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THE US GOVERNMENT announced today it would recognise same-sex marriages in seven additional states, after the Supreme Court declined to take up the debate.
A total of 26 of the 50 US states, and the capital Washington, now legally recognise gay and lesbian marriages, giving them the same legal rights and federal benefits as married heterosexual couples.
“We will not delay in fulfilling our responsibility to afford every eligible couple, whether same-sex or opposite-sex, the full rights and responsibilities to which they are entitled,” US Attorney General Eric Holder said in a video message.
With their long-awaited unions, we are slowly drawing closer to full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans nationwide.
The seven states affected by the Justice Department decision are Colorado, Indiana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Holder said he had directed Justice Department lawyers to work with officials across the various government agencies to “ensure that all applicable federal benefits are extended to those couples as soon as possible.”
Last week, the US Supreme Court snubbed appeals from Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin where state-level bans on gay marriage had been deemed unconstitutional.
Marriages in those five states had been on hold pending the court’s decision on whether to hear the cases. The ruling means that same-sex couples in the five states can now have their unions recognised.
The number of states legalising gay unions is expected to grow.
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I’m still trying to figure out how a gay marriage demeans and threatens my own heterosexual marriage.
It’s a funny old world out there.
It can’t
Because now a horse and a bedside locker will now be able to get married.. or something.
Entirely sensationalist remark, and even if that were the case it still wouldn’t threaten heterosexual marriage.
Wonderful news! Excited that soon we will have marriage equality here too :) There’s a great quote from the film Blue is the Warmest Colour, ‘Love has no gender, take whoever loves you.” Just be happy :)
Great quote Louise, I don’t understand why it’s just not a person’s right worldwide to marry same sex, Jesus Louise your avatar is scary,
Tis the season Willy Moon, tis the season :) Halloween and all :)
Love is love! Why deny anyone happiness?
If its the love of a priest and a small boy i would gladly deny that
I’m pretty sure we’re talking about consenting adults here but nice try!
History will look back on these issues in a similar way as we do on racial segregation in the early 1900′s in America …
What I noticed about that picture is the line “Race Mixing is Communism”, it reminds me how many times I’ve heard the anti-gay lobby throwing around gay marriage is cultural marxism, the parallels are just to strong to ignore.
Early 1900′s? They were marching against segregation in the 1960′s – what are you talking about?
Sheik .. Why don’t you just say it extended as far as the 1960′s — instead of being a pcrik
I like being a pr ick, whereas you’re a spoilsport :-)
The headline should read “Same sex marriage STILL illegal in nearly half US states”.
Not for much longer, 31 states and counting. The battle has been won and even the conservatives understand that now. Ireland of course is still lagging….
Does everything have to be an excuse to bash Ireland? We get to vote on amending the constitution in just a few months. That’s a much better system than the vague hodge-podge of rules they have in the US.
Soon
And yet the sky has not fallen in over there……
Progress is relentless and the judgmental reactionaries eventually adapt. I remember the alarmism over legalising homosexual activity, artificial contraception, the removal of the special place of the Roman Catholic Church from the constitution and all the supposed harbingers of the end of civilisation which came to nothing. Same sex marriage is just equality and reducing another ground of legal discrimination.
I don’t think it’s true to say that progress is relentless. The dark ages weren’t progress, nuclear weapons weren’t progress, the rise of ISIS is certainly not progress. Change is relentless but only time will tell what’s progress and what’s a dead-end
Debate here will be interesting
Caring, intelligent, understanding human beings v people desperately trying to find a reasonable argument against it but failing. Always a laugh
Sounds about right or people who think live and let live and idiots
People who hink for themselves v people who let a book of fairytales and a corrupt organisation of celebate men tell them what to think
Don’t forget these celibate men used the cover of the church to interfere and molester children, boys and girls.
And let’s not forget the ones that don’t even use religion as an excuse for their discrimination and bigotry
Says your wan who’s telling everyone what’s right!!!! Sooo soooo typical!
When is inequality ever right?
What debate? Why should there ever be a “debate ” about civil rights? I say this as a 63 year old straight. Debate me arse.
Just jad to get the man slam in there.pretty sure theres celebate women somewhere in that religion.
You all sound really bitter, unpleasant and worst of all unoriginal
@Lorem
That is a grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre and unprecedented thing to say!
Ah Enda is back. Enda, it just so happens that it’s the celibate men that are in charge. Were the women in charge I would have mentiomed them. I’m not sexist, I’m just accurate.
Did you manage to talk to anybody about your anger issues? Was worrying about you these last few days.
Oooh FFS here we go again. The weekends here….bring on the gay mob ranting!! Do they ever let up!
I don’t hear you complaining about The Journals lovefest with Apple.There is at least two articles a day on that crap.
Agreed! Well pointed out…same goes for the Appletonians.
@WGP
You’re the one who has commented the most. It’s Friday night, as you say, so what’s your reason for commenting about what others comment. Would you prefer it, if you were the only one to post a comment? Why do have a issue with other people commenting? Ah, yes! Coz, you’re an intolerant bigot!
I noticed that too, Paddy! I thought I was imagining it. Thanks :-)
Says the bigot
Wgp, why do you not like gay people? The genuine honest reason.
@Sheik. I asked if they get per article or per views or what.Maybe Apple have sent a few goodie bags to Journal HQ to sweeten the deal.
I’m not gay. I’m not part of a mob. I’m not ranting. Why are you so angry?
“Gay Mob”
Any one else picturing Don Corleone being played by John Waters (the American One!!) and instead of a horse head in your bed they redecorate your bathroom with carpet and asbestos!!
When the USA fought for democracy in WWII they drew criticisms internationally for the way they denied civil liberties to African Americans. With the Middle Eastern conflict fully underway, with the Us vs Them thought shaping people’s mentality, I think it’s fair to say that the USA wants to be seen globally as the shining example of civil freedom and denying homosexuals the right to marry definitely goes against that. After all, being gay is illegal in most middle eastern countries and God forbid the US share any similar traits as those brown skinned countries.
I’m pretty sure the motive behind equality is equality. Not pissing off the middle east.
That has to be one of the ‘most out there’ reasons for supporting Marriage Equality (ME) by conflating ME with Islamophobia. Couldn’t it simply be, that it is morally right to legislate for equality and has absolutely nothing to do with a response to Islam or Sharia Law.
Please don’t construed what I wrote to be an opposition to gay right because I’m totally behind the gay movement and as a black female I am totally in support of any minority group being granted basic civil liberties. All I’m saying is history is repeating itself, there has always been a price to certain liberties and that usually come with war. People have literally being killing themselves over gay rights and only now where seeing change?
Sanya
You say there’s always a price that comes with ensuring liberties and it usually ends up in war. I can understand your comment in relation to the Civil War in the US, but I am at a loss to make a connection between Marriage Equality and war? No so long ago, there were no gay rights in Ireland. This is an evolution in that process of normalising gay relationships.
wgb, wtf!
OK – I think everyone should have the right to marry if they wish to – regardless of what combinations of genders, ages, races or anything else might be involved. What puzzles me is why people want to. Marriage is a state of being that has a lot to do with the church, the state and the taxman, and nothing at all to do with love. I never intend to marry, personally. I just hope couples don’t marry as a political statement and regret it later. I personally think that love is very important and marriage is only bureaucracy.
Well that’s grand for you. You’re a woman and will get all the legal protections of marriage just by being in a long-term relationship. You’re automatically a guardian of your own children. 50% of the population aren’t so lucky.
@Lisa
People like Elizabeth Taylor who married eight times or Britney Spears who married for eight days might be accused of ‘defiling’ the concept of marriage. Most gay people just want legal (not religious) recognition of their relationship in the form of marriage with the person they have loved and lived with for years and years – sometimes up to 60+ years. It’s quite incredible that we should have to vote on such an issue! It’s even more incredible, however predictable, that equality issues such as these, tend to bring out the looney fringe who either quote religious text incorrectly or choose to misinform with sensationalist statements.
have your say