The Latest News Same Sex Marriages

So, I don’t know about you, but I finally feel like I can take a huge deep breath.  It is wonderful!  There is still a long way to go to put our world back on track, but Biden has shown that he is not only supportive of the LGBTQ community but he's putting words into action.

This article demonstrates how Biden’s administration may be the most inclusive for all including the LGBTQ community in our entire history!  We will have the first openly LGBTQ cabinet member confirmed by the Senate. There are many that also are encouraging Biden; if the opportunity arises for him to appoint the first openly LGBTQ Justice to the Supreme Court.  That would be amazing!!

Kamala Harris’s openly lesbian Chief of Staff has been announced as the Deputy Press Secretary for the new administration. This is so encouraging.  My only hope is that this new administration can quickly undo many of the terrible wrongs, outright discrimination and backward steps taken by the last administration.

Tomorrow, February 1st, starts the beginning of LGBTQ history month. LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 is the initialization for Lesbian Gay Bisexual, Transgender and Queer. The month of February provides a time to celebrate and reflect on the accomplishments and history of our community as well as to honor those trailblazers who came before us, and also to look to the future to protect and expand our rights.

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Molly Swamy, latestly(dot)com
Royalty-free photo courtesy of UnSplash

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Gratefully the new administration is off to a great start:  President Biden is reversing much of the cruel, inhuman and discriminatory deregularization that affects LGBTQ individual Americans profoundly.  Trump's actions made it permissive to freely and broadly discriminate against individuals from the LGBTQ community.   

Biden’s executive order essentially calls on federal agencies to broadly apply last year’s landmark Bostock ruling, which expanded the definition of sex discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation as well as gender identity. Notably, the executive order included the line, “Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports,” and stated that Bostock should also apply to Title IX, the federal law that prohibits discrimination in federally funded schools.

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Esther Wang, Jezebel.  Photo courtesy of Drew Angerer (Getty Images)

This article is a lovely summary of the history of LGBTQ milestones in the United States, and gives a concise timeline of how LGBTQ rights have developed over time.  It also identifies and explains the LGBTQ as well as LGBTQIA acronyms and what they mean. 

The article does, however, fail to mention all the damage that the Trump Administration did and attempted to do to LGBTQ rights.  Fortunately the new administration is hard at work undoing and restoring the rights of the LGBTQ community.  Unfortunately there is still a lot of healing and enlightenment that needs to occur in our community and country to embrace all of our fellow citizens, regardless of their beliefs and/or identity.

Selected excerpt(s), photo and linked article courtesy of CNN Newsource.

The Marriage Equality Act was signed into Law in New York which has now given the LGBTQ Community the Marriage Equality and Dignity and Respect it deserves by recognizing same sex couples in all areas of Law in the State of New York.  The Estates, Powers and Trust Laws and the Surrogate Court Procedure now must comply and recognize same sex couples.  This is wonderful news for our community!

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Olivia Jaquith WENY News.

The threats. The fights. The sacrifices. The behind-the-scenes story of the landmark 2011 law.

This article gives a very interesting insight to the behind the scenes efforts and complications of getting the bill to legalize same sex marriages in New York.  As in many political matters, what sometimes appears to be easily achieved, can be much more complicated and precarious in actually having it accomplished.  There are so many factors that come into play.  It's amazing that the legislature ever gets anything passed.

Selected excerpt(s), photo and linked article courtesy of Rebecca C. Lewis of City & State New York and Louis Lanzano/AP/Shutterstock

Same sex marriage has been a frequent topic in the news recently. Statistics show views on the subject are changing. Pew Research reports that a very noticeable shift occurred around 2011, when more people polled in American supported rather than opposed same sex marriage for the first time in recent history. According to Wikipedia, In the United States, same-sex marriage is recognized by the federal government and has been legalized in 37 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and 21 Native American tribal jurisdictions. More than 70% of the USA populations live in jurisdictions where same-sex couples can legally marry.

The opportunity for same sex couples to legally marry has been compared to the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. Many experts are predicting that within a short period of time, same sex marriage will be the law of the land throughout the entire United States. More and more judges are ruling that marriage is a fundamental right and soon, this right could be protected by federal law.

Advocates Moving Legal Approval Forward
The issue has recently received support from Theodor Olson, a former US solicitor general appointed under President George W. Bush, and Democrat activist David Boise. The pair’s goal is to advance the issue and argue that marriage discrimination is unconstitutional. They consider same sex marriage to be the defining civil rights issue of our current generation. Just recently in October 2014, the Supreme Court denied petitions to review several federal appeals cases that had ruled in favor of same sex couples in several states, including Utah. The decision resulted in the federal court ruling that same sex couples were constitutionally guaranteed a right to marriage.

Changes throughout the Country
Most recently on February 9, 2015, Alabama was in the spotlight concerning its same sex marriage laws. Same sex marriage had been banned by executive order in the state in 1996, which was later followed up by a law two years later. A state Constitutional amendment was approved by 81% of voters in the state in 2006. All of the bans were repealed in January 2015 by US District Judge Callie Granade. She ordered the state to recognize same sex marriages, placing a stay on her ruling until February 9 to allow the state to prepare. State Attorney General Luther Strange petitioned for an extension of the stay, but the Supreme Court declined to intervene. The incident allowed Alabama to become the 37th state to allow same sex marriage. State judges began issuing marriage licenses within hours of the decision and there were couples lined up outside of court houses throughout the state.

Future of Same Sex Marriage
Same sex marriages are still banned in Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Tennessee, and bans are under review in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, South Dakota, and Texas. The Supreme Court is preparing to hear additional cases on same sex marriage throughout the year, but most experts agree the trend will continue and it won’t be long until equal marriage rights are granted throughout the country.

Important Issues Still Exist
Although there are definite benefits and legal protections afforded by same sex marriage today, by no means, is same sex marriage afforded the total equalities of the existing protections for other marriages. Contrary to some thoughts, same sex marriage does not necessarily costs savings for same sex couples. It is important that you consult with an account to understand the dynamics of the impact of a same sex marriage because in actuality it could cost same sex couples more than they anticipated to be married. One example is with employee holding based upon health care deductions for health insurance could create a situation where as a result of the marriage, the person receiving the benefit could actually have to now pay back certain portions of benefits. In addition, many people have not contemplated what happens once couples decide to retire and possibly relocate. If you are in a state that recognizes same sex marriage, what happens if you decide to move to a state that does not recognize same sex marriage. If you are not in pay status for your retirement and social security benefits, this could impact whether the benefit afforded by legalized marriages flows to your partner in a state that does not recognize same, especially if you do not retire prior to moving there. In addition, it also creates questions and consequences with respect to children of a same sex marriage, whether they are born into the marriage after the marriage or adopted and whether a second parent adoption has been done. For states that do not recognize same sex marriage, if there is no second adoption, the non-named parent of the marriage may have no legal rights with respect to the children. These are just a few of the many questions that could arise from same sex marriages since it is not legalized and recognized nationwide. Sources: http://www.pewresearch.org/data-trend/domestic-issues/attitudes-on-gay-marriage/ http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/supreme-court-refuses-stay-alabama-sex-marriage-ban/ http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/10/06/3576337/the-supreme-court-just-quietly-made-marriage-equality-the-law-of-the-land-in-many-states/ http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/28/us/same-sex-marriage-fast-facts/index.html

I love this article on where to find meaningful LGBTQ Monuments Around the World.

I personally know some...this is a fabulous guide!  I am also looking forward and proud that NYC has announced it will be erecting the Johnson-Rivera monument in 2021, which will stand as the world’s first permanent public artwork dedicated to transgender women.

Public memorials honoring figures from the LGBTQ community say a lot about a city’s culture.

Selected excerpt(s) and linked article courtesy of Kelsy Chauvin, Afar.  Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.