Marriage Momentum Round-Up
Last week, I wrote about the incredible momentum we're seeing for marriage, even in the reddest states. But in just a few days, I was already out-of-date.
The progress being made on marriage is happening so fast, it's unlike anything we've ever seen in the LGBT movement. I never thought I'd say this, but it's hard to keep up.
In case you're finding it difficult to track all the developments, here's a quick run-down of everything that's happened just in the last week:
- A federal judge declared Virginia's ban on marriage for same-sex couples unconstitutional in what the New York Times calls "the strongest legal reversal yet of restrictive marriage amendments that exist throughout the South." The decision was stayed so marriages won't begin as the case is being appealed, but this ruling is historic as it's a huge step forward in the conservative south. Congratulations to our friends at American Foundation for Equal Rights and Equality Virginia!
- Virginia isn't the only southern state with big news. A federal judge struck down Kentucky's ban on recognizing marriages of same-sex couples performed in other states. Although the ruling doesn't mean that same-sex couples can marry in Kentucky, it does require the state to honor marriages performed elsewhere, paving the way for Fairness Campaign to continue the conversation about why marriage matters for all Kentucky families. Here's more.
- In Louisiana, Forum for Equality and four same-sex couples are challenging the state's marriage ban. They've filed a federal lawsuit charging that the state’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriage violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection and due process. The Shreveport Times has the story.
- The ACLU of Missouri, with the support of PROMO, has filed suit against the state of Missouri on behalf of eight couples, charging that its constitutional ban on same-sex marriage is discriminatory. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "The suit is asking the state to validate the marriages of all gay couples in Missouri who were wed in other states or countries where same-sex marriage is legal."
- In Nevada, a coalition in support of marriage equality launched Freedom Nevada, a campaign push to get the Legislature in 2015 and voters in 2016 to change the state constitution to extend marriage to same-sex couples. The launch comes after the attorney general and governor announced that the state would no longer defend its 2002 ban on same-sex marriage in federal court. Here's the full story.
- Wisconsin's constitutional ban on marriage for gay couples is facing a legal challenge in federal court, but two Milwaukee lawmakers, in partnership with Fair Wisconsin, launched an effort to get the legislature to end the state's seven-year-old amendment. The proposal must be approved by lawmakers in two consecutive sessions and then must be approved by voters in a statewide referendum. More details from the Journal Sentinel in Milwaukee.
- With the support of Equality Alabama, the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the state’s Marriage Protection Act, a 1998 law that bans the recognition of same-sex marriages from other states, and the Sanctity of Marriage Amendment, which enshrined this ban in the constitution in 2005. Here are details from the SPLC.
- After months of work, Freedom Indiana and Indiana Equality Action are celebrating. They kept a proposed marriage ban off the ballot in 2014. Now the earliest the proposal could appear before voters is 2016, and the campaign is still fighting. Learn more from Freedom Indiana.
- Attorney General Eric Holder announced more critical protections for same-sex couples regardless of where they live, including equal treatment in court proceedings, prison visitation and law-enforcement benefit programs. Here's the story from Politico.
Across the country, Federation members are working with legal groups and national partners to make this unparalleled progress happen. We can't wait to see what's next.