We had no idea Nevada got invited to the marriage equality party, but welcome anyway, Silver State.
On Thursday, the Nevada Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would repeal the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
Las Vegas Sun News reports:
The original proposal sought only to repeal language in the state constitution that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. But a late amendment adopted by the committee today adds that the state “shall recognize marriages and issue marriage licenses, regardless of gender.”
“We felt it would be cleaner to both eliminate the current prohibition and make it clear Nevada does not discriminate in any way,” said Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, who introduced the bill.
In 2002, Nevada voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the state constitution that “only a marriage between a male and female person shall be recognized and given effect in this state.” Then in 2009, despite a veto from then-Governor Jim Gibbons, the legislature passed a domestic partnership law affording rights similar to marriage.
Segerblom’s bill now goes to the full Senate, but it will have to be approved by this session of the legislature and again in 2015 before being placed on the ballot for voters to decide during the 2016 election.
And of course, there are staunch opponents to repealing the ban on gay marriage, such as Janine Hansen, president of Nevada Families for Freedom, who called the resolution a “kick in the teeth” to voters who banned gay marriage in the first place.
Okay, so maybe Nevada didn’t get invited to the party so much as just crash with a bunch of its rowdy friends, drink all the booze, pee in the kitchen sink and drive into the mailbox on its way back to ten years ago — but it was nice to see ’em.
Dakotahgeo
Leave it to the Nevada social conservatives… they would crash a funeral if they could get the free food! Let them be… they’re on the upside of the hill. Justice, equality is on the downside and winning as it progresses.
gppm1103
Except for the Strip…most of Nevada is Mormon. This will be an uphill battle so hope we can get some support from more progressive Mormons.
alexoloughlin
And France just passed SSM and headed to Parliament for minor considerations. President Holland is expected to sign it into law.
alexoloughlin
And France just passed SSM and headed to Parliament for minor considerations. President Hollande is expected to sign it into law.
Alex
WHAT?! we have to wait 3 years just to have nevada have gay marriage??? we cant waste our time like this… this is ridiculous :/ do you know how many states and countries will have gay marriage by then?! OMG, I really hope the supreme court sets the stage for us gay people to repeal those bans quicker
doug105
@Alex: Ya because 3 years is too long to wait for a drunken night out, where you meet a stripper and wake up married the next day. Lol
At least I may see it happen before I die of old age.
Cam
Can you imagine the additional money that Nevada could make? I’m not talking about just the little wedding chapels. Most of the really high end Casinos and hotels there have facilities for banquets, marriages etc…
I’m guessing sky high numbers.
Cam
I posted a comment on how financially this would be good for Nevada. I can’t even imagine which word in there was screened.
Victor_in_PA
Isn’t it funny how hate groups always try to fool people by calling themselves something totally opposite of what the stand for? “Nevada Families for Freedom” – a group intent on destroying the freedom of families in Nevada. You can ALWAYS tell what these groups are against. They always have it in their name. And, they probably wave a big American flag so you think they’re patriotic when, in reality, they hate the government, hate Americans, hate anything that helps American citizens and they always want to bomb some other country. Anyone sense a pattern here?
erasure25
@Victor_in_PA: Lying in your group name is common, like One million Moms with only 40k members…
tdx3fan
Financially speaking, very few states stand to benefit as much as Nevada does when it comes to legalizing gay marriage. Las Vegas is trying to reinvent itself as a gay mecca because they see where the money comes from, and legalizing gay marriage would make it possible for gays to get a 5 minute wedding at a drive up chapel.
tdx3fan
@gppm1103: Except for the strip, most of Nevada is barren. Seriously, the populations of the major cities in Nevada far outweigh the populations of the non-urban areas, and cities tend to support whatever provides them the most money.
DOFEK
Nevada, of all places! fuck them!!. AdamHomo