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» Gay Lawyers Group Targets Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island for Gay Marriage
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders announced a campaign today to bring full marriage equality to the rest of New England by 2012. Executive Director Lee Swislow plans to use the knowledge gained from Massachusetts and Connecticut decisions as well as working with courts and marriage equality advocates. [AP] |
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The story began back in 2004, when the Rhode Island-based duo took a trip to Massachusetts and tied the proverbial knot. But, as happens, things didn't work out as planned, so the ladies filed for a divorce. Unfortunately, a state statute defines marriage as between a man and a woman and a family court denied their divorce. Desperate to be single again, the gals appealed the ruling - and the case continues to test constitutional boundaries… |
» It's A Bitch…
Those pesky anti-gay marriage laws are such a pain. Rhode Island based lesbians Margaret Chambers and Cassandra Ormiston are stuck in a loveless Massachusetts marriage because RI judges won't dissolve same-sex marriages, which the state doesn't recognize. Next stop: the state's Superior Court. Then, the world! [WCSH-6] |
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» Clinton Campaign Turns Away Gay Mayor
Providence's gay mayor David Cicilline's dispute with the local fire fighters union led the Clinton campaign to request his absence from an event this weekend: "Cicilline is involved in a long-running contract dispute with firefighters, and the Clinton campaign fears his presence would cause disruptive protests by the union. Cicilline says the campaign tried to pressure him to cave in to union demands, and he won't do that." [USA Today via GNW] |
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» Gay Divorce Law For RI?
Rhode Island politico Gordon Fox knows that love doesn't last. That's why the House Majority leader will propose legislation allowing gay couples divorce. The move comes after a judge refused to dissolve a lesbian couples Massachusetts marriage last year. Gay group Marriage Equality Rhode Island also plans to introduce legislation expanding domestic partnership laws. [Boston Globe] |
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Court Lacks Power To End Massachusetts Marriage
Perhaps the ladies should consider moving to Massachusetts for a few months. |
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• Jeanne Phillips aka Dr. Abby supports gay nuptials: "I believe if two people want to commit to each other, God bless 'em. That is the highest form of commitment, for heaven's sake." • Romney v. Giuliani over taxes. Tonight's debates should be interesting… |
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Celebrate State's Ruling, Wish Their Own Would Do The Same
Massachusetts' high court ruled last year that their laws do not restrict Rhode Island residents from taking advantage of the state's gay marriage legislation. Boston Globe explains: Dozens of gay marriage supporters met at the Statehouse to mark the one year anniversary of a court decision that allowed them to marry in Massachusetts, and to ask for the same right in Rhode Island. Perhaps Rhode Island's legislators will be inspired by all these shiny, happy gay people. |
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…Men are 0-to-60 machines, baby, and we can stop on a dime. Two seconds before orgasm, we might savor the thought of belly flopping in a pool of love juices, but two seconds afterward, lust plummets and we just feel … well, sticky. Until the "love juices" dry. Then we feel crusty. • National gay groups call on Broward County Commission to take action against Fort Lauderdale's anti-gay mayor, Jim Naugle. • Overzealous donkey needs to learn some sexual manners. |
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Unfortunately, the ladies called it quits after heading back to their home state and filed for divorce. A family court judge, the brilliantly named Jeremiah S. Jeremiah Jr, couldn't take the backdoor judicial pressure and passed the case on to the Supreme Court. The Court originally sent the case back to JSJ Jr., but has now agreed to hear the case only to answer this pressing question: May the Family Court properly recognize, for the purpose of entertaining a divorce petition, the marriage of two persons of the same sex who were purportedly married in another state? The Supreme Court will answer that very query on August 1. The Court also makes clear that this decision does not decide whether or not the state will legalize gay marriage. That's quite the disclaimer, especially considering Attorney General Patrick Lynch's recent vow to legalize Massachusetts' gay vows. R.I. court to rule on same-sex marriage [The Providence Journal] |
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As you know, Massachusetts passed gay marriages back in 2004. Not one for so-called sinners, then-Governor Mitt Romney reminded lawmakers of a 1913 law which prohibited out-of-state visitors from marrying in Massachusetts. Unless, of course, their state would honor the marriage. While some law-types fell into line, Judge Thomas E. Connolly ruled in favor of a contesting couple, saying that if a state doesn't explicitly bar gay marriage, then a couple's nuptials are legal. One of the pair hails from New York, which is where things get really interesting… |
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O'Rourke's very vocal hatred of the homos even got him arrested last month for disorderly conduct. Apparently O'Rourke just couldn't get enough, leading Lynch to step in. Rhode Island Fox affiliate, WPRI reports: Attorney General Patrick Lynch seeks a court order to stop a man from harassing and threatening his gay neighbors. Paul O'Rourke is accused in a civil rights complaint of threatening to kill a gay couple who lives across the street from him in Warwick. This isn't the first time Lynch has thrown himself in the middle of gay drama: the 42-year old attorney general recently released a statement saying his state should honor Massachusetts-blessed gay marriages. This man may be our new hetero hero. |
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A letter dated yesterday from Lynch says Rhode Island prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and also extends benefits such as health insurance to domestic partners of state employees. Hmmm, Rhode Island's looking more and more appealing… |
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Yesterday, two lesbians had their day in court. Arguing in front of a Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Thomas Connolly, Wendy Becker and Mary Norton made their case on why they should be allowed to marry in the state even though they are Rhode Island residents. At hand is a "rarely enforced" 1913 Massachusetts law that bars couples from getting married in Massachusetts if their home state prohibits them from getting married. Becker and Norton argue Rhode Island's statutes not expressly ban gay marriage. Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General Peter Sacks, meanwhile, pointed to Rhode Island's marriage laws, which establish a union as the joining together of a "male party" and a "female party." Judge Connolly's decision isn't expected for a few weeks. Becker and Norton have been together for 18 years (and have two children together); waiting for the decision might feel like 18 more. Gay pair asking to be wed in Mass. say no ban in R.I. [Boston Globe] |
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Copy/Paste this code to post on your blog! Much love to Queerty's spankalicious reader Art for sending in photos from Rhode Island's gay pride event! |