Scholars: With Marriage, Tradition Has Changed Over Time

By Brooke Adams | The Salt Lake Tribune

Article Link

The state of Utah so far has banked much of its legal argument against same-sex marriage on the assertion that such unions threaten the traditional, "age-old and still predominant," form of marriage: heterosexual, monogamous marriage.

That marriage form, the state says, has been the norm for Utah since its "very existence as a state" and it should not have to abandon the "deeply rooted definition of marriage as the union of a man and a woman for a genderless definition that severs the link between marriage and the vital societal purposes it has always and everywhere served."

WE DID IT!!

Thank you all for your love and support! More pictures to come, we promise.

Same Sex Weddings Begin in Hawaii

HONOLULU (AP) — Same-sex couples are taking advantage of Hawaii's newfound aloha for gay weddings.

Six couples tied the knot early Monday, shortly after midnight, when a new law allowing same-sex couples to marry took effect.

A Waikiki resort was hosting mass ceremonies for anyone wanting to sign up, while a group of clergy who pushed for the new law planned to host a wedding for an openly gay Unitarian minister at a church near downtown Honolulu.

Hawaii's marriage laws allow couples to register for a license and be married the same day, a process conducive for tourists only in the state a short time.

Couples can sign up for a license online, then be verified by any license agent throughout the state.

Quinn Signs Illinois Gay Marriage Bill

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn today signed a historic measure into law making Illinois the 16th state in the nation to allow gay marriage.

The Democratic governor put pens to paper at a desk brought up from Springfield that his administration says President Abraham Lincoln used to write his first inaugural address. That speech, delivered on March 4, 1861 as the Civil War was unfolding, called on Americans to heed “the better angels of our nature.”

“Love never fails and I’m going to sign this bill right now,” said Quinn, who used many pens to sign his name to the bill so that those who helped pass the measure could have a souvenir.

Have You Heard of HJR-6 in Indiana?

What is HJR-6?

HJR-6 is a proposed amendment that would permanently alter the Indiana Constitution to define marriage and could potentially affect hundreds of rights related to marriage under current Indiana law.

In the 2014 legislative session, Indiana lawmakers can choose either to table or vote down the amendment or send it to voters for a statewide referendum next November. If it does not pass or is not called for action, our Constitution will be protected.

In addition to the duplicative and restrictive first sentence of the amendment, no one has been able to clearly define what effects the second sentence would have on existing marriages, domestic partner benefits, human rights ordinances, legal contracts and benefits for unmarried couples.

Freedom Indiana is committed to educating lawmakers and all Hoosiers about the amendment and the harm it could do to our state, our economy and our communities if it is permanently written into our Constitution.
HJR-6 Language

“Only a marriage between one (1) man and one (1) woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Indiana.

“A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized.”

SIGN THE PETITION TO VOTE NO TO HJR-6

For more information: Freedom Indiana

Hawaii Joins 14 Others

Hawaii Joins 14 Others - Hawaii’s governor on Wednesday signed a bill into law making same-sex marriage legal in one of the first states where gays and lesbians couples sought the right to wed more than 20 years ago.

The Hawaiian legislature has approved same-sex marriage bill. The legislation now goes to governor for signature. KHNL's Mileka Lincoln reports.

Weddings can begin Dec. 2 in the Aloha state, which is the 15th to grant same-sex marriage. Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who supported the right of gays and lesbians to wed, had called the legislature into a special session to vote on the issue.

Same-sex marriages start in New Jersey

FROM CNN - Same-Sex marriages start in New Jersey

(CNN) -- Marsha Shapiro and Louise Walpin married each other for the third time early Monday. But this time, it was especially memorable: They were among the first to tie the knot after same-sex marriage became legal in New Jersey.

A rabbi first "married" the couple in 1992 in a Jewish ceremony. They married a second time in New York in August 2012 after same-sex marriage became legal there.

The third time was just after midnight Thursday in the Garden State. The couple helped pave the way there through a 2011 lawsuit that brought about the change. New Jersey now becomes the 14th state to recognize gay marriages.

Shapiro and Walpin were married in the home of state Sen. Raymond Lesniak, who championed same-sex marriage in the legislature.

Christie withdraws appeal on gay marriage

Throughout the state other gay couples exchanged vows in early morning ceremonies.

At the Newark City Hall, Mayor Cory Booker married seven couples, two of them heterosexual. He had refused to conduct any marriage ceremonies until same-sex marriages were legal in the state.

"It is officially past midnight," Booker said. "Marriage is equal in New Jersey."

Chris Christie drops challenge to same-sex marriages

High court clears the way

On Friday, the New Jersey Supreme Court denied the state's request to temporarily prevent such marriages.

Troy Stevenson, executive director of the gay rights group Garden State Equality, said last week that the high court's decision means "the door is open for love, commitment and equality under the law."