Same-sex marriage Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

Al Jazeera.If the bill surmounts those obstacles, Thailand would become the third Asian country to legalize same-sex nuptials, following Taiwan and Nepal.The bill changes references in current law from gender-specific terms like “man,” “woman,” husband,” and “wife” to gender-neutral terms. It grants surviving partners inheritance rights in the case of one partner’s death and allows same-sex couples the right to adopt.“I want to invite you all to make history,” Danuphorn Punnakanta, the chairman of the parliamentary committee, said ahead of the vote.

Wichita Eagle. “[O]ur deeply held religious belief keeps us from celebrating anything but marriage between a man and woman.”“I just started crying hysterically,” Waggy told the Eagle.

$100,000 in damages after a jury decided that the men were entitled to $50,000 each for being denied a marriage license by Davis after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned state-level bans on same-sex nuptials across the nation in mid-2015.Ermold and Moore sued Davis after she declined to issue the couple a marriage license three separate times, and refused to permit her deputies to issue a license bearing her official name or title.She argued that allowing the license to be issued would violate “God’s definition of marriage” and her personal beliefs opposing homosexuality as an Apostolic Christian.During the fall of 2015, Bunning sentenced Davis to five days in jail for contempt of court for refusing to allow marriage licenses to be issued — not only to Ermold and Moore, but to several other couples, gay and straight — lest she be accused of discriminating against same-sex couples.Following her release, she agreed not to block her deputy clerks from issuing licenses that had been edited to remove her name and title — although both she and her deputy raised concerns about the validity of such licenses.In a tacit show of support for Davis, Kentucky lawmakers later passed a law to change rules that removed county clerks’ names from marriage licenses.

dubia, or questions regarding Catholic Church doctrine, submitted by Brazilian Bishop Jose Negri of Santo Amaro, inquiring about LGBTQ people and their participation in holy sacraments.The church’s Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith said that transgender people may be baptized, under certain conditions, and as long as there is “no risk of causing a public scandal or disorientation among the faithful.”The doctrinal office also said that “transsexuals,” as it refers to transgender people, could serve as godparents at a baptism at the discretion of a local priest, or as witnesses at a Church wedding — noting that there is no prohibition in current canonical legislation — but warned that diocesan priests should exercise “pastoral prudence” in allowing this participation.The answers to the dubia were signed by the department’s head, Argentine Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, and approved by Pope Francis on Oct. 31, according to Reuters.

The New York Times.Justices authored four different opinions, concurring and dissenting in part with the overall court’s finding.Some of the justices were sympathetic to the petitioners, arguing that transgender people can marry other transgender people — so long as one partner identifies as a man and another as a woman — and offering other glimmers of hope to same-sex marriage proponents.For instance, Chief Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, as part of a two-member minority, wrote that “the right to choose one’s partner and the right to recognition of that union” should be recognized by the government, even if that union does not constitute marriage.

La Catrina, looking down on me. Her name’s Lily, as her dress is patterned in black-and-white lilies. She’s reminding me not only that her special holiday approaches, but to take a moment to appreciate National Hispanic Heritage Month.

ruled that the government of Bulgaria violated European human rights law by failing to legally recognize same-sex marriages, reports Human Rights Watch.Liliya Babulkova and Darina Koilova, two Bulgarian women who were legally wed in the United Kingdom in 2016, brought the case to the court three years ago, after Bulgarian authorities refused, multiple times, to recognize their marriage.The couple claimed, in their complaint, that the refusal to recognize their marriage is discriminatory and violated their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.The court found that the Bulgarian government violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to private and family life.The court — as it previously did with similar cases from Ukraine and Romania — ruled that Bulgaria must take some action to recognize same-sex relationships or remove discriminatory portions of its laws, although it did not require the country to take specific actions, such as legalize same-sex nuptials. It also ordered the government to pay 3,000 euros to the couple to cover legal costs.“The decision is fundamental for the development of Bulgarian legislation in the field of equality and LGBT rights,” a lawyer for the couple said in a statement.

The California Republican Party is currently at odds with the national Republican Party after proposing to remove opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion – two longstanding mainstays of the national platform – from its state party platform.Supporters of the proposed change say that removing those two prominent social issues from the state’s political platform would put the state GOP’s official position more in line with the values held by most California voters. Opponents argue that by removing those topics, the state party’s stances would contradict those held by most of the party’s presidential candidates and betray values or beliefs that are deeply held by the party’s conservative base.The 2016 Republican national party platform, which still stands today as the party’s guiding document, opposes same-sex nuptials despite bans prohibiting such marriages having been struck down by the U.S.

Associated Press.The push for the amendment appears to be motivated by the idea that the conservative U.S. Supreme Court may one day reverse its own precedent and overturn its previous decisions allowing marriage equality, meaning any state bans still on the books would immediately become enforceable.While Democrats have long vilified the voter-approved ban, they could have moved sooner to repeal it at any point within the past decade.However, the Supreme Court’s recent lurch rightward on several social issues — following the confirmation of three conservative justices nominated by former President Donald Trump — appears to have led some on the political Left to take a more proactive approach by repealing the ban outright rather than relying on court decisions.“What we are doing today is joyous,” Sen.

On Tuesday, June 20, Estonia’s parliament voted to legalize same-sex marriage, making the country the first Baltic state, and the first ex-Soviet state, to legalize same-sex marriage.The vote comes a week after Lauri Hussar, the president of the Riigikogu, Estonia’s unicameral parliament, announced the commitment from the country’s liberal governing coalition to legalize same-sex marriage within a month.The law will take effect on January 1, 2024. It does not need to be ratified by any other governmental body.In a 55-34 vote, the legislature amended the Family Law Act, which encompasses topics such as alimony, custody, and child support, to permit  same-sex couples to wed.

New York Post.The calls come as several national corporations, including Bud Light, Target, and LEGO Group, find themselves on the receiving end of abuse for partnering with out LGBTQ influencers, embracing LGBTQ customers, or creating Pride-themed merchandise.Social conservatives have become enraged, arguing that promoting or trumpeting LGBTQ visibility advances an “agenda” that is being thrust into people’s faces.“This is bad. Very bad.

A major Japanese court ruled that the current ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.On Tuesday, a Japanese district court ruled that the government’s current policy of prohibiting same-sex marriages violates the country’s constitution. Supporters of LGBTQ rights say this is a step in the right direction toward marriage equality in the country.According to Kyodo News, Judge Osamu Nishimura, of the Nagoya District Court ruled that the current system of marriage in Japan is unconstitutional because it excludes same-sex couples, thereby leaving them with no legal protections when it comes to issues like health care decision-making, child-rearing, and inheritance rights, among other rights and privileges that come with matrimony.This is the second court ruling finding that the government’s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, following a similar challenge from the city of Sapporo.However, district courts in Tokyo and Osaka sided against petitioners in two other challenges to the existing marriage law.

2 min read As Mexico commemorates the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, the nation remains fraught with paradox. Despite being a regional leader in the legal recognition of LGBTI+ rights, Mexico sadly ranks second in Latin America for reported hate crimes against the community.

rioters storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to prevent the results of the 2020 election from being certified.The ad flashes through images of several Republican politicians associated with the far right, including U.S. Reps.

< 1 min read LGBTQ+ activist and “gay prince” Manavendrasinh Gohil has called on the Indian government to legalise same-sex marriage in the country. Speaking at a press conference in Rajkot, Gohil, known as the “gay prince” due to his royal background, emphasised the need for LGBTQ+ couples to have equal rights and legal recognition.

Respect for Marriage Act, which would require the federal government and states to recognize same-sex marriage licenses issued in states with laws that allow same-sex nuptials. The Act is a safeguard in case the conservative-leaning Supreme Court reverses its own decision legalizing marriage equality nationwide.She also attacked Democrats for their support of a bill to guarantee a right to an abortion, falsely repeating a Republican talking point that the bill would allow abortions up until the moment of birth (in fact, the bill would only allow such extreme cases to occur in cases where the mother’s life is at risk). “The truth has to be told. And we’re down to a point in America where the truth is being canceled.

The New York Times.In the book, Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America, Haberman details Trump’s behavior and actions throughout his presidency. In one excerpt from the book, obtained by Newsweek, Haberman describes an exchange Trump had with conservative donor and philanthropist Paul Singer, who has a gay son.According to the excerpt, while Trump, Pence, and their aides prepared for a press conference, Trump chatted up Singer, asking him: “How conservative are you?”Singer replied that he was quite conservative on economic issues but more moderate on other issues, such as gay rights, noting that he had been involved in efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in individual states.

more than 79,000 community meetings between February and April to discuss some of the proposed changes, and amended some of its provisions based on community feedback, reports The Associated Press.Cuba’s National Assembly passed the revised code in July before sending it to the voters for final approval.While there are no independent observers of Cuban elections, Reuters reports that scattered local reports of district counts on social media appeared to align with official tallies. The approval of the code marks a significant shift with respect to both the government’s support for LGBTQ rights, and general attitudes towards homosexuality among Cubans.In the early 1960s, after former dictator Fidel Castro took power, many gay people were fired from their jobs and sent to labor camps known as Military Units to Aid Production, reports the Miami Herald.Although homosexuality was later legalized in 1979, many gay men and women reported experiencing discrimination in their daily lives.

The US Senate is delaying its vote on legislation that will protect same-sex marriage until after the November mid-term elections. This is to allow Republicans some political breathing room to support the bill without offending their support bases.Leading Democratic negotiator on the bill, Senator Tammy Baldwin is confident that the bill will pass if Republicans are given time.“We’re very confident that the bill will pass, but we will need a little more time,” she told CNN.The decision to delay the vote comes after many weeks spent in bipartisan negotiations as a small group of senators had tried to reassure any concerns Republican senators had as a way to gain their support on the bill.The Respect for Marriage Act seeks to codify same-sex and interracial marriages whilst repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, which only recognises marriage in the US between a man and a woman.Senator Susan Collins has stated that the amendment would “make it clear” that the bill will not “legalise polyamorous marriages” or force churches to perform “same-sex marriages.”“I think we’re in very good shape, very good shape.

fined $135,000 by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries following a 2013 incident in which the Kleins refused to bake a wedding cake for Laurel and Rachel Bowman-Cryer, a lesbian couple of 10 years.When Aaron Klein found out that the custom-made cake was intended for a lesbian wedding, he allegedly said, “We don’t do same-sex weddings” and called the couple an “abomination,” citing the Bible as justification.The Kleins have repeatedly claimed their religious beliefs opposing homosexuality prevent them from providing goods or services for a same-sex wedding.The Bowman-Cryers filed discrimination complaints with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and the Department of Justice.In response, the Kleins attempted to defend their refusal to bake the cake, “doxxing” the Bowman-Cryers in the process by sharing private information about them, including their address.The Bowman-Cryers were inundated with so many hateful messages and death threats that their two foster children had to be removed from the home for their own protection.The Bureau of Labor and Industries found that the Kleins had violated the Oregon Public Accommodations Law and ordered them to pay financial restitution to the Bowman-Cryers.The Kleins appealed the decision, which the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld. The Kleins then appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court, which declined to hear the case, before appealing to the U.S.

The Washington Post.The bill needs 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, meaning at least 10 Senate Republicans would have to support it in order to end debate on the measure and hold a final up-or-down vote on it.The measure previously passed the House of Representatives in July, earning support from all of the lower chamber’s Democrats and 47 House Republicans. The Senate is the final hurdle to passage.If the Senate approves the proposed religious liberty language additions, the legislation would have to head back to the Democratic-led House for passage.But while passage in the lower chamber would not be a problem, the scheduling of the vote in a limited window, as well other pieces of legislation demanding congressional members’ attention, may create additional hurdles.Because the bipartisan group of senators believes they have the necessary Republican votes to overcome a filibuster, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Wednesday that he plans to schedule a vote on the measure “in the coming weeks,” which would force Republicans to go on record ahead of the midterm elections.Collins has expressed concern that Schumer will play political games with the bill by delaying a vote on it, telling Politico that she hopes he will schedule a vote on the bill this month.Further complicating the issue, Congress must approve stopgap legislation to fund the government by Sept.

ruling issued on August 30, U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Beaton granted a request from Chelsey Nelson for an injunction to block the city from enforcing the law, which prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, housing, and public accommodations.Nelson initially sued in 2019, arguing that the Fairness Ordinance violated her First Amendment rights on the grounds that the city might be able to force her to photograph same-sex weddings or “otherwise express messages inconsistent with Nelson’s beliefs.” She also sought to be able to advertise on her website that she only photographs opposite-sex ceremonies.As several other artistic professionals or wedding-related businesses have claimed in other cases, Nelson claimed she would have served clients, including LGBTQ people, “regardless of their backgrounds” so long as the work was not marriage-related.

Reuters.  At the start of the 2021-2022 school year, the district adopted an “all-comers” policy, which requires that officially recognized clubs must allow any currently enrolled student to participate in, become a member of, or hold leadership positions within the club, regardless of their status or beliefs. Yet FCA would still not be recognized under such a policy, because it would prohibit them from selecting leaders who agree with the club’s stated religious beliefs. U.S.

Singapore will move to decriminalize gay sex while increasing prohibitions against same-sex marriage, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced in his National Day Rally speech on Sunday, August 21.Section 377A of Singapore’s Penal Code, a law implemented by the country’s British colonial government in 1938, criminalizes sex between men. Today, even consensual, private sex between adult men in Singapore remains legally punishable by up to two years in prison.Parliament will now repeal 377A, Loong said.

Lady Gaga kicked off the U.S. leg of her Chromatica Ball tour with a message for the United States Supreme Court. “They better not try to mess with gay marriage in this country!” she said to loud applause from the crowd during a concert at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

State of the Union program on Sunday, Graham participated in a debate with Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut over the effects of a Democratic tax, spending, and climate bill that ultimately passed on a party-line vote.At one point, the topic turned to whether the U.S.

bans so-called “gay propaganda,” defined as any content that is believed to “promote” homosexuality, in schools and in media — even in depictions that are intended to only be viewed by adults.The law, which mirrors a similar law in Russia, prohibits any positive, or even neutral, portrayals of homosexuality, casting all LGBTQ people as evil or disordered under the guise of “protecting” children. Critics say the law is based on conservative tropes that associate homosexuality with pedophilia, as well as the notion that people will easily or readily change their sexual orientation simply by being made aware of the existence of LGBTQ people.In his CPAC speech, Orbán repeated tropes popular with right-wing voters, complaining about “fake news” published by legitimate news outlets, attacking Jewish billionaire George Soros, former U.S.

push forward with a $433 billion climate change, drug pricing, and tax bill that they have prioritized instead.According to Reuters, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), one of only two LGBTQ senators in the chamber, said she now expects the bill to be brought up after the August recess, which stretches from Aug.

The Cuban government has opened a path towards expanding the rights of LGBTQ citizens in the Communist nation.On Friday, the country’s National Assembly approved a slate of updates to its Family Codes that will, among other things, legalize same-sex marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children. The fate of these Family Code updates, however, is ultimately in the hands of the Cuban people, who will determine whether to approve the changes in a Sept.

The View, criticized members of her own political party for voting against a bill to codify same-sex marriage into law. Griffin, who previously served as press secretary for former Vice President Mike Pence before serving as White House Director of Strategic Communications, explained how shocked she was seeing the number of Republicans who voted against the bill.“They’re on the wrong side of this,” Griffin said during a recent on-air discussion on the issue. “On the one hand, I’m pleased that the House was able to pass codifying marriage equality into law, but the number of Republicans that were against it — it’s 2022.

Podcaster Joe Rogan pushed back against critics who claim he is a “secret Republican,” making a vigorous defense of gay nuptials and criticizing elected Republicans for voting against a bill to codify the right to same-sex marriage into law.Rogan made the comments during the July 23 episode of his influential podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. Speaking with comedian Andrew Schulz about current events, Rogan brought up the 157 Republicans  who voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would require states to recognize same-sex marriages as valid. The bill passed last Thursday, with 47 Republicans voting in favor of the measure.Rogan criticized opponents of the bill, including U.S.

Roe v. Wade, and with it, longstanding legal precedent.Titled the “Respect for Marriage Act,” the bill would require states to recognize legally valid same-sex and interracial marriages, and prohibit discrimination “based on the sex, race, ethnicity or national origin of the individuals in the marriage.” Couples who believe they’ve been discriminated against because of their LGBTQ identity would be allowed to pursue legal action.The number of House Republicans who defected from the Republican Party’s official position, which opposes legal recognition of same-sex relationships, was much larger than expected by most political observers, reflecting shifting attitudes on the issue of same-sex nuptials, even among Republicans — a majority of whom support same-sex marriage, according to polling.Many of the Republicans who voted in favor of the measure tended to be younger, newer members of Congress, hailing from suburbs or exurbs of large cities, though there were exceptions.For instance, all four members of the Utah congressional delegation voted in favor of codifying same-sex marriage.

Gay City News. “I am concerned about my position within the diocese and school. The tones of the speakers were strident at times and I cannot tell if I would be accepted. I am homosexual and plan on marrying my boyfriend eventually, and after being told all day that I have to live church doctrine I feel wounded and unwanted,” Butler wrote.

A gay Connecticut Supreme Court Justice has called Clarence Thomas’ recent statements advocating for the reversal of federally-recognized same-sex marriage rights “hypocritical” due to the justice’s failure to not call for the repeal of a similar ruling allowing interracial marriage.Andrew McDonald, a senior associate justice for Connecticut’s high court, blasted Thomas for suggesting — in a concurring opinion as part of a recent abortion-rights case —  that the nation’s highest court should re-examine all cases dealing with “substantive due process” rights, referring to rights that have been conferred or recognized by courts, but are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution.Among the “substantive due process” cases that Thomas said should be reconsidered by the court include the court’s 1965 Griswold v. Connecticut ruling, which allowed married couples to buy and use contraception without government interference, the 2003 Lawrence v.

Roe v. Wade ruling guaranteeing the constitutional right to an abortion by a 5-4 vote, setting up a scenario in which more than half of the states in the country could be poised to, at some point, explicitly ban the procedure. With Roe overturned, the legality of abortion now depends on individual state laws, who will be allowed to regulate the procedure — or ban it outright — as they see fit. The ruling came in response to a dispute over a 2018 Mississippi law that banned abortions after 15 weeks, under the guise of prohibiting “inhumane procedures” on the grounds that a fetus is allegedly capable of detecting and responding to pain at that point in a pregnancy.

As Ellen DeGeneres winds down the 19th and final season of her eponymous chat show, she invited her wife, actress Portia De Rossi, as a guest for a surprisingly candid conversation about their relationship and the show which has been a mainstay in both of their lives.“It’s weird to interview her,” DeGeneres, 64, admitted to the audience, “because I know everything about her, so this is silly.”“I can’t believe it’s nearly over. It’s just crazy.