Tag Archives: Marriage Equality

Study Shows Marriage Equality Has Lowered Suicide Rates

According to the Trevor Project, one out of every six teenagers contemplates suicide each year. Lesbian, gay and bisexual teenagers are four times as likely to actually attempt suicide as hetereosexual students of the same age.

That’s depressing, and the fact that anyone contemplates or attempts suicide is a tragedy. But there is good news.

According to researchers at Harvard University and John Hopkins University, suicide attempts by queer youth have dropped by 7% since same-sex marriage was legalized in the United States.

Between 1999 and 2015, before gay marriage was legalized, 28% of lesbian, gay and bisexual students attempted suicide. In less than two years, that statistic has dropped to 21%. Twenty-one percent is still very high, but that’s a lot of progress for such a short amount of time. The researchers gathered information from nearly 800,000 students.

So why the direct correlation between marriage equality and lower suicide rates?

On one hand, it doesn’t make any sense. Teenagers are too young to get married, so the ruling does not directly impact their lives. Legislation about gender equality in bathrooms or anti-bullying would affect them more. So why do kids care that gay people can get married?

Before the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage, states that individually legalized gay marriage were found to have more supporters of LGBT rights. That means that the state as a whole felt more inclusive. And residents were more likely to (eventually) vote for legislation that further improved the quality of life for LGBT people.

Now that gay marriage is legalized throughout the United States, the same seems to be true: LGBT teenagers see that their way of life is legally accepted throughout the entire country, which makes them feel less like outcasts, which means that fewer attempt suicide.

Is gay marriage the magic band-aid for LGBT issues? Of course not. As we’ve seen by Trump’s treatment of transgender students, as well as the fact that gay people can still be fired for their sexuality in many states, the LGBT equality movement still has a long way to go.

But the dropping suicide rates are a beacon of hope. Maybe one day, instead of 21%, it will be zero.

Read the study here.

Why These Heterosexual Couples Are Demanding A Civil Partnership

A group of heterosexuals are fighting for the right to have civil partnerships available to them and not just to the LGBTQ community. Civil partnerships were introduced in the UK in 2004 to give same sex couples legal recognition and rights.

A few years after gay marriage was made legal in England and Wales. In January, a private members bill led by the Conservative MP Tim Loughton – and backed by MPs across the spectrum – will be debated in parliament which asks for 2004 Civil Partnerships Act to be amended to include heterosexual couples.

Charles Keiden and Rebecca Steinfield launched a petition to extend civil partnerships to heterosexuals and they amassed 75,000 signatures. The couple took their case to the High court stating that it was a violation of their human rights that heterosexuals were excluded from civil partnerships. They lost the case but have appealed and are now waiting to find out the verdict.

The couple told the Independent Newspaper that:

We have been together for over six years and have a 19-month old daughter. Like many others, we don’t feel that marriage is right for us. We see each other as partners in life and want to be recognised as partners in law – not as husband and wife. Civil partnerships already exist, they are a modern social institution giving almost identical rights as marriage, but without the baggage. They should be opened up to opposite-sex couples, so that everyone has the choice, it is basic fairness that everyone should be treated equally under the law.”

Another couple, Matt Hawkins and Clare Phipps also told the independent:

We want legal and financial protection and recognition for our relationship but marriage comes with so many cultural associations, traditions, and expectations that just don’t feel right for us. A civil partnership would give our relationship that protection and in a way that we feel more comfortable with. “

Martin Loat, 55, and Claire Beale have already had a civil ceremony that was held on the Isle of Man. Martin stated:

We don’t see the need to take vows (religious or civil) underwritten by God or the state to validate that we have a firm relationship. Marriages fail any way. A civil partnership sums up who we are. Claire doesn’t like being known as a “wife” and I don’t like marriage’s references to one’s private sexual activity with consummation and adultery being mentioned in marriage laws. That is up to us, not some cleric from the Middle Ages!”

It appears these couples are simply wanting recognition for their love and commitment to each other without the need for vows or taking the traditional heterosexual route of marriage. It will be interesting to see if the law is changed in the future to allow heteros the right to have a civil partnership and even more interesting to see how many couples will take these over the traditional institution of marriage.

Queer Muslim Couple Marry To Protect Their Family Rights And Send A Powerful Message Of Love To Trump

Laila Nur and Saba Taj decided to get married in North Carolina to send an important message of love to Donald Trump about sustaining equal rights.

Talking to Mic, Taj explained

We decided to get those papers in order to be able to be there for each other in the future, in order to ensure that we could both be legally recognised as parents if we decide to become parents again. So that we can have more options for health care in case the Affordable Care Act is overturned.

The reality of health care, reproductive rights and our civil rights being at risk really sunk in. Gay marriage has been legal in North Carolina for a very short time, and just like so many of us were caught off guard by Trump’s win, we didn’t want to be caught off guard again in case this right was stripped from us.”

The couple got married in a small ceremony of just four people at a courthouse in their home.

We got married in the courthouse of the city where we live, love, and resist. There’s something really beautiful to me about simplicity, and this experience was simple and beautiful.”

The two had previously debunked the idea of marriage because they viewed it as a “heteronormative practice rooted in a capitalist system.”

However, in light of a Republican dominated house the two decided they would secure their rights while they still could.

Nur added:

America is facing the demons in the closet. The right-wing is unifying around their vision of a New Confederacy, what are we bringing to the table to fight that?”

Texas Supreme Court Will Consider Revoking Gay Spousal Rights

Texas Supreme Court has agreed to hear case about whether legally married gay couples should be entitled to the same marriage benefits that other legally married city employees enjoy.

If homophobes win the fight in court, cities in Texas would be allowed to discriminate against same-sex couples.

Right now, cities may not deny married same-sex couples any of the spousal benefits provided to opposite-sex couples under US law.

But back in 2001 things were very different.

That year, Houston changed its city charter to freeze out city employees from sharing benefits with same-sex partners.

And in 2005, Texas changed its constitution to say only a man and a woman could marry each other. Officials were stopped from giving marriage benefits to any gay or lesbian couples across the state.

Then in 2013 the lesbian mayor of Houston, Annise Parker, overthrew those rules.

She directed city staff to grant legal status and spousal benefits to any same-sex couple who had married in a place where it was legal.

But two homophobic taxpayers, Jack Pidgeon and Larry Hicks challenged Houston and Parker.

They argued her order to give rights to gay couples violated the Texas constitution.

And so they demanded a temporary and permanent injunction to stop city officials handing the benefits out.

The court did grant that injunction on a temporary basis.

The city appealed against this. And while all parties waited for a decision from the

Texas Court of Appeals in this case, events overtook them.

The Supreme Court of the United States made its decision that same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry. By doing so, the SCOTUS justices made marriage legal in every state.

So the Texas Court of Appeals decided not to pursue the Houston legal debate as US law had now changed.

Yet the Texas Supreme Court’s inaction prompted outrage from state Republican officials and anti-gay activists, who urged the justices, who are elected, to take the case and allow Texas cities to discriminate against same-sex couples.

Last week, the court took the first step, caving to Republican demands and agreeing to hear the case in March—a worrying sign that the justices, fearful of a re-election fight, may soon yield to political pressure and roll back marriage equality in Texas.

It is now claimed ‘dozens of state elected officials, conservative activists and religious leaders’ have been lobbying the Texas Supreme Court justices, demanding a re-match.

They are asking the court to ‘defend religious liberty’ by taking away same-sex couples’ equality.

The protesters also want the court to challenge the SCOTUS striking down of Texas’ strict abortion restrictions.

If the homophobes win, experts warn this could be the first step to dismantling marriage equality around the US.

Alternatively, the Texas court may bow to the seniority of Supreme Court of the United States.

The case has also been criticized as wasting taxpayers’ money. One site supporting equality, Slate, said this should be a ‘painfully easy decision’.

But it’s clear there’s everything to play for.

Taiwan, The First Step To Achieve Marriage Equality In Asia

With Asia being the last continent where no country recognizes same-sex marriage, the pressure has been on to see which country will be the one to take the first step towards equality.

Recently the Taiwanese government has delivered great news and even the hope of marriage equality becoming a reality in Taiwan. The Government is currently working on 3 different bills, one of them even supporting marriage equality.

This progression on marriage equality can be partly attributed to the country’s new head of state, Tsai Ing-wen.

Ing-wen, the country’s first female head of state is one of the country’s many supporters of marriage equality, even sharing on Facebook:

Love should allow people to feel free, to feel equal and to feel strong.”

But this move towards marriage equality transcends Ing-Wen, with 80% of Taiwanese between 20 and 29 fully supporting marriage equality (you can check out a study conducted by a Taiwanese University right here).

But exactly why is Taiwan so progressive, compared to other Asian countries? Oddly enough, this could be connected with religion. While most of us are used to seeing religion being used as an argument against marriage equality, the majority of Taiwanese are Buddhists or follow traditional Chinese religions which do not oppose to marriage between two men or two women.

We should get more news on the Government’s decision in the upcoming months but we are hopeful Taiwan will grant its LGBTQ citizens the right and freedom to marry whomever they choose. We can even hope this strong position will pressure other Asian countries to take positive action on this issue.

According to Pride.com, ‘As of May 2016, 23 countries in Asia had placed a ban on same-sex sexual acts, and even more severe, 5 of those countries have anti-LGBT legislation set in place that could lead to the death penalty’.

Change is clearly not just needed but rather necessary.

Good luck Taiwan, stand on the right side of History as a progressive country that provides equal rights to all.

Hillary Clinton’s Reiterates Her Commitment To LGBTQ Equality In New HRC Campaign Video Ad

HRC released a new video ad featuring Hillary Clinton’s historic commitment to fighting for full LGBTQ equality.

In the video,Clinton says,

We need to build an America where no one has to worry that they can get married on Saturday and be fired on Monday; where kids aren’t bullied just because of who they are; and where every American has the chance to live up to his or her God-given potential, no matter who they are or who they love.”

In addition to her long record as a champion for LGBTQ rights both in the U.S. and around the globe, Hillary Clinton has proposed the most robust pro-LGBTQ equality agenda of any presidential candidate in history.

She has called the Equality Act her “highest priority,” and her detailed LGBTQ policy platform specifically calls for outlawing dangerous “conversion therapy” for minors, ending the epidemic of transgender violence, and supporting HIV prevention and affordable treatment, among other proposals that would advance equality and support the LGBTQ community.

HRC President Chad Griffin, added

Time and again Hillary Clinton has demonstrated through her words and actions that she is committed to fighting for full LGBTQ equality. All of the progress we’ve achieved is at stake in this election. While Donald Trump continues his hate-filled campaign and threatens to drag us backwards, Hillary Clinton will fight to break down the walls of discrimination that still hold us back. It’s crucially important that pro-equality Americans turn out and vote for Hillary Clinton as the next President of the United States.”

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Hillary Clinton Writes Historic Pro-LGBTQ Op-Ed

Hillary Clinton may have started out with a confusing and sometimes embattled relationship to the LGBTQ community, but now she is asserting her commitment to progress and equal rights.

In a historic op-ed published in Philadelphia Gay News, Clinton talks marriage equality, and workplace discrimination.

The simple truth is that even now, in 2016, there are still too many states in America where LGBT people can be fired or evicted from their home because of who they are or who they love. Pennsylvania is one of them. Here, you can get married on Sunday and fired on Monday, just for being gay or transgender.

That goes against everything we stand for as a country. We need to act on the federal level to take on discrimination in all its forms. That’s what I’ll do as President — with your help.”

She also discusses the effects her opponent Donald Trump would have on the community if he were to win the presidential race.

Donald Trump must not be elected president. He would rip away so much of the progress we’ve made. He would appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn marriage equality and rescind many of President Obama’s executive orders — including those protecting LGBT people.”

Clinton also took this opportunity to point out the shameful anti-LGBTQ history of her opponent’s choice for Vice President:

Mike Pence is one of the most anti-LGBT public officials in America. As governor of Indiana, Pence supported a bill that legalized discrimination against LGBT people. As a member of Congress, he voted against expanding the definition of hate crimes to include sexual orientation and gender identity. He opposed the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ saying doing so would be ‘social experimentation.’ And he’s said that homosexuality would bring about ‘societal collapse.'”

Smartly, Hillary also noted the importance of inter-sectionality in discussions of LGBTQ people:

The danger [of violence] is compounded for LGBT people of color, who face intersectional pressures and dangers, particularly transgender people of color.”

The article marks the first time a presidential candidate from a major party has written for an LGBTQ newspaper, and is a way for Clinton to silence critics who have questioned her commitments to these issues.

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Third Japanese City Recognises Same-Sex Unions

In a decision announced this week, Mie Prefecture in the city of Iga has said it will be issuing partnership certificates to same-sex couples from April.

This makes the region the third in Japan and first outside of Tokyo to take such a step.

Municipal officers have said they hope the move will help to reduce discrimination and ensure people in relationships have their rights protected.

Last year, the mayor of the ward, Sakae Okamoto, said he planned to bring forward the certificates, but had instructed officials to investigate the best way of going forward.

In statement released, a municipal official said

We were aware of the statistics showing that 7.6% of Japan’s population identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. We concluded that if the figures are reflected here, presumably hovering around 5 to 7%, we need to do our utmost to protect the rights of such minorities.”

He added that because Shibuya and Setagaya wards in Tokyo have already taken such steps, it inspired them to follow suit.

Although these certificates are not legally binding, businesses and hospitals are being asked to honour them in the same way they would a marriage licence.

Officials have said in order for couples to be eligible, both partners have to be at least 20-years-old and reside in the city.

The will also be required to submit evidence that they are single and sign a written declaration.

Recent polls in Japan have shown that a majority of people are in favour of marriage equality.

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Will Same-Sex Marriages Be Coming To Japan? New Ruling Could Pave The Way

A ruling by Japan’s Supreme Court last month on marriage could open the door to same-sex couples being able to marry.

The ruling was made in a lawsuit filed by married opposite-sex couples objecting to the requirement under the Civil Code that they register under only one surname.

The majority of the 15-strong Supreme Court panel ruled that the Civil Code was not violating the plaintiffs’ rights.

However Sota Kimura – an associate professor at the Tokyo Metropolitan University – pointed out that it is the first time judges have ruled on Article 24, which defines marriage as a legally binding union between two people.

Some translations suggest that marriage only applies to opposite-sex couples, however the word “ryōsei” can also mean simply “two parties”.

Kimura said he thinks the Supreme Court judges were stressing the latter interpretation of the word.

He said because the judges did not explicitly limit the definition of marriage to one man and one woman, this could open the door to same-sex marriage becoming legal in Japan.

Kimura says that if a couple eventually a same-sex couple sued the state to have their marriage recognised, this latest ruling could be used as a precedent.

However the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said the Constitution would need to be revised before same-sex marriage rights could be allowed.

Japan’s views on homosexuality are a complex one. Despite artistic cultural exports that shows Japan as being a socially progressive society in regards to gender and sexual expression, the country still struggles with broad legislation that would ensure LGBT equality.

Though there are a number of openly queer politicians in Japan, openly gay people run the risk of being evicted, fired, or denied access to Japan’s health care.

7 Of The Biggest Things To Affect Women in 2015

It’s hard to believe that the year is almost over. 2015 has whizzed by like super progressive blur as so many important political decisions were made and so many important discussions were had about equality.

But what were the most influential? And which events made the most headlines?

Read on for our round up of the biggest things to affect women that happened in 2015.

1. Viola Davis’ Emmy Win

On this very site, we’ve mentioned countless times how Hollywood is happy to exclude and refuse to hire actors of colour altogether. So naturally, we (and many other people around the world) for ecstatic when Viola Davis won an Emmy Award for her role as bisexual lawyer Annalise Keating.

Making history as the first African-American woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Viola Davis’ also gave an incredible speech that not only quoted abolitionist and humanitarian Harriet Tubman but it also name-checked other black actresses (such as Gabrielle Union and Kerry Washington) and called on Hollywood to offer the same opportunities to women of colour as it does to white women.

2. Misty Copeland Becomes the First Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theatre

The ‘principal dancer’ is a dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company; it’s the role that every ballet dancer would love to hold and it’s one that Misty Copeland, who has been a dancer at the American Ballet Theatre for 14 years, especially wanted to achieve. In her 2014 memoir, Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina, she revealed that “if I don’t rise to principal, people will feel I have failed them”.

But Misty Copeland needn’t have worried to much as in 2015 she was finally promoted to the role of principal dancer in a round of summer promotions. In her role, she became the very first African-American woman to become a principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre’s 75 year history and of the achievement.

3. Supreme Court Same-Sex Marriage

In other historic news from 2015, in June, the United States’ Supreme Court finally had a vote on same-sex marriage. Previously, it had been up to each state in the country to decide individually whether or not same-sex couples could get married putting couples in a difficult position as it meant that they may have to travel hours away from home just to enjoy the same ‘big white wedding in a church’ privilege that opposite sex couples got to enjoy.

Thankfully, on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court voted to make same-sex marriage a right nationwide. This meant that one great obstacle on the road to equal rights had been defeated and that anywhere in the country, same sex couples could marry each other.

4. FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015

Another big event making headlines over the summer of 2015 is the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Here at KitschMix we were excited not just because it’s always wonderful seeing talented women do what they do best but because many out athletes such as Megan Rapinoe, Casey Stoney and Abby Wambach would be taking part as well.

Not only did the England women’s national team reach their highest ever position in the tournament (they got 3rd place) but the final, where the USA beat Japan 5-2 also became the most watched football match in US history as it had 25.4 million viewers, beating the 18.2 million viewers who tuned into watch the US men take on Portugal the year before.

(That said, the tournament was also marred by criticism as FIFA made the women play on astro-turf unlike the men’s tournament which was played entirely on grass).

5. Hillary Clinton Running for President

One of the dominating stories at the beginning of the year was whether or not Hillary Clinton – who had once tried to run for president in 2007 – would run for president again. In an official announcement video in April, Clinton confirmed that she’d be running for president and that she wanted to be a “champion” for “everyday Americans”.

While Clinton hasn’t always been so progressive (she was once against same-sex marriage), nor is she regarded as progressive as (fellow presidential candidate) Bernie Sanders, she has lots of viewpoints that could do some good. Clinton wants to reform the criminal justice system, offer comprehensive immigration reform with a “pathway to citizenship”, she supports LGBT equality and she hopes to close the wage gap between men too.

6. The Rise of the ‘F’ Word

Feminism, by definition, is the “advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of equality of the sexes” and while there are still plenty of people who do still think that it’s about women having more rights than men, in 2015, lots of influential women revealed why they were feminists,

These include Harry Potter star Emma Watson, girl group Fifth Harmony whose ‘Worth it’ music video included pro-women quotes and Taylor Swift who has spoken out about misogyny in the media and has championed powerful women with her ‘girl squad’ of friends including Serena Williams, supermodel Karlie Kloss and singer and actress Selena Gomez. Admittedly, a lot of the feminist rhetoric this year has surrounded cis, white women and has completely ignored the struggles of trans women and women of colour but it’s a positive step forward at least.

7. The MTV VMAs 2015

And finally, we had the MTV Video Music Awards 2015. Hosted by professional headline-grabber and former Disney star Miley Cyrus, the MTV VMAs 2015 were always going to get serious attention and while they offended just as much as they did good (one example is comedian Rebel Wilson making light of police brutality), they did give us plenty to talk about.

In the run up to the show, Nicki Minaj called out MTV for ignoring her Anaconda music video saying that the company only “celebrates women with very slim bodies” and overlooks the contributions of black women. Then Taylor Swift got offended and accused the rapper of pitting women against each other and Miley Cyrus then chimed in saying that Minaj’s comments were “not polite”.

During the show, Nicki Minaj called Miley Cyrus out, before criticising her again in the days after the show, saying that Miley enjoys black culture without wanting to address the issues that face black people. It led to some very important and very necessary discussions about race in the media.

Also at the MTV VMAs, Blac Chyna and Amber Rose went as each others dates dressed in outfits emblazoned with things they’d been called (e.g ‘whore’, ‘bitch’, and ‘golddigger’) seemingly in an effort to reclaim those slurs. As eye-catching as their getups were, again, they got people having serious conversations.

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Same-Sex Civil Unions Return To Queensland, As Politicians Finally Show There Support

MPs have shown an overwhelming support (64 to 22) to reinstate civil unions in Queensland, which means same-sex relationships will soon be recognised in the eyes of the law.

This will hopefully lay the foundations for marriage equality across the Australian state.

Now, any unmarried couples in Queensland may now enter into a civil union, with the law applying to LGBT and heterosexual partners alike.

3 years ago Queensland removed gay couples’ ability to have children through surrogacy and downgraded civil partnerships to the class of ‘registered relationships’, following a debate in Parliament.

The state first legalised civil unions in 2008 under the Labor government but they were scrapped by Liberal National Premier Campbell Newman.

Talking before the vote, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said;

It’s time to inject some maturity and some dignity into the marriage debate. It’s time to again allow heterosexual couples who might want to affirm their relationship but not take the step of actually getting married the right to do so.”

LGBT acitivists have welcomed the move – but say it is only the first step to same-sex marriage in Australia.

Rodney Croome of Australian Marriage Equality, added

I welcome the Queensland government’s Civil Partnership law because it will provide same-sex couples with greater legal certainty. But civil partnerships are not a substitute for equality in marriage for same-sex couples.

Marriage is a universally recognized institution that guarantees equal respect and equal rights in a way civil partnerships cannot.”

Same-sex marriage is banned Australia, and PM Malcolm Turnbull stalling to vote on subject until 2017 – meaning marriages might take even longer to begin.

However, the Australian Senate recently passed a motion calling on the PM to scrap plans for a distant ‘public vote’ on same-sex marriage and to act on the issue now.

Fingers crossed this is step in the right direction

Costa Rica’s First Lesbian Wedding Briefly Happened Due To Clerical Error

A Costa Rican woman was able to marry her girlfriend because her birth certificate records her as male.

In 1991, when Jazmin Elizondo Arias was born, someone made a mistake and noted on her birth certificate that she was male, and no one corrected the record officially due to the drawn out administration involved.

Nearly 25 years later – thanks to the simple clerical error – Elizondo was able to become one half of the first same-sex couple to marry legally in Costa Rica – at least briefly.

Elizondo and her partner Laura Florez-Estrada Pimentel married quietly on 25 July; their news became Costa Rican news only last week after they received their marriage certificate.

The publicity prompted an unusually quick response by Civil Registry officials, who reviewed Elizondo’s records, reclassified her as a woman and annulled the marriage. They also opened criminal complaints against the women and Marco Castillo, the lawyer, for allegedly performing an “impossible marriage”.

Florez-Estrada said.

It’s clear the Civil Registry moved out of hate, because they not only annulled the marriage but filed this criminal complaint,”

According to Costa Rican law, knowingly entering into a marriage where there is an impediment carries a possible prison sentence of six months to three years.

While Elizondo and Florez-Estrada await possible prosecution, the Constitutional Court is considering the case of another gay couple, whose relationship was recognised as a “de facto union” by a family judge on 2 July. Several versions of a bill proposing to recognise same-sex unions have been presented in congress, sparking fierce opposition from political parties with religious ties.

Florez-Estrada said the couple knew they could face legal problems if they went public with their marriage, but decided to do so anyway.

We had to make public that it was not our mistake. It is a question of basic rights.”

Missouri Wedding Venue Turns Away Lesbian Couple Saying “Same-Sex Marriages Violate Our Religious Beliefs”

Another day – another beautiful couple to discriminated against.

A Missouri couple will not be able to host their wedding next year at the venue of their choice, as the owners do not support same-sex marriage.

The owners of the venue, told the couple they’re not welcome because they’re lesbians, according to a Missouri newspaper.

The news came as a shock to brides-to-be Rachel Cathey and Beverly Vaughn, when the women and Cathey’s mother toured the venue last week and came face-to-face with owner Sara Howell’s antigay beliefs.

Cathey told the Sedalia Democrat of the venue

It is stunning. It’s so pretty — we looked at each other and said ‘This is it, this is where we’re going to get married.’ We started talking about a place for the bride to get ready. Sara said ‘we have a bridal suite.’ I said, ‘We have two brides.’”

That’s when Howell dropped the bombshell that Heritage Ranch does not permit same-sex weddings at the venue.

Cathey told the paper.

Before she could even finish I asked why and she said ‘because we’re Christian and we don’t,’”

Howell’s husband, Josh, who co-owns Heritage Ranch, explained to the Democrat why the facility doesn’t allow same-sex marriages:

It is a violation of our religious beliefs. We would have to violate our conscious to allow that to occur here. We feel we would be dishonoring God, who we serve and He was the one who gave us this business and it is only right we serve him and honor him with it. It would be a sin for us to allow that, so we could not in good conscious do that.

It’s not a personal matter. It’s a matter of religious conviction and personal belief.”

Josh Howell said the couple has turned away one other couple due to their Christian beliefs. Now the victimizers are playing the victim, complaining they have been on the receiving end of telephone and social media hate messages.

We’ve had several hateful messages over the phone and social media since the article was published and we found it very hypocritical they criticized us for being hateful and then follow that up with hateful comments toward us,”

Howell told the paper he and his wife are within their rights to deny service to Cathey, as the event venue is housed on private property, though it is accessible to the public.

Meanwhile, Cathey and Vaughn have received the backing of a statewide LGBT group, Promoting Equality for All Missourians, otherwise known as PROMO.

PROMO Interim Director Steph Perkins told the Democrat.

We are working to pass the Missouri Non-discrimination Act, known as MONA. It would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories to the Human Rights Statute that protects against discrimination in employment, housing, access to public services. Businesses that are open to the public — provide public accommodation — currently cannot deny service based on race, religion (and national origin, ancestry, gender or age). With MONA that would include sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Missouri is one of 27 states that do not have non-discrimination laws to protect LGBT citizens, and no federal legislation currently exists to protect LGBT people from discrimination in employment, housing, or public accommodation.

Tokyo Issues Japan’s First Same-Sex Marriage Certificate To This Beautiful Couple

Holding rainbow fans and grinning from ear to ear, couple – Koyuki Higashi, 30, and Hiroko Masuhara, 37 – were photographed in Tokyo this week with a very special document clutched in their hands: a marriage certificate officially recognising their same-sex union.

According to CNN, it’s the first of its kind in Japan.

Higashi, a Japanese model and television personality turned LGBT activist and her partner of four years and fellow activist, Hiroko Matsuhara were married in Tokyo’s Shibuya ward on Thursday morning.

Shibuya’s legislators voted in March to grant marriage certificates to LGBT couples, making the ward the first in Japan to recognise same-sex unions. Setagaya, another of Tokyo’s 23 wards, voted to do the same a few months later.

The local ordinances recommend that same-sex couples be granted equal rights, including hospital visitations and apartment rentals.

Still, activists insist this is an important step forward for Japan, a country where LGBT issues remain taboo.

As CNN notes, despite “recognition and protection from some local governments, Japan still has no national laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination. Coming out can mean getting fired, evicted or denied healthcare.”

With her new wife by her side, Higashi said.

I’m so happy. When they gave us the certificate, I cried. Our friends cried.

I hope that this will be a step forward not only for Tokyo but for the whole of Japan to become a more comfortable place to live in, because there are LGBTs nationwide.”

Across Asia, LGBT rights are limited or in many cases, non-existent. In Southeast Asia, for instance, being gay is criminalized in several countries

Ellen DeGeneres To Oprah: “I Didn’t Ever Think I Was Going To Come Out”

Oprah’s Master Class returned this Sunday, with Ellen DeGeneres sharing what she’s learned on her path to becoming a beloved daytime talk show host.

In 1997, Ellen became an unintentional activist when she announced she was gay around the same time that her television character came out on the show.

This decision, Ellen admits, was one she never thought she’d make. Talking to Oprah Winfrey, the comedian said she feared that coming out would end her career.

I certainly didn’t ever that I was going to come out. Period. And I didn’t think I’d be coming out on a show, ever.”

DeGeneres said she changed her mind after a friend gave her a ‘hippie retreat’ at the Esalen Institute called Changing the Inner Dialogue as a gift.

I wanted to know what the inner dialogue of my subconscious mind was, and it was scary and crazy. What came out of listening to what I had been saying to myself is. “Would I still be famous? Would they still love me if they knew I was gay?” And my fear was, “No, they wouldn’t.”

But DeGeneres said she felt shame that she was hiding her sexuality.

I just didn’t want to pretend to be somebody else anymore so that people would like.”

Watch a clip from the interview below:

Hillary Clinton Addresses Her Changing Views On Same-Sex Marriage

Hillary Clinton has addressed her changing views on same-sex marriage, after being challenged about her previous opposition to it.

Former Secretary of State and now Democratic Presidential candidate – Hillary Clinton – is seen as a strong supporter of LGBT rights, and strongly welcomed same-sex marriage in all 50 states earlier this year.

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However, opponents have often raised questions of her change on the issue, having insisted in the Senate in 2004 that marriage is “a sacred bond between a man and a woman”.

Her differing views were put to the candidate on Meet the Press, when she defended her evolution on the issue.

She said:

What I’ve always tried to do is say, what is the best decision I can think about making now? On same-sex marriage, like a lot of people, including our President, I did evolve.

I was not raised to even imagine this, and I’m thrilled now that it is the law of the land – I have a lot of good friends who are now able to be married because of the changes we’ve made legally and constitutionally.”

The former First Lady announced her support for equal marriage back in 2013 – and has consistently shown her support for LGBT issues since.

Poll Finds Most Americans Don’t Agree Kim Davis Stance On Same-Sex Marriage

As we all though, anti-gay clerk Kim Davis of Rowan County was jailed for contempt of court after she ignored direct orders from a court, by continuing to refuse to let same-sex couples marry.

Why? Well, even after begin married herself four times, she still claims God doesn’t want gays to marry.

However, a poll has found that despite a sizeable amount of public support for her position at the start of the controversy, now nearly two thirds of Americans disagree.

The Washington Post-ABC News poll found 63% of those surveyed say Davis should be required to do so regardless of her religious objections.

According to pollsters, almost one in two, or 45%, approved of the decision by a federal judge to send Davis to jail for not complying with his order to issue those licenses. And 16% preferred Davis be forced to issue the licenses, but were against sending her to jail for her refusal.

Nearly three-quarters of respondents said when civil rights and religious beliefs conflict, it is more important to treat everyone equally than to accommodate someone’s objections based on faith. And it wasn’t just Democrats but Republicans, liberals, and conservatives who offered broad support for that concept.

The Post-ABC poll was conducted Sept. 7-10 among a random national sample of 1,003 adults, including land-line and cellphone respondents. Overall results have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Forget The Seven-Year-Itch, Ellen DeGeneres And Portia De Rossi Are As Happy As Ever.

Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has dismissed rumours that she is to divorce her wife Portia de Rossi, saying:

There’s not one ounce of truth to any of it.”

Speaking on Howard Stern’s SiriusXM radio show, DeGeneres said:

We really don’t almost break up, we don’t fight, we’re madly in love, and I guess it’s boring. It’s so ridiculous to me,’ she continued. ‘There’s not one ounce of truth to any of it. I’m very happily married. In fact, the only thing we ever argue about is who loves who more. That is all. It’s really true.”

Explaining that she doesn’t pay attention to showbiz gossip, she said:

We don’t know anything about it until somebody tells us. I don’t read the tabloids, I don’t have a publicist. I don’t know why they do this. We’re kind of flattered because for a while no one cared about us and we thought “Oh, lesbians aren’t worthy of tabloid stories” so now we’re kind of flattered that they care about us.”

Having celebrated their seventh anniversary last month, the grinning pair walked hand-in-hand through New York on Thursday.

DeGeneres and de Rossi first started dating in 2004, and married in August 2008.

Ellen DeGeneres Questions Caitlyn Jenner’s Subdued Support Of Marriage Equality

When Caitlyn Jenner appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show last week, Ellen’s reactions were mixed, especially in response to Jenner’s views on same-sex marriage.

Calling herself a “traditionalist,” Jenner admitted that she used to oppose equal marriage, before publicly coming out as transgender.

I think, like a lot of people on this issue, I have really changed my thinking here to, ‘I don’t ever want to stand in front of anybody’s happiness.’ That’s not my job, okay?”

Explaining that she had changed her mind on the issue, she said:

If the word ‘marriage’ is really, really that important to you, I can go with it.”

However, DeGeneres appears to have been taken aback by the answer – telling SiriusXM host Howard Stern that she was baffled.

She said:

Caitlyn Jenner is on the show today, and she really still has a judgement about gay marriage. I said to her: ‘You’re wanting people to understand and accept you – this is like really confusing to people – but you still have a judgement about gay people and marriage’.

She said ‘if the word marriage is that important’ …and I was like, ‘it is, because that’s the word!’. We want the same thing as everybody.”

DeGeneres also questioned the star’s Republican beliefs – despite Republicans actively opposing trans rights.

She’s a Republican and conservative – and I think a lot of Republicans are wishing she wasn’t a Republican.”

The entertainer also revealed that Jenner refused to dance with her – which most guests including President Obama have done on her talk show.

She said:

No, she didn’t dance. I don’t think she’s a dancer. Maybe she didn’t want to dance with me cause I’m a lesbian! She was great, it was a great interview. I don’t really know her, and I’m trying to understand it, because I don’t fully understand it either.

I also want everyone to be happy I don’t fully understand all of that, but I want her to be happy. Which is what I want for her, for me.”

Watch the video below.

Puerto Rico Plans For Epic Celebration For Marriage Equality

More than 60 same-sex couples are preparing to exchange vows as part of a mass wedding in Puerto Rico to celebrate a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the socially conservative U.S. territory.

Organisers say the event will take place Sunday in San Juan’s colonial district.

Event organiser Ada Conde said Wednesday that while the majority of couples are Puerto Ricans, others from Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Venezuela are participating.

Conde had filed a federal lawsuit seeking to have her gay marriage recognised in the U.S. territory prior to the Supreme Court decision.

Puerto Rico has since struck down laws that prohibited same-sex marriage and the recognition of such marriages.

Cynthia Nixon Urges Us to Continue the Fight for LGBT Rights

Two-time Emmy-winner Cynthia Nixon – famed for starring in Sex in the City – has written an op-ed in Variety urging LGBT activists and their allies to continue the fight for marriage equality.

Even though the Friday Supreme Court decision to legalise gay marriage across America may seem like the ultimate victory, Nixon argues that the work is not done yet.

The reason the LGBT movement has come so far is constant perseverance both in the face of adversity and after achieving community goals, she said.

Equality proponents knew they were going to win, but didn’t take it for granted for a moment; they worked, they organized, leaving no stone unturned. And to have the vote come from the general population was absolutely game-changing.

The important thing to remember going forward, though, is no outcome is ever 100% assured. We have to keep organizing like our lives depend on it.”

Nixon has been active in the fight for marriage equality and married a woman herself in 2012.

But she offers a note of caution, adding,

The important thing to remember going forward, though, is no outcome is ever 100% assured. We have to keep organizing like our lives depend on it.”

And the bisexual mother-of-two insists it’s now more important than ever to be true and honest about your sexuality if you’re gay, adding,

LGBT characters aren’t new; everybody has LGBT people in their family, and everybody needs to make the effort to come out in any and every way they can.

If people who are opposed to equality realized how many individuals they already like, admire or even love are LGBT, the battle would be over. It’s important to come out to our parents, children, co-workers, boss – you name it.”

Read the full article here

Susan Sarandon ‘Open’ to Finding Love with a Woman

Single actress Susan Sarandon is “open” to embarking on a relationship with of someone of any “gender”, confessing it “increases your chances” of finding a suitable partner.

The star has been single since splitting from Jonathan Bricklin in March following a six-year romance.

When pressed this week on The View, Sarandon answered questions on her love life by saying she isn’t “actively looking” for a new love, but

I’m not actively looking (for love), but if there’s a person, I would leave open the age, the color, the gender even, I’m open. Well, it increases your chances, doesn’t it?”

Also read: Susan Sarandon Supports Marriage Equality in Human Rights Campaign Video

Outlining what she’s looking for in potential partners, she says,

Somebody who is not gonna find it difficult to be with me and (when) people come up to me and say, ‘Oh, I love your work,’ it won’t turn out to be a problem.

Someone who is really passionate about what they do and they love what they do. Someone who’s open and adventurous and travels and has a lot of fun. (Someone who is) spiritual, (it) doesn’t have to be religion, exactly…”

As she goes on and say what she’s looking for in a partner, Whoopi Goldberg says, “You’re starting to sound like me!” and they share a moment.

Note: The YouTube video only plays in some regions.

Sad, Powerful Ad for Same-Sex Marriage Shows You Wedding Memories That Were Never Made

For most, a wedding day is among the happiest moments in a person’s life, a milestone to look back on for years to come, which makes it all the more strange that people are still denied the right just because they love someone of the same sex.

Same-sex marriage is currently legal in Canada, as well as 36 states in the U.S., Washington, D.C., and some 15 other countries around the world. But with the U.S. Supreme Court currently hearing arguments on the constitutionality of other states’ bans on the right, the spot certainly makes for a timely reminder of what’s at stake.

Nobody’s Memories is a new ad from FCB for LGBT advocacy group PFLAG Canada, which imagines the joys missed by couples unable to legally marry in years past.

This is our tribute to all those in the past who were never allowed to marry by law – and to everyone who is still denied the right today. Share your love stories, wedding photos and videos on Instagram and Twitter with #lovemadelegal and let’s make gay marriage legal everywhere.”

They’re seen walking down the church steps to applause, piling into the wedding car, sharing a bite of cake at the reception, and the myriad other little images and traditions associated with the big day.

It’s a simple, powerful illustration of why the right to same-sex matters in societies that purport to pride themselves on ideals like freedom, equality and the pursuit of happiness.

Hillary Clinton Hopes the Supreme Court Will Make Marriage Equality Legal Nationwide

Earlier this month, Hillary Clinton made headlines when she finally announced that she would be running for President in the 2016 election. The former Secretary of State was widely regarded as the only possible presidential candidate for the Democratic party due to her long career in politics and her name recognition – few candidates on either the Democratic or Republican side are as well-known.

Many also believe that Hillary has a strong chance of winning. Despite the recent controversy surrounding her decision to use her personal email address to send out confidential emails (rather than her official government email), her stance on women’s rights (she is a huge supporter of them) and immigration (she supports the path to citizenship for illegal immigrants) makes her a hit with women and people of colour; two important demos that Republicans have mostly offended and failed to appeal to thus far.

She also stands a strong chance of winning the majority of the LGBT vote too. Clinton has been an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights for several years and a statement from her campaign spokesperson Adrienne Elrod explained that:

Hillary Clinton supports marriage equality and hopes the Supreme Court will come down on the side of same-sex couples being guaranteed that constitutional right.”

Clinton’s statement comes as the Supreme Court gears up for a monumental ruling on marriage equality, regarding the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit to uphold same-sex marriage bans in the states of Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan and Kentucky. The Supreme Court will be deciding whether the United States Constitution requires a state to issue marriage license of two people of the same sex and if a state is required to recognise a same-sex marriage if their marriage was (lawfully) licensed in a different state. Essentially, a ruling in favour of marriage equality here would make it legal across the entire United States and would make it illegal for states to try and ban same-sex marriage, as several have tried to do already.

The statement from Clinton is also important as it was previously unclear just what her stance on marriage equality was. Back in 2008, Clinton along with then-Senator Barack Obama, both agreed that although same-sex couples should be able to have civil partnerships, neither of them supported same-sex marriage. The stance seemed unsurprising at the time given that her husband Bill Clinton introduced the restrictive Defense of Marriage Act during his presidency (although he later said that he regretted it) and LGBT rights were significantly less popular in 2008 as they are now. And, although Clinton has spoken in favour of LGBT rights, just last year she said that marriage equality should be left up to the states to decide.

Unfortunately, Clinton hasn’t revealed what has led to her change of heart. Many will chalk it down to the fact that it would reflect badly on her if she didn’t support LGBT rights wholeheartedly, given that President Obama has issued many statements (and some executive orders) both supporting and protecting LGBT rights. However, regardless of her reasoning, her position on marriage equality should be seen as a good thing.

US Supreme Court to Hear Historic Same-sex Marriage Case Arguments Today

Today, the US Supreme Court begins hearing oral arguments in a ground-breaking case concerning marriage bans in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky, in the first large-scale Supreme Court action on the issue since a ruling in favour of equality during 2013’s United States v Windsor.

Oral argument before the Supreme Court will take only a few hours, and hinge on an important question: whether marriage equality for gays and lesbians is a new right, or whether it’s an aspect of the existing right to marry. The couples argue that the Supreme Court has already recognised marriage as a fundamental freedom, and states cannot impose arbitrary restrictions on that freedom.

The four states before the court argue that federal law has only recognised marriage as fundamental for straight couples — a claim that echoes the racist arguments against overturning interracial marriage laws in the 1960s.

The justices will hear the case just a few days after a new survey shows public support for marriage equality rising to new heights. A new Washington Post/ABC survey puts support at 61 percent to 35 percent opposed. That’s close to a complete reversal from just a decade ago.

A ruling is expected by the summer.

Ahead of the case, hundreds of amicus briefs have been filed by concerned parties – with President Obama’s administration urging the court to strike down bans on same-sex marriage, while Republicans in Congress urged the court not to.

However, in a sure-fire sign that Republicans don’t want to be seen on the wrong side of history in the case, just 57 out of the party’s 299 Members of Congress signed the brief, which argues states should be allowed to decide if gays are allowed to marry. In contrast, a brief from the Democrats in favour of equality was signed by 211 of the party’s 232 Members of Congress.

A number of leading employers have also urged the court to strike down the ban, with a number of corporate rivals have put their differences aside to sign a joint legal brief. Bitter rivals – including Microsoft, Apple and Google, Twitter and Facebook, eBay and Amazon – put their differences aside to sign on to the brief. Other iconic businesses to support same-sex marriage include Walt Disney, Coca-Cola, Nike, Visa, American Apparel, Verison, General Mills, Barnes & Noble.

Watch | Touching Marriage Equality Ad Encourages Families to Vote ‘Yes’ for Irelands Equality Referendum

Irish LGBT youth and parents coalition are calling for a ‘Yes’ vote in the forthcoming marriage equality referendum in Ireland.

The referendum on marriage equality is only a few weeks away, and the new campaign focuses on encouraging people to talk to their family about the issue.

As polling day approaches, this newest ad asks people to make sure that they bring their family with them to vote on the day, and has a touching storyline in it too, just for good measure.

Securing marriage equality is hugely important for LGBT young people, in particular,” said Mr. Barron. “Too many LGBT young people experience difficult times growing up and know they don’t enjoy equal rights. If marriage equality is not passed, we reconfirm to them that their all too common experiences of homophobic bullying and rejection are acceptable in Ireland. This would be a devastating outcome.

Many LGBT young people don’t have a voice because they’re still too young to vote but the outcome of this referendum will deeply affect their lives. They really want their parents and older relatives to campaign for and vote ‘yes’.

The organisations involved in ‘BeLonG To YES’ will work together over the coming weeks to encourage young people to talk to their parents about supporting the referendum, and then have their parents talk to family, friends and colleagues to pass on that message. We must not forget that this is a nationwide referendum and reaching out to people in rural areas is paramount, because it is in these communities that this referendum will be won.

Marriage equality affects not only today’s adults, but also today’s children and the children of the future. We are delighted, and we see it as very positive, that our ‘Yes’ campaign has the support of a large coalition of youth and children’s groups.

We have seven weeks to do right by our young people and ensure Ireland becomes a country where no young person has to suffer because of their sexuality. Just imagine what will be possible for future generations of LGBT young people when their future begins with a resounding ‘yes’.”

Apple, Microsoft, Google and Facebook Call on the US Supreme Court to Strike Down Bans on Same-Sex Marriage

A number of corporate firm – including Microsoft, Apple,Walt Disney, Coca-Cola, Nike, Visa, American Apparel, General Mills, Barnes & Noble, Google, Twitter and Facebook, eBay and Amazon – have signed an employers’ amicus brief, which argues that permitting same-sex marriage is crucial to recognising employees’ rights.

More: US President Continues Support For LGBT Community, Telling Supreme Court Same-Sex Marriage Bans Are Unconstitutional

The brief states in part:

“Some of the states in which amici (the 379 companies) do business make marriage equally available to all of our employees and colleagues; others prohibit marriages between couples of the same sex and refuse to recognize existing same-sex marriages. This dual regime burdens amici. It creates legal uncertainty and imposes unnecessary costs and administrative complexities on employers, and requires differential employer treatment of employees who are similarly situated save for the state where they reside.

State laws that prohibit or decline to recognize marriages between same-sex couples hamper employer efforts to recruit and retain the most talented workforce possible in those states. Our successes depend upon the welfare and morale of all employees, without distinction. The burden imposed by inconsistent and discriminatory state laws of having to administer complicated schemes to account for differential treatment of similarly situated employees breeds unnecessary confusion, tension, and diminished employee morale.

A diverse, inclusive workplace environment increases the total human energy available to the organization. People can bring far more of themselves to their jobs because they are required to suppress far less. Inclusive companies are more open to new ideas and opportunities, while less prone to overconfidence when approaching challenges. Companies that are diverse and inclusive obtain better profits and other outputs, thanks to improved team collaboration and commitment.”

The Supreme Court is to hear arguments on same-sex marriage from April 28.

The companies are:

A.L. Nella & Company, LLP, CPAs, A.T. Kearney, Aardema Whitelaw, PLLC, Acacia Home LLC, Accenture, Aetna Inc., Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., AJ Leo Electric and Solar, Akamai Technologies, Inc., Alaska Airlines, Alcoa Inc., Amazon Services Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., American Airlines Group Inc., American Apparel, American Express Company

American International Group, Inc., Aparicio-Mercado Law, L.C., Apple Inc., AppNexus Inc., Aramark, Arbor Brewing Company, LLC, Arnold & Porter LLP, Aspen Skiing Company, Assemble Sound LLC, AT&T Inc., Atlas Cut Stone, Atticus Circle, The Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Avanade Inc.

Bain & Company, Inc., Bakehouse Art Complex, Baker & McKenzie LLP, Bank of America, The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, Barclays, Barnes & Noble, Inc., bebe stores, inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Belcampo Inc., Ben & Jerry’s, Big Duck Studio, Inc., Bigelow Villa LLC, Billy’s Farm, BlackRock, Inc., Bloomberg L.P., Blue Apron, Inc., Blue Heron Ventures, Blue Moon Hotel / Winter Haven Hotel, Blume, Faulkner & Skeen, PLLC, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Boston Community Capital, Inc., Boston Consulting Group, The Boston Foundation, Boston Medical Center Corporation, Boston Scientific Corporation, Brady Mills LLC, BrandQuery LLC ,Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Broadcom Corporation, Brocade

Cablevision Systems Corporation, Capital One Financial Corporation, Captain Wendell’s Marine Services LLC, Cardinal Health, Inc., Care Resource, CBS Corporation, CEB, Central Physical Therapy and Fitness PSC, CGI, Charlotte Business Guild, The Chubb Corporation, CIGNA Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., Citigroup Inc., City Catering Company, City Lites Neon, Inc., The City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Civitas Public Affairs Group, Clean Yield Asset Management, CloudFlare, Inc., CMIT Solutions of Seattle Downtown, The Coca-Cola Company, Cohen & Associates, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Columbia FunMap, Inc., Comcast Corporation, The Computer Butler, ConAgra Foods, Inc., The Corcoran Group, Corner Brewery, LLC, Corning Incorporated, Cox Enterprises, Inc., Crazy Misfits Pet Services, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Cummins Inc., Cupcake Royale, CVS Health Corporation

Dallas Voice, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc., Danaher Corporation, David J. Jarrett, P.C., David Kosar Insurance Agency, David Mack Henderson Income Tax Preparation, DCI Group AZ, L.L.C., Deloitte LLP, Delta Air Lines, Inc., Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, The Desert Business Association, Deutsche Bank AG, Diageo North America, Inc., DIRECTV, DocuSign, Domini Social Investments LLC, The Dow Chemical Company, Dreamcatcher Arts and Publishing Ltd., Dropbox, Inc., DuPont

eBay Inc., Edelman, Eldercare Consulting, Electronic Arts Inc., EnduringHydro, LLC, Ernst & Young LLP, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., Event Rents, Everything Real Estate LLC, Express Movers Inc.,

Facebook, Inc., Farella Braun + Martel, LLP, Fastsigns, Fenwick & West LLP, First Data Corporation, 1st Security Bank, 1stdibs.Com, Inc., FIT Technologies, Flanery CPA, Full Court Press Communications

G.A.W., Inc., The Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Nevada, General Electric Company, General Mills, Inc., Gensler, Gilt Groupe Holdings, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline LLC, Gleason & Associates Claims Services, Go Factory, Inc., Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Google Inc., Goulston & Storrs, P.C., Great Officiants LLC, The Greater Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Greater San Diego Business Association, Greater Seattle Business Association, Greensulate, Grossman Marketing Group, Group Health Cooperative, Groupon, Growing Hope,

Harrell Remodeling, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., Healthline, Hewlett-Packard Company, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., Holdredge Wines, Homeward Pet Adoption Center, Horizon Air Industries, Inc., House Packard LLC, HSB,

Ikard Wynne LLP, The Independence Business Alliance, The Inland Northwest Business Alliance, Insala, Ltd, Inspirato, LLC, Integrated Archive Systems, Inc., Integrity Law Group, Intel Corporation, Intuit Inc., INUS Group, LLC,

Jackson Hole Group LLC, Jagod Designs, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Jenn T. Grace International LLC, Jennifer Brown Consulting, JetBlue Airways Corporation, The Jim Henson Company, Johnson & Johnson, Johnston, Kinney and Zulaica LLP, Jonathan L. Bowman, Attorney at Law, PS, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Julian Chang Consulting, Inc.

kapchur.us photography, The Kathy A. Janssen Foundation, Kazan, McClain, Satterley, & Greenwood, PLC, Keir Jones Agency – State Farm, Keker & Van Nest LLP, KEO Marketing Inc., Kimberly-Clark Corp., Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, LLC, Kollmar Sheet Metal Works, Inc., Kotzan Chiropractic, KPMG LLP

Lambda Business Association, Laparoscopic Institute for Gynecologic Oncology, Larson Marketing & Communications LLC, Laughton Properties, Law Offices of Joel L. Sogol, Law Office of Lisa E. Schuchman, Law Office of Lorie L. Burch, PC, Law Offices of Robin L. Bodiford, P.A., The Law Office of Susan K. Fuller, PLLC, Levi Strauss & Co., Liberty Burger, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, Life & Love Celebrations, Link in the Chain Foundation, Inc., Littler Mendelson, P.C., LNT, Inc., The Long Beach Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Lori Karbal et al, Loring, Wolcott & Coolidge Trust, LLC, The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

Main Street Hair Shoppe Ltd., Marriott International, Inc., Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, McGraw Hill Financial, Inc., McKesson Corporation, McKinsey & Company, Inc., Merca Property Management, The Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Microsoft Corporation, The Mid-America Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Miller & Olson, LLP, Miller Shelton Group, LLC, MillerCoors LLC, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., Mona Smith PLLC, Moody’s Corporation, Morgan Miller Plumbing, Morgan Stanley, MWW Public Relations,

NAMI Dallas, Inc., The Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce, The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Neumann Capital Management, LLC, The New England Patriots, New Leaf Columbus, New York Life Insurance Company, Nifty Hoops, LLC, NIKE, Inc., Nixon Peabody LLP, North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce, Northrop Grumman Corporation,

OBOX Solutions, Office Depot, Inc., The Ogilvy Group, Inc., Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., ONE Community Media, LLC, 1 Source Consulting Solutions, Oracle America, Inc., Orbitz Worldwide, Inc., Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, Outerwall Inc.

Pakmode Publications, LLC, d/b/a Pakmode Media + Marketing, Pandora Media, Inc., PATH, Peabody & Arnold LLP, Pepper Hamilton LLP, PepsiCo, Pfizer Inc., Pixelligent Technologies LLC, Plexus Education Foundation, Plexus LGBT and Allied Chamber of Commerce, Portland Area Business Association, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, PrideFest, the PrintingWorks, Pro-Tec Data, Inc., Procter & Gamble, ProTrials Research, Inc., Prudential Financial, Inc., Puma Spring Vineyards, Qualcomm Incorporated, Quorum

RAFI Architecture and Design, Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley, Ralph’s Regal Weddings, Ray Holley Communications, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Replacements, Ltd., Restaurant Management Concepts, Reverberate! Marketing Communications, Inc., Rising Tide Brewing Company, RJR Photography, Robert H Stutz Jr CPA, Rockwell Automation, Inc., Rotella & Hernandez, LLC

The Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, Sadek Bonahoom PLC, The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, The San Francisco Giants, The Seattle Lesbian, LLC, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Sempra Energy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Shingles Roofing LLC, Sidetrack, Inc., Simon, Schindler & Sandberg LLP, Skellenger Bender, P.S., Skyworks Solutions, Inc., Sleeves Up Productions, LLC, Sōw, Spectra Law PS, Spry Vision, Inc., St. Jude Medical, Inc., Staples, Inc., Starbucks Corporation, Starrtek LLC, State Street Corporation, Steven Graves Insurance Agency, Stonewall Behavioral Health, Stonewall Columbus, Stuffed Cakes, LLC, Sun Life Financial (U.S.) Services Company, Inc., SunDaily, Support.com, Inc., Sweet Dixie Kitchen, Symantec Corporation

Taber Food Services, Inc., dba Hobee’s California Restaurants, The Tampa Bay Rays, Target Corporation, TD Bank, N.A., TD Securities (USA) LLC, Tech Data Corporation, TestTracks, Thinking Cap Communications & Design, Third Point LLC, Thomson Reuters, Tiwary Entertainment Group LLC, TNT Promotions, LLC, TOCA Events, LLC, TravelOut, Inc., Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria, Twitter, Inc., 206 Inc.

UBS AG, The Ultimate Software Group, Inc., United Air Lines, Inc., United Therapeutics Corporation, Uptown Physicians Group, VCB Consulting & Accounting Services

Verizon Communications Inc., Viacom Inc., Visa Inc., VitaPerk, VMware, Inc.

W. M. Martin Advertising, W.W. Grainger, Inc., W/S Development Associates LLC, Walsh Wellness Center, The Walt Disney Company, Wasserman Media Group, Wells Fargo & Company, Whey Natural! USA LLC, Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Witeck Communications, Inc., The Workplace Equality Index, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation

Xerox Corporation, Xfund

YES DESIGN GROUP, Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority

Zausmer, Kaufman, August & Caldwell, P.C., Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, ZoomSystems, Zynga Inc.

Mexico Could Have Nationwide Marriage Equality Soon

In the United Kingdom, it would seem unusual if parliament voted to provide human rights to people in one county but not another. But in countries like Mexico, each of these country’s states have their laws and rulings each determined by local politics and only the Supreme Court is able to make blanket laws that affect the entire country. It’s this hierarchy that is making Mexico’s fight for marriage equality that much more difficult.

It’s also made more difficult by the way the nullification of state law works. For example, in order to nullify a state law about marriage equality, several separate lawsuits have to be filed by several couples against the state. On top of this, unlike in the United States where a successful lawsuit in one state allowed everybody in that area to marry, lawsuit rulings in Mexico only apply to the individuals that filed them meaning that those who also want to marry have to file their own lawsuit and wait for that to successful.

But despite these hurdles, those fighting for marriage equality in Mexico are pushing on. As of 2015, courts in more than two thirds of Mexico’s 31 states have ruled in favour of the same-sex couples, thus granting them the right to marry. In fact, in the states of Coahulla and Quintana Roo and Mexico City (which isn’t a state but it is a district, like Washington D.C) marriage is available for everybody.

What’s also good news is that lawyers like Alex Alí Méndez Díaz (who took up the legal fight when other LGBT protesters didn’t feel as though lawsuits would be successful) have been filing ‘amparos’ and ‘amparo colectivos’.

An amparo is a lawsuit that pertains to human rights, while an amparo colectivos is a human rights lawsuit that involves large groups of people. Méndez has been filing these lawsuits so that couples will win the right to marry and individuals will win that right for the future too, even if they do not currently have a partner. In April, 2014 the Supreme Court ruled in favour of his 39-person strong amparo colectivo while other lawsuits (some involving hundreds of people) have also been successful in other parts of the country.

The change is massively positive and speaking to Buzzfeed, Méndez says that he is astonished at the pace of it. And, their push for marriage equality has seen little to no resistance from LGBT rights opponents and religious leaders (Mexico is mostly Catholic) in the country as unlike the United States, where marriage equality is hugely publicised, that isn’t the case in Mexico and the people aren’t used to using the courts to bring about change like this.

However, this stability may not be forever as Méndez says that “The moment that there is an order from the Supreme Court forcing reform we’ll begin to see all kinds of resistance. We’re going to have serious problems with protests in opposition.”

In January, there was opposition from local officials in the state of Baja California who refused to let same-sex couple marry. One volunteer from the city hall even said that the two men were mad, which caused LGBT activists to organise a protest using the hashtag #MisDerechosNoSonLocura (#MyRightsAreNotMadness). In the end, the couple was allowed to marry.

Despite this opposition, which is sure to grow in the coming weeks and months, Méndez tells Buzzfeed that he still thinks the nationwide marriage equality will become a reality soon regardless.

We’ll keep you posted once we know more.

Texas Attorney General Argues Lesbian Couple’s Marriage Is Void

The Attorney General of the US state of Texas has attempted to void the marriage of a lesbian couple, Sarah Goodfriend and Suzanne Bryant, who were married in Austin last week.

“The rogue actions of Travis County judges do not withstand the scrutiny of law. The same-sex marriage license issued is not valid because it conflicts with the Texas Constitution and state law — the license is therefore void ab initio…

Activist judges don’t change Texas law and we will continue to aggressively defend the laws of our state.”

Attorney General Ken Paxton

Attorney General Ken Paxton moved quickly after the couple married, appealing the Texas Supreme Court, which quickly blocked other couples from marrying in the state by issuing a stay. Even new Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also reaffirmed his support for Texas’ constitutional ban on same-sex marriage that voters overwhelmingly approved in 2005.

The women were granted a one-time license after the women argued that being legally married would ensure inheritance and allow the couple to make medical decisions for each other should one of them become critically ill.

Goodfriend, has ovarian cancer, and the state district judge raised the “severity and uncertainty” of her condition in granting the women permission to marry.

The couple’s attorney, Chuck Herring, is now arguing that the marriage was not void, saying:

“The case is over. The marriage is over and done. Our clients are married and very happy.”

The state of Texas’ same-sex marriage ban was found unconstitutional last year, but the judge issuing the ruling stayed it, in order to facilitate a state appeal.

Courts in Indiana made a similar exception for a lesbian couple in April because one of the women was dying of cancer and wanted her partner’s name on her death certificate. A federal appeals court overturned Indiana’s ban in September.

Shortly after news of the marriage spread online, Travis County officials said two other same-sex couples inquired about marriage licenses. By then, Paxton’s office was already preparing its emergency filing with the state Supreme Court.

Texas Supreme Court Halts All Same-Sex Marriages After One Couple Marries

Two days ago a county judge struck down a same-sex marriage ban in Texas. This morning, based on that ruling, another state judge ordered a Texas county clerk to issue a marriage license to one same-sex couple, which she did.

Suzanne Bryant and Sarah Goodfriend, together over thirty years, were married shortly afterwards.

Just hours later, the Texas State Supreme Court intervened and ruled that no other same-sex couple may marry.

Newly-elected Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, filed for an emergency stay with the Supreme Court immediately after the couple married.

Paxton wrote

“A stay is necessary to make clear to all county clerks that Texas marriage law remains enforceable until there has been final appellate resolution.”

The couple, who have adopted two children together, are hopeful their marriage will not be annulled by the Court.

“If they want to come in and try to nullify this, they will. But we have a valid marriage license, and I don’t think they can.”

1. Viola Davis’ Emmy Win

2. Misty Copeland Becomes the First Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theatre

3. Supreme Court Same-Sex Marriage

4. FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015

5. Hillary Clinton Running for President

6. The Rise of the ‘F’ Word

7. The MTV VMAs 2015

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