On Facebook, couples can describe themselves as "in a civil union" or "in a domestic partnership."
In what's being lauded as a victory for the LGBT community, Facebook has added civil unions and domestic partnerships as relationship statuses for users in the United States, Canada the United Kingdom, France and Australia. The feature, which went into effect last Thursday, allows you to choose either of those options (or "in a Civil Partnership," for those in the UK), in the drop-down menu of familiar statuses like "Married," "in a Relationship," and "it's Complicated."
In a protest FOR gay marriage, a pair of Brits are denied the back of the bus.
A couple comprised of one Tom Freeman and one Katherine Doyle have had their world turned upside down. A little back story: in London, a homosexual couple can commit to each other in the eyes of the law and of the crown by way of civil union, whereas a heterosexual pair must have a wedding. But Doyle and Freeman would prefer a civil union to a plain Jane marriage.
With gay marriage on a roll in other states, New York lawmakers will address the topic, too.
Is New York ready for same-sex marriage? Gov. David Paterson thinks so.
Paterson announced a proposal today to allow same-sex marriage in the Empire State.
DC Council also votes to recognize gay unions from other states.
Hot on the heels of last week's Iowa Supreme Court ruling that a ban on gay marriage there was unconstitutional, Vermont has also legalized same-sex marriage.
The New England State, which in 2000 became the first in the country to adopt civil unions for gay couples, came to the decision today when the Vermont Legislature successfully overrode Governor Jim Douglas's veto of a bill allowing gay couples to marry.
With this decision, Vermont becomes the first state to legalize gay marriage through a legislative action, rather than a court ruling, and the fourth state overall to legalize same-sex marriages. The other states, in addition to Iowa, are Massachusetts and Connecticut.
The state Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision that Connecticut's previously approved civil unions are unconstitutional and discriminatory. The dissenting opinion argued that the "regulation of procreation," which it said includes defining marriage as a union between a man and woman, should be left to the state legislature instead of the courts.
Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels sing wedding bells.
Okay so excuse me if I'm wrong, but haven't Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels been married for a while now? I thought they were one of those couples like Rosie and other famous gay celebs who ran off to San Fran or Massachussetts and got hitched. Well, Lesbianlife claims they did tie the knot back in 2003, but it was only a civil union. However, according to Reuters, Etheridge has just recently announced their plans to be a "real" married couple (conveniently before the Proposition 8 decision) to celeb TV show Extra.
Gay marriage news from Greece, Australia, and the Lutherans.
Well, every week there's something new and noteworthy in the world of gay marriage. And from now on, every Thursday we're going to hit the highlights and lowlights of previous 7 days of gay marriage. This week Australia, Greece, and the Lutherans had news.
Monroe County doesn't feel a recent court decision applies to them.
A New York court recently rule (5-0, we might add) that weddings that took place in Canada are valid in the NY. Even if these marriages are of the gay variety. Though state law defines marriage as between one man and one woman. This may get interesting.
Since the law went into effect on Jan 1 nearly 100 couples have been joined.
The state of New Hampshire began allowing civil unions on January 1st. In the two weeks since, nearly 100 couples have been joined under the law. People have been able to get the license since December 10th and most of the people to receive them have been residents of New Hampshire. Just a guess here, but this probably will not undermine heterosexual marriages.
