WASHINGTON: State To Convert All Domestic Partnerships To Marriages

Via the Seattle Times:

Thousands of gay and lesbian domestic partners who have not married or legally dissolved their unions by the end of June will have their relationships automatically converted to marriage — courtesy of the state. It’s the final piece of the state’s same-sex marriage law — a provision about which many couples are apparently unaware and one sure to trigger some uncomfortable conversations. Although domestic partnerships are essentially marriage by a different name, “people don’t think of them as the same thing ...” said Jason Holloway, president of QLaw Association, the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender bar association. Those being plunged into matrimony will no doubt include couples who simply hadn’t given it much thought.

Domestic partnerships became available in 2007 and an estimated 6500 couples remain so joined. The automatic June conversion to marriage does not apply to seniors, who may elect to remain in their domestic partnership.

Ill Papa Ratzinger: Same-Sex Marriage Is A Threat To Justice And World Peace

"There is also a need to acknowledge and promote the natural structure of marriage as the union of a man and a woman in the face of attempts to make it juridically equivalent to radically different types of union. Such attempts actually harm and help to destabilize marriage, obscuring its specific nature and its indispensable role in society. These principles are not truths of faith, nor are they simply a corollary of the right to religious freedom. They are inscribed in human nature itself, accessible to reason and thus common to all humanity. The Church's efforts to promote them are not therefore confessional in character, but addressed to all people, whatever their religious affiliation. Efforts of this kind are all the more necessary the more these principles are denied or misunderstood, since this constitutes an offence against the truth of the human person, with serious harm to justice and peace." - Pope Ratzinger, in a message to promote World Peace Day 2013. (Via Gay Star News)

Orthodox Rabbi: Hurricane Sandy Was God's Revenge For New York Gay Marriage

Right Wing Watch has the story:

Rabbi Noson Leiter of Torah Jews for Decency is blaming Hurricane Sandy on gays and lesbians, calling it “divine justice” for New York’s new marriage equality law. Torah Jews for Decency campaigned against marriage equality in New York and New Jersey, worked with Liberty Counsel and New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms in an unsuccessful lawsuit to overturn New York’s marriage law, and has joined with various other Religious Right groups on anti-gay campaigns.

RELATED:  Among Rabbi Leiter's allies in working to thwart same-sex marriage was New York Conservative Party chairman Michael Long, who was long known as "the man who is single-handedly blocking gay marriage" in New York state.  Along with Leitner, Long has been working with NOM to "punish renegade Republicans" who supported the ultimately successful 2011 bill.  On Monday night, Michael Long's home burned to the ground along with more than 80 other homes in Breezy Point, Queens.  We presume that Long will not be amused with Rabbi Leitner's claim that God has punished him.

SPAIN: New Government Working To Reverse Progressive Reforms

Spain's Popular Party was elected late last year in a landslide and they are already working to reverse the many progressive reforms made by the Socialists. Gay marriage isn't yet openly up for repeal, but observers worry that day is coming soon.

People's Party rising star Justice Minister Alberto Ruíz Gallardón, a former mayor of Madrid and one of the most popular politicians in Spain, announced he would soon introduce a bill to overturn the changes the Socialists made to Spain's abortion law, reverting to the 1985 version.

According to the current version, approved in 2010, teenagers aged 16 and older can have an abortion without parental permission in some cases and don’t need to meet pre-approved circumstances, such as rape or mental illness, as long as it’s during the first trimester. The People's Party's reforms will reverse both changes, Mr. Gallardón reiterated in a radio interview on Feb. 1, although he didn’t offer specifics other than it would mirror the 1985 version of the law.

And on Jan. 30, Education Minister José Ignacio Wert announced that a new law would replace the civic education curriculum that Socialist introduced in 2006, which included lessons on religious, racial, and sexual tolerance that were loudly criticized by the Catholic Church and the country’s extreme right. Mr. Wert said he would eliminate “issues that controversial and susceptible to ideological indoctrination,” although he didn’t offer more details.

The Popular Party's new dominance of the legislature effectively means that it can institute any changes it wants to without interference.

CALIFORNIA: Three Marines Face Charges In Alleged Marriage Scam

Three Marine corporals stationed at Camp Pendleton are facing charges over allegedly sham marriages created in part, those charged say, to evade the restrictions of DOMA.

The scam was hatched when a lesbian couple, one a Marine and the other a civilian, decided to live together off base, according to 1st Lt. Maureen Dooley, a Marine spokeswoman at Camp Pendleton. The female Marine found a male Marine willing to get married, allowing them to collect a $1,200 housing benefit, Dooley said. The civilian woman also eventually married a male Marine and collected government funds, according to officials.

The corporals, assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Camp Pendleton, will face fraud and larceny charges, Dooley said, adding that other charges could come later. It was not clear whether the civilian woman would face charges, but the military would not have jurisdiction in such a case, Dooley said. "It doesn't matter what their sexual preferences are, if they're violating the law and making fraudulent use of government money, they will be held accountable," Dooley said. In addition to the charges, the three Marines could have to pay back $75,000 to the military.

The female Marine, Cpl. Ashley Vice, told San Diego's KGTV-TV Friday that she and her partner, Jaime Murphy, were forced to enter sham marriages because the military does not provide allowances for unmarried couples and they couldn't afford to live off base without the extra money. She and her partner only wanted to "be a family," Vice said.

Only legally married military couples are eligible for the housing allowance. Thanks to DOMA, that will not change even with the repeal of DADT. The three Marines face a year in jail.

(Tipped by JMG reader Bill)

My Uncle's Wedding

Just released is My Uncle's Wedding, a new book intended to explain same-sex marriage to kids ages 4-8 who may be invited to attend the ceremony.

"This children's book is the perfect gift for any child who loves a good story and especially children with gay people in their family," said Molly McKay, National Media Director for Marriage Equality USA. "The author approaches the subject of same-sex marriage with a child's sensitivity and sensibility, and the beautiful illustrations are sure to be enjoyed by kids and parents alike." The message in the book is one of love and equality, but it is handled well and without being preachy. The protagonist observes the proceedings with childlike innocence, simply accepting that his two uncles love each other and should celebrate that. It's no different from any other wedding. And at no point does the story feel heavy-handed.

My Uncle's Wedding is now on sale via Amazon and the above link. Get ready for the wingers to start screaming about "indoctrination."

Iceland Approves Gay Marriage

Today Iceland's parliament voted unanimously to legalize gay marriage!

Iceland, the only country in the world to have an openly gay head of state, passed a law on Friday allowing same-sex partners to get married in a vote which met with no political resistance. The Althingi parliament voted 49 to zero to change the wording of marriage legislation to include matrimony between "man and man, woman and woman," in addition to unions between men and women. Iceland, a socially tolerant island nation of about 320,000 people, became the first country to elect an openly gay head of state in 2009 when Social Democrat Johanna Sigurdardottir became prime minister after being nominated by her party. "The attitude in Iceland is fairly pragmatic," said Gunnar Helgi Kristinsson, a political scientist at the University of Iceland. "It (gay marriage) has not been a big issue in national politics -- it's not been controversial."

Til hamingju, Iceland!

HomoQuotable - Evan Wolfson

"Phrases such as "gay marriage" or "same-sex marriage" imply that same-sex couples are asking for something other than marriage. They imply that same-sex couples deserve something different or lesser than the security, protections, safety-net, and respect that married couples cherish. And they play into the right-wing's fear-mongering that gay people are a threat to marriage, that equality and inclusion would somehow unacceptably "redefine" the law (in a country dedicated to those very values), and that "Defense of Marriage" is the answer to committed couples seeking to participate in a precious institution.

[snip]

"Much as we want people to understand that the words gay and marriage do belong together, we don't want “gay marriage.” It's the freedom to marry that matters – for all of us – and the way to secure it is by talking to others. And it's the personal ask – each one of us raising our voice and not just assuming that those around us are there, or can't get there – that makes all the difference. Turn to the people in your life now, and say, "Happy Freedom to Marry Week!" - Freedom To Marry head Evan Wolfson, pleading for a change in terminology. This is Freedom To Marry Week and today was Freedom To Marry Day.

While Wolfson and others have been asking for an end to the usage of "gay marriage" and "same-sex marriage" for a long time, I haven't seen much of a response in the popular vernacular and only occasionally use "marriage equality" on this here website thingy. Wolfson's point, however, is well-taken.