How did it happen so quickly, that half the states now have legislation against our civil rights? At first, it was only one or two, then eleven, now HALF?
Celebrate marriage this week!
(New York City) In cities, towns and villages across the country this week same-sex couples will be making the point that equal rights means marriage rights.
Specific laws or constitutional amendments specifically outlaw same-sex marriage in about half the states. Others are considering similar measures.
Only in Massachusetts is gay marriage legal. Court challenges to marriage restrictions are underway. A decision could come any day from the Supreme Court in the state of Washington.
This week the issue will be argued at the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Similar cases are proceeding to the high courts in New York and California.
But throughout the country gays and lesbians realize that marriage equality depends on winning the hearts and minds of Americans.
In Chicago, same-sex couples got a head start on Freedom to Marry Week with a Saturday march through the downtown area. The march started off at Daley Plaza, winding up on the steps Holy Name Cathedral where a mock wedding was performed.
In California, hundreds of advocates of marriage equality will go to county clerks’ offices throughout California on Valentine’s Day to seek marriage licenses.
Valentine's Day marks the second anniversary of the same-sex marriages that took place in San Francisco. Those marriages were late invalidated by the courts and the issue of gay marriage is expected to be heard by the state Supreme Court sometime next year.
“Marriage discrimination affects hundreds of thousands of people in California,” said Molly McKay, Equality California Field Director.
“Our actions on Tuesday will help all Californians understand that same-sex couples simply seek the same relationship rights and responsibilities of other families. On Valentine’s Day, couples of all kinds celebrating their love and commitment to one another, but same-sex couples are denied access to basic protections that married couples enjoy. We want to put a human face on that reality.”
California is home to the largest number of same-sex couples in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
In New York, same-sex couples and their supporters will demonstrate Tuesday at City Hall.
Last week legal arguments were filed with New York State's highest court, the Court of Appeal, with Lambda Legal arguing that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples is unconstitutional. The court is expected to hear oral arguments in the case later this year.
But demonstrations and events are not limited just to big cities with large gay communities.
In the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania a small group of protesters marched to the Lehigh County Courthouse to apply for marriage licenses.
"We're not here to demand any kind of special rights, we're here to demand equal rights," said Elizabeth Goudy, who with her partner were turned down.
While the fight for marriage equality goes on state by state Congress is once again taking up a proposed amendment to the Constitution to bar gay and lesbian couples from marrying.
Attempts by Republicans in Congress to pass the proposed amendment that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman failed last year.
The measure was reintroduced in January. A House version was reintroduced in March.
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