A federal judge struck down a law barring gay marriage in Guam today, making the tiny Micronesian island the first U.S. territory to legalize marriage equality.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Frances M. Tydingco-Gatewood ruled in favor of Loretta M. Pangelinan and Kathleen M. Aguer, who, after being denied a marriage license, brought the lawsuit in April. The couple argued that denying them a marriage license was discriminatory and unconstitutional.
Pangelinan and Aguer were “delighted with the news” but Guam Gov. Eddie Colvo was less enthused. Calvo called the decision “impractical” with the Supreme Court’s ruling expected later this month. Though Calvo declared he had a “solemn duty to uphold the law” he also said he would accept whatever decision the Supremes make.
So while Ruth Badass Ginsburg and the Justice friends deliberate on the big gay fate of a country, Guam’s going to be awash in beach ceremonies. The new law will go into effect 8 a.m. Tuesday when gay couples can start applying for marriage licenses.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Meanwhile, a quick perusal of the Wikipedias shows that Guam’s biggest industry is tourism so methinks business is going to be booming.
Les Fabian Brathwaite — like Guam! Guam! Guam! Bitch better have my marriage.
h/t: USA Today
CBI Talks To
lauraspencer
Congrats Guam! I lived there for 4 years and had a wonderful time.
SteveDenver
HAFA ADAI! Potu for everyone!
Catholicism is rampant on Guam (no thanks to Magellan), so I am glad to see the tiny paradise has come down on the right side of EQUALITY.
Roland Hamburger
Well most defiantly not a place I was thinking of Visiting …. I jus like saying the name.
polarisfashion
I wonder what will be the next State or Territory to allow same sex marriage? If SCOTUS makes a ruling soon it might be everywhere in our country.
I think our next big fight if we win this one, should be the banning of the gay conversition therapy. Those places are doing the most damage to our youth and need to be stopped immediately.
Giancarlo85
Meanwhile Puerto Rico drags its feet on this matter. You know one antigay Puerto Rican politician was caught on grindr. Lol.
@polarisfashion: That is important, but I think passing comprehensive ENDA bill that includes trans people should be priority number one. And yes, I am including trans people unlike some hypocrites on here (not referring to you 🙂 ).
Travis Halleman
209 square miles of marriage equality!
polarisfashion
@Giancarlo85: I knew you didn’t mean me 🙂 and I agree with you that transgender discrimination is shameful. I haven’t been on here very long but I was surprised to see comments from so called gay people that take the T and Q out of our LGBTQ acronym. I thought we were supposed to be diverse and accepting.
Daniel-Reader
Yeah for the Guamanians! And since mostly Japanese tourists visit, they will realize that the sky doesn’t fall in when you uphold human rights. It’s actually very disturbing that Japan has made more progress on human rights protection considering they are one of the powers behind the atrocities of WWII.
Daniel-Reader
…that Japan hasn’t made more progress..
Blake Mason
Hopefully we can progress from this first step
GayEGO
Congratulations to joining Marriage Equality, we are all anxiously watching as other countries join us.