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Gay marriage

The  Supreme Court will take up gay marriage cases, including California’s ban on same-sex unions.

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This story has 4 updates
Local News
03/27/13
Lesbian married in Canada sues after DOMA blocks tax benefits

New Yorker married in Canada sues U.S. after DOMA blocks tax benefits

See bio, contact info, and more articles from Ann Mercogliano

03/27/13
by

“I think it’s going to be good,” said Edie Windsor.

83-year-old Edie Windsor of New York City is suing the United States. Windsor is challenging the Defense of Marriage Act that prevents same-sex married couples from receiving federal financial benefits. A case that is helping to re-ignite a movement for same sex marriage. Edie was billed for estate taxes when her wife Thea Spyer passed away.

In court, justices seemed skeptical of the Defense of Marriage Act or DOMA.

On the same day, here in New York City, Bronx Borough President Reuben Diaz, Jr. decided to come out in support of same sex marriage. He voted against it in 2007.

Doma

83 year-old Edie Windsor of New York City is suing the United States. Windsor is challenging the Defense of Marriage Act that prevents same-sex married couples from receiving federal financial benefits.

His father State Senator Reuben Diaz voted against same sex marriage in New York on the day it became legal.

On NBC’s “The Today Show”, anchor Jenna Wolf announced she’s expecting a baby with fiance NBC’s Stephanie Gosk.
The couple also gave an interview to People Magazine.

Supporters of the Defense of Marriage Act said in court that it protects the institution of marriage.

Windsor admitted that just a few years ago, she never would have spoken about her sexuality, now she’s standing on the steps of the Supreme Court.

The decisions on the Same Sex marriage cases may not come down for several months. The Court heard challenges to Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act.
Local News
03/26/13
Supreme Court hears two big gay marriage cases; area couples are watching closely

Area couples watch closely as Supreme Court hears two big gay marriage cases

See bio, contact info, and more articles from Ann Mercogliano

03/26/13
by

At a seder in Brooklyn,  on the minds of at least one dinner group, the same sex marriage debate heating up down in Washington. For Jay Michaelson and his husband Paul Daken it means everything.

Jay and Paul married when same sex marriage became legal in New York State, but their marriage isn’t recognized federally meaning they don’t receive federal benefits. A challenge to that law, the defense of marriage act, or DOMA is one of the two cases going before the Supreme Court.

The shouts are growing louder in Washington D.C. on both sides of the debate as the Supreme Court hears both  cases on same sex marriage.

The first arguments for Proposition 8, a law that bans same sex marriage in California  were heard Tuesday morning.

Michelson is an author, and the executive director of a national LGBT Jewish Community, Nehirim. 

He and his husband are watching and hoping the court rules in favor of change. 
Nation & World
01/08/13
Gay couple's sperm donor sued by state for child support

Gay couple’s sperm donor sued by state for child support

See bio, contact info, and more articles from PIX11 Web Desk

01/08/13
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KANSAS (PIX11) - A controversial child support case involving a lesbian couple, their sperm donor and the state of Kansas is making global headlines.

The state is demanding the biological father pay child support.

But the mother says she never wanted this to happen to the sperm donor — and she believes this wouldn’t be an issue if same-sex couples had the same rights as heterosexual couples.
Nation & World
12/07/12
ktla

Supreme Court to take up gay marriage, including the ban in California

ktla

The Supreme Court will likely hear the cases next year. (Photo via KTLA)

(LOS ANGELES TIMES) The Supreme Court announced Friday it will rule for the first time on same-sex marriage by deciding the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8, the voter initiative that limited marriage to a man and a woman.

The justices also said they would decide whether legally married gay couples have a right to equal benefits under federal law.

The California case raises the broad question of whether gays and lesbians have an equal right to marry.

If the justices had turned down the appeal from the defenders of Prop. 8, it would have allowed gay marriages to resume in California, but without setting a national precedent.

Now, the high court has agreed to decide whether a state’s ban on same-sex marriages violates the U.S. Constitution. The court’s intervention came just one month after voters in three states—Maine, Maryland and Washington—approved gay marriages. This brought the total to nine states having legalized same-sex marriages.

But the justices also left themselves a way out. They said they would consider whether the defenders of Prop. 8 had legal standing to bring their appeal.

The justices made the announcement after meeting behind closed doors. They did not say which justices voted to hear the appeals.

Last year, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Prop. 8, but it did so on a narrow basis. Judge Stephen Reinhardt reasoned that the voter initiative was unconstitutional because it took away from gays and lesbians a right to marry that they won before the state supreme court.

The justices now will have at least three options before them. First, they could reverse the 9th Circuit and uphold Prop. 8, thereby making clear that the definition of marriage will be left to the discretion of each state and its voters.

They could rule broadly that denying gays and lesbians the fundamental right to marry violates the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection of the laws. Such a decision would open the door to gay marriages nationwide.

Or as a third option, they could follow the approach set by the 9th Circuit and strike down Prop. 8 in a way that limits the ruling to California only.

In the other gay-marriage cases, the court will decide the constitutionality of part of the Defense of Marriage Act which denies federal benefits to legally married couples. Judges in New England, New York and California have ruled this provision unconstitutional.

The justices are expected to hear arguments in the two sets of gay marriage cases in March and issue decisions by late June.
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