|
WINDY CITY TIMES
|
|
|
President Obama: Constitution guarantees right to marry
From a Human Rights Campaign press release
2014-10-21
|
|
This article shared 2723 times since Tue Oct 21, 2014
|
|
WASHINGTON — In an interview with The New Yorker's Jeffrey Toobin, President Obama has for the first time announced he believes the U.S. Constitution guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry in all fifty states. This is a stark progression from the President's previous position, which to allow each state to decide the issue individually. President Obama told Toobin, "Ultimately, I think the Equal Protection Clause does guarantee same-sex marriage in all fifty states."
"The President's position on marriage equality is supported by dozens of federal court rulings over the last year, which have ruled discriminatory state bans on marriage unconstitutional," said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin. "America's core values of liberty and equality under the law were enshrined in our Constitution by our founders to protect those who face inequality inflicted by the majority. It's only a matter of time before committed and loving gay and lesbian couples can legally marry in every corner of this great nation."
The President's previous position allowed states to continue enforcing discriminatory laws and state constitutional amendments that prohibit same-sex couples from legally marrying. Those bans have been struck down as unconstitutional by dozens of state and federal court rulings across the country in recent months and years. Four such rulings out of the Fourth, Seventh and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals were allowed to stand by the Supreme Court of the United States earlier this month. While all of the rulings vary slightly in the legal justification for striking down the bans, all point to either the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of equal protection or due process under the Fourteenth Amendment.
In May 2012, President Obama became the first sitting President of the United States to announce support for marriage rights for same-sex couples. Viewed in full, President Obama's legacy of achievement is unmatched in history: three landmark pieces of legislation; 90 significant policy or regulatory changes, including the largest conferral of rights in history to LGBT people via the implementation of the Windsor decision; and 15 federal judicial and seven ambassadorial appointments of openly LGBT people.
|
|
|
|
This article shared 2723 times since Tue Oct 21, 2014
|
ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE |
---|
|
| | WORLD Queer-friendly spots, religion items, Argentine protests, Iraqi bill 2024-04-26 - Following a travel warning issued for LGBTQ+ tourists in Greece, euronews published a list of the European spots that are most welcoming to queer people. Even though same-sex marriage was recently legalized in Greece, the British ...
|
| | WORLD Nigeria arrest, Chilean murderer, trans ban, Olivier Awards, marriage items 2024-04-19 - Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's (EFCC's) decision to arrest well-known transgender woman Idris Okuneye (also known as Bobrisky) over the practice of flaunting money has sparked questions among several ...
|
| | WORLD Lesbian sniper, HIV research, marriage items, Chinese singer, Korean festival 2024-04-05 - A lesbian Ukrainian sniper and her machine-gun-toting girlfriend are taking the fight to Russia President Vladimir Putin, according to a Daily Beast article. Olga—a veterinarian-turned-soldier—said her comrades don't care about ...
|
| | Thailand parliament passes landmark marriage bill 2024-03-27 - On March 27, Thailand's parliament approved a marriage-equality bill by an overwhelmingly large margina landmark step that moves one of Asia's most liberal countries closer to legalizing same-sex unions, media ...
|
| | NATIONAL Va. marriage bill, AARP, online counseling, Idaho items, late activist 2024-03-21 - Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed bills protecting same-sex marriages at a state level, surprising some, WRIC reported. The billspassed out of both chambers along mostly party lineswill require clerks ...
|
| | Greek legislature approves marriage equality 2024-02-15 - Greece has become the 36th country, and the first Christian Orthodox-majority one, to legalize same-sex marriage. The BBC reported that same-sex couples will now also be legally allowed to adopt children after the 176-76 vote that ...
|
| | Tenn. legislators back bill that lets officials refuse to perform same-sex weddings 2024-02-15 - Defying a national ruling that authorized marriage equality, Tennessee lawmakers approved a measure that would allow public officials to refuse to perform weddings of same-sex couples, The Hill reported. Tennessee's House Bill 878/Senate Bill 596 says ...
|
| | WORLD Marriage in Greece, UK politics, cruise death, HRC grants 2024-02-02 - The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece unanimously agreed at a recent meeting that it is "strongly opposed" to the Greek government's promised bill on same-sex marriage and adoption, Balkan Insight reported. The conservative New ...
|
| | NATIONAL Marriage news, fighting fentanyl, anti-LGBTQ+ crimes, Grindr 2024-02-02 - The Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill that would affirm marriage equality in the state, The Washington Blade noted. House Bill 174, introduced by state Del. Rozia Henson (D-Prince William County), passed in the Democratic-controlled ...
|
| | WORLD Activist honored, marriages in Estonia, Madrid law, trans sports item 2024-01-05 Video below - The National AIDS Commission (NAC) recently honored Caleb Orozco—a leading figure in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in Belize—for his instrumental contributions to the national HIV response, BNN reported. According ...
|
| | Catholic Church allows priests to bless same-sex couples but reaffirms disapproval of gay marriage 2023-12-22 - LGBTQ+ couples can now receive blessings from priests, but the Catholic Church maintained its strict ban on gay marriage, according to a Vatican document approved by Pope Francis Dec. 18. This historic change in doctrine marks ...
|
| | Greek government vows to back marriage equality 2023-12-22 - Despite opposition from the Church of Greece and within the ruling New Democracy, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government said it will eventually move to legalize same-sex marriage, The National Herald reported. However, no timetable was ...
|
| | Dignity/Chicago welcomes new rule on church blessings for same-sex marriages 2023-12-18 --From a press release - Dignity/Chicago, the advocacy organization for LGBTQI Catholics and friends, welcomed the news that the Vatican's doctrinal office has officially declared it possible for Catholic priests to bless same-sex unions and ...
|
| | New Ways Ministry: Pope's blessings approval is Christmas gift to LGBTQ+ Catholics 2023-12-18 --From a press release - MOUNT RAINIER, Maryland—Statement by Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director, New Ways Ministry: Pope Francis gave LGBTQ+ Catholics an early Christmas gift this year by approving blessings for same-gender couples. The Vatican ...
|
| | Pope Francis changes policy, allowing priests to bless same-sex unions; GLAAD responds 2023-12-18 --From a press release - GLAAD: "By removing barriers to priests blessing LGBTQ couples, the Pope accurately recognizes that LGBTQ people and our relationships are worthy of the same affirmation and support in the Church, and this strengthens couples in their ...
| |
|
|
|
|