Same-Sex Marriage Update

Soon · 06-30-2010, 11:02 PM

Iceland's gay prime minister weds partner

Wedding comes on day new same-sex marriage law took effect

REYKJAVIK, Iceland — Icelandic Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir has married her long-term partner, her office said on Monday, making her the world's first national leader with a same-sex spouse.

Sigurdardottir, 67, married writer Jonina Leosdottir on Sunday, the day a new law took effect defining marriage as a union between two consenting adults regardless of sex.

The two had had a civil union for years and changed this into a marriage under the new law, which was approved by parliament earlier this month.

The new law was celebrated at a church service on Sunday, which was also the international day for homosexual rights.

The prime minister's office said Sigurdardottir had sent a message to the gathering saying the new law was a cause for celebration for all Icelanders and adding: "I have today taken advantage of this new legislation."

The Lutheran State Church has long been split on the issue of same-sex marriage and the church congress in April did not unanimously support the new legislation. The bishop of Iceland has urged parish ministers to comply with the law.

Sigurdardottir, who has children from a previous heterosexual marriage, is the world's only openly gay prime minister but her sexuality has never been an issue in Iceland, which, like the other Nordic states, has a history of tolerance.

Copyright 2010 Reuters.

iamkeri1 · 07-05-2010, 09:27 PM

Far-Fuckin-Out!!!!!!!!!!!!![

QUOTE=HowSoonIsNow;142392]Iceland's gay prime minister weds partner

Wedding comes on day new same-sex marriage law took effect

REYKJAVIK, Iceland — Icelandic Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir has married her long-term partner, her office said on Monday, making her the world's first national leader with a same-sex spouse.

Sigurdardottir, 67, married writer Jonina Leosdottir on Sunday, the day a new law took effect defining marriage as a union between two consenting adults regardless of sex.

The two had had a civil union for years and changed this into a marriage under the new law, which was approved by parliament earlier this month.

The new law was celebrated at a church service on Sunday, which was also the international day for homosexual rights.

The prime minister's office said Sigurdardottir had sent a message to the gathering saying the new law was a cause for celebration for all Icelanders and adding: "I have today taken advantage of this new legislation."

The Lutheran State Church has long been split on the issue of same-sex marriage and the church congress in April did not unanimously support the new legislation. The bishop of Iceland has urged parish ministers to comply with the law.

Sigurdardottir, who has children from a previous heterosexual marriage, is the world's only openly gay prime minister but her sexuality has never been an issue in Iceland, which, like the other Nordic states, has a history of tolerance.

Copyright 2010 Reuters.

[/QUOTE]

Soon · 07-06-2010, 02:40 PM

CALL TO ACTION

Gay and Lesbian People Need Not Apply: Call on NBC to Stop Today Show’s “Modern Day Wedding Contest” from Denying Gay and Lesbian Couples the Right to Participate

Network Uses Faulty Reasoning to Exclude Participants

Jess · 07-06-2010, 04:16 PM

http://projects.latimes.com/prop8/

Article gives a state by state breakdown of folks and groups who gave financial support to both pro and opposition to the Prop 8 trial.

Jess · 07-06-2010, 04:22 PM

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT9lWShwR0s"]YouTube- Political Voices for Equality[/nomedia] : the page links you to other relative videos regarding the Freedom To Marry

Jess · 07-06-2010, 06:57 PM

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/0...-to-claim.html

AtLast · 07-06-2010, 07:04 PM

(My apologies if this news has been posted)

Mormons Found Guilty on 13 Counts of Prop 8 Malfeasance, Fined by FPPC

By Dan Aiello
California Progress Report

On Wednesday, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints became the first religious organization to be fined for political malfeasance in California, according to Californians Against Hate (CAH), the non-profit organization that filed the complaint after voters narrowly approved the anti-marriage equality initiative, proposition 8, November, 2008.

Leaders of the Mormon Church "failed to timely report making late non-monetary contributions" to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign, an amount totaling $36,928, according to the June 10, 2010 finding by California's Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), announced at the commission's meeting Wednesday in Sacramento. The commission's enforcement included levying a 15% punitive fine against the LDS organization, totaling $5,539 dollars.

The late reporting charges were just one part of the complaint CAH filed November 13, 2008, shortly after the anti-marriage equality initiative passed, and followed-up with a supplemental complaint filed March 18, 2009, as more information became public.

"[The fine] seems a little light since [the FPPC] only looked at $36,000 of their contributions, but it's also historic because no church has ever been fined for illegal political activity in California before," said Fred Karger, CAH founder. "In fact, it's unprecedented."

LDS spokesperson, Kim Farah, declined comment, referring instead to a public statement at the religious organization's website which said Mormons "Mistakenly overlooked the daily reporting process" during the last two weeks of the campaign.

"When we accused them of contributing more money [than was reported], they stated publicly that our claims were false, but that turned out to be a lie - one of many," said Karger, who was in Sacramento attending the FPPC meeting to make sure the fine was assessed. "It's unbelievable, their arrogance, blatantly violating California election laws and lying repeatedly about their involvement in prop 8.

According to CAH, a spokesman for the Mormon Church, Don Eaton, said in an interview with KGO-TV (ABC San Francisco) prior to the election, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints put zero money in this.”

It was eventually learned that the Mormon Church coordinated contributions amounting to more than half of the $45 million dollar Yes on Prop 8 campaign, as well as contributing non-monetarily to the campaign by sending Mormon campaign volunteers through the Church's "mission" program and offering use of church ward (parish) properties throughout the state.

Karger noted that Mormon leadership has significant influence in Utah. Political scientists have referred to Utah's form of government as a "Theo-Democracy," because of the church's influence over state politics and legislation. "No legislation passes without the approval of the Church leadership," said Will Carlson of Equality Utah, a group that has been unsuccessful in passing statewide protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Mormons active in the faith constitute approximately 75% of the Utah legislature and, because the Mormon church requires members to adhere to the wishes of LDS leadership or face excommunication, church leadership is able to exert significant influence over Utah politics.

The LDS exerts influence on social issues in Utah's neighboring states, as well, creating what is known politically as "The Mormon Corridor," from Eastern California to Colorado, Idaho to Arizona.

The complaint by Karger and CAH resulted in the FPPC's 19-month investigation, leading to today's decision. "They got off easy," said Karger, "but this is only one state. They were involved in all 30 state [marriage] battles. This is just the beginning."

Along with the complaint filed in California, Karger and CAH also filed a complaint "against the Mormon's front organization, NOM [National Organization for Marriage]," Karger said. Maine's Fair Political Practices Commission "voted 3-2 to investigate them and to turn over their donor names which they're required to by law," said Karger. "They contributed another $2 million dollars in that campaign."

NOM is under investigation in the state of Maine for possible money laundering and failing to file the required campaign reports for that state’s Question 1 campaign. Question 1 took away gay marriage in Maine just last November.

The Maine investigation is ongoing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

Dan Aiello reports for the California Progress Report.

07-06-2010, 02:40 PM	#3
Soon Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: femme Relationship Status: attached Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: . Posts: 6,896 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,046 Thanked 13,094 Times in 3,386 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	GLADD CALL TO ACTION Gay and Lesbian People Need Not Apply: Call on NBC to Stop Today Show’s “Modern Day Wedding Contest” from Denying Gay and Lesbian Couples the Right to Participate Network Uses Faulty Reasoning to Exclude Participants

07-06-2010, 04:16 PM	#4
Jess Timed Out - Permanent How Do You Identify?: decidedly indifferent Preferred Pronoun?: other Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Patrick Springs, VA Posts: 2,812 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,247 Thanked 5,700 Times in 1,682 Posts Rep Power: 0	PROP 8.. Who gave in the marriage battle? http://projects.latimes.com/prop8/ Article gives a state by state breakdown of folks and groups who gave financial support to both pro and opposition to the Prop 8 trial.

07-06-2010, 06:57 PM	#6
Jess Timed Out - Permanent How Do You Identify?: decidedly indifferent Preferred Pronoun?: other Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Patrick Springs, VA Posts: 2,812 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,247 Thanked 5,700 Times in 1,682 Posts Rep Power: 0	Gay U.S. citizens seek to claim residency for foreign spouses Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/03/v-fullstory/171479 http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/0...-to-claim.html

07-06-2010, 07:04 PM	#7
AtLast Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Woman Preferred Pronoun?: HER - SHE Relationship Status: Relating Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CA & AZ I'm a Snowbird Posts: 5,408 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,826 Thanked 10,827 Times in 3,199 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	CA Prop 8- LDS found guilty as charged! (My apologies if this news has been posted) Mormons Found Guilty on 13 Counts of Prop 8 Malfeasance, Fined by FPPC By Dan Aiello California Progress Report On Wednesday, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints became the first religious organization to be fined for political malfeasance in California, according to Californians Against Hate (CAH), the non-profit organization that filed the complaint after voters narrowly approved the anti-marriage equality initiative, proposition 8, November, 2008. Leaders of the Mormon Church "failed to timely report making late non-monetary contributions" to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign, an amount totaling $36,928, according to the June 10, 2010 finding by California's Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), announced at the commission's meeting Wednesday in Sacramento. The commission's enforcement included levying a 15% punitive fine against the LDS organization, totaling $5,539 dollars. The late reporting charges were just one part of the complaint CAH filed November 13, 2008, shortly after the anti-marriage equality initiative passed, and followed-up with a supplemental complaint filed March 18, 2009, as more information became public. "[The fine] seems a little light since [the FPPC] only looked at $36,000 of their contributions, but it's also historic because no church has ever been fined for illegal political activity in California before," said Fred Karger, CAH founder. "In fact, it's unprecedented." LDS spokesperson, Kim Farah, declined comment, referring instead to a public statement at the religious organization's website which said Mormons "Mistakenly overlooked the daily reporting process" during the last two weeks of the campaign. "When we accused them of contributing more money [than was reported], they stated publicly that our claims were false, but that turned out to be a lie - one of many," said Karger, who was in Sacramento attending the FPPC meeting to make sure the fine was assessed. "It's unbelievable, their arrogance, blatantly violating California election laws and lying repeatedly about their involvement in prop 8. According to CAH, a spokesman for the Mormon Church, Don Eaton, said in an interview with KGO-TV (ABC San Francisco) prior to the election, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints put zero money in this.” It was eventually learned that the Mormon Church coordinated contributions amounting to more than half of the $45 million dollar Yes on Prop 8 campaign, as well as contributing non-monetarily to the campaign by sending Mormon campaign volunteers through the Church's "mission" program and offering use of church ward (parish) properties throughout the state. Karger noted that Mormon leadership has significant influence in Utah. Political scientists have referred to Utah's form of government as a "Theo-Democracy," because of the church's influence over state politics and legislation. "No legislation passes without the approval of the Church leadership," said Will Carlson of Equality Utah, a group that has been unsuccessful in passing statewide protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Mormons active in the faith constitute approximately 75% of the Utah legislature and, because the Mormon church requires members to adhere to the wishes of LDS leadership or face excommunication, church leadership is able to exert significant influence over Utah politics. The LDS exerts influence on social issues in Utah's neighboring states, as well, creating what is known politically as "The Mormon Corridor," from Eastern California to Colorado, Idaho to Arizona. The complaint by Karger and CAH resulted in the FPPC's 19-month investigation, leading to today's decision. "They got off easy," said Karger, "but this is only one state. They were involved in all 30 state [marriage] battles. This is just the beginning." Along with the complaint filed in California, Karger and CAH also filed a complaint "against the Mormon's front organization, NOM [National Organization for Marriage]," Karger said. Maine's Fair Political Practices Commission "voted 3-2 to investigate them and to turn over their donor names which they're required to by law," said Karger. "They contributed another $2 million dollars in that campaign." NOM is under investigation in the state of Maine for possible money laundering and failing to file the required campaign reports for that state’s Question 1 campaign. Question 1 took away gay marriage in Maine just last November. The Maine investigation is ongoing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ Dan Aiello reports for the California Progress Report.

06-30-2010, 11:02 PM	#1
Soon Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: femme Relationship Status: attached Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: . Posts: 6,896 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 29,046 Thanked 13,094 Times in 3,386 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	Iceland's gay prime minister weds partner Wedding comes on day new same-sex marriage law took effect REYKJAVIK, Iceland — Icelandic Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir has married her long-term partner, her office said on Monday, making her the world's first national leader with a same-sex spouse. Sigurdardottir, 67, married writer Jonina Leosdottir on Sunday, the day a new law took effect defining marriage as a union between two consenting adults regardless of sex. The two had had a civil union for years and changed this into a marriage under the new law, which was approved by parliament earlier this month. The new law was celebrated at a church service on Sunday, which was also the international day for homosexual rights. The prime minister's office said Sigurdardottir had sent a message to the gathering saying the new law was a cause for celebration for all Icelanders and adding: "I have today taken advantage of this new legislation." The Lutheran State Church has long been split on the issue of same-sex marriage and the church congress in April did not unanimously support the new legislation. The bishop of Iceland has urged parish ministers to comply with the law. Sigurdardottir, who has children from a previous heterosexual marriage, is the world's only openly gay prime minister but her sexuality has never been an issue in Iceland, which, like the other Nordic states, has a history of tolerance. Copyright 2010 Reuters.

07-05-2010, 09:27 PM	#2
iamkeri1 Member How Do You Identify?: femme woman Preferred Pronoun?: she Relationship Status: solo Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 905 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 302 Thanked 2,153 Times in 659 Posts Rep Power: 16642920	Far-Fuckin-Out!!!!!!!!!!!!![ QUOTE=HowSoonIsNow;142392]Iceland's gay prime minister weds partner Wedding comes on day new same-sex marriage law took effect REYKJAVIK, Iceland — Icelandic Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir has married her long-term partner, her office said on Monday, making her the world's first national leader with a same-sex spouse. Sigurdardottir, 67, married writer Jonina Leosdottir on Sunday, the day a new law took effect defining marriage as a union between two consenting adults regardless of sex. The two had had a civil union for years and changed this into a marriage under the new law, which was approved by parliament earlier this month. The new law was celebrated at a church service on Sunday, which was also the international day for homosexual rights. The prime minister's office said Sigurdardottir had sent a message to the gathering saying the new law was a cause for celebration for all Icelanders and adding: "I have today taken advantage of this new legislation." The Lutheran State Church has long been split on the issue of same-sex marriage and the church congress in April did not unanimously support the new legislation. The bishop of Iceland has urged parish ministers to comply with the law. Sigurdardottir, who has children from a previous heterosexual marriage, is the world's only openly gay prime minister but her sexuality has never been an issue in Iceland, which, like the other Nordic states, has a history of tolerance. Copyright 2010 Reuters. [/QUOTE]

07-06-2010, 04:22 PM	#5
Jess Timed Out - Permanent How Do You Identify?: decidedly indifferent Preferred Pronoun?: other Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Patrick Springs, VA Posts: 2,812 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,247 Thanked 5,700 Times in 1,682 Posts Rep Power: 0	[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT9lWShwR0s"]YouTube- Political Voices for Equality[/nomedia] : the page links you to other relative videos regarding the Freedom To Marry