The Marion County coroner’s office is refusing to release Santiago’s body to her partner; the office cited the Defense of Marriage Act as the reason why they’ve turned down Brennon’s request to pick up her loved one’s remains. DOMA allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Brennon had to get her aunt to claim the body of Santiago so she could then turn the remains back over to Brennon so she could make final arrangements. Further proof DOMA needs to be repealed.
Gay High School Student Challenges Pawlenty On Opposition To Marriage Equality: ‘Do You Think I’m A Second Class Citizen?’
(Source: thinkprogress.org)
Same-sex marriage doesn’t hurt straight couples. It doesn’t hurt kids who grow up in loving same-sex families. It doesn’t hurt anyone. DOMA, on the other hand, is an ugly stain on our country. And every day we don’t repeal it is another day we’re making millions of Americans second-class citizens.
“
| — |
Al Franken sign it, homos |
Dear Anna,
There’s no good argument against marriage equality. There’s no good argument for the Defense of Marriage Act, one of the most unfair laws passed in my lifetime. And there’s no good argument for leaving it on the books.
What are we waiting for? The country has evolved —…
(Source: avocadosalad)
“I’m all for equal rights, but…”
bitch, you better shut the fuck up, ‘cause you about to say something ignorant as hell.
“I am not asking everyone out there to love my siblings. I only ask that you respect their right to love and to be loved. The proposed constitutional amendment against them will add to the already long list of cruelties done to them. No one will benefit from this amendment. Instead, by passing it, you will be telling the world it is OK to put another human beings’ rights on a ballot. It is another form of discrimination against people who deal with discrimination every day.
Please show some compassion. Please show some respect. Please show some love.
If it is hard for you to imagine where I am coming from, please close your eyes and imagine your child, brother, sister, mother, father — your loved ones. Now imagine if it was their rights on the line. How would you want them to be treated? How would you vote?”
(Source: avocadosalad)
“When state Sen. Warren Limmer introduced a bill to place a marriage amendment on the 2012 ballot, he declared it was time to let the people decide.
If we do so, we might consider two concepts: the “establishment of religion” and the “tyranny of the majority.”
Establishing religion means establishing the precepts of one religious group as civil law for everyone. Or it means lending the authority of the government to a particular religious view.Americans instinctively resist this and, with good reason, the Bill of Rights forbids it.
In committee hearings about the marriage amendment, many witnesses cited Christian religious reasons to bar same-sex couples from enjoying the benefits of marriage.
One declared she had “come to pray for” the amendment. Another testified that same-sex marriages flout “the intent of Almighty God.” A third cited the creation of Adam and Eve.
Surely these Christian views deserve great respect. But many Minnesotans, in the free exercise of their consciences, are not Christian.”
“A constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota took a decisive step Wednesday toward ending up on the 2012 ballot.After more than three hours of often-emotional debate, the Senate approved the proposed amendment by a vote of 38 to 27. The House, which has not yet taken up the bill, is expected to pass it, as well.Although Gov. Mark Dayton opposes the measure, which defines marriage as solely between a man and a woman, he has no voice in the decision because constitutional amendments do not require a governor’s signature to be placed on the ballot and he can’t veto it.State law already defines marriage as the amendment does, but supporters say the amendment is needed to prevent judges, or a future legislature, from overturning the law.Although DFL majorities have blocked the amendment for years, now that Republicans control both chambers of the Legislature, passage of it seems nearly assured. Opponents dominated the debate, raising objections that ranged across topics that included religion, discrimination and the economic fallout from adopting the amendment.
….”This isn’t going to help a single family in Minnesota, but will discriminate against a lot of them.”“
And now the fight comes to my state
“The memo reads: “Regarding the use of base facilities for same-sex marriages, legal counsel has concluded that generally speaking, base facility use is sexuality orientation neutral. If the base is located in a state where same-sex is legal, then base facilities may normally be used to celebrate the marriage.”
Navy marriages on Navy bases typically involve Navy Chaplains, but the memo goes on to say the chaplains involvement is not mandatory and he or she could decline to participate if gay marriage is not “consistent with the tenets of his or her religious organization.”
(Source: avocadosalad)
