Tag Archives: Washington

Madonna Says Speech At Women’s Rally ‘Taken Wildly Out Of Context’

While taking part in a protest march in Washington DC on Saturday, Madonna said she had thought “an awful lot about blowing up the White House”.

Trump supporters reacted angrily, claiming that there would have been uproar if such a comment had been made about former president Barack Obama.

Madonna has now said her remarks were taken “wildly out of context”.

I am not a violent person, I do not promote violence and it’s important people hear and understand my speech in it’s entirety rather than one phrase.”

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She added she was trying to express there are two ways to respond to Donald Trump’s election – with hope or with anger – and said she wanted to start a “revolution of love”.

After Madonna made the comments, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus told Fox News:

One of the singers said she wanted to blow up the White House. I mean, can you imagine saying that about President Obama?”

Kellyanne Conway, a senior White House aide, described Madonna’s speech as “destructive”.

She also drew attention to some reports that the secret service had been made aware of the singer’s comments.

Washington State to Convert Domestic Partnerships to Marriages

Washington state will convert thousands of existing same-sex domestic partnerships into marriages.

We’ve been building our lives together and the law has finally caught on.”

Monisha Harrell, the chair of Equal Rights Washington

The Washington introduced domestic partnerships back  in 2007, and then same-sex marriage in 2012. On Monday, all existing partnerships in which at least one partner is currently under the age of 62 will be converted to marriages, and new partnerships will also be closed to those under the age of 62.

There are currently more than 6,500 domestic partnerships, most of which will be converted.

There will be no second-class recognition of gay and lesbian relationships. There will be marriage.”

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray

The move marks the final part of the state’s equal marriage legislation, passed in 2012 with 52% of the vote.

The UK has also announced that civil partnerships will remain as an option for same-sex couples despite the introduction of same-sex marriage, but that they would not be opened up to opposite-sex couples. The move followed a consultation into the future of civil partnerships, but no clear consensus could be reached.