MetaFilter posts tagged with same-sex

Same-sex marriage in Scotland

Dim Siawns — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 04:15:57 -0800

The Scottish Government has announced that it intends to legalise same-sex marriage, and will produce a draft bill for public consultation within the year. Following a recent poll by Stonewall Scotland and a survey [pdf] by the Scottish Government, both showing support from a majority of the Scottish population, the SNP government has announced it will bring forward a bill (which will be passed or blocked by a free vote in parliament) that will form the basis of legislation legalising same-sex marriage, with the Deputy First Minister suggesting that same-sex couples "want to strengthen the institution of marriage by being a part of it". It was originally expected that the government would make an announcement on the 10th of this month, but this was delayed following a cabinet meeting, possibly due to potential clashes with the UK Equalities Act.

3 little bears

growabrain — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 12:17:21 -0800

Blogger-writer Andrew Sullivan proudly attended Obama's latest state dinner for Cameron with his husband, in an open display of growing acceptance of same-sex marriage possibly by the powers-to-be. Michael Shaw's always-insightful BagNews (but not MS himself in this post) notes that there were 3 bearded men in the photograph.

out and counting

psoas — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:04:13 -0800

The Williams Institute at UCLA has recently completed an analysis of same-sex couples' distribution, as reported by the U.S. Census. The Big Find: over 900,000 self-identified couples, 22% of whom are raising children. Profiles for individual states, plus D.C. (72% male) and Puerto Rico (70% female). via MetroWeekly. Previously, Queering the Census.

They call him the "Rabbah Rouser"

zarq — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:09:26 -0800

“There’s a tremendous amount of anxiety among religious traditionalists that when you take one step toward egalitarianism, the floodgates are open and everything that seemed self-evident will no longer be. Men go to work, and women raise children. If you undermine that, you have lost your whole universe.”

The Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist movements of Judaism have been ordaining women as rabbis for decades, but the religion's most traditional sect, the Orthodox, remains a lone, minority holdout against egalitarianism. Last year, Orthodox Rabbi Avraham "Avi" Weiss (political activist and founder of the controversial, liberal, "Open Orthodox" Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Yeshiva in New York) tried to shake things up by ordaining the first female American Orthodox rabbi. Weiss ordination of 'Rabbah' Sara Hurwitz has led to a statement from the Orthodox Rabbinical Council of America accepting an expansion of leadership roles for women in their synagogues. Related: This week, Rabbi Weiss was one of about 100 moderate Orthodox rabbis and teachers from North America and Israel who signed a “statement of principles” outlining a tolerant, open, accepting approach to gay men and women who want to maintain ties with their Orthodox community, family and friends. The statement says that "although [Orthodox] Judaism 'cannot give its blessing and imprimatur to Jewish religious same-sex commitment ceremonies and weddings,' communities must still accept 'practicing' gay couples and their children into synagogues, schools." Homophobia is not uncommon in Orthodox communities.

Be careful what you wish for... you just might get it.

anotherpanacea — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:11:17 -0800

What's tougher to get than a same-sex marriage? A same-sex divorce. Legal questions abound in same-sex alimony and child custody suits Similar problems for interracial couples:

Many an interracial couple managed to avoid attracting the attention of local police only to find their marriages challenged in other court proceedings--in divorce and annulment cases, for example, in pension disputes, and especially, and repeatedly, in inheritance cases.

Nothing but to keep on trying

fiercecupcake — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:18:42 -0800

Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon were the first to wed in California -- again. Martin and Lyon are best known for founding the Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian rights organization in the U.S. Congratulations, Del and Phyllis!

One more knot gets tied, sort of

Blazecock Pileon — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 22:06:30 -0800

New Hampshire approves same-sex unions with bipartisan, if contentious support, recognizing both in- and out-of-state unions and marriages. While New York's Eliot Spitzer follows up on a campaign promise, higher courts in California and Connecticut may make decisions on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage later this year, deciding if a civil union is an adequate legal substitution for marriage.

Morality as Strategy

digaman — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 08:00:02 -0800

Are you a Republican candidate for Senate facing a tough election and having trouble getting endorsements from your own party? It's time to take in an all-American baseball game with the Commander-in-Chief, target teh gay menace, and amend the US Constitution so American voters don't have to see any more of this over their morning corn flakes. "I think this will save him," Burress said of DeWine. "I think this move right here, regardless of the reason, will send him back to Washington." Of course, it's not just a GOP thing.

Go North, Young Man

digaman — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 18:41:26 -0800

Canada Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage. "We are a nation of minorities. And in a nation of minorities, it is important that you don't cherry-pick rights," said Prime Minister Paul Martin. "A right is a right and that is what this vote tonight is all about."