Marriage

16 June 2008 -- Thousands of same-sex couples are expected to wed in California following the state's Supreme Court ruling that overturned a ban on gay marriage.

State officials will issue the first marriage licenses at 5pm local time.

In a four to three decision in May, the California Supreme Court ruled against a voter-approved law that restricted marriage to a man and woman.

The court said the state constitution's guarantee of equal rights gives same-sex couples the right to marry.

California voters will have a chance to overturn the court ruling in November when they vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to limit marriage to a man and a woman.

Twenty-seven U.S. states have amended their constitutions to limit marriage to a union between a man and a woman.    » read more »

29 May 2008 -- New York Governor David Paterson is directing state agencies to recognize same-sex marriages legally performed in other states and countries, though the practice is not legal in New York.

The directive issued earlier this month orders agencies, such as those that regulate health care and insurance, to update their rules to accommodate gay couples.

Paterson's office based the order on a February state court ruling that said New York must recognize the marriage of a woman and her female partner who wed in Canada.    » read more »

May 15, 2008 -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issued the following statement on the California Supreme Court decision to overturn the state's anti-marriage ban:

"The Supreme Court of California today took a step forward in the long march toward protecting equal rights under the law for every American. This should not be a matter of politics or partisanship; it is a matter of protecting the rights and dignity of all American families."

Source: DNC

Valentine's Day Weekend Marathon Featuring The Loves Of "General Hospital's" Robin Scorpio Gives Fans A Unique Way To Propose Marriage -- The Answer is “Yes”

Aug 30, 2007 -- Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement on the court decision striking down Iowa's Defense of Marriage Act:

"The ruling in Iowa today is another example of an activist court and unelected judges trying to redefine marriage and disregard the will of the people as expressed through Iowa's Defense of Marriage Act. This once again highlights the need for a Federal Marriage Amendment to protect the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman."

Source: Mitt Romney campaign

Says we need to rebuild the family, not redefine marriage

August 31, 2007 -- DES MOINES – U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, the nation's leading defender of traditional marriage, commented today on an Iowa judge's decision to redefine marriage to include same-sex unions:    » read more »

Aug 27, 2007 -- “While I am focused on the safety and welfare of Arkansas’s children, there does not appear to be an imminent crisis that requires calling the legislature into a special session for the Arkansas marriage age law. Additional legislation will eventually be needed to fix the drafting error that was made in this bill.

However, the legislature clearly intended to protect children, not put them at risk. Historically, the courts, and especially the Arkansas Supreme Court, have repeatedly used common sense in cases where bill-drafting errors have created absurdities.    » read more »