Will the British Parliament soon discussing an expansion of domestic partnership laws? (Photo Credit: CC BY/Maurice/Flickr)

Currently, domestic partnership laws in the U.K. apply only to homosexual couples, which doesn’t suit Stephanie Munro and Andrew O’Neill at all. According to Jezebel, the straight couple has drawn the support of the British LGBT organization OutRage!, which is currently campaigning the British government for heterosexual equality in domestic partnerships. According to spokesmen for the OutRage! campaign Equal Love, expanding the laws regarding such civil unions would be a boon to Britain’s homosexual community, as well.

Heterosexual equality cause inspires OutRage!

While Munro and O’Neill fully expect that their initial petition for domestic partnership status will be denied, they expect that their lawsuit – which would include three opposite-sex and four same-sex couples – will attract significant attention to the cause of heterosexual equality. It isn’t because Equal Love promotes a homophobic agenda. The contrary is true, said OutRage! Coordinator Peter Tatchell:

“We support (straight couples’ bids) for heterosexual equality. In a democratic society, everyone should be equal before the law. There should be no legal discrimination. The twin bans on gay civil marriages and on heterosexual civil partnerships are a form of sexual apartheid. There is one law for straight couples and another law for gay partners. Two wrongs don’t make a right,” Tatchell told the Wall Street Journal.

Why not marriage?

As Munro and O’Neill tell it, they reject the melding of religion and secular law that surrounds the marriage ritual. A domestic partnership, on the other hand, is absent such “historical baggage,” said O’Neill.

While many would argue that the type of discrimination Munro and O’Neill are facing is not on the same level as what gay couples often endure, the battle against the segregation surrounding domestic partnerships in the U.K. is more than worthwhile, said Tatchell. If parts of the U.S. can offer domestic partnerships regardless of gender, then the U.K. can, too. Equal Love’s drive for heterosexual equality is intended to eliminate sexual orientation from the equation it’s asking the British Parliament to solve.

Sources

Equal Love

Directgov

Wikipedia entry re. gay marriage in the United Kingdom

Jezebel

Press briefing re. OutRage! Campaign:

The Illinois legislature has officially voted to recognize civil unions. Image: Flickr / doxiehaus / CC-BY

In a very close vote today, the Illinois legislature legalized civil unions. The bill is expected to be signed by the Governor of Illinois within days. The Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Union Act not only legalizes civil unions, it protects the rights of religious institutions.

The Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Union Act

The act that has been passed by the Illinois legislature is called The Illinois Religious Freedom and Civil Union Act, otherwise known as SB1716. The act legally recognizes homosexual couples and provides them with state rights similar to those of married couples. The act also specifically protects the rights of religious institutions to define and recognize marriage as they wish. The only limitations put on Illinois civil unions or marriages are that both individuals must be 18 years of age or older and not in an existing legally documented relationship.

Heavy debate over Illinois civil unions

The Illinois civil union bill did not pass without debate. The bill gathered multiple co-sponsors on its way through the house. Some opponents in the Illinois legislature argued against the bill for multiple reasons. Representative Ron Stephens argued that “open homosexuality” would lead to the fall of America, much like he believes it caused the fall of Rome. When Governor Pat Quinn signs the bill, it will go into effect January of 2011.

Other Illinois legislature votes

Though the passage of the Illinois civil unions bill is being hailed as historic, the Illinois legislature has tackled many other high-profile issues this session. Another heavily debated issue, medical marijuana, just barely failed the house. The medical marijuana bill would have allowed Illinois residents with “chronic pain” to receive prescriptions for marijuana. The bill failed 53-59. The Illinois legislature will also be taking on the death penalty. Senate Bill 3539 would abolish the death penalty, and it has already passed the Criminal Law committee. Many legislators are assuming that the bill will not pass the legislature, however.

Sources

Huffington Post
News Tribune
Windy City Times

Marriage via proxy on Skype – aka “e-marriage” – has served military and same-sex couples. (Photo Credit: CC BY-SA/Stefano Bolognini/Wikipedia)

The laws pertaining to gay marriage in most states do not currently favor same-sex couples. Yet through technology, some same-sex couples have found a way to navigate around what many consider to be unjust laws, reports Time. For instance, one same-sex couple in Texas recently tied the knot via the online communication service Skype, in what is being called an “e-marriage.”

E-marriage possible in Texas, despite state law

In Texas, gay marriage may not be recognized, but an e-marriage was still possible for Mark Reed and Dante Walkup in their home city of Dallas. Reed, a board member of the LGBT group GetEQUAL, arranged for the e-marriage to be officiated by a party in Washington, D.C., where same-sex marriage is legal. While it was necessary for the couple to go to D.C. before the ceremony to register for a marriage license and receive it in the mail, being able to have a ceremony before family and friends was something neither Reed nor Walkup wanted to pass up.

Marriage equality activist and wedding officiant Sheila Alexander-Reid appeared via Skype teleconference on a 6-by-8-foot screen.

“When we walked down the aisle, as soon as we reached the front, she comes on the screen like The Wizard of Oz,” Reed said. “It was beautiful. It wasn’t make-believe. It was like she was really there.”

Proxy marriage has been done before

Military couples have married via teleconference when one party is overseas, so same-sex e-marriage seemed well within the realm of possibility to Reed. While there are no specific laws governing e-marriages, Reed is currently working with state and national legislators to ensure that other same-sex couples will have the right to marry via Internet proxy should they choose to do so. Taking on Texas’ same-sex marriage ban will come later.

Finding creative ways around inequality

Mark Reed and Dante Walkup are happy that their e-marriage may draw added attention to what many consider to be a human rights violation clothed in laws enforcing inequity. As technology expands horizons, perhaps ignorance will contract. But as Reed puts it, creativity is needed in the campaign to change minds.

“It’s like the more equal we can get through creative ways, we’re going to do it,” Reed said.

Sources

Dallas Voice

Time

Ellen grills John McCain

Same-sex couples can legally marry in Washington D.C., as of today. Image from Flickr.

Washington D.C. passed a measure to legalize same-sex marriages in the district, and today that measure took effect. About 150 same-sex couples applied for marriage licenses in Washington D.C. today, according to The Associated Press. Here are a few stories from day one of legalized same-sex marriage in Washington, D.C. No amount of quick cash for a picket campaign can keep them from doing so.

Washington D.C.’s first same-sex marriage

Angelisa Young and Sinjoyla Townsend were the first same-sex couple to apply for a marriage license in Washington, D.C., according to the Washington Post. Now they will be able to share everything– the title of “wife,” health insurance and guaranteed payday loans. Of course, payday lenders have never taken marital status into account, but perhaps finances overall will be less complicated for Young and Townsend now

Washington D.C.’s first married same-sex couple met 13 years ago at the University of the District of Columbia. The Washington Post reports:

The couples won’t be able to marry until Tuesday at the earliest since it takes three business days for the applications to be processed. Young and Townsend plan to marry that day in a ceremony at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters with friends and family in attendance.

The numbers

The Associated Press reports that about 150 same-sex couples applied for marriage licenses at the court house in Washington D.C. today, where usually about a dozen apply. Couples from surrounding states such as Maryland (which aid last week it will recognize same-sex unions performed elsewhere), Virginia and West Virginia were present.  There were also a few protesters from Kansas and some extra security guards at the court house.

Deborah Weiner and Janne Harrelson, who have a 15-year-old daughter have been together 24 years. Weiner said she believed their marriage would provide a more solid sense stability for their daughter. The Post reported that the crowd applying for marriage licenses appeared to be made up more women than men. It costs $45 to get a marriage license in Washington D.C.

In good company

Washington D.C. joins Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont in legalizing same-sex marriage. According to all reports, day one of legalized same-sex marriage in Washington D.C. was a busy day for the court house, but it remained peaceful and filled with happy tears.