Feminism Helped Pave the Way for Marriage Equality
The Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality is, as President Obama declared in his remarks following the ruling, “a victory for America.” It’s also a major win for feminism.
Audrey Bilger
President, Reed College
Marriage Equality Forecast: Victory Is Near!
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has taken up the broad question of whether marriage is a constitutionally protected right for same-sex couples, a nationwide victory may be less than two months away.
Marriage Equality Keeps on Winning
Six months ago, when Marc Solomon went to press with his new book, Winning Marriage: The Inside Story of How Same-Sex Couples Took on the Politicians and Pundits—and Won, there were 17 states with marriage equality and the movement was gaining ground at an unprecedented pace. In recounting the struggles that led to that point, Solomon, a long-time fighter for lesbian and gay marriage rights, expressed amazement at how far the country had come and how much progress had been achieved.
The Case Against 8: Love Conquers All
This time last year, the nation held its breath waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on two major marriage equality cases—and on June 26, 2013, SCOTUS declared both the federal Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional. In the months since that decision came down, support for marriage rights for lesbians and gay men has continued to grow, as ban after ban gets struck down, and couple after couple says, “I do.”
Utah Marriage Equality on Hold: What’s Next?
The news yesterday that the U.S. Supreme Court has put same-sex marriages in Utah on hold was disappointing to all supporters of marriage equality. For Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the case struck home even more than usual. A Utah native, Kendell and the NCLR had been supporting the Kitchen v. Herbert federal challenge to the state’s marriage ban, Amendment 3, and so she was overjoyed when, on December 20, U.S District Judge Robert J. Shelby ruled that lesbians and gay men should be allowed the right to marry.
The Marriage Equality Victories of 2013
This year will long be remembered as a watershed for marriage equality in the United States. With big wins at the Supreme Court, and the number of states approving marriage rights for same-sex couples rising to 17, this major civil rights struggle is on the path to its logical and democratic conclusion.
If you’re having trouble keeping track of all the good news, here’s our year-end wrap-up to help make your holiday season merry and bright.
We’re Glad That Marriage Equality Makes Alito and Scalia Mad
Today’s Supreme Court marriage decisions are big news for all U.S. citizens who care about equality. Not only do the rulings affirm the democratic principle of equal rights for all, they also signal a victory for the idea of equality within marriage—whether you’re gay or straight. The battle lines in these cases have to do with competing models of marriage, as Justice Samuel Alito made clear in his dissent against the overturning of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
What Scalia Says About Gay People
As we wait for the Supreme Court decisions on marriage equality to come down in June, commentators have been dissecting the oral arguments and making predictions about the possible outcomes. But there’s one SCOTUS judge who leaves no doubt about how he will rule: Justice Antonin Scalia will undoubtedly vote against gay rights. He disapproves of homosexuality and believes that gay people are immoral. He has made his views emphatically clear, not just from the bench but also in various public forums.
Opponents of Marriage Equality Want to Control Straight Men
Who would have expected the argument against same-sex marriage to hinge on male fertility? But such was the case yesterday when attorney Charles Cooper uttered that statement to explain the meaning of “responsible procreation,” the central argument he advanced in favor of prohibiting same-sex marriages in his defense of California’s Proposition 8 at yesterday’s Supreme Court hearing.
Three Arguments Against Same-Sex Marriage (And Why They Will Fail)
As two landmark cases make their way to the U.S. Supreme Court this week, supporters of marriage equality are optimistic. A new Washington Post-ABC poll found that 58 percent of Americans surveyed think that lesbians and gay men should be allowed to marry, a record-high number and a complete reversal of poll results from just 10 years ago.
More Women Than Men Affected by Marriage Inequality
As the nation prepares for next week’s historic Supreme Court hearings on marriage equality, it is important to note that women will be disproportionately affected by whatever decisions get made. That’s because female couples account for roughly two-thirds of existing legal same-sex marriages.
Marriage Equality Wins Friends–Will They Influence the Court?
If all the supporters of marriage equality who sent briefs to the Supreme Court attended a wedding, the seating plan would be a challenge. Could Clint Eastwood sit in an actual chair next to President Barack Obama without hurling insults? Would footballers Chris Kluwe and Brendon Ayanbadejo bring their NFL teams? And how do you make room for entire companies such as Apple, Walt Disney and Xerox—and the cities of New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Baltimore and Boston?
Will Justices Say I Do? [PDF]
Report on marriage equality en route to the Supreme Court in 2013.
Marriage Equality is a Feminist Issue
2012 has been a huge year for marriage equality. In May, President Barack Obama declared support for the right of lesbians and gay men to marry–and then he resoundingly won re-election. Three new states approved gay marriage rights in ballot initiatives, and another defeated a constitutional ban.
As December marches on, so, too, does the course of LGBT rights history.
Marriage Equality is Here to Stay!
What if the federal government decided to require fertility tests for married couples and declared that only couples capable of having children could marry and receive the marriage benefits? Or, what if a powerful coalition of Christian or Jewish or Buddhist (why not?) congresspeople decided that the government would only recognize marriages between people of that faith, and then pushed through legislation to define marriage accordingly?
Marriage at the Supreme Court
Are you or someone you love in a committed same-sex relationship, hoping to get married?
The national debate over marriage equality is about to enter a new phase, as multiple cases make their way to the United States Supreme Court. SCOTUS begins a new session next Monday, and today, in private conference, the Court will decide which new cases to review.
'Victory' by Linda Hirshman: Review
'The Triumphant Gay Revolution' sees many battles already won and a happy ending on the way.
NEWSFLASH: Another Marriage Equality Win in California!
Today, the marriage equality cause got another boost: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a February decision finding California’s Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional. Proponents of the same-sex marriage ban wanted the Ninth Circuit to invalidate the earlier ruling and to rehear the case en banc—that is, with an 11-judge panel (here‘s an explanation of what this would have meant). But the court judged that unnecessary.
Obama Evolves!
It’s official. After a week of speculation about whether the White House was going to take a strong stand on marriage equality, President Obama has gone on record in support of same-sex marriage rights. After explaining how his views have changed over the years, the President said the words that many of his supporters have been longing to hear:
For Better and for Worse [PDF]
Report on marriage equality in spring 2012.
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