Equality

How same-sex couples differ from opposite-sex couples

SDGLN Staff
March 4th, 2013

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. has nearly 650,000 same-sex couples, of which about 114,100 are legally married and more than 108,600 are in civil unions or registered domestic partnerships.

A new research brief released by Gary Gates, Distinguished Scholar at UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute, summarizes the demographic characteristics of same-sex couples and compares them to different-sex couples.

The analyses highlight trends and changes in the demographic diversity of same-sex couples and assess the degree to which similar changes are occurring among different-sex couples.

212 members of Congress sign Supreme Court brief against DOMA

SDGLN Staff
March 1st, 2013

WASHINGTON – A total of 212 of the 535 voting members of Congress have signed an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

Read Obama Administration's "friend of the court" brief seeking demise of Prop 8

SDGLN Staff
February 28th, 2013

WASHINGTON -- The Obama Administration on Thursday filed an amicus "friend of the court" brief with the U.S. Supreme Court, urging the justices to strike down California's Proposition 8 law that bans marriage equality in the Golden State.

The 40-page brief, which can be viewed below, was filed by Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. and other legal minds from the Justice Department.

Highlights include:

Minn. GOP lawmakers denounce effort to legalize same-sex marriage

LGBTQ Nation Staff Reports
February 28th, 2013

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Just hours after a marriage equality bill was unveiled at the Minnesota state capitol, a group of Republican lawmakers is calling for its defeat.

Field Poll: Record number of Californians support marriage equality

SDGLN Staff
February 28th, 2013

SAN DIEGO – More than 6 in10 Californians now support marriage equality, according to the latest Field Poll, reaching a historical high.

The new poll shows support is growing in all categories, including among Republicans and Protestants.

The poll reveals that 61% of Californians back same-sex marriage and 32% oppose. The numbers in a 2010 poll showed 51% in support and 42% in opposition.

California Assembly Speaker, legal scholars file brief opposing Prop 8

SDGLN Staff
February 28th, 2013

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) today joined with 22 legal scholars from across the nation to file an amicus brief in the case of Hollingsworth V. Perry, in opposition to Proposition 8, which took away equal marriage rights in the state of California.

The brief states that Proposition 8 also eliminated the ability of those seeking equal marriage rights to pursue those rights through their elected representatives.

Prop 8 "literally" violates Constitution, Lambda Legal and GLAD argue in Supreme Court brief

SDGLN Staff
February 28th, 2013

WASHINGTON – Lambda Legal and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) today submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in Hollingsworth v. Perry urging the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm the historic decision by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declaring California's discriminatory Proposition 8 unconstitutional.

BREAKING NEWS: Obama Administration to support marriage equality before Supreme Court

Pete Williams - NBC News
February 28th, 2013

WASHINGTON -- Administration officials say the Justice Department will urge the U.S. Supreme Court to allow same-sex marriage to resume in California, wading into the protracted legal battle over Proposition 8 and giving gay-rights advocates a new court ally.

After first suggesting it would not get involved, the Obama administration will file a friend-of-the-court brief late today in support of the two gay couples who launched the fight over the issue four years ago, the officials said. Today is the last day for filing briefs in support of the couples' position.

Letter to the President: Please file amicus brief in Prop 8 case at Supreme Court

Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA)
February 27th, 2013

(Editor’s note: Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), an openly gay Asian American from Riverside County, has sent this letter to President Barack Obama to encourage him to submit an amicus brief to support marriage equality in the Proposition 8 case that the U.S. Supreme Court will take up on March 26. Obama has until Thursday to file a “friend of the court” brief.)

Dear Mr. President:

Illinois House committee approves marriage equality bill; measure advances to final hurdle

Tony Merevick - Editor-in-chief of Chicago Phoenix
February 27th, 2013

SPRINGFIELD — Marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples is even closer to becoming the law of the land in Illinois.

The Illinois House Executive Committee voted 6-5 to approve a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage Tuesday, setting the stage for the its final showdown in the full House chamber, the bill’s last hurdle before potentially becoming law.

“This is a wonderful moment for the State of Illinois,” said Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), the bill’s chief sponsor in the House, moments after the committee victory.

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