Gay U.S.A.

Same-sex Marriage Catch-up Thanks to Purple Unions.May 19, 2013

Marriage Equality / LGBT Rights Updates 5/19/13 (Various) Bisbee civil unions move ahead; Minneapolis church uses rainbow bread for communion; former US Justice offers predictions; Finland marriage equality song doesn't win Eurovision. http://purpleunions.com/blog/2013/05/marriage-equality-lgbt-rights-updates-51913.html Venezuela: Gay Activists Push for Marriage Equality (France 24) A...

Minnesota Governor signs marriage equality into law.May 14, 2013

Today Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signed a bill that brings marriage equality for same-sex couples to the U.S. State of Minnesota. Couples can start marrying in the state on August 01, 2013, when the Bill goes into effect. The signing followed the Minnesota Senate vote of 37 to 30 to approve marriage equality. Their vote followed last Thursday's 75 to 59 vote in favor in the Minnesota...

Minnesota from the clutches of a potential ban to becoming a lead State on the equality map.May 9, 2013

On the path to marriage equality By Melanie Nathan, May 09, 2013. Today the Minnesota House Legislature voted in favor of same-sex marriages, forging the path toward being the first in the Midwest to pass such a law through the legislature, as Iowa came into law via the Courts. The 75-59 vote was seen as the critical step for the measure, which would allow same-sex weddings beginning...

GAY U.S.A. the Movie Congratulates Delware on Marriage Equality.May 7, 2013

Just days after the recent victory in Rhode Island, GAY U.S.A. the Movie joins a myriad of organizations in congratulating Delaware on the passage of HB 75. The Delaware Senate voted 12-9, to approve marriage equality legislation (HB 75), guaranteeing that Delaware will become the 11th state that recognizes same-sex couples’ marriages. The law will take effect July 1. Civil unions, which...

Rhode Island legalizes same-sex marriage.May 2, 2013

Rhode Island became the 10th U.S. state to embrace marriage equality, following a procedural vote in the House of Representatives and independent governor Lincoln Chafee's signature on the Marriage Equality Act today. It is the last state in New England to establish marriage equality and the 10th state in the nation, in addition to Washington, D.C., to extend marriage rights to same-sex...

Marriage equality in Illinois needs your help now.April 25, 2013

SB 10 Marriage equality in Illinois On February 14, the Illinois State Senate voted to pass the legalization of marriage equality (IL SB10) bill, entitled the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, by a 34-21-2-2 score in favor of marriage equality. The Illinois House of Representatives needs to vote on the Bill and if it passes, Governor Pat Quinn, will likely will sign it into law,...

Support for gay rights has grown significantly in Houston.April 23, 2013

Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey: Support for gay rights has grown significantly among Houstonians | Other findings: Houstonians overwhelmingly favor requiring background checks for all gun sales; and despite lower unemployment, they report no improvement in their personal finances HOUSTON – (April 23, 2013) – As the immigration debate in the U.S. Senate heats up, findings...

CA Assembly Education Committee passes protections for transgender students.April 19, 2013

The School Success and Opportunity Act (AB 1266), authored by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, has passed the Assembly Education Committee by a vote of 5-2. The bill, which is co-sponsored by Equality California, Transgender Law Center, ACLU of California, GSA Network and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, addresses the exclusion of transgender students from classes and activities, and...

Call to Action by NCLR | Help Nevada Win the Freedom to Marry.April 19, 2013

Last week, a Senate committee voted to advance a resolution that would overturn Nevada’s anti-marriage amendment and replace it with the freedom to marry. The measure now moves to the full Senate, where it must receive a vote in the coming days in order to begin the multi-year process of winning marriage for all loving couples in Nevada. Kate Kendell of NCLR notes in an e-mail for support:...

California Urgent Call to Action for Transgender Students.April 17, 2013

We need your help - a message from Kate Kendell at NCLR, an urgent call to cction: Please join the National Center for Lesbian Rights and other co-sponsors of the bill—Equality California, Transgender Law Center, GSA Network, and Gender Spectrum—to make a difference in the lives of young members of our community. It only takes a few minutes. Phone calls are especially needed. Young...