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Indiana Senate passes anti-gay amendment
Indiana's Senate has approved a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would limit marriage to opposite-sex couples.
The Republican-controlled Senate passed the measure on a 39-9 vote.
Indiana already has a law restricting marriage but state conservatives fear it could be overturned in court. Republicans say that only a constitutional amendment would prevent the courts from doing that.
The proposed constitutional amendment would block domestic partner benefits from being offered to state employees or institutions funded by the state, say opponents.
The Senate vote sends the measure to the House, which is controlled by Democrats.
Leaders in the House say the amendment is not needed.
House Rules committee Chair Scott Pelath (D) said he is not planning on holding hearings on the measure.
"We have a very serious problem with the property tax system and we don't have any gay marriages in Indiana," he told reporters earlier this month.
Speaker Patrick Bauer (D) has said repeatedly that an amendment is not needed because same-sex marriages are already banned under Indiana law.
Source: (365Gay.com) |
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Oregon gay couples protest delay in partner law
Hundreds of same-sex couples from throughout Oregon braved snowy mountain passes and rainy Portland streets to protest a court ordered delay in implementing the state's domestic partnership law.
The law was to have gone into effect on New Year's Day, but on Dec. 28 a federal judge placed on hold on the law until a hearing is held on the constitutionality of the legislation.
The rally in support of the partnership law was organized by LGBT civil rights group Basic Rights Oregon.
Whichever way US District Judge Michael Mosman rules in the case, the decision is likely to be appealed, effectively tying up the legislature for months or longer.
The law would allow same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples unable to marry to form legally recognized partnerships.
Couples who register would be guaranteed the right to visit partners in hospital and make medical decisions, file joint state tax returns, and have joint health insurance plans or take sick leave to care for their partners.
The law was passed after a legal battle for gay marriage failed.
The issue of same-sex marriage in the state arose in March 2004 when Multnomah County began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Soon after, the county was ordered to stop, but not before 3,000 marriage licenses had been granted.
The constitutional amendment, known as Measure 36, was passed that November.
In 2005 the state Supreme Court ruled the amendment legal and efforts to enact the domestic partner registry began.
Source: (365Gay.com) |
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Cost of the War in Iraq
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| Quote of the Week |
| " Total US deaths in Afghanistan have doubled under President Obama, and when the next US soldier is reported dead, the majority of US deaths in Afghanistan will have occurred under President Obama. " |
-- Robert Naiman, truthout, 8/16/2010.
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