SCOTUS
 

As expected, the SCOTUS did not indicate any of their cases for further hearing yesterday, so Monday will be the earliest possible notice. Should there be no decision Monday, the Judges will review additional cases next Friday.

Pins and needles folks, pins and needles!

I was so busy I totally missed this! Thanks for sharing ya'll! I will be watching the news more closely this week!

Thanks for the continued updating.

Ireland
 

The Irish Government is putting the issue of same-sex marriage on the ballot for vote this coming May. According to recent polls, nearly 70% of citizens approve of marriage equality.

Canada, England and Scotland currently have marriage equality, while some of the other commonwealth countries like Ireland and Austraila do not.

SCOTUS news
 

The Supreme Court justices refused to hear the Louisiana case, and set the cases for Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tenessee to be reviewed this next Friday the 16th.

The Plantiffs in the Louisiana case had asked the SCOTUS to hear the case before the appeals court for that district had a chance to rule; if you remember, that case was heard by the appeals court this past Friday along with those of Texas and Mississippi.

The SCOTUS has declined to interfer in the Louisiana case while it is still under review by the lower appeals court. The remainder of the cases being reviewed have already been heard under appeal, and have had thier bans upheld by the appeals court for the 6th district.

South Dakota
 

South Dakota's same-sex marriage ban was struck down today by the lower Federal Court, but the decision was immediately stayed until all appeals by the State have been considered.

Let's hope the State does the right thing and does not appeal.

Pffffft, right!

Oh Nooooooo!!!!

In my opinion, I highly doubt Texas will allow same sex marriage, I live here and have lived here for years, I have seen how much society and Texas government are anti GLBT.

But I do hope something does happen and soon.

The throw back without review for Louisiana was expected (at least by me), because the plantiffs tried to bypass the correct steps and go directly to the supreme court.

The review scheduled for this Friday is the important next step, as it could go two ways.

1. Since the bans for Michigan, Ohio, Kentucy and Tennesse were kept in place by the lower courts, and 36 other states HAVE marriage equality, the Justices can decide to hear the cases and possibly rule in the favor of equality.

OR......

2. The Justices can decide that the bans will stay in place for those 4 states, causing mass confusion to ensue.

The cases from last Friday at the Appeals court level (Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas) have been heard and will be ruled on any time in the next few months.

This issue is going to drag on a bit, but will hopefully be somewhat resolved before the end of



the current SCOTUS term which ends in June.

Just to clarify, the vote in May is in the independent Republic of Ireland.

In Northern Ireland, a country inside the United Kingdom, there is a ban on same sex marriage. However, the U.K. recognizes same sex marriage. A same sex couple who were married in England but have since relocated to Northern Ireland is expected to file a challenge to the ban in the high court this week.

The UK marriage act of 2013 covered ONLY England and Wales, with Scotland having marriage equality on 1/1/15.

Canada already has marriage equality, while Austrailia and Ireland do not. I should have been more specific when speaking about Ireland, as you are correct about the "Republic of Ireland" being the country voting this May.

Thank you for the clarification.

Good news!

The SCOTUS will hear the cases for same-sex marriage in April, and will decide by the end of their term in June!

I'm on my phone, so more later.(f)

SCOTUS
 

The Justices said they will answer two questions:

1. Do all States have to allow same -sex marriage based on the US Constitution.

2. Do all States have to honor marriages performed in other States and Countries.

Question 1 has come before the court before, and same-sex marriages were not guaranteed by the US Constitution...but we are in a different time, and 36 States now have equality. It is not a slam dunk folks, but i do have hope that the question will be decided in the favor of equality.

I know that the fight to deny all other rights to us will ramp up, every day i read about states trying to write descrimination into law, and it saddens me that the SCOTUS will probably have to decide that question at some other time.

I rather suspect that the Supreme Court will rule that states have to honor same-sex marriages performed in other states. Otherwise, they are affirming that the Legislature has authority to simply pass a bill, and negate portions of the Constitution. That, basically, is what DOMA did in its Section 3 ( I think that I am naming the correct section, but could be wrong.). Basically, DOMA attempted to negate part of the 14th Amendment, which guaranteed equal protection, if I am not mistaken.

Good point Nadeest!

UK same-sex Pagan Wedding
 

The UK's first same-sex Pagan wedding took place last Sunday in Scotland! The couple has been together for 12 years, and are Hedge Witches.

The Pagan Federation in Scotland has been able to legally marry hetro-sexual couples since 2005, and with new laws for same-sex marriage taking place on 1/1/15, have the right to marry all loving couples.

Wtg Scotland!

Alabama
 

The ban on same-sex marriage was overturned by a Federal judge today in Alabama, with the decision not immediately stayed. The AG said the request for a stay will be filed ASAP.

Yayyyyyyy Alabama!

Not that I am even thinking of marriage but I am a bit nervous about the SCOTUS decision. I hope they don't rule that we are, somehow, second class citizens.

What a lovely story!