Tag Archives: United States

California gay marriage case headed to U.S. Supreme Court

Posted on by
Reply

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision to deny an appeal of February’s ruling against Proposition 8 paves the way for a U.S. Supreme Court decision on gay marriage by next year.

The decision means the U.S. Supreme Court is likely to  have two major gay-rights cases on its docket in the near future.  Another federal appeals court last week struck down a federal  law that denied federal recognition to same-sex marriage.

Backers of Proposition 8 said they will ask the  U.S. Supreme Court to review the 9th Circuit ruling.

– LA Times

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta

New book examines gays in the black church

Posted on by
Reply

An open secret about the African American church in the US is the role LGBT musicians have in the institution’s music.

In 1971, Anthony Heilbut wrote a comprehensive study called The Gospel Sound. In its first edition, he kept knowledge of the personal lives of gospel performers quiet (one sentence was focused on sexuality). Now, as reported by the New York Times, the scholar’s new work details the contributions of LGBT singers to church music. Heilbut also chastises black Christians for standing firmly against marriage equality  while depending on the work of gay musicians.

Gay Star News

The Gospel Sound: Good News and Bad Times – 25th Anniversary Edition 

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta

Conservative Jews approve gay wedding guidelines

Posted on by
Reply

The Conservative branch of American Judaism has formally approved same-sex marriage ceremonies, nearly six years after lifting a ban on ordaining gays and lesbians.

The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards issued the ruling Thursday on a 13-0 vote with one abstention, said Rabbi Elliot Dorff, the committee chairman. The panel of scholars approved two model wedding ceremonies and guidelines for a same-sex divorce. Rabbis can adapt the marriage ceremonies for the couples.

“We acknowledge that these partnerships are distinct from those discussed in the Talmud as ‘according to the law of Moses and Israel,’ but we celebrate them with the same sense of holiness and joy as that expressed in heterosexual marriages,” the legal opinion states.

-full report at  kansas city.com
Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta

Nancy Pelosi: My Catholic faith ‘compels me’ to support gay marriage

Posted on by
Reply

 

“My religion compels me–and I love it for it–to be against discrimination of any kind in our country, and I consider [the ban on gay marriage] a form of discrimination. I think it’s unconstitutional on top of that. So I think that yesterday was a great day for America because the president in a very personal, as well as presidential way, made history, and hopefully this will bring people together on the issue.

–Washington Post

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta

Biden’s support for gay marriage matches most Catholics’ views

Posted on by
Reply

Apparent White House division over gay marriage – with Vice President Joe Biden saying Sunday that he is “absolutely comfortable” with the idea, going further than President Obama has on the issue – mirrors a nation that is evenly divided on the matter. Recent polls show that about half of Americans favor legalized gay marriage, while half oppose it, with support for the idea gaining significant ground over the past 15 years.

Pew’s latest polling on the issue, conducted late last year, found that 46% of Americans support favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally, while 44% are opposed. Support for gay civil unions is substantially higher, with a clear majority of Americans supporting such arrangements.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/07/bidens-support-for-gay-marriage-matches-most-catholics-views/

Enhanced by Zemanta