gay couples to marry, opening another front in the ongoing contest over same-sex marriage.... AP • Jul 20, 2011

	RI passes civil unions bill; gov intends to sign The Rhode Island Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions, a measure that Gov. Lincoln Chafee's office says he intends to sign into law. State senators voted 21-16 to endorse the bill, about two hours after it was voted out of committee. The legislation, which already has passed the state House, allows gay couples to enter into civil unions ... AP • Jun 30, 2011

	Gay marriage foes target NY senators who flipped A group that opposes gay marriage promised to spend at least $2 million to oust seven state senators who changed their positions to make New York the sixth state where same-sex unions are legal. The Washington-based National Organization for Marriage said in a fundraising email to supporters that it is committed to helping elect majorities in 2012 that support marriage as being between only a man... AP • Jun 30, 2011

	Gay couples to sue NJ, seeking same-sex marriage Seven gay and lesbian New Jersey couples, along with many of their children, are going to court to try to force the state to recognize gay marriage. The families say in their legal complaint that the state's civil union law designed to give gay couples the same legal protections as married couples has not fulfilled that promise. One man says he was denied being able to make urgent medical decisi... AP • Jun 29, 2011

	Clinton hails NY legalization of gay marriage New York's legalization of same-sex marriage marks a historic human rights victory that will give much-needed credibility and visibility to the international movement for equality for gays and lesbians, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday. Speaking at a gay pride event at the State Department, Clinton celebrated last week's move in the state she once represented in the Senate. S... AP • Jun 29, 2011

	Next gay-marriage showdown could be in Minnesota Ann-Kaner Roth of Project 515, a Minnesota gay-rights group, said she and her fellow activists would take lessons from what happened in New York. "They were able to build such a broad-based coalition: Republicans, independents and Democrats, the business community all coming out very strongly in support of equality," Kaner-Roth said. "Minnesota is really ripe for that kind of coalition-building."... AP • Jun 28, 2011

	Wedding plans bloom as NY legalizes gay marriage Even as supporters of gay marriage celebrated victory in New York on Saturday, preparations were being made to make gay weddings a reality in the state. Couples who had talked about going out-of-state to wed changed their plans. Reception venues got their first calls. Churches that accept gay unions said they were looking forward to hosting ceremonies. After a lifetime of waiting, there was a se... AP • Jun 26, 2011

	Obama says gay couples deserve same rights as all While praising New York state lawmakers as they debated legalizing gay marriage, President Barack Obama stopped short of embracing it. Instead he asked gay and lesbian donors for patience.... AP • Jun 24, 2011

	Bankruptcy court rules against gay-marriage ban Gene Balas and Carlos Morales were facing health problems and crushing financial pressures plaguing many U.S. households when they decided to file bankruptcy as a married couple. The Obama administration said they couldn't, citing the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriages. On Monday, 20 of 24 judges sitting on the country's largest consumer bankruptcy... AP • Jun 16, 2011

	Australian prime minister to host dinner for 3 gay couples after activists win charity auction Australian gay and lesbian couples will try to change Prime Minister Julia Gillard's opposition to same-sex marriage when they dine at her official residence after activists won a charity auction to attend a private dinner party. Gillard had offered to host the dinner for any six guests at her official address in the national capital Canberra at an auction during the National Press Gallery's annu... AP • Jun 16, 2011

	Gay judge's relationship aired in CA marriage case Cooper conceded he did not know Walker's outlook on marriage. Still, he insisted the judge's failure to reveal the relationship until 10 months after his ruling made his silence suspect and his marriage plans an appropriate subject of inquiry. During the lengthy back-and-forth that followed, Ware asked: "So if a reasonable person thought a black judge should recuse himself from a civil rights cas... AP • Jun 14, 2011

	Obama pick for bench blocked by GOP for first time President Barack Obama lost his first vote on a judicial nominee Thursday, as Senate Republicans derailed the nomination of a liberal professor who leveled acerbic attacks against two conservative Supreme Court nominees - both now justices. Democrats fell short of the 60 votes they need to end a filibuster and give Goodwin Liu an up-or-down vote on his nomination to the San Francisco-based 9th U.... AP • May 22, 2011

	Presbyterians clear way for gay clergy After decades of debate, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Tuesday struck down a barrier to ordaining gays, ratifying a proposal that removes the celibacy requirement for unmarried clergy, in the latest mainline Protestant move toward accepting gay relationships. The change was endorsed last year by the Presbyterian national assembly, but required approval by a majority of the denomination's 17... AP • May 12, 2011

	Navy halts move to allow gay unions by chaplains Under pressure from more than five dozen House lawmakers, the Navy late Tuesday abruptly reversed its decision that would have allowed chaplains to perform same-sex unions if the Pentagon decides to recognize openly gay military service later this year. In a one-sentence memo obtained by The Associated Press, Rear Adm. Mark Tidd, chief of Navy chaplains, said his earlier decision has been "suspen... AP • May 12, 2011

	Deportation of partner in same-sex couple halted A dancer from Venezuela who legally married an American man in a same-sex ceremony last year had his deportation placed on hold Friday, one day after U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder set aside an immigration ruling in a similar case. Henry Velandia, 27, a professional salsa dancer from Caracas, wants to be allowed to remain in the U.S. as the spouse of U.S. citizen Josh Vandiver, a 29-year-old g... AP • May 7, 2011

	Calif AG: Prop 8 backers can't defend marriage ban California's attorney general has again come out against the state's same-sex marriage ban, this time telling the state Supreme Court the proponents of successful ballot initiatives do not have the right to defend their measures in court. Kamala Harris, a Democrat who succeeded Gov. Jerry Brown in January as attorney general, submitted an amicus brief Monday in the ongoing legal dispute over the ... AP • May 5, 2011

	RI gay marriage advocates not giving up Advocates of gay marriage delivered a message to Rhode Island state lawmakers who blocked a same-sex marriage bill this year: We're putting a political bull's-eye on your back. Hundreds of Rhode Islanders rallied at the Statehouse Tuesday in favor of gay marriage -- despite legislative leaders who say they'll consider a compromise measure to create civil unions instead. Those at the rally vowed p... AP • May 5, 2011

	RI Civil Union bill to be introduced Tuesday A House spokesman said Thursday that lawmakers are reviewing civil union laws in other states to help them craft the proposal, which could be introduced Tuesday. The new bill comes after House Speaker Gordon Fox declared that gay marriage legislation wouldn't pass the General Assembly this year. Fox, who is gay, now supports civil unions as a more politically feasible alternative.... AP • Apr 30, 2011

	RI House speaker: Gay marriage bill won't pass Efforts to extend marriage rights to gay couples in Rhode Island suffered a decisive setback Wednesday when a key legislative champion said he was abandoning a push to pass gay marriage legislation this year. House Speaker Gordon Fox, who is gay, said the legislation has "no realistic chance" of passing the state's General Assembly this year. Fox, a Providence Democrat, said instead he will suppo... AP • Apr 28, 2011

	Holder defends attorney defending gay marriage ban The former Bush administration lawyer under fire for defending the federal ban on gay marriage is getting support from an unexpected source - Attorney General Eric Holder. Holder told reporters Tuesday that Clement is "doing that which lawyers do" to take on the responsibility of representing the lawmakers who wrote the ban.... AP • Apr 28, 2011

	Judge's partner cited in Prop 8 case The sponsors of California's same-sex marriage ban said Monday that the recent disclosure by the federal judge who struck down Proposition 8 that he is in a long-term relationship with another man has given them new grounds to have his historic ruling overturned. Lawyers for the ban's backers filed a motion in San Francisco's U.S. District Court, arguing that Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walk... AP • Apr 26, 2011

	Montana judge rejects gay couple rights suit A Montana judge on Thursday rejected a lawsuit that sought to extend to gay couples the same legal protections as married couples, saying in his decision that he can't grant the benefits partly because of the state's voter-approved constitutional definition of marriage as between a man and a woman. Last year, the American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of the gay couples, argui... AP • Apr 22, 2011

	Little support for marriage alternative in RI A proposal to extend some of the rights of marriage to same-sex couples and others who can't legally marry, such as siblings, is winning little support amid Rhode Island's debate over legalizing gay marriage. The legislation would grant some rights associated with insurance coverage, health care decisions and inheritance to so-called "reciprocal beneficiaries." Relatives would also be eligible fo... AP • Apr 6, 2011

	New NAACP seeing more gay, diverse chapter leaders The diversity push was started a few years ago under then-NAACP chairman Julian Bond. Later, Benjamin Todd Jealous, who in 2008 became the group's youngest leader at age 35, ramped up the effort and also urged the organization to take up gay rights. "At our core, we want to end discrimination and have equality for all people," Brown said. In a reflection of how it has broadened its agenda, the N... AP • Mar 24, 2011

	A California county clerk steps into spotlight in defense of gay marriage ban Though Storey represents a county that voted overwhelmingly to ban gay marriage, his hometown critics say he was disingenuous when he didn't raise his intentions earlier. Many voters thought the county's role in the contentious issue ended Jan. 4 when the appeals court ruled its board of supervisors and deputy clerk had no legal standing to defend the ban.... AP • Mar 21, 2011

	Hawaii civil unions bill heads to full House for vote The House Judiciary Committee voted 11-2 to pass civil unions legislation following nearly 5 hours of testimony at the Hawaii Capitol, possibly the state's last public hearing on the issue following years of debate. Supporters of civil unions, many wearing rainbow-colored lei, clapped and cheered following the vote, confident the measure was on a fast path to final passage. The bill already cle... AP • Feb 11, 2011

	Prop 8 backers target trial judge in urging appeal Lawyers for backers of California's same-sex marriage ban are urging a federal appeals court to overturn the trial judge who struck down Proposition 8 by arguing that his consideration of evidence was what they termed "egregiously selective and one-sided."... AP • Sep 18, 2010

	Court won't force Calif officials to defend Prop 8 Presiding Justice Arthur Scotland did not explain why the appeals court turned down the request filed two days earlier by the Pacific Justice Institute. The institute now plans to take the matter to the California Supreme Court, Chief Counsel Kevin Snider said Thursday. "We are disappointed that the appellate court showed indecisiveness in trying to prevent a constitutional crisis," Snider said.... AP • Sep 3, 2010

	Legal group seeks to compel Calif to defend Prop 8 A conservative legal group is trying to force Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown to defend California's gay marriage ban in court. The Pacific Justice Institute petitioned the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento on Monday for an emergency order that would require the two officials to appeal a ruling that overturned Proposition 8. Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn W... AP • Sep 1, 2010

	Hawaii lawsuit seeks equal rights for gay couples Six gay couples in Hawaii are filing a lawsuit Thursday asking for the same rights as married couples, three weeks after Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed a same-sex civil unions measure. The lawsuit doesn't seek the titles of "marriage" or "civil unions" for gay partners. Instead, it requests that the court system extend them the benefits and responsibilities of marriage based on the Hawaii Constitution'... AP • Jul 29, 2010

	Gay marriage issue affects Calif. GOP Senate race Former congressman Tom Campbell, a supporter of gay marriage, finds himself under attack and his previous front-runner status reduced to a statistical tie with former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina in one poll. Another poll taken about the same time showed Campbell clinging to a narrow lead. The National Organization for Marriage is spending $300,000 on television ads that liken Campbell to Bo... AP • Apr 2, 2010

	Evidence skirmish could delay end of Prop 8 trial Walker heard more than 90 minutes of arguments Tuesday and said he would issue a written ruling later. Three groups that opposed Proposition 8 are challenging U.S. Magistrate Joseph Spero's order earlier this month requiring them to hand over all documents "that contain, refer or relate to arguments for or against Proposition 8," with the exception of private communications between their core lea... AP • Mar 17, 2010

	Prop 8 Backers Voiced Fear Of Polygamy, Bestiality It appeared the lawyers were introducing the material to demonstrate the campaign for the ban appealed to religious-based, anti-gay bias to scare voters into supporting the measure. The trial, being held in San Francisco, is the first in a federal court to examine if states violate the U.S. Constitution by preventing same-sex couples from marrying. Proposition 8 sponsors objected to the video, s... AP • Jan 25, 2010

	AMA votes to seek repeal of 'don't ask,don't tell' The American Medical Association on Tuesday voted to oppose the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and declared that gay marriage bans contribute to health disparities. The nation's largest doctors' group stopped short of saying it would seek to overturn marriage bans, but its new stance angered conservative activists and provides a fresh boost to lobbying efforts by gay-rights advocates.... AP • Nov 12, 2009

	Wis. AG won't defend domestic partnership law Wisconsin's attorney general says he won't defend a law that grants same-sex couples spousal benefits. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said Friday that a law extending legal privileges such as hospital visitation and inheritance to gay and lesbian couples is unconstitutional.... AP • Aug 22, 2009

	Gay marriage fight, 'kiss-ins' smack Mormon image National organizers say Saturday's broadly held gay rights demonstrations were not aimed specifically at the Mormon church. But observers say the church's heavy-handed intervention into California politics will linger and has left the faith's image tarnished.... AP • Aug 17, 2009

	Gay legal groups want in on Calif court case But the newly formed political group funding the case, the American Foundation for Equal Rights, is opposing the request. The foundation scored a public relations coup when it persuaded the high-profile lawyers who squared off over the disputed 2000 presidential election to take on the lawsuit. In a letter to the legal groups sent Wednesday, board president Chad Griffin, a Los Angeles-based polit... AP • Jul 10, 2009

	Judge favors trial soon on Calif. gay marriage ban Ordinarily, a civil lawsuit could take a year or more to be heard in court. Given Walker's favoring a faster timeline, it would not be unreasonable to expect him to hear the Proposition 8 challenge by the end of the year, Olson said.... AP • Jul 1, 2009

	White House: Census to better count gay couples U.S. Census Bureau officials said Friday that married same-sex couples will be counted as such in the 2010 national tally, reversing an earlier decision made under the Bush administration. Steve Jost, a spokesman for the Census Bureau, said officials already were identifying the technical changes needed to ensure the reliability of the information, but remained committed to providing an accurate ... AP • Jun 21, 2009

	Gay bias killings highest since 1999 "What we're also seeing, more disturbingly, is the increase in the severity of violence," said Sharon Stapel, executive director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, which coordinates coalition. Stapel theorized that at least some of last year's violence was backlash against issues that arose during the during the presidential campaign. She cited debates about same-sex marriage, the milita... AP • Jun 18, 2009

	Maine equal marriage foes to use Calif. Prop 8 firm Schubert Flint Public Affairs will manage the campaign to repeal Maine's equal marriage law, just as it did in California. Organizers of the veto effort are trying to collect the signatures of more than 55,000 registered Maine voters to put the question on the November ballot.... AP • Jun 18, 2009

	Gay couples forced to flee US over immigration law Bills have been introduced in Congress to treat same-sex partners like heterosexual spouses for the purposes of immigration but are likely to face a strong fight, both from equality opponents and anti-immigration groups. The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act prevents immigration officials from recognizing gay marriages, even from states where they are now legal. Proponents see the issue as a basic rig... AP • Jun 11, 2009

	New Hampshire governor signs equal marriage law Gov. John Lynch was Surrounded by cheering supporters of the move as he signed the three bills about an hour after the key vote on the legislation in the House. The law will take effect in January, exactly two years after the state legalized civil unions.... AP • Jun 3, 2009

	New Hampshire Legislature approves equal marriage New Hampshire legislators approved a measure Wednesday that would make the state the sixth to allow gay couples, and Gov. John Lynch said he would sign it later in the afternoon. He had promised a veto if the law didn't clearly spell out that churches and religious groups would not be forced to officiate at gay peoples' marriages or provide other services. The Senate passed the measure Wednesday... AP • Jun 3, 2009

	Nevada Senate backs partnership bill over gov The 14-7 Senate vote Saturday -- the required two-thirds majority with no votes to spare -- must be affirmed by the Assembly to enact the measure into law over the governor's objections.... AP • May 31, 2009

	Poll: Majority of RI voters favor equal marriage law A survey released Wednesday shows that more than half of Rhode Island voters favor a law allowing equal marriage, leading advocates to point out to state leadership that it's what residents want. A Brown University poll showed 60 percent of registered voters in the state said they would support a law allowing gay couples to marry, and 75 percent said they would support a law allowing civil unions... AP • May 30, 2009

	Gay equality group: Maine diocese violating tax law The Empowering Spirits Foundation said its challenge was filed Wednesday at an Internal Revenue Service office in Dallas. The San Diego-based group said the diocese is engaging in political activity by collecting signatures for the referendum, violating IRS rules applying to nonprofits.... AP • May 21, 2009

	5 years later, gay marriage accepted in Mass. At the time of those first weddings, the debate was red-hot -- protests were frequent, expectations ran high that legislators would allow a referendum on whether to overturn the court ruling ordering same-sex marriage. Now, although Roman Catholic leaders and some conservative activists remain vocally opposed, there is overwhelming political support for same-sex marriage and no prospect for a refe... AP • May 9, 2009

	Gays say Maine marriage law can be 'unbearable' Since 2004, Maine has had a domestic partner registry, which is supposed to grant some legal rights similar to those enjoyed by married couples. But it's largely useless when it comes to wills, workers' compensation, guardianship and retirement benefits, Wriggins said. This week, the state House of Representatives is expected to take up a same-sex marriage bill that was endorsed by the state Sena... AP • May 3, 2009

	Iowans unsure of benefits gay marriages will bring Just what tangible benefits those couples will gain from marriage remains uncertain. Gay marriage advocates said some advantages are clear, including shared employer benefits, streamlined life and other insurance policies, and the ability for couples to make health care and end-of-life decisions for one another.... AP • Apr 26, 2009

	Vote caps decade-long gay marriage fight in Conn. A decade-long battle for marriage equality in Connecticut ended when the General Assembly voted to update the state's marriage laws to conform with a landmark court ruling allowing gay and lesbian couples to tie the knot. "It feels so good. It really does feel like the book is closing," said Anne Stanback, president of Love Makes a Family, a gay-rights group that has led the fight for same-sex ma... AP • Apr 23, 2009

	Vermont legalizes gay marriage with veto override The vote came nine years after Vermont adopted its first-in-the-nation civil unions law. It's now the fourth state to permit same-sex marriage. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa are the others. Their approval of gay marriage came from the courts.... AP • Apr 7, 2009

	NH House approves bill to allow gay marriage The chamber voted 186-179 to send a gay marriage bill to the Senate. The bill's future is uncertain in the Senate. Also, Democratic Gov. John Lynch has said he opposes gay marriage, but hasn't said whether he would veto the legislation if it made it to his desk.... AP • Mar 26, 2009

	Vermont Senate panel approves gay marriage bill The full Senate is expected to take up the bill next week. Gov. Jim Douglas has said he opposes the measure, but has not indicated whether he would veto it. If approved, Vermont would join Massachusetts and Connecticut as the only U.S. states that allow gay marriage.... AP • Mar 20, 2009

	Gay marriage gets recognition - in the dictionary A spokesman of the Springfield, Mass., company says the change was made in 2003 to reflect the popularity of the term "same-sex marriage" in print and common usage.... AP • Mar 19, 2009

	Support for Hawaii civil union vote wavering Legislators could also compromise by approving a watered-down version of civil unions that affirms gay partnerships but reserves some marital rights for heterosexual couples only. That version would permit same-sex couples or family members to enter into a relationship that provides hospital visitation, inheritance and auto insurance benefits but denies adoption and other parental rights. Addition... AP • Mar 10, 2009

	Committee deadlocks on Hawaii same-sex unions bill Democratic Senate leaders have said that if the panel became deadlocked, they would yank the measure from its committee and force a vote before the full Senate. That is allowed under a rarely used provision of the Hawaii Constitution if more than one-third of senators approve. At least 18 of the 25 senators have said they favor civil unions. The measure already has passed the Hawaii House, but wi... AP • Feb 25, 2009

	Gay couples protest at marriage bureaus across US Same-sex couples seeking to wed showed up at marriage license counters nationwide Thursday to highlight a right they don't have in 48 states, part of an annual protest that took on renewed urgency given recent election setbacks.... AP • Feb 12, 2009

	Vermont moves closer to legalizing gay marriage Nine years after becoming the first state to permit civil unions, Vermont moved a step toward legalizing gay marriage Friday. A bill that would allow same-sex unions was introduced in the Legislature, causing a crowd of about several hundred supporters to gather at the Statehouse in celebration.... AP • Feb 11, 2009

	N.Y. senate leader committed to gay marriage legalization New York Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith said Saturday that his Democratic conference lacks enough votes to legalize gay marriage this year, but he's committed to passing a gay marriage bill soon.... AP • Feb 9, 2009

	Judge: Pair married in Canada can divorce in NJ Gay marriages performed outside New Jersey are recognized in the state for the purpose of divorce, according to a ruling Friday by a judge deciding whether a lesbian couple married in Canada can split. The wider implications weren't immediately clear, but Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson said New Jersey has a long history of recognizing marriages that are valid where they were performed.... AP • Feb 6, 2009

	Colorado group lobbies in Wyoming on gay marriage A national conservative Christian group has begun a telephone lobbying campaign in Wyoming in support of a gay-marriage ban in the state Senate. Focus on the Family Action, of Colorado Springs, Colo., is pushing to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would stop the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.... AP • Jan 21, 2009

	Anti-gay violence feared rising ...we are witnessing what appears to be an increase in both the occurrence and severity of violence motivated by racism, homophobia, and transphobia.... AP • Dec 15, 2008

	Birth certificates to reflect NY gay-marriage move The decision, which echoes similar provisions in states that allow gay marriages or civil unions, is one of many changes since Gov. David Paterson ordered state agencies in May to respect out-of-state gay marriages.... AP • Dec 12, 2008

	Admirals, generals: Repeal 'don't ask, don't tell' ... AP • Nov 17, 2008

	Church Action Prompts Tourist Boycott of Utah ... AP • Nov 17, 2008

	Gay rights rallies nationwide over Calif. ban ... AP • Nov 15, 2008

	Utah faces boycott after Mormon work for Prop 8 Utah's growing tourism industry and the star-studded Sundance Film Festival are being targeted for a boycott by bloggers, gay rights activists and others seeking to punish the Mormon church for its aggressive promotion of California's ban on gay marriage. It could be a heavy price to pay. Tourism brings in $6 billion a year to Utah, with world-class skiing, a spectacular red rock country and the ... AP • Nov 7, 2008

	SF City Attorney to file legal challenge to Prop 8 The San Francisco City Attorney's office says he plans to challenge the validity of a ballot measure that would change the state constitution to ban gay marriage. Spokesman Matt Dorsey says City Attorney Dennis Herrera will file the legal challenge in the California Supreme Court if the measure passes. With 95 percent of precincts reporting, Proposition 8 is leading with 52 percent of the vote. ... AP • Nov 5, 2008

	Gay activists jarred by California marriage defeat ... AP • Nov 5, 2008

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