I have written often that there are certain (universal) rights that should supersede local culture and customs. For instance, I believe that the patriarchal custom of the wearing of burqas can be banned because it is a detriment to women’s equality. So, what should I think about South African President Jacob Zuma marrying his third [...]
Filed under: Burqa and Other Veils, International, Same-sex Marriage | Tagged: Jacob Zuma, Polygamy, Same-sex Marriage | 3 Comments »
The Mexico City government voted 39-20 to allow people of the same sex to marry and to adopt children. The law is being rewritten to redefine “marriage” as a “free union between two people.” Mayor Marcelo Ebrard is expected to sign the bill into law. Thus, Mexico City is the first Latin American city or [...]
Filed under: International, Same-sex Marriage | Tagged: Mexico City, same-sex adoption, Same-sex Marriage | 1 Comment »
This morning, Adrian Fenty, Mayor of Washington, DC signed the gay marriage bill into law. Last week the DC Council passed the piece of legislation, and today is another step closer to same-sex couples legally getting married. Said Fenty, “We’ve set the tone for other jurisdictions to follow in creating an open and inclusive city.” [...]
Filed under: GLBT, Law, Same-sex Marriage | Tagged: DC, Fenty, gay marriage, LGBTQ, Same-sex Marriage | Leave a Comment »
Spain’s Congress of Deputies voted 184-158 to approve a bill that will allow abortion without restrictions up to 14 weeks. It allows 16- and 17-year-olds to have abortions without parental consent, eliminates the threat of imprisonment, and declares abortion to be a woman’s right. The bill will now go to the Senate, where it is [...]
Filed under: Abortion, International, Same-sex Marriage | Tagged: Abortion, Same-sex Marriage, Spain, Zapatero | 1 Comment »
Two days ago I wrote about how NY State had voted down a same-sex marriage bill. After impassioned commentary from some senators, including the widely-circulated Diane Savino speech shown below, the State Senate disappointed millions by voting against civil rights. In the aftermath, I’ve learned disturbing information about one NY Democrat who cast his vote [...]
Filed under: GLBT, Marriage, Politics, Religion, Same-sex Marriage, Violence | Tagged: Gay rights, hiram monserrate, LGBTQ, Same-sex Marriage | 2 Comments »
Bad news from my state: the NY Senate has voted down a same-sex marriage bill that would have allowed gay marriage in the state. The bill was also voted down by a wider margin than expected– 38 to 24. One of the state senators who supported the bill, Tom Duane, the first openly gay on [...]
Filed under: GLBT, Politics, Same-sex Marriage | Tagged: Gay rights, LGBTQ, Marriage, ny, Same-sex Marriage | Leave a Comment »
Spain permitted same-sex marriage almost five years ago. Now, it is “likely” that Portugal’s Socialist government will also allow same-sex marriage within a few months. This comes about because of the Socialist Party’s gains in the September elections, in which it captured 97 of Parliament’s 230 seats. With support from members of the Left Bloc [...]
Filed under: International, Law, Same-sex Marriage | Tagged: Portugal, Same-sex Marriage | 1 Comment »
There has been a great legal victory for custody disputes involving same-sex parents. Lisa Miller and Janet Jenkins were partners and the parents of Isabella Miller, who is now seven years old. Miller was the biological parent. Jenkins was recognized by a court as the second parent. The two split in 2003 and, Miller “renounced [...]
Filed under: GLBT, Same-sex Marriage | Tagged: Gay rights, Same-sex Parents | Leave a Comment »
The Catholic bishops have upped the ante in their fight to stop abortion and same-sex marriage. It wasn’t enough for them to threaten the Washington, DC, government with a cut-off in services by church groups if DC went through with its plan to allow same-sex marriage appears. The bishops then put out a “pastoral letter” [...]
Filed under: Abortion, Politics, Religion, Same-sex Marriage | Tagged: Abortion, Catholic Church, Evangelicals, Same-sex Marriage | 7 Comments »
I’ve had a lot of negative things to say about the Catholic Church–my latest being this. And Emily wrote earlier today about the church’s political heavy-handedness in the health care legislation and quoted Katha Pollitt for the church’s violation of the ” spirit of the ban on electoral meddling by tax-exempt religious institutions.” She also [...]
Filed under: Abortion, Politics, Religion, Same-sex Marriage | Tagged: Abortion, Catholic Church, Health Care, Religion, Same-sex Marriage | Leave a Comment »
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