Social Security Allows for Same-Sex Couple Name Changes

by Brig Bagley

24 October 2014

All same-sex couples legally married in Utah (whether in the Dec-Jan window earlier this year, or since the Oct. 6 SCOTUS decision) may now petition and receive social security cards with their new married names. The confusion was in respect to the marriages during the window where it was legal to marry in Utah, but before the SCOTUS stepped in to issue a stay. Because of the lawsuit that related to the legitimacy of those marriage licences, social security workers refused to process those requests.

It appears that the policies were updated to include all the dates for which SSM was legal.

Read more here: http://gaysaltlake.com/news/2014/10/14/utah-social-security-relents-grants-sex-couples-name-changes/

Utah Supreme Court Grants Same-Sex couple Adoptions

by Brig Bagley

24 October 2014

Following the series of cases being dropped on account of the US Supreme Court refusing to take on any of the gay marriage lawsuits, the Utah Supreme Court has decided to lift the stay that prevented married same-sex couples from adopting each others' biological children.

It is also unclear, now that SSM is legal, if married same-sex couples may adopt non-biological children in joint custody in Utah. The law details have wordings that state "legally married couples", as well as "placed with a married man and woman". There is probably still some work to be done to include the now-legal same-sex unions in all adoption situations with opposite-sex unions.

Read more here: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=32073090&nid=148&title=utah-supreme-court-lifts-stay-on-same-sex-adoption-cases&s_cid=queue-9

http://www.childadoptionlaws.com/child_adoption_laws/adoption_laws_utah.htm

Increased Support for Anti-Discrimination, Religious Exceptions

by Brig Bagley

22 October 2014

The most recent UtahPolicy.com Poll shows that support for non-discrimination bills in the State of Utah has risen since August. But the sway is mostly in people that previously "somewhat opposed" the legislation.

In addition, a majority of Utahns believe that adding a religious exception is necessary. This would mean that any individual would legally be able to openly deny services and housing to someone solely because of their sexuality or gender identity because it is against deeply-held religious beliefs.

Adding this exception would completely undermine the purpose of the bill, since the huge majority of discrimination against LGBT people comes from religious people. It appears that religious people are choosing this one "sin" to be greater than all others, since doing business or housing people that drink, have premarital heterosexual sex, that get divorced, or are unfaithful isn't a problem. Clearly homosexuals are enemy number one for the religious.

Read more here: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=32044632

Gay Marriage Gains Popularity in Utah

by Brig Bagley

21 October 2014

A follow-up poll taken on the acceptance of gay marriage in Utah was released just this week. While 3% more of Utahns support gay marriage than in August, 9% fewer people consider themselves "strongly against" gay marriage. In just two months, and considering the Supreme Court ruling, this is considered a huge change.

Some believe that a recent LDS conference talk asking members to accept the law and be civil to their neighbors, even if it is against their beliefs.

It is most likely adherence to the Supreme Court ruling that has changed the minds of Utahns. But as acceptance is growing nationally, and more states are seeing SSM legal, the trend is only expected to continue.

Read more here: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=32035088

Gay Marriage Opponents Have Lost

by Brig Bagley

14 October 2014

In a recent debate, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council went against SSM advocate Ted Olson. Perkins stated that the two primary arguments against SSM are (1) Marriage is about children, for which gays cannot naturally produce, and (2) SSM is a slippery slope to polygamy or other alternative unions. Olson argued that marriage has been ruled in court to be a fundamental right between two people. In response, Perkins insisted that it can't be because it isn't "normal".

It appears that because anti-gay people don't think it's "normal" to be gay or in a homosexual relationship, that such should be illegal. But since a religious belief or a personal belief (for that is where this idea originates), it cannot be legislated.

There is no concrete evidence that homosexual relationships affect heterosexual ones. Nor are there studies that state that gay parents are less capable of raising children. Finally, legalizing or condoning homosexuality does not encourage or create any more frequently than homosexuals than the current rate.

Read more here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2014/10/13/why-gay-marriage-opponents-have-lost/

Catholicism Proposes Inclusion of Gays

by Brig Bagley

14 October 2014

In recent religious meetings, Catholic leaders are posing questions that ask if same-sex couples and gay people can still be included in the church without compromising Catholic beliefs. The documents state that gays have "gifts and qualities to offer".

Previous Popes and Cardinals have stated that homosexual relationships are "living in sin", but some leaders are avoiding this wording and are seeking to soften their stance.

Some experts are calling this an "earthquake" announcement, since the Vatican has been one of the greatest opponents to homosexuality in the recent past. It makes you curious if and when the LDS church might do just the same down the road.

Read more here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/13/catholic-church-gays-_n_5976134.html

Alaska SSM Ban Struck Down

by Brig Bagley

13 October 2014

This past weekend, a federal judge struck down Alaska's ban on same-sex marriages, one of the first in place in the US with Hawaii. The state governor plans on appealing, stating that the issue is still in flux, but the 9th Circuit recently ruled in favor of SSM in the Nevada and Idaho cases, making the chances slim to none that it will take on the case. 

This now makes SSM officially legal in 31 states. There are cases in the remaining 19 states that will likely follow the same path. At this rate, the entire US might see SSM legal within a year even without the US Supreme Court weighing in. 

Read more here: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/58515870-68/marriage-alaska-couples-gay.html.csp

Rally to Celebrate SSM

by Brig Bagley

10 October 2014

To celebrate recent victories in the courts legalizing gay marriage for now 30 states, there will be a rally and memorial at Washington Square in SLC tonight at 6pm. Attend if you can!

Read more here: http://gaysaltlake.com/news/2014/10/08/rally-memorial-held-friday/

Updated Status of Same-Sex Marriage and Aftermath

by Brig Bagley

8 October 2014

As seen above, 30 states can now practicing legal same-sex marriage. Wyoming, Kansas, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina are in the process of issuing the licenses. The remaining states still have a ban in tact, but there are cases in all of them challenging the bans. 

If the circuit districts still awaiting appeals and decisions do strike down the bans, the respective states should expect immediate legalization since the US Supreme Court likely won't take the appeal.

If a ban is upheld, SSM will pend on the SCOTUS taking the case (which will likely happen with dissent in the lower courts.)

Since the SCOTUS decision, Utah has started issuing same-sex marriage licences again, and Sean Reyes sent a memo saying that all institutions that require marriage licenses to provide benefits need to make all necessary changes to abide by the new law. This includes health, legal, and adoption institutions. Gov. Herbert and AG Reyes disagree with the decision, but held true to their promise to follow the law. They have also decided to drop the appeal to recognize previous marriages in December since that case is now moot with the Supreme Court rejection.

Adoptions in Utah are still not allowed for same-sex couples IF none of the parents are biologically related to the child. This shows that there are still steps to take for full equality. Many Utahns have conceded (albeit disappointed) to the same-sex marriage issue, but fervently oppose the adoption and raising of children by gay couples. 

Finally, there are now more steps taken to prevent discrimination against LGBT in the state of Utah in housing and the workplace. It will likely be heard in January at the next session. On the bill might be exemptions for clergy and government officials that perform marriages and have religious objection to the marriage. But legal specialists argue that a personal religious view is not an excuse to reject civil duties, nor does it give a right to reject services to gay people. Clergy will almost certainly be given that exemption if they so choose. Some argue that this anti-discrimination bill is a slippery slope to other exceptions, but that argument is recycled and holds little weight in the eyes of legal experts.

Read more here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/same-sex-marriage/

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=31857764&nid=148&title=same-sex-marriage-decision-especially-sweet-for-couples-hoping-to-adopt&s_cid=queue-19

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=31845612&nid=148&title=same-sex-marriage-legal-in-utah-after-supreme-court-rejects-case&s_cid=queue-22

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=31864852&nid=148&title=utah-drops-appeal-in-same-sex-marriage-recognition-case&s_cid=queue-22

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=31864893&nid=148&title=utah-lawmaker-to-revisit-nondiscrimination-bill-protecting-lgtb-community&s_cid=queue-14

SLC Gets a "God Loves Gays" Billboard!

by Brig Bagley

8 October 2014

A mere 4 days before the deadline, the "God Loves Gays" project made the goal of $100k, which promises a billboard in SLC displaying the above logo. The two largest billboard companies have already rejected offering any of their billboards to the campaign, but there are still several other options to explore. Congratulations! It couldn't come at a better time now that same-sex marriages are again legal, recognized, and being performed in Utah.

See the campaign here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/god-loves-gays-billboard-project#home

by Brig Bagley

8 October 2014

Idaho and Nevada are now part of the team! The 9th Circuit affirmed that the bans in NV and ID were unconstitutional, granting them the ability to issue Same-sex marriage licenses. Nevada has already decided to take no further action, and Idaho is considering its options. Both are preparing to accept the court's mandate to issue licenses. Since the US Supreme Court rejected hearing existing appeal cases related to the issue, it is unlikely that Idaho will call for an appeal.

Read more here: http://www.freedomtomarry.org/blog/entry/9th-circuit-rules-in-favor-of-the-freedom-to-marry

US Supreme Court Rejects SSM Cases, Immediately Legal for Respective Jurisdictions

by Brig Bagley

6 October 2014

Although anti-climactic, the US Supreme Court's decision to avoid the 5 same-sex marriage cases before it has immediately legalized marriage for same-sex couples in the states that fall under the 5 cases. Marriage licences may be a few days for issued, but all stays pending the SCOTUS's decision are now expired.

This means that Utah must continue to issue marriage licenses, recognize same-sex marriages (local or otherwise), and provide means for adoptions for said couples. Other states included in this monumental decision include Oklahoma, Indiana, Virginia and Wisconsin. The other states within the cases' circuit courts will also be affected.

This now makes SSM legal in 30 states and Washington DC, allowing up to 60% of US citizens to marry the same gender if they choose. There are still several cases in the remaining states that have yet to be heard at the circuit level. These cases may also appeal the US Supreme Court, delaying their respective legalization of SSM until the SCOTUS decides what to take again a year from now. However, their current decision will dissuade appeals to them unless a conflicting ruling takes place.

They might yet take a case in the future, especially if there is a conflict. But for now, most of the US can enjoy the rights and benefits of marriage irrespective of gender.

Read more here: http://www.ksl.com/?sid=31845612&nid=148&title=high-court-rejects-same-sex-marriage-cases-from-utah-4-other-states&fm=home_page&s_cid=topstory